Patents Assigned to Air Product and Chemicals, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20240166506
    Abstract: Processes for cracking ammonia are improved by using heat generated in a compression unit that is used to compress PSA off gas being recycled to a PSA unit to pre-heat liquid ammonia prior to vaporization and cracking. The heat is transferred using a heat transfer fluid such as an aqueous solution comprising from about 50 wt. % to about 60 wt. % of a glycol, e.g., ethylene glycol or propylene glycol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent White, Simon Craig Saloway
  • Publication number: 20240166505
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for cracking ammonia comprising providing an ammonia-containing feed gas at a temperature of over 600° C. and a pressure in a range from about 5 bar to about 50 bar; combusting a fuel with an oxidant gas in a furnace to heat reactor tubes to achieve a maximum inner wall temperature of over 700° C. and produce a flue gas, each reactor tube comprising a catalyst bed comprising a first row transition metal-based catalyst; and feeding the ammonia-containing feed gas to the reactor tubes to produce a cracked gas at a temperature of over 600° C. on exit from the reactor tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent White, Andrew Shaw, Simon Craig Saloway, Micah S. Kiffer, Yingying Wei
  • Publication number: 20240166504
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process and apparatus for cracking ammonia gas at super-atmospheric pressure in catalyst-filled reactor tubes in a furnace. The tubes each have an upstream layer of a first catalyst and a downstream layer of a second catalyst, the first catalyst being more active than the second catalyst. Having the more active catalyst upstream reduces the temperature of the outer walls of the tubes in the region of the burner flames and the temperature of the inner walls of the tubes in the region with the highest mole fraction of ammonia. Nitriding of the metal of the tubes in this region is thereby reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Shaw, Simon Craig Saloway
  • Publication number: 20240166502
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process and apparatus for cracking ammonia in which heated ammonia gas at super-atmospheric pressure is partially cracked catalytically in an adiabatic reaction unit to produce partially cracked ammonia gas which is heated and fed to catalyst-containing reactor tubes in a furnace to cause cracking of further ammonia and produce a cracked gas comprising hydrogen gas, nitrogen gas and residual ammonia gas. At least some, preferably all, of the duty required to heat the partially cracked ammonia gas is provided by heat exchange with the cracked gas, enabling more efficient heat integration within the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent White, Andrew Shaw, Simon Craig Saloway
  • Publication number: 20240166503
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process and apparatus for cracking ammonia in which heated ammonia gas at super-atmospheric pressure is partially cracked in at least two adiabatic reactors in series with interstage heating in which the feed temperature to a first reactor is higher than the feed temperature to a further reactor to produce a partially cracked ammonia gas which is then fed to catalyst-containing reactor tubes in a furnace to produce a cracked gas comprising hydrogen gas, nitrogen gas and residual ammonia gas. The use of the adiabatic reactors enables more efficient heat integration within the process and the higher temperature in the first reactor enables the use of a nickel-based catalyst in that reactor as an alternative solution to the potential problem of the presence of oil in the ammonia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent White, Andrew Shaw, Simon Craig Saloway
  • Publication number: 20240149213
    Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring the concentration of a light gas in a main flow stream are disclosed herein. The methods include calculating a control parameter as a function of the concentration of the light gas in the main flow stream; dividing a portion of the main flow stream to produce a feed stream; and separating the feed stream by selective permeation across a semi-permeable membrane to produce a permeate stream enriched in the light gas and a retentate depleted in the light gas. A ratio of the flow rate of the feed stream to the flow rate of the main flow stream may be increased or decreased according to the control parameter. In addition, an area of the semi-permeable membrane may be increased or decreased according to the control parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamlesh Ghodasara, Maulik R. Shelat, Edward Landis Weist, JR.
  • Publication number: 20240143854
    Abstract: A method and system for selecting a design configuration of an industrial gas plant complex comprising one or more industrial gas plants and powered by one or more renewable power sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjay Mehta, Pratik Misra
  • Publication number: 20240141524
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for electrolyte solution production can be provided so that a modular production can be provided. The modular electrolyte production can be provided so that the production system is mobile for being used in multiple different plants at different geographical locations that are remote from each other. Embodiments can be configured so that electrolyte production is made for a plant specific application that provides an electrolyte solution having a pre-selected concentration of at least one electrolyte for use in at least one electrolyzer of the plant. The production can be mobile so it can be provided at different sites to make the same type of solutions or different solutions specific to the needs of the plants it may support. Some embodiments can utilize an electrolyte material handling device that also modular and mobile. Other embodiments can be configured to utilize an on-site electrolyte material handling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: GRAEME RICHARD WILSON, TIMOTHY EDWARD CONWAY, BARRY W. DIAMOND, MATTHEW WILLIAM AKHURST, SENTHILKUMAR NANJAPPAN
  • Publication number: 20240125549
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for removing natural gas liquids from a natural gas feed stream and for liquefying the natural gas feed stream so as to produce a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream and a natural gas liquids (NGL) stream
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Julian Roberts, Russell B. Shnitser, Christopher Michael Ott, Annemarie Ott Weist
  • Publication number: 20240125550
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for recovering at least argon from a feed gas that can provide an improved recovery of argon as well as an improvement in operational efficiency. Some embodiments can be adapted so that the improved argon recovery can also be obtained with improved condenser operation for an argon column without requiring an increase in power for the recovery of the argon. Some embodiments can utilize a reboiler positioned near or at the bottom of argon recovery column to increase boil-up therein and/or provide added heat duty to drive a condenser of the argon recovery column to provide improved argon recovery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay A. Thakkar, Donn Michael Herron, Qiao Zhao
  • Publication number: 20240125543
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for producing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) product by cooling and liquefying a natural gas stream via indirect heat exchange with a gaseous refrigerant and then flashing and separating the liquefied natural gas stream to obtain the LNG product. In particular, the gaseous refrigerant may be a refrigerant circulating in a reverse Brayton cycle. The gaseous refrigerant is warmed in the shell side first, second and third coil-wound heat exchanger sections each having a tube side and a shell side, the shell side of the first coil-wound heat exchanger section being separated from and operating at a different pressure to the shell side of the second and third coil-wound heat exchanger sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Julian Roberts, Katherine Bannister Wells, Christopher Michael Ott
  • Publication number: 20240125544
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for liquefying natural gas by: cooling and liquefying a natural gas feed stream via indirect heat exchange with at least a first cold refrigerant stream to form a first liquefied natural gas stream and a warmed gaseous refrigerant stream; flashing and separating the first liquefied natural gas stream to form a liquefied natural gas product stream and at least a first flash gas stream; combining and compressing the first flash gas stream and the warmed gaseous refrigerant stream to form a compressed refrigerant stream; and expanding at least a first portion of the compressed refrigerant stream to form the first cold refrigerant stream; wherein the natural gas feed stream is kept separate from and is not combined with either the first flash gas stream or the compressed refrigerant stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Julian Roberts, Russell B. Shnitser
  • Publication number: 20240116756
    Abstract: A method for enriching a synthesis gas in hydrogen is presented. The method includes adding H2O to the synthesis gas to form a synthesis gas stream that includes hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and steam. The synthesis gas stream has a steam to dry gas molar ratio, S/DG; and an oxygen to carbon molar ratio, O/C. The method includes introducing the synthesis gas stream into a water-gas shift reactor and reacting the synthesis gas stream in the water-gas shift reactor in the presence of a non-iron-based catalyst to produce a shifted synthesis gas. The method further includes controlling an outlet temperature of the synthesis gas stream to remain at or below a critical temperature or to drop to or below the critical temperature by adjusting the S/DG ratio to maintain the O/C ratio below a lower O/C limit or above an upper O/C limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua E. Middaugh, Shihong Yan, Sonia Farrokhpanah, Thomas Frommweiler
  • Publication number: 20240109783
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for reducing wastewater generated during production of ammonia that can have different levels of production (e.g. ammonia production can vary from 10% to 100% production capacity, etc.) can be configured to minimize or eliminate wastewater from ammonia production. Embodiments can be adapted so that wastewater is stored in a vessel and providable to a scrubber used for processing an ammonia vapor containing stream so that ammonia within that stream can be recovered and mixed with other liquid ammonia product for subsequent storage or use. Embodiments can be implemented so the scrubber stream that may utilize a liquid to perform the scrubbing is recyclable in a way that minimizes or even eliminates formation of a wastewater stream, which can significantly improve process efficiency and provide improved environmental operation as compared to conventional approaches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: KEVIN RICHARD MADTHA, GRAEME RICHARD WILSON
  • Publication number: 20240109802
    Abstract: A controller, process, and glass manufacturing apparatus can be configured to minimize defects. Embodiments can be adapted to control injection of nitrogen and/or argon and a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen or nitrogen, hydrogen, and argon during glass float manufacturing to facilitate a pre-selected hydrogen concentration within a tin bath furnace while also minimizing glass surface defects that can be caused from tin condensation and tin bath impurity concentrations. Empirical use data can also be collected and provided to a pre-defined machine learning element of a host device to update a pre-defined control scheme of a controller for adapting the operational condition set points or other target values to account for furnace operation history and performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric R. Seo, Liang He, Reed Jacob Hendershot, Michael J. Gallagher, Ranajit Ghosh
  • Patent number: 11946599
    Abstract: An apparatus for hydrogen dispensing can be configured to generate a display to be output visually to a customer that may use a dispenser to fill a fuel tank with hydrogen fuel. The display can include a graphical user interface or other interface that can show the customer information about the dispensing of fuel that is being provided to the user. This displayed information can include information to indicate an estimated time remaining to fully fill a vehicle's fuel tank so the customer can have visual and/or audible indications for how much longer the customer may have to wait to have the vehicle's fuel tank filled for continued use of the dispenser. This can improve the customer's experience at the fueling station. For instance, embodiments can allow the customer to more effectively use the fueling station and manage his or her time at the fueling station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventor: Joseph P. Cohen
  • Patent number: 11945721
    Abstract: A hydrogen feed stream comprising oxygen and one or more impurities selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and water, is purified using a cryogenic temperature swing adsorption (CTSA) process with high overall recovery of hydrogen. The CTSA is regenerated using an inert gas to prevent an explosive mixture of hydrogen and oxygen from occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Shubhra Jyoti Bhadra, Jeffrey R. Hufton, Timothy C. Golden, Aaron Raymond Scott, Quan Min Shao, Vishrut Garg
  • Patent number: 11925894
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide capture system includes a first heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between an exhaust stream and a lean carbon dioxide effluent stream. The carbon dioxide capture system also includes a first turboexpander including a first compressor driven by a first turbine. The first compressor is coupled in flow communication with the first heat exchanger. The first turbine is coupled in flow communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to expand the lean carbon dioxide effluent stream. The carbon dioxide capture system further includes a carbon dioxide membrane unit coupled in flow communication with the first compressor. The carbon dioxide membrane unit is configured to separate the exhaust stream into the lean carbon dioxide effluent stream and a rich carbon dioxide effluent stream. The carbon dioxide membrane unit is further configured to channel the lean carbon dioxide effluent stream to the first heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Carl Hofer, Joseph Philip DiPietro
  • Patent number: 11929613
    Abstract: There is provided a method of determining and utilizing predicted available power resources from one or more renewable power sources for one or more industrial gas plants comprising one or more storage resources. The method is executed by at least one hardware processor and comprises: obtaining historical time-dependent environmental data associated with the one or more renewable power sources; obtaining historical time-dependent operational characteristic data associated with the one or more renewable power sources; training a machine learning model based on the historical time-dependent environmental data and the historical time-dependent operational characteristic data; executing the trained machine learning model to predict available power resources for the one or more industrial gas plants for a pre-determined future time period; and controlling the one or more industrial gas plants in response to the predicted available power resources for the pre-determined future time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Sanjay Mehta, Pratik Misra
  • Patent number: 11926906
    Abstract: A process for producing compressed hydrogen gas, said process comprising electrolysing water to produce hydrogen gas and compressing said hydrogen gas in a multistage compression system to produce compressed hydrogen gas. The multistage compression system comprises at least one centrifugal compression stage, and the hydrogen gas is fed to the centrifugal compression stage at a pre-determined feed temperature and pressure and having a pre-determined relative humidity. The process further comprises adding water and heat to the hydrogen gas upstream of the centrifugal compression stage, as required, to humidify the hydrogen gas to the pre-determined relative humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Gerard Wehrman, Paul Higginbotham, Vincent White