Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes a step of providing an oxygen-containing gas having greater than 22 volume percent oxygen and combining the oxygen-containing gas with a fuel to form a combustible mixture. The combustible mixture is provided to an internal combustion engine wherein combustion of the combustible mixture drive the internal combustion engine. An internal combustion system executing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for forming poly(dimethoxymethane) includes a step of separating a formaldehyde-containing blend into a first bottom stream and a first top stream. The first formaldehyde-containing blend includes methanol, formaldehyde, and water while the first bottom stream includes water. The first top stream includes dimethoxymethane that is produced from the reaction between methanol and formaldehyde. The first top stream is separated into a second bottom stream and a second top stream. The second bottom stream includes poly(dimethoxymethane) while the second top stream includes dimethoxymethane, methanol, and ethanol. The second top stream is separated into a third bottom stream and a third top stream. Third bottom stream includes methanol and ethanol while the third top stream includes dimethoxymethane. The third top steam can be recycled to form additional poly(dimethoxymethane). A system that implements the method is also provided.

Abstract: An integrated system for the conversion of biomass to renewable natural gas and then to methanol and other value-added products is provided. The integrated system includes a compressor that receives biomass gases from a biomass source and a series of purification stations that produce purified gas from the biomass gases. Characteristically, the purified gas has an enhanced amount of methane. A gas-to-liquids plant converts the purified gas to a product blend that includes methanol.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing methanol includes reacting a heated hydrocarbon-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor; to provide a product stream comprising methanol; and transferring heat from the product stream to the hydrocarbon-containing gas to heat the hydrocarbon containing gas. After removing methanol and CO2 from the product stream, unprocessed hydrocarbons are mixed with the hydrocarbon containing gas fro reprocessing through the reactor.

Abstract: A method for forming a blend of ethers from a blend of alcohols includes a step of reacting a hydrocarbon-containing gas with an oxygen-containing gas to form first product blend. The first product blend includes a blend of partially oxygenated compounds. The blend of partially oxygenated compounds is provided to a reactive distillation station where it is converted a second product blend. The second product blend typically includes a mixture of ethers. An apparatus implementing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for preparing oxygenated hydrocarbons includes steps of: reacting a first heated hydrocarbon-containing gas stream with an oxygen-containing gas stream in a reactor for form a first product blend, recovering the energy generated in the reactor in order to preheat incoming hydrocarbon feed to the reactor and/or to drive endothermic reactions that generate synthesis gas, separating and condensing one or more liquid oxygenated hydrocarbons from the product stream, separating a reject stream from a recycle stream, mixing remaining gaseous hydrocarbon product from the recycle stream with the first hydrocarbon-containing gas stream after one reaction cycle, converting the first reject stream to a synthesis gas mixture, and converting the synthesis gas mixture to light alkanes to be blended with one or with oxygenates in an output stream to optionally form higher molecular weight oxygenates.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing methanol is provided that reacts a methane-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor to provide a product stream comprising methanol and formaldehyde. The product stream is scrubbed using a process component absorbent. After scrubbing the product stream, unprocessed methane gas is mixed with the methane-containing gas for reprocessing through the reactor while methanol and formaldehyde is sent to a rectification process for removal.

Abstract: A method for removing formaldehyde from a blend of partially oxygenated hydrocarbons is provided. The method including a step of reacting a hydrocarbon-containing gas with an oxygen-containing gas in a reaction vessel to form first product blend. The first product blend includes a blend of partially oxygenated compounds that include formaldehyde. The blend of partially oxygenated compounds is provided to a reactive scrubbing station where it is contacted with a reactive scrubbing liquid to form a reactive liquid-formaldehyde compound. The reactive liquid-formaldehyde compound is then removed from the first blend of partially reactive compounds.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a portable foaming apparatus for a handheld fire suppression system having a container holding a foaming agent, water and a pressurized gas, a foam generating assembly having a snorkel, a gas re-directional opening defined in the foam generating assembly allowing gas to enter the re-directional opening from the container; a nozzle in fluid communication with the gas re-directional opening and included in the foam generating assembly downstream of the snorkel so that gas entering the re-directional opening is inserted in the foam generating assembly downstream the snorkel; and, an outlet defined in the housing ejecting foam produced from the foaming agent and the gas when a foam nozzle attached to the foam generating assembly is actuated.

Abstract: A fire suppression apparatus and method of generating foam are provided in which a foam-forming liquid is introduced under high velocity and pressure into a mixing manifold through a plurality of jets, and a non-combustible gas is introduced under high velocity and pressure into the center of the mixing manifold, downstream of the jets and in the direction of flow of the foam-forming liquid. The foam generated in the mixing manifold is discharged through a hose and nozzle connected to the mixing manifold. The apparatus may be a self-contained unit, supported on a frame, with its own supply of foam-forming liquid and non-combustible gas.

Abstract: A reactor system for gas phase reacting of at least two fluid feed streams, where the reactor system has an injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber in fluid communication with a tubular-flow reactor. The injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber has a bulkhead that slides during real-time operation to either diminish or expand the internal volume of the backmixing reaction chamber. In one embodiment, the effective passageway space through the bulkhead is also variably adjustable. In another embodiment, the tubular-flow reactor shares the bulkhead so that axial bulkhead movement commensurately expands one reaction space while diminishing the other reaction space. Input gas streams enter the backmixing reaction chamber with sufficient velocity to turbulently agitate the contents of the injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber by injective intermixing of the alkane-containing gas feed stream and the oxygen-containing gas feed stream.

Abstract: A fire suppression apparatus and method of generating foam are provided in which a foam-forming liquid is introduced under high velocity and pressure into a mixing manifold through a plurality of jets, and a non-combustible gas is introduced under high velocity and pressure into the center of the mixing manifold, downstream of the jets and in the direction of flow of the foam-forming liquid. The foam generated in the mixing manifold is discharged through a hose and nozzle connected to the mixing manifold. The apparatus may be a self-contained unit, supported on a frame, with its own supply of foam-forming liquid and non-combustible gas.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing methanol includes reacting a heated hydrocarbon-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor; to provide a product stream comprising methanol; and transferring heat from the product stream to the hydrocarbon-containing gas to heat the hydrocarbon containing gas. After removing methanol and CO2 from the product stream, unprocessed hydrocarbons are mixed with the hydrocarbon containing gas fro reprocessing through the reactor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing methanol includes reacting a heated hydrocarbon-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor; and adding a relatively cold hydrocarbon-containing gas, to be mixed directly with a mixture of the heated hydrocarbon-containing gas and the oxygen-containing gas, after formaldehyde is formed to inhibit decomposition of formaldehyde in the reactor, to provide a product stream comprising methanol and formaldehyde; and transferring heat from the product stream to the hydrocarbon-containing gas to heat the hydrocarbon containing gas.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing methanol includes reacting a heated hydrocarbon-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor; to provide a product stream comprising methanol; and transferring heat from the product stream to the hydrocarbon-containing gas to heat the hydrocarbon containing gas. After removing methanol and CO2 from the product stream, unprocessed hydrocarbons are mixed with the hydrocarbon containing gas for reprocessing through the reactor. Reactor byproducts are injected into the ground to increase the output of a hydrocarbon producing well.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing methanol includes reacting a heated hydrocarbon-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor; to provide a product stream comprising methanol; and transferring heat from the product stream to the hydrocarbon-containing gas to heat the hydrocarbon containing gas. After removing methanol and CO2 from the product stream, unprocessed hydrocarbons are mixed with the hydrocarbon containing gas for reprocessing through the reactor. Reactor byproducts are injected into the ground to increase the output of a hydrocarbon producing well.

Abstract: A reactor system for gas phase reacting of at least two fluid feed streams, where the reactor system has an injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber in fluid communication with a tubular-flow reactor. The injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber has a bulkhead that slides during real-time operation to either diminish or expand the internal volume of the backmixing reaction chamber. In one embodiment, the effective passageway space through the bulkhead is also variably adjustable. In another embodiment, the tubular-flow reactor shares the bulkhead so that axial bulkhead movement commensurately expands one reaction space while diminishing the other reaction space. Input gas streams enter the backmixing reaction chamber with sufficient velocity to turbulently agitate the contents of the injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber by injective intermixing of the alkane-containing gas feed stream and the oxygen-containing gas feed stream.

Abstract: A method for alkyl oxygenate (e.g., methanol) manufacture via partial oxidation of alkane (methane) uses an injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber in fluid communication with a tubular-flow reactor. Alkyl free radicals are induced in the backmixing reaction chamber prior to being fed through a flow-restriction baffle to the tubular-flow reactor. Injective intermixing of feed streams agitates the backmixing reaction chamber. In one embodiment, a variable position flow restriction baffle is axially moved to commensurately modify the backmixing reaction chamber and tubular-flow reactor volumes. In another embodiment, the tubular-flow reactor is quenched with a variable position quenching input. The method further provides for condensing the output stream from the reaction system in a condensing scrubber and also for recycling a portion of the scrubbed output stream to the reactor system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing methanol includes reacting a heated hydrocarbon-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor; to provide a product stream comprising methanol; and transferring heat from the product stream to the hydrocarbon-containing gas to heat the hydrocarbon containing gas. After removing methanol and CO2 from the product stream, unprocessed hydrocarbons are mixed with the hydrocarbon containing gas fro reprocessing through the reactor.

Abstract: An apparatus for alkyl oxygenate (e.g., methanol) manufacture via partial oxidation of alkane (methane) has an injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber in fluid communication with a tubular-flow reactor. The injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber induces alkyl free radicals prior to input to the tubular-flow reactor. Injective intermixing of feed streams agitates the backmixing reaction chamber. In one embodiment, a variable position bulkhead axially moves to commensurately modify the backmixing reaction chamber and tubular-flow reactor volumes. In another embodiment, the tubular-flow reactor has a variable position quenching input. Both “hairbrush” and conical input inserts facilitate turbulent injective admixing of the input feed streams in the injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber. A condensing scrubber is also used for treating the output stream from the reaction system.