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 methane purification system includes one or more components that cool and compress an input methane-containing gaseous mixture stream to form a first methane-containing gaseous mixture stream. A filter-separator in fluid communication with the one or more components receives the first methane-containing gaseous mixture stream removing water therefrom to form a second methane-containing gaseous mixture stream. An activated carbon station receives the second methane-containing gaseous mixture stream removing hydrogen sulfide therefrom to form a third methane-containing gaseous mixture stream. A methanol scrubber that receives the third methane-containing gaseous mixture stream or an expanded stream therefrom, removing carbon dioxide to form a fourth methane-containing gaseous mixture stream. A final stage separator produces a purified methane stream from the fourth methane-containing gaseous mixture stream or an expanded stream therefrom.

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: 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: 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: A system that combines partial hydrocarbon oxidation with methane reforming is provided. The system advantageously uses products or partial products from the partial hydrocarbon oxidation to form the syngas, mixture of alcohols and other oxygenated hydrocarbons.

Abstract: An electricity generator includes a generator section which is a complete standalone electricity generator designed to operate on a hydrocarbon fuel and a fuel conversion section which adapts the generator section to operate on alternative fuels that are different than the designed fuel of generator section. The generator section includes a RPM control unit, an internal combustion engine which has a crankshaft, an electromagnetic conversion component which converts the rotational motion of the crankshaft into electricity and a crankshaft sensor which senses the rotational speed of the crankshaft thereby creating a RPM control signal. The control signal is provided to the RPM control unit which controls the rotational speed of the crankshaft. The fuel conversion section includes a first fuel source and a second fuel source. Characteristically, the first fuel source provides a methanol-containing fuel and the second fuel source provides LPG or flare gas.

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 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 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 includes a step of reacting a hydrocarbon-containing gas with an oxygen-containing gas to form a first product blend in a reactor. The first product blend includes a blend of partially oxygenated compounds. The blend of partially oxygenated compounds is provided to one or more reactive distillation stations; and The blend of partially oxygenated compounds is converted to a second product blend at one or more reactive distillation stations. Characteristically, the second product blend includes a mixture comprising a at least two of components selected from acetals, ethers, alcohols, esters, and alkenes.

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: An apparatus for removing formaldehyde from a blend of partially oxygenated hydrocarbons includes a reactor for reacting a hydrocarbon-containing gas with an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor vessel to form first product blend. The first product blend includes a blend of partially oxygenated compounds that include formaldehyde. The apparatus also includes a reactive scrubbing station in fluid communication with the reactor where the blend of partially oxygenated compounds that include formaldehyde is contacted with a reactive scrubbing liquid at the reactive scrubbing station to form a reactive liquid-formaldehyde compound.

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 includes a step of reacting a hydrocarbon-containing gas with an oxygen-containing gas to form a first product blend in a reactor. The first product blend includes a blend of partially oxygenated compounds. The blend of partially oxygenated compounds is provided to one or more reactive distillation stations; and The blend of partially oxygenated compounds is converted to a second product blend at one or more reactive distillation stations. Characteristically, the second product blend includes a mixture comprising a at least two of components selected from acetals, ethers, alcohols, esters, and alkenes.

Abstract: A method includes a step of supplying a first heated hydrocarbon-containing gas stream to a reactor. An oxygen-containing gas stream is separately supplied to the reactor to partially oxidize the hydrocarbon-containing gas stream. The oxygen-containing gas is optionally prepared by passing air through one or more membranes to increase the oxygen content. One or more of the desired liquid oxygenated hydrocarbons are condensed and/or separated from the resulting product stream. Non-hydrocarbon gases are selectively removed from the product stream to enrich the gaseous hydrocarbon fraction using a scrubber and/or a membrane. The remaining gaseous hydrocarbon products from the product stream are mixed with a fresh hydrocarbon-containing gas stream after one cycle of the reaction. Characteristically, the process uses at least one membrane to increase oxygen content of the oxygen containing gas and/or to remove non-hydrocarbon gases from the product stream as set forth above.

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.