Patents Assigned to Linde GMBH
  • Patent number: 12655815
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine specified to be run with a fuel gas mixture comprising at least one hydrocarbon and hydrogen in a maximum specified hydrogen content using a pipeline gas withdrawn from a pipeline and comprising the at least one hydrocarbon and a hydrogen content exceeding the maximum specified hydrogen content is provided. The pipeline gas is at least in part subjected to a hydrogen depletion to yield a hydrogen depleted gas mixture not exceeding the maximum specified hydrogen content. Said hydrogen depleted gas mixture is at least in part used as the fuel gas and said hydrogen depletion includes a membrane separation. A corresponding arrangement is also part of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Keller, Christian Voss, Martin Bauer, Patrick Schiffmann, Alexander Siemens, Oliver Purrucker
  • Patent number: 12631399
    Abstract: A wound heat exchanger, comprising a shell, a bundle of tubes arranged inside the shell and through which a medium can flow, a first annular channel arranged inside the shell and runs around it for separating a liquid phase of a refrigerant from a gaseous phase of the refrigerant, a second annular channel arranged inside the shell and runs around it and is intended for evenly distributing the liquid phase over the bundle of tubes in order to exchange the heat between the refrigerant and the medium, and a connecting channel which establishes a fluid connection between the first annular channel and the second annular channel in order to conduct the liquid phase out of the first annular channel into the second annular channel, wherein the first annular channel and the second annular channel are spaced apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Spreemann, Hubert Lachenwitzer, Luis Matamoros, Florian Deichsel
  • Patent number: 12611626
    Abstract: A process is proposed for separating carbon dioxide from a feed stream containing carbon dioxide, in which at least part of the feed stream is subjected to temperature swing adsorption to obtain a first and a second successive stream, wherein, in each case relative to the feed stream, the first subsequent stream is depleted in carbon dioxide and the second subsequent stream is enriched in carbon dioxide, and at least part of the second subsequent stream is subjected to membrane separation to obtain a third and a fourth subsequent stream, the third subsequent stream being depleted in carbon dioxide and the fourth subsequent stream being enriched in carbon dioxide, in each case relative to the second subsequent stream. A corresponding arrangement is also an object of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2026
    Assignee: LINDE GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Leitmayr, Thomas Ried, Gabriel Salazar Duarte, Patrick Schiffmann
  • Patent number: 12600912
    Abstract: A method of steam cracking using a steam cracking arrangement including an electric cracking furnace without a convection zone and a quench cooling train is proposed, wherein a process gas stream is passed through the cracking furnace and the cooling train. The cooling train is operated to comprise at least two distinct cooling steps arranged in either order, wherein in a first cooling step at least a part of the process gas stream withdrawn from the electric cracking furnace is cooled against vaporizing boiler feed water at an absolute pressure level between 30 and 175 bar and wherein in a second cooling step at least a part of the process gas stream withdrawn from the electric cracking furnace is cooled against a superheated mixture of feed hydrocarbons and process steam used in forming the process gas stream which is thereby heated to a temperature level between 350 and 750° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: LINDE GMBH
    Inventors: Mathieu Zellhuber, Michael Horenz, David Bruder, Martin Hofstatter
  • Patent number: 12583052
    Abstract: Provided is a method of connecting an austenitic steel pipe with a ferritic steel pipe. The method comprises providing the austenitic steel pipe and the ferritic steel pipe, such that an inner end section of the austenitic steel pipe has an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of an outer section of the ferritic steel pipe, inserting the inner end section into the outer end section, such that the inner and outer end sections overlap in a connection region, and welding the inner and outer end sections in the connection region by explosive welding or magnetic pulse welding. Further, a linear quench exchanger and a processing arrangement for processing a process fluid are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: LINDE GMBH
    Inventors: Reinhold Hölzl, Matthias Grundwürmer, Thomas Englert, Josef-Andreas Pöllmann
  • Patent number: 12569799
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a gas treatment process in which a process arrangement comprising three process units is used, the gas treatment process comprising subsequently operating a different one of the three process units in a heating mode during a heating phase, the heating mode comprising heating a first gas stream to a first temperature level using a first heat exchanger, introducing the first gas stream at the first temperature level to the process unit which is operated in the heating mode, withdrawing a second gas stream from the process unit which is operated in the heating mode, and thereafter cooling the second gas stream to a second temperature level using a second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Deichsel, Thomas Ried, Gabriel Salazar Duarte, Martin Pottmann, Verena Kramer, Emilie Duval, Georg Förster
  • Patent number: 12571586
    Abstract: A method for operating a process plant using a dynamic model of the process plant, the dynamic model being based on at least one of thermo fluidic correlations, thermo dynamic correlations, phenomenological correlations, and equations, and being based on geometry and/or topology of components of the process plant, the dynamic model receiving process parameters as input values, the dynamic model being adapted to represent a transition from one to another state of the process plant, wherein the dynamic model is used in an online mode, in which the dynamic model is used in parallel with the operation of the process plant, wherein signals from a control system of the process plant, the signals representing values of at least one first process parameter, are received and fed into the dynamic model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Schliebitz, Ingo Thomas, Bernd Wunderlich, Martin Pottmann, Anna Ecker
  • Patent number: 12565460
    Abstract: A method for producing a target compound includes distributing a feed mixture containing ethane to multiple reaction tubes of a shell-and-tube reactor arranged in parallel, and subjecting to an oxidative catalytic conversion of the ethane in the reaction tubes. The catalytic reaction is carried out by means of catalysis zones with different activity arranged in series in the reaction tubes. One or more catalytically active materials and one or more catalytically inactive materials are provided in each of the catalysis zones. The different activity of the catalysis zones is effected by providing the one or more catalytically active materials having identical or essentially identical basic formulation, wherein the one or more catalytically active materials is or are prepared using different calcination intensities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2026
    Assignees: Linde GmbH, Clariant International Ltd.
    Inventors: Mathieu Zellhuber, Martin Schubert, Andreas Meiswinkel, Wolfgang Muller, Gerhard Mestl, Klaus Wanninger, Peter Scheck
  • Patent number: 12553573
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a storage tank for liquid hydrogen, comprising a wall, a base, which closes the wall at the end face on one side, a top, which closes the wall at the end face on the side facing away from the base, and an intermediate wall, which is arranged inside of the wall and at a distance therefrom, wherein a gap is provided between a lower edge of the intermediate wall and the base, so that an interior enclosed by the intermediate wall is fluidically connected to an interior enclosed by the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Aigner, Manfred Schönberger
  • Patent number: 12552996
    Abstract: A method of steam cracking includes using a steam cracking arrangement that has a fired cracking furnace, a quench cooling train, and rotating equipment at least partly driven by electric energy. A process gas stream is passed through the furnace and the cooling train. A steam generation arrangement, operated in thermal association with the cracking arrangement, results in superheated high pressure steam at a first pressure level of 30 and 175 bar absolute pressure and at a first temperature level. No steam at a higher temperature level than the first is generated. The superheated high pressure steam is partially adiabatically and isenthalpically expanded to a second lower pressure level. The first temperature level is selected such that each intermediate temperature level reached at intermediate pressure levels of more than 20 bar during the adiabatic and isenthalpic expansion process is between 5 and 120 K above the dew point of steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Horenz, Mathieu Zellhuber, Robert Stegemann, Gunther Schmidt
  • Patent number: 12540694
    Abstract: A method for producing a connection, between attachment ends of two components that are to be connected, by means of two connection flanges, each of which is provided at one attachment end, wherein a sealable cavity is formed between those sides of the two connection flanges that are to face each other, wherein a closable and, if necessary, openable channel is provided between the cavity and a surrounding environment, and a negative pressure is generated in the cavity and the channel is closed, wherein a trigger mechanism is provided which is configured to open the channel in an automated manner upon the occurrence of a trigger criterion, and also to a corresponding connection device and to the use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2026
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventor: Florian Ehegartner
  • Patent number: 12508546
    Abstract: A membrane separation unit wherein the membrane separation unit has a pressure vessel and a membrane provided inside the pressure vessel in a membrane arrangement, and wherein the pressure vessel has an inlet nozzle for a feed gas mixture, an outlet nozzle for a permeate and an outlet nozzle for a retentate. The membrane separation unit has in this case measurement means that are arranged at least partially inside the pressure vessel and/or inside the inlet nozzle for the feed gas mixture and/or inside the outlet nozzle for the permeate and/or inside the outlet nozzle for the retentate and are set up to record one or more parameters relevant to operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2025
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Voss, Rainer Hoffmann, Patrick Schiffmann, Matthias Johannink
  • Patent number: 12510294
    Abstract: A process for cryogenic fractionation of air uses an air fractionation plant (100-400) comprises a rectification column system (10) having a high-pressure column (11) operated at a pressure level of 9 to 14.5 bar, a low-pressure column (12) operated at a pressure level of 2 to 5 bar, and an argon column (13). A recirculating stream is formed using a second top gas or a portion thereof, which is heated, compressed, cooled again, and after partial or complete liquefaction or in the unliquefied state is introduced partially or completely, or in fractions, into the first rectification column (11) and/or into the second rectification column (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2025
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventor: Dimitri Golubev
  • Patent number: 12492863
    Abstract: Described herein is a process for low-temperature separation of air, in which an air separation plant having a first rectification column and a second rectification column is used, the first rectification column being supplied with cooled compressed air and the second rectification column being supplied with liquid from the first rectification column or liquid formed herefrom. In a first condenser-evaporator, head gas from the first rectification column is condensed and liquid from the second rectification column, or liquid formed herefrom, is evaporated, thereby producing a first evaporation product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2025
    Assignee: LINDE GMBH
    Inventor: Dimitri Golubev
  • Patent number: 12459878
    Abstract: A method for producing a target compound includes distributing a feed mixture containing ethane to multiple reaction tubes of a shell-and-tube reactor arranged in parallel, and subjecting to an oxidative catalytic conversion of the ethane in the reaction tubes. The catalytic reaction is carried out by means of catalysis zones with different activity arranged in series in the reaction tubes. One or more catalytically active materials and one or more catalytically inactive materials are provided in each of the catalysis zones. The different activity of the catalysis zones is effected by providing the one or more catalytically active materials having identical or essentially identical basic formulation, wherein the one or more catalytically active materials is or are prepared using different calcination intensities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2025
    Assignees: Linde GmbH, Clariant International Ltd.
    Inventors: Mathieu Zellhuber, Martin Schubert, Andreas Meiswinkel, Wolfgang Muller, Gerhard Mestl, Klaus Wanninger, Peter Scheck
  • Patent number: 12458943
    Abstract: A reactor includes a reactor vessel and one or more reaction tubes A number of tube sections of the one or more reaction tubes in each case run between a first region and a second region in the reactor vessel. For the electrical heating of the tube sections, the tube sections in the first region can be electrically connected to (a) current connection(s) of a current source. In the first region, current feed arrangements are provided; in each case one or in each case one group of the tube sections are electrically connected, and each comprise (a) contact passage(s) that in each case adjoin(s) at least one of the tube sections in the first region. A wall of the contact passages in each case is connected to a current feed element that has a rod-shaped section that runs at a wall passage through a wall of the reactor vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2025
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventors: Mathieu Zellhuber, Martin Hofstätter, Heinz Posselt, Christian Lang, Robert Stegemann, Anton Wellenhofer, Volker Jeromin, Peter Reiser, Georg Kiese, Christian Ziegler, Andrey Shustov, Eric Jenne, Kiara Aenne Kochendörfer, Heinrich Laib, Heinz-Jürgen Kühn, Reiner Jacob, Clara Delhomme-Neudecker
  • Patent number: 12455022
    Abstract: Provided is a connection element comprising a tubular first part with a first ring-shaped connection face for connection with a highly heat resistant steel pipe and a tubular second part with a second ring-shaped connection face for connection with a first ferritic steel pipe; wherein the first part is of a corrosion resistant steel material and wherein the second part is of a ferritic steel material; wherein the first and second parts are in one-piece and formed such that a passage between the first and second ring-shaped connection faces is formed; and wherein the first and second parts are produced by an additive manufacturing process. Further provided are a pipe arrangement and a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2025
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhold Hölzl, Matthias Grundwürmer, Thomas Englert, Josef-Andreas Pöllmann
  • Patent number: 12454500
    Abstract: Producing a product hydrocarbon includes subjecting a feed mixture containing a feed hydrocarbon and oxygen to selective oxidation to obtain a product mixture containing product hydrocarbon and water. A subsequent mixture is formed from a portion of the product mixture by separating a portion of the water. Oxygen in the feed mixture is partially converted during the selective oxidation, so that the product mixture has a first residual oxygen content and the subsequent mixture has a second residual oxygen content. Detection of the first and/or the second residual oxygen content is performed using a first measuring device. A second measuring device at the end of the catalyst bed detects temperature. Using a process control and/or evaluation unit, measurement data of the first and/or second measuring device(s) are detected and are evaluated and/or processed while obtaining follow-up data. Process control is carried out on the basis of the follow-up data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2025
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventors: Mathieu Zellhuber, Martin Schubert, Andreas Meiswinkel, Anina Wohl
  • Patent number: 12442593
    Abstract: A method for operating an air separation plant having a distillation column system, a heat exchanger, and an adsorber, wherein, in a first time period, a first operating mode is carried out and, in a second time period following the first time period, a second operating mode is carried out. In a third time period between the second time period and the first time period, a third operating mode is carried out, in which third operating mode compressed air is at least partially freed of water and carbon dioxide in the adsorber and at least part of said compressed air is cooled in the heat exchanger, an air product is removed from the distillation column system and at least part of said air product is heated in the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2025
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Lochner, Ralph Spöri, Christoph Windmeier, Pascal Freko, Andreas Obermeier
  • Patent number: 12440819
    Abstract: A reactor has a reactor vessel and one or more reaction tubes. One or more power input elements are guided into the reactor vessel for the electrical heating of the reaction tube(s). The one or more power input elements each have a rod-shaped section, and the rod-shaped section(s) each run in a respective wall passage through a wall of the reactor vessel. A connection chamber into which the rod-shaped section(s) project is arranged outside the reactor vessel and adjacent to the wall of the reactor vessel through which the rod-shaped section(s) run in their wall passages. Gas feed means apply an inerting gas to the connection chamber, and the wall passages with the rod-shaped sections received therein in a longitudinally-movable manner are designed to be gas-permeable so that at least a portion of the inerting gas fed into the connection chamber flows out into the reactor vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2025
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Hofstätter, Mathieu Zellhuber, Peter Reiser, Georg Kiese, Christian Ziegler, Robert Stegemann, Jens Aengenheister, Jürgen Feigl, Anton Wellenhofer, Clara Delhomme-Neudecker, Andrey Shustov, Eric Jenne, Kiara Aenne Kochendörfer, Heinrich Laib, Heinz-Jürgen Kühn, Reiner Jacob