Patents Assigned to The Lummus Company
  • Packed bed gas-liquid contactor
    Patent number: 4094936
    Abstract: A packed bed gas-liquid contactor wherein the liquid distributor is positioned within and supported by the packed bed, with the portion of the packed bed above the liquid distributor being blocked by an imperforate structure and the remaining portion including non-process packing, whereby gas flows from the process packing through a limited portion of the upper part of the packed bed, defined by the non-process packing to the gas outlet. In this manner, the residence time of the gas in the upper portion of the bed is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1978
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventor: Jorge M. Fernandez-Baujin
  • Recovery of 12-dichloroethane from vinyl chloride production effluent
    Patent number: 4094915
    Abstract: An effluent from a process for producing vinyl chloride includes 1,2-dichloroethane and heavier components, with the 1,2-dichloroethane being recovered, in a heavy ends stripping column by use of ethane and/or ethylene as stripping gas. The stripping gas is ultimately used for production of vinyl chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1978
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventor: Utah Tsao
  • Supported vanadia catalyst for nitrile production and process for preparing the catalyst
    Patent number: 4092271
    Abstract: Vanadia supported on a silica-alumina or gamma-alumina support in an amount to provide a vanadia to support weight ratio ranging from about 0.3:1 to about 3:1 substantially entirely within the pores of the support, the vanadia having been placed in molten form substantially within the pores of a support having a surface area greater than about 50m.sup.2 gram, a porosity greater than about 0.4 cc/gram which further includes an alkali metal, with the vanadium metal to alkali metal mole ratio being from 2:1 to 30:1. At least a portion of the alkali metal is preferably in the form of alkali metal vanadate. The catalyst is used for the production of nitriles from a compound containing at least one alkyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1978
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventor: Morgan C. Sze
  • Separation of insoluble material from coal liquefaction product by gravity settling
    Patent number: 4077881
    Abstract: Insoluble material is separated from a coal liquefaction product by gravity settling in the presence of a promoter liquid having specific characteristics, with a portion of the solid containing underflow being recycled to the gravity settler and introduced at a point above the introduction of the coal liquefaction product, with the respective points of introduction being separated by a distance of at least 0.1 H and no greater than 0.5 H wherein H is the total height of the gravity settler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1978
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventor: George J. Snell
  • Waste heat recovery from high temperature reaction effluents
    Patent number: 4074660
    Abstract: Additional waste heat recovery from a high temperature reaction effluent is effected by cooling the effluent in a shell and tube heat exchanger, having continuous tubes, with the shell being divided into two sections. In the first section, the effluent is cooled by indirect heat transfer with water at a pressure to generate medium pressure steam, and in the second section, the effluent is cooled by water which is at a pressure to generate low pressure steam or a pressure to effect preheating thereof without vaporization. Heat recovery is effected with a minimum pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1978
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventor: Utah Tsao
  • Control of molten salt oxidation in production of chlorinated hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4071571
    Abstract: In the production of chlorinated hydrocarbons by contacting a molten salt mixture of the higher and lower chloride of a multivalent metal, such as a mixture of cuprous and cupric chloride, with molecular oxygen to effect oxidation to the oxychloride, followed by use of the oxidized salt for the production of chlorinated hydrocarbons, the quantity of carbon dioxide vented from the system is determined, and oxygen introduction is decreased in response to increases in vented carbon dioxide to decrease oxychloride concentration and limit carbon dioxide production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1978
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventor: Utah Tsao
  • Molten salt lift gas system for production of chlorinated hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4061471
    Abstract: In the production of chlorinated hydrocarbons by the use of molten salts wherein molten salt is oxidized in a first reactor and lifted by lift gas in a first lift gas circuit into a chlorinated hydrocarbon production reactor, with the molten salt withdrawn from the chlorinated hydrocarbon production reactor being lifted by a lift gas in a second lift gas circuit into the oxidation reactor, a single pressurized melt storage tank is connected to the first and second lift gas circuits to provide both control of flow rates and surge capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventor: Morgan C. Sze
  • Stripping ammonia from liquid effluent of a hydrodenitrification process
    Patent number: 4059503
    Abstract: A nitrogen containing feedstock is hydrodenitrified by passing the feed through at least two hydrodenitrification zones, with ammonia produced in the hydrodenitrification being purged from the system prior to the last hydrodenitrification zone to maintain a low ammonia partial pressure in the last hydrodenitrification zone. The ammonia is preferably purged by stripping ammonia from the liquid portion of the effluent withdrawn from the next to last hydrodenitrification zone. Improved denitrification is obtained by maintaining a low ammonia partial pressure in the last hydrodenitrification zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1977
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventors: Morgan C. Sze, Harvey D. Schindler, Anthony Fanelli
  • Hydrotreating of pyrolysis gasoline
    Patent number: 4059504
    Abstract: Pyrolysis gasoline is stabilized by hydrotreating in the presence of a catalyst of cobalt-tungsten sulfide supported on high surface area alumina. Dienes are selectively hydrogenated and mercaptan sulfur is reduced, without production of polymer and the product has an ASTM distillation curve essentially identical to the feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1977
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventor: William V. Bauer
  • Production of cyanopyridines from piperidines
    Patent number: 4057552
    Abstract: Nicotinonitrile is produced from a piperidine having an alkyl substituent in the three position by contact with ammonia, in the absence of molecular oxygen, and in the presence of oxidized vanadia supported on a porous support, containing from 25% to 75%, by weight, of the vanadia, the vanadia having been placed in molten form substantially entirely within the pores of the support, with the support having a surface area greater than 50 m.sup.2 /gm and a porosity greater than 0.4 cc/gm, with the support being either gamma-alumina or silica-alumina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1977
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventors: Hermann Richtzenhain, Paul Janssen, deceased
  • Preparation of pyridines and nicotinonitrile from piperidines
    Patent number: 4051140
    Abstract: A piperidine, such as methyl piperidine is converted to the corresponding pyridine by the use of a supported vanadia catalyst. Nicotinonitrile can be produced by conversion of 3-methyl piperidine to 3-methyl pyridine with a supported vanadia catalyst, followed by ammonolysis to nicotinonitrile by the use of a supported vanadia catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1977
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventors: Abraham P. Gelbein, Paul Janssen, deceased, Hermann Richtzenhain
  • Control of freezing in air-cooled steam condensers
    Patent number: 4045961
    Abstract: Damage to steam condensers resulting from freezing of condensate when operating at below freezing ambient air temperature and at low steam flow rates and/or low ambient temperatures is prevented by causing air or other non-condensible inert gas or gases to accumulate in tubes and/or headers of the condenser for a period of time sufficient to substantially lower the heat transfer capacity of the condenser but insufficient to cause damage due to freezing of condensate. The accumulation is caused by shutting off the air takeoff from condensate headers and/or introducing additional air or other non-condensible gas into the apparatus for a controlled, predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1977
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventor: Willem Schoonman
  • Coupling process
    Patent number: 4045504
    Abstract: Process for coupling an alkane to either an alkane, alkene, aliphatic carboxylic acid, or aromatic hydrocarbon by effecting contacting thereof and a melt containing a multivalent metal halide in both its higher and lower valance state. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the contacting is effected in the presence of an oxygen containing gas or the melt is previously contacted with an oxygen containing gas to produce the corresponding oxyhalide of the metal, whereby the reaction may be effected on a continuous basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1977
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventors: Maurice E. Brooks, Herbert Riegel, Harvey D. Schindler, Morgan C. Sze
  • Oxychlorination of hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4042640
    Abstract: In the oxychlorination of a hydrocarbon, the ratio of hydrocarbon feed to hydrogen chloride feed is maintained within set limits in response to changes in the concentration of aqueous hydrogen chloride recovered from the oxychlorination effluent. The concentration of aqueous hydrogen chloride recovered from the effluent may be determined either by conductivity and/or density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1977
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventor: Utah Tsao
  • Vessel having natural gas liquefaction capabilities
    Patent number: 4041721
    Abstract: There is disclosed a vessel having natural gas liquefaction capabilities formed of a plurality of self-contained liquefaction assemblies, each of which being disposed in a separate liquefaction compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1977
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventor: Ludwig Kniel
  • Separation of insoluble material from coal liquefaction product by use of a diluent
    Patent number: 4040957
    Abstract: Insoluble materials are separated from a coal liquefaction product having a quinoline insoluble content of greater than 15 wt. % by diluting the product with a diluent which is a solvent for the components which are quinoline soluble and benzene insoluble, with the diluent being added in an amount to provide a mixture having a quinoline insoluble content of no greater than 13 wt. %. Insoluble material is then separated by gravity settling in the presence of a promoter liquid having a 5 volume percent distillation temperature of at least 250.degree. F and a 95 volume percent distillation temperature of at least 350.degree. F and no greater than 750.degree. F, with the promoter liquid having a characterization factor of at least 9.75.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1977
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventors: Morgan C. Sze, George J. Snell
  • Carbon dioxide removal from chlorinated hydrocarbon production system
    Patent number: 4039597
    Abstract: In the production of chlorinated hydrocarbons, a gas stream containing unreacted hydrocarbon, carbon dioxide, and chlorinated hydrocarbon(s) is contacted with an acid gas absorption solution to absorb carbon dioxide, with the absorption solution being stripped of any absorbed chlorinated hydrocarbon, preferably by use of feed hydrocarbon as stripping gas, without stripping of carbon dioxide therefrom, to maintain the rich absorption solution introduced into the carbon dioxide stripper essentially free of absorbed chlorinated hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1977
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventor: Utah Tsao
  • Molten salt lift gas system for production of chlorinated hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4036900
    Abstract: Process for producing a chlorinated hydrocarbon by the use of molten salts containing a multivalent metal chloride in its higher and lower valence states by oxidation of the molten salt in an oxidation reactor and use of the oxidized salt in an oxychlorination/chlorination reactor for production of chlorinated hydrocarbons wherein gaseous effluent withdrawn from the oxidation reactor is employed as lift gas for lifting the molten salts for introduction into the upper portions of the oxidation reactor and oxychlorination/chlorination reactor, with the work being provided by expansion of the oxidizer effluent. In this manner, the need for a lift gas compressor is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1977
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventor: Vincent A. Strangio
  • Recovery of chlorine values from a melt oxidation gas
    Patent number: 4036776
    Abstract: A molten mixture containing the higher and lower valent forms of a multivalent metal chloride; in particular, cuprous and cupric chloride, is contacted with oxygen, and aqueous hydrogen chloride recycle, to recover the chlorine values by generation of the higher valent metal chloride and also effect oxidation of the melt by production of the oxychloride. The gas withdrawn from the oxidation contains hydrogen chloride, chlorine and water vapor, with the hydrogen chloride being separate from the gas as aqueous hydrogen chloride and recycle to the oxidation. The chlorine and water vapor in the gas are contacted with activated carbon to produce hydrogen chloride, which is separated as aqueous hydrogen chloride and recycled to the oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1977
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventors: Herbert D. Riegel, Harvey D. Schindler, Vincent A. Strangio
  • Production of hexachlorocyclopentadiene
    Patent number: 4036897
    Abstract: Hexachlorocyclopentadiene is produced by contacting pentane, pentene, cyclopentane or cyclopentene or chlorinated derivatives thereof with a molten salt mixture of cuprous and cupric chloride. Cyclopentadiene can also be employed as an initial feed, in which case the cyclopentadiene is initially chlorinated to effect saturation thereof, followed by contacting of the chloro substituted cyclopentane with a molten salt mixture of cuprous and cupric chloride to produce hexachlorocyclopentadiene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1977
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventors: Vincent A. Strangio, Herbert Riegel, Morgan C. Sze