Patents Assigned to Velocys
  • Patent number: 11905478
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a useful product from carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics, the process comprising the steps of: continuously providing the carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics to a gasification zone; gasifying the carbonaceous feedstock in the gasification zone to obtain raw synthesis gas; sequentially removing ammoniacal, sulphurous and carbon dioxide impurities from the raw synthesis gas to form desulphurised gas and recovering carbon dioxide in substantially pure form; converting at least a portion of the desulphurised synthesis gas to a useful product. Despite having selected a more energy intensive sub-process i.e. physical absorption for removal of acid gas impurities, the overall power requirement of the facility is lower on account of lower steam requirements and thereby leading to a decrease in the carbon intensity score for the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Velocys Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ivan Philip Greager, Roger Allen Harris, Neil Alexander King, Soumitra R. Deshmukh, Zheyan Qiu
  • Patent number: 11873458
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a useful product from carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics, comprising the steps of: continuously providing the carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics to a gasification zone; gasifying the carbonaceous feedstock in the gasification zone to obtain raw synthesis gas; recovering at least part of the raw synthesis gas from the gasification zone and supplying at least part of the recovered raw synthesis gas to a partial oxidation zone; equilibrating the H2:CO ratio of the raw synthesis gas in the partial oxidation zone to obtain equilibrated synthesis gas; recovering at least part of the equilibrated synthesis gas from the partial oxidation zone and treating the gas to remove impurities and generate a fine synthesis gas; and converting the optionally adjusted fine synthesis gas into the useful product in a further chemical reaction requiring a usage ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Velocys Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: Ivan Philip Greager, Roger Allen Harris, Neil Alexander King, Soumitra R. Deshmukh, Zheyan Qiu, Ashish Gupta
  • Patent number: 11840668
    Abstract: An integrated process for the production of a useful liquid hydrocarbon product comprises: feeding a gasification zone with an oxygen-containing feed and a first carbonaceous feedstock comprising waste materials and/or biomass, gasifying the first carbonaceous feedstock in the gasification zone to produce first synthesis gas, partially oxidising the first synthesis gas in a partial oxidation zone to generate partially oxidised synthesis gas, combining at least a portion of the first synthesis gas and/or the partially oxidised synthesis gas and at least a portion of electrolysis hydrogen obtained from an electrolyser in an amount to achieve the desired hydrogen to carbon monoxide molar ratio of from about 1.5:1 to about 2.5:1, and to generate a blended synthesis gas, wherein the electrolyser operates using green electricity; and subjecting at least a portion of the blended synthesis gas to a conversion process effective to produce the liquid hydrocarbon product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Velocys Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: Ivan Greager, Roger Harris, Rudolph Havenga, Neil King
  • Publication number: 20230392090
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of a useful product from synthesis gas having a desired hydrogen to carbon monoxide molar ratio comprising: gasifying a first carbonaceous feedstock comprising waste materials and/or biomass in a gasification zone to produce a first synthesis gas; optionally partially oxidising the first synthesis gas in a partial oxidation zone to generate oxidised synthesis gas; reforming a second carbonaceous feedstock to produce a second synthesis gas, the second synthesis gas having a different hydrogen to carbon ratio from that of the first raw synthesis gas; combining at least a portion of the first synthesis gas and at least a portion of the second synthesis gas in an amount to achieve the desired hydrogen to carbon molar ratio and to generate a combined synthesis gas and subjecting at least part of the combined synthesis gas to a conversion process effective to produce the useful product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: VELOCYS TECHNOLOGIES LTD
    Inventors: Ivan Philip Greager, Roger Allen Harris, Rudolph Havenga, Neil Alexander King
  • Patent number: 11834614
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a useful product from synthesis gas having a desired hydrogen to carbon monoxide molar ratio comprises gasifying a first carbonaceous feedstock comprising waste materials and/or biomass in a gasification zone to produce a first synthesis gas; optionally partially oxidising the first synthesis gas in a partial oxidation zone to generate oxidised synthesis gas; reforming a second carbonaceous feedstock to produce a second synthesis gas, the second synthesis gas having a different hydrogen to carbon ratio from that of the first raw synthesis gas; combining at least a portion of the first synthesis gas and at least a portion of the second synthesis gas in an amount to achieve the desired hydrogen to carbon molar ratio and to generate a combined synthesis gas and subjecting at least part of the combined synthesis gas to a conversion process effective to produce the useful product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Velocys Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: Ivan Philip Greager, Roger Allen Harris, Rudolph Havenga, Neil Alexander King
  • Publication number: 20230382821
    Abstract: The present invention provides integrated process for the production of a useful liquid hydrocarbon product comprising the steps of: feeding a gasification zone with an oxygen-containing feed and a first carbonaceous feedstock comprising waste materials and/or biomass, gasifying the first carbonaceous feedstock in the gasification zone to produce a first synthesis gas, partially oxidising the first synthesis gas in a partial oxidation zone to generate partially oxidised synthesis gas, combining at least a portion of the first synthesis gas and/or the partially oxidised synthesis gas and at least a portion of electrolysis hydrogen obtained from an electrolyser in an amount to achieve the desired hydrogen to carbon monoxide molar ratio of from about 1.5:1 to about 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: VELOCYS TECHNOLOGIES LTD
    Inventors: Ivan Greager, Roger Harris, Rudolph Havenga, Neil Alexander King
  • Publication number: 20230347323
    Abstract: The present invention provides a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst comprising greater than about 40% by weight of cobalt, and having a packed apparent bulk density greater than about 1.30 g/mL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Velocys Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: Daniele LEONARDUZZI, Diarmid ROBERTS, Jay PRITCHARD, Heinz J. ROBOTA
  • Patent number: 11739014
    Abstract: The Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process creates significant amounts of water. The invention provides an aqueous composition comprising specified amounts of dissolved and suspended solids, low chemical oxygen demand and low chlorine demand, pH in the range of 6.5 to 8.0, where the aqueous composition comprises organic carbon derived from fossil sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Velocys Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Graham Lea, Ivan Philip Greager, Laura J. Silva
  • Patent number: 11717812
    Abstract: The present invention provides a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst comprising greater than about 40% by weight of cobalt, and having a packed apparent bulk density greater than about 1.30 g/mL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Velocys Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: Daniele Leonarduzzi, Diarmid Roberts, Jay Pritchard, Heinz J. Robota
  • Patent number: 11661553
    Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a method for restarting a synthesis gas conversion process which has stopped. The synthesis gas conversion process may be conducted in a conventional reactor or a microchannel reactor. The synthesis gas conversion process may comprise a process for converting synthesis gas to methane, methanol or dimethyl ether. The synthesis gas conversion process may be a Fischer-Tropsch process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger A. Harris, Soumitra R. Deshmukh, Paul E. Kennedy, Robert Dwayne Litt, Lucas D. Schrader, Andre P. Steynberg, Steven T. Perry
  • Patent number: 11618860
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of a useful product from carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics, the process comprising the steps of: continuously providing the carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics to a gasification zone; gasifying the carbonaceous feedstock in the gasification zone to obtain raw synthesis gas; sequentially removing ammoniacal, sulphurous and carbon dioxide impurities from the raw synthesis gas to form desulphurised gas and recovering carbon dioxide in substantially pure form; converting at least a portion of the desulphurised synthesis gas to a useful product. Despite having selected a more energy intensive sub-process i.e. physical absorption for removal of acid gas impurities, the overall power requirement of the facility is lower on account of lower steam requirements and thereby leading to a decrease in the carbon intensity score for the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Velocys Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ivan Philip Greager, Roger Allen Harris, Neil Alexander King, Soumitra R. Deshmukh, Zheyan Qiu
  • Patent number: 11612874
    Abstract: The invention providing methods of loading and unloading particulate from micorchannels in apparatus that contains multiple microchannels, typically apparatus that is designed to operate with hundreds or thousands of particulate-containing microchannels. Aligning a sonicating head at one end of a set of microchannels provides a particularly effective mode for densifying particulate in microchannels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Ramler, Anna Lee Tonkovich, Rachid D. Taha, Kai T. P. Jarosch, Robert J. Luzenski, Jeffery D. Slane, Thomas D. Hickey, Sean D. Fitzgerald, Harley D. Freeman, Frederick A. Zenz
  • Patent number: 11578281
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a useful product from carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics, comprising the steps of: continuously providing the carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics to a gasification zone; gasifying the carbonaceous feedstock in the gasification zone to obtain raw synthesis gas; recovering at least part of the raw synthesis gas from the gasification zone and supplying at least part of the recovered raw synthesis gas to a partial oxidation zone; equilibrating the H2:CO ratio of the raw synthesis gas in the partial oxidation zone to obtain equilibrated synthesis gas; recovering at least part of the equilibrated synthesis gas from the partial oxidation zone and treating the gas to remove impurities and generate a fine synthesis gas; and converting the optionally adjusted fine synthesis gas into the useful product in a further chemical reaction requiring a usage ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Velocys Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: Ivan Philip Greager, Roger Allen Harris, Neil Alexander King, Soumitra R. Deshmukh, Zheyan Qiu, Ashish Gupta
  • Patent number: 11572512
    Abstract: An integrated process for the production of a useful liquid hydrocarbon product comprises: feeding a gasification zone with an oxygen-containing feed and a first carbonaceous feedstock comprising waste materials and/or biomass, gasifying the first carbonaceous feedstock in the gasification zone to produce first synthesis gas, partially oxidising the first synthesis gas in a partial oxidation zone to generate partially oxidised synthesis gas, combining at least a portion of the first synthesis gas and/or the partially oxidised synthesis gas and at least a portion of electrolysis hydrogen obtained from an electrolyser in an amount to achieve the desired hydrogen to carbon monoxide molar ratio of from about 1.5:1 to about 2.5:1, and to generate a blended synthesis gas, wherein the electrolyser operates using green electricity; and subjecting at least a portion of the blended synthesis gas to a conversion process effective to produce the liquid hydrocarbon product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Velocys Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ivan Greager, Roger Harris, Rudolph Havenga, Neil King
  • Publication number: 20220177796
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for obtaining solid recovered fuel and synthesis gas from a waste-based feedstock, comprising the steps of: I. converting the feedstock into a solid recovered fuel by means of a number of parameters pertaining to waste sorting, selection, comminution and/or screening; II. gasifying under suitable reaction conditions at least a portion of the solid recovered fuel to produce synthesis gas and by-product(s); and III. optionally cleaning at least a portion of the synthesis gas to produce clean synthesis gas and wastewater, wherein one or more of the solid recovered fuel, synthesis gas, and by-product(s) of the gasification are analysed during operation of the process, and wherein data from said analysis is used to control one or more parameters of step I) in order to influence reaction conditions in step II, and optionally step III).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: Velocys Technologies Ltd
    Inventors: Ivan Philip GREAGER, Roger Allen HARRIS, Martin HOPKINS, Neil Alexander KING, Malcolm John WARD
  • Patent number: 11247953
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for removing heat from an exothermic reaction. In particular, the present invention provides a process wherein heat can be removed from multiple reaction trains using a common coolant system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Velocys Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Ivan Phillip Greager, Stephen Claude LeViness, Roger Allen Harris, Andre Peter Steynberg, Jasmeer Jaichland Ramlal, Dennis Parker, John Dolan
  • Patent number: 11173483
    Abstract: A catalyst is regenerated by an inventive process using a heat exchange fluid such as superheated steam to remove heat during the process relying on efficient heat transfer (e.g., enabled by the microchannel reactor construction) in comparison with prior art heat exchange relying on a phase change, e.g. between water and (partial or complete vaporization) steam, allows simplification of the protocols to enable transition at higher temperatures between steps which translates in reduced duration of the regeneration process and avoids potential water hammering risks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: VELOCYS TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Soumitra R. Deshmukh, Ivan Philip Greager, Roger Allen Harris, Heinz Robota
  • Patent number: 10889762
    Abstract: The present technology is directed to processes for conversion of synthesis gas in a tubular reactor to produce a synthetic product that utilizes high activity carbon monoxide hydrogenation catalysts and a heat transfer structure that surprisingly provides for higher per pass conversion with high selectivity for the desired synthetic product without thermal runaway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: VELOCYS TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Andre Steynberg, Bin Yang, Ravi Arora, Laura Silva, Heinz Robota, Sean Fitzgerald, Paul Neagle, Jason Robinson, Paul Schubert, Steven Perry
  • Patent number: 10851035
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for removing heat from an exothermic reaction. In particular, the present invention provides a process wherein heat can be removed from multiple reaction trains using a common coolant system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Phillip Greager, Steven Claude LeViness, Roger Allen Harris, Andre Peter Steynberg, Jasmeer Jaichland Ramlal, Dennis Parker, John Dolan
  • Patent number: 10843161
    Abstract: The invention provides methods of making laminated devices (especially microchannel devices) in which plates are assembled and welded together. Unlike conventional microchannel devices, the inventive laminated devices can be made without brazing or diffusion bonding; thus providing significant advantages for manufacturing. Features such as expansion joints and external welded supports are also described. Laminated devices and methods of conducting unit operations in laminated devices are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Thomas Yuschak, Paul W. Neagle, Jennifer L. Marco, Jeffrey D. Marco, Michael A. Marchiando, Lane W. Keyes, Soumitra Deshmukh, Robert J. Luzenski