Patents Examined by Kaity Handal
  • Patent number: 8840690
    Abstract: A gasification reactor including a gasifier with a tubular gastight wall arranged within a pressure vessel. The tubular gastight wall is provided with one or more pressure relief passages sealed by a rupture element. The pressure relief passages can be provided with a cooled section, such as a double walled section confining a coolant channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Ibrahim Kar, Manfred Heinrich Schmitz-Goeb
  • Patent number: 8828109
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gasification reactor includes extending an injection device at least partially into the gasification reactor. The injection device includes a plurality of substantially concentric conduits coupled to a modular tip and at least one outer surface. The modular tip includes a plurality of cooling channels and a plurality of substantially annular nozzles defined therein. The method further includes forming at least one layer of insulation about at least a portion of the at least one outer surface to facilitate insulating at least a portion of the injection device from heat within the gasification reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Saunders Stevenson, John Duckett Winter, Constantin Bugescu, Kenneth M. Sprouse, David R. Matthews
  • Patent number: 8808411
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making a high-purity gas. The process includes an interrelationship among at least four bath vessels, each of which has a molten metal bath. In one embodiment, the process generally includes adding a gas stream into a first bath vessel and then removing that gas stream to introduce it into a third bath vessel. The third bath gas stream is removed to ultimately obtain hydrogen. Steam is added to a fourth bath vessel to ultimately produce additional hydrogen. One or more gas streams produced in the third and/or fourth bath vessels are added to a second bath vessel to ultimately result in production of methane or carbon monoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventors: Michael C. Collins, Robert D. Bach
  • Patent number: 8801814
    Abstract: A process for partial oxidation of hydrocarbons in a reactor, in which a stream comprising the hydrocarbon and a stream comprising the oxygen are fed to the reactor, wherein both streams fed to the reactor are conducted within the reactor separately through in each case one or more spatially separate lines, these lines having turbulence generators in their interior, owing to which, as a result of the imposed deflection of the flow direction downstream of turbulence generators, a highly turbulent flow field forms, and the streams are then mixed in a mixing zone after exiting from the lines and then converted in a reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Dirk Grossschmidt, Maximilian Vicari, Christian Weichert, Hans Zapf, Andreas Joa, Ravindra Aglave, Jens Denecke
  • Patent number: 8801813
    Abstract: A gasification apparatus for solid fuel, especially an apparatus for producing syngas by pressurized gasification of coal powder, including a gasification chamber (II) and a syngas cooling and purification chamber (III). The inner wall of the gasification chamber is a water-cooling wall (4). The inner side of the water-cooled wall is evenly coated with a layer of fire-resistant material (16). There is an annular cavity between the water-cooling wall of the gasification chamber and the furnace body. A syngas quencher, a vertical pipe (22), a gas distribution device (24), a defoaming device, and a dewatering and deashing device (21) are provided in the syngas cooling and purification chamber. The apparatus has a simple structure and is easy to operate. A high temperature gasification method for dry powder of carbonaceous material comprises spraying the combustible material and oxygen into the furnace and followed by ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Changzheng Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhengtao Lu, Mingkun Wang, Congbin Jiang, Wei Xin, Ruiheng Gao, Honghai Li
  • Patent number: 8784516
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feedstock and water vapor comprising: A stage for the production of a synthetic gas in a vapor reforming unit of the hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of water vapor, with a fuel that provides the heat that is necessary to the reaction, A stage for conversion to vapor of the synthetic gas that is obtained in the preceding stage producing a hydrogen stream that contains methane and carbon dioxide, A stage for recovering carbon dioxide that is present in the stream that is obtained in the stage for conversion to vapor, making it possible to separate the carbon dioxide from the hydrogen stream, A stage for recovery and recycling to the vapor reforming stage of impurities that are present in the hydrogen stream, comprising a decompression phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Beatrice Fischer, Fabrice Giroudiere, Jean-Louis Ambrosino, Michel Thomas
  • Patent number: 8778038
    Abstract: A method for controlling the peak temperature of a fluid gasification zone used for the gasification of carbonaceous materials to a syngas. Pulsed oxygen is used to control the peak temperature of the gasification zone and to avoid hot spots in the gasifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Syngas Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Duane A. Goetsch, Jacqueline R. Hitchingham, Lloyd R. White
  • Patent number: 7524342
    Abstract: A hydrogen gas generation system for vehicles and stationary power applications comprises a trio of rigid, cylindrical high pressure reservoir tanks interconnected with suitable fittings and pipelines. A water holding tank alternatively stores hydroxide solution, or transfers it to an adjacent gas generating tank, containing a plurality of tubular, aluminum fuel rods. When the holding tank is suitably pressurized, hydroxide solution is transferred into the generating tank to start a reaction with a plurality of elongated, tubular aluminum rods disposed therewithin. Conversely, the liquid contents of the generating tank can be forcibly pressured back into the holding tank to stop the gas generation reaction. High pressure hydrogen gas is humidified in the third tank prior to combustion as fuel. Humidified hydrogen is transferred via control valves to the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Inventor: William J. Brinkley, III
  • Patent number: 7524343
    Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a multi-step process of converting hydrocarbon fuel to a substantially pure hydrogen gas feed includes a plurality of modules each module being in fluid communication with adjacent modules. The modules may be arranged axially along a common axis of flow or alternatively the modules are arranged along a common axis so that they are nested one within the other. The multi-step process includes: providing a fuel processor having a plurality of modules; and feeding the hydrocarbon fuel successively through each of the modules in the reactor to produce the hydrogen rich gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Vijay A. Deshpande
  • Patent number: 7497882
    Abstract: A method of generating hydrogen for use in a fuel cell system, which comprises processing a fuel which is essentially free of organic sulfur-containing compounds to produce a hydrogen-containing stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited
    Inventor: Khaliq Ahmed
  • Patent number: 7422728
    Abstract: A reactor intended to carry out partial oxidation reactions starting from liquid feedstocks that can go from GPL to gas oil for the purpose of producing synthesis gas is characterized by finely controlled hydrodynamics and a high degree of thermal integration, and comprises an elongated jacket along an axis of any orientation, means (12) for supplying a preheated gas that contains oxygen and optionally water vapor, means (9) for supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock, means (11) for evacuation of a hydrogen-rich effluent, a first internal chamber (5) inside of which is carried out an essentially isothermal partial oxidation reaction that is connected to means (9) for supplying the hydrocarbon feedstock and to means (12) for supplying preheated gas, gas turbulizing means that are suitable for creating a perfect mixing flow, means (8) for linking first chamber (5) to a second chamber (7) with a suitable volume for carrying out a piston flow, linking means (8) that comprise at least one orifice, and second chamber (7
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Luc Nougier, Stéphane Bertholin, Willy Nastoll
  • Patent number: 7410515
    Abstract: A reformer is provided which includes a micro reactor having a flow path for a fluid. A container accommodates the micro reactor and keeps an atmosphere on a periphery of the micro reactor at a pressure of not more than 1 Pa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keishi Takeyama, Osamu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7407636
    Abstract: There is provided a reformer for a fuel cell system, the reformer comprising: a reforming unit having a reaction substrate in which a catalyst layer is formed in a plurality of flow channels for allowing fuel to flow and for generating hydrogen through a reformation reaction of the fuel using thermal energy. When viewing a cross-section perpendicular to the flow direction of the flow channels, the reaction substrate defines each flow channel by a bottom portion and a pair of wall portions extending from the sides of the bottom portion, and a joint between the bottom portion and the wall portion is formed in a rounded shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ju-Yong Kim, Ho-Jin Kweon, Jae-Jeong Kim, Oh-Joong Kwon
  • Patent number: 7399329
    Abstract: A process for the production of a synthesis gas from a light hydrocarbon feed, steam and an oxygen-containing stream is provided in which the feed components are mixed to form a feed mixture. The process provides an inert disengaging zone separating the mixing zone from an active catalyst zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Syntroleum Corporation
    Inventor: Kym Arcuri
  • Patent number: 7387650
    Abstract: A fuel cell power generation system, equipped with a fuel reforming device and a fuel cell body, includes valves, pipelines, a condenser, and a pump for feeding a burner exhaust gas (raw gas) discharged from a heating burner of the fuel reforming device into the fuel reforming device, and an inert gas formation device including an oxidizable and reducible oxygen adsorbent, which is disposed in the pipelines, and adsorbs oxygen in the burner exhaust gas to remove oxygen from the burner exhaust gas and form an inert gas. The fuel cell power generation system can reliably remove residual matter, without leaving it within the fuel reforming device, in a simple manner at a low cost and with a compact configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Setsuo Omoto, Naohiko Ishibashi, Keiji Fujikawa, Hirohisa Yoshida, Masami Kondo, Shigeru Nojima, Toshinobu Yasutake, Satoru Watanabe, Masanao Yonemura
  • Patent number: 7384613
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst for an internal combustion engine, particularly of a motor vehicle, with a housing, which is assembled from at least two housing portions, telescopically inserted one into another in the throughflow direction of the housing, which is assembled from two housing portions telescopically inserted one into the other. A first monolith is mounted in a first housing portion, and a second monolith is mounted in a second housing portion. In an insertion region, an outer end section of the second housing portion and an inner end section of the first housing portion inserted into the outer end section mutually overlap. A transition zone, in which the monoliths, are spaced apart from one another in the throughflow direction, is formed within the insertion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: J. Eberspacher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Holger Prommersberger, Jochen Hägele, Georg Wirth
  • Patent number: 7367996
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon fuel processing reactor for generating a hydrogen-enriched reformate from hydrocarbons is disclosed. A plurality of shells are arranged coaxially having a gap defined between each of the successive shells, thereby forming a plurality of coaxial zones. The shells are configured to permit heat transfer from one zone to another. Fluid streams for reactions within the reactor are preheated by heat transfer from adjacent zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Nuvera Fuel Cells, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence G. Clawson, Mark R. Hagan, Chunming Frank Qi, William F. Northrop
  • Patent number: 7344571
    Abstract: A hydrogen generator includes a housing, a solid hydrogen source disposed within the housing, and an inlet configured to guide a fluid to contact the solid hydrogen source. The inlet can contact a wicking region. The wicking region can include a wicking material that has an affinity for the fluid. The wieking material can include a hydrophilic material. The housing can include a hydrogen gas outlet. The hydrogen generator can include an end cap at one end of the housing including the inlet and the hydrogen gas outlet. The hydrogen gas outlet can include a gas permeable membrane. The inlet can be fluidly connected to a fluid control system configured to control fluid flow rate to the solid hydrogen source. The generator can be portable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: In Tae Bae, Javit A. Drake, Andrew G. Gilicinski, Matthew R. Stone, Joseph E. Sunstrom
  • Patent number: 7341609
    Abstract: A reforming and hydrogen purification system operating with minimal pressure drop for producing free hydrogen from different hydrogen rich fuels includes a hydrogen reforming catalyst bed in a vessel in communication with a core unit containing a hydrogen permeable selective membrane. The vessel is located within an insulated enclosure which forms an air inlet passageway and an exhaust passageway on opposite sides of the vessel. Air and raffinate pass through a burner within the air inlet passageway, providing a heated flue gas to heat the catalyst to the reaction temperature needed to generate free hydrogen from the feedstock. The burner flue gas flows laterally over and along the length of the bed between the input and output ends of the bed. Hydrogen is recovered from the core for use by a hydrogen-consuming device such as a fuel cell. The remaining unrecovered hydrogen in the reformed gases is contained in raffinate and is used to supply process heat via the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Genesis Fueltech, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter David DeVries
  • Patent number: 7341610
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell unit and a gas-generating system containing at least one reforming unit for obtaining a hydrogen-rich reformate from a fuel. It is possible to supply the reformate at least partly to the anode side of the fuel cell unit. The system may include a first reforming reactor for producing a first reformate with a high outlet temperature; a second reforming reactor for producing a second reformate with a second outlet temperature which is below the first outlet temperature; a mixing element for mixing the first reformate with at least one fuel and located between an outlet of the first reforming reactor and an inlet of the second reforming reactor. The second reformate may be supplied to a gas-purification system and the purified reformate supplied to the fuel cell unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: NuCellSys GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Griesmeier