Patents Examined by Natasha Young
  • Patent number: 9139444
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flame reactor characterized in that the flame reactor comprises a reactor chamber having a volume of 1 m3 to 10 m3, is 1 m to 10 m high, and includes a reactor nozzle for feeding the reactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventor: Herbert Barthel
  • Patent number: 9138712
    Abstract: A system (8; 9; 50) is described of walls for catalytic beds of synthesis reactors (1), in which there is a wall (14) in direct contact with a catalytic bed (7) for containing it, said wall (14) having a plurality of portions (17) permeable to the gases and a plurality of portions (19; 54; 55) impermeable to the gases, said portions (17) permeable to the gases being equipped with slits (18; 52, 53; 60; 70) of a size such as to allow the free passage of the synthesis gases through them but not the passage of the catalyst, in which the slits are obtained with milling, water cutting or electro-erosion processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Mirco Tarozzo, Ermanno Filippi, Enrico Rizzi
  • Patent number: 9120068
    Abstract: A chemical isothermal reactor (1) with internal plate heat exchanger (10) having heat-exchange radial plates (11), and radial ducts (14, 15) parallel to sides (13i, 13s) of the plates (11) for distributing and collecting a heat exchange fluid, said radial ducts having a portion with a smaller cross section near the inner converging ends (14c, 15c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Enrico Rizzi, Ermanno Filippi, Mirco Tarozzo
  • Patent number: 9108904
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for converting a hydrocarbon reactant to a product comprising an oxygenate or a nitrile, the process comprising: (A) flowing a reactant composition comprising the hydrocarbon reactant, and oxygen or a source of oxygen, and optionally ammonia, through a microchannel reactor in contact with a catalyst to convert the hydrocarbon reactant to the product, the hydrocarbon reactant undergoing an exothermic reaction in the microchannel reactor; (B) transferring heat from the microchannel reactor to a heat exchanger during step (A); and (C) quenching the product from step (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Brophy, Frederick A. Pesa, Anna Lee Tonkovich, Jeffrey S. McDaniel, Kai Tod Paul Jarosch
  • Patent number: 9095836
    Abstract: A multiphase catalytic tower-shaped impinging-stream reactor in the form of a tower, the upper part of which is a plate or packed tower 4 and the lower part of which is a multiphase catalytic impinging-stream reaction kettle 2; the upper part and the lower part are separated by a flow channel plate 14 which has a plurality of round holes serving as flow channels 62; at the top of the reaction kettle 2 exists an upper ejector 3 and at the bottom of the reaction kettle 2 exists a lower ejector 8; near to the side wall of the reaction kettle 2 stands a baffle plate 5, which separates a static liquid zone within the reaction kettle 2 is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Zhibing Zhang, Zheng Zhou, Weimin Meng, Jiao Geng, Lei Li, Gaodong Yang
  • Patent number: 9095831
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process of alkylating aromatic hydrocarbons, and more particularly a process of making paraxylene by alkylation of benzene and/or toluene with methanol and/or dimethyl ether, and to an apparatus for carrying out said process, the improvement comprising staged injection of one of the reactants, with the stages separated by structured packing so as to minimize at least one of gas phase back-mixing, by-pass phenomena, and gas bubble size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Lu Han, Rathna P. Davuluri, Christopher G. Smalley, Mark P. Hagemeister, Masaaki Sugita, Joseph S. Famolaro, Robert G. Tinger
  • Patent number: 9089839
    Abstract: A combustion device for meeting the energy demand of processes for producing light olefins (ethylene and propene) in fluidized-bed catalytic cracking units. The combustion device is used to burn heating oil and to keep burning the coke deposited on the catalyst, with a view to heating it to meet the energy demand of the reaction, combustion taking place smoothly and uniformly, preventing the formation of hotspots within the catalytic bed and in the dilute phase following combustion (afterburning), thereby minimizing deactivation of the catalyst and the risk of damage to the equipment inside of the combustion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: PETROLEO BRASILEIRO S.A.-PETROBRAS
    Inventors: Jose Mozart Fusco, Emanuel Freire Sandes, Naiara dos Santos Lages, Geovani Aliatti, Jose Geraldo Furtado Ramos, Ricardo Serfaty, Nelson Patricio Junior
  • Patent number: 9091481
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor arrangement includes a bottom portion and a roof portion. A reaction chamber is defined by at least one side wall extending between the bottom portion and the roof portion. The at least one side wall includes a vertically extending portion having a lower end and a lower portion, which lower portion is inclined in such a manner that a cross section of the reaction chamber decreases towards the bottom portion. A heat exchange chamber, outside of the reaction chamber, is at the lower portion of the at least one side wall. The lower portion of the at least one side wall forms a partition wall between the heat exchange chamber and the reaction chamber. The heat exchange chamber extends from the partition wall to a rear wall of the heat exchange chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: AMEC FOSTER WHEELER ENERGIA OY
    Inventor: Pentti Lankinen
  • Patent number: 9084978
    Abstract: Systems and methods of producing chemical compounds are disclosed. An example chemical production system includes a combustion chamber having intake ports for entry of a gas mixture. An igniter ignites the gas mixture in the intake chamber to facilitate a reaction at a high temperature and high pressure. A nozzle restricts exit of the ignited gas mixture from the combustion chamber. An expansion chamber cools the ignited gas. The expansion chamber has an exhaust where the cooled gas exits the expansion chamber. A chemical compound product is formed in the expansion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Inventor: Bruce H. Peters
  • Patent number: 9079153
    Abstract: A catalytic reactor includes a pair of plates arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval so as to form a path in which fluid flows; a channel member bonded to the plates in the path to divide the path into channels; and a catalyst carrier inserted into each of the channels and extending along the each of the channels. At least one of the pair of plates serves as a first heat-transfer surface when contacting a temperature medium having a temperature zone different from a temperature zone in the path and exchanging heat with the temperature medium. Each of the channels has a cross section for which an aspect ratio (W/H) of a width to a height is equal to or less than 1, and the catalyst carrier includes a wave-shaped base having a single piece structure, and a catalyst formed on a surface of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Tsujii, Naoki Kashi
  • Patent number: 9080117
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, a renewable energy fuel is prepared by a process including the steps of: a) providing a renewable energy feedstock; b) providing an alcohol; c) providing a catalyst; d) mixing (a), (b), and (c) to form a blend; and e) homogenizing the blend at a pressure greater than 400 kilogram-force per square centimeter (Kg/cm2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: GER ENTERPRISES, LLC
    Inventors: Arlis Hanson, Anton Angelo Thompkins, Nicholas Joseph Sever, Richard Lee Peterson, Luke Christopher Ice
  • Patent number: 9079769
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing gasoline and hydrogen from methanol are disclosed. First, methanol is supplied to a first catalyst layer located in a reaction tube arranged in a reactor via a first methanol supply path to synthesize gasoline from the methanol. At the same time, methanol is supplied to a second catalyst layer located on the outer periphery of the reaction tube provided within the reactor from a second supply path, which serves as a methanol supply path, to generate hydrogen from the methanol. Heat generated in the first catalyst layer is conducted to the second catalyst layer through the reaction tube to heat the second catalyst layer to a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Iijima
  • Patent number: 9056294
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for transfer of particulate material, such as biomass feedstocks, into and out of pressurized reactors. Improved sluice devices have an L-shaped sluice chamber having an upper, vertical component in communication with a horizontal loading chamber and a lower component in communication with a vertical reactor inlet or outlet. Piston valves seal the sluice inlet and outlet by axial displacement across the vertical component of the sluice chamber and across the vertical reactor inlet or outlet. Relative to other methods for reactor unloading, these devices consume less steam and significantly reduce furfural content of unloaded, pretreated biomass. An optional hybrid plug/sluice method of biomass feeding using the devices permits biomass loading at sluice pressures intermediate between atmospheric and reactor pressure, thereby reducing “pump cycle” time and increasing biomass throughput capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Inbicon A/S
    Inventors: Jens Fink, Niels Nielsen Poulsen
  • Patent number: 9056297
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for cracking a hydrocarbon feed containing resid, comprising: heating a hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid; passing said heated hydrocarbon feedstock to a vapor/liquid separator; flashing said heated hydrocarbon feedstock in said vapor/liquid separator to form a vapor phase and a liquid phase containing said resid; passing at least a portion of said resid-containing liquid phase from said vapor/liquid separator to a thermal conversion reactor operating at 649° C. or more, wherein the thermal conversion reactor contains coke particles; and converting at least a portion of said resid into olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: S. Mark Davis, Larry L. Iaccino, Richard C. Stell, Steven E. Silverberg, Jiunn-Shyan Liou, Howard Freund
  • Patent number: 9050571
    Abstract: An apparatus for a radial-flow reactor according to various approaches includes a catalyst transfer pipe having an inwardly tapered end portion. According to various approaches, a catalyst transfer port of the reactor may include a centering device having an upper tapered surface for facilitating assembly of the reactor. A method according to various aspects includes assembling a radial-flow reactor by installing a catalyst transfer pipe through a catalyst transfer port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Nathan Siedler
  • Patent number: 9047439
    Abstract: A reactor with minimal dead volume especially suited to reverse-flow applications comprises: a) a reactor body; b) a first head engaged with said reactor body; c) a first conduit extending from outside said head to at least partially through said head; and d) a first valve in flow communication with said first conduit controlling fluid flow along a flow path extending from the first valve and through the reactor body. The reactor is especially suited for use in a process for rapid stream-switching of at least two streams in a reverse-flow reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Hershkowitz, Richard John Basile, Jeffrey William Frederick, John William Fulton, Paul F. Keusenkothen, Bryan A. Patel, Andrew Richard Szafran
  • Patent number: 9044723
    Abstract: An inclined baseplate for a radial bed reactor improves solids flow from the bottom of the reactor. Gas flow can be improved by utilizing an aerated baseplate or by providing a non-porous section of outer perforated cylinder in the area below the level of the bottom of the inner perforated cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Vetter, Sujay Krishnamurthy, Laura E. Loenard, Paul A. Sechrist, Angelo P. Furfaro, Quan Yuan
  • Patent number: 9039986
    Abstract: A steam cooled chemical reactor (1) comprising a vertical vessel (2), a plate heat exchanger embedded in a catalytic bed, to cool the catalytic bed by evaporation of a cooling water flow, wherein a water inlet and a steam outlet are located underneath the heat exchanger, and the plates and related piping are arranged so that the path of the cooling flow comprises a first ascending path from bottom to top of the catalytic bed, and a second descending path from top to the bottom of catalytic bed, and wherein internal evaporation channels of the plates provide the second descending or the first ascending path, and water upcomers or respectively steam downcomers provide the other of said first and second path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Enrico Rizzi, Ermanno Filippi, Mirco Tarozzo
  • Patent number: 9039987
    Abstract: A ceramic mass transfer packing element that includes a planar end surface which intersects an internal wall's geometric plane at an acute angle is disclosed. A process for making the packing element and an apparatus that uses the packing element are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel C. Sherman
  • Patent number: 9028767
    Abstract: A method for mixing a chemical into a process liquid including: injecting the chemical into the process liquid flowing through a flow pipe; forming reaction products by a reaction involving the chemical occurring in the process flow; applying an electric field or magnetic field to a region of the flow pipe adjacent to the reaction occurring in the process flow, and suppressing the precipitation of the chemical or the reaction products on the surfaces of the pipe due to the electric or magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Wetend Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Jari Rasanen, Jouni Matula