Patents Examined by Natasha Young
  • Plate heat exchanger for isothermal chemical reactors
    Patent number: 9028766
    Abstract: A radial-flow plate heat exchanger (5) embedded in the catalytic bed of an isothermal chemical reactor (1) has heat exchange plates (10) comprising fluid passages (13) between a first metal sheet (20) and a second metal sheet (21) joined by perimeter weld seams (23) on a first surface (A) of the plate, a feeding channel (14) and a collecting channel (15) for the heat exchange fluid are formed with suitable metal sheets which are seam welded (25) directly to the opposite surface (B) of the plate, this structure allows the manufacturing of the plate (10) with an automated seam welding process, such as laser beam welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Enrico Rizzi, Ermanno Filippi, Mirco Tarozzo
  • High temperature platformer
    Patent number: 9023298
    Abstract: An apparatus for reforming a hydrocarbon stream is presented. The apparatus involves changing the design of reformers and associated equipment to allow for increasing the processing temperatures in the reformers and heaters. The reformers are operated under different conditions to utilize advantages in the equilibriums, but require modifications to prevent increasing thermal cracking and to prevent increases in coking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Moser, Clayton C. Sadler, Mark P. Lapinski, Kurt M. VandenBussche
  • Method and system for producing monosilane
    Patent number: 9023297
    Abstract: A plant for preparing monosilane (SiH4) by catalytic disproportionation of trichlorosilane (SiHCl3) includes a reaction column having a feed line for trichlorosilane and a discharge line for silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4) formed, and at least one condenser via which monosilane produced can be discharged from the reaction column, wherein the reaction column has at least two reactive/distillative reaction regions operated at different temperatures and containing different catalytically active solids, at least one of the reaction regions containing a catalytically active solid based on vinylpyridine, and at least one of the reaction regions containing a catalytically active solid based on styrene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Schmid Silicon Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Adolf Petrik, Christian Schmid, Jochem Hahn
  • Continuous process for converting natural gas to liquid hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 9017624
    Abstract: A method comprising: providing an alkyl halide stream; contacting at least some of the alkyl halides with a coupling catalyst to form a product stream comprising higher hydrocarbons and hydrogen halide; contacting the product stream with a solid reactant to remove at least a portion of the hydrogen halide from the product stream; and reacting the solid reactant with a source of oxygen to generate a corresponding halogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Reaction 35, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Stoimenov, Charles Ian Cutler, Jihong Cheng, Charles J. Coronella, Krishna Janmanchi, Zachary J. A. Komon, Saydul Amin Sardar, Vivek Julka, Sagar Gadewar, Philip Grosso, Daniel J. Auerbach, Jean Wheeler
  • Gradual oxidation with heat exchange media
    Patent number: 9017618
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for oxidizing gases. In some embodiments, a reaction chamber is configured to receive a fuel gas and maintain the gas at a temperature within the reaction chamber that is above an autoignition temperature of the gas. The reaction chamber may also be configured to maintain a reaction temperature within the reaction chamber below a flameout temperature. In some embodiments, heat and product gases from the oxidation process can be used, for example, to drive a turbine, reciprocating engine, and injected back into the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ener-Core Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Boris A. Maslov, Douglas Hamrin
  • Continuous process for carrying out autothermal gas-phase dehydrogenations
    Patent number: 9012707
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the autothermal gas-phase dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon-comprising gas stream by means of an oxygen-comprising gas stream over a heterogeneous catalyst configured as a monolith to give a reaction gas mixture and regeneration of the catalyst in a reactor in the form of a cylinder or prism, wherein the reactor is operated alternately in the production mode of the autothermal gas-phase dehydrogenation and in the regeneration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Gerhard Olbert, Ulrike Wegerle, Grigorios Kolios, Albena Kostova
  • Catalysts having catalytic material applied directly to thermally-grown alumina and catalytic methods using same; improved methods of oxidative dehydrogenation
    Patent number: 9011781
    Abstract: The invention describes catalysts, methods of making catalysts, methods of making a microchannel reactor, and methods of conducting chemical reactions. It has been discovered that superior performance can be obtained from a catalyst formed by directly depositing a catalytic material onto a (low surface area) thermally-grown alumina layer. Improved methods of conducting oxidative dehydrogenations are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Long, Junko M. Watson, Francis P. Daly, Terry Mazanec, Barry L. Yang
  • Reactor for performing a three-phase reaction of a fluid and a gaseous phase on a packed bed catalyst
    Patent number: 9011790
    Abstract: A reactor for carrying out a three-phase reaction of a liquid phase, a gaseous phase, and a catalyst over a fixed catalyst bed is disclosed. The liquid and gaseous phases are passed through the reactor via a mixing and distribution device positioned over the fixed catalyst bed. The mixing and distribution device includes a trough distributor for the liquid phase, having trough-shaped channels, outlet tubes in the trough-shaped channels for the liquid phase, a distributor plate below the trough distributor, and vertical nozzles, having one or more openings for the gaseous phase and one or more openings, arranged below the openings for the gaseous phase. For entry of the liquid phase, the nozzles are installed so that, at a predetermined liquid feed rate, the surface of the liquid on the distributor plate is below the openings for the gaseous phase and above the openings for the liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Stefan Iselborn, Andreas Daiss, Reiner Geier, Marcus Bechtel, Michael Wille, Benjamin Hepfer, John Sauter
  • Systems for producing silane
    Patent number: 9011803
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing silane that use electrolysis to regenerate reactive components therein are disclosed. The methods and systems may be substantially closed-loop with respect to halogen, an alkali or alkaline earth metal and/or hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: SunEdison, Inc.
    Inventors: Puneet Gupta, Henry F. Erk, Alexis Grabbe
  • Apparatus for solidifying and converting carbon dioxide into carbonate
    Patent number: 9005553
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for solidifying and converting carbon dioxide into carbonate, comprising: an alkali component extraction reactor for extracting an alkali metal component from a raw slag; a carbonation reactor for injecting carbon dioxide into an alkali metal component solution containing the extracted alkali metal component to produce a carbonate precipitate from the alkali metal component solution; a first filtration device connected between the alkali component extraction reactor and the carbonation reactor to separate a post-treatment slag, from which the alkali component is extracted, from the alkali metal component solution; and a second filtration device connected between an inlet of the alkali component extraction reactor and an outlet of the carbonation reactor to separate the carbonate from the alkali metal component solution after the carbonation reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Steel Company
    Inventors: Tae Young Kim, Sung Yeup Chung, Ki Chun Lee, Dong Cheol Park, Min Ho Cho, Seok Gyu Sonh
  • Selective CO methanation catalyst, method of producing the same, and apparatus using the same
    Patent number: 9005552
    Abstract: Provided is a new catalyst capable of removing carbon monoxide economically without adding particular reaction gas externally. Also provided are a process for producing and an apparatus using such a catalyst. Impregnation of a Ni—Al composite oxide precursor of a nonstoichiometric composition prepared by the solution-spray plasma technique with a ruthenium salt to be supported and performing reduction treatment allows CO methanation reaction to selectively proceed even in the high-temperature range in which CO2 methanation reaction and reverse water-gas-shift reaction proceed preferentially with conventional catalysts. Selective CO methanation reaction occurs reproducibly with another Ni—Al composite oxide precursor or an additive metallic species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: University of Yamanashi
    Inventors: Masahiro Watanabe, Hisao Yamashita, Kazutoshi Higashiyama, Toshihiro Miyao, Aihua Chen
  • Reactors and processes for the oxidative coupling of hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 8999258
    Abstract: A method for the oxidative coupling of hydrocarbons includes providing an oxidative catalyst inside a reactor and carrying out the oxidative coupling reaction under a set of reaction conditions. The reactor surfaces that contact the reactants and products do not provide a significant detrimental catalyzing effect. In an embodiment the reactor contains an inert lining or a portion of the reactor inner surface is treated to reduce the detrimental catalytic effects. In an embodiment the reactor contains a lining that includes an oxidative catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sivadinarayana Chinta, Joseph Thorman
  • Process and apparatus for producing diesel from a hydrocarbon stream
    Patent number: 8999256
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for hydrotreating a hydrocarbon feed in a hydrotreating unit and hydrocracking a liquid hydrotreating effluent stream in a hydrocracking unit. A hot separator separates the diesel in a liquid hot hydrotreating effluent stream that serves as feed to the hydrocracking unit. Low sulfur diesel product can be saturated to further upgrade its cetane rating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paul R. Zimmerman, Peter Kokayeff, Michael R. Smith
  • Apparatus for a radial-flow reactor and method for assembly thereof
    Patent number: 8992839
    Abstract: An apparatus for a radial-flow reactor according to various approaches includes an inner partition assembly having an inwardly tapered bottom portion. According to various approaches, an inner partition assembly support includes a socket with a tapered upper rim. A process according to various aspects includes assembling a radial-flow reactor by installing an inner partition assembly by aligning a bottom portion of the inner partition assembly with an opening of a inner partition assembly support socket and lowering the bottom portion into the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Nathan Siedler
  • Floating catalyst/regenerator
    Patent number: 8992850
    Abstract: A fuel processor with a floating catalyst has a reactant gas passage and a product gas passage separated by a separating wall which is fixed at one end and free at the other end, to permit differential thermal expansion. The catalyst is received inside the separating wall proximate to the free end. An outer wall at least partially surrounds the separating wall and the fixed end of the separating wall may be joined to the outer wall. The fuel processor may comprise a plurality of concentric tubes, and may include a third tube located inside the separator wall. The gas passages are provided with gas permeable support structures such as turbulizers or fins which support the separating wall relative to the outer wall, but the support structures are bonded to only one tube in order to permit differential thermal expansion of the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Dana Canada Corporation
    Inventor: Doug Vanderwees
  • Hydrocarbon vapor recovery system
    Patent number: 8992838
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for recovering flash gas from an oil storage tank. In one example of the invention, the system may include a flexible storage tank that receives the flash gas and temporarily stores the flash gas; a compressor having an input receiving the flash gas from the flexible storage tank, the compressor compressing the flash gas to form compressed gas; and an oxygen reduction subsystem receiving the compressed gas, the oxygen reduction subsystem reducing an amount of oxygen from the compressed gas. In this manner, the resulting compressed oxygen-reduced gas that has been recovered can be injected into a sales gas line for use, under certain conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: EcoVapor Recovery Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Hans Peter Mueller
  • Apparatus and method for producing catalyst, and method for producing unsaturated acid or unsaturated nitrile
    Patent number: 8980183
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a catalyst comprising a tank configured to prepare an aqueous mixed solution containing a Mo compound, a V compound and a Nb compound, a dryer configured to spray-dry the aqueous mixed solution, and a pipe for connecting the tank with the dryer so that the aqueous mixed solution can be supplied from the tank to the dryer, wherein a heater configured to heat the aqueous mixed solution is provided in the tank and/or the pipe, and a filter configured to filtrate the aqueous mixed solution is provided in the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Kato, Satoshi Endo, Minoru Kadowaki
  • Gradual oxidation and multiple flow paths
    Patent number: 8980193
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for oxidizing gases. In some embodiments, a reaction chamber is configured to receive a fuel gas and maintain the gas at a temperature within the reaction chamber that is above an autoignition temperature of the gas. The reaction chamber may also be configured to maintain a reaction temperature within the reaction chamber below a flameout temperature. In some embodiments, heat and product gases from the oxidation process can be used, for example, to drive a turbine, reciprocating engine, and injected back into the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ener-Core Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Renau Denison, Boris A. Maslov
  • Apparatus and process for three-phase reaction
    Patent number: 8980201
    Abstract: A system and process for removing catalyst fines from a gas stream overhead the slurry in a Fischer-Tropsch slurry bubble column reactor. The gas phase at the top of the slurry bubble column reactor containing small amounts of entrained liquid and catalyst particles. The unreacted gases are passed through a demister, which removes larger droplets and catalyst particles. Smaller droplets and catalyst fines are conveyed to a secondary gas cleaner, such as a cyclone, whereby substantially all remaining particles are removed from the gas phase. A particle-containing liquid produced in the secondary gas cleaner can be further subjected to a filtrate cleaning unit to filter out fine catalyst particles and produce a substantially particle-free liquid product stream and a slurry stream of liquid product containing catalyst particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: GTL.FI AG
    Inventors: Trond Myrstad, Dag Schanke, Pål Søraker, Matthias Wagner, Manfred Ruppel
  • Gradual oxidation below flameout temperature
    Patent number: 8980192
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for oxidizing gases. In some embodiments, a reaction chamber is configured to receive a fuel gas and maintain the gas at a temperature within the reaction chamber that is above an autoignition temperature of the gas. The reaction chamber may also be configured to maintain a reaction temperature within the reaction chamber below a flameout temperature. In some embodiments, heat and product gases from the oxidation process can be used, for example, to drive a turbine, reciprocating engine, and injected back into the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ener-Core Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Boris A. Maslov