Patents Examined by Stanley Silverman
  • Patent number: 9302250
    Abstract: A method of steam reforming where a reaction occurs in which an oxygenated feed contacts a catalyst to produce hydrogen. The catalyst of the reaction comprises a metal/metal promoter on a nickel/transition metal blend catalyst supported on a high-energy lattice metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Jimmy A. Faria, Jon M. Nelson, Uchenna P. Paul, Danielle K. Smith
  • Patent number: 9296043
    Abstract: Methods for synthesizing metal nanoparticles and the nanoparticles so produced are provided. The methods include addition of surfactant to a novel reagent complex between zero-valent metal and a hydride. The nanoparticles produced by the method include oxide-free, zero-valent tin nanoparticles useful in fabricating a battery electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Paul Rowe, Nikhilendra Singh
  • Patent number: 9281518
    Abstract: Methods for synthesizing metal nanoparticles and the nanoparticles so produced are provided. The methods include addition of surfactant to a novel reagent complex between zero-valent metal and a hydride. The nanoparticles produced by the method include oxide-free, zero-valent tin nanoparticles useful in fabricating a battery electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikhilendra Singh, Michael Paul Rowe
  • Patent number: 9278311
    Abstract: A process for capturing undesirable combustion products produced in a high temperature combustion system in which a carbonaceous fuel is utilized. Very finely sized particles of alkaline earth carbonates or hydroxides, with or without added ground ash, are provided in slurry form, are dried and milled to provide unagglomerated, sub-micron-sized particles that are injected along with pulverized coal into the high temperature combustion zone of a furnace. The particles capture and neutralize the gases that result in condensable acids, including SOx, NOx, HCL, and HF, as well as capturing toxic metals that are present in the combustion products, they mitigate ash fouling and slagging, and they facilitate economic heat exchange that permits fuel savings and recovery of water for use in other processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: EnerChem Incorporated
    Inventors: Jerrold E. Radway, James Smith
  • Patent number: 9278328
    Abstract: A reformer tube for producing synthesis gas by steam reforming of hydrocarbon-containing feed gases, preferably natural gas, includes one or more helically coiled heat exchanger tubes which are arranged within a catalyst bed of a reforming catalyst and are helically coiled over part of their length located within the catalyst bed and are otherwise straight are present, where the straight proportion of the heat exchanger tubes and/or the helix pitch of the helically coiled part alters within the catalyst bed and matching to requirements of the pressure drop, the heat exchange properties, and the corrosion resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignees: L'AIR LIQUIDE, SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE, AIR LIQUIDE GLOBAL E&C SOLUTIONS GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Holger Schlichting, Ulrich Wolf, Sven Pohl, Dieter Ulber, Udo Zolnowski, Antonio Coscia, Julien Cances, Frederic Camy-Peyret, Fabrice Mathey
  • Patent number: 9266788
    Abstract: A method of treating a plant against a fungal and/or bacterial plant pathogen includes applying to a plant infected with a fungal and/or bacterial plant pathogen an effective amount of composition comprising a salicylate, potassium polyphosphite, and potassium phosphite. A method of fertilizing a plant and treating the plant against a bacterial and/or fungal plant pathogen includes applying to a plant an effective amount of composition comprising a salicylate, potassium polyphosphite, potassium phosphite, and potassium phosphate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Plant Food Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Fabry
  • Patent number: 9260303
    Abstract: A process for producing ammonia synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon source, comprising: conversion of the hydrocarbon source into a raw synthesis gas (14) in ATR or POX reactor (11) which is fired with oxygen (12) or oxygen-enriched air (28); a water-gas shift treatment of the raw synthesis gas (14), which consist of a medium-temperature shift (15) at a temperature of 200-300° C., thus obtaining a shifted synthesis gas (16); purification of said shifted synthesis gas (16) including at least a step of pressure-swing adsorption (17) to remove residual carbon oxides and methane from the synthesis gas, obtaining a purified synthesis gas (18), and optionally, addition of nitrogen (19) to said purified synthesis gas (18), thus obtaining ammonia synthesis gas with a desired hydrogen to nitrogen ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Ermanno Filippi, Raffaele Ostuni
  • Patent number: 9259714
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to photocatalysts with high solar-to-hydrogen overall water splitting efficiency. In an embodiment, the photocatalyst is a nanocrystalline cobalt (II) oxide (CoO) nanoparticle. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of synthesizing the photocatalysts disclosed herein. Such a method may comprise using femtosecond laser ablation of cobalt oxide micropowders. In some embodiments, such a method comprises mechanical ball milling of cobalt oxide micropowders. In an embodiment, the photocatalyst disclosed herein decomposes water under visible light without the aid of any co-catalysts or sacrificial reagents. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of splitting water to produce hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
    Inventors: Jiming Bao, Longb Liao
  • Patent number: 9260305
    Abstract: A composition and its method of production are provided. The composition includes at least one zero-valent metallic element atom in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The method of production includes ball-milling an elemental metal in a high-surface area form, with a hydride. The composition can be useful as a reagent for the synthesis of zero-valent metallic elemental nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Rowe
  • Patent number: 9260312
    Abstract: A reagent and its method of production are provided. The reagent includes at least one zero-valent atom, whether metal, metalloid, or non-metal, in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The method of production includes ball-milling a mixture which includes an elemental (i.e. zero-valent) material and a hydride. In some cases, the elemental material is a non-metal such as carbon. The reagent can be useful as a reagent for the synthesis of elemental nanoparticles composed of zero-valent metal, metalloid, or non-metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Rowe, Ryan Daniel Desautels
  • Patent number: 9260302
    Abstract: High-pressure steam supply in hydrogen production process is made more efficient by water gas shift process which comprises, in alternating sequence: (a) a reaction stage wherein a feed gas comprising CO and H2O is fed into a water gas shift reactor containing a sorbent material capable of adsorbing H2O and CO2 and wherein a product gas issuing from the reactor is collected, (b) a regeneration stage wherein CO2 is removed from the reactor, (c) a loading stage, wherein H2O is fed into the reactor; wherein said feed gas mixture has a molar ratio of H2O to CO below 1.2, and the loading stage is performed at a lower pressure than the pressure of the reaction stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland
    Inventors: Hendricus Adrianus Johannes Van Dijk, Paul Dean Cobden, Stéphane Walspurger, Jan Wilco Dijkstra
  • Patent number: 9255004
    Abstract: The present invention provides a continuous production method of hydrogen which is able to produce hydrogen, which is clean energy, simply and continuously without using ammonia. The invention of the continuous production method of hydrogen includes a hydrogen production step comprising introducing mayenite (Ca12Al14O33) and calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] into water and allowing them to react with water, thereby generating hydrogen and also forming katoite [Ca3Al2(OH)12]; a regeneration step comprising baking the formed katoite to regenerate mayenite and calcium hydroxide; and a circulation step comprising returning the regenerated mayenite and calcium hydroxide into the hydrogen production step. It is preferable that a temperature of water in the hydrogen production step is from 50 to 100° C., and a molar ratio of mayenite to calcium hydroxide is 1/9. In addition, it is preferable that a baking temperature of katoite in the regeneration step is from 300 to 500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignees: Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Kyoto University
    Inventors: Susumu Hikazudani, Atsushi Wakui, Masaharu Furutera, Hitoshi Oshiro, Tetsuya Inoue, Kazuyuki Hirao
  • Patent number: 9255231
    Abstract: A fixed bed gasification system to convert solid organic matter (also called biomass), into synthesis gas. This gas can be burned in an engine, turbine, oven or boiler, which makes it possible to valorize the thermal energy that it harbors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: COGEBIO
    Inventors: Louis Rousseau, Etienne Lebas, Christian Bedrossian, Bruno Da Silva
  • Patent number: 9249028
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of making metal oxide and mixed metal oxide particles. The method includes treating a mixture formed from a metal source, such as metal alkoxide, a surfactant, and a first alcohol in an aqueous media at a very high metal oxide yield. The mixture is reacted using a catalyst to form metal oxide particles having a desired particle size in said mixture. By washing the particles with an aprotic solvent, the residual carbon content of the particles can be significantly reduced. The method is particularly suitable for forming silica particles. The metal oxide particles can then be heat treated to form synthetic fused metal oxides such as, for example, synthetic fused silica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: MOMENTIVE PERFORMANCE MATERIALS INC.
    Inventors: Antonio L. DeVera, Martin Panchula
  • Patent number: 9233847
    Abstract: A method for making a metal-hydride slurry includes adding metal to a liquid carrier to create a metal slurry and hydriding the metal in the metal slurry to create a metal-hydride slurry. In some embodiments, a metal hydride is added to the liquid carrier of the metal slurry prior to hydriding the metal. The metal can be magnesium and the metal hydride can be magnesium hydride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Safe Hydrogen, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Brown, Jr., David D. G. Brown, Andrew W. McClaine
  • Patent number: 9227790
    Abstract: A method and a system are provided for feeding a biomass material feed into a fluidized bed gasifier. The system includes a first plurality of screw conveyors disposed circumferentially around and connected to or integral with a gasifier shell of the fluidized bed gasifier, such that each of the first plurality of screw conveyors is in feed communication with a gasifier chamber defined by the gasifier shell. The system also includes a plurality of secondary receptacles, each individually coupled to a respective screw conveyor of the first plurality of screw conveyors, such that each of the plurality of secondary receptacles includes a secondary receptacle shell defining a secondary receptacle chamber in feed communication with the respective screw conveyor. The system further includes a plurality of primary receptacles, each including a primary receptacle shell defining a primary receptacle chamber in feed communication with at least two of the plurality of secondary receptacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventor: Ernesto Esperanza Perez
  • Patent number: 9216910
    Abstract: A composition and its method of production are provided. The composition includes at least one zero-valent metal atom in complex with at least one hydride molecule. In some instances, the composition includes a first zero-valent metal atom and a second zero-valent metal atom in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The method of production includes ball-milling an elemental metal in a high-surface area form, with a hydride. The composition can be useful as a reagent for the synthesis of zero-valent metal alloy nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Paul Rowe
  • Patent number: 9206945
    Abstract: In one aspect, a hydrogen storage system includes a sealed container including an inner temperature of 77 degrees Kelvin or greater, a sorbent material enclosed within the sealed container and including a sorbent substrate and a hydrogen splitting catalyst connected to the sorbent substrate via a chemical bond, and one or more hydrogen atoms enclosed within the sealed container. In certain instances, the one or more hydrogen atoms are connected to the sorbent material via interactions greater than Van der Waals interactions. In another aspect, a method of storing hydrogen includes: inputting molecular hydrogen to a sorbent material to form a charged sorbent material, the sorbent material including a sorbent substrate and a hydrogen splitting catalyst connected to the sorbent substrate via a chemical bond; and storing the charged sorbent material at a temperature of greater than 77 degrees Kelvin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shinichi Hirano, Jun Yang
  • Patent number: 9193590
    Abstract: A process for increasing the hydrogen content of a synthesis gas containing one or more sulphur compounds, the synthesis gas including hydrogen, carbon oxides and steam, and having a ratio, R, defined as R=(H2?CO2)/(CO+CO2)?0.6 and a steam to carbon monoxide ratio ?1.8, includes the steps of (i) adjusting the synthesis gas temperature, (ii) passing the temperature-adjusted synthesis gas through an adiabatic pre-shift vessel containing a bed of sulphur-tolerant water-gas shift catalyst at a space velocity ?12,500 hour?1 to form a pre-shifted gas stream, and (iii) subjecting at least a portion of the pre-shifted gas stream to one or more further stages of water-gas shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: JOHNSON MATTHEY PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
    Inventors: Peter Edward James Abbott, Gary Bevan Combes, Richard James Beavis
  • Patent number: 9192923
    Abstract: The present invention provides a coke resistant catalyst and process for sequestration of carbon dioxide via reforming of methane to synthesis gas (a mixture of CO and H2). The process provides a direct single step selective vapor phase carbon dioxide reforming of methane to syngas over gadolinium promoted mesoporous Ni-ZSM catalyst. The process provides almost 11-95% conversion of methane with H2 to CO ratio of 0.82 to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC & INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
    Inventors: Rajaram Bal, Bipul Sarkar, Chandrasekhar Pendem, Rajib Kumar Singha, Shankha Shubhra Acharyya, Shilpi Ghosh