Patents by Inventor Alfred G. Comolli

Alfred G. Comolli has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8344035
    Abstract: A process for making a carbonaceous material and a carbonous residue from scrap tires is disclosed. Tires are digested in an oil product. Steel and glass fibers are separated. A product enhancing additive comprising halogen based organic or inorganic compounds is added. The resulting carbonaceous material is then cured to create the final product. The produced carbonous residue is well suited for capture of mercury. The present invention has the benefits of providing a use for scrap tires that would otherwise require disposal in a landfill, and also produces a product useful for capturing a harmful element, thereby providing multiple environmental and economic benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Senergy LLC
    Inventors: Alfred G. Comolli, David L. Tanner
  • Patent number: 8092672
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for catalytic hydroconversion processing of less volatile carbonaceous material to volatile liquid products is disclosed. The process is carried out in a plug-flow reactor system using nanosize metallic catalyst particles dispersed in the reactant slurry with compressed hydrogen/hydrogen-sulfide at a temperature between about 275° C. and 525° C. at a pressure of between about 800 psi and 6000 psi and a residence time in the reactors between about 1 minute and 4 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Energy Catalysis Incorporated
    Inventors: Partha S. Ganguli, Alfred G. Comolli
  • Publication number: 20110053106
    Abstract: A process for making a carbonaceous material and a carbonous residue from scrap tires is disclosed. Tires are digested in an oil product. Steel and glass fibers are separated. A product enhancing additive comprising halogen based organic or inorganic compounds is added. The resulting carbonaceous material is then cured to create the final product. The produced carbonous residue is well suited for capture of mercury. The present invention has the benefits of providing a use for scrap tires that would otherwise require disposal in a landfill, and also produces a product useful for capturing a harmful element, thereby providing multiple environmental and economic benefits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: SENERGY LLC
    Inventors: Alfred G. Comolli, David L. Tanner
  • Patent number: 7795319
    Abstract: A process for making a carbonous residue from scrap tires is disclosed. Tires are digested in an oil product. Steel and glass fibers are separated. A product enhancing additive comprising halogen based organic or inorganic compounds is added. The resulting carbonaceous material is then cured to create the final product. The produced carbonous residue is well suited for capture of mercury. The present invention has the benefits of providing a use for scrap tires that would otherwise require disposal in a landfill, and also produces a product useful for capturing a harmful element, thereby providing multiple environmental and economic benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Senergy LLC
    Inventors: Alfred G. Comolli, David L. Tanner
  • Publication number: 20080251420
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for catalytic hydroconversion processing of less volatile carbonaceous material to volatile liquid products is disclosed. The process is carried out in a plug-flow reactor system using nanosize metallic catalyst particles dispersed in the reactant slurry with compressed hydrogen/hydrogen-sulfide at a temperature between about 275° C. and 525° C. at a pressure of between about 800 psi and 6000 psi and a residence time in the reactors between about 1 minute and 4 hours.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Partha S. Ganguli, Alfred G. Comolli
  • Patent number: 6906000
    Abstract: Stable carbonous catalyst particles composed of an inorganic catalytic metal/metal oxide powder and a carbonaceous binder material are formed having a basic inner substantially uniform-porous carbon coating of the catalytic powder, and may include an outer porous carbon coating layer. Suitable inorganic catalytic powders include zinc-chromite (ZnO/Cr2 03) and suitable carbonaceous liquid binders having molecular weight of 200-700 include partially polymerized furfuryl alcohol, which are mixed together, shaped and carbonized and partially oxidized at elevated temperature. Such stable carbonous catalyst particles such as 0.020-0.100 inch (0.51-2.54 mm) diameter extrudates, have total carbon content of 2-25 wt. % and improved crush strength of 1.0-5 1b/mn, 50-300 m2/g surface area, and can be advantageously utilized in fixed bed or ebullated/fluidized bed reactor operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Partha S. Ganguli, Alfred G. Comolli
  • Patent number: 6190542
    Abstract: A multi-stage catalytic hydrogenation and hydroconversion process for heavy hydrocarbon feed materials such as coal, heavy petroleum fractions, and plastic waste materials. In the process, the feedstock is reacted in a first-stage, back-mixed catalytic reactor with a highly dispersed iron-based catalyst having a powder, gel or liquid form. The reactor effluent is pressure-reduced, vapors and light distillate fractions are removed overhead, and the heavier liquid fraction is fed to a second stage back-mixed catalytic reactor. The first and second stage catalytic reactors are operated at 700-850° F. temperature, 1000-3500 psig hydrogen partial pressure and 20-80 lb./hr per ft3 reactor space velocity. The vapor and light distillates liquid fractions removed from both the first and second stage reactor effluent streams are combined and passed to an in-line, fixed-bed catalytic hydrotreater for heteroatom removal and for producing high quality naphtha and mid-distillate or a full-range distillate product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred G. Comolli, Lap-Keung Lee
  • Patent number: 6139723
    Abstract: A highly dispersed iron-based ionic liquid or liquid-gel catalyst which may be anion-modified and metals-promoted has high catalytic activity, and is useful for hydrocracking/hydrogenation reactions for carbonaceous feed materials. The catalyst is produced by aqueous precipitation from saturated iron salt solutions such as ferric sulfate and ferric alum, and may be modified during preparation with anionic sulfate (SO.sub.4.sup.2-) and promoted with small percentages of at least one active metal such as cobalt, molybdenum, palladium, platinum, nickel, or tungsten or mixtures thereof. The resulting catalyst may be used in a preferred ionic liquid form or in a liquid-gel form, and either fluidic form can be easily mixed and reacted with carbonaceous feed materials such as coal, heavy petroleum fractions, mixed plastic waste, or mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce P. Pelrine, Alfred G. Comolli, Lap-Keung Lee
  • Patent number: 5871638
    Abstract: A dispersed fine-sized anion-modified and phosphorus-promoted iron-oxide slurry catalyst having high surface area exceeding 100 m.sup.2 /gm and high catalytic activity, and which is useful for hydrogenation and hydroconversion reactions for carbonaceous feed materials is disclosed. The catalyst is synthesized by rapid aqueous precipitation from saturated salt solutions such as ferric sulfate and ferric alum, and is promoted with phosphorus. The iron-based catalysts are modified during their preparation with anionic sulfate (SO.sub.4.sup.2-). The resulting catalyst has primary particle size smaller than about 50 Angstrom units, and may be used in a preferred wet cake or gel form which can be easily mixed with a carbonaceous feed material such as coal, heavy petroleum fractions, mixed waste plastics, or mixtures thereof. Alternatively, the catalyst can be dried and/or calcined so as to be in a fine dry particulate form suitable for adding to the feed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek R. Pradhan, Alfred G. Comolli, Lap-Keung Lee
  • Patent number: 5866501
    Abstract: A dispersed fine-sized anion-modified iron oxide slurry catalyst having high surface area exceeding about 100 m.sup.2 /gm and high catalytic activity, and which is useful for hydrogenation and hydroconversion reactions for carbonaceous feed materials is disclosed. The catalyst is synthesized by rapid aqueous precipitation from saturated salt solutions such as ferric alum or ferric sulfate, and is promoted with at least one active metal such as cobalt, molybdenum, nickel, tungsten and combinations thereof. The iron-based dispersed catalysts are modified during their preparation with anionic modifiers such as molybdate (MoO.sub.4.sup.2-), phosphate (PO.sub.4.sup.3-), sulfate (SO.sub.4.sup.2-), or tungstate (WO.sub.4.sup.2-). The resulting catalyst usually has primary particle size smaller than about 50 Angstrom units, and may be used in the form of a gel or wet cake which can be easily mixed with a hydrocarbonaceous feed material such as coal, heavy petroleum fractions, mixed waste plastics or mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventors: Vivek R. Pradhan, Alfred G. Comolli, Lap-Keung Lee
  • Patent number: 5045180
    Abstract: A process for catalytic multi-stage hydrogenation and liquefaction of coal to produce high yields of low-boiling hydrocarbon liquids containing low concentrations of nitogen compounds. First stage catalytic reaction conditions are 700.degree.-800.degree. F. temperature, 1500-3500 psig hydrogen partial pressure, with the space velocity maintained in a critical range of 10-40 lb coal/hr ft.sup.3 catalyst settled volume. The first stage catalyst has 0.3-1.2 cc/gm total pore volume with at least 25% of the pore volume in pores having diameters of 200-2000 Angstroms. Second stage reaction conditions are 760.degree.-870.degree. F. temperature with space velocity exceeding that in the first stage reactor, so as to achieve increased hydrogenation yield of low-boiling hydrocarbon liquid products having at least 75% removal of nitrogen compounds from the coal-derived liquid products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: HRI, Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred G. Comolli
  • Patent number: 5037791
    Abstract: Supported carbon-coated catalyst material and a method for producing and using same in catalytic reaction processes, preferably in ebullated or fluidized catalyst beds. The catalyst materials are prepared by depositing a porous carbon layer on a support material of a selected metal oxide or compound to produce 5-40 wt. % carbon thereon, then preferentially treating the carbon based layer by partial oxidation, pyrolysis or reduction to enhance and activate the carbon layer on the catalyst. Promoter materials can also be advantageously added either to the support material or to the carbon layer in 0.5-10 wt. % to provide an improved composite carbon-coated catalyst having total pore volume of 0.3-1.0 cc/gm, substantially increased surface area of 80-600 M.sup.2 /gm, low surface acidity, particle strength of 1.8-5 lb/mm with reduced particle attrition losses and improved catalyst performance characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: HRI, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred G. Comolli, Partha S. Ganguli
  • Patent number: 4879021
    Abstract: A process for the hydrogenation of undissolved coal and subsequent liquefaction of the hydrogenated coal particles to provide useful hydrocarbon liquid products including naphtha, gasoline and diesel fuel. These low boiling hydrocarbon liquids are produced by the process comprising: (a) mixing solid coal particles with a coal derived solvent in a solvent/coal ratio ranging from about 8/1 to about 1.5/1 to provide a flowable coal/oil slurry of solid coal particles; (b) passing the coal/oil slurry and hydrogen upwardly through a first reaction zone containing a coal-derived liquid and bed of particulate catalyst maintained at a temperature ranging from about 400.degree. to about 700.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: HRI, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Hippo, Alfred G. Comolli, Robert O'Brien
  • Patent number: 4874506
    Abstract: A process for catalytic two-stage hydrogenation and liquefaction of coal with selective extinction recycle of all heavy liquid fractions boiling above a distillation cut point of about 600.degree.-750.degree. F. to produce increased yields of low-boiling hydrocarbon liquid and gas products. In the process, the particulate coal feed is slurried with a process-derived liquid solvent normally boiling above about 650.degree. F. and fed into a first stage catalytic reaction zone operated at conditions which promote controlled rate liquefaction of the coal, while simultaneously hydrogenating the hydrocarbon recycle oils. The first stage reactor is maintained at 710.degree.-800.degree. F. temperature, 1000-4000 psig hydrogen partial pressure, and 10-90 lb/hr per ft.sup.3 catalyst space velocity. Partially hydrogenated material withdrawn from the first stage reaction zone is passed directly to the second stage catalytic reaction zone maintained at 760.degree.-860.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: HRI, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. MacArthur, Alfred G. Comolli, Joseph B. McLean
  • Patent number: 4853111
    Abstract: A process for two-stage catalytic co-processing of coal and heavy petroleum hydrocarbon liquid fractions to produce increased yields of low-boiling hydrocarbon liquid and gas products. In the process, the particulate coal is slurried with a petroleum residuum and optionally with a process-derived hydrocarbon liquid solvent and fed into a first stage catalytic reaction zone operated at relatively mild conditions which promote controlled rate liquefaction of the coal while simultaneously hydrogenating the petroleum and hydrocarbon recycle oils at conditions favoring hydrogenation reactions. The first stage reactor is maintained at 650.degree.-800.degree. F. temperature, 1000-4000 psig hydrogen partial pressure and 10-100 lb/hr/ft.sup.3 space velocity for the total coal and oil feed. From the first stage reaction zone, the partially hydrogenated effluent material is passed directly to the close-coupled second stage catalytic reaction zone maintained at more severe conditions of 750.degree.-900.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: HRI, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. MacArthur, Joseph B. McLean, Alfred G. Comolli
  • Patent number: 4842719
    Abstract: A process for two-stage catalytic hydrogenation and liquefaction of coal to produce increased yields of low-boiling hydrocarbon liquid and gas products. In the process, the particulate coal is slurried with a process-derived liquid solvent and fed at temperature below about 650.degree. F. into a first stage catalytic reaction zone operated at conditions which promote controlled rate liquefaction of the coal, while simultaneously hydrogenating the hydrocarbon recycle oils at conditions favoring hydrogenation reactions. The first stage reactor is maintained at 650.degree.-800.degree. F. temperature, 1000-4000 psig hydrogen partial pressure, and 10-60 lb coal/hr/ft.sup.3 reactor space velocity. The partially hydrogenated material from the first stage reaction zone is passed directly to the close-coupled second stage catalytic reaction zone maintained at a temperature at least about 25.degree. F. higher than for the first stage reactor and within a range of 750.degree.-875.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: HRI, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. MacArthur, Joseph B. McLean, Alfred G. Comolli
  • Patent number: 4839030
    Abstract: A coal hydrogenation and liquefaction process in which particulate coal feed is pressurized to an intermediate pressure of at least 500 psig and slurried with CO.sub.2 liquid to provide a flowable coal/CO.sub.2 slurry feedstream, which is further pressurized to at least 1000 psig and fed into a catalytic reactor. The coal particle size is 50-375 mesh (U.S. Sieve Series) and provides 50-80 W % coal in the coal/CO.sub.2 slurry feedstream. Catalytic reaction conditions are maintained at 650.degree.-850.degree. F. temperature, 1000-4000 psig hydrogen partial pressure and coal feed rate of 10-100 lb coal/hr ft.sup.3 reactor volume to produce hydrocarbon gas and liquid products. The hydrogen and CO.sub.2 are recovered from the reactor effluent gaseous fraction, hydrogen is recycled to the catalytic reactor, and CO.sub.2 is liquefied and recycled to the coal slurrying step. If desired, two catalytic reaction stages close coupled together in series relation can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: HRI, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred G. Comolli, Joseph B. McLean
  • Patent number: 4816141
    Abstract: A multi-stage catalytic process for hydrogenation and liquefaction of coal using ebullated-bed catalytic reactors to produce low-boiling hydrocarbon liquid products, in which used catalyst is removed from a lower temperature first stage reactor operating at temperature not exceeding about 800.degree. F. and cascaded forward to a higher temperature second stage reactor for further use therein. Reaction conditions in the first stage reactor are preferably 700.degree.-800.degree. F. temperature, 1000-4000 psig hydrogen partial pressure, and a coal feed rate of 10-90 lb coal/hr per ft.sup.3 catalyst settled volume in the reactor. Useful higher temperature or second stage reaction conditions are 750.degree.-850.degree. F. temperature, and 1000-4000 psig hydrogen partial pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: HRI, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph B. McLean, Alfred G. Comolli, James B. MacArthur
  • Patent number: 4495055
    Abstract: A process for improved catalytic hydrogenation of coal to produce increased yields of low boiling hydrocarbon liquids and gas products, in which a coal-oil slurry is fed directly with only limited preheating into an ebullated bed catalytic reaction zone to provide increased hydroconversion and improved yields of low boiling hydrocarbon liquids. In the process, a coal is slurried with a hydrogenated coal-derived liquid and heated to only a limited extent, as defined by a temperature-time severity unit index (STTU) less than about 0.1, so as to avoid depleting the hydrogen donor capacity of the solvent liquid, and the slurry is then fed directly into an ebullated bed catalytic reaction zone maintained at 650.degree.-900.degree. F. temperature and 1000-5000 psi hydrogen partial pressure. Supplemental heat is provided to the reaction zone as needed by heating recycled reactor liquid and recycled hydrogen streams to temperatures above the reaction zone temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: HRI, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred G. Comolli, Edwin J. Hippo
  • Patent number: 4381986
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for cooling and solidifying a stream of heavy hydrocarbon material normally boiling above about 850.degree. F., such as vacuum bottoms material from a coal liquefaction process. The hydrocarbon stream is dropped into a liquid bath, preferably water, which contains a screw conveyor device and the stream is rapidly cooled, solidified and broken therein to form discrete elongated particles. The solid extrudates or prills are then dried separately to remove substantially all surface moisture, and passed to further usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1983
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Salvatore J. Antieri, Alfred G. Comolli