Patents by Inventor Andre DE SMET

Andre DE SMET 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).

  • Publication number: 20250091869
    Abstract: A system for producing nitric acid at reduced power consumption, including an air compressor producing a compressed air stream; a source of pressurized oxygen-rich gas having a pressure higher than the pressure of the compressed air stream; a mixing apparatus for mixing the oxygen-rich gas/compressed air stream mixture with an ammonia gas stream; an ammonia converter to provide in a NOx gas/steam mixture; a water cooler/condenser for separating and condensing steam from NOx gas in the gaseous NOx gas/steam mixture; an absorption tower downstream the water cooler/condenser, for absorbing NOx gases in water, to provide in a stream of raw nitric acid-containing residual NOx gas and a tail gas including NOx gases. The system further includes a mechanism for splitting the tail gas into a first tail gas stream and a second tail gas stream; and a mechanism for adjusting the amount of tail gas being split.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Bent VIGELAND, Halvor ØIEN, Krzysztof BANASIAK, Andre DE SMET, Peter FAUCONNIER
  • Publication number: 20250011171
    Abstract: A production plant for producing nitric acid at reduced power, the system derived from a state-of-the art mono pressure nitric acid plant wherein the system further includes a first feature for splitting a tail gas stream into a first tail gas stream in fluid communication with an oxygen-rich gas and with compressed air and a second tail gas stream, and/or a second feature for splitting a tail gas stream into a third tail gas stream in fluid communication with an oxygen-rich gas and with compressed air and a fourth tail gas stream, a feature for pressurizing a gas downstream the absorption tower. The production plant allows for reduction of power by the air compressor. A method for operating the system, the use of the system for performing the method of the disclosure, and a method for revamping a state-of-the art mono pressure nitric acid plant into the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Bent VIGELAND, Halvor ØIEN, Krzysztof BANASIAK, Andre DE SMET, Peter FAUCONNIER
  • Publication number: 20240367976
    Abstract: A system for producing nitric acid at reduced power consumption including an air compressor, to provide in a compressed air stream; a source of pressurized oxygen-rich gas having a pressure higher than the pressure of the compressed air stream; a mixing apparatus for mixing the oxygen-rich gas/compressed air stream mixture with an ammonia gas stream; an ammonia converter, to provide in a NOx gas/steam mixture; a water cooler/condenser for separating and condensing steam from NOx gas in the gaseous NOx gas/steam mixture; a NOx gas compressor, for compressing the gaseous NOx stream; an absorption tower downstream the water cooler/condenser, to provide in a stream of raw nitric acid-containing residual NOx gas and a tail gas including NOx gases; a mechanism for splitting the tail gas into a first tail gas stream and a second tail gas stream; and a mechanism for adjusting the amount of tail gas being split.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Bent VIGELAND, Halvor ØIEN, Krzysztof BANASIAK, Andre DE SMET, Peter FAUCONNIER
  • Publication number: 20240343576
    Abstract: A system for producing nitric acid at reduced power, the system being a standard mono pressure nitric acid plant wherein the system further includes features for splitting a tail gas into a first tail gas stream in fluid communication with an oxygen-rich gas upstream the ammonia mixing unit, and a second tail gas stream, features for pressurizing a gas downstream the absorption tower, such that an air compressor is not required. A method for operating the system, the use of the system for performing the method, and a method for revamping a standard mono pressure nitric acid plant into the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Inventors: Bent VIGELAND, Halvor ØIEN, Peter FAUCONNIER, Andre DE SMET
  • Publication number: 20240343577
    Abstract: A production plant for producing nitric acid at reduced power, the system being derived from a state-of-the art dual pressure nitric acid plant wherein the system further includes a first feature for splitting a tail gas stream into a first tail gas stream in fluid communication with compressed air and with an oxygen-rich gas and a second tail gas stream, and/or a feature for splitting a tail gas stream into a third tail gas stream in fluid communication with compressed air and with an oxygen-rich gas and a fourth tail gas stream. The production plant allows for reduction of power by the air compressor. A method for operating the system, the use of the system for performing the method, and a method for revamping a state-of-the-art dual pressure nitric acid plant into the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Inventors: Bent VIGELAND, Halvor ØIEN, Krzysztof BANASIAK, Andre DE SMET, Peter FAUCONNIER
  • Publication number: 20240336481
    Abstract: A system for producing nitric acid at reduced power, the system being a standard dual pressure nitric acid plant further including features for splitting a tail gas stream into a first tail gas stream, in fluid communication with an oxygen-rich gas upstream the ammonia mixing unit, and a second tail gas stream, and features for adjusting the amount of tail gas being split into the first tail gas stream and the second tail gas stream, such that an air compressor is not required for operating the nitric acid plant. A method for operating the system, the use of the system for performing the method and, a method for revamping a standard dual pressure nitric acid plant into the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Bent VIGELAND, Halvor ØIEN, Peter FAUCONNIER, Andre DE SMET