Patents by Inventor Bernard J. Grotz

Bernard J. Grotz 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: 5427760
    Abstract: The present invention discloses application of axial-radial reactors to the Braun synloop using an external heat sink between the feed/effluent exchanger and the inlet to the second reactor. The advantages of the axial-radial reactors in the Braun synloop have been heretofor unavailable for failure of the prior art to combine the advantages of the high conversion disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,959 with axial-radial reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Brown & Root Petroleum and Chemicals
    Inventor: Bernard J. Grotz
  • Patent number: 5352428
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed to achieve high per-pass synthesis conversion of ammonia. A nitrogen/hydrogen synthesis gas mixture is passed sequentially through a plurality of catalyst beds. The effluent from a subsequent catalyst bed is cooled by direct quench with a partially reacted gas which has passed through at least a first catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: C.F. Braun, Inc.
    Inventors: Mukund L. Bhakta, Bernard J. Grotz
  • Patent number: 5236671
    Abstract: An apparatus for the synthesis of ammonia having at least two synthesis reactors in series in which two high temperature heat sink tube bundles are combined in a single shell which is close coupled to the inlet and outlet of a reactor, the second tube bundle being disposed in an interior portion of the exchanger shell inside of the first tube bundle, the first tube bundle being connected for flow from its tubes to the reactor inlet, the second tube bundle being connected for flow to its tubes from the reactor outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: C. F. Braun, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard J. Grotz
  • Patent number: 5114694
    Abstract: A continuous process for recovering ammonia from a purge gas of an ammonia synthesis system wherein the purge gas is scrubbed by an aqueous liquid solution in counter-current flow with continuous cooling which is controlled to maintain temperature levels safely above the freezing point and to produce an aqueous solution of high ammonia concentration which is mixed with an anhydrous ammonia product of the ammonia synthesis system to form a blended ammonia product with a minimum water concentration high enough to provide corrosion protection to carbon steel storage equipment and a maximum water concentration low enough to meet a maximum design specification for the concentration of water in the blended ammonia product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: C. F. Braun & Co.
    Inventor: Bernard J. Grotz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4959079
    Abstract: A reformer method for reforming hydrocarbons are described. The feed stream is heated in the presence of reforming catalyst both in a tube convection portion and a radiant section of the reformer furnace. The catalyst tubes may have an extended surface in the tube convection portion to enhance heat transfer within the convection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Santa Fe Braun Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard J. Grotz, Vito Frankini
  • Patent number: 4921684
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for synthesizing ammonia from an ammonia feed gas passing to an ammonia synthesis converter from a heat exchanger. The synthesis converter is close coupled through a channel to a heat exchanger and a conduit extends through the channel and is adapted to be connected to the tube side of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: C F Braun, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard J. Grotz, Fiske O. Parnkopf, G. Robert Prescott
  • Patent number: 4907643
    Abstract: A combined heat exchanger particularly suited for ammonia converter reactor effluent is described. The combined exchanger includes a first exchanger and a high temperature heat sink, such as a steam superheater, within a single exchanger shell. In a preferred embodiment, gas leaving the ammonia converter is conveyed into a single pass tube bundle which comprises the feed-effluent exchanger section and then passes through a tubesheet which separates the feed effluent exchanger section from the steam superheater section, passing over a U-tube bundle which comprises the steam superheater section in the other part of the shell. Means are provided for protecting the shell in the steam superheater section adjacent the tubesheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: C F Braun Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard J. Grotz, Clive R. Good
  • Patent number: 4867959
    Abstract: Means are disclosed for lowering the temperature of the gaseous effluent from the first catalyst bed in a continuous ammonia synthesis process in which a syngas mixture containing nitrogen and hydrogen is passed sequentially over two or more catalyst beds containing ammonia synthesis catalyst. This cooling, effected to promote the exothermic ammonia-forming reaction, is accomplished by subjecting the gaseous effluent from the first catalyst bed to heat exchange in a high temperature heat sink, preferably after having undergone heat exchange with the synthesis gas feed to the first catalyst bed, to control the temperature of the effluent entering the second catalyst bed to a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Santa Fe Braun, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard J. Grotz
  • Patent number: 4744966
    Abstract: Means are disclosed for lowering the temperature of the gaseous effluent from the first catalyst bed in a continuous ammonia synthesis process in which a syngas mixture containing nitrogen and hydrogen is passed sequentially over two or more catalyst beds containing ammonia synthesis catalyst. This cooling, effected to promote the exothermic ammonia-forming reaction, is accomplished by subjecting the gaseous effluent from the first catalyst bed to heat exchange in a steam superheater, preferably after having undergone heat exchange with the synthesis gas feed to the first catalyst bed, to control the temperature of the effluent entering the second catalyst bed to a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Santa Fe Braun Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard J. Grotz
  • Patent number: 4624842
    Abstract: A process for synthesizing ammonia with improved efficiency is disclosed. The increase in efficiency is achieved by regulation of the temperature of at least three catalyst beds connected in series by a combination of influent/affluent heat exchange and high pressure heat sinks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Assignee: C. F. Braun & Co.
    Inventor: Bernard J. Grotz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4554135
    Abstract: Apparatus for synthesizing ammonia from an ammonia feed gas passing to an ammonia synthesis converter from a horizontally disposed heat exchanger. The synthesis converter comprising a shell and catalyst holder positioned within and spaced slightly from the shell to provide an annular passageway therebetween, is close coupled through a channel to a heat exchanger and a conduit extends through the channel and is adapted to be connected to the tube side of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: C F Braun & Co.
    Inventors: Bernard J. Grotz, Fiske O. Parnkopf, G. Robert Prescott
  • Patent number: 4510123
    Abstract: A process for synthesizing ammonia with improved efficiency is disclosed. The increase in efficiency is achieved by regulation of the temperature of at least three catalyst beds connected in series by a combination of influent/affluent heat exchange and high pressure steam generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: C F Braun & Co.
    Inventor: Bernard J. Grotz