Patents by Inventor Bernd Polster

Bernd Polster 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: 11235974
    Abstract: A process and a plant for the continuous conversion of a hydrocarbonaceous feed gas into a synthesis gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, wherein the H2/CO molar ratio of the product gases can be varied within a wide range. This is achieved in that at least a part of a methane-rich gas obtained during the fractionation of the raw synthesis gas is admixed to the feed gas mixture, and that in the alternative at least a part of the H2 product gas and/or a fraction of a hydrogen-rich gas increased with respect to the normal operation of the process is admixed to the heating gas mixture, in order to lower the H2/CO ratio, or at least a part of the CO product gas and/or a fraction of a carbon monoxide-rich gas increased with respect to the normal operation of the process is admixed to the heating gas mixture, in order to increase the H2/CO ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Bernd Polster, Antoine Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20180282159
    Abstract: A process and a plant for the continuous conversion of a hydrocarbonaceous feed gas into a synthesis gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, wherein the H2/CO molar ratio of the product gases can be varied within a wide range. This is achieved in that at least a part of a methane-rich gas obtained during the fractionation of the raw synthesis gas is admixed to the feed gas mixture, and that in the alternative at least a part of the H2 product gas and/or a fraction of a hydrogen-rich gas increased with respect to the normal operation of the process is admixed to the heating gas mixture, in order to lower the H2/CO ratio, or at least a part of the CO product gas and/or a fraction of a carbon monoxide-rich gas increased with respect to the normal operation of the process is admixed to the heating gas mixture, in order to increase the H2/CO ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour I'Etude et I'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Bernd POLSTER, Antoine HERNANDEZ
  • Patent number: 9321643
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for producing synthesis gas by steam reforming a hydrocarbon load in a reforming furnace provided with a combustion chamber and a convection chamber; the combustion chamber includes vertical tubes filled with catalyst wherein a mixture of hydrocarbons and steam circulates from top to bottom recovering raw synthesis gas at the bottom of the tubes, and burners disposed in rows heat the tubes; the convection chamber discharges fumes containing the gases produced by the combustion. The process also comprises steps of using the heat contained in the fumes for preheating and/or heating various fluids related or unrelated to the process. In the event of the reduction of the mass flow of fumes, the quantity of energy to be transferred into the convection area is maintained by supplying a supplementary gaseous flow to the combustion area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Catherine Denis, Pascal Marty, Michel-Jean Masson, Bernd Polster, Laurent Remy
  • Patent number: 9011562
    Abstract: A method for producing a synthesis-gas product gas and a vapor stream includes catalytic steam reforming a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock in a steam reformer. The hot synthesis-gas product gas stream is cooled in a heat exchanger to form a cooled synthesis-gas product gas stream and a first partial vapor stream, which is supplied to the product vapor stream. The reforming furnace is operated so as to burn a burner feedstock in burners, cool a hot flue gas stream from the burners in a heat exchanger to form a cooled flue gas stream and a second partial vapor stream, and separate the cooled flue gas stream into a waste gas stream and a flue gas recirculation stream. The flow of the recirculated flue gas is increased with decreasing flow of the synthesis-gas product gas to obtain an approximately constant product vapor stream by increasing the second partial vapor stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Polster, Alexander Roesch, Matthew Shaver, Dieter Ulber, Ulrich Wolf
  • Patent number: 8966937
    Abstract: A process and to an apparatus for the generation and separation of a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Natacha Haik-Beraud, Antoine Hernandez, Pascal Marty, Bernd Polster
  • Publication number: 20140374662
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for producing synthesis gas by steam reforming a hydrocarbon load in a reforming furnace provided with a combustion chamber and a convection chamber; the combustion chamber includes vertical tubes filled with catalyst wherein a mixture of hydrocarbons and steam circulates from top to bottom recovering raw synthesis gas at the bottom of the tubes, and burners disposed in rows heat the tubes; the convection chamber discharges fumes containing the gases produced by the combustion. The process also comprises steps of using the heat contained in the fumes for preheating and/or heating various fluids related or unrelated to the process. In the event of the reduction of the mass flow of fumes, the quantity of energy to be transferred into the convection area is maintained by supplying a supplementary gaseous flow to the combustion area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Catherine Denis, Pascal Marty, Michel-Jean Masson, Bernd Polster, Laurent Remy
  • Patent number: 8888873
    Abstract: A method for generating and purifying syngas and to an apparatus for generating and purifying syngas is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Natacha Haik-Beraud, Antoine Hernandez, Pascal Marty, Bernd Polster
  • Publication number: 20120256132
    Abstract: A method for producing a synthesis-gas product gas and a vapor stream includes catalytic steam reforming a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock in a steam reformer. The hot synthesis-gas product gas stream is cooled in a heat exchanger to form a cooled synthesis-gas product gas stream and a first partial vapor stream, which is supplied to the product vapor stream. The reforming furnace is operated so as to burn a burner feedstock in burners, cool a hot flue gas stream from the burners in a heat exchanger to form a cooled flue gas stream and a second partial vapor stream, and separate the cooled flue gas stream into a waste gas stream and a flue gas recirculation stream. The flow of the recirculated flue gas is increased with decreasing flow of the synthesis-gas product gas to obtain an approximately constant product vapor stream by increasing the second partial vapor stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: LURGI GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Polster, Alexander Roesch, Matthew Shaver, Dieter Ulber, Ulrich Wolf
  • Patent number: 8231709
    Abstract: A process for separating a gas mixture in a separation unit of the type in which the gas mixture comes from a reaction unit and comprises, as main constituents, hydrogen (H2) and/or carbon monoxide (CO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pascal Marty, Bernd Polster
  • Patent number: 8021464
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for combined production of hydrogen and carbon dioxide from a mixture of hydrocarbons wherein the residual PSA is treated to produce a carbon dioxide-enriched fluid, and wherein: the residual PSA is compressed to a pressure such that the partial pressure of the CO<SUB>2</SUB> contained ranges between about 15 and 40 bar; the residue is subjected to one or more condensation/separation steps with production of CO<SUB>2</SUB>-rich condensate(s) and a purge of noncondensable gas; the purge of noncondensable gas is preferably treated to produce a H<SUB>2</SUB>-rich permeate which is recycled to the PSA, and a residue which is recycled to syngas generation, Preferably, the condensate(s) are purified by cryogenic distillation to produce food grade CO<SUB>2</SUB>. The invention also concerns an installation for implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pierre-Robert Gauthier, Bernd Polster, Pascal Marty
  • Publication number: 20110138853
    Abstract: A process and to an apparatus for the generation and separation of a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Natacha Haik-Beraud, Antoine Hernandez, Pascal Marty, Bernd Polster
  • Publication number: 20110126459
    Abstract: A method for generating and purifying syngas and to an apparatus for generating and purifying syngas is presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Natacha Haik-Beraud, Antoine Hernandez, Pascal Marty, Bernd Polster
  • Publication number: 20110005438
    Abstract: The present invention relates to limiting emissions of nitrogen oxides into the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Bernd Polster, Pascal Marty, Alain Caillaud
  • Publication number: 20100147147
    Abstract: A process for separating a gas mixture in a separation unit of the type in which the gas mixture comes from a reaction unit and comprises, as main constituents, hydrogen (H2) and/or carbon monoxide (CO).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Pascal Marty, Bernd Polster
  • Publication number: 20090298957
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for combined production of hydrogen and carbon dioxide from a mixture of hydrocarbons wherein the residual PSA is treated to produce a carbon dioxide-enriched fluid, and wherein: the residual PSA is compressed to a pressure such that the partial pressure of the CO<SUB>2</SUB> contained ranges between about 15 and 40 bar; the residue is subjected to one or more condensation/separation steps with production of CO<SUB>2</SUB>-rich condensate(s) and a purge of noncondensable gas; the purge of noncondensable gas is preferably treated to produce a H<SUB>2</SUB>-rich permeate which is recycled to the PSA, and a residue which is recycled to syngas generation, Preferably, the condensate(s) are purified by cryogenic distillation to produce food grade CO<SUB>2</SUB>. The invention also concerns an installation for implementing the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Pierre-Robert Gauthier, Bernd Polster, Pascal Marty
  • Patent number: 6425939
    Abstract: A process for the purification of a gaseous hydrogen flow containing one or more gaseous impurities from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, water vapor, nitrogen, H2S, chlorine, C1-C3 light alcohols, ammonia, carbon dioxide and linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbons, saturated and unsaturated, C1-C8. The hydrogen flow is placed in contact with a porous carbonated adsorbent having an adsorption limit volume (W0) and an energy parameter of (E0) according to the Dubinin relationship, such that: 0.18 ml.g−1≦W0≦1.50 ml.g−1 and 15 kJ.mole−1≦E0≦45 kJ.mole−1. The porous carbonated adsorbent is selected from active carbons. The gas rich in hydrogen is a reforming gas, an electrolysis gas, a gas from ammonia cracking or from alcohol cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: L′Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l′Etude et l′Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Serge Moreau, Bernd Polster