Patents by Inventor Brian S. Turk

Brian S. Turk 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: 20250033964
    Abstract: Synthesis gas containing nitrogen as the majority component is processed to increase the hydrogen to carbon dioxide ratio. Nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and other contaminants are subsequently removed by a purification unit to produce a purified hydrogen gas stream. A recycle stream within the purification unit helps achieve a hydrogen purity greater than 99.9 percent, and hydrogen recovery greater than 99 percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: Shaojun James Zhou, Raghubir P. Gupta, John Reeves Carpenter, III, Brian S. Turk
  • Patent number: 11724938
    Abstract: Synthesis gas containing nitrogen as the majority component is processed to increase the hydrogen to carbon dioxide ratio. Nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and other contaminants are subsequently removed by a purification unit to produce a purified hydrogen gas stream. A recycle stream within the purification unit helps achieve a hydrogen purity greater than 99.9 percent, and hydrogen recovery greater than 99 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Shaojun James Zhou, Raghubir P. Gupta, John Reeves Carpenter, Brian S. Turk
  • Patent number: 11491457
    Abstract: Zinc oxide-based sorbents, and processes for preparing and using them are provided, wherein the sorbents are preferably used to remove one or more reduced sulfur species from gas streams. The sorbents contain an active zinc component, optionally in combination with one or more promoter components and/or one or more substantially inert components. The active zinc component is a two-phase material, consisting essentially of a zinc oxide (ZnO) phase and a zinc aluminate (ZnAl2O4) phase. Each of the two phases is characterized by a relatively small crystallite size of typically less than about 50 nm (500 Angstroms). Preferably the sorbents are prepared by using an alkali metal base to convert a precursor mixture, containing a precipitated zinc oxide precursor and a precipitated aluminum oxide precursor, to the two-phase, active zinc oxide containing component, with the resulting sorbent having a sodium level within a desired range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Jian-Ping Shen, Jason S. Norman, Brian S. Turk, Raghubir Gupta
  • Publication number: 20210121850
    Abstract: Zinc oxide-based sorbents, and processes for preparing and using them are provided, wherein the sorbents are preferably used to remove one or more reduced sulfur species from gas streams. The sorbents contain an active zinc component, optionally in combination with one or more promoter components and/or one or more substantially inert components. The active zinc component is a two-phase material, consisting essentially of a zinc oxide (ZnO) phase and a zinc aluminate (ZnAl2O4) phase. Each of the two phases is characterized by a relatively small crystallite size of typically less than about 50 nm (500 Angstroms). Preferably the sorbents are prepared by using an alkali metal base to convert a precursor mixture, containing a precipitated zinc oxide precursor and a precipitated aluminum oxide precursor, to the two-phase, active zinc oxide containing component, with the resulting sorbent having a sodium level within a desired range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Jian-Ping Shen, Jason S. Norman, Brian S. Turk, Ragbubir Gupta
  • Publication number: 20200231435
    Abstract: Synthesis gas containing nitrogen as the majority component is processed to increase the hydrogen to carbon dioxide ratio. Nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and other contaminants are subsequently removed by a purification unit to produce a purified hydrogen gas stream. A recycle stream within the purification unit helps achieve a hydrogen purity greater than 99.9 percent, and hydrogen recovery greater than 99 percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Shaojun James Zhou, Raghubir P. Gupta, John Reeves Carpenter, Brian S. Turk
  • Publication number: 20190352177
    Abstract: Acid gas compounds are removed from a process gas such as, for example, syngas or natural gas, by flowing a feed gas into a desulfurization unit to remove a substantial fraction of sulfur compounds from the feed gas and flowing the resulting desulfurized gas into a CO2 removal unit to remove a substantial fraction of CO2 from the desulfurized gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: David L. Denton, Raghubir P. Gupta, Brian S. Turk, Vijay Gupta, Himanshu Paliwal
  • Patent number: 10414649
    Abstract: Acid gas compounds are removed from a process gas such as, for example, syngas or natural gas, by flowing a feed gas into a desulfurization unit to remove a substantial fraction of sulfur compounds from the feed gas and flowing the resulting desulfurized gas into a CO2 removal unit to remove a substantial fraction of CO2 from the desulfurized gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: David L. Denton, Raghubir P. Gupta, Brian S. Turk, Vijay Gupta, Himanshu Paliwal
  • Publication number: 20180339902
    Abstract: A water gas shift reaction is carried out on a feed gas comprising carbon monoxide to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas. The feed gas is split into multiple input streams flowed into respective reactors coupled in series. Steam is supplied to the input stream fed to the first reactor. The shift reaction is carried out in each reactor, with an overall reduced consumption of steam relative to the amount of gas shifted. The water gas shift reaction may be performed in conjunction with removing acid gas compounds from a process gas such as, for example, syngas or natural gas, by flowing a feed gas into a desulfurization unit to remove a substantial fraction of sulfur compounds from the feed gas and flowing the resulting desulfurized gas into a CO2 removal unit to remove a substantial fraction of CO2 from the desulfurized gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Brian S. Turk, Vijay Gupta, David L. Denton, Raghubir P. Gupta, Himanshu Paliwal
  • Publication number: 20180195006
    Abstract: Described herein are processes for converting a biomass starting material (such as lignocellulosic materials) into a low oxygen containing, stable liquid intermediate that can be refined to make liquid hydrocarbon fuels. More specifically, the process can be a catalytic biomass pyrolysis process wherein an oxygen removing catalyst is employed in the reactor while the biomass is subjected to pyrolysis conditions. The stream exiting the pyrolysis reactor comprises bio-oil having a low oxygen content, and such stream may be subjected to further steps, such as separation and/or condensation to isolate the bio-oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: David C. Dayton, Raghubir P. Gupta, Brian S. Turk, Atish Kataria, Jian-Ping Shen
  • Patent number: 9944857
    Abstract: Described herein are processes for converting a biomass starting material (such as lignocellulosic materials) into a low oxygen containing, stable liquid intermediate that can be refined to make liquid hydrocarbon fuels. More specifically, the process can be a catalytic biomass pyrolysis process wherein an oxygen removing catalyst is employed in the reactor while the biomass is subjected to pyrolysis conditions. The stream exiting the pyrolysis reactor comprises bio-oil having a low oxygen content, and such stream may be subjected to further steps, such as separation and/or condensation to isolate the bio-oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: David C. Dayton, Raghubir P. Gupta, Brian S. Turk, Atish Kataria, Jian-Ping Shen
  • Publication number: 20170334718
    Abstract: Acid gas compounds are removed from a process gas such as, for example, syngas or natural gas, by flowing a feed gas into a desulfurization unit to remove a substantial fraction of sulfur compounds from the feed gas and flowing the resulting desulfurized gas into a CO2 removal unit to remove a substantial fraction of CO2 from the desulfurized gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: David L. DENTON, Raghubir P. GUPTA, Brian S. TURK, Vijay GUPTA, Himanshu PALIWAL
  • Publication number: 20160311682
    Abstract: A water gas shift reaction is carried out on a feed gas comprising carbon monoxide to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas. The feed gas is split into multiple input streams flowed into respective reactors coupled in series. Steam is supplied to the input stream fed to the first reactor. The shift reaction is carried out in each reactor, with an overall reduced consumption of steam relative to the amount of gas shifted. The water gas shift reaction may be performed in conjunction with removing acid gas compounds from a process gas such as, for example, syngas or natural gas, by flowing a feed gas into a desulfurization unit to remove a substantial fraction of sulfur compounds from the feed gas and flowing the resulting desulfurized gas into a CO2 removal unit to remove a substantial fraction of CO2 from the desulfurized gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Brian S. Turk, Vijay Gupta, David L. Denton, Raghubir P. Gupta, Himanshu Paliwal
  • Publication number: 20150051428
    Abstract: Described herein are processes for converting a biomass starting material (such as lignocellulosic materials) into a low oxygen containing, stable liquid intermediate that can be refined to make liquid hydrocarbon fuels. More specifically, the process can be a catalytic biomass pyrolysis process wherein an oxygen removing catalyst is employed in the reactor while the biomass is subjected to pyrolysis conditions. The stream exiting the pyrolysis reactor comprises bio-oil having a low oxygen content, and such stream may be subjected to further steps, such as separation and/or condensation to isolate the bio-oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: David C. Dayton, Raghubir P. Gupta, Brian S. Turk, Atish Kataria, Jian-Ping Shen
  • Patent number: 8696792
    Abstract: A fluidized reactor system for removing impurities from a gas and an associated process are provided. The system includes a fluidized absorber for contacting a feed gas with a sorbent stream to reduce the impurity content of the feed gas; a fluidized solids regenerator for contacting an impurity loaded sorbent stream with a regeneration gas to reduce the impurity content of the sorbent stream; a first non-mechanical gas seal forming solids transfer device adapted to receive an impurity loaded sorbent stream from the absorber and transport the impurity loaded sorbent stream to the regenerator at a controllable flow rate in response to an aeration gas; and a second non-mechanical gas seal forming solids transfer device adapted to receive a sorbent stream of reduced impurity content from the regenerator and transfer the sorbent stream of reduced impurity content to the absorber without changing the flow rate of the sorbent stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Gunnar Henningsen, Teddy Merrill Knowlton, John George Findlay, Jerry Neal Schlather, Brian S. Turk
  • Publication number: 20120192711
    Abstract: A fluidized reactor system for removing impurities from a gas and an associated process are provided. The system includes a fluidized absorber for contacting a feed gas with a sorbent stream to reduce the impurity content of the feed gas; a fluidized solids regenerator for contacting an impurity loaded sorbent stream with a regeneration gas to reduce the impurity content of the sorbent stream; a first non-mechanical gas seal forming solids transfer device adapted to receive an impurity loaded sorbent stream from the absorber and transport the impurity loaded sorbent stream to the regenerator at a controllable flow rate in response to an aeration gas; and a second non-mechanical gas seal forming solids transfer device adapted to receive a sorbent stream of reduced impurity content from the regenerator and transfer the sorbent stream of reduced impurity content to the absorber without changing the flow rate of the sorbent stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Gunnar Henningsen, Teddy Merrill Knowlton, John George Findlay, Jerry Neal Schlather, Brian S. Turk
  • Patent number: 7923410
    Abstract: A sorbent for use in removing sulfur contaminants from hydrocarbon feedstocks is provided, wherein the sorbent contains zinc aluminate in an amount of at least 40 wt % (calculated as ZnAl2O4); free alumina in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 25 wt % (calculated as Al2O3); and iron oxide in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 30 wt % (calculated as Fe2O3); wherein each of the free alumina and iron oxide are present in non-crystalline form as determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, and a method for producing the sorbent and method for using the sorbent to reduce sulfur contaminants in hydrocarbon feedstocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Brian S. Turk, Santosh K. Gangwal, Raghubir P. Gupta
  • Publication number: 20080251423
    Abstract: A sorbent for use in removing sulfur contaminants from hydrocarbon feedstocks is provided, wherein the sorbent contains zinc aluminate in an amount of at least 40 wt % (calculated as ZnAl2O4); free alumina in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 25 wt % (calculated as Al2O3); and iron oxide in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 30 wt % (calculated as Fe2O3); wherein each of the free alumina and iron oxide are present in non-crystalline form as determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, and a method for producing the sorbent and method for using the sorbent to reduce sulfur contaminants in hydrocarbon feedstocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Brian S. Turk, Santosh K. Gangwal, Raghubir Gupta
  • Patent number: 7291259
    Abstract: Processes are disclosed for removing sulfur, including cyclic and polycyclic organic sulfur components such as thiophenes and benzothiophenes, from a hydrocarbon feedstock including fuels and fuel components. The feedstock is contacted with a regenerable sorbent material capable of selectively adsorbing the sulfur compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock in the absence of a hydrodesulfurization catalyst. In one embodiment, the sorbent can be an active metal oxide sulfur sorbent in combination with a refractory inorganic oxide cracking catalyst support. In another embodiment, the sorbent can be a metal-substituted refractory inorganic oxide cracking catalyst wherein the metal is a metal which is capable in its oxide form, of adsorption of reduced sulfur compounds by conversion of the metal oxide to a metal sulfide. The processes are preferably carried out in a transport bed reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Raghubir P. Gupta, Brian S. Turk
  • Patent number: 7067093
    Abstract: Reduced sulfur gas species (e.g., H2S, COS and CS2) are removed from a gas stream by compositions wherein a zinc titanate ingredient is associated with a metal oxide-aluminate phase material in the same particle species. Nonlimiting examples of metal oxides comprising the compositions include magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, calcium oxide, nickel oxide, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignees: Research Triangle Institute, Intercat, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert A. Vierheilig, Raghubir P. Gupta, Brian S. Turk
  • Patent number: 6812189
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to sorbent compositions for removing reduced sulfur species (e.g., H2S, COS and CS2) a feed stream. The sorbent is formed from a multi-phase composition including a zinc titanate phase and a zinc oxide-aluminate phase. The sorbent composition is substantially free of unreacted alumina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignees: Research Triangle Institute, Intercat, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert A. Vierheilig, Raghubir P. Gupta, Brian S. Turk