Patents by Inventor Geoffrey Frederick Skinner

Geoffrey Frederick Skinner 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: 20240337438
    Abstract: A process for liquefying hydrogen gas comprising: cooling hydrogen gas to a temperature suitable for substantially complete conversion of its ortho-hydrogen content to para-hydrogen, passing the said cooled hydrogen over a catalyst which facilitates said substantially complete conversion of its ortho-hydrogen content to para-hydrogen, with provision of further cooling to remove the heat of reaction evolved, passing the resulting stream, essentially comprising para-hydrogen, in the form of a gas or vapour to an expander machine or turbine having an outlet stream consisting of vapor and liquid, separating the said outlet stream into vapor and liquid fractions, the liquid fraction constituting the liquefied hydrogen product of the process, and recycling the vapor fraction by means of one or more compressors having cryogenic inlet temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventor: Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
  • Publication number: 20230332833
    Abstract: A process for liquefying hydrogen gas including the following is disclosed: cooling the hydrogen gas to an intermediate temperature by heat exchange with a refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration loop provided with a higher temperature expander and a lower temperature expander, wherein the outlet stream from the lower temperature expander contains some condensed refrigerant; a means is provided of separating the condensate from the circulating refrigerant; and further cooling of the hydrogen gas by heat exchange with evaporation and reheating of the said condensate. The fluid in the refrigeration loop is typically methane (such as natural gas after removal of carbon dioxide, water vapor and other impurities), or nitrogen, or a mixture thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventor: Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
  • Patent number: 11053119
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing a hydrogen-containing synthesis gas from a natural gas feedstock, comprising the conversion of said natural gas into a raw product gas and purification of said product gas, the process having a heat input provided by combustion of a fuel; said process comprises a step of conversion of a carbonaceous feedstock, and at least a portion of said fuel is a gaseous fuel obtained by said step of conversion of said carbonaceous feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Raffaele Ostuni, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner, Ermanno Filippi
  • Patent number: 10954187
    Abstract: A process for producing ammonia and a derivative of ammonia from a natural gas feed comprising conversion of natural gas into a make-up synthesis gas; synthesis of ammonia; use of said ammonia to produce said derivative of ammonia, wherein a portion of the natural gas feed is used to fuel a gas engine; power produced by said gas engine; is transferred to at least one power user of the process, such as a compressor; heat is re-covered from exhaust gas of said gas engine; and at least part of said heat may be recovered as low-grade heat available at a temperature not greater than 200° C., to provide process heating to at least one thermal user of the process, such as CO2 removal unit or absorption chiller; a corresponding plant and method of modernization are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Geoffrey Frederick Skinner, Raffaele Ostuni
  • Patent number: 10858313
    Abstract: A process for producing ammonia and a derivative of ammonia from a natural gas feed comprising conversion of natural gas into a make-up synthesis gas; synthesis of ammonia; use of said ammonia to produce said derivative of ammonia, wherein a portion of the natural gas feed is used to fuel a gas turbine; power produced by said gas turbine is transferred to at least one power user of the process, such as a compressor; heat is recovered from exhaust gas of said gas turbine, and at least part of said heat is recovered as low-grade heat available at a temperature not greater than 200° C., to provide process heating to at least one thermal user of the process, such as CO2 removal unit or absorption chiller; a corresponding plant and method of modernization are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Raffaele Ostuni, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
  • Publication number: 20200290870
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing a hydrogen-containing synthesis gas from a natural gas feedstock, comprising the conversion of said natural gas into a raw product gas and purification of said product gas, the process having a heat input provided by combustion of a fuel; said process comprises a step of conversion of a carbonaceous feedstock, and at least a portion of said fuel is a gaseous fuel obtained by said step of conversion of said carbonaceous feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Casale SA
    Inventors: Raffaele OSTUNI, Geoffrey Frederick SKINNER, Ermanno FILIPPI
  • Publication number: 20200290869
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing a hydrogen-containing synthesis gas from a natural gas feedstock, comprising the conversion of said natural gas into a raw product gas and purification of said product gas, the process having a heat input provided by combustion of a fuel; said process comprises a step of conversion of a carbonaceous feedstock, and at least a portion of said fuel is a gaseous fuel obtained by said step of conversion of said carbonaceous feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Casale SA
    Inventors: Raffaele OSTUNI, Geoffrey Frederick SKINNER, Ermanno FILIPPI
  • Publication number: 20200224966
    Abstract: A process for liquefying methane-rich gases comprising: (a) providing a stream of methane-rich feed gas containing higher hydrocarbons comprising C5+ hydrocarbons and/or aromatic compounds at a feed gas pressure of from 40 bar to 120 bar; (b) providing a stream of methane-rich recycle gas at a recycle gas pressure of from 40 bar to 120 bar; (c) mixing the feed gas with a first part of the recycle gas to form a mixture; (d) passing the resulting mixture to a first gas expander having an outlet, the first expander outlet having a first gas expander outlet pressure of between 3 bar and 50 bar and less than the feed gas and recycle gas pressures, to form a first gas expander outlet stream comprising a mixture of vapor and a condensed liquid containing the higher hydrocarbons; (e) separating the first gas expander outlet stream into a liquid stream and a vapor stream; (f) reheating and compressing the first vapor stream to a first vapor stream pressure of from 40 bar to 120 bar to form a first constituent of th
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Geoffrey Frederick Skinner, Anthony Dwight Maunder
  • Patent number: 10669154
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing a hydrogen-containing synthesis gas from a natural gas feedstock, comprising the conversion of said natural gas into a raw product gas and purification of said product gas, the process having a heat input provided by combustion of a fuel; said process comprises a step of conversion of a carbonaceous feedstock, and at least a portion of said fuel is a gaseous fuel obtained by said step of conversion of said carbonaceous feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Raffaele Ostuni, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner, Ermanno Filippi
  • Patent number: 10641548
    Abstract: A process for liquefying methane-rich gases comprising providing a stream of feed methane-rich gas at a pressure of from 40 bar to 120 bar and containing higher hydrocarbons; providing a stream of methane-rich recycle gas at a pressure of from 40 bar to 120 bar; mixing the feed gas with a first part of the recycle gas; passing the resulting mixture to a gas expander, the expander outlet having a pressure of between 3 bar and 50 bar, so as to form a mixture of vapor and a condensed liquid containing higher hydrocarbons; separating the expander outlet stream into a liquid stream and a vapor stream; reheating and compressing said vapor stream to a pressure of from 40 bar to 120 bar to form a first constituent of the above-said recycle gas; cooling a second part of the said recycle gas to a temperature higher than the outlet temperature of the said expander; passing said cooled second part of the recycle gas into a liquefaction unit to form liquefied methane and a second vapor stream; reheating and compressing
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: GASCONSULT LIMITED
    Inventors: Geoffrey Frederick Skinner, Anthony Dwight Maunder
  • Patent number: 10464818
    Abstract: A process for producing ammonia synthesis gas from the reforming of hydrocarbons with steam in a primary reformer (1) equipped with a plurality of externally heated catalytic tubes and then together with air in a secondary reformer (2) is characterized in that the reaction of said hydrocarbons with said steam in said primary reformer (1) is performed at an operating pressure of more than 35 bar in the catalytic tubes, in that air is added to said secondary reformer in excess over the nitrogen amount required for ammonia synthesis and in that the excess of nitrogen is removed downstream the secondary reformer preferably by cryogenic separation or by molecular sieves of the TAS or PSA type. This process allows to obtain high synthesis gas production capacities and lower investment and energy costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Ermanno Filippi, Marco Badano, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
  • Publication number: 20190152901
    Abstract: A process for producing ammonia and a derivative of ammonia from a natural gas feed comprising conversion of natural gas into a make-up synthesis gas; synthesis of ammonia; use of said ammonia to produce said derivative of ammonia, wherein a portion of the natural gas feed is used to fuel a gas turbine; power produced by said gas turbine is transferred to at least one power user of the process, such as a compressor; heat is recovered from exhaust gas of said gas turbine, and at least part of said heat is recovered as low-grade heat available at a temperature not greater than 200° C., to provide process heating to at least one thermal user of the process, such as CO2 removal unit or absorption chiller; a corresponding plant and method of modernization are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Casale SA
    Inventors: Raffaele Ostuni, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
  • Patent number: 10273155
    Abstract: A process and a related equipment for making ammonia make-up synthesis gas are disclosed, where: a hydrocarbon feedstock is reformed obtaining a raw ammonia make-up syngas stream; said raw syngas is purified in a cryogenic purification section refrigerated by a nitrogen-rich stream produced in an air separation unit; the nitrogen-rich stream at output of said cryogenic section is further used for adjusting the hydrogen/nitrogen ratio of the purified make-up syngas; an oxygen-rich stream is also produced in said air separation unit and is fed to the reforming section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Ermanno Filippi, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
  • Patent number: 10183910
    Abstract: A process for producing ammonia and a derivative of ammonia from a natural gas feed comprising conversion of natural gas into a make-up synthesis gas; synthesis of ammonia; use of said ammonia to produce said derivative of ammonia, wherein a portion of the natural gas feed is used to fuel a gas turbine; power produced by said gas turbine is transferred to at least one power user of the process, such as a compressor; heat is recovered from exhaust gas of said gas turbine, and at least part of said heat is recovered as low-grade heat available at a temperature not greater than 200° C., to provide process heating to at least one thermal user of the process, such as CO2 removal unit or absorption chiller; a corresponding plant and method of modernization are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Raffaele Ostuni, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
  • Patent number: 10040691
    Abstract: An ammonia plant is disclosed, where ammonia purge gas (20), is sent to a cryogenic recovery unit, said recovery unit comprising means of cooling (102, 202, 302, 402, 502) and a high-pressure phase separator (103, 203, 303, 403, 503) operating at loop pressure; inside said unit the purge gas (20) is cooled to a cryogenic temperature, and a partial liquefaction of methane and argon is achieved; the high-pressure phase separator separates the cooled stream into a gaseous stream and a bottom liquid; the gaseous stream is reheated in a passage of a heat exchanger; the unit is then capable to export a gaseous stream (123, 223, 323, 423, 523) containing nitrogen and hydrogen at loop pressure, that can be reintroduced at the suction side of the circulator (4) of the loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Raffaele Ostuni, Ermanno Filippi, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
  • Publication number: 20180180354
    Abstract: A process for liquefying methane-rich gases comprising providing a stream of feed methane-rich gas at a pressure of from 40 bar to 120 bar and containing higher hydrocarbons; providing a stream of methane-rich recycle gas at a pressure of from 40 bar to 120 bar; mixing the feed gas with a first part of the recycle gas; passing the resulting mixture to a gas expander, the expander outlet having a pressure of between 3 bar and 50 bar, so as to form a mixture of vapor and a condensed liquid containing higher hydrocarbons; separating the expander outlet stream into a liquid stream and a vapor stream; reheating and compressing said vapor stream to a pressure of from 40 bar to 120 bar to form a first constituent of the above-said recycle gas; cooling a second part of the said recycle gas to a temperature higher than the outlet temperature of the said expander; passing said cooled second part of the recycle gas into a liquefaction unit to form liquefied methane and a second vapor stream; reheating and compressing
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Geoffrey Frederick Skinner, Anthony Dwight Maunder
  • Publication number: 20180072580
    Abstract: A process for producing ammonia synthesis gas from the reforming of hydrocarbons with steam in a primary reformer (1) equipped with a plurality of externally heated catalytic tubes and then together with air in a secondary reformer (2) is characterized in that the reaction of said hydrocarbons with said steam in said primary reformer (1) is performed at an operating pressure of more than 35 bar in the catalytic tubes, in that air is added to said secondary reformer in excess over the nitrogen amount required for ammonia synthesis and in that the excess of nitrogen is removed downstream the secondary reformer preferably by cryogenic separation or by molecular sieves of the TAS or PSA type. This process allows to obtain high synthesis gas production capacities and lower investment and energy costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: Casale SA
    Inventors: Ermanno FILIPPI, Marco BADANO, Geoffrey Frederick SKINNER
  • Publication number: 20170349435
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing a hydrogen-containing synthesis gas from a natural gas feedstock, comprising the conversion of said natural gas into a raw product gas and purification of said product gas, the process having a heat input provided by combustion of a fuel; said process comprises a step of conversion of a carbonaceous feedstock, and at least a portion of said fuel is a gaseous fuel obtained by said step of conversion of said carbonaceous feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: Casale SA
    Inventors: Raffaele OSTUNI, Geoffrey Frederick SKINNER, Ermanno FILIPPI
  • Publication number: 20170283371
    Abstract: A process for producing ammonia and a derivative of ammonia from a natural gas feed comprising conversion of natural gas into a make-up synthesis gas; synthesis of ammonia; use of said ammonia to produce said derivative of ammonia, wherein a portion of the natural gas feed is used to fuel a gas engine; power produced by said gas engine; is transferred to at least one power user of the process, such as a compressor; heat is re-covered from exhaust gas of said gas engine;, and at least part of said heat may be recovered as low-grade heat available at a temperature not greater than 200° C., to provide process heating to at least one thermal user of the process, such as CO2 removal unit or absorption chiller; a corresponding plant and method of modernization are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: Casale SA
    Inventors: Geoffrey Frederick Skinner, Raffaele OSTUNI
  • Publication number: 20170253481
    Abstract: A process and a related equipment for making ammonia make-up synthesis gas are disclosed, where: a hydrocarbon feedstock is reformed obtaining a raw ammonia make-up syngas stream; said raw syngas is purified in a cryogenic purification section refrigerated by a nitrogen-rich stream produced in an air separation unit; the nitrogen-rich stream at output of said cryogenic section is further used for adjusting the hydrogen/nitrogen ratio of the purified make-up syngas; an oxygen-rich stream is also produced in said air separation unit and is fed to the reforming section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: Casale SA
    Inventors: Ermanno FILIPPI, Geoffrey Frederick SKINNER