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).
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Publication number: 20240337438Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2022Publication date: October 10, 2024Inventor: Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
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Publication number: 20230332833Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2021Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventor: Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
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Patent number: 11053119Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 1, 2020Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Casale SAInventors: Raffaele Ostuni, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner, Ermanno Filippi
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Patent number: 10954187Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 5, 2015Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Casale SAInventors: Geoffrey Frederick Skinner, Raffaele Ostuni
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Patent number: 10858313Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Casale SAInventors: Raffaele Ostuni, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
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Publication number: 20200290870Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Applicant: Casale SAInventors: Raffaele OSTUNI, Geoffrey Frederick SKINNER, Ermanno FILIPPI
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Publication number: 20200290869Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Applicant: Casale SAInventors: Raffaele OSTUNI, Geoffrey Frederick SKINNER, Ermanno FILIPPI
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Publication number: 20200224966Abstract: 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 thType: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventors: Geoffrey Frederick Skinner, Anthony Dwight Maunder
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Patent number: 10669154Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 6, 2015Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Casale SAInventors: Raffaele Ostuni, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner, Ermanno Filippi
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Patent number: 10641548Abstract: 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 compressingType: GrantFiled: June 23, 2016Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: GASCONSULT LIMITEDInventors: Geoffrey Frederick Skinner, Anthony Dwight Maunder
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Patent number: 10464818Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Casale SAInventors: Ermanno Filippi, Marco Badano, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
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Publication number: 20190152901Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Applicant: Casale SAInventors: Raffaele Ostuni, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
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Patent number: 10273155Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 22, 2017Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: Casale SAInventors: Ermanno Filippi, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
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Patent number: 10183910Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 3, 2015Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Casale SAInventors: Raffaele Ostuni, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
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Patent number: 10040691Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 10, 2015Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Casale SAInventors: Raffaele Ostuni, Ermanno Filippi, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
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Publication number: 20180180354Abstract: 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 compressingType: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2016Publication date: June 28, 2018Inventors: Geoffrey Frederick Skinner, Anthony Dwight Maunder
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Publication number: 20180072580Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Applicant: Casale SAInventors: Ermanno FILIPPI, Marco BADANO, Geoffrey Frederick SKINNER
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Publication number: 20170349435Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2015Publication date: December 7, 2017Applicant: Casale SAInventors: Raffaele OSTUNI, Geoffrey Frederick SKINNER, Ermanno FILIPPI
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Publication number: 20170283371Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2015Publication date: October 5, 2017Applicant: Casale SAInventors: Geoffrey Frederick Skinner, Raffaele OSTUNI
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Publication number: 20170253481Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2017Publication date: September 7, 2017Applicant: Casale SAInventors: Ermanno FILIPPI, Geoffrey Frederick SKINNER