Patents by Inventor George N. Richter

George N. Richter 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: 4338099
    Abstract: A process for the partial oxidation of pumpable slurries of solid carbonaceous fuels in which the pumpable slurry of solid carbonaceous fuel in a liquid carrier is passed in liquid phase through one passage of a burner comprising a retracted central coaxial conduit, an outer coaxial conduit with a converging orifice at the downstream tip of the burner and, optionally, an intermediate coaxial conduit. The downstream tips of the central conduit and the intermediate conduit, if any, are retracted upstream from the burner face a distance of respectively two or more say 3 to 10 for the central conduit, and about 0 to 12 say 1 to 5 for the intermediate conduit times the minimum diameter of the converging orifice of the outer conduit at the burner tip. A pre-mix zone is thereby provided comprising one or more, say 2 to 5 coaxial pre-mix chambers in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Crouch, George N. Richter, Charles P. Marion, Blake Reynolds, Albert Brent, Edward T. Child
  • Patent number: 4255278
    Abstract: Disclosed is a partial oxidation process including separation of particles high in carbon content from particles low in carbon content suspended in water used for quenching or scrubbing the gaseous products of the partial oxidation of a solid ash-containing carbonaceous fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1981
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Roy D. Roberts, George N. Richter
  • Patent number: 4205963
    Abstract: Dispersions comprising water and particulate solids i.e. carbon and ash are produced in at least one gas cooling or scrubbing zone by quench cooling or scrubbing the raw gas stream from a partial oxidation gas generator with water. The dispersions are resolved by liquid extraction in a decanting zone to produce a water layer containing carbon, dissolved gas, and ash, and also a separate dispersion comprising carbon, extractant, and water. Solids-free water, liquid extractant and uncondensed gases are then separated from each other in a distillation and separation operation. Water is removed from a separation vessel in said operation and introduced on to a stripping plate of a flash column containing at least one stripping plate. The solids-containing water from the decanting zone is flashed below said stripping plate and a portion is converted into steam. The steam passes up through holes or bubble caps in the stripping plate and is dispersed through the water contained on said plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1980
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Charles P. Marion, Lawrence E. Estabrook, George N. Richter
  • Patent number: 4205962
    Abstract: Dispersions comprising water and particulate solids i.e. carbon and ash are produced in at least one gas cooling or scrubbing zone by quench cooling or scrubbing, or both the raw gas stream from a partial oxidation gas generator with water. Advantageously, the water may be reclaimed by the subject process. In one embodiment, the carbon-water dispersion containing any ash is mixed with a liquid organic extractant and a liquid aqueous emulsion. The emulsion breaks up, and in a decanting operation a carbon-extractant-water dispersion containing gaseous impurities separates out and floats on a dilute bottoms water layer containing gaseous impurities and some solids. The carbon-extractant-water dispersion is mixed with a heavy liquid hydrocarbon and introduced into a distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1980
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Charles P. Marion, Lawrence E. Estabrook, George N. Richter
  • Patent number: 4202167
    Abstract: An improved method for the generation of power in a combustion gas turbine utilizing fuel gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide in which said fuel gas is subjected to a water gas shift reaction whereby said fuel gas is enriched in both hydrogen and carbon dioxide prior to combustion in said combustion gas turbine. Undesirable nickel compounds contained in said fuel gas are removed and undesirable carbonyl sulfide decomposed by said water gas shift reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1980
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Suggitt, William N. Gilmer, George N. Richter
  • Patent number: 4166802
    Abstract: Low quality solid fuels are gasified by being fed to a gasifier in a concentrated water slurry, the high solids content of the slurry being possible by subjecting the solid fuel to hydrothermal treatment in the product gas quench zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1979
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Slater, George N. Richter
  • Patent number: 4141696
    Abstract: Dispersions comprising water and particulate solids i.e. carbon and ash are produced in at least one gas cooling or scrubbing zone by quench cooling or scrubbing the raw gas stream from a partial oxidation gas generator with water. The dispersions are resolved by liquid extraction in a decanting zone to produce a water layer containing carbon, dissolved gas, and ash, and also a separate dispersion comprising carbon, extractant, and water. Solids-free water and liquid extractant are then separated from said dispersion in a distillation zone. This water is introduced on to a stripping plate of a flash column along with solids-free recycle condensate from the flash column. The solids-containing water from the decanting zone is flashed below said stripping plate and a portion is converted into steam. The steam passes up through holes or bubble caps in the stripping plate and is dispersed through the water contained on said plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Charles P. Marion, Lawrence E. Estabrook, George N. Richter
  • Patent number: 4141695
    Abstract: Dispersions comprising water and particulate solids i.e. carbon and ash are produced in at least one gas cooling or scrubbing zone by quench cooling or scrubbing, or both the raw gas stream from a partial oxidation gas generator with water. Advantageously, the water may be reclaimed by the subject process. In one embodiment, the carbon-water dispersion containing any ash is mixed with a liquid organic extractant and a liquid aqueous emulsion. The emulsion breaks up, and in a decanting operation a carbon-extractant-water dispersion containing gaseous impurities separates out and floats on a dilute bottoms water layer containing gaseous impurities and some solids. The carbon-extractant-water dispersion is mixed with a heavy liquid hydrocarbon and introduced into a distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Charles P. Marion, Lawrence E. Estabrook, George N. Richter
  • Patent number: 4052176
    Abstract: A raw synthesis gas feed stream, e.g., gaseous mixtures comprising H.sub.2 and CO and containing gaseous impurities including CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 S, COS, and mixtures thereof (acid gas) and CH.sub.4, optionally in admixture with a CO-rich gas stream produced subsequently in the process, is introduced into a water-gas shift reactor to produce H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2. Acid gases are then removed to produce a stream of purified synthesis gas by contacting the process gas stream with a first liquid solvent absorbent such as methanol, N-methyl-pyrrolidone, or dimethyl ether of polyethylene glycol. An H.sub.2 -rich gas stream may be obtained by removing CO from the purified synthesis gas stream. This may be done by physical absorption in a second liquid solvent absorbent comprising an aqueous solution of cuprous ammonium acetate. By regenerating the second liquid solvent, the aforesaid CO-rich stream may be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1977
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Edward T. Child, Warren G. Schlinger, George N. Richter
  • Patent number: 4038186
    Abstract: This is an apparatus for continuously separating a liquid mixture comprising particulate carbon produced by the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous fuel, water, and liquid organic extractant into two separate immiscible streams i.e. a stream of particulate carbon-liquid organic extractant dispersion and a separate stream of clarified water. The subject apparatus may be referred to as a carbon decanter and comprises a closed pressure vessel whose horizontal cross-section is circular. Thus, the decanter may be shaped like a vertical cylinder or may be spherical shaped with discharge ports in the top and bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1977
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Clyde E. Potter, George N. Richter
  • Patent number: 4014786
    Abstract: This is a process and apparatus for continuously separating a liquid mixture comprising particulate carbon produced by the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous fuel, water, and liquid organic extractant into two separate immiscible streams i.e. a stream of particulate carbon-liquid organic extractant dispersion and a separate stream of clarified water. The subject apparatus may be referred to as a carbon decanter and comprises a closed pressure vessel whose horizontal cross-section is circular. Thus, the decanter may be shaped like a vertical cylinder or may be spherical shaped with discharge ports in the top and bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1977
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Clyde E. Potter, George N. Richter
  • Patent number: 4007017
    Abstract: An improved continuous partial oxidation process for producing clean synthesis or fuel gas from a hydrocarbonaceous fuel feed is disclosed wherein the effluent gas stream from the reaction zone of the gas generator is simultaneously cooled and cleaned by first discharging the gas stream directly into a relatively large body of hot liquid hydrocarbon immersion fluid contained in an immersion vessel, and second by scrubbing with by-product water obtained subsequently in the process in a nozzle scrubber. The process gas stream is optionally cooled and passed into a gas-liquid separator where any condensed by-product noxious water and any C.sub.5 -C.sub.10 liquid hydrocarbons are separated from each other and from the clean product gas stream. By-product noxious water is disposed of without polluting the environment by recycling a portion of it to the gas generator as the temperature moderator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1977
    Inventors: William L. Slater, George N. Richter, William B. Crouch, Lawrence E. Estabrook
  • Patent number: 4007018
    Abstract: An improved continuous partial oxidation process for producing clean synthesis or fuel gas from a hydrocarbonaceous fuel feed is disclosed wherein hot gases from the process are simultaneously cooled and cleaned by direct contact with hydrocarbon oil. Thus, the effluent gas stream from the reaction zone of the gas generator is cooled and cleaned by discharging the gas stream directly into a relatively large body of hot liquid hydrocarbon immersion fluid. For example, the immersion fluid may be a dispserion of liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel such as petroleum oil and particulate carbon which is contained in a separate immersion vessel. A portion of the immersion fluid is continuously removed from the immersion vessel and is cooled in an external cooler to a temperature in the range of about 300 to 850.degree. F but above the dew point of the water in the process gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1977
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Slater, George N. Richter, William B. Crouch, Lawrence E. Estabrook
  • Patent number: 4007019
    Abstract: An improved continuous partial oxidation process for producing clean synthesis or fuel gas and by-product steam from a hydrocarbonaceous fuel feed is disclosed wherein hot gases from the process are simultaneously cooled and cleaned by direct contact with hydrocarbon oil. Thus, the effluent gas stream from the reaction zone of the gas generator is cooled and cleaned by discharging the gas stream directly into a relatively large body of hot liquid hydrocarbon immersion fluid. For example, the immersion fluid may be a dispersion of liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel such as petroleum oil and particulate carbon which is contained in a separate immersion vessel. A portion of the hot immersion fluid is continuously removed from the immersion vessel and cooled to a temperature in the range of about 300.degree. to 850.degree. F. but above the dew point of the water in the process gas stream in an external heat exchanger, such as a steam generator. High pressure by-product steam may be produced thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1977
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Slater, George N. Richter, William B. Crouch, Lawrence E. Estabrook