Patents by Inventor Harald Koempel

Harald Koempel 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: 9724620
    Abstract: In producing C2-C4 olefins, in particular propylene, from an educt mixture containing steam and oxygenates, such as methanol and/or dimethyl ether, the educt mixture is reacted in a reactor on a catalyst to a reaction mixture comprising low-molecular olefins and gasoline hydrocarbons, which in a first separating device is separated into a mixture rich in C5? olefins, a mixture rich in C5+ gasoline hydrocarbons, and an aqueous phase. To increase the yield of propylene the mixture rich in C5+ gasoline hydrocarbons is supplied to a second separating device, in which the aromatics contained in the mixture are separated. The residual stream largely free from aromatics is at least partly recirculated to the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Lurgi GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Rothaemel, Henning Buchold, Harald Kömpel, Andreas Glasmacher, Andreas Ochs
  • Publication number: 20160318834
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing dimethyl ether by catalytic dehydration of methanol and by distillation of the dehydration product includes a first DME reactor having at least a first reaction stage and a last reaction stage connected in series, the first reaction stage being configured to at least partially perform catalytic dehydrogenation of methanol. A cooling apparatus is disposed between at least the first reaction stage and the last reaction stage and is configured to cool a reaction mixture conveyed from the first reaction stage disposed upstream of said cooling apparatus. A DME column is disposed downstream of, and operatively coupled to, the last reaction stage and is configured to separate dimethyl ether from the reaction mixture conveyed from the last reaction stage. A methanol column is also operatively coupled to a bottom of the DME column and is configured to separate the dimethyl-free reaction mixture into methanol and water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS AG
    Inventors: Melanie BAUER, Harald KÖMPEL, Alexander SCHULZ
  • Patent number: 9422213
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for producing dimethyl ether by catalytic dehydration of methanol and by distillation of the dehydration product. The method is characterized in that the catalytic dehydration takes place in at least two reaction stages which are connected in series and of which at least the first reaction stage is operated adiabatically, wherein a cooling of the reaction products takes place at least between the first and the second reaction stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS AG
    Inventors: Melanie Bauer, Harald Kömpel, Alexander Schulz
  • Publication number: 20150232402
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for producing dimethyl ether by catalytic dehydration of methanol and by distillation of the dehydration product. The method is characterized in that the catalytic dehydration takes place in at least two reaction stages which are connected in series and of which at least the first reaction stage is operated adiabatically, wherein a cooling of the reaction products takes place at least between the first and the second reaction stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS AG
    Inventors: Melanie Bauer, Harald Kömpel, Alexander Schulz
  • Patent number: 9085500
    Abstract: A process for producing a product containing C3H6 and C2H4 includes simultaneous conversion of MeOH and EtOH in an adiabatic sequentially operated reactor containing a plurality of reaction stages. Each of the plurality of reaction stages of the reactor is provided with a fixed bed of a form-selective catalyst. A gaseous feed stream including MeOH, DME and H2O is charged to at least a first of the reaction stages of the reactor with a temperature in a range of 300 to 600° C. at a pressure in a range of 0.1 to 20 bar[a]. EtOH is fed into at least, one of the reaction stages of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: AIR LIQUIDE GLOBAL E&C SOLUTIONS GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Henning Buchold, Harald Koempel, Sven Pohl, Martin Rothaemel, Ulrich Wagner
  • Patent number: 9028567
    Abstract: For producing synthetic fuels, an educt mixture containing steam and oxygenates, such as methanol and/or dimethyl ether, is converted to olefins on a catalyst in a first process stage, and this olefin mixture then is divided in a separating means into a stream rich in C1-C4 hydrocarbons and a stream rich in C5+ hydrocarbons. The stream rich in C5+ hydrocarbons is divided into a stream rich in C5 and C6 hydrocarbons and a stream rich in C7+ hydrocarbons, wherein the stream rich in C5 and C6 hydrocarbons is at least partly subjected to an etherification with methanol. The ethers thus obtained are admixed to the gasoline product stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Lurgi GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Rothaemel, Theis Ohlhaver, Peter Trabold, Andreas Ochs, Harald Koempel
  • Patent number: 8884074
    Abstract: A process produces dimethyl ether (DME) from methanol (MeOH). The process includes charging a feed mixture consisting of raw MeOH and a process-internally obtained return flow substantially consisting of unconverted MeOH and reaction water to an MeOH column. The feed mixture is evaporated in the MeOH column to form a first distillate substantially consisting of vaporous MeOH. The first distillate is supplied to a reactor and the MeOH is converted to DME by splitting off water in the reactor so as to form a reaction mixture. The reaction mixture is withdrawn from the reactor, charged to a mixture column and separated into a bottom product substantially consisting of water and a second distillate substantially consisting of DME and MeOH. The second distillate is separated in a DME column into a third distillate substantially consisting of DME, a bottom product consisting essentially of water-poor MeOH, and uncondensable gases discharged overhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Ahlers, Gerhard Birke, Harald Koempel, Hermann Bach, Martin Rothaemel, Waldemar Liebner, Walter Boll, Veronika Gronemann
  • Publication number: 20140228609
    Abstract: For the production of olefins from dimethyl ether gaseous dimethyl ether in a purity of 70-100 wt-% together with recycle gas, which contains olefinic, paraffinic and/or aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as steam is charged to a first catalyst stage of a re actor. To render the temperature profile over the catalyst stages as flat as possible, but close to the optimum operating temperature, gaseous dimethyl ether in a purity of 70-100 wt-% together with recycle gas, which contains olefinic, paraffinic and aromatic hydrocarbons, is charged to at least one downstream catalyst stage, wherein this downstream catalyst stage additionally is fed with product gas from the upstream catalyst stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: Gerhard Birke, Bernd Ahlers, Harald Kömpel, Waldemar Liebner
  • Patent number: 8785708
    Abstract: In a process for the preparation of C2- to C4-olefins, a feed stream comprising oxygenates and steam is passed through at least one fixed-bed zone comprising zeolite catalyst, where the oxygenates are converted catalytically into olefins with high selectivity for lower olefins, and the reaction mixture leaving the fixed-bed zone is separated into a first product stream comprising C2- to C3-olefins and inert gas components, at least one second product stream comprising C4+-olefins, and a third product stream consisting of aqueous phase. In order to improve the yield of lower olefins, the aim is to regulate the temperature of the catalytic reaction in accordance with a target temperature value in the range from 440 to 520° C. specified for the reaction mixture exiting the fixed-bed zone by means of a supplementary stream consisting of olefins and inert gas components fed into the feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Lurgi AG
    Inventors: Martin Rothaemel, Walter Boll, Gerhard Birke, Harald Koempel, Waldemar Liebner, Hermann Bach
  • Patent number: 8444940
    Abstract: A reactor is described for the production of C2 to C8 olefins from gaseous oxygenate and H2O and one or more material flows containing C2 C4, C5, C6, C7, C8 olefin and paraffin at 400° to 470° C., wherein several reaction stages which the material flow can pass through from the top to the bottom, each consisting of a support base with a catalyst layer situated on it, are arranged in a closed, upright container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Lurgi GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Bach, Lothar Brehm, Jurgen Bohle, Gunter Quass, Gunther Heinz, Katja Bartels, Heinrich Dörr, Harald Kömpel
  • Publication number: 20120102829
    Abstract: For producing synthetic fuels, an educt mixture containing steam and oxygenates, such as methanol and/or dimethyl ether, is converted to olefins on a catalyst in a first process stage, and this olefin mixture then is divided in a separating means into a stream rich in C1-C4 hydrocarbons and a stream rich in C5+ hydrcarbons. The stream rich in C5+ hydrocarbons is divided into a stream rich in C5 and C6 hydrocarbons and a stream rich in C7+ hydrocarbons, wherein the stream rich in C5 and C6 hydrocarbons is at least partly subjected to an etherification with methanol. The ethers thus obtained are admixed to the gasoline product stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: LURGI GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Rothaemel, Theis Ohlhaver, Peter Trabold, Andreas Ochs, Harald Koempel
  • Publication number: 20110295043
    Abstract: A process produces dimethyl ether (DME) from methanol (MeOH). The process includes charging a feed mixture consisting of raw MeOH and a process-internally obtained return flow substantially consisting of unconverted MeOH and reaction water to an MeOH column. The feed mixture is evaporated in the MeOH column to form a first distillate substantially consisting of vaporous MeOH. The first distillate is supplied to a reactor and the MeOH is converted to DME by splitting off water in the reactor so as to form a reaction mixture. The reaction mixture is withdrawn from the reactor, charged to a mixture column and separated into a bottom product substantially consisting of water and a second distillate substantially consisting of DME and MeOH. The second distillate is separated in a DME column into a third distillate substantially consisting of DME, a bottom product consisting essentially of water-poor MeOH, and uncondensable gases discharged overhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: LURGI GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Ahlers, Gerhard Birke, Harald Koempel, Hermann Bach, Martin Rothaemel, Waldemar Liebner, Walter Boll, Veronika Gronemann
  • Publication number: 20110288358
    Abstract: A process for producing a product containing C3H6 and C2H4 includes simultaneous conversion of MeOH and EtOH in an adiabatic sequentially operated reactor containing a plurality of reaction stages. Each of the plurality of reaction stages of the reactor is provided with a fixed bed of a form-selective catalyst. A gaseous feed stream including MeOH, DME and H2O is charged to at least a first of the reaction stages of the reactor with a temperature in a range of 300 to 600° C. at a pressure in a range of 0.1 to 20 bar[a]. EtOH is fed into at least, one of the reaction stages of the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: LURGI GMBH
    Inventors: Henning Buchold, Harald Koempel, Sven Pohl, Martin Rothaemel, Ulrich Wagner
  • Patent number: 8058498
    Abstract: Process for removing oxygen-containing organic compounds from mixtures of hydrocarbon compounds, in which a liquid phase (1) containing hydrocarbons and oxygenates is charged to a first column (3), a light fraction is separated as top product (5) by distillation, and that a heavier C4+ fraction is removed from the bottom, the light fraction (5) and a gaseous mixture of hydrocarbons and oxygenates (2) is charged to a second column (7), and separated into a light and a heavy hydrocarbon fraction distillation, and an additional solvent (6) is supplied to the upper part of the second column (7), which dissolves the oxygenates and, the solvent and oxygenates being discharged as bottom product (9) and a hydrocarbon product (8), which is free from oxygenates leaves the top of the column (7). The solvent optionally is wholly or partly regenerated and recirculated to the extractive distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventors: Sandra Jensen, Martin Rothaemel, Harald Koempel, Herrmann Bach, Gerhard Birke
  • Patent number: 7923591
    Abstract: Method and device for manufacturing at least one low olefin from an oxygenate-containing first reaction mixture (11) through conversion by a catalyst (20) to an olefin and paraffin-containing second reaction mixture (21) where the second reaction mixture (21) is flowed through a separation system (300), in which one at least one low olefin-containing first product stream (31) and at least one paraffin-enriched fraction (321) is extracted and where the remaining product stream (322) is at least partially recirculated to the catalyst (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Lurgi AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Birke, Harald Koempel, Waldemar Liebner, Hermann Bach
  • Publication number: 20100234655
    Abstract: In a process for the preparation of C2- to C4-olefins, a feed stream comprising oxygenates and steam is passed through at least one fixed-bed zone comprising zeolite catalyst, where the oxygenates are converted catalytically into olefins with high selectivity for lower olefins, and the reaction mixture leaving the fixed-bed zone is separated into a first product stream comprising C2- to C3-olefins and inert gas components, at least one second product stream comprising C4+-olefins, and a third product stream consisting of aqueous phase. In order to improve the yield of lower olefins, the aim is to regulate the temperature of the catalytic reaction in accordance with a target temperature value in the range from 440 to 520° C. specified for the reaction mixture exiting the fixed-bed zone by means of a supplementary stream consisting of olefins and inert gas components fed into the feed stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: LURGI AG
    Inventors: Martin Rothaemel, Walter Boll, Gerhard Birke, Harald Koempel, Waldemar Liebner, Hermann Bach
  • Publication number: 20100206771
    Abstract: For the production of hydrocarbons, in particular C2-C4 olefins, using a combined plant with a steam cracker and at least one reactor for converting an educt mixture which includes steam and at least one oxygenate, the respective intermediate product streams of the steam cracker and of the reactor are at least partly combined. To increase the yield of valuable products, a shape-selective zeolite material is used as catalyst in the reactor for oxygenate conversion and at least a part of the product streams obtained downstream of the combined plant is recirculated to the steam cracker and/or the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: Lurgi GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Rothaemel, Harald Kömpel, H. Bach, W. Liebner
  • Publication number: 20100063337
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reactor for the production of C2 to C8 olefins from gaseous oxygenate and H2O and one or more material flows containing C2 C4, C5, C6, C7, C8 olefin and paraffin at 400° to 470° C., wherein several reaction stages which the material flow can pass through from the top to the bottom, each consisting of a support base with a catalyst layer situated on it, are arranged in a closed, upright container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: LURGI GMBH
    Inventors: Hermann Bach, Lothar Brehm, Jürgen Bohle, Gunter Quass, Günther Heinz, Katja Bartels, Heinrich Dörr, Harald Kömpel
  • Publication number: 20090223870
    Abstract: Process for removing oxygen-containing organic compounds from mixtures of hydrocarbon compounds, in which a liquid phase (1) containing hydrocarbons and oxygenates is charged to a first column (3), a light fraction is separated as top product (5) by distillation, and that a heavier C4+ fraction is removed from the bottom, the light fraction (5) and a gaseous mixture of hydrocarbons and oxygenates (2) is charged to a second column (7), and separated into a light and a heavy hydrocarbon fraction distillation, and an additional solvent (6) is supplied to the upper part of the second column (7), which dissolves the oxygenates and, the solvent and oxygenates being discharged as bottom product (9) and a hydrocarbon product (8), which is free from oxygenates leaves the top of the column (7). The solvent optionally is wholly or partly regenerated and recirculated to the extractive distillation column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2004
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Gerhard Birke, Martin Rothaemel, Herrmann Bach, Harald Koempel, Sandra Jensen
  • Publication number: 20090137856
    Abstract: Method and device for manufacturing at least one low olefin from an oxygenate-containing first reaction mixture (11) through conversion by a catalyst (20) to an olefin and paraffin-containing second reaction mixture (21) where the second reaction mixture (21) is flowed through a separation system (300), in which one at least one low olefin-containing first product stream (31) and at least one paraffin-enriched fraction (321) is extracted and where the remaining product stream (322) is at least partially recirculated to the catalyst (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: LURGI AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Birke, Harald Koempel, Waldemar Liebner, Hermann Bach