Abstract: This invention utilizes a novel method and set of operating conditions to efficiently and economically process a potentially very fouling hydrocarbon feedstock. A multi-stage catalytic process for the upgrading of coal pyrolysis oils is developed. Coal Pyrolysis Oils are highly aromatic, olefinic, unstable, contain objectionable sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen contaminants, and may contain coal solids which will plug fixed-bed reactors. The pyrolysis oil is fed with hydrogen to a multi-stage ebullated-bed hydrotreater and hydrocracker containing a hydrogenation or hydrocracking catalyst to first stabilize the feed at low temperature and is then fed to downstream reactor(s) at higher temperatures to further treat and hydrocrack the pyrolysis oils to a more valuable syncrude or to finished distillate products. The relatively high heat of reaction is used to provide the energy necessary to increase the temperature of the subsequent stage thus eliminating the need for additional external heat input.

Abstract: The invention described herein relates to a novel process for reducing the carbon dioxide emissions from a coal and/or biomass liquefaction facility by utilizing a steam methane reformer unit in the complex designed to produce additional hydrogen which can be thereafter utilized in the process, as required for the plant fired heaters (including the SMR furnace), and for the production of plant steam. The plant light ends (C1, C2, etc.), which are normally utilized as fuel gas streams are the primary feeds to the SMR Unit along with the tail gas purge from a gasification complex within the facility.

Abstract: The invention described herein relates to a novel process that eliminates the need for post combustion CO2 capture from fired heaters (at atmospheric pressure and in dilute phase) in a petroleum refinery to achieve environmental targets by capturing CO2 in a centralized facility and providing fuel gas low in carbon to the fired heaters. It combines the pre-combustion capture of carbon dioxide with production of a hydrogen fuel source within a refinery to drastically reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of the plant. The hydrogen fuel is utilized for the process fired heaters and the fuel quality (carbon content) can be set to meet the refinery's emissions objectives. Moreover, the carbon dioxide captured can be sequestered and/or utilized for enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

Abstract: The invention described herein relates to a novel process that eliminates the need for post combustion CO2 capture from fired heaters (at atmospheric pressure and in dilute phase) in a petroleum refinery to achieve environmental targets by capturing CO2 in a centralized facility and providing fuel gas low in carbon to the fired heaters. It combines the pre-combustion capture of carbon dioxide with production of a hydrogen fuel source within a refinery to drastically reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of the plant. The hydrogen fuel is utilized for the process fired heaters and the fuel quality (carbon content) can be set to meet the refinery's emissions objectives. Moreover, the carbon dioxide captured can be sequestered and/or utilized for enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

Abstract: A multi-stage catalytic process for the direct liquefaction of coal is utilized with a hydrotreater to first liquefy and subsequently treat the product in one integrated process. A fresh hydrogenation catalyst is used to reduce heteroatoms (S, N) from coal liquids in the downstream hydrotreater. This catalyst is then cascaded and re-used in the direct coal liquefaction process, first in the low temperature Stage 1, and then re-used in the high temperature Stage 2. Coal liquid products have very low contaminants and can be readily used to produce gasoline and diesel fuel. Catalyst requirements are substantially lowered utilizing this novel process.

Abstract: A broadly tunable single-mode infrared laser source based on semiconductor lasers. The laser source has two parts: an array of closely-spaced DFB QCLs (or other semiconductor lasers) and a controller that can switch each of the individual lasers in the array on and off, set current for each of the lasers and, and control the temperature of the lasers in the array. The device can be used in portable broadband sensors to simultaneously detect a large number of compounds including chemical and biological agents. A microelectronic controller is combined with an array of individually-addressed DFB QCLs with slightly different DFB grating periods fabricated on the same broadband (or multiple wavelengths) QCL material. This allows building a compact source providing narrow-line broadly-tunable coherent radiation in the Infrared or Terahertz spectral range (as well as in the Ultraviolet and Visible spectral ranges, using semiconductor lasers with different active region design).

Abstract: This invention utilizes a novel method and set of operating conditions to efficiently and economically process a potentially very fouling hydrocarbon feedstock. A multi-stage catalytic process for the upgrading of coal pyrolysis oils is developed. Coal Pyrolysis Oils are highly aromatic, olefinic, unstable, contain objectionable sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen contaminants, and,may contain coal solids which will plug fixed-bed reactors. The pyrolysis oil is fed with hydrogen to a multi-stage ebullated-bed hydrotreater and hydrocracker containing a hydrogenation or hydrocracking catalyst to first stabilize the feed at low temperature and is then fed to downstream reactor(s) at higher temperatures to further treat and hydrocrack the pyrolysis oils to a more valuable syncrude or to finished distillate products. The relatively high heat of reaction is used to provide the energy necessary to increase the temperature of the subsequent stage thus eliminating the need for additional external heat input.

Abstract: A broadly tunable single-mode infrared laser source based on semiconductor lasers. The laser source has two parts: an array of closely-spaced DFB QCLs (or other semiconductor lasers) and a controller that can switch each of the individual lasers in the array on and off, set current for each of the lasers and, and control the temperature of the lasers in the array. The device can be used in portable broadband sensors to simultaneously detect a large number of compounds including chemical and biological agents. A microelectronic controller is combined with an array of individually-addressed DFB QCLs with slightly different DFB grating periods fabricated on the same broadband (or multiple wavelengths) QCL material. This allows building a compact source providing narrow-line broadly-tunable coherent radiation in the Infrared or Terahertz spectral range (as well as in the Ultraviolet and Visible spectral ranges, using semiconductor lasers with different active region design).

Abstract: A mask programmable integrated circuit includes a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and a controller. The controller couples to the ROM and RAM. The controller senses a reset condition and, in response, directs a clear of the RAM or a preload of contents of the ROM to the RAM. The preload can be performed after a successful self-test of the RAM is achieved. The RAM has a variable word length and depth size and can be configured to operate in one of many modes. The integrated circuit further includes a first and a second multiplexer (MUX). The first MUX is interposed between the RAM and the ROM, and selectively couples either the ROM data or the built-in self-test (BIST) data to the first MUX output. The second MUX is interposed between the first MUX and the RAM, and selectively couples either the output of the first MUX or a (synchronous or asynchronous) data input to the RAM.

Abstract: A mask programmable integrated circuit includes a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and a controller. The controller couples to the ROM and RAM. The controller senses a reset condition and, in response, directs a clear of the RAM or a preload of contents of the ROM to the RAM. The preload can be performed after a successful self-test of the RAM is achieved. The RAM has a variable word length and depth size and can be configured to operate in one of many modes. The integrated circuit further includes a first and a second multiplexer (MUX). The first MUX is interposed between the RAM and the ROM, and selectively couples either the ROM data or the built-in self-test (BIST) data to the first MUX output. The second MUX is interposed between the first MUX and the RAM, and selectively couples either the output of the first MUX or a (synchronous or asynchronous) data input to the RAM.

Abstract: An improved method is described for presulfiding and preconditioning a residuum hydrotreating or hydrocracking catalyst as an integrated part of the hydroconversion process in which catalyst is added on-stream intermittently or continuously without interruption of the hydroconversion process. The method is used to condition, activate, or presulfide fresh or regenerated catalyst prior to its addition to the hydroconversion reactor utilizing product streams from the hydroconversion process.

Abstract: A process for catalytic multi-stage hydrogenation of heavy carbonaceous feedstocks using catalytic ebullated bed reactors is operated at selected flow and operating conditions so as to provide improved reactor operations and produce increased yield of lower boiling hydrocarbon liquid and gas products. The disclosed process advantageously takes advantage of an external gas/liquid separation unit associated with the first stage reactor to allow for a more efficient and effective catalytic hydrocracking process. The more efficient process is primarily a result of the increased catalyst loading and lower gas hold-up in the ebullated reactors.

Abstract: A method for coding programming instructions in a complex programmable logic device (CPLD). In one embodiment, a CPLD has an instruction storage element comprising a first number of bits and requiring a first number of clock cycles to load the first number of bits. A novel method is used to instruct the device to perform at least one function comprising the steps of serially shifting a first instruction into the instruction storage element in a second number of clock cycles, and serially shifting a second instruction into the instruction storage element in a third number of clock cycles. The third number of clock cycles may be less than the first number of clock cycles. The third number of clock cycles may also be less than the second number of clock cycles. In one embodiment, the third number of clock cycles comprises one clock cycle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit for programming a logic device comprising a first register for shifting data to a memory array, a second register for decoding an address space for a particular word within the logic device. The memory array has an address input and a data input coupled to the first and second registers. One of the registers is implemented as a registered counter block while the other register can be implemented as either a shift register, for a low pin count design, and/or a parallel load register for a higher pin counter and higher performance design.

Abstract: A process for catalytic two-stage hydrogenation and liquefaction of coal with selective extinction recycle of all heavy liquid fractions boiling above a distillation cut point of about 600.degree.-750.degree. F. to produce increased yields of low-boiling hydrocarbon liquid and gas products. In the process, the particulate coal feed is slurried with a process-derived liquid solvent normally boiling above about 650.degree. F. and fed into a first stage catalytic reaction zone operated at conditions which promote controlled rate liquefaction of the coal, while simultaneously hydrogenating the hydrocarbon recycle oils. The first stage reactor is maintained at 710.degree.-800.degree. F. temperature, 1000-4000 psig hydrogen partial pressure, and 10-90 lb/hr per ft.sup.3 catalyst space velocity. Partially hydrogenated material withdrawn from the first stage reaction zone is passed directly to the second stage catalytic reaction zone maintained at 760.degree.-860.degree. F.

Abstract: A process for two-stage catalytic co-processing of coal and heavy petroleum hydrocarbon liquid fractions to produce increased yields of low-boiling hydrocarbon liquid and gas products. In the process, the particulate coal is slurried with a petroleum residuum and optionally with a process-derived hydrocarbon liquid solvent and fed into a first stage catalytic reaction zone operated at relatively mild conditions which promote controlled rate liquefaction of the coal while simultaneously hydrogenating the petroleum and hydrocarbon recycle oils at conditions favoring hydrogenation reactions. The first stage reactor is maintained at 650.degree.-800.degree. F. temperature, 1000-4000 psig hydrogen partial pressure and 10-100 lb/hr/ft.sup.3 space velocity for the total coal and oil feed. From the first stage reaction zone, the partially hydrogenated effluent material is passed directly to the close-coupled second stage catalytic reaction zone maintained at more severe conditions of 750.degree.-900.degree. F.

Abstract: A process for two-stage catalytic hydrogenation and liquefaction of coal to produce increased yields of low-boiling hydrocarbon liquid and gas products. In the process, the particulate coal is slurried with a process-derived liquid solvent and fed at temperature below about 650.degree. F. into a first stage catalytic reaction zone operated at conditions which promote controlled rate liquefaction of the coal, while simultaneously hydrogenating the hydrocarbon recycle oils at conditions favoring hydrogenation reactions. The first stage reactor is maintained at 650.degree.-800.degree. F. temperature, 1000-4000 psig hydrogen partial pressure, and 10-60 lb coal/hr/ft.sup.3 reactor space velocity. The partially hydrogenated material from the first stage reaction zone is passed directly to the close-coupled second stage catalytic reaction zone maintained at a temperature at least about 25.degree. F. higher than for the first stage reactor and within a range of 750.degree.-875.degree. F.

Abstract: A multi-stage catalytic process for hydrogenation and liquefaction of coal using ebullated-bed catalytic reactors to produce low-boiling hydrocarbon liquid products, in which used catalyst is removed from a lower temperature first stage reactor operating at temperature not exceeding about 800.degree. F. and cascaded forward to a higher temperature second stage reactor for further use therein. Reaction conditions in the first stage reactor are preferably 700.degree.-800.degree. F. temperature, 1000-4000 psig hydrogen partial pressure, and a coal feed rate of 10-90 lb coal/hr per ft.sup.3 catalyst settled volume in the reactor. Useful higher temperature or second stage reaction conditions are 750.degree.-850.degree. F. temperature, and 1000-4000 psig hydrogen partial pressure.