Patents by Inventor Karl-Heinz Hofmann

Karl-Heinz Hofmann 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: 10234205
    Abstract: A method for charging pallet cars of a traveling grate for the thermal treatment of bulk material includes in a first step a first layer is applied as a hearth layer on a grate surface of the pallet car. In at least one second step a second layer at the same time or successively is applied as a side layer on two opposed side walls of the pallet car and a third layer is applied as green pellet layer between the side layers and on the hearth layer. The pellets used for the grate and the side layer differ in terms of their diameter and size distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Georg Strüber, Markus Schuster, Siegfried Schimo, Roberto Valery, Stephanie Winkler, Suvi Rannantie, Matthias Bergmann, Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Katharina Kremmer, Vincent Siauw, Basavan Salagundi, Michael Ströder, Roger Becker
  • Publication number: 20180372410
    Abstract: A method for charging pallet cars of a traveling grate for the thermal treatment of bulk material includes in a first step a first layer is applied as a hearth layer on a grate surface of the pallet car. In at least one second step a second layer at the same time or successively is applied as a side layer on two opposed side walls of the pallet car and a third layer is applied as green pellet layer between the side layers and on the hearth layer. The pellets used for the grate and the side layer differ in terms of their diameter and size distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Georg Strüber, Markus Schuster, Siegfried Schimo, Roberto Valery, Stephanie Winkler, Suvi Rannantie, Matthias Bergmann, Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Katharina Kremmer, Vincent Siauw, Basavan Salagundi, Michael Ströder, Roger Becker
  • Patent number: 10065183
    Abstract: A process for preparing a catalyst provided in the form of a metal oxide catalyst having at least one element selected from Mo, Te, Nb, V, Cr, Dy, Ga, Sb, Ni, Co, Pt and Ce. The catalyst is subjected to an aftertreatment to increase the proportion of the M1 phase, by contacting the catalyst with steam at a pressure below 100 bar or by contacting the catalyst with oxygen to obtain an aftertreated catalyst. The aftertreated catalyst may be used for oxidative dehydrogenation processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignees: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT MUNCHEN
    Inventors: Hans-Jörg Zander, Florian Winkler, Andreas Meiswinkel, Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Christian Thaller, Johannes A. Lercher, Daniela Hartmann, Andre Cornelis van Veen, Maria Cruz Sanchez-Sanchez
  • Patent number: 9896392
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for oligomerization of ethylene, comprising the steps: a) feeding ethylene, solvent and a catalyst composition comprising catalyst and cocatalyst into a reactor, b) oligomerizing ethylene in the reactor, c) discharging a reactor effluent comprising linear alpha-olefins including 1-butene, solvent, unconsumed ethylene dissolved in the reactor effluent, and catalyst composition from the reactor, d) separating ethylene and 1-butene collectively from the remaining reactor effluent, and e) recycling at least a part of the ethylene and the 1-butene separated in step d) into the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignees: SAUDI BASIC INDUSTRIES CORPORATION, LINDE AG
    Inventors: Andreas Meiswinkel, Wolfgang Mueller, Anina Woehl, Marco Harff, Heinz Bolt, Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Hans-Jorg Zander, Anton Wellenhofer, Abduljelil Iliyas, Shehzada Khurram, Shahid Azam, Abdullah Al-Qahtani
  • Patent number: 9896391
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing linear ?-olefins, wherein ethylene 1a is conducted into the oligomerization reactor 2 in the liquid phase. The oligomerization reactor 2 has a mechanical stirrer 2a in order to ensure optimal mixing of the liquid ethylene and of the catalyst in the liquid phase. From the top of the oligomerization reactor 2, vaporized ethylene is drawn off together with light ?-olefins and a small proportion of the organic solvent. The gas mixture drawn off from the top of the reactor 2 is condensed together with gaseous fresh ethylene 7 by means of heat exchanger 3 and separator 4. The liquid phase drawn off from the separator 4 is conducted by means of circulation pump 5a as liquid ethylene input 1a back into the oligomerization reactor 2. The liquid products of the oligomerization reaction are drawn off 8 laterally from the base of the reactor 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Karl Heinz Hofmann, Hans Jorg Zander, Anton Wellenhofer, Wolfgang Muller, Anina Wohl
  • Patent number: 9593055
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing linear alpha-olefins (LAO) by oligomerization of ethylene in the presence of solvent and homogenous catalyst, comprising the steps of: (i) feeding ethylene, solvent and catalyst into an oligomerization reactor, (ii) oligomerizing the ethylene in the reactor, (iii) removing a reactor outlet stream comprising solvent, linear alpha-olefins, ethylene, and catalyst from the reactor via a reactor outlet piping system, (iv) transferring the reactor outlet stream to a catalyst deactivation and removal step, and (v) deactivating and removing the catalyst from the reactor outlet stream, characterized in that at least one organic amine is added into the oligomerization reactor and/or into the reactor outlet piping system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignees: SAUDI BASIC INDUSTRIES CORPORATION, LINDE AG
    Inventors: Vugar Aliyev, Fuad Mosa, Mohammed Al-Hazmi, Syriac Palackal, Ayed Al-Ayed, Sultan Al-Otaibi, Mohammed Zahoor, Wolfgang Müller, Peter M. Fritz, Heinz Bölt, Anton Wellenhofer, Florian Winkler, Uwe Rosenthal, Hans-Jörg Zander, Normen Peulecke, Bernd H. Müller, Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Helmut Fritz, Carsten Taube, Andreas Meiswinkel, Richard Schneider, Anina Woehl
  • Publication number: 20160207035
    Abstract: A process for preparing a catalyst provided in the form of a metal oxide catalyst having at least one element selected from Mo, Te, Nb, V, Cr, Dy, Ga, Sb, Ni, Co, Pt and Ce. The catalyst is subjected to an aftertreatment to increase the proportion of the M1 phase, by contacting the catalyst with steam at a pressure below 100 bar or by contacting the catalyst with oxygen to obtain an aftertreated catalyst. The aftertreated catalyst may be used for oxidative dehydrogenation processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Hans-Jörg Zander, Florian Winkler, Andreas Meiswinkel, Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Christian Thaller, Johannes A. Lercher, Daniela Hartmann, Andre Cornelis van Veen, Maria Cruz Sanchez-Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20150203418
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for oligomerization of ethylene, comprising the steps: a) feeding ethylene, solvent and a catalyst composition comprising catalyst and cocatalyst into a reactor, b) oligomerizing ethylene in the reactor, c) discharging a reactor effluent comprising linear alpha-olefins including 1-butene, solvent, unconsumed ethylene dissolved in the reactor effluent, and catalyst composition from the reactor, d) separating ethylene and 1-butene collectively from the remaining reactor effluent, and e) recycling at least a part of the ethylene and the 1-butene separated in step d) into the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Andreas Meiswinkel, Wolfgang Mueller, Anina Woehl, Marco Harff, Heinz Bolt, Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Hans-Jorg Zander, Anton Wellenhofer, Abduljelil Iliyas, Shehzada Khurram, Shahid Azam, Abdullah Al-Qahtani
  • Patent number: 8486367
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for generating hydrogen (5), wherein an input (1) comprising carbon is fed longitudinally through a tube-shaped reaction chamber (Z), together with water steam (2), and is thereby converted by steam reforming, and hydrogen (4) formed during steam reforming is continuously drawn off out of the reaction chamber (Z) through a separating wall (T), said wall being selectively hydrogen-permeable at least in segments, and at a pressure less than the pressure in the reaction chamber (Z) and greater than the ambient pressure, having greater purity than product (5), characterized in that a separating wall (T) is used, the selectively hydrogen-permeability segments thereof being disposed such that a hydrogen partial pressure drop exists over the entire surface of each of such segments between the reaction chamber side and the hydrogen extraction side (W).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Linde AG
    Inventors: Karl Heinz Hofmann, Nicole Schoedel, Klaus Klapper, Axel Behrens, Roland Dittmeyer
  • Patent number: 8480985
    Abstract: A method and device for the catalytic decomposition of laughing gas in a laughing-gas-bearing gas. The method includes diluting the laughing-gas-bearing gas with a diluting gas, while forming a laughing-gas-bearing charge gas. The laughing-gas bearing charge gas is passed through a heat-exchange step where heat exchange occurs with an exhaust. A heating step occurs for occasional heating of the laughing-gas-bearing charge gas in a fixed-bed reactor for catalytic decomposition of the laughing gas. In some embodiments the diluting gas is dried, and at least a part of the exhaust from the catalytic decomposition of the laughing gas is mixed with the laughing-gas-bearing charge gas upstream of the catalytic decomposition of the laughing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrike Wenning, Hans-Jörg Zander, Anton Wellenhofer, Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Wibke Korn, Franz Beran, Nicole Schödel, Wolfgang Schmehl
  • Patent number: 8460627
    Abstract: A device and method for the decomposition of laughing gas including a gas inlet for supplying a laughing-gas-bearing gas; a first heat-exchanger for the exchange of heat between an exhaust and the laughing-gas-bearing gas; a heating device for occasional heating of the laughing-gas-bearing gas and a fixed-bed reactor in which a catalyst is included in order to decompose the laughing gas. The device also includes a gas outlet, through which exhaust leaving the fixed-bed reactor can be taken away through the heat exchanger. The device may be used to implement a method where the catalyst for decomposition of laughing gas is maintained at temperatures below 800° C. and in which the fixed-bed reactor is arranged as an adiabatic reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Franz Beran, Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Nicole Schödel, Wolfgang Schmehl, Ulrike Wenning, Hans-Jörg Zander
  • Publication number: 20120330078
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing linear ?-olefins, wherein ethylene 1a is conducted into the oligomerization reactor 2 in the liquid phase. The oligomerization reactor 2 has a mechanical stirrer 2a in order to ensure optimal mixing of the liquid ethylene and of the catalyst in the liquid phase. From the top of the oligomerization reactor 2, vaporized ethylene is drawn off together with light ?-olefins and a small proportion of the organic solvent. The gas mixture drawn off from the top of the reactor 2 is condensed together with gaseous fresh ethylene 7 by means of heat exchanger 3 and separator 4. The liquid phase drawn off from the separator 4 is conducted by means of circulation pump 5a as liquid ethylene input 1a back into the oligomerization reactor 2. The liquid products of the oligomerization reaction are drawn off 8 laterally from the base of the reactor 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Karl Heinz Hofmann, Hans Jorg Zander, Anton Wellenhofer, Wolfgang Muller, Anina Wohl
  • Publication number: 20120063982
    Abstract: The laughing-gas-containing gas (1) is diluted by means of a diluting gas (2). The diluting gas (2) is virtually free from water fractions in the dryer (3). After feed of the diluting gas (2) via the feed line (13), exhaust gas (8) from the catalytic decomposition (7) is added (4) to the laughing-gas-containing feed gas (12). After addition (4) of the exhaust gas (8) from the catalytic decomposition of laughing gas (7), the laughing-gas-containing feed gas (12) is compressed (5) and passed to the heat exchanger (6). In the heat exchanger (6) the laughing-gas-containing feed gas (12) is preheated by heat exchange with the exhaust gas (8). The exhaust gas (8) is cooled in the heat exchanger (6) in this process. The preheated laughing-gas-containing feed gas (12) is passed via a further optional heater (11) as a feed to the catalytic laughing gas decomposition (7). In order to avoid a concentration build-up, some of the exhaust gas (8) is passed out (9) of the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ulrike Wenning, Hans-Jörg Zander, Anton Wellenhofer, Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Wibke Korn, Franz Beran, Nicole Schödel, Wolfgang Schmehl
  • Publication number: 20120014855
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and to a process for decomposing dinitrogen monoxide. The apparatus comprises a gas inlet 1 for supplying a nitrogen monoxide-containing gas, a first heat exchange medium 3 for exchanging heat between an offgas and the nitrogen monoxide-containing gas, a heating apparatus 4 for occasional heating of the nitrogen monoxide-containing gas, a fixed bed reactor 5 in which a catalyst is accommodated, in order to decompose the dinitrogen monoxide in the dinitrogen monoxide-containing gas, a gas outlet through which the offgas leaving the fixed bed reactor can be conducted out via the heat exchange medium 3. According to the invention, the catalyst is suitable for decomposing dinitrogen monoxide at temperatures below 800° C., especially preferably below 450° C., more preferably below 400° C. The fixed bed reactor 5 is configured for operation in an adiabatic state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Franz Beran, Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Nicole Schödel, Wolfgang Schmehl, Ulrike Wenning, Hans-Jörg Zander
  • Publication number: 20110171118
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for generating hydrogen (5), wherein an input (1) comprising carbon is fed longitudinally through a tube-shaped reaction chamber (Z), together with water steam (2), and is thereby converted by steam reforming, and hydrogen (4) formed during steam reforming is continuously drawn off out of the reaction chamber (Z) through a separating wall (T), said wall being selectively hydrogen-permeable at least in segments, and at a pressure less than the pressure in the reaction chamber (Z) and greater than the ambient pressure, having greater purity than product (5), characterized in that a separating wail (T) is used, the selectively hydrogen-permeability segments thereof being disposed such that a hydrogen partial pressure drop exists over the entire surface of each of such segments between the reaction chamber side and the hydrogen extraction side (W).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Karl Heinz Hofmann, Nicole Schoedel, Klaus Klapper, Axel Behrens, Roland Dittmeyer
  • Publication number: 20110054233
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a reactor system, for the oligomerization of ethylene, comprising oligomerizing ethylene in a reactor in the presence of a solvent and a catalyst composition to produce a liquid product stream comprising linear alpha-olefins, solvent and catalyst composition, and deactivating and extracting the catalyst composition in said liquid product stream by mixing it with a polar phase in a dynamic mixing device having rotor and stator elements comprising concentric tool rings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Fuad Mousa, Mohammed Al-Hazmi, Abdullah Al-Thauyyan, Mohammed Al-Musned, Wolfgang Müller, Peter M. Fritz, Heinz Bölt, Anton Wellenhofer, Andreas Meiswinkel, Carsten Taube, Richard Schneider, Florian Winkler, Helmut Fritz, Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Hans-Jörg Zander, Peter Ulbrich, Jan Segatz
  • Publication number: 20110046429
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing linear alpha-olefins (LAO) by oligomerization of ethylene in the presence of solvent and homogenous catalyst, comprising the steps of: (i) feeding ethylene, solvent and catalyst into an oligomerization reactor, (ii) oligomerizing the ethylene in the reactor, (iii) removing a reactor outlet stream comprising solvent, linear alpha-olefins, ethylene, and catalyst from the reactor via a reactor outlet piping system, (iv) transferring the reactor outlet stream to a catalyst deactivation and removal step, and (v) deactivating and removing the catalyst from the reactor outlet stream, characterized in that at least one organic amine is added into the oligomerization reactor and/or into the reactor outlet piping system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Vugar Aliyev, Fuda Mosa, Mohammed Al-Hazmi, Syriac Palackal, Ayed Al-ayed, Sultan Al-Otaibi, Mohammed Zahoor, Wolfgang Müller, Peter M. Fritz, Heinz Bölt, Anton Wellenhofer, Florian Winkler, Uwe Rosenthal, Hans-Jörg Zander, Normen Peulecke, Bernd H. Müller, Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Helmut Fritz, Carsten Taube, Andreas Meiswinkel, Richard Schneider, Anina Woehl
  • Patent number: 7882908
    Abstract: A drill, which is used in a hammer drill for drilling holes in stone, concrete and the like, includes a one-piece drilling head (10, 20, 30) formed of a hard material and provided, at its first end (5), with at least one main bit having a tip (4) and at least one cutting structure (3) integral to the one-piece drilling head (10; 20; 30), and at a second end (6) located opposite the first end (5), with a bottom surface (7) for the mounting the drilling head (10; 20; 30) on the drill stem (8), and having a plurality of axially extending through-grooves (11; 21; 31) for removing drillings produced during a drilling process and having a cross-section which increases, at least regionwise, in a direction toward the bottom surface (7) of the drilling head (10; 20; 30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Olaf Koch, Joachim Woerz, Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Werner Britten
  • Patent number: 7785550
    Abstract: A process for separating hydrogen from a gas flow having an oxygen constituent and including predominantly hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane and/or other hydrocarbons, as well as a device for conducting the process, is disclosed. The gas flow undergoes a process to thermally convert oxygen prior to the pressure swing adsorption process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Hofmann, Paul Leitgeb, Ulrike Wenning, Hans-joerg Zander, Werner Leitmayr
  • Patent number: 7559383
    Abstract: A solid hard material head for a percussion drilling tool rotatable about a rotational axis (A) in a rotational direction (?), includes at least one main bit and at least one auxiliary bit (5), circumferentially offset relative to the at least one main bit (3) and having an auxiliary cutting edge (6) formed, at least piecewise, as a circular arc section (7) spaced from the rotational axis (A) radially inwardly and inclined in a radial direction, and a straight outer section (8) extending radially outwardly with respect to the circular arc section (7) and inclined in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Olaf Koch, Karl-Heinz Hofmann