Patents by Inventor Masaki Iijima

Masaki Iijima 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: 9233336
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide recovery system includes a high-pressure 11, a boiler 15, a carbon dioxide recovery unit 24 that includes a carbon dioxide absorber 21 that absorbs and reduces carbon dioxide in flue gas G emitted from the boiler 15 using a carbon dioxide absorbent and an absorbent regenerator 23 that regenerates a carbon dioxide absorbent having absorbed the carbon dioxide using a regenerating superheater 22 to obtain a regenerated carbon dioxide absorbent, a high-temperature and high-pressure steam extraction line L11 that extracts the high-temperature and high-pressure steam 14 from the boiler 15 before the steam is introduced into the high-pressure turbine 11, an auxiliary turbine 32 that recovers power with the high-temperature and high-pressure steam 14, and a steam supply line L12 that supplies emission steam 33 emitted from the auxiliary turbine 32 to the regenerating superheater 22 to be used as a heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Iijima
  • Publication number: 20150376097
    Abstract: Provided is a methanol plant that can obtain fresh water from sea water by using, in a seawater desalination device, the exhaust heat discharged in a step for producing methanol from natural gas. The methanol plant is provided with: a heat exchanger (4) that recovers into a thermal medium (for example, seawater) the exhaust heat discharged from a step for producing methanol from a feed stock (for example, natural gas); and a seawater desalinization device (6) that obtains freshwater from seawater using the exhaust heat recovered by means of the thermal medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Haruaki Hirayama
  • Patent number: 9211496
    Abstract: An absorbent according to the present invention absorbs CO2 or H2S contained in flue gas emitted from a power generating plant such as a thermal plant, and contains three or more amine compounds selected from linear or cyclic amine compounds having a primary amino group, and linear or cyclic amine compounds having a secondary amino group. By way of a synergetic effect of the mixture of these compounds, the absorption speed of CO2 or H2S absorption is improved. A small amount of CO2 contained in a large amount of boiler flue gas can be absorbed efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., THE KANSAI ELECTRIC POWER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihiko Inoue, Ryuji Yoshiyama, Tsuyoshi Oishi, Masaki Iijima, Masazumi Tanoura, Tomio Mimura, Yasuyuki Yagi
  • Publication number: 20150353454
    Abstract: A method or system for recovering carbon dioxide is provided with which in a plant for synthesizing methanol from a hydrocarbon gas or synthesizing gasoline therefrom via methanol, the waste heat of a low-temperature reformed gas, which has conventionally been discarded and is difficult to reutilize, can be effectively utilized. In the system for synthesizing methanol or gasoline from a hydrocarbon gas and for recovering carbon dioxide, a reformed gas is produced by steam reforming of the hydrocarbon gas. Since a combustion discharge gas generates when a fuel gas is burned in order to obtain a heat source for the steam reforming, carbon dioxide is recovered from the combustion discharge gas in an absorption tower (40) using an absorption liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Iijima
  • Patent number: 9193918
    Abstract: A method for generating electric power and for producing gasoline from methanol, includes the steps of: synthesizing gasoline by reacting methanol under a catalyst; recovering heat generated from the gasoline synthetic reaction of methanol by cooling the reaction with coolant to vaporize the coolant; and generating electric power by using the coolant vapor produced in the heat recovery. The power generation step may include generating electric power with a plurality of steam turbines in series, e.g., a high-pressure turbine, a medium-pressure turbine, and a low-pressure turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Iijima
  • Publication number: 20150276112
    Abstract: A saturator includes: a flow path inside of which a first fluid flows; a first heat exchange unit that causes heat exchange between the first fluid and a second fluid; a second heat exchange unit that causes heat exchange between a third fluid and the first fluid after the first fluid has passed through the first heat exchange unit; a humidifying unit that adds water to the first fluid upstream from the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit; and a conveyance path that conveys the third fluid after heat exchange from the second heat exchange unit to the upstream side of the first heat exchange unit and causes said third fluid to flow into the flow path as the first fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Masato Matsuzawa
  • Publication number: 20150232773
    Abstract: A steam reformer generates reformed gas by a steam-reforming reaction of hydrocarbon gas such as natural gas. A methanol synthesis column and a gasoline synthesis column synthesize gasoline from the reformed gas via methanol and produce a liquid fuel. A superheater superheats a part of low-pressure steam that has been heat-recovered from the reformed gas with a part of middle-pressure steam that has been heat-recovered by the methanol synthesis column or the gasoline synthesis column, and the steam thereby brought into an unsaturated state is supplied to a low-pressure steam turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Ryuji Yoshiyama, Haruaki Hirayama, Yoshio Seiki
  • Publication number: 20150233577
    Abstract: A CO2 recovery system 10A has a CO2 recovery unit 11, a compression unit 12, and a condensed-water supply line 65A that supplies condensed water 64 to an absorbent regenerator 14. The CO2 recovery unit 11 includes a CO2 absorber 13 and the absorbent regenerator 14. The compression unit 12 has a first compressor 61-1 to an nth compressor 61-n that compress CO2 gas 56 emitted from the absorbent regenerator 14, a first separator 63-1 to an nth separator 63-n that reduce moisture in the CO2 gas 56, and a first heat exchanger 66-1 that performs heat exchange between the CO2 gas 56 emitted from the first compressor 61-1 and the condensed water 64 emitted from the first separator 63-1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Iijima
  • Patent number: 9079769
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing gasoline and hydrogen from methanol are disclosed. First, methanol is supplied to a first catalyst layer located in a reaction tube arranged in a reactor via a first methanol supply path to synthesize gasoline from the methanol. At the same time, methanol is supplied to a second catalyst layer located on the outer periphery of the reaction tube provided within the reactor from a second supply path, which serves as a methanol supply path, to generate hydrogen from the methanol. Heat generated in the first catalyst layer is conducted to the second catalyst layer through the reaction tube to heat the second catalyst layer to a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Iijima
  • Publication number: 20150184082
    Abstract: A system or method for producing gasoline from natural gas can be particularly useful in a location which is a natural gas-producing region, but in which it is difficult to obtain water suitable for use in steam reforming, for example, in a desert or at sea. A system for producing gasoline from natural gas via methanol according to the present invention includes: a steam reformer 20 for steam-reforming natural gas to produce reformed gas; a methanol synthesis apparatus 30 for synthesizing methanol from the reformed gas; and a gasoline synthesis apparatus 50 for synthesizing gasoline from the methanol, water being produced in the gasoline synthesis apparatus 50 is reused for the steam reforming in the steam reformer 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Ryuji Yoshiyama, Haruaki Hirayama, Yoshio Seiki
  • Patent number: 9050555
    Abstract: A CO2 recovery system 10A has a CO2 recovery unit 11, a compression unit 12, and a condensed-water supply line 65A that supplies condensed water 64 to an absorbent regenerator 14. The CO2 recovery unit 11 includes a CO2 absorber 13 and the absorbent regenerator 14. The compression unit 12 has a first compressor 61-1 to an nth compressor 61-n that compress CO2 gas 56 emitted from the absorbent regenerator 14, a first separator 63-1 to an nth separator 63-n that reduce moisture in the CO2 gas 56, and a first heat exchanger 66-1 that performs heat exchange between the CO2 gas 56 emitted from the first compressor 61-1 and the condensed water 64 emitted from the first separator 63-1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Iijima
  • Patent number: 8987513
    Abstract: An operation method of a urea production plant including multiple systems that can prevent a considerable decrease in urea production even when an ammonia synthesis facility is shut down. At a time of producing urea from CO2 and ammonia, in a case where urea production plants including at least two systems are arranged in parallel, when an ammonia production facility (10A) of one of the systems is shut down, liquefied ammonia stored in the shut down system is used, and a CO2 recovery amount in a CO2 recovery facility (23) in an ammonia synthesis facility (10B) of the other system is increased. Synthesis of urea can be then continued by a urea synthesis unit (30A1) in the shut down system by using the increased recovered CO2 and the liquefied ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Iijima
  • Patent number: 8927450
    Abstract: A reclaiming apparatus 106 includes: a sealed container 106a that is an absorbent reservoir for storing therein a part of an absorbent that has absorbed CO2 in flue gas, and a heater that heats the absorbent stored in the sealed container 106a. The reclaiming apparatus 106 distributes a part of the absorbent stored in the sealed container 106a, and brings the distributed absorbent into counter-current contact with steam. Because a part of the absorbent stored in the absorbent reservoir is brought into counter-current contact with the steam, absorbent component contained therein becomes volatilized, and is separated from depleted materials. In this manner, the absorbent component can be extracted from the depleted materials, and a loss of the absorbent can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Masahiko Tatsumi, Yasuyuki Yagi, Kouki Ogura
  • Patent number: 8926729
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a reducing gas for direct reduction iron-making includes an internal-heating type reformer for reforming a natural gas by adding steam and oxygen to the natural gas and by partially burning the natural gas to generate reducing gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide; a remover for removing carbon dioxide from exhaust gas generated in the direct reduction iron-making; and a line for recycling as the reducing gas the exhaust gas from which the carbon dioxide is removed by the remover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Haruhito Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150005557
    Abstract: A system or method for producing gasoline from natural gas via methanol can effectively use the heat of reaction generated during the synthesis of gasoline and is capable of readily cooling the gasoline synthesis column in the production of gasoline from natural gas via methanol. A steam reformer 10 steam-reforms natural gas to generate reformed gas, methanol is synthesized by a methanol synthesis column 20 from the reformed gas, and in synthesizing gasoline from methanol by using a gasoline synthesis column 30, combustion air 41 to be supplied to the steam reformer 10 is preheated with the heat of reaction generated in the gasoline synthesis column 30, and then the preheated combustion air 41 is supplied to the steam reformer 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Iijima
  • Publication number: 20140356257
    Abstract: Provided is a gasoline production device capable of effectively using heat of reaction generated in the synthesis of gasoline and also capable of readily cooling heat generated by synthesizing gasoline. A device 30 for producing gasoline from methanol includes a plurality of reaction tubes 34 configured to synthesize gasoline from methanol and a duct 36 configured to allow air to flow outside the reaction tubes, and heat exchange is carried out between synthesis heat generated within the reaction tubes 34 and the air which flows through the duct 36.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Iijima
  • Patent number: 8887505
    Abstract: Provided are high-pressure, medium-pressure, and low-pressure turbines; a boiler to generate steam for driving the turbines; a carbon dioxide recovery unit including an absorber that reduces carbon dioxide in combustion flue gas from the boiler by a carbon dioxide absorbent and a regenerator that regenerates an absorbent; a first auxiliary turbine that extracts steam from an inlet of the low-pressure turbine and recovers power by the steam thus extracted; a first steam delivery line to supply discharged steam from the first auxiliary turbine to a reboiler of the regenerator as a heat source; and a controller that controls driving of the first auxiliary turbine while keeping pressure of the discharged steam to be supplied to the reboiler within a tolerance range for the reboiler's optimum pressure corresponding to a fluctuation in an operation load of the boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Tetsuya Imai, Keiji Fujikawa, Tatsuya Tsujiuchi, Tsuyoshi Oishi, Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20140336420
    Abstract: A system or method for producing gasoline or dimethyl ether from natural gas via methanol includes: steam-reforming natural gas to generate reformed gas; synthesizing methanol from the reformed gas; synthesizing gasoline or dimethyl ether from the methanol; and at least one is selected from the group consisting of: pre-reforming natural gas prior to the steam-reforming; recovering carbon dioxide from flue gas generated in the steam-reforming; and preheating combustion air to be supplied to the steam-reforming by using synthesis heat generated in the synthesis of gasoline or dimethyl ether. In addition, an overall energy balance of the system is constructed by using heat recovery from flue gas generated in the steam-reforming, heat recovery from the reformed gas, synthesis heat generated in the synthesis of methanol, synthesis heat generated in the synthesis of gasoline or DME, and heat recovered in the pre-reforming, carbon dioxide recovering, or air preheating, respectively if selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: Masaki Iijima
  • Patent number: 8845797
    Abstract: A CO2 recovery system includes a CO2 absorption tower for absorbing CO2 in combustion exhaust gas into an absorbing solution by bringing the combustion exhaust gas into contact with the absorbing solution that absorbs CO2; a dissolved oxygen removing device that uses at least one device of a device for blowing bubbling gas into the rich absorbing solution into which CO2 has been absorbed, a device for applying ultrasonic oscillation, and a device for heating the rich absorbing solution; a bubble removing device that turns the rich absorbing solution into which CO2 has been absorbed in the CO2 absorption tower into a swirling flow or agitates the rich absorbing solution; and a regeneration tower that regenerates the absorbing solution by releasing CO2 from the absorbing solution from which oxygen has been removed by the dissolved oxygen removing device and the bubble removing device and obtains CO2 gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Koji Kadono, Kazuhiko Kaibara
  • Publication number: 20140275626
    Abstract: An operation method of a urea production plant including multiple systems that can prevent a considerable decrease in urea production even when an ammonia synthesis facility is shut down. At a time of producing urea from CO2 and ammonia, in a case where urea production plants including at least two systems are arranged in parallel, when an ammonia production facility (10A) of one of the systems is shut down, liquefied ammonia stored in the shut down system is used, and a CO2 recovery amount in a CO2 recovery facility (23) in an ammonia synthesis facility (10B) of the other system is increased. Synthesis of urea can be then continued by a urea synthesis unit (30A1) in the shut down system by using the increased recovered CO2 and the liquefied ammonia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Iijima