Patents by Inventor Nicholas Charles Nahas

Nicholas Charles Nahas 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: 8728183
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing gaseous products, and in particular methane, via the hydromethanation of a carbonaceous feedstock in the presence of steam, syngas, a hydromethanation catalyst and an oxygen-rich gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: GreatPoint Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent G. Reiling, Earl T. Robinson, Avinash Sirdeshpande, Nicholas Charles Nahas
  • Patent number: 8647402
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes and continuous processes for preparing gaseous products, and in particular, methane via the catalytic gasification of carbonaceous feedstocks in the presence of steam. In one aspect of the invention, the processes comprise at least partially combusting a first carbonaceous feedstock with an oxygen-rich gas stream in an oxygen-blown gasifier, under suitable temperature and pressure, to generate a first gas stream comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and superheated steam; and reacting a second carbonaceous feedstock and the first gas stream in a catalytic gasifier in the presence of a gasification catalyst under suitable temperature and pressure to form a second gas stream comprising a plurality of gaseous products comprising methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Greatpoint Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Earl T. Robinson, Francis S. Lau, Pattabhi K. Raman, Vincent G. Reiling, Dwain Dodson, Mustafiz Rahman, Nicholas Charles Nahas
  • Patent number: 8502007
    Abstract: The invention provides processes for generating a methane-enriched gas from a gas mixture comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen such as gas streams generated by gasification of an alkali metal catalyst-loaded carbonaceous feedstock, and a char methanation catalyst useful in such processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Greatpoint Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Hippo, Vincent G. Reiling, Earl T. Robinson, Pattabhi K. Raman, Jeffery Smith, Charles Mims, Nicholas Charles Nahas
  • Patent number: 8328890
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing gaseous products, and in particular, methane via the catalytic gasification of carbonaceous feedstocks in the presence of steam and an oxygen-rich gas stream. The processes comprise using at least one catalytic methanator to convert carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the gaseous products to methane and do not recycle carbon monoxide or hydrogen to the catalytic gasifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: GreatPoint Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent G. Reiling, Earl T. Robinson, Nicholas Charles Nahas, Jeffery Smith, Charles Mims
  • Patent number: 8114176
    Abstract: The present invention provides a catalytic steam gasification process for gasifying petroleum coke. The solids composition within the gasification reactor of the disclosed invention is maintained by controlling the catalyst composition of the feed. The process utilizes sour water from the raw gasification product gases to recover and recycle catalyst. Fine particles generated in the handling of coke are advantageously utilized to increase the efficiency of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Great Point Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Charles Nahas
  • Publication number: 20100287835
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing gaseous products, and in particular methane, via the hydromethanation of a carbonaceous feedstock in the presence of steam, syngas, a hydromethanation catalyst and an oxygen-rich gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Vincent G. Reiling, Earl T. Robinson, Avinash Sirdeshpande, Nicholas Charles Nahas
  • Publication number: 20100121125
    Abstract: The invention provides processes for generating a methane-enriched gas from a gas mixture comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen such as gas streams generated by gasification of an alkali metal catalyst-loaded carbonaceous feedstock, and a char methanation catalyst useful in such processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Hippo, Vincent G. Reiling, Earl T. Robinson, Pattabhi K. Raman, Jeffery Smith, Charles Mims, Nicholas Charles Nahas
  • Publication number: 20100120926
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing gaseous products, and in particular, methane via the catalytic gasification of carbonaceous feedstocks in the presence of steam. The processes comprise using at least one methanation step to convert carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the gaseous products to methane and do not recycle carbon monoxide or hydrogen to the catalytic gasifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Earl T. Robinson, Avinash Sirdeshpande, Eli Gal, Vincent G. Reiling, Nicholas Charles Nahas
  • Publication number: 20100071262
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes and continuous processes for preparing gaseous products, and in particular, methane via the catalytic gasification of carbonaceous feedstocks in the presence of steam. In one aspect of the invention, the processes comprise at least partially combusting a first carbonaceous feedstock with an oxygen-rich gas stream in an oxygen-blown gasifier, under suitable temperature and pressure, to generate a first gas stream comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and superheated steam; and reacting a second carbonaceous feedstock and the first gas stream in a catalytic gasifier in the presence of a gasification catalyst under suitable temperature and pressure to form a second gas stream comprising a plurality of gaseous products comprising methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Earl T. Robinson, Francis S. Lau, Pattabhi K. Raman, Vincent G. Reiling, Dwain Dodson, Mustafiz Rahman, Nicholas Charles Nahas
  • Publication number: 20100076235
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing gaseous products, and in particular, methane via the catalytic gasification of carbonaceous feedstocks in the presence of steam and an oxygen-rich gas stream. The processes comprise using at least one catalytic methanator to convert carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the gaseous products to methane and do not recycle carbon monoxide or hydrogen to the catalytic gasifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Vincent G. Reiling, Earl T. Robinson, Nicholas Charles Nahas, Jeffery Smith, Charles Mims
  • Publication number: 20090170968
    Abstract: The present invention provides processes for making synthesis gas and processes for making syngas-derived products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: GreatPoint Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Charles Nahas, Earl T. Robinson
  • Patent number: 6955695
    Abstract: This invention discloses improvements on previous inventions for catalytic conversion of coal and steam to methane. The disclosed improvements permit conversion of petroleum residua or heavy crude petroleum to methane and carbon dioxide such that nearly all of the heating value of the converted hydrocarbons is recovered as heating value of the product methane. The liquid feed is distributed over a fluidized solid particulate catalyst containing alkali metal and carbon as petroleum coke at elevated temperature and pressure from the lower stage and transported to the upper stage of a two-stage reactor. Particulate solids containing carbon and alkali metal are circulated between the two stages. Superheated steam and recycled hydrogen and carbon monoxide are fed to the lower stage, fluidizing the particulate solids and gasifying some of the carbon. The gas phase from the lower stage passes through the upper stage, completing the reaction of the gas phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Petro 2020, LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Charles Nahas
  • Publication number: 20030167691
    Abstract: This invention discloses improvements on previous inventions for catalytic conversion of coal and steam to methane. The disclosed improvements permit conversion of petroleum residua or heavy crude petroleum to methane and carbon dioxide such that nearly all of the heating value of the converted hydrocarbons is recovered as heating value of the product methane. The liquid feed is distributed over a fluidized solid particulate catalyst containing alkali metal and carbon as petroleum coke at elevated temperature and pressure from the lower stage and transported to the upper stage of a two-stage reactor. Particulate solids containing carbon and alkali metal are circulated between the two stages. Superheated steam and recycled hydrogen and carbon monoxide are fed to the lower stage, fluidizing the particulate solids and gasifying some of the carbon. The gas phase from the lower stage passes through the upper stage, completing the reaction of the gas phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventor: Nicholas Charles Nahas
  • Patent number: 6585883
    Abstract: A method for removing or reducing coke deposits in a refinery reactor unit utilizing a reactant gas, preferably steam, and catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Simon Robert Kelemen, Michael Siskin, Glen Edward Phillips, Nicholas Charles Nahas
  • Patent number: 6406613
    Abstract: A method for mitigating the condensation of liquid hydrocarbons and subsequent coke deposition in refinery reactor units by dew point suppression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Nicholas Charles Nahas, Dean Clise Draemel, Richard Edwards Walter, Michael Siskin, Glen Edward Phillips