Patents by Inventor Pattabhi K. Raman

Pattabhi K. Raman 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: 8479833
    Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery process that is integrated with a synthesis gas generation process, such as gasification or methane reforming, involving combined capture and recycle of carbon dioxide from both processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Greatpoint Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Pattabhi K. Raman
  • Patent number: 8366795
    Abstract: Particulate compositions are described comprising a carbonaceous material, such as petroleum coke and/or coal, treated or otherwise associated with a gasification catalyst, where the catalyst is at least in part derived from a leachate from a biomass char, for gasification in the presence of steam to yield a plurality of gases including methane and at least one or more of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and other higher hydrocarbons are formed. Processes are also provided for the preparation of the particulate compositions and converting the particulate composition into a plurality of gaseous products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: GreatPoint Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Pattabhi K. Raman, Nelson Yee
  • Patent number: 8361428
    Abstract: Processes for the generation of steam are provided for use in an integrated catalytic gasification process for converting carbonaceous materials to combustible gases, such as methane. Generally, the exhaust gas from a steam generating reactor is provided along with steam, a carbonaceous feedstock, and a gasification catalyst, to a catalytic gasifier, wherein under appropriate temperature and pressure conditions, the carbonaceous feedstock is converted into a plurality of product gases, including, but not limited to, methane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. As substantially all the carbon dioxide produced from the steam generation process and the gasification process are subsequently directed though gas purification and separation processes, substantially all the carbon dioxide may be recovered, yielding a process having a near zero carbon footprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: GreatPoint Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Pattabhi K. Raman, Francis S. Lau, Earl T. Robinson, Donald Anthony
  • Patent number: 8268899
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing gaseous products, and in particular methane, via the catalytic hydromethanation of a carbonaceous feedstock in the presence of steam, syngas and an oxygen-rich gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Greatpoint Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Earl T. Robinson, Pattabhi K. Raman, Vincent G. Reiling
  • Patent number: 8202913
    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, a recycle steam stream, and an aqueous make-up 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: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Greatpoint Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Earl T. Robinson, Vincent G. Reiling, Pattabhi K. Raman, Eli Gal
  • Patent number: 8192716
    Abstract: Processes for the catalytic conversion of a carbonaceous composition into a gas stream comprising methane are provided, where a sour shift reaction is used to remove carbon monoxide gas stream produced by the gasification process. The incorporation of the sour shift reaction provides an efficient and cost-effective means of eliminating carbon monoxide from the gas stream. In addition, the sour shift reaction also generates additional hydrogen, thus increasing the amount of hydrogen produced from the gasification process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Greatpoint Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Pattabhi K. Raman, Francis S. Lau, Earl T. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20120102837
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for hydromethanating a carbonaceous feedstock to a methane-enriched synthesis gas, where an oxygen-rich gas stream and the carbonaceous feedstock are fed into a fluidized-bed hydromethanation reactor, and where the carbonaceous feedstock as fed into the hydromethanation reactor has an elevated moisture content in order, for example, to assist in heat management within the hydromethanation reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Pattabhi K. Raman, Veeraya Jiradilok, Earl T. Robinson, Avinash Sirdeshpande
  • Publication number: 20120102836
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for hydromethanating a carbonaceous feedstock to a methane-enriched synthesis gas, where an oxygen-rich gas stream and the carbonaceous feedstock are fed into a fluidized-bed hydromethanation reactor at a specified zone in order to assist in heat management within the hydromethanation reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Pattabhi K. Raman, Veeraya Jiradilok, Earl T. Robinson, Avinash Sirdeshpande
  • Publication number: 20120060417
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for hydromethanating a carbonaceous feedstock to a fines-depleted methane-enriched synthesis gas, with recycle of recovered particulate fines back into a specified portion of a hydromethanation reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: GreatPoint Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Pattabhi K. Raman, Earl T. Robinson, Avinash Sirdeshpande
  • Patent number: 8114177
    Abstract: Continuous processes are provided for converting a carbonaceous feedstock comprising biomass containing alkali metal, non-biomass components, and at least one gasification catalyst including an alkali metal recovered from solid char, into a plurality of gaseous products including methane and at least one or more of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and other higher hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Greatpoint Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Hippo, Pattabhi K. Raman
  • Publication number: 20110294905
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes and apparatuses for generating light olefins, methane and other higher-value gaseous hydrocarbons from “liquid” heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Earl T. Robinson, Pattabhi K. Raman, Wenyuan Wu
  • Publication number: 20110207002
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes and apparatuses for generating electrical power from certain non-gaseous carbonaceous feedstocks through the integration of catalytic hydromethanation technology with fuel cell technology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Allen Powell, Pattabhi K. Raman, Earl T. Robinson, Avinash Sirdeshpande
  • Publication number: 20110088897
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an enhanced oil recovery process that is integrated with a synthesis gas generation process, such as gasification or methane reforming, involving combined capture and recycle of carbon dioxide from both processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventor: Pattabhi K. Raman
  • Publication number: 20100292350
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing gaseous products, and in particular methane, via the catalytic hydromethanation of a carbonaceous feedstock in the presence of steam, syngas and an oxygen-rich gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Earl T. Robinson, Pattabhi K. Raman, Vincent G. Reiling
  • Publication number: 20100179232
    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, a recycle steam stream, and an aqueous make-up 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: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Earl T. Robinson, Vincent G. Reiling, Pattabhi K. Raman, Eli Gal
  • 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: 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: 20090259080
    Abstract: Processes for the catalytic conversion of a carbonaceous composition into a gas stream comprising methane are provided. In addition, the processes provide for the generation of a hydrogen-enriched gas stream and, optionally, a carbon monoxide-enriched gas stream, which can be mixed or used separately as an energy source for subsequent catalytic gasification processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Pattabhi K. Raman, Francis S. Lau, Earl T. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20090246120
    Abstract: Processes for the catalytic conversion of a carbonaceous composition into a gas stream comprising methane are provided, where a sour shift reaction is used to remove carbon monoxide gas stream produced by the gasification process. The incorporation of the sour shift reaction provides an efficient and cost-effective means of eliminating carbon monoxide from the gas stream. In addition, the sour shift reaction also generates additional hydrogen, thus increasing the amount of hydrogen produced from the gasification process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Pattabhi K. Raman, Francis S. Lau, Earl T. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20090229182
    Abstract: Particulate compositions are described comprising a carbonaceous material, such as petroleum coke and/or coal, treated or otherwise associated with a gasification catalyst, where the catalyst is at least in part derived from a leachate from a biomass char, for gasification in the presence of steam to yield a plurality of gases including methane and at least one or more of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and other higher hydrocarbons are formed. Processes are also provided for the preparation of the particulate compositions and converting the particulate composition into a plurality of gaseous products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: GREATPOINT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Pattabhi K. Raman, Nelson Yee