Patents by Inventor Pekka Simell

Pekka Simell 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).

  • Publication number: 20130047511
    Abstract: A method of reforming a gasification gas, in order to decompose the impurities contained therein, and a use of a noble metal catalyst in the pre-reforming of gasification gas. The gas is brought into contact with a metal catalyst in the presence of an oxidizing agent. The reformation is carried out in several stages, wherein in at least one of the first stages a noble metal catalyst is used, and in a second stage which follows the first stage the catalyst used is a metal catalyst. The use of a noble metal catalyst can reduce the risk of deactivation of the metal catalysts and can increase the operating life of the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: NESTE OIL OYJ
    Inventors: Pekka SIMELL, Esa Kurkela, Ilkka Hiltunen
  • Publication number: 20120309856
    Abstract: Method of producing a hydrocarbon composition in which a biomass raw-material is gasified to produce a raw syngas containing carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen, the hydrogen-to-carbon monoxide ratio being about 0.5 to 1.7. A part of the impurities is removed to produce a clean syngas which is fed into a Fischer-Tropsch reactor where a significant part of the carbon monoxide and hydrogen is converted to a hydrocarbon composition containing C4-C90 hydrocarbons. A hydrocarbon composition is recovered which mainly contains hydrocarbons which are solid or semisolid at ambient temperature and pressure and an off-gas of the Fischer-Tropsch reactor, including hydrocarbons which are gaseous at ambient temperature and pressure, is used for producing hydrogen gas. By introducing hydrogen into the clean syngas, the hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio can be increased and by using off-gas-produced hydrogen, the capacity of the process is significantly improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Neste Oil Oyj
    Inventors: Isto EILOS, Ilkka Hiltunen, Sebastian Johansson, Esa Kurkela, Pekka Simell, Sami Toppinen
  • Patent number: 8100995
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of reforming a gas containing tarry impurities, such as the gasification gas obtained by gasifying a fuel. In the method, oxygen or an oxygenous gas (10) is added to a gas flow (8), after which the gas is brought into contact with a solid catalyst (11, 12) at a high temperature. According to the invention, the reformation takes place in stages so that, in the first pre-reforming stage, the gas is brought into contact with a zirconium-based catalyst (11), such as zirconium oxide, for example, and, in the next stage, with a metal catalyst (12), such as metallic nickel. The two-stage reformation is used for preventing the deactivation of the metal catalyst and the formation of carbon deposits in the reforming reactor. The invention also includes the use of the zirconium compound in pre-reforming the tar-bearing gas to achieve the said goals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT
    Inventors: Pekka Simell, Esa Kurkela
  • Publication number: 20090324471
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of reforming a gas containing tarry impurities, such as the gasification gas obtained by gasifying a fuel. In the method, oxygen or an oxygenous gas (10) is added to a gas flow (8), after which the gas is brought into contact with a solid catalyst (11, 12) at a high temperature. According to the invention, the reformation takes place in stages so that, in the first pre-reforming stage, the gas is brought into contact with a zirconium-based catalyst (11), such as zirconium oxide, for example, and, in the next stage, with a metal catalyst (12), such as metallic nickel. The two-stage reformation is used for preventing the deactivation of the metal catalyst and the formation of carbon deposits in the reforming reactor. The invention also includes the use of the zirconium compound in pre-reforming the tar-bearing gas to achieve the said goals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: VALTION TEKNILLINEN TUTKIMUSKESKUS
    Inventors: Pekka Simell, Esa Kurkela
  • Patent number: 7455705
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the purification of gasification gas obtained from a carbonaceous material. The purification is carried out by adding oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas to the gasification gas and by contacting the gas mixture with a solid catalyst. According to the invention the catalyst contains at least one zirconium compound, such as zirconium oxide, which is used in particulate form as such or, for example, combined with an inert, honeycomb-structured support. By the purification, ammonia and organic tarry impurities can be removed from the gas simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Pekka Simell, Esa Kurkela
  • Publication number: 20040208810
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the purification of gasification gas obtained from a carbonaceous material. The purification is carried out by adding oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas to the gasification gas and by contacting the gas mixture with a solid catalyst. According to the invention the catalyst contains at least one zirconium compound, such as zirconium oxide, which is used in particulate form as such or, for example, combined with an inert, honeycomb-structured support. By the purification, ammonia and organic tarry impurities can be removed from the gas simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Pekka Simell, Esa Kurkela