Patents by Inventor Peter L. Paull

Peter L. Paull 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: 4277365
    Abstract: A reducing gas having a high H.sub.2 +CO content and a low H.sub.2 O+CO.sub.2 content is prepared by gasifying a feed mixture comprising low grade hydrocarbon oil and a high ash solid fuel and a fluxing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1981
    Assignee: Texaco Development Corporation
    Inventors: Peter L. Paull, Edward T. Child
  • Patent number: 4261167
    Abstract: A process for the efficient production of power from non-gaseous carbonaceous fuels, such as coal, or heavy fuel oil, in a steam power plant in which the carbonaceous fuel is first gasified at relatively high pressure and temperature by partial oxidation with oxygen to produce a fuel gas, the fuel gas from the partial oxidation reaction is expanded to a lower pressure in a turbine. Undesirable compounds, e.g., sulfur compounds, are removed from the fuel gas, and the fuel gas supplied to a steam boiler for the production of power.The process of this invention provides an effective means for conversion of gas-fired steam generation facilities to coal or heavy fuel oil while at the same time increasing the power generating capacity of the installation, all with minimal atmospheric pollution. The process is effective for the conversion of other types of gas-fired heaters and boilers to coal or heavy fuel oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1981
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Paull, James R. Muenger, William N. Gilmer
  • Patent number: 4184322
    Abstract: Sensible heat in the hot effluent gas stream leaving a partial oxidation gas generator for the production of gaseous mixtures comprising H.sub.2 +CO i.e. synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas, is used at maximum temperature to heat a stream of gaseous heat transfer fluid comprising a portion of the product gas circulating in the substantially closed loop. The heat transfer fluid serves as the working fluid in a turbine that produces mechanical work, electrical energy, or both. Further, the heat transfer fluid leaving the turbine may be used to preheat hydrocarbonaceous feed and free-oxygen containing gas which is then introduced into the gas generator. Optionally, by-product superheated steam may be produced at high temperature levels for use in the gas generator and as the working fluid in an expansion turbine. The high steam superheat temperatures result in higher conversion efficiencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1980
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Paull, Rodney McGann
  • Patent number: 4178758
    Abstract: Sensible heat in the hot effluent gas stream leaving a partial oxidation gas generator for the production of raw synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas is used at its maximum temperature to produce a continuous stream of superheated steam at a pressure which may exceed the pressure in the gas generator. The by-product superheated steam may be used as a dispersant or carrier of the fuel feed to the generator or as a temperature moderator. Optionally, a portion of the by-product superheated steam may be used as the working fluid in a turbine to produce mechanical work or electrical energy or both. The high steam superheat temperature results in a higher conversion efficiency. A shell and tube heat exchanger in which a stream of steam or cleaned generator gas is continuously bled from inside the tubes to the outside, or the reverse is employed. The bleed stream mixes with the effluent gas stream passing through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1979
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Paull, Rodney McGann
  • Patent number: 4173254
    Abstract: Sensible heat in the hot effluent gas stream leaving a partial oxidation gas generator for the production of raw synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas is used at its maximum temperature to produce a continuous stream of superheated steam at a pressure which may exceed the pressure in the gas generator. The by-product superheated steam may be used as a dispersant or carrier of the fuel feed to the generator or as a temperature moderator. Optionally, a portion of the by-product superheated steam may be used as the working fluid in a turbine to produce mechanical work or electrical energy or both. The high steam superheat temperature results in a higher conversion efficiency. A shell and tube heat exchanger in which a stream of steam or cleaned generator gas is continuously bled from inside the tubes to the outside, or the reverse is employed. The bleed stream mixes with the effluent gas stream passing through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1979
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Paull, Rodney McGann
  • Patent number: 4110628
    Abstract: Described is an ocean thermal energy conversion system wherein floating, submerged and fixed drilling platforms installed offshore primarily for exploration and/or production of hydrocarbons serve also as working and supportive bases for means for producing electricity by the adiabatic expansion of hydrocarbon gases which are thereby cooled. The cooled gases are then heated by contact with the solar heated surface layers of water and thermally expand thereby actuating a turbine and an electricity producing generator. Pipelines usually installed for the transmission of gases and crude oil to the shore are used dually by running electric cables with them to bring the electricity produced by the system to on-shore consuming or storage facilities. The system also includes means for increasing the surface water temperature such as insulated pipes bringing heat-containing effluent streams from on-shore treating plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1978
    Assignee: Texaco Development Corporation
    Inventors: Peter L. Paull, Henry W. Archer
  • Patent number: 4099383
    Abstract: Sensible heat in the hot effluent gas stream leaving a partial oxidation gas generator for the production of gaseous mixtures comprising H.sub.2 +CO i.e. synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas, is used at maximum temperature to heat a stream of heat transfer fluid preferably comprising a portion of the product gas circulating in a substantially closed loop. The heat transfer fluid serves as the working fluid in a turbine that produces mechanical work, electrical energy, or both. Further, the heat transfer fluid leaving the turbine may be used to preheat hydrocarbonaceous feed and free-oxygen containing gas which is then introduced into the gas generator. Optionally, by-product superheated steam may be produced at high temperature levels for use in the gas generator and as the working fluid in an expansion turbine. The high steam superheat temperatures results in higher conversion efficiencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1978
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Paull, Rodney McGann
  • Patent number: 4099382
    Abstract: Sensible heat in the hot effluent gas stream leaving a partial oxidation gas generator for the production of raw synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas is used at its maximum temperature to produce a continuous stream of superheated steam at a pressure which may exceed the pressure in the gas generator. The by-product superheated steam may be used as a dispersant or carrier of the fuel feed to the generator or as a temperature moderator. Optionally, a portion of the by-product superheated steam may be used as the working fluid in a turbine to produce mechanical work or electrical energy or both. The high steam superheat temperature results in a higher conversion efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1978
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Paull, Rodney McGann
  • Patent number: 4014982
    Abstract: The effluent streams from utility stack gases containing nitric oxides and sulfur dioxide are sequentially oxidized, absorbed with effluent spent alkylation acid, the unabsorbed remaining gases contacted with carbon monoxide from alkylation units in refinery cracking and other industrial plants to form sulfur, carbon dioxide and nitrogen, the carbon dioxide and nitrogen being vented, the sulfur oxidized to sulfur trioxide and contacting aqueous sulfuric acid therewith to effect concentration of said acid and suitability for recycle to an alkylation unit; the absorbate containing spent alkylation acid sequentially treated with a burning, oxidation, aqueous dilution and carbon monoxide treatment steps to form sulfuric acid for recycle to an alkylation unit and venting formed carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1977
    Assignee: Texaco Development Corporation
    Inventors: Peter L. Paull, James M. Caffrey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4013546
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for catalytically cracking hydrocarbon feedstocks containing a contaminant deleterious to the process and catalyst and to a method for removing the contaminant from a crystalline aluminosilicate cracking catalyst used in the process, where the contaminant is vanadium, or vanadium and nickel, and optionally iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1977
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Suggitt, Peter L. Paull
  • Patent number: 4003432
    Abstract: A competent permeable communication zone connecting injection and production wells completed in a tar sand which communication zone will be rigid and will not tend to slump or heal may be developed by injecting a fluid in the injection well under such pressure so as to fracture the tar sand formation between the injection well and the production well and circulating a fluid between the injection and production wells which is at a temperature sufficiently low to freeze the water in tar sands. The fluid may contain propping agents to hold the fracture surfaces apart. This procedure will rigidify the hydrocarbon portion of the tar sand formation in the vicinity of the fracture zone as well as freeze the water in the tar sand formation. Once the fracture is established a solvent for the hydrocarbon in the tar sands may be circulated preferably at a temperature below the freezing point of the water in the tar sands to extract the bitumen therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1977
    Assignee: Texaco Development Corporation
    Inventors: Peter L. Paull, Fontaine C. Armistead
  • Patent number: 4003987
    Abstract: The effluent streams from utility stack gases containing nitric oxides and sulfur dioxide are entrained with sulfuric acid and carbon monoxide from refinery cracking and other industrial plants and in a sequence of separation and reaction steps nitrogen and carbon dioxide are vented to the atmosphere and regenerated concentrated sulfuric acid and sulfur produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1977
    Assignee: Texaco Development Corporation
    Inventors: Peter L. Paull, James M. Caffrey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 3985639
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for catalytically cracking hydrocarbon feedstocks containing a contaminant deleterious to the process and catalyst and to a method for removing the contaminant from a crystalline aluminosilicate cracking catalyst used in the process, where the contaminant is vanadium, or vanadium and nickel, and optionally iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1974
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1976
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Suggitt, Peter L. Paull
  • Patent number: 3976443
    Abstract: This is an improved continuous partial oxidation process for producing synthesis gas or fuel gas from a solid carbonaceous fuel. Liquid CO.sub.2 and a ground solid carbonaceous fuel such as coal are mixed together to produce a pumpable slurry feed. The CO.sub.2 serves as a carrier for the carbonaceous fuel and as a temperature moderator, and is preferably obtained by purifying the product gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1976
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Paull, Warren G. Schlinger
  • Patent number: 3976442
    Abstract: This is an improved continuous partial oxidation process for producing synthesis gas or fuel gas from gaseous CO.sub.2 -solid carbonaceous fuel feeds. A solid carbonaceous fuel such as finely ground coal from a pressurized lock hopper is passed directly into a high pressure high velocity CO.sub.2 -rich gas stream which carries the particles of coal into a free-flow noncatalytic gas generator where by the partial oxidation reaction with a free-oxygen containing gas, preferably in the absence of supplemental H.sub.2 O other than that normally present in the reactants, gaseous mixtures principally comprising H.sub.2, CO, CO.sub.2, and H.sub.2 O are produced. A CO.sub.2 -rich gas stream is recovered downstream in the process and recycled to the pressurized feed system. The CO.sub.2 -rich stream serves as a carrier for the carbonaceous fuel and as a reactant in the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1976
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Paull, Warren G. Schlinger