Patents by Inventor Peter Veenstra
Peter Veenstra 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).
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Patent number: 8530706Abstract: Processes and reactors for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkylene oxide are provided. In one embodiment, a reactor is provided comprising a carboxylation zone, a hydrolysis zone, and a channel whereby carbon dioxide can be supplied from the hydrolysis zone to the carboxylation zone, wherein the carboxylation zone and the hydrolysis zone are contained within one reactor vessel and wherein the carboxylation zone is separated from the hydrolysis zone by an internal baffle.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2012Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Hendrik Johannes Van Milligen, Peter Veenstra
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Patent number: 8329959Abstract: The invention provides a process and a reactor for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkylene oxide. Alkylene oxide, water, a homogeneous carboxylation catalyst and a homogenous hydrolysis catalyst are supplied to a reactor comprising a carboxylation zone and a hydrolysis zone. One or more ejectors are used to mix carbon dioxide and the liquid reagents in the carboxylation zone so that alkylene oxide reacts with carbon dioxide in the presence of water in the carboxylation zone to form a reaction solution comprising alkylene carbonate, water, the homogeneous carboxylation catalyst and the homogeneous hydrolysis catalyst. The reaction solution is supplied from the carboxylation zone to a hydrolysis zone, wherein alkylene carbonate and water react to form a product solution comprising alkylene glycol, the homogeneous carboxylation catalyst and the homogeneous hydrolysis catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2008Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Hendrik Johannes Van Milligen, Peter Veenstra
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Patent number: 8246843Abstract: The invention describes a process for the separation of an oil/water mixture into an oil rich phase and a water rich phase using an inline separation device, an inlet, a vortex generating chamber, a central separation chamber, and an outlet and providing an oil rich phase discharge pipe and a water rich phase discharge pipe. The process further also comprising a) the provision of an additional tangential or axial inlet into the vortex generating chamber or the central separation chamber and introducing an additional amount of oil/water mixture tangentially and/or axially into the vortex generating chamber or the central separation chamber, or b) adjusting the vortex generating means to control the rotation of the vortex, or a combination of a) and b). The invention further relates to a device for carrying out the above process and to the use of such a device in the separation of oil/water mixtures.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2008Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Wouter Koen Harteveld, Peter Veenstra, Paulus Henricus Joannes Verbeek
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Publication number: 20120006055Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating at least part of a gaseous product from a feed stream which comprises contaminants. The process comprises: 1) providing the feed stream; 2) cooling the feed stream to a temperature at which a slurry stream is formed which comprises solid contaminant, liquid phase contaminant and the gaseous product; 3) introducing the slurry stream as obtained in step 2) via a plurality of tangentially directed inlet means into an upper part of a separation device, thereby creating a swirl of the slurry stream which allows at least part of the gaseous product to flow upwardly and solid contaminant and liquid phase contaminant to flow downwardly; 4) removing at least part of the gaseous product from the upper part of the device; and 5) removing a stream comprising liquid phase contaminant from a lower part of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2010Publication date: January 12, 2012Inventors: Helmar Van Santen, Cornelius Johannes Schellekens, Peter Veenstra
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Patent number: 8088185Abstract: A system is provided for producing and separating hydrogen and carbon dioxide from a hydrocarbon and steam. A hydrocarbon and steam are steam reformed and the reformed gas is shift reacted to produce a shift gas in the system. Hydrogen is removed from the shift gas, and the hydrogen-depleted gas is reformed and shift reacted again to produce more hydrogen and carbon dioxide in the system. The hydrogen and carbon dioxide are then separated.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2010Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Lloyd Anthony Clomburg, Jr., Andreas Nicholas Matzakos, Peter Veenstra, Scott Lee Wellington
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Patent number: 8016589Abstract: Included is a method of starting up a direct heating device having a fuel introduction zone, a combustion zone and a process zone that is in heat exchange relationship with said combustion zone. Prior to the introduction of a fuel fluid into said combustion zone, an oxidant fluid, having a high temperature, is passed through the combustion zone for a warm-up time period sufficient to raise the temperature of the direct heating device to a desired temperature. Steam or a process fluid is passed through the process zone followed by the introduction of a fuel fluid into the fuel introduction zone. After the device has been heated up a process fluid is introduced through the process zone. Thereafter, the introduction of steam through the process zone may be stopped.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2006Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Peter Veenstra, Abdul Wahid Munshi
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Publication number: 20110044861Abstract: A system is provided for producing and separating hydrogen and carbon dioxide from a hydrocarbon and steam. A hydrocarbon and steam are steam reformed and the reformed gas is shift reacted to produce a shift gas in the system. Hydrogen is removed from the shift gas, and the hydrogen-depleted gas is reformed and shift reacted again to produce more hydrogen and carbon dioxide in the system. The hydrogen and carbon dioxide are then separated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2010Publication date: February 24, 2011Inventors: Lloyd Anthony CLOMBURG, JR., Andreas Nicholas Matzakos, Peter Veenstra, Scott Lee Wellington
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Publication number: 20100312022Abstract: The invention provides a process and a reactor for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkylene oxide. Alkylene oxide, water, a homogeneous carboxylation catalyst and a homogenous hydrolysis catalyst are supplied to a reactor comprising a carboxylation zone and a hydrolysis zone. One or more ejectors are used to mix carbon dioxide and the liquid reagents in the carboxylation zone so that alkylene oxide reacts with carbon dioxide in the presence of water in the carboxylation zone to form a reaction solution comprising alkylene carbonate, water, the homogeneous carboxylation catalyst and the homogeneous hydrolysis catalyst. The reaction solution is supplied from the carboxylation zone to a hydrolysis zone, wherein alkylene carbonate and water react to form a product solution comprising alkylene glycol, the homogeneous carboxylation catalyst and the homogeneous hydrolysis catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2008Publication date: December 9, 2010Inventors: Hendrik Johannes Van Milligen, Peter Veenstra
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Patent number: 7846413Abstract: A process and a system are provided for producing and separating hydrogen and carbon dioxide from a hydrocarbon and steam. A hydrocarbon and steam are steam reformed and the reformed gas is shift reacted to produce a shift gas. Hydrogen is removed from the shift gas, and the hydrogen-depleted gas is reformed and shift reacted again to produce more hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The hydrogen and carbon dioxide are then separated.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2007Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Lloyd Anthony Clomburg, Jr., Andreas Nicholas Matzakos, Peter Veenstra, Scott Lee Wellington
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Publication number: 20100206822Abstract: The invention describes a process for the separation of an oil/water mixture into an oil rich phase and a water rich phase using an inline separation device, an inlet, a vortex generating chamber, a central separation chamber, and an outlet and providing an oil rich phase discharge pipe and a water rich phase discharge pipe. The process further also comprising a) the provision of an additional tangential or axial inlet into the vortex generating chamber or the central separation chamber and introducing an additional amount of oil/ater mixture tangentially and/or axially into the vortex generating chamber or the central separation chamber, or b) adjusting the vortex generating means to control the rotation of the vortex, or a combination of a) and b). The invention further relates to a device for carrying out the above process and to the use of such a device in the separation of oil/water mixtures.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2008Publication date: August 19, 2010Inventors: Wouter Koen Harteveld, Peter Veenstra, Paulus Henricus Joannes Verbeek
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Patent number: 7704070Abstract: A heat transfer system and use thereof. The heat transfer system provides for the combustion of a fuel and the use of heat energy released by the combustion to heat a process fluid and to preheat the fuel and oxidant prior to their combustion. The heat transfer system includes three tubes with a fuel introduction tube surrounded by an oxidant introduction tube that is surrounded by a process tube. A heat transfer system having the appropriate geometry may provide for the flameless combustion of the fuel. The heat transfer system may also be integrated into other systems such as heat exchangers and catalytic process systems.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2006Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventor: Peter Veenstra
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Patent number: 7651331Abstract: A four-tube heating system for combusting a fuel and transferring the heat released therefrom to a process fluid. The heating system includes, a fuel introduction zone, a combustion zone, an oxidant introduction zone, and a process fluid zone, wherein the fuel introduction zone is defined by fuel introduction means for introducing fuel into the combustion zone that is defined by a reaction tube external to and surrounding the fuel introduction means, and wherein the oxidant introduction zone is defined by an oxidant introduction tube external to and surrounding the reaction tube, and wherein the process fluid zone is defined by a process tube external to and surrounding the oxidant tube.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2006Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventor: Peter Veenstra
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Publication number: 20090136879Abstract: A flameless combustion heater is described, that comprises an oxidation conduit and a fuel conduit positioned within the oxidation conduit to form an oxidation zone having an inlet and an outlet, said fuel conduit having a plurality of openings that provide fluid communication from within the fuel conduit to the oxidation conduit wherein the longitudinal axis of at least one opening forms an oblique angle with the inner surface of the oxidation conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2008Publication date: May 28, 2009Inventors: Karl Gregory ANDERSON, Abdul Wahid Munshi, Peter Veenstra
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Publication number: 20090056696Abstract: A flameless combustion heater is described that comprises an oxidation conduit and a fuel conduit having a plurality of centralizers attached to the external wall of the fuel conduit wherein at least one centralizer or portion of a centralizer is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fuel conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Abdul Wahid MUNSHI, Peter Veenstra, Rachel Anna Worthen
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Publication number: 20090053660Abstract: A flameless combustion heater system is described that comprises a flameless combustion heater; an oxidant inlet pipe; a fuel inlet pipe; and a preheater for preheating the oxidant or the fuel, said preheater comprising an oxidation catalyst. A method for starting up a flameless combustion heater is described comprising passing a fuel-oxidant mixture to a preheater comprising an oxidation catalyst to preheat the fuel or oxidant stream being fed to the heater. A method for controlling the temperature of the flameless combustion heater system is also described that comprises controlling the amount of fuel and/or oxidant that passes through the preheater.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2008Publication date: February 26, 2009Inventors: Thomas MIKUS, Abdul Wahid Munshi, Peter Veenstra
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Publication number: 20080179569Abstract: A process and a system are provided for producing and separating hydrogen and carbon dioxide from a hydrocarbon and steam. A hydrocarbon and steam are steam reformed and the reformed gas is shift reacted to produce a shift gas. Hydrogen is removed from the shift gas, and the hydrogen-depleted gas is reformed and shift reacted again to produce more hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The hydrogen and carbon dioxide are then separated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2007Publication date: July 31, 2008Inventors: Lloyd Anthony CLOMBURG, Andreas Nicholas Matzakos, Peter Veenstra, Scott Lee Wellington
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Patent number: 7360588Abstract: A process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of a subsurface formation. Heat may transfer from one or more heaters to a part of a formation. In some embodiments, heat from the one or more heat sources may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in a part of a subsurface formation. Hydrocarbons and/or other products may be produced from a subsurface formation. Certain embodiments describe apparatus, methods, and/or processes used in treating a subsurface or hydrocarbon containing formation.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2006Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Peter Veenstra, Steven Paul Giles, Chester L. Sandberg, Frederick Henry Kreisler Rambow, Christopher Kelvin Harris, Lanny Gene Schoeling, Mark Gregory Picha, Etuan Zhang, Gary Beer, Frederick Gordon Carl, Jr., Taixu Bai, Dong Sub Kim, Michael David Fairbanks, Guillermo Pastor Sanz
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Publication number: 20070131411Abstract: A process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of a subsurface formation. Heat may transfer from one or more heaters to a part of a formation. In some embodiments, heat from the one or more heat sources may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in a part of a subsurface formation. Hydrocarbons and/or other products may be produced from a subsurface formation. Certain embodiments describe apparatus, methods, and/or processes used in treating a subsurface or hydrocarbon containing formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2006Publication date: June 14, 2007Inventors: Harold Vinegar, Peter Veenstra, Steven Giles, Chester Sandberg, Frederick Rambow, Christopher Harris, Lanny Schoeling, Mark Picha, Etuan Zhang, Gary Beer, Fredrick Carl, Taixu Bai, Dong Kim, Michael Fairbanks, Guillermo Sanz
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Publication number: 20060248800Abstract: The invention relates to a new and improved process and apparatus for the production of high purity hydrogen by steam reforming. The apparatus is an integrated flameless distributed combustion-membrane steam reforming (FDC-MSR) or reactor for steam reforming of a vaporizable hydrocarbon to produce H2 and CO2, with minimal CO, and minimal CO in the H2 stream. The flameless distributed combustion drives the steam reforming reaction which pro-vides great improvements in heat exchange efficiency and load following capabilities. The reactor may contain multiple flameless distributed combustion chambers and multiple hydrogen-selective, hydrogen-permeable, membrane tubes. The feed and reaction gases may flow through the reactor either radially or axially. A further embodiment of the invention involves producing high purity hydrogen by dehydrogenation using an integrated FDC-membrane de-hydrogenation reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2003Publication date: November 9, 2006Inventors: Maria Miglin, Lloyd Clomburg, Glenn Elliott, Michiel Groeneveld, Rong-Her Jean, Andreas Matzakos, Abdul Munshi, Peter Veenstra, Scott Wellington
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Patent number: 7121342Abstract: A process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of a subsurface formation. Heat may transfer from one or more heaters to a part of a formation. In some embodiments, heat from the one or more heat sources may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in a part of a subsurface formation. Hydrocarbons and/or other products may be produced from a subsurface formation. Certain embodiments describe apparatus, methods, and/or processes used in treating a subsurface or hydrocarbon containing formation.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2004Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Peter Veenstra, Steven Paul Giles, Chester L. Sandberg, Frederick Henry Kreisler Rambow, Christopher Kelvin Harris, Lanny Gene Schoeling, Mark Gregory Picha, Etuan Zhang, Gary Beer, Fredrick Gordon Carl, Jr., Taixu Bai, Dong Sub Kim, Michael David Fairbanks, Guillermo Pastor Sanz