Abstract: Thermal storage systems that preferably do not create substantially any additional back pressure or create minimal additional back pressure and their applications in combined cycle power plants are disclosed. In one embodiment of the method for efficient response to load variations in a combined cycle power plant, the method includes providing, through a thermal storage tank, a flow path for fluid exiting a gas turbine, placing in the flow path a storage medium comprising high thermal conductivity heat resistance media, preferably particles, the particles being in contact with each other and defining voids between the particles in order to facilitate flow of the fluid in a predetermined direction constituting a longitudinal direction, arrangement of the particles constituting a packed bed, dimensions of the particles and of the packed bed being selected such that a resultant back pressure to the gas turbine is at most a predetermined back pressure.

Abstract: A method of storing heat includes moving a portion of a heated fluid from at least one reactor core to at least one tank having solid media, storing heat from the portion of the heated fluid in the solid media, and transferring the stored heat from the solid media to a fluid that can be used by a power plant to generate electrical energy. A system for storing heat in a nuclear power plant includes at least one tank comprising solid media structured and arranged to store heat and an arrangement structured and arranged to pass a first fluid through the at least one tank, transfer heat from the first fluid to the solid media, store the heat in the solid media, and transfer the heat from the solid media to a second fluid. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A method for storing heat from a solar collector CSTC in Concentrating Solar Power plants and delivering the heat to the power plant PP when needed. The method uses a compressed gas such as carbon dioxide or air as a heat transfer medium in the collectors CSTC and transferring the heat by depositing it on a bed of heat-resistant solids and later, recovering the heat by a second circuit of the same compressed gas. The storage system HSS is designed to allow the heat to be recovered at a high efficiency with practically no reduction in temperature. Unlike liquid heat transfer media, our storage method itself can operate at very high temperatures, up to 3000° F., a capability which can lead to greater efficiency.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for storing heat in industrial systems where large sources of stored energy are called upon to meet a work load, storing the heat content of a hot working fluid by using the hot working fluid as a heat transfer fluid in vapor form and depositing its heat content on a heat storage medium and then removing the cooled and condensed liquid phase of that heat transfer fluid, and when hot working fluid again is needed, the liquid heat transfer fluid is returned to the heated storage medium and is reheated as it passes through the hot storage medium and then is returned to the working system to be used as a hot working fluid.

Abstract: A method for storing heat from a solar collector CSTC in Concentrating Solar Power plants and delivering the heat to the power plant PP when needed. The method uses a compressed gas such as carbon dioxide or air as a heat transfer medium in the collectors CSTC and transferring the heat by depositing it on a bed of heat-resistant solids and later, recovering the heat by a second circuit of the same compressed gas. The storage system HSS is designed to allow the heat to be recovered at a high efficiency with practically no reduction in temperature. Unlike liquid heat transfer media, our storage method itself can operate at very high temperatures, up to 3000° F., a capability which can lead to greater efficiency.

Abstract: A method for storing heat from a solar collector CSTC in Concentrating Solar Power plants and delivering the heat to the power plant PP when needed. The method uses a compressed gas such as carbon dioxide or air as a heat transfer medium in the collectors CSTC and transferring the heat by depositing it on a bed of heat-resistant solids and later, recovering the heat by a second circuit of the same compressed gas. The storage system HSS is designed to allow the heat to be recovered at a high efficiency with practically no reduction in temperature. Unlike liquid heat transfer media, our storage method itself can operate at very high temperatures, up to 3000° F., a capability which can lead to greater efficiency. Due to material constraints and cost considerations in the rest of the system the maximum temperature is presently limited to between 1700° F. and 2000° F. The method can be applied to all current solar collector designs.

Abstract: A method of storing heat includes moving a portion of a heated fluid from at least one reactor core to at least one tank having solid media, storing heat from the portion of the heated fluid in the solid media, and transferring the stored heat from the solid media to a fluid that can be used by a power plant to generate electrical energy. A system for storing heat in a nuclear power plant includes at least one tank comprising solid media structured and arranged to store heat and an arrangement structured and arranged to pass a first fluid through the at least one tank, transfer heat from the first fluid to the solid media, store the heat in the solid media, and transfer the heat from the solid media to a second fluid. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A method for storing heat from a solar collector CSTC in Concentrating Solar Power plants and delivering the heat to the power plant PP when needed. The method uses a compressed gas such as carbon dioxide or air as a heat transfer medium in the collectors CSTC and transferring the heat by depositing it on a bed of heat-resistant solids and later, recovering the heat by a second circuit of the same compressed gas. The storage system HSS is designed to allow the heat to be recovered at a high efficiency with practically no reduction in temperature. Unlike liquid heat transfer media, our storage method itself can operate at very high temperatures, up to 3000° F., a capability which can lead to greater efficiency. Due to material constraints and cost considerations in the rest of the system the maximum temperature is presently limited to between 1700° F. and 2000° F. The method can be applied to all current solar collector designs.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for storing heat in industrial systems where large sources of stored energy are called upon to meet a work load, storing the heat content of a hot working fluid by using the hot working fluid as a heat transfer fluid in vapor form and depositing its heat content on a heat storage medium and then removing the cooled and condensed liquid phase of that heat transfer fluid, and when hot working fluid again is needed, the liquid heat transfer fluid is returned to the heated storage medium and is reheated as it passes through the hot storage medium and then is returned to the working system to be used as a hot working fluid.

Abstract: A process for treating methane-containing natural gas is provided which comprises: i) converting methane to methanol at or near a site of natural gas production; ii) transporting the methanol to a refinery remote from said site of production, said refinery producing ethylene and propylene and comprising an alkylation unit which can utilize a propylene feed; and iii) converting said methanol to gasoline boiling range fuel product and petrochemicals, including ethylene, propylene, butenes and xylenes.

Abstract: A process for treating methane-containing natural gas is provided which comprises: i) converting methane to methanol at or near a site of natural gas production; ii) transporting the methanol to a refinery remote from said site of production, said refinery producing ethylene and propylene and comprising an alkylation unit which can utilize a propylene feed; and iii) converting said methanol to gasoline boiling range fuel product and petrochemicals, including ethylene, propylene, butenes and xylenes.

Abstract: A process for treating methane-containing natural gas is provided which comprises: i) converting methane to methanol at or near a site of natural gas production; ii) transporting the methanol to a refinery remote from said site of production, said refinery producing ethylene and propylene and comprising an alkylation unit which can utilize a propylene feed; and iii) converting said methanol to gasoline boiling range fuel product and petrochemicals, including ethylene, propylene, butenes and xylenes.

Abstract: A process for generating single crystalline nano-crystals is described. The nano-crystals are formed on a substrate containing nano-sectors having functional groups which promote nucleation of crystals and inert sectors which do not. The particle size of the crystals is controlled by the size of the nano-sectors and the crystals become reversibly attached to the surface of the nano-sectors during crystallization. In addition, the substrate containing the single crystalline nano-crystals and the single crystalline nano-crystals formed by the process are also claimed.

Abstract: There is provided a process for converting methanol or dimethyl ether to a product containing C2 to C4 olefins, which comprises the step of contacting a feed containing methanol or dimethyl ether with a catalyst which comprises a zeolite having 10-ring intersecting channels, such as ZSM-5, and which has a Diffusion Parameter for 2,2-dimethylbutane of less than 100 sec−1 when measured at a temperature of 120° C. and a 2,2-dimethylbutane pressure of 60 torr (8 kPa). The contacting step is conducted at a temperature of 370 to 480° C., a methanol partial pressure of 30 to 150 psia and a methanol conversion per pass of less than 95%.

Abstract: There is provided a process for converting methanol and/or dimethyl ether to a product containing C2 to C4 olefins which comprises the step of contacting a feed which contains methanol and/or dimethyl ether with a catalyst comprising a porous crystalline material. The contacting is conducted in the presence of a cofed aromatic compound under conversion conditions including a temperature of about 350° C. to about 550° C. and a methanol and/or dimethyl ether partial pressure less than or equal to 50 psia (345 kPa). The porous crystalline material used in the catalyst has a pore size greater than the critical diameter of the aromatic compound and a Diffusion Parameter for 2,2-dimethylbutane of about 0.1 to about 26 sec−1 when measured at a temperature of 120° C. and a 2,2- dimethylbutane pressure of 60 torr (8 kPa), and the aromatic compound is capable of alkylation by the methanol and/or dimethyl ether under said conversion conditions.

Abstract: A process for treating methane-containing natural gas is provided which comprises: i) converting methane to methanol at or near a site of natural gas production; ii) transporting the methanol to a refinery remote from said site of production, said refinery producing ethylene and propylene and comprising an alkylation unit which can utilize a propylene feed; and iii) converting said methanol to gasoline boiling range fuel product and petrochemicals, including ethylene, propylene, butenes and xylenes.

Abstract: There is provided a process for converting methanol and/or dimethyl ether to a product containing olefin, e.g., C2 to C4 olefins, C9+ aromatics and non-C9+ aromatics which comprises: 1) contacting a feed which contains methanol and/or dimethyl ether with a catalyst comprising a porous crystalline material, said contacting step being conducted in the presence of aromatics comprising C9 or C9+ aromatic compound produced in said process under conversion conditions including a temperature of 350° C. to 480° C. and a methanol partial pressure in excess of 10 psia (70 kPa), said porous crystalline material having a Diffusion Parameter for 2,2-dimethylbutane of about 0.1 sec−1 to about 20 sec−1 when measured at a temperature of 120° C.

Abstract: A process for selectively converting a feed comprising oxygenate to normally liquid boiling range C5+ hydrocarbons in a single step is provided which comprises a) contacting the feed under oxygenate conversion conditions with a catalyst comprising a unidimensional 10-ring zeolite, e.g., one selected from the group consisting of ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ZSM-48, ZSM-57, and ferrierite, at temperatures below 350° C. and oxygenate pressures above 40 psia (276 kPa); and b) recovering a normally liquid boiling range C5+ hydrocarbons-rich product stream, e.g, gasoline and distillate boiling range hydrocarbons or C4 to C12 olefins.

Abstract: A process for integration of an autothermal reforming unit and a cogeneration power plant in which the reforming unit has two communicating fluid beds. The first fluid bed is a reformer reactor containing inorganic metal oxide and which is used to react oxygen and light hydrocarbons at conditions sufficient to produce a mixture of synthesis gas, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. The second fluid bed is a combustor-regenerator which receives spent inorganic metal oxide from the first fluid bed and which provides heat to heat the inorganic metal and balance the reaction endotherm, by combusting fuel gas in direct contact with the inorganic metal oxide producing hot flue gas. In preferred embodiments, steam is also fed to the reformer reactor and a catalyst may be used with the inorganic metal oxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to an extraction process which comprises adding a primary solvent to a first solution containing a solute dissolved in a native solvent. The primary solvent is added in an amount sufficient to form a single-phase mixture comprising said primary solvent, said native solvent and said solute. Thereafter a modifier is added to the single-phase solution. The modifier is miscible with either the primary solvent or the native solvent and serves to reduce the miscibility of the primary solvent with the native solvent so as to form a two-phase mixture. The two phases are allowed to separate into one phase rich in the native solvent and a second phase rich in the primary solvent and solute. Finally, the solute is separated from the solvent-rich phase. The process is particularly useful for separating products of fermentation from fermentation broths or other systems which are sensitive to high temperatures or which tend to form emulsions.