Patents by Inventor Robert Peat

Robert Peat 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: 9382115
    Abstract: Gas-to-liquids processes for treating natural gas, including the steps of subjecting the natural gas to expansion through a flow restrictor so as to undergo cooling through the Joule Thomson effect. The processes then separate the resulting liquids from the remaining natural gas and processing the natural gas to form a synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is subjected to Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and the output from the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is separated into a hydrocarbon product and an aqueous phase and the aqueous phase is steam stripped to extract the oxygenates which are then injected into the natural gas stream upstream of the flow restrictor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: CompactGTL Limited
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Bowe, Robert Peat, David James West, Philip Hawker
  • Publication number: 20150119478
    Abstract: Gas-to-liquids processes for treating natural gas, including the steps of subjecting the natural gas to expansion through a flow restrictor so as to undergo cooling through the Joule Thomson effect. The processes then separate the resulting liquids from the remaining natural gas and processing the natural gas to form a synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is subjected to Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and the output from the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is separated into a hydrocarbon product and an aqueous phase and the aqueous phase is steam stripped to extract the oxygenates which are then injected into the natural gas stream upstream of the flow restrictor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: CompactGTL Limited
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Bowe, Robert Peat, David James West, Philip Hawker
  • Patent number: 8945488
    Abstract: A gas-to-liquids process and plant for treating natural gas, in which the natural gas is subjected to expansion through a flow restrictor so as to undergo cooling through the Joule Thomson effect, enables liquids to be separated from the gas stream. The natural gas may be cooled before it reaches the flow restrictor by heat exchange with fluid that has passed through the flow restrictor. This decreases the proportion of longer-chain hydrocarbons in the natural gas, which may simplify subsequent processing, and may enable the size of the plant to be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: CompactGTL Limited
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Bowe, Robert Peat, David James West, Philip Hawker
  • Publication number: 20130202498
    Abstract: A reactor defines first and second flow channels within the reactor, the first flow channels and the second flow channels extending in parallel directions along at least the major part of their lengths. A removable non-structural catalyst insert is provided in those channels in which a reaction is to occur, the catalyst insert comprising a plurality of foils bonded together and which subdivide the flow channel into a multiplicity of flow sub-channels. At least one end portion of the catalyst insert is devoid of active catalytic material. The end portion that is devoid of active catalytic material suppresses the reaction in that part of the flow channel, and so reduces the requirement for any thermal transfer at that part of the flow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: CompactGTL Limited
    Inventors: Neil Maxted, Robert Peat, Ross Alexander Morgan
  • Publication number: 20130041049
    Abstract: A gas-to-liquids process and plant for treating natural gas, in which the natural gas is subjected to expansion through a flow restrictor so as to undergo cooling through the Joule Thomson effect, enables liquids to be separated from the gas stream. The natural gas may be cooled before it reaches the flow restrictor by heat exchange with fluid that has passed through the flow restrictor. This decreases the proportion of longer-chain hydrocarbons in the natural gas, which may simplify subsequent processing, and may enable the size of the plant to be decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: CompactGTL plc
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Bowe, Robert Peat, David James West, Philip Hawker
  • Publication number: 20120302433
    Abstract: An activation process for a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst is described. The process comprises a first reduction step; an oxidation step; the introduction of the catalyst into a Fischer-Tropsch reactor; and a second reduction step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: COMPACTGTL PLC
    Inventors: Robert Peat, Neil Maxted
  • Patent number: 8262754
    Abstract: A compact catalytic reactor (20) comprises a channel for a rapid reaction having an inlet (26) for a gas mixture to undergo the reaction. The channel is provided with two different catalyst structures (32, 34), a first catalyst structure (32) in the vicinity of the inlet (26) and a second catalyst structure (34) further from the inlet, such that a gas mixture supplied to the inlet flows past them both. The first catalyst structure (32) has little catalytic activity for the rapid reaction, whereas the second catalyst structure (34) has catalytic activity for the rapid reaction. This is applicable to combustion of gas mixtures containing hydrogen, for which the first catalyst structure (32) may comprise uncoated oxidized aluminum-containing ferritic steel, while the second catalyst structure (34) may incorporate Pt and/or Pd in an alumina support. Exhaust gases may also be recycled to the inlet (26) to inhibit combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: CompactGTL plc
    Inventors: David James West, Michael Joseph Bowe, Stuart Leigh Jones, Clive Derek Lee-Tuffnell, Robert Peat
  • Publication number: 20120142789
    Abstract: A catalytic reaction module for performing am endothermic reaction, such as steam reforming, including separator blocks. Each reactor defining a multiplicity of first and second flow channels arranged alternately within the block to ensure thermal contact between the first and second flow channels. The reactor blocks may be arranged and connected for series flow of a combustible gas mixture in the first flow channels. The reactor blocks may be arranged and connected for a gas mixture to undergo endothermic reaction in the second flow channels. Catalyst elements are provided within the flow channels and the catalyst may vary between the blocks or within a block. The catalyst may vary in chemical composition, in catalyst loading, or in active catalyst material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Compact GTL plc
    Inventors: Ross Alexander Morgan, Robert Peat, Tuan Quoc Ly
  • Patent number: 7897119
    Abstract: A compact catalytic reactor defines a multiplicity of first and second flow channels arranged alternately, the first flow channels being no more than 10 mm deep and providing flow paths for combustible reactants, and containing a catalyst structure (20) to catalyze combustion of the reactants, and having at least one inlet for at least one of the reactants. The first flow channel also includes an insert (40 or 60) adjacent to each inlet, this insert not being catalytic to the combustion reaction; the insert may define gaps which are narrower than the maximum gap size for preventing flame propagation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Inventors: David James West, Michael Joseph Bowe, Robert Frew Gillespie, Steven Brabon, Robert Peat
  • Publication number: 20110046245
    Abstract: A catalytic reaction module (10) for performing an endothermic reaction such as steam methane reforming, includes separate reactor blocks (12), each reactor block defining a multiplicity of first and second flow channels (15, 16) arranged alternately within the block to ensure thermal contact between the first and second flow channels. The reactor blocks (12a, 12b) may be arranged and connected for series flow of a combustible gas mixture in the first flow channels (15) and also of a gas mixture to undergo the endothermic reaction in the second flow channels (16). This enables the combustion process to be carried out in stages, with the option of cooling the combustion gases between stages, and introducing additional fuel and additional air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: CompactGTL plc
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Bowe, Clive Derek Lee-Tuffnell, Robert Peat
  • Publication number: 20070258883
    Abstract: A compact catalytic reactor (20) comprises a channel for a rapid reaction having an inlet (26) for a gas mixture to undergo the reaction. The channel is provided with two different catalyst structures (32, 34), a first catalyst structure (32) in the vicinity of the inlet (26) and a second catalyst structure (34) further from the inlet, such that a gas mixture supplied to the inlet flows past them both. The first catalyst structure (32) has little catalytic activity for the rapid reaction, whereas the second catalyst structure (34) has catalytic activity for the rapid reaction. This is applicable to combustion of gas mixtures containing hydrogen, for which the first catalyst structure (32) may comprise uncoated oxidised aluminium-containing ferritic steel, while the second catalyst structure (34) may incorporate Pt and/or Pd in an alumina support. Exhaust gases may also be recycled to the inlet (26) to inhibit combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: CompactGTL plc
    Inventors: DAVID WEST, MICHAEL BOWE, STUART JONES, CLIVE LEE-TUFFNELL, ROBERT PEAT
  • Publication number: 20070258872
    Abstract: A compact catalytic reactor defines a multiplicity of first and second flow channels arranged alternately, the first flow channels being no more than 10 mm deep and providing flow paths for combustible reactants, and containing a catalyst structure (20) to catalyse combustion of the reactants, and having at least one inlet for at least one of the reactants. The first flow channel also includes an insert (40 or 60) adjacent to each inlet, this insert not being catalytic to the combustion reaction; the insert may define gaps which are narrower than the maximum gap size for preventing flame propagation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: COMPACTGTL PLC
    Inventors: David James West, Michael Joseph Bowe, Robert Frew Gillespie, Steven Brabon, Robert Peat
  • Publication number: 20030089623
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting chemical properties of a liquid, for example in an oil well, includes a glass pH electrode (22a) and a reference electrode (22c). The glass electrode (22a) consists of a narrow sensor electrode (30) on the surface of an electrically insulating substrate (20), a layer of glass (36) covering the sensor electrode (30), and two cleaning electrodes (32, 33) one extending along each side of the sensor electrode along its entire sensing length. The cleaning electrodes (32, 33) are not covered by the layer of glass, and are no more than 3 mm apart from each other. Application of a voltage between them generates gas bubbles by electrolysis that dislodge any fouling from the glass electrode (22a). The sensor electrode (30) may be of zigzag form, with the cleaning electrodes (32,33) interdigitated between the successive parts of the zigzag. A hydrophilic membrane (24) of sulphonated microporous PVdF provides further protection against fouling of the electrodes (22) by oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Robert Peat, Hedley Graham Rhodes, Andrew Derek Turner
  • Patent number: 6478950
    Abstract: A sensor module for monitoring chemical properties of oil well fluids comprises at least one electrochemical sensor for a chemcal species, for example to detect pH and chloride ion concentration. A micro-porous barrier separates the electrochemical sensors from the environment of the module, the micro-porous barrier being of a material which is readily wetted by water. Periodic application of a current pulse between the barrier and a counter electrode enables fouling material to be removed from the micron barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Accentus PLC
    Inventors: Robert Peat, Paul Antony Harry Fennell