Patents by Inventor Robert Roger Broekhuis

Robert Roger Broekhuis 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: 20230242497
    Abstract: An ethylene oxide (EO) production process comprising (a) introducing a first reactant mixture (C2H6, O2) to a first reactor to produce a first effluent stream (C2H4, C2H6, O2); (b) introducing a second reactant mixture to a second reactor to produce a second effluent stream (EO, C2H4, C2H6, O2); wherein the second reactant mixture comprises at least a portion of first effluent stream; (c) separating the second effluent stream into an EO product stream (EO) and recycle stream (C2H4, C2H6, O2); wherein ethylene is not separated from recycle stream and/or first effluent stream; and (d) recycling a first portion of recycle stream to the first reactor, and a second portion of recycle stream to the second reactor; wherein recycle split ratio <0.6; and wherein recycle split ratio is defined as ratio of volumetric flowrate of first portion of recycle stream divided by the sum of volumetric flowrates of first portion and second portion of recycle stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Roger BROEKHUIS, Pankaj Singh GAUTAM, Tian GU, Vidya Sagar Reddy SARSANI
  • Publication number: 20230108370
    Abstract: An ethylene oxide (EO) production process comprising (a) introducing a first reactant mixture (C2H6, C2H4, O2) to a first reactor to produce a first effluent stream (C2H4, C2H6, O2), wherein the mole fraction of ethylene in first effluent stream is greater than in first reactant mixture; wherein the first reactant mixture is characterized by a molar ratio of ethylene to ethane of ?1.3; (b) introducing the first effluent stream to a second reactor to produce a second effluent stream (EO, C2H4, C2H6, O2); (c) separating the second effluent stream into an EO product stream (EO) and recycle stream (C2H4, C2H6, O2); wherein ethylene is not separated from recycle stream and/or first effluent stream; and (d) recycling at least a portion of recycle stream to the first reactor, and a portion of recycle stream to the second reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Roger BROEKHUIS, Pankaj Singh GAUTAM, Tian GU, Vidya Sagar Reddy SARSANI
  • Publication number: 20230097182
    Abstract: An ethylene oxide (EO) production process comprising (a) introducing a first reactant mixture (C2H6, C2H4, O2) to a first reactor system to produce a first effluent stream (C2H4, C2H6, O2), wherein the mole fraction of ethylene in first effluent stream is greater than in first reactant mixture; wherein the first reactor system is characterized by a first reactor system operating temperature of 270° C.-320° C.; wherein the first reactor system comprises oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) stage(s); (b) introducing the first effluent stream to a second reactor to produce a second effluent stream (EO, C2H4, C2H6, O2); (c) separating the second effluent stream into an EO product stream (EO) and recycle stream (C2H4, C2H6, O2); wherein ethylene is not separated from recycle stream and/or first effluent stream; (d) recycling at least a portion of recycle stream to the first reactor system, and a optionally portion of recycle stream to the second reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Roger BROEKHUIS, Pankaj Singh GAUTAM, Tian GU, Vidya Sagar Reddy SARSANI
  • Patent number: 8409521
    Abstract: A tubular reactor for producing a product mixture in a tubular reactor where the tubular reactor comprises an internal catalytic insert with cup-shaped structures having orifices for forming fluid jets for impinging the fluid on the tube wall. Jet impingement is used to improve heat transfer between the fluid in the tube and the tube wall in a non-adiabatic reactor. The tubular reactor and method may be used for endothermic reactions such as steam methane reforming and for exothermic reactions such as methanation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Jin, Robert Roger Broekhuis, Xiaoyi He, Shankar Nataraj, William Robert Licht, Diwakar Garg
  • Patent number: 8178075
    Abstract: A tubular reactor and method for producing a product mixture in a tubular reactor where the tubular reactor comprises an internal catalytic insert having orifices for forming fluid jets for impinging the fluid on the tube wall. Jet impingement is used to improve heat transfer between the fluid in the tube and the tube wall in a non-adiabatic reactor. The tubular reactor and method may be used for endothermic reactions such as steam methane reforming and for exothermic reactions such as methanation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoyi He, Robert Roger Broekhuis, Diwakar Garg, Bo Jin, William Robert Licht, Stephen Clyde Tentarelli
  • Publication number: 20110194991
    Abstract: A tubular reactor for producing a product mixture in a tubular reactor where the tubular reactor comprises an internal catalytic insert with cup-shaped structures having orifices for forming fluid jets for impinging the fluid on the tube wall. Jet impingement is used to improve heat transfer between the fluid in the tube and the tube wall in a non-adiabatic reactor. The tubular reactor and method may be used for endothermic reactions such as steam methane reforming and for exothermic reactions such as methanation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Jin, Robert Roger Broekhuis, Xiaoyi He, Shankar Nataraj, William Robert Licht, Diwakar Garg
  • Patent number: 7761994
    Abstract: A method and a reactor made by a method for increasing heat transfer from a heat source outside a vessel to the fluid inside the vessel are characterized by expanding a structure within the vessel toward the inner vessel surface so as to decrease the spacing between the structure and the vessel wall. The structure may be any of the various so-called structured packings, for example, ceramic honeycombs, metal honeycombs, plate stacks, and the like. The structure may comprise catalyst. The reactor provides high activity, low pressure drop, and high heat transfer. The reactor may be especially suitable for steam hydrocarbon reforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: John Michael Repasky, Robert Roger Broekhuis, Xiaoyi He
  • Publication number: 20100038593
    Abstract: A tubular reactor and method for producing a product mixture in a tubular reactor where the tubular reactor comprises an internal catalytic insert having orifices for forming fluid jets for impinging the fluid on the tube wall. Jet impingement is used to improve heat transfer between the fluid in the tube and the tube wall in a non-adiabatic reactor. The tubular reactor and method may be used for endothermic reactions such as steam methane reforming and for exothermic reactions such as methanation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaoyi He, Robert Roger Broekhuis, Diwakar Garg, Bo Jin, William Robert Licht, Stephen Clyde Tentarelli
  • Patent number: 7501078
    Abstract: A process for generating synthesis gas wherein a reactant gas mixture comprising steam and a light hydrocarbon is introduced into a tubular reactor comprising a catalyzed structured packing at higher inlet mass rates than conventional tubular reactors containing random packing catalyst pellets or catalyzed structure packing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Shankar Nataraj, Robert Roger Broekhuis, Diwakar Garg, Xiaoyi He, Xianming Jimmy Li
  • Publication number: 20080164442
    Abstract: A process for generating synthesis gas wherein a reactant gas mixture comprising steam and a light hydrocarbon is introduced into a tubular reactor comprising a catalyzed structured packing at higher inlet mass rates than conventional tubular reactors containing random packing catalyst pellets or catalyzed structure packing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Shankar Nataraj, Robert Roger Broekhuis, Diwakar Garg, Xiaoyi He, Xianming Jimmy Li
  • Publication number: 20070297956
    Abstract: A method and a reactor made by a method for increasing heat transfer from a heat source outside a vessel to the fluid inside the vessel are characterized by expanding a structure within the vessel toward the inner vessel surface so as to decrease the spacing between the structure and the vessel wall. The structure may be any of the various so-called structured packings, for example, ceramic honeycombs, metal honeycombs, plate stacks, and the like. The structure may comprise catalyst. The reactor provides high activity, low pressure drop, and high heat transfer. The reactor may be especially suitable for steam hydrocarbon reforming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: John Michael Repasky, Robert Roger Broekhuis, Xiaoyi He
  • Publication number: 20030056910
    Abstract: A method for removal of pollutants from a pulping process byproduct liquor, the method comprising injecting an oxygen-containing gas into said liquor and condensing the water vapor from the stripping gas so as to produce a condensate comprising pollutants. Also a method of controlling the flow rate and/or temperature of a pulping process byproduct liquor, the process comprising injecting an oxygen-containing gas into the liquor in a reactor, processing the liquor in a flash tank so as to create a cooled liquor and combining at a least a portion of the cooled liquor with new liquor as the new liquor enters, or while the new liquor is in, the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Walter Thomas Mullen, Robert Roger Broekhuis, Reinaldo Passini
  • Patent number: 6506361
    Abstract: This invention relates to process for carrying out gas-liquid reactions such as those employed in the hydrogenation or oxidation of organic compounds. In the catalytic reaction of a liquid reactant and a gaseous reactant to form a product, the improvement which comprises: pressurizing a liquid reactant and, then, introducing the resultant pressurized liquid reactant to a liquid motive gas ejector wherein it is mixed with the gaseous reactant. The mixture is passed to and reacted in a monolith catalytic reactor. The products are removed from the monolith catalytic reactor at a reduced pressure and, then introduced to a tank. The unreacted materials in the reaction product then are recirculated back to the ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Reinaldo Mario Machado, Robert Roger Broekhuis
  • Publication number: 20020197194
    Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus suited for gas-liquid reactions such as those employed in the hydrogenation or oxidation of organic compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Reinaldo Mario Machado, Robert Roger Broekhuis
  • Patent number: 6005143
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a process for hydrogenating a nitroaromatic composition namely dinitrotoluene by contacting the dinitrotoluene with hydrogen in a reactor employing a monolith catalyst system. Broadly the improvement resides in the continuous, essentially solventless, adiabatic hydrogenation of dinitrotoluene to toluenediamine in a plug flow reactor system incorporating the monolith catalyst. The process generally comprises the steps:introducing a feedstock comprised of dinitrotoluene and reaction product components continuously into the reactor and said feedstock having less that 30% by weight of a solvent,carrying out the hydrogenation of dinitrotoluene to toluenediamine under adiabatic conditions; and,continuously removing hydrogenated reaction product from the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Reinaldo Mario Machado, David Joseph Parrillo, Richard Peter Boehme, Robert Roger Broekhuis