Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of superheated of steam by transferring heat from at least a fraction of a high pressure steam to a lower pressure steam to produce a superheated, lower pressure steam. The high pressure steam can be generated by recovering heat from a heat producing chemical process such as, for example, the partial oxidation of carbonaceous materials. The lower pressure steam can be generated by reducing the pressure of a portion of the high pressure steam or by recovering heat from one or more chemical processes. The superheated, lower pressure steam may used to generate electricity in a steam turbine, operate a steam turbine drive, or as a heat source. Also disclosed is a process for driving a steam turbine using superheated steam produced by the process of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for humidifying syngas to achieve a water to carbon monoxide molar ratio in the product syngas within a desired range and in which the molar ratio which can be varied over time in response to changes in downstream syngas requirements. The raw syngas is produced by reacting a carbonaceous material with oxygen, water, or carbon dioxide and can be combined with a diluent to produce a diluted syngas stream which can be cooled and contacted with liquid water to give a humidified syngas. The H2O:CO molar ratio of the humidified syngas may be adjusted in response to time-varying downstream syngas requirements by changing the amount and/or temperature of the diluent that is combined with the raw syngas stream, by adjusting quench and heat exchange conditions, or a combination thereof. The application of the process to the coproduction of chemicals and power are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of a variable syngas composition by gasification. Two or more raw syngas streams are produced in a gasification zone having at least 2 gasifiers and a portion the raw syngas is passed to a common water gas shift reaction zone to produce at least one shifted syngas stream having an enriched hydrogen content and at least one unshifted syngas stream. The shifted and the unshifted syngas streams are mixed downstream of the water gas shift zone in varying proportions produce blended and unblended synthesis gas streams in a volume and/or composition that may vary over time in response to at least one downstream syngas requirement. The process is useful for supplying syngas from multiple gasifiers for the variable coproduction of electrical power and chemicals across periods of peak and off-peak power demand.

Abstract: A process for satisfying variable power demand and a method for maximizing the monetary value of a synthesis gas stream are disclosed. One or more synthesis gas streams are produced by gasification of carbonaceous materials and passed to a power producing zone to produce electrical power during a period of peak power demand or to a chemical producing zone to produce chemicals such as, for example, methanol, during a period of off-peak power demand. The power-producing zone and the chemical-production zone which are operated cyclically and substantially out of phase in which one or more of the combustion turbines are shut down during a period of off-peak power demand and the syngas fuel diverted to the chemical producing zone. This out of phase cyclical operational mode allows for the power producing zone to maximize electricity output with the high thermodynamic efficiency and for the chemical producing zone to maximize chemical production with the high stoichiometric efficiency.

Abstract: A process for satisfying variable power demand and a method for maximizing the monetary value of a synthesis gas stream are disclosed. One or more synthesis gas streams are produced by gasification of carbonaceous materials and passed to a power producing zone to produce electrical power during a period of peak power demand or to a chemical producing zone to produce chemicals such as, for example, methanol, during a period of off-peak power demand. The power-producing zone and the chemical-production zone which are operated cyclically and substantially out of phase in which one or more of the combustion turbines are shut down during a period of off-peak power demand and the syngas fuel diverted to the chemical producing zone. This out of phase cyclical operational mode allows for the power producing zone to maximize electricity output with the high thermodynamic efficiency and for the chemical producing zone to maximize chemical production with the high stoichiometric efficiency.

Abstract: Continuous single-step processes for producing higher molecular weight ketones are disclosed that involve a liquid-phase crossed condensation of an aldehyde with a ketone in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and a small amount of a catalyst comprising a concentrated hydroxide or alkoxide of an alkali-metal (from Group 1 or Group IA of the Periodic Table of the Elements) or alkali-earth metal (from Group 2, or Group IIA of the Periodic Table of the Elements), wherein the amount of water provided to the reaction mixture, or reaction zone, is relatively low, with respect to the total initial weight of the reaction mixture. The reaction may be carried out in the absence of solubilizing agents or phase transfer agents. The product mixture is largely free of by-products resulting from further condensation reactions of the desired ketone product or intermediates, and free of the self-condensation products of the reactant aldehyde, that are afterward difficult to remove from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Processes for producing ?-hydroxy-ketones and ?,?-unsaturated ketones are disclosed which comprise the crossed condensation of an aldehyde with a ketone in the presence of a hydroxide or alkoxide of alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal as catalyst. The products of the process, ?-hydroxy-ketones and ?,?-unsaturated ketones, are useful for the preparation of many commercially important products in the chemical process industries including solvents, drug intermediates, flavors and fragrances, other specialty chemical intermediates.