Abstract: A method of producing natural gas fuel from gas hydrate beds is provided wherein a gas turbine engine is operated thereby producing power and hot exhaust. A portion of the heat from the hot exhaust is transferred to water and the heated water is passed downhole and brought into thermal contact with a hydrate bed thereby dissociating hydrate and producing hydrate gas. Sufficient fuel is then passed to the engine for operation.

Abstract: A novel method is provided for in situ combustion and recovery of oil from underground reservoirs including injecting oxygen into the reservoir at a region near the reservoir floor, establishing a combustion front wherein hot combustion gases rise at the combustion front, withdrawing hot combustion gases from a region near the reservoir ceiling, and extracting oil from a horizontal production well near the reservoir floor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the reduction of pressure drop in low NOx combustion of fuel and air, maximizing energy efficiency. A supply of fuel and a supply of air form a fuel rich mixture that is reacted to produce partial reaction products and heat. A portion of the heat is transferred to a second supply of air. The partial reaction products are mixed with heated air and with a third supply of air to form a fuel lean admixture that is passed to a combustion zone for low NOx combustion.

Abstract: A streamlined flow mixer is provided that includes a housing and a plurality of tubes having an upstream end and a downstream end. The tubes are flared at the downstream end. The mixer includes a header plate and the upstream end of each tube passes through the header plate in such as fashion as to be sealed therein. The housing may extend further downstream than the tubes and proved a mixing region. A second header plate may be added to provide for mixing more than two fluids.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the operating temperature of a catalytic reactor using a closed-loop system that provides for varying the reactor input and other operating parameters in order to maintain the operating temperature of the reactor at or near the initial setpoint temperature for operation of the reactor. In one example, maximum and minimum operating temperatures with a catalytic partial oxidation reactor are controlled, as well as maintaining control over the corresponding minimum required ratio of oxygen atoms to carbon atoms, such that the operating temperature within the reactor is maintained below the material limits but above threshold temperatures for coking.

Abstract: A novel method is provided for in situ combustion and recovery of oil from underground reservoirs including injecting air into the reservoir at a region near the reservoir floor, withdrawing combustion products from a region near the reservoir ceiling, and collecting oil from a horizontal production well near the reservoir floor.

Abstract: A method for isobutane alkylation is provided using a fixed-bed catalytic alkylation reactor comprises at least one catalytic flow channel. A feed stream comprising a compound to be alkylated is passed into a flow channel having an alkylation catalyst positioned on at least a portion of the flow channel inner surface in the flow channel downstream region. Olefin is injected into the feed stream at a point beyond a flow channel entrance region whereby the olefin contacts the alkylation catalyst by diffusion to the flow channel inner surface thereby reacting the compound with the olefin and produces an alkylate product.

Abstract: A method for isobutane alkylation is provided wherein a fixed-bed catalytic alkylation reactor comprises at least one catalytic flow channel. A feed stream comprising a compound to be alkylated admixed with a minor amount of an olefin is introduced into the flow channel wherein the flow channel is of sufficiently long configuration to have a mass-transfer-limiting boundary layer. The feed stream is contacted with a catalyst positioned on an inner surface of the flow channel thereby reacting the compound with the olefinto produce an alkylate product.

Abstract: An improved catalytic reactor includes a housing having a plate positioned therein defining a first zone and a second zone, and a plurality of conduits fabricated from a heat conducting material and adapted for conducting a fluid therethrough. The conduits are positioned within the housing such that the conduit exterior surfaces and the housing interior surface within the second zone define a first flow path while the conduit interior surfaces define a second flow path through the second zone and not in fluid communication with the first flow path. The conduit exits define a second flow path exit, the conduit exits and the first flow path exit being proximately located and interspersed. The conduits define at least one expanded section that contacts adjacent conduits thereby spacing the conduits within the second zone and forming first flow path exit flow orifices having an aggregate exit area greater than a defined percent of the housing exit plane area.

Abstract: A method of dissociating methane hydrate deposits in-situ is provided in which a supply of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and fuel are provided, the oxygen and the carbon dioxide are mixed to form an oxidizer fluid, and the fuel is combusted downhole by reacting it with the oxidizer fluid to provide hot combustion products. The combustion products are placed in contact with a diluent fluid to produce a cooled product fluid at a temperature higher than the prevailing methane hydrate decomposition temperature. The cooled product fluid is injected into the methane hydrate deposit decomposing the hydrate and releasing natural gas.

Abstract: A novel method for recovering oil is provided wherein oxygen is injected into a chamber within an oil deposit thereby combusting oil at the chamber walls. The heated oil to drains toward the reservoir floor and is recovered via a production well.

Abstract: A method of producing natural gas fuel from gas hydrate beds is provided wherein natural gas is oxidized in a fuel cell producing electricity and heat. At least a portion of the heat is transferred to water and the heated water is passed downhole and brought into thermal contact with a hydrate bed. The hydrate is disassociated thereby producing hydrate gas. A sufficient amount of fuel is then passed to the fuel cell for operation of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A novel catalytic reactor is provided for controlling the contact of a limiting reactant with a catalyst surface. A first flow vessel defines an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the interior surface has a catalyst deposited on at least a portion thereof. A second flow vessel is positioned within the first flow vessel and the second flow vessel defines a porous surface designed to deliver a fluid uniformly to at least a portion of the interior surface of the first flow vessel.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for operating an oxygen blown integrated coal gasification combined cycle gas turbine (IGCC) system having a gasifier and an air separation unit. A supply of low pressure nitrogen is passed to a gas turbine compressor along with sufficient air to provide sufficient compressed air to the gas turbine combustor for gasified fuel combustion. Subsequently, at least a sufficient portion of the compressor discharge flow is passed to a combustor for combustion of the gasified fuel flow to the combustor. The gasified fuel is combusted to produce hot combustion gases and then the combustion gases are passed to a turbine.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for limiting the temperature of the catalyst in exothermic mass-transfer-limited reactions by placing a flow-through catalyst in thermal contact with a downstream non-catalytic flow-through structure placed in the flow stream whereby a portion of the heat-of-reaction is transferred to the downstream non-catalytic structure.

Abstract: A method of dissociating methane hydrate deposits in-situ is provided in which a supply of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and fuel are provided, the oxygen and the carbon dioxide are mixed to form an oxidizer fluid, and the fuel is combusted downhole by reacting it with the oxidizer fluid to provide hot combustion products. The combustion products are placed in contact with a diluent fluid to produce a cooled product fluid at a temperature higher than the prevailing methane hydrate decomposition temperature. The cooled product fluid is injected into the methane hydrate deposit decomposing the hydrate and releasing natural gas.

Abstract: A method of lowered NOx combustion is taught wherein the kinetic rate of NOx formation is reduced for a given combustion temperature in a gas turbine combustor. A supply of fuel is provided along with a supply of ambient air in sufficient quantity to form a fuel/air mixture having an equivalence ratio greater than about 0.55 when mixed with the fuel. The fuel/air mixture is mixed with a supply of cooled combustion gases in sufficient quantity such that the oxygen content of the resulting air mixture is less than about 18 percent. The resulting air mixture is then passed into the combustor.

Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine is provided wherein a supply of fuel is passed to a gas turbine combustor, and a supply of nitrogen and sufficient air to provide at least sufficient compressed air to the gas turbine for fuel combustion is passed to a compressor. A sufficient portion of the compressor discharge flow is passed to a combustor for fuel rich combustion of the fuel flow to the combustor and the fuel is combusted to produce hot combustion gases that are, in turn, passed to a turbine.

Abstract: A method and system for dissociating methane hydrate deposits in-situ is provided wherein an oxidizer fluid and a supply of fuel, both at a pressure higher than that of the methane hydrate deposit, are supplied and delivered to the methane hydrate deposit. The fuel is combusted downhole by reacting it with the oxidizer fluid to provide combustion products. The combustion products are placed in contact with a diluent fluid to produce a heated product fluid. The heated product fluid is injected into the methane hydrate deposit whereby methane is dissociated from the methane hydrate and made available for extraction. In addition, carbon dioxide may be made available to promote the formation of carbon dioxide hydrates from the liberated methane hydrate water.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel method of recovering oil by injecting oxygen into a chamber within an oil deposit thereby combusting oil at the chamber walls. The heated oil to drains towards the reservoir floor and is recovered oil via a production well.