Patents by Inventor Wolfram Schalk

Wolfram Schalk 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: 10294105
    Abstract: The above mentioned invention describes a process for cooling a gas mixture of SO2 and/or SO3 and water, wherein the gas mixture is cooled by means of a first heat exchanger carrying a coolant. The temperature of the coolant lies above the dew point of the gas or gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Hannes Storch, Ralf Neumann, Wolfram Schalk
  • Patent number: 10150671
    Abstract: The invention describes a process for producing sulfuric acid by catalytic oxidation of SO2 to SO3 and subsequent absorption of the SO3 in sulfuric acid, wherein the SO3 is introduced into a first absorption stage (primary absorber) and at least partly absorbed there in concentrated sulfuric acid, wherein the SO3 not absorbed in the first absorption stage is supplied to a second absorption stage (secondary absorber) for the further absorption in concentrated sulfuric acid, and wherein the sulfuric acid is cooled after passing through the two absorption stages. The cooling of the sulfuric acid is effected in at least two heat exchangers connected in parallel, wherein one of the at least two heat exchangers is operated as partial evaporator and is cooled with boiler feed water/steam and the other one is cooled with cooling water and operated as pure acid cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Peter Ernst, Hannes Storch, Wolfram Schalk
  • Publication number: 20180201507
    Abstract: The above mentioned invention describes a process for cooling a gas mixture of SO2 and/or SO3 and water, wherein the gas mixture is cooled by means of a first heat exchanger carrying a coolant. The temperature of the coolant lies above the dew point of the gas or gas mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz DAUM, Hannes STORCH, Ralf NEUMANN, Wolfram SCHALK
  • Patent number: 9849419
    Abstract: A process for the production of liquid acid, comprising the steps of: feeding liquid acid with a first concentration into a gas purification; passing a gas through the gas purification such that a second concentration of the liquid acid is reached; withdrawing the liquid acid from the sump of the gas purification, where in the gas purification sump is divided by a partition wall into a first and a second section. The concentration of the liquid acid collected in the first section is adjusted to the first concentration. The liquid acid with the first concentration from the first section is at least partially fed back into step and the liquid acid with the second concentration collected in the second section is at least partially withdrawn as product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Hannes Storch, Wolfram Schalk
  • Publication number: 20170349437
    Abstract: The invention describes a process for producing sulfuric acid by catalytic oxidation of SO2 to SO3 and subsequent absorption of the SO3 in sulfuric acid, wherein the SO3 is introduced into a first absorption stage (primary absorber) and at least partly absorbed there in concentrated sulfuric acid, wherein the SO3 not absorbed in the first absorption stage is supplied to a second absorption stage (secondary absorber) for the further absorption in concentrated sulfuric acid, and wherein the sulfuric acid is cooled after passing through the two absorption stages. The cooling of the sulfuric acid is effected in at least two heat exchangers connected in parallel, wherein one of the at least two heat exchangers is operated as partial evaporator and is cooled with boiler feed water/steam and the other one is cooled with cooling water and operated as pure acid cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Peter Ernst, Hannes Storch, Wolfram Schalk
  • Publication number: 20170182457
    Abstract: A process for the production of liquid acid, comprising the steps of: feeding liquid acid with a first concentration into a gas purification; passing a gas through the gas purification such that a second concentration of the liquid acid is reached; withdrawing the liquid acid from the sump of the gas purification, where in the gas purification sump is divided by a partition wall into a first and a second section. The concentration of the liquid acid collected in the first section is adjusted to the first concentration. The liquid acid with the first concentration from the first section is at least partially fed back into step and the liquid acid with the second concentration collected in the second section is at least partially withdrawn as product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz DAUM, Hannes STORCH, Wolfram SCHALK
  • Patent number: 9551537
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for use in a contact group of a sulfuric acid plant includes a chamber in which a tube bundle is arranged on a circular ring. A gas space is formed between the tube bundle and a chamber casing surrounding the tube bundle. A gas supply opening is provided in the chamber casing and is configured to introduce a gas into the gas space substantially radially to the tube bundle. A gas outlet opening adjoins an interior space enclosed by the tube bundle in a substantially axial direction. A center of the tube bundle is offset with respect to a center of the chamber casing in a direction opposite to the gas supply opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Hannes Storch, Wolfram Schalk
  • Patent number: 9227845
    Abstract: A packed tower for the absorption of water or SO3 in sulfuric acid includes a jacket and a domed grid disposed within the jacket. The domed grid is held on an L-shaped ring such that a gap is formed between an outside diameter of the domed grid and the jacket. A bed of packings is held on the domed grid through which the sulfuric acid charged from above trickles. A gas supply tube is disposed in a lower region of the tower. A gas outlet is disposed above the bed. An acid outlet is disposed in the lower region of the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Wolfram Schalk
  • Patent number: 8906133
    Abstract: A process for cooling an acid that is withdrawn from an absorption apparatus of a sulfuric acid plant includes pumping the acid to be cooled from an acid pump tank and supplying the acid to a shell space of a heat exchanger. Water is supplied as a heat transport medium to heat transfer elements disposed in the shell space so as to at least partially convert, by heat transfer from the acid, the water to steam. The acid which was cooled in the heat exchanger is supplied back to the absorption apparatus. The water is separated from the steam in a steam drum. The separated water is recirculated to the heat exchanger using a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Wolfram Schalk
  • Publication number: 20140239520
    Abstract: A packed tower for the absorption of water or SO3 in sulfuric acid includes a jacket and a domed grid disposed within the jacket. The domed grid is held on an L-shaped ring such that a gap is formed between an outside diameter of the domed grid and the jacket. A bed of packings is held on the domed grid through which the sulfuric acid charged from above trickles. A gas supply tube is disposed in a lower region of the tower. A gas outlet is disposed above the bed. An acid outlet is disposed in the lower region of the tower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Wolfram Schalk
  • Publication number: 20140182816
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for use in a contact group of a sulfuric acid plant includes a chamber in which a tube bundle is arranged on a circular ring. A gas space is formed between the tube bundle and a chamber casing surrounding the tube bundle. A gas supply opening is provided in the chamber casing and is configured to introduce a gas into the gas space substantially radially to the tube bundle. A gas outlet opening adjoins an interior space enclosed by the tube bundle in a substantially axial direction. A center of the tube bundle is offset with respect to a center of the chamber casing in a direction opposite to the gas supply opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Hannes Storch, Wolfram Schalk
  • Patent number: 8668488
    Abstract: A process for the combustion of a liquid in a combustion chamber includes atomizing liquid sulfur using a rotary atomizer and introducing the liquid sulfur into the combustion chamber. The liquid sulfur is charged onto an inside of a cup. The cup is rotated so as to form a liquid film on the inside of the cup and so that parts of the liquid film are radially flung off from an edge of the cup edge into the combustion chamber. The rotational speed of the cup is varied so as to control a thickness of the liquid film in the cup to between 200 and 1000 ?m. The liquid sulfur is evaporated and subsequently burnt in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignees: Outotec Oyj, Saacke GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Wolfram Schalk, Jean Claude Hein, Thomas Schueller, Ludwig Emich, Bernhard Rieger, Dieter Sterner, Johann-Peter Arning
  • Patent number: 8658121
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a concentration of an acid or lye includes charging a medium for adjusting the concentration of the acid or lye into a supply conduit of the acid or lye so as to provide a combined stream. The combined stream is supplied through an inlet to a mixing chamber such that the combined stream is deflected upon entering the mixing chamber. The combined stream is mixed in the mixing chamber. The combined stream is discharged through an outlet of the mixing chamber such that the combined stream is again deflected upon being discharged from the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Henry Eisermann, Wolfram Schalk
  • Publication number: 20140004034
    Abstract: A process for the combustion of a liquid in a combustion chamber includes atomizing liquid sulfur using a rotary atomizer and introducing the liquid sulfur into the combustion chamber. The liquid sulfur is charged onto an inside of a cup. The cup is rotated so as to form a liquid film on the inside of the cup and so that parts of the liquid film arc radially flung off from an edge of the cup edge into the combustion chamber. The rotational speed of the cup is varied so as to control a thickness of the liquid film in the cup to between 200 and 1000 ?m. The liquid sulfur is evaporated and subsequently burnt in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicants: SAACKE GMBH, OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Wolfram Schalk, Jean Claude Hein, Thomas Schueller, Ludwig Emich, Bernhard Rieger, Dieter Sterner, Johann-Peter Arning
  • Patent number: 8603409
    Abstract: A vessel for producing SO3 from SO2-containing gas includes a plate-like element and a bracket disposed on a wall of the vessel. The bracket is configured to support the plate-like element by a supporting surface. The supporting surface is an upper supporting surface curved downward away from the plate-like element in an unloaded state of the vessel or a lower supporting surface curved upward away from the plate-like element in the unloaded state of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, David Cachero Ventosa, Wolfram Schalk
  • Patent number: 8348246
    Abstract: A system for distributing a fluid via a packing disposed in a container, the packing configured to have the fluid trickle from a top to a bottom thereof, includes at least one distributor member including a pressure conduit having at least one nozzle configured to discharge the fluid therethrough and a distributor channel adjoining the distributor member. A width of the distributor channel does not substantially exceed a diameter of the distributor member. The distributor channel defines at least one outlet slot disposed at a lower end of the distributor channel. The at least one outlet slot has a specified width and is configured to discharge the fluid from the distributor channel to the packing via a guide member. The distributor channel is configured to receive the fluid discharged from the at least one nozzle so as to provide a specified level of the fluid in the distributor channel. The distributor channel forms a ventable chamber above the specified fluid level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Wolf-Christoph Rauser, Wolfram Schalk
  • Publication number: 20130000869
    Abstract: A process for cooling an acid that is withdrawn from an absorption apparatus of a sulfuric acid plant includes pumping the acid to be cooled from an acid pump tank and supplying the acid to a shell space of a heat exchanger. Water is supplied as a heat transport medium to heat transfer elements disposed in the shell space so as to at least partially convert, by heat transfer from the acid, the water to steam. The acid which was cooled in the heat exchanger is supplied back to the absorption apparatus. The water is separated from the steam in a steam drum. The separated water is recirculated to the heat exchanger using a pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Wolfram Schalk
  • Publication number: 20120308473
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a concentration of an acid or lye includes charging a medium for adjusting the concentration of the acid or lye into a supply conduit of the acid or lye so as to provide a combined stream. The combined stream is supplied through an inlet to a mixing chamber such that the combined stream is deflected upon entering the mixing chamber. The combined stream is mixed in the mixing chamber. The combined stream is discharged through an outlet of the mixing chamber such that the combined stream is again deflected upon being discharged from the mixing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Henry Eisermann, Wolfram Schalk
  • Patent number: 8043597
    Abstract: A process for a combustion of sulfur with an oxygen-containing gas to produce sulfur dioxide. The process includes introducing the sulfur and the oxygen-containing gas to a furnace. The sulfur is evaporated and subsequently a portion of the sulfur is oxidized to sulfur dioxide under sub-stoichiometric conditions in a first portion of the furnace. The sulfur dioxide formed in the first furnace portion is introduced together with any unoxidized sulfur to a second portion of the furnace which is disposed adjacent to the first furnace portion. The sulfur dioxide and unoxidized sulfur are subjected to post-combustion with the oxygen-containing gas in an inlet of a downstream waste heat boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Wolf-Christoph Rauser, Wolfram Schalk
  • Publication number: 20100236636
    Abstract: A system for distributing a fluid via a packing disposed in a container, the packing configured to have the fluid trickle from a top to a bottom thereof, includes at least one distributor member including a pressure conduit having at least one nozzle configured to discharge the fluid therethrough and a distributor channel adjoining the distributor member. A width of the distributor channel does not substantially exceed a diameter of the distributor member. The distributor channel defines at least one outlet slot disposed at a lower end of the distributor channel. The at least one outlet slot has a specified width and is configured to discharge the fluid from the distributor channel to the packing via a guide member. The distributor channel is configured to receive the fluid discharged from the at least one nozzle so as to provide a specified level of the fluid in the distributor channel. The distributor channel forms a ventable chamber above the specified fluid level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Daum, Wolf-Christoph Rauser, Wolfram Schalk