Carbon-oxide And Hydrogen Containing Patents (Class 252/373)
  • Patent number: 8673181
    Abstract: Systems and methods for starting a gasifier are provided. In the method, a heated start-up medium can be fed to a gasifier operating at a first temperature. Heat can be transferred from the heated start-up medium to the gasifier to increase the temperature of the gasifier from the first temperature to an intermediate temperature sufficient to auto-ignite a start-up fuel. A start-up fuel and an oxidant can be fed to the gasifier after the temperature within the gasifier is increased to the intermediate temperature. At least a portion of the start-up fuel can be combusted within the gasifier to produce a combustion gas. Heat can be transferred from the combustion gas to the gasifier to increase the temperature of the gasifier to an operating temperature, wherein the operating temperature is sufficient to gasify at least a portion of a hydrocarbon feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventors: Ron Gualy, John Abughazaleh
  • Patent number: 8673512
    Abstract: When terminating power generation by a fuel cell 3 in a fuel cell system 1, an amount of a raw fuel material introduced to a reforming catalyst 2a of a reformer 2 is reduced. Here, before the temperature of the reforming catalyst 2a is lowered to the un-reformed gas generation temperature, an amount of water supplied to the reforming catalyst 2a is controlled to increase the temperature of the reforming catalyst 2a. Thus, upon termination of power generation in the fuel cell 3, no un-reformed gas is generated and the reformed gas is supplied to the fuel cell 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Tomotaka Ishida
  • Publication number: 20140069798
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method, device and installation for devolatizing a solid feedstock, comprising carbon-based waste selected from the group consisting of hazardous material, biomass, animal manure, tires, municipal solid waste and refuse derived fuel. The method comprises treating the solid feedstock to a produce a particle size laying between about 1 cm3 and about 100 cm3. The solid feedstock is passed into a jacketed system. The solid feedstock is contacted with a heated gas, comprising hydrogen, inside the jacketed system at a temperature of about 500° C. to about 1000° C. for a time of about 60 seconds to about 120 seconds, whereby the solid feedstock is converted into a gas stream and a solid stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: D4 ENERGY GROUP
    Inventors: David Earle Hayward, Marvin Ronnie Baker
  • Publication number: 20140070143
    Abstract: For producing synthesis gas by autothermal reformation of gaseous, liquid and/or solid fuels, the fuel is reacted with an oxidizing agent in a reaction space at a pressure of 10 to 120 bar and a reaction space temperature of 800 to 2,000° C. to obtain synthesis gas, wherein the oxidizing agent is introduced centrally in the upper region of the reaction space and wherein a flame is formed in the reaction space. The oxidizing agent is introduced into the reaction space separate from the fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Lurgi GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Mueller-Hagedorn, Katja Bartels, Frederic Judas
  • Publication number: 20140070144
    Abstract: Invention presents a method of increasing the CO to H2 ratio of syngas. The method comprises passing syngas over a first rector (10) containing Cu at a first temperature effective for the reaction of CO2 within the syngas with the Cu to form copper oxide and CO. The temperature of the syngas is then reduces to a second temperature effective for the for the reaction of hydrogen within the syngas with copper oxide to form Cu and H2O. The syngas is then passed over a second rector (12) containing copper oxide so that the H2 within the syngas reacts with the copper oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Chinook End-Stage Recycling Limited
    Inventors: Rifat Al Chalabi, Ophneil Henry Perry, Ke Li
  • Publication number: 20140061540
    Abstract: Metal-organic frameworks of the family M2 (2,5-dioxido-1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) wherein M=Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Ni or Zn are a group of porous crystalline materials formed of metal cations or clusters joined by multitopic organic linkers that can be used to isolate individual gases from a stream of combined gases. This group of adsorbant materials incorporates a high density of coordinatively-unsaturated MII centers lining the pore surfaces. These adsorbents are particularly suited for selective carbon dioxide/monoxide adsorption via pressure swing adsorption near temperatures of 313 K since they selectively adsorb carbon dioxide at high pressures in the presence of hydrogen, and desorb carbon dioxide upon a pressure decrease. The redox-active FeII centers in Fe2(dobdc) can be used for the separation of O2 from N2 and other separations based on selective, reversible electron transfer reactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Long, Zoey R. Herm, Joseph A. Swisher, Berend Smit, Rajamani Krishna, Eric Bloch, Leslie Murray
  • Publication number: 20140066527
    Abstract: A process wherein synthesis gas is reacted to produce desired products, such as alcohols, and wherein by-products, such as methane, are reformed to provide hydrogen and carbon monoxide that is recycled to the feed of synthesis gas. The process also may provide for the recycle of unreacted hydrogen and unreacted carbon monoxide to the feed of synthesis gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Melissa Gaucher, Louis Denomme, Gregory Carr
  • Publication number: 20140061539
    Abstract: A system includes a gasifier. The gasifier includes a chamber, a first nozzle, and a second nozzle. The first nozzle is configured to output a first fuel and a first oxidant to create a mixture that combusts in a combustion-reduction zone of the chamber. The second nozzle is configured to output a reduction promoter into the combustion-reduction zone to reduce combustion products in the combustion-reduction zone of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sethuraman Balasubramaniyan, Pravin Sadashiv Naphade, Richard Anthony DePuy, Atul Kumar Vij, Satish Sambhaji Jadhav
  • Patent number: 8663504
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for gasification of carbon-containing materials, and more specifically, to a method for gasification of carbon-containing materials which allows an increase in carbon efficiency and a reduction in carbon dioxide emission, comprising the steps of: gasification of carbon-containing materials to methane; thermal decomposition of CH4 to C and H2; and conversion of CO2 to CO using the carbon produced during the decomposition. The method of the present invention greatly increases carbon efficiency and reduces the generation of carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: SK Innovations Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Hong Kim, Sang Ho Lee, Gyung Rok Kim, Il Yong Jeong, Sun Choi, Seung Hoon Oh, Gyoo Tae Kim, Yong Il Lee
  • Publication number: 20140054503
    Abstract: A method of upgrading coal is disclosed, the method comprising: subjecting the coal to a hydrothermal dewatering process at a temperature and a pressure above ambient conditions to produce dewatered coal; removing ash tailings from the dewatered coal to produced reduced ash dewatered coal; and producing a coal water slurry with the reduced ash dewatered coal. An apparatus for upgrading coal is also disclosed, the apparatus comprising: a hydrothermal dewatering reactor connected to receive coal and output dewatered coal; an ash separator connected to receive dewatered coal from the hydrothermal dewatering reactor and output reduced ash dewatered coal; a slurrifier connected to receive reduced ash dewatered coal from the ash separator and output a coal water slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
    Inventors: Qingxia Liu, Jiantao Zhao, Moshfiqur Rahman, Rajender Gupta, Zhenghe Xu
  • Publication number: 20140054505
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of use thereof for the production of carbon-based and other nanostructures, as well as fuels and reformed products, are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    Inventors: Stephen D. Tse, Nasir K. Memon, Bernard H. Kear
  • Publication number: 20140054506
    Abstract: A method of treating waste liquors which comprise organic compounds, in order to recover chemical compounds or to recycle chemicals. In the present method, the sodium-based waste liquor, which comprises organic compounds that are sourced from lignocellulose, is subjected to partial wet oxidation, in order to produce organic sodium salts, in which case the partial wet oxidation is carried out in conditions where at least part of the lignin is simultaneously precipitated. The precipitated filtrate or lignin is subjected to further processing. Most suitably, the organic sodium salts, such as Na acetate, which are generated in the partial oxidation of the waste liquor, are also subjected to further processing, in which case it is possible, from the lignin and the organic sodium salts, to efficiently produce compounds which as such are already of sufficient quality as chemicals, or which as gases are suitable for further processing, for instance for production of fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: AALTO UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Kristian Melin, Kari Parviainen
  • Publication number: 20140054504
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for rapidly producing a synthetic gas from a bio-diesel byproduct using microwave plasma, in which, while a plasma flame is generated by a plasma generator and waste glycerin, a bio-diesel byproduct, as fuel, is gasified by being supplied to the generated plasma flame of high temperature, the fuel is supplied in various types to increase the contact time or the contact area with the plasma flame and thus promote gasification thereof and the contents of steam and oxygen supplied and the plasma power are controlled to increase the collection amount of combustible gas and thus allow rapid production of the synthetic gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Sang Jun YOON, Jae Goo LEE, Yong Ku KIM
  • Publication number: 20140054507
    Abstract: Processing of wet biomass feedstock by liquid-phase catalytic hydrothermal gasification must address catalyst fouling and poisoning. One solution can involve heating the wet biomass with a heating unit to a pre-treatment temperature sufficient for organic constituents in the feedstock to decompose, for precipitates of inorganic wastes to form, for preheating the wet feedstock in preparation for subsequent removal of soluble sulfate contaminants, or combinations thereof. Processing further includes reacting the soluble sulfate contaminants with cations present in the feedstock material to yield a sulfate-containing precipitate and separating the inorganic precipitates and/or the sulfate-containing precipitates out of the wet feedstock. Having removed much of the inorganic wastes and the sulfate contaminants that can cause poisoning and fouling, the wet biomass feedstock can be exposed to the heterogeneous catalyst for gasification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicants: GENIFUEL CORPORATION, BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Douglas C. Elliott, James R. Oyler
  • Publication number: 20140042368
    Abstract: A reactor for reforming a hydrocarbon, and associated processes and systems, are described herein. In one example, a reactor is provided that is configured to use non-equilibrium gliding arc discharge plasma. In another example, the reactor uses a vortex flow pattern. Two stages of reforming are described. In a first stage, the hydrocarbon absorbs heat from the wall of the reactor and combusts to form carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water. In a second stage, a gliding arc discharge is use to form syngas, which is a mixture of hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide. The heat generated by the combustion of the first stage transfers to the wall of the reactor and heated products of the second stage mix with incoming hydrocarbon to provide for partial recuperation of the reaction energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Drexel University
    Inventors: ALEXANDER GUTSOL, ALEXANDER FRIDMAN, ANATOLY POLEVICH, MICHAEL J. GALLAGHER
  • Publication number: 20140042367
    Abstract: A method of purifying a gas stream formed from a process wherein a glyceride containing raw material is converted to hydrocarbon paraffins. The gas stream contains hydrogen or carbon dioxide as a major component and at least one sulphurous component selected from sulphide compounds as an impurity. The gas is contacted with an acidic aqueous wash solution of transition metal ions capable of binding to sulphide ions. A significant portion of the sulphide compounds contained in the gas are bound into practically insoluble transition metal sulphide compounds to remove sulphide compounds from the gas to produce a purified gas. The obtained purified gas is recovered. The method efficiently lowers sulphide concentrations to ppm or sub-ppm level and it can be implemented on an industrial scale with low investment costs. The metal can be recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Neste Oil Oyj
    Inventors: Juhani Aittamaa, Kari Keskinen, Jukka Keyriläinen
  • Publication number: 20140034878
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for recovering a first gas product (13) consisting essentially of hydrogen and a second gas product (12) containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, wherein a synthesis gas (4) generated by partial oxidation (POX) from a production substance (3) containing a coal and/or heavy oil is transformed by conversion (S) and subsequent drying and the removal of acid gases (A) into a hydrogen-rich gas mixture (6), which in turn is decomposed into a hydrogen fraction (7) of product purity and a residue gas (8) containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide. According to the invention, at least a part (10) of the residue gas (8) containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide is used to recover the second gas product (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Jurgen Glaser
  • Patent number: 8642004
    Abstract: Using the process described in the present invention, a gas is produced that is rich in methane and hydrogen and has a content of olefins below 1% v/v, which fully meets the necessary requirements for raw materials used for large-scale production of hydrogen or synthesis gas, in steam reforming units that already exist in a great many oil refineries and petrochemical units. Starting from ethanol, steam, nickel-based catalysts and the use of appropriate conditions of temperature, and H2O/ethanol and H2/ethanol molar ratios, the invention teaches the production of hydrogen and synthesis gas from biomass, stably for long periods without loss of catalyst performance over time, permitting its industrial application in new units or in existing units. As a solution for the production of ethanol, the present invention claims the replacement of the ZnO-based and hydrofining catalysts of the feed pre-treatment section, with nickel-based catalysts and process conditions in accordance with the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.—Petrobras
    Inventor: Roberto Carlos Pontes Bittencourt
  • Patent number: 8636923
    Abstract: A process for producing synthesis gas, or syngas, from biomass. The process comprises contacting biomass with oxygen, or oxygen and steam, in an amount effective to oxidize the biomass and to heat the biomass to a temperature to no greater than 750° C. At least one combustible material also is contacted with oxygen and steam to heat the at least one combustible material to a temperature of at least 1,100° C., to provide a hot gas derived from the oxidized combustible material. The latter maybe residual products derived from the process itself as char, tar, or hydrocarbons. The oxidized biomass then is contacted with the hot flue gas to heat the biomass to a temperature of at least 900° C., thereby producing synthesis gas. The synthesis gas then is recovered. Such process provides a method of providing heat for producing synthesis gas without consuming a portion of the synthesis gas to provide such heat, thereby providing an increased yield of synthesis gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Enerkem, Inc.
    Inventors: Antonin Paquet, Martin Gagnon, Esteban Chornet
  • Patent number: 8636922
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for recovering high purity gaseous hydrogen and high purity gaseous carbon dioxide from a syngas stream by utilizing a hydrogen selective membrane unit and a primary water gas shift reactor in combination with a cryogenic purification unit, a hydrogen recovery unit and a secondary water gas shift reactor or by utilizing a hydrogen membrane/water gas shift reactor in combination with a cryogenic purification unit, a hydrogen recovery unit and a secondary water gas shift reactor. Each of these embodiments may further include a sulfur recovery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Bhadra S. Grover, Paul Terrien
  • Patent number: 8636827
    Abstract: A method of operating a mixed ionic-electronic conducting ceramic membrane having an oxidizing side and a reducing side, said method comprising a start-up phase and a production phase, for producing a gas stream, characterized in that the start-up phase comprises a step of introducing, on the oxidizing side and the reducing side of the membrane respectively, first and second gas mixtures not capable of chemically degrading the membrane; and a step of establishing a stream of oxygen through the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Nicolas Richet, Cédric Delbos, Gilles Lebain
  • Patent number: 8632697
    Abstract: A method for producing a gas comprising at least 80 vol % carbon monoxide from a Fischer-Tropsch off-gas comprising: (1) feeding Fischer-Tropsch off-gas through a column comprising an adsorbent bed at high pressure and discharging effluent; (2) reducing the pressure in the column and the bed slightly; (3) rinsing the column and the adsorbent bed with methane or carbon dioxide; (4) rinsing the column and the adsorbent bed with carbon dioxide; (5) reducing the pressure of the column and adsorbent bed to a low pressure; (6) rinsing the column and adsorbent bed with a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen; (7) pressurizing the column and adsorbent bed to a high pressure using a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen. The carbon monoxide rich product stream obtained in step (3) can be sent as feed to a Fischer-Tropsch reaction. In an embodiment, a gas comprising at least 80 vol % hydrogen is also produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Justus Theodorus Gerardus Te Braake, Maarten Bracht, Desmond Andrew Bungku, Wouter David Van De Graaf, Xander Linders, Sivakumar Sadasivan Vijayakumari
  • Publication number: 20140014878
    Abstract: A process of decomposing a biomass derivative to produce a gaseous product and then introducing the gaseous product into a steam reformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Uchenna Prince Paul, Joe D. Allison, Kristi A. Fjare, Roland Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20140014879
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the continuous obtention of synthesis gas by the direct gasification of carbon fractions contained in oil sands and/or oil shales in a vertical process chamber (2) having a calcination zone and an oxidation zone (6), in which the calcinated, fractions rich in carbon oxidize with oxygen-containing gas. The gaseous reaction products are withdrawn at the top of the vertical processing chamber (2) that has the shape of a vertical shaft furnace which is continuously flown through from the top to the bottom by a bulk material which itself is not oxidized. Oxygen-containing gas (10) is at least partially introduced beneath the oxidation zone, whereby the rising gas flow is facilitated. The bulk material is at least partially provided by the natural inert rock content in the oil sands and/or the oil shales. Added alkaline substances convert under reductive conditions the gaseous sulfur compounds, which were obtained at temperatures above 400° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: ECOLOOP GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Stumpf, Ulf Boenkendorf, Leonhard Baumann, Roland Moller
  • Publication number: 20140008913
    Abstract: A method is provided for reducing an amount of steam to be introduced from the outside for a shift reaction in a coal gasification system. A coal gasification method for gasifying a fuel containing carbon, includes the steps of gasifying the fuel containing carbon by reacting the fuel with a gas containing oxygen; cooling a gas produced in the step of gasifying the fuel by spraying water into the produced gas; removing solid particles contained in the cooled produced gas; decomposing ammonia contained in the produced gas into N2 and H2 by bringing the produced gas, from which the solid particles have been removed, into contact with an ammonia decomposition catalyst; and converting a part of CO contained in the produced gas into CO2 and H2 by bringing the produced gas into contact with a shift catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Tomoko AKIYAMA, Fumihiko KISO
  • Publication number: 20140008578
    Abstract: Reactive diluent fluid (22) is introduced into a stream of synthesis gas (or “syngas”) produced in a heat-generating unit such as a partial oxidation (“POX”) reactor (12) to cool the syngas and form a mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid. Carbon dioxide and/or carbon components and/or hydrogen in the mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid is reacted (26) with at least a portion of the reactive diluent fluid in the mixture to produce carbon monoxide-enriched and/or solid carbon depleted syngas which is fed into a secondary reformer unit (30) such as an enhanced heat transfer reformer in a heat exchange reformer process. An advantage of the invention is that problems with the mechanical integrity of the secondary unit arising from the high temperature of the syngas from the heat-generating unit are avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: GTLPETROL LLC
    Inventors: Shoou-I Wang, John Michael Repasky, Shankar Nataraj, Xiang-Dong Peng
  • Publication number: 20140008580
    Abstract: This invention relates to gasification of high ash bituminous coals that have high ash fusion temperatures. The ash content can be in 15 to 45 weight percent range and ash fusion temperatures can be in 1150° C. to 1500° C. range as well as in excess of 1500° C. In a preferred embodiment, such coals are dealt with a two stage gasification process—a relatively low temperature primary gasification step in a circulating fluidized bed transport gasifier followed by a high temperature partial oxidation step of residual char carbon and small quantities of tar. The system to process such coals further includes an internally circulating fluidized bed to effectively cool the high temperature syngas with the aid of an inert media and without the syngas contacting the heat transfer surfaces. A cyclone downstream of the syngas cooler, operating at relatively low temperatures, effectively reduces loading to a dust filtration unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Guohai Liu, Pannalal Vimalchand, WanWang Peng
  • Publication number: 20140008579
    Abstract: A process for the production of syngas comprising the steps of: forming a gaseous reactant mixture comprising a hydrocarbon fuel; reforming the reactant mixture in a reforming reactor at a target reforming temperature to produce hydrogen gas, the reactant mixture is heated by a heat transfer fluid that, prior to heating the reactant mixture, passes through a concentrated solar energy receiver. The volumetric ratio of heat transfer fluid between the receiver and the reforming reactor to the heat transfer fluid in the receiver is less than fifty.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: Robbie MCNAUGHTON
  • Patent number: 8623241
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing heat used in a synthesis gas production process is provided. The disclosed method and apparatus include a plurality of tubular oxygen transport membrane elements adapted to separate oxygen from an oxygen containing stream contacting the retentate side of the membrane elements. The permeated oxygen is combusted with a hydrogen containing synthesis gas stream contacting the permeate side of the tubular oxygen transport membrane elements thereby generating a reaction product stream and radiant heat. The present method and apparatus also includes at least one catalytic reactor containing a catalyst to promote the steam reforming reaction wherein the catalytic reactor is surrounded by the plurality of tubular oxygen transport membrane elements. The view factor between the catalytic reactor and the plurality of tubular oxygen transport membrane elements radiating heat to the catalytic reactor is greater than or equal to 0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean M. Kelly, Brian R. Kromer, Michael M. Litwin, Lee J. Rosen, Gervase Maxwell Christie, Jamie R. Wilson, Lawrence W. Kosowski, Charles Robinson
  • Patent number: 8623240
    Abstract: A method for converting carbon monoxide and water into carbon dioxide and hydrogen, with simultaneous removal of one or more products, is described. The method includes the following steps: in a first reactor, carbon monoxide from the gas phase is bound in a first solvent and converted into formate, in a third reactor, formate is decomposed and resultant hydrogen H2 is removed, and in a second reactor a solid which is a hydrogen-carbonate salt or a carbonate salt is removed. The thermal decomposition of the solid and the expulsion of the carbon dioxide are carried out in an additional fourth reactor, optionally in a second solvent. Further presented is an apparatus for converting carbon monoxide and water into carbon dioxide and hydrogen, including a fourth reactor which thermally decomposes solids formed in the course of the reaction, and gives off carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Baldauf, Carsten Graeber, Marc Hanebuth, Gerhard Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20140005283
    Abstract: A synthesis gas and nanocarbon production method has a lower hydrocarbon decomposition step for decomposing lower hydrocarbon to produce hydrogen and nanocarbon, a carbon dioxide reduction step for reacting a part of the nanocarbon produced with carbon dioxide to produce carbon monoxide, and a mixing step for mixing the hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced in a predetermined ratio, thereby nanocarbon and a synthesis gas having a desired gas ratio can be simultaneously produced easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicants: National University Corporation Kitami Institute of Technology, THE JAPAN STEEL WORKS, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Nakamura, Akio Tada
  • Publication number: 20140001408
    Abstract: A method of starting up an autothermal reactor for the production of synthesis gas by reforming of hydrocarbon-containing feed gases in a reaction chamber in which oxidation reactions and reforming reactions are carried out, by feeding a hydrocarbon containing feed gas, steam and an oxidant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP UHDE GMBH
    Inventors: Joachim Johanning, Bernd Keil
  • Publication number: 20140001407
    Abstract: The invention relates to a catalytic high-pressure process for the CO2 reforming of hydrocarbons, preferably methane, in the presence of iridium-comprising active compositions and also a preferred active composition in which Ir is present in finely dispersed form on zirconium dioxide-comprising support material. The predominant proportion of the zirconium dioxide preferably has a cubic and/or tetragonal structure and the zirconium dioxide is more preferably stabilized by means of at least one doping element. In the process of the invention, reforming gas is brought into contact at a pressure of greater than 5 bar, preferably greater than 10 bar and more preferably greater than 20 bar, and a temperature which is in the range from 600 to 1200° C., preferably in the range from 850 to 1100° C. and in particular in the range from 850 to 950° C., and converted into synthesis gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Andrian MILANOV, Ekkehard Schwab, Stephan Schunk, Guido Wasserschaff
  • Patent number: 8617512
    Abstract: The invention provides a water gas shift process comprising a reaction stage. The reaction stage comprises (a) providing a gas mixture comprising CO, H2O and an acid gas component to a reactor containing an adsorbent, and (b) subjecting the gas mixture to water gas shift reaction conditions to perform the water gas shift reaction. The adsorbent comprises an alkali promoted alumina based material. The acid gas component comprises H2S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland
    Inventors: Paul Dean Cobden, Stéphane Walspurger, Rudolf Willem Van Den Brink, Hendricus Adrianus Johannes Van Dijk
  • Patent number: 8617424
    Abstract: The present subject matter describes a gasification system (100) for gasifying a variety of feedstocks. A first stage gasifier (105) receives a feedstock either from a first group of feedstocks or a second group of feedstocks or both. The first stage gasifier decomposes the received feedstock to produce a first product. A second stage gasifier (115) is connected to the first stage gasifier (105) for receiving the first product. In addition, the second stage gasifier (115) receives a feedstock either from a third group of feedstocks or a fourth group of feedstocks or both. The second stage gasifier (115) gasifies the first product and the received feedstock to produce syngas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Indian Oil Corporation Limited
    Inventors: Rajesh Muralidhar Badhe, Garapati Siva Ramakrishna, Alok Sharma, Brijesh Kumar, Santanam Rajagopal, Ravinder Kumar Malhotra
  • Patent number: 8617423
    Abstract: An H2- and CO-containing synthesis gas is made by separating coke-oven gas from a coke-oven process into hydrogen and a residual gas stream containing hydrocarbons and obtaining a CO-rich synthesis-gas stream from a top gas of a blast furnace. The hydrogen separated from the coke-oven gas is fed into the CO-rich synthesis gas stream obtained from the top gas of a blast furnace to make the synthesis gas, and the hydrocarbon-containing residual gas stream is fed into the blast furnace as feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Uhde GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Menzel
  • Publication number: 20130343985
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, a tubular catalyst-containing reactor system is provided. The system includes a housing and a vaporizer unit in the housing comprising a helically wound tubular assembly for receiving and at least partially vaporizing a liquid chemical reactant stream. A reformer unit in the housing receives a vaporized chemical reactant stream from the vaporizer unit. The reformer unit comprises a helically wound tubular assembly connected to and positioned coaxially relative to the helically wound tubular assembly of the vaporizer unit. The helically wound tubular assembly of the reformer unit contains a catalyst for catalyzing formation of gas product stream from the vaporized chemical reactant stream. A burner unit heats the vaporizer unit and the reformer unit. The burner unit receives a fuel stream and an air stream and produces a flame generally inside the helically wound tubular assemblies of the vaporizer unit and the reformer unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: HY9 CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles W. Krueger, George M. Roberts, Edward G. Kelrikh, Michael Y. Leshchiner
  • Publication number: 20130345324
    Abstract: A process and plant for the production of synthesis gas by a series arrangement of heat exchange reforming and autothermal reforming stages, in which the heat required for the reforming reactions in the heat exchange reforming stage is provided by hot effluent synthesis gas from the autothermal reforming stage. The invention optimizes the operation and control of an arrangement of heat exchange reforming and autothermal reforming stages and involves the introduction of an additional waste heat boiler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Bjerg Lari Knudsen, Frahm Martin Jensen
  • Publication number: 20130345326
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for producing a synthesis gas mixture and for producing an organic chemical product. The process can comprise: (i) steam reforming a feed gas stream comprising one or more hydrocarbons to produce a reformed synthesis gas mixture comprising H2, CO and CO2; (ii) cooling reformed synthesis gas mixture obtained in (i) and removing H2O from the reformed gas mixture; (iii) subjecting reformed synthesis gas mixture obtained in (ii) to a reverse water gas shift reaction so as to decrease the H2/CO molar ratio of the reformed synthesis gas mixture; and (iv) removing CO2 from synthesis gas mixture obtained in (iii). A first stream of CO2 is added to the gas mixture in step (i) and a second stream of CO2 is added to the gas mixture in step (iii), and wherein the first and/or second streams comprise recycled CO2 removed in step (iv).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Mubarik Ali Bashir, Ijaz Chaudary
  • Publication number: 20130341569
    Abstract: An integrated plant that includes a steam explosion process unit and biomass gasifier to generate syngas from biomass. A steam explosion process unit applies a combination of heat, pressure, and moisture to the biomass to make the biomass into a moist fine particle form. The steam explosion process unit applies steam with a high pressure to heat and pressurize any gases and fluids present inside the biomass to internally blow apart the bulk structure of the biomass via a rapid depressurization of the biomass with the increased moisture content. Those produced moist fine particles of biomass are subsequently fed to a feed section of the biomass gasifier, which reacts the biomass particles in a rapid biomass gasification reaction to produce syngas components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: SUNDROP FUELS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert S. Ampulski, John T. Turner, Wayne W. Simmons
  • Publication number: 20130336352
    Abstract: A down-fired flame burner includes a flame charger and one or more field electrodes configured to control flame shape and/or heat transfer to a chemical reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: JOSEPH COLANNINO, DAVID B. GOODSON, IGOR A. KRICHTAFOVITCH, CHRISTOPHER A. WIKLOF
  • Publication number: 20130334464
    Abstract: A process for preparing acetylene and synthesis gas by partial oxidation of hydrocarbons with oxygen, is disclosed. The process consists of separately preheating and then mixing a first input stream containing a hydrocarbon and a second input stream containing oxygen, supplying the first input stream and the second input stream via a burner block to a firing space, quenching a cracking gas obtained to produce a process water stream and a product gas stream, cooling the product gas stream in a cooling column by direct heat exchange with cooling water, depleting soot in an electrostatic filter, combining all process water streams and passing through soot channels, subjecting the combined process water stream to a cleaning operation by partial vaporization in a one-stage flash vessel to obtain a cleaned process water stream, and recycling the cleaned process water stream into the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Maximilian VICARI, Christian WEICHERT, Dirk GROSSSCHMIDT, Michael RUSS, Mirko HAIDER, Horst NEUHAUSER, Michael L. HAYES
  • Publication number: 20130334465
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to steam reformers for the production of a hydrogen rich reformate, comprising a shell having a first end, a second end, and a passage extending generally between the first end and the second end of the shell, and at least one heat source disposed about the second end of the shell. The shell comprises at least one conduit member comprising at least one thermally emissive and high radiant emissivity material, at least partially disposed within the shell cavity. The shell further comprises at least one reactor module at least a portion of which is disposed within the shell cavity and about the at least one conduit member and comprises at least one reforming catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Jian L. Zhao, Changsik Kim, Yanlong Shi
  • Publication number: 20130334466
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of emission control equipment for boilers, heaters, kilns, or other flue gas-, or combustion gas-, generating devices (e.g., those located at power plants, processing plants, etc.) and, in particular to a new and useful method and apparatus for: (i) reducing halogen levels necessary to affect gas-phase mercury control; (ii) reducing or preventing the poisoning and/or contamination of an SCR catalyst; and/or (iii) controlling various emissions. In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for: (A) simultaneously reducing halogen levels necessary to affect gas-phase mercury control while achieving a reduction in the emission of mercury; and/or (B) reducing the amount of selenium contained in and/or emitted by one or more pieces of emission control equipment for boilers, heaters, kilns, or other flue gas-, or combustion gas-, generating devices (e.g., those located at power plants, processing plants, etc.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Mandar R. GADGIL, Bryan J. JANKURA
  • Patent number: 8608982
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing a synthetic gas are provided. A feedstock can be gasified within a gasifier to produce a raw syngas. The raw syngas can be processed within a processing device to produce a processed syngas. The processed syngas can be separated into a vapor phase, an organic phase, and an aqueous phase within a separator. The organic phase can be introduced to the gasifier. The aqueous phase can be introduced to a stripper to provide steam and a condensate, and the steam can then be introduced to the gasifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventors: John Abughazaleh, Siva Ariyapadi, David P. Mann
  • Patent number: 8608981
    Abstract: Processing of wet biomass feedstock by liquid-phase catalytic hydrothermal gasification must address catalyst fouling and poisoning. One solution can involve heating the wet biomass with a heating unit to a pre-treatment temperature sufficient for organic constituents in the feedstock to decompose, for precipitates of inorganic wastes to form, for preheating the wet feedstock in preparation for subsequent removal of soluble sulfate contaminants, or combinations thereof. Processing further includes reacting the soluble sulfate contaminants with cations present in the feedstock material to yield a sulfate-containing precipitate and separating the inorganic precipitates and/or the sulfate-containing precipitates out of the wet feedstock. Having removed much of the inorganic wastes and the sulfate contaminants that can cause poisoning and fouling, the wet biomass feedstock can be exposed to the heterogeneous catalyst for gasification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: Battelle Memorial Institute, Genifuel Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas C. Elliott, James Oyler
  • Publication number: 20130331469
    Abstract: A system and method for producing Syngas from the CO2 in a gaseous stream, such as an exhaust stream, from a power plant or industrial plant, like a cement kiln, is disclosed. A preferred embodiment includes providing the gaseous stream to pyrolysis reactor along with a carbon source such as coke. The CO2 and carbon are heated to about 1330° C. and at about one atmosphere with reactants such as steam such that a reaction takes place that produces Syngas, carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2). The Syngas is then cleaned and provided to a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor to produce Ethanol or Bio-catalytic synthesis reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: GYCO, INC.
    Inventor: Gary C. Young
  • Publication number: 20130327990
    Abstract: A syngas treatment plant has a decarbonization section and a desulfurization section that use the same solvent to remove various acid gases. Contemplated methods and plants are highly effective in removal of CO2, recycle sulfurous contaminants to extinction. Minimal loss of H2 while maximizing H2S concentration in a Claus plant feed during regeneration of the solvent is achieved by stripping the solvent with both treated syngas and a flash vapor of the desulfurization section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Patent number: 8603430
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing a methane rich producer gas are provided in which the producer gas is preferably produced via steam-hydrogasification. The product stream from the steam-hydrogasification is then subjected to autothermal reforming, steam is removed after the reforming step via condensation, and sulfur impurities are subsequently eliminated. In most preferred aspects, the process pressure is substantially maintained throughout all steps, typically in a range of 150 psi to 500 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Joseph M. Norbeck, Chan Seung Park, Arun Sk Raju, Kiseok Kim
  • Publication number: 20130320267
    Abstract: A method for deep desulfurization of synthesis gas comprising introducing carbonaceous material and optionally steam into a gasifier comprising a heat transfer media, extracting a first heat transfer stream comprising heat transfer media and optionally unconverted carbonaceous material from the gasifier, and introducing at least a portion of the first heat transfer stream into a combustor, introducing oxidant and optionally a fuel into the combustor, extracting a second heat transfer stream comprising heat transfer media from the combustor, and introducing at least a portion of the second heat transfer stream into the gasifier, introducing a compound capable of reacting with sulfur to produce sulfate, sulfide or both, extracting a purge stream comprising ash, sulfate, halide, or a combination thereof from the second heat transfer stream, extracting a flue gas from the combustor, and extracting a gasifier product synthesis gas stream comprising less than 1000 ppm sulfur from the gasifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: RENTECH, INC.
    Inventors: George APANEL, Harold A. WRIGHT