Hydrogen From Hydrocarbons Patents (Class 252/376)
-
Patent number: 11999620Abstract: Methods of using sorbents to enhance the production of hydrogen from fuel, and related systems, are generally described. In some embodiments, the production of hydrogen from the fuel involves a reforming reaction and/or a gasification reaction combined with a water-gas shift reaction.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2020Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Trevor Alan Hatton, Takuya Harada, Cameron G. Halliday
-
Patent number: 11932951Abstract: In a method for generating ammonia synthesis gas by electrolysis, comprising feeding a mixture of steam and compressed air into the first of a series of electrolysis units and passing the outlet from one electrolysis unit to the inlet of the next electrolysis unit together with air, the electrolysis units are run in endothermal mode and the nitrogen part of the synthesis gas is provided by burning the hydrogen produced by steam electrolysis by air in or between the electrolysis units. The electrolysis units are preferably solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) stacks.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2018Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: HALDOR TOPSØE A/SInventor: John Bøgild Hansen
-
Patent number: 11851394Abstract: A process for synthesising methanol comprising the steps of (i) forming a synthesis gas containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from a hydrocarbon feedstock in a reforming unit; (ii) cooling the synthesis gas in one or more stages of heat exchange, and recovering process condensate from the cooled synthesis gas; (iii) passing a feed gas comprising the make-up gas to a methanol synthesis loop comprising one or more methanol synthesis reactors; (iv) recovering a product gas mixture containing methanol from the methanol synthesis loop, cooling the product gas mixture to below the dew point to condense crude methanol, and separating the crude methanol from an unreacted gas mixture; and (v) recycling a portion of the unreacted gas mixture to the methanol synthesis loop and recovering a portion of the unreacted gas mixture as a purge gas stream.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2020Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Johnson Matthey Davy Technologies LimitedInventor: Simon Robert Early
-
Patent number: 11814287Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a hydrogen-enriched product and recovering CO2 from an effluent stream from a hydrogen production process unit are described. The process utilizes a CO2 recovery system integrated with a PSA system that produces at least two product streams to recover additional hydrogen and CO2 from the tail gas stream of a hydrogen PSA unit in the hydrogen production process.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Addison Cruz, Bradley Russell, Erick J. Bennett, III, Kurt Kraus, Stefano Bietto, William Cady, Kyle Cuellar, Oluwaseyi Kayode
-
Patent number: 11807532Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a hydrogen-enriched product and recovering CO2 from an effluent stream from a hydrogen production unit are described. The effluent from the hydrogen production unit, which comprises a mixture of gases comprising hydrogen, carbon dioxide, water, and at least one of methane, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and argon, is sent to a PSA system that produces at least two product streams for separation. The PSA system that produces at least two product streams separates the gas mixture into a high-pressure hydrogen stream enriched in hydrogen, optionally a second gas stream containing the majority of the impurities, and a low-pressure tail gas stream enriched in CO2 and some impurities. The CO2-rich tail gas stream is compressed and sent to a CO2 recovery unit, where a CO2-enriched stream is recovered. The CO2-depleted overhead gas stream is recycled to the PSA system that produces at least two product streams.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Addison Cruz, Bradley Russell, Erick J. Bennett, III, William Cady, Kurt Kraus, Stefano Bietto, Kyle Cuellar, Oluwaseyi Kayode
-
Patent number: 11565937Abstract: Process including the production of a hydrogen-containing synthesis gas by conversion of a hydrocarbon feedstock, wherein said process has a heat input provided by combustion of a plurality of process fuel streams and said plurality of process fuel streams comprises at least one fuel stream of ammonia. Combustion of said at least one fuel stream of ammonia is performed non-catalytically in at least one fired equipment.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2018Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: CASALE SAInventors: Raffaele Ostuni, Ermanno Filippi
-
Patent number: 11365120Abstract: Modified red mud catalyst compositions, methods for production, and methods of use in steam reforming, the composition comprising: red mud material produced from an alumina extraction process from bauxite ore; and nickel oxide, the nickel oxide present at between about 5 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of the modified red mud catalyst composition.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2020Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Bandar A. Fadhel, Bandar H. Alsolami, Rami Bamagain, Mohammed A. Albuali
-
Patent number: 11213794Abstract: The invention relates to a chemical reactor and reformer tubes for reforming a first feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon gas and steam. The chemical reactor comprises a shell with a heat source and one or more reformer tubes. The reformer tube is arranged to house catalyst material and is arranged to being heated by the heat source. The reformer tube comprises a first inlet for feeding said first feed stream into a first reforming reaction zone of the reformer tube, and a feed conduct arranged to allow a second feed stream into a second reforming reaction zone of the reformer tube. The second reforming reaction zone is positioned downstream of the first reforming reaction zone. The feed conduct is configured so that the second feed stream is only in contact with catalyst material in the second reforming reaction zone. The invention also relates to a process of producing CO rich synthesis gas at low S/C conditions.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2017Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: HALDOR TOPSØE A/SInventors: Peter Mølgaard Mortensen, Martin Østberg, Per Juul Dahl
-
Patent number: 11040877Abstract: Process for making a hydrogen-containing synthesis gas (105) from a hydrocarbon feedstock (101), comprising the reforming of said hydrocarbon feedstock and purification of raw synthesis gas, said purification comprising shift conversion of carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and subsequent absorption of carbon dioxide into an absorbing medium (7a, 14), resulting in a stream of a CO2-rich medium (5), and regeneration of said medium with recovery of CO2 absorbed therein, wherein said raw synthesis gas (102) is produced by the reforming step at a pressure of at least 45 bar, said regeneration of the CO2-loaded medium includes a step of chemical regeneration and the CO2-loaded medium has a temperature of at least 150° C. during said chemical regeneration.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2016Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: Casale SAInventors: Raffaele Ostuni, Giada Franceschin
-
Patent number: 10906808Abstract: Processes for converting methane and/or other hydrocarbons to synthesis gas (i.e., a gaseous mixture comprising H2 and CO) are disclosed, in which at least a portion of the hydrocarbon(s) is reacted with CO2. At least a second portion of the methane may be reacted with H2O (steam), thereby improving overall thermodynamics of the process, in terms of reducing endothermicity (?H) and the required energy input, compared to “pure” dry reforming in which no H2O is present. Catalysts for such processes advantageously possess high activity and thereby can achieve significant levels of methane conversion at temperatures below those used conventionally under comparable conditions. These catalysts also exhibit high sulfur tolerance, in addition to reduced rates of carbon (coke) formation, even in the processing (reforming) of heavier (e.g., naphtha boiling-range or jet fuel boiling-range) hydrocarbons. The robustness of the catalyst translates to high operating stability.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2017Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Terry Marker, Martin Linck, Jim Wangerow, Pedro Ortiz-Toral
-
Patent number: 10167194Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique reducing gas generator. Another embodiment is a unique method for generating a reducing gas. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for generating reducing gas. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2015Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: LG FUEL CELL SYSTEMS INC.Inventor: Mark Vincent Scotto
-
Patent number: 10071337Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for combined cycle power generation while reducing or mitigating emissions during power generation. Recycled exhaust gas from a power generation combustion reaction can be separated using a staged complementary swing adsorption process so as to generate a high purity CO2 stream while reducing/minimizing the energy required for the separation and without having to reduce the temperature of the exhaust gas. This can allow for improved energy recovery while also generating high purity streams of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2016Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Narasimhan Sundaram, Hans Thomann, Edward W. Corcoran, Jr.
-
Patent number: 9776862Abstract: Provided is a hydrogen production apparatus enabling reduction of energy needed for separation and collection of CO2 in the hydrogen production. The hydrogen production apparatus includes a reformer, a heating device heating the reformer, a transformer, a hydrogen separation device separating and taking out hydrogen from transformed gas, a CO2 separation device separating and taking out CO2 from off-gas from which hydrogen was separated by the hydrogen separation device, a heat collecting device collecting heat of the reformed gas, heat of the transformed gas, and waste heat from the heating device, and a heat medium supply device supplying the heat medium having absorbed heat collected by the heat collecting device to the CO2 separation device. The absorption liquid having absorbed CO2 in off-gas is heated by the heat medium heated with collected heat, thereby releasing CO2.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2016Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.Inventors: Akitoshi Fujisawa, Akira Matsuoka, Hiroo Hangai, Koji Noishiki
-
Patent number: 9187323Abstract: Process for increasing the hydrogen content of a synthesis gas containing one or more sulphur compounds, the synthesis gas including hydrogen, carbon oxides and steam, and having a ratio defined as R=(H2?CO2)/(CO+CO2)?0.6 and a steam to carbon monoxide ratio ?1.8, including the steps of (i) heating the synthesis gas; (iii) subjecting at least a portion of the heated synthesis gas to a first stage of water-gas shift in a first shift vessel containing a first sulphur-tolerant water-gas shift catalyst that is cooled in heat exchange with boiling water, to form a pre-shifted gas stream; and (iii) forming a shifted gas stream by subjecting at least a portion of the pre-shifted gas stream to a second stage of water-gas shift in a second shift vessel containing a second sulphur-tolerant water-gas shift catalyst that is cooled in heat exchange with a gas stream including the synthesis gas.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2012Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: JOHNSON MATTHEY PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANYInventors: Peter Edward James Abbott, Richard James Beavis, Philip Charles Southerden
-
Patent number: 9040011Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for producing ammonia synthesis gas from the reforming of hydrocarbons with steam in a primary reformer (1) equipped with a plurality of externally heated catalytic tubes and then in a secondary reformer (2) together with an oxidant gas. In this process, the reaction of said hydrocarbons with said steam in said primary reformer (1) is performed at an operating pressure of at least 45 bar in the catalytic tubes and a flow of essentially pure oxygen or oxygen-enriched air is added to said secondary reformer as oxidant gas for substantially reforming together with said all the hydrocarbons content of said product gas exiting the primary reformer (1). In the case essentially pure oxygen is used as oxidant gas, a flow of nitrogen is added downstream the secondary reformer (2) to reach a N2/H2 molar ratio corresponding to or close to the stoichiometric ratio for ammonia synthesis.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2008Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Casale SAInventors: Ermanno Filippi, Marco Badano, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
-
Publication number: 20150086465Abstract: A process for producing ammonia synthesis gas from the reforming of hydrocarbons with steam in a primary reformer (1) equipped with a plurality of externally heated catalytic tubes and then together with air in a secondary reformer (2) is characterized in that the reaction of said hydrocarbons with said steam in said primary reformer (1) is performed at an operating pressure of more than 35 bar in the catalytic tubes, in that air is added to said secondary reformer in excess over the nitrogen amount required for ammonia synthesis and in that the excess of nitrogen is removed downstream the secondary reformer preferably by cryogenic separation or by molecular sieves of the TAS or PSA type. This process allows to obtain high synthesis gas production capacities and lower investment and energy costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Applicant: Casale SAInventors: Ermanno FILIPPI, Marco BADANO, Geoffrey Frederick SKINNER
-
Publication number: 20150014596Abstract: A process for producing ammonia synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon source, comprising: conversion of the hydrocarbon source into a raw synthesis gas (14) in ATR or POX reactor (11) which is fired with oxygen (12) or oxygen-enriched air (28); a water-gas shift treatment of the raw synthesis gas (14), which consist of a medium-temperature shift (15) at a temperature of 200-300° C., thus obtaining a shifted synthesis gas (16); purification of said shifted synthesis gas (16) including at least a step of pressure-swing adsorption (17) to remove residual carbon oxides and methane from the synthesis gas, obtaining a purified synthesis gas (18), and optionally, addition of nitrogen (19) to said purified synthesis gas (18), thus obtaining ammonia synthesis gas with a desired hydrogen to nitrogen ratio.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2013Publication date: January 15, 2015Applicant: Casale SAInventors: Ermanno Filippi, Raffaele Ostuni
-
Patent number: 8900334Abstract: The goal of the invention consists in making available a method for supplying fuel to a pressurized gasification system, which ensures, in economically efficient manner, that the emission of pollutants from the coal transfer and the transport is minimized or completely avoided. This is achieved in that a gas that contains at least 10 ppm vol. CO is used for transfer and/or conveying, whereby a gas that contains oxygen is mixed into this gas, and that this gas mixture is heated to a temperature that oxidizes at least 10% of the pollutants contained in the gas.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: ThyssenKrupp UHDE GmbHInventors: Johannes Kowoll, Stefan Hamel, Michael Rieger
-
Publication number: 20130330917Abstract: A system (10) for delivery of dilute fluid, utilizing an active fluid source (12), a diluent fluid source (14), a fluid flow metering device (24) for dispensing of one of the active and diluent fluids, a mixer (28) arranged to mix the active and diluent fluids to form a diluted active fluid mixture, and a monitor (42) arranged to sense concentration of active fluid and/or diluent fluid in the diluted active fluid mixture, and responsively adjust the fluid flow metering device (24) to achieve a predetermined concentration of active fluid in the diluted active fluid mixture. A pressure controller (38) is arranged to control flow of the other of the active and diluent fluids so as to maintain a predetermined pressure of the diluted active fluid mixture dispensed from the system. The fluid dispensed from the system then can be adjustably controlled by a flow rate controller, e.g., a mass flow controller, to provide a desired flow to a fluid-utilizing unit, such as a semiconductor process tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2013Publication date: December 12, 2013Applicant: Advanced Technology Materials, IncInventors: Jeffrey J. Homan, Jose I. Arno, Joseph D. Sweeney
-
Patent number: 8591770Abstract: A process for producing a synthesis gas containing hydrogen and nitrogen, suitable for production of ammonia, wherein a raw synthesis gas (13) obtained by reforming of a natural gas feedstock is purified in a cryogenic separator (CS), and a portion of purified gas (16) is expanded and used as a cooling medium in the same separator, said expanded portion (16) being then re-introduced in the main stream of purified synthesis gas. A suitable apparatus and revamping of conventional plants according to the invention are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2009Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Ammonia Casale SAInventors: Ermanno Filippi, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
-
Patent number: 8480768Abstract: A gasifier 10 includes a first chemical process loop 12 having an exothermic oxidizer reactor 14 and an endothermic reducer reactor 16. CaS is oxidized in air in the oxidizer reactor 14 to form hot CaSO4 which is discharged to the reducer reactor 16. Hot CaSO4 and carbonaceous fuel received in the reducer reactor 16 undergo an endothermic reaction utilizing the heat content of the CaSO4, the carbonaceous fuel stripping the oxygen from the CaSO4 to form CaS and a CO rich syngas. The CaS is discharged to the oxidizer reactor 14 and the syngas is discharged to a second chemical process loop 52. The second chemical process loop 52 has a water-gas shift reactor 54 and a calciner 42. The CO of the syngas reacts with gaseous H2O in the shift reactor 54 to produce H2 and CO2. The CO2 is captured by CaO to form hot CaCO3 in an exothermic reaction.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2011Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Herbert E. Andrus, Jr., Michael S. McCartney
-
Patent number: 8394154Abstract: A process for preparation of synthesis gas and/or hydrogen by counter-currently providing an oxidation reactant stream through an oxidation chamber and a reforming reactant stream through a steam reforming chamber is described. Also provided is a reactor for conducting the reaction.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2007Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventors: Lixin You, Curtis Krause, Kevin Nguyen, Amanda Vincent
-
Publication number: 20120308466Abstract: A process for producing ammonia synthesis gas from the reforming of hydrocarbons with steam in a primary reformer (1) equipped with a plurality of externally heated catalytic tubes and then together with air in a secondary reformer (2) is characterized in that the reaction of said hydrocarbons with said steam in said primary reformer (1) is performed at an operating pressure of more than 35 bar in the catalytic tubes, in that air is added to said secondary reformer in excess over the nitrogen amount required for ammonia synthesis and in that the excess of nitrogen is removed downstream the secondary reformer preferably by cryogenic separation or by molecular sieves of the TAS or PSA type. This process allows to obtain high synthesis gas production capacities and lower investment and energy costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2012Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: Ammonia Casale S.A.Inventors: Ermanno Filippi, Marco Badano, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
-
Patent number: 8110012Abstract: In a retrofit system for hot solids combustion and gasification, a chemical looping system includes an endothermic reducer reactor 12 having at least one materials inlet 22 for introducing carbonaceous fuel and CaCO3 therein and a CaS/gas outlet 26. A first CaS inlet 40 and a first CaSO4 inlet 64 are also defined by the reducer reactor 12. An oxidizer reactor 14 is provided and includes an air inlet 68, a CaSO4/gas outlet 46, a second CaS inlet 44, and a second CaSO4 inlet 66. A first separator 30 is in fluid communication with the CaS/gas outlet 26 and includes a product gas and a CaS/gas outlet 32 and 34 from which CaS is introduced into said first and second CaS inlets. A second separator 50 is in fluid communication with the CaSO4/gas outlet 46 and has an outlet 52 for discharging gas therefrom, and a CaSO4 outlet from which CaSO4 is introduced into the first and second CaSO4 inlets 62, 66.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2009Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: John H. Chiu, Herbert E. Andrus, Gregory N. Liljedahl, Paul R. Thibeault
-
Publication number: 20110297886Abstract: A process and a plant for producing a makeup synthesis gas (6) for the synthesis of ammonia where a hydrocarbon feedstock is reformed in a primary reformer (10) and in an autothermal reformer (14) in parallel with said primary reformer; nitrogen is furnished by an air separation unit (13), and O2-enhched air (8) produced in said air separation unit is fed to the autothermal reformer. A method for the revamping of the front-end of an ammonia plant is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2009Publication date: December 8, 2011Applicant: AMMONIA CASALE S.A.Inventor: Sergio Panza
-
Patent number: 8057560Abstract: A fuel processor having a movable burner, a method of operating the fuel processor, and a fuel cell system having the fuel processor. The fuel processor includes a combustion chamber, a reformer burner, a portion of which is partially disposed inside the combustion chamber, a reformer which is heated by heat transfer from the combustion chamber, and a burner-moving apparatus that moves the reformer burner with respect to the combustion chamber. The method of operating the fuel processor includes determining the load on and a plurality of temperatures within the fuel processor and moving the reformer burner depending upon such information.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2007Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hyun-chul Lee, Soon-ho Kim, Doo-hwan Lee, Kang-hee Lee
-
Publication number: 20110223090Abstract: A process for producing ammonia synthesis gas from the reforming of hydrocarbons with steam in a primary reformer (1) equipped with a plurality of externally heated catalytic tubes and then together with air in a secondary reformer (2) is characterized in that the reaction of said hydrocarbons with said steam in said primary reformer (1) is performed at an operating pressure of more than 35 bar in the catalytic tubes, in that air is added to said secondary reformer in excess over the nitrogen amount required for ammonia synthesis and in that the excess of nitrogen is removed downstream the secondary reformer preferably by cryogenic separation or by molecular sieves of the TAS or PSA type. This process allows to obtain high synthesis gas production capacities and lower investment and energy costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2008Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: Ammonia Casale S.A.Inventors: Ermanno Filippi, Marco Badano, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
-
Patent number: 7988752Abstract: A gasifier 10 includes a first chemical process loop 12 having an exothermic oxidizer reactor 14 and an endothermic reducer reactor 16. CaS is oxidized in air in the oxidizer reactor 14 to form hot CaSO4 which is discharged to the reducer reactor 16. Hot CaSO4 and carbonaceous fuel received in the reducer reactor 16 undergo an endothermic reaction utilizing the heat content of the CaSO4, the carbonaceous fuel stripping the oxygen from the CaSO4 to form CaS and a CO rich syngas. The CaS is discharged to the oxidizer reactor 14 and the syngas is discharged to a second chemical process loop 52. The second chemical process loop 52 has a water-gas shift reactor 54 and a calciner 42. The CO of the syngas reacts with gaseous H2O in the shift reactor 54 to produce H2 and CO2. The CO2 is captured by CaO to form hot CaCO3 in an exothermic reaction.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Herbert E. Andrus, Jr., Michael S. McCartney
-
Patent number: 7867299Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing hydrogen with reforming catalysts. The reforming catalysts may be platinum group metals on a support material, and they may be located in a reforming reaction zone of a primary reactor. The support material may be an oxidic support having a ceria and zirconia promoter, or may include a neodymium stabilizer. The support material may also include at least one Group IA, Group IIA, manganese, or iron metal promoter. The primary reactor may have a first and second reforming reaction zones, where upstream catalysts located in the first reforming reaction zone and downstream catalysts located in the second reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in their respective reforming reaction zone.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2005Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Michael Ian Petch, Jonathan Charles Frost, Suzanne Rose Ellis, Jessica Grace Reinkingh, Mark Robert Feaviour, Jillian Elaine Bailie, David Wails, Paul James Millington
-
Publication number: 20100303703Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for producing ammonia synthesis gas from the reforming of hydrocarbons with steam in a primary reformer (1) equipped with a plurality of externally heated catalytic tubes and then in a secondary reformer (2) together with an oxidant gas. In this process, the reaction of said hydrocarbons with said steam in said primary reformer (1) is performed at an operating pressure of at least 45 bar in the catalytic tubes and a flow of essentially pure oxygen or oxygen-enriched air is added to said secondary reformer as oxidant gas for substantially reforming together with said all the hydrocarbons content of said product gas exiting the primary reformer (1). In the case essentially pure oxygen is used as oxidant gas, a flow of nitrogen is added downstream the secondary reformer (2) to reach a N2/H2 molar ratio corresponding to or close to the stoichiometric ratio for ammonia synthesis.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2008Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: Ammonia Casale S.A.Inventors: Ermanno Filippi, Marco Badano, Geoffrey Frederick Skinner
-
Patent number: 7824455Abstract: A method of reducing the amount of carbon monoxide in process fuel gas in a feed stream for a fuel cell. The method includes introducing a hydrocarbon feed stream into a primary reactor and reacting the hydrocarbon feed stream in effective contact with a reforming catalyst forming primary reactor products containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and methane; placing a high activity water gas shift catalyst system into a water gas shift converter, introducing the primary reactor products into the water gas shift converter in effective contact with the high activity water gas shift catalyst system, and reacting the carbon monoxide and water to form carbon dioxide and hydrogen using a water gas shift reaction forming the feed stream for the fuel cell; and introducing the feed stream into the fuel cell. The high water gas shift catalyst system includes a noble metal, a support comprising a mixed metal oxide of cerium oxide and at least one of zirconium oxide or lanthanum oxide.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2003Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Anca Faur-Ghenciu, Nathan Edward Trusty, Mark Robert Feaviour, Jessica Grace Reinkingh, Phillip Shady, Paul Joseph Andersen
-
Publication number: 20100200812Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a raw gas for ammonia synthesis in which light hydrocarbons from a tube 3, steam from a tube 6 and oxygen-enriched air having an oxygen concentration of 40 to 60% by volume from an oxygen-enriched air supply source 7 are heated and are then introduced to a one-step reforming reactor 5 to thereby carry out a steam reforming reaction and an air partial oxidation reaction at the same time, and the resultant is subsequently passed through a shift reactor 12, a decarbonating device 14 and a methanation reactor 16 to remove carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, thereby yielding a raw gas suitable for ammonia synthesis having a hydrogen to nitrogen molar ratio of about 3:1.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2007Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicants: JGC CORPORATION, OSAKA GAS CO., LTD.Inventors: Nobuhiro Yamada, Yoshinori Mashiko, Shuichi Funatsu, Yoshiyuki Watanabe
-
Patent number: 7682597Abstract: The invention relates to a method for extracting hydrogen from a gas containing methane, especially natural gas. Hydrocarbons contained in the gas are catalytically broken down in a reformer (4) by steam in order to form hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Catalytic conversion of the obtained carbon monoxide with steam occurs in a downstream conversion step in order to form carbon monoxide and water. Carbon dioxide is removed from the converted gas flow (8) by gas washing (7), and the washed hydrogen-rich gas flow (10) is subsequently divided in a pressure-swing adsorption system (11) into a product gas flow (12) made of hydrogen and a waste gas flow (13). The waste gas flow (13) is introduced with hydrogen (14), which is separated from the gas flow (10) after gas washing, into a reformer (4) which is essentially a carbon-free combustible gas, and is combusted there. The invention also relates to a system for carrying out the method.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2004Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Uhde GmbHInventors: Michael Blumenfeld, Vincent Liu, Bernd Mielke, Marcus Michel
-
Patent number: 7641881Abstract: An ammonia and fertilizer production process is based on partial oxidation of fossil fuel, which co-produces polycarbonsuboxide. The four step process is low-cost and low-carbon-dioxide emission. It comprises the steps of reacting fossil fuel with oxygen in air and steam in an electric discharge plasma to produce a gas exit stream of polycarbonsuboxide, hydrogen with associated nitrogen (110); cooling the gas stream to condense and separate the polycarbonsuboxide as a solid polymer (120); compressing the gas stream to pressures for synthesis of ammonia (140); and, converting the gas stream to ammonia by employing a catalytic converter (150). Optional steps involve gas cleanup, which include removal of contaminants from the gas stream and adding hydrogen or nitrogen to the gas stream to adjust the ratio of hydrogen to nitrogen to three to one, respectively, prior to converting the gas stream to ammonia (130).Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2007Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: HCE, LLCInventor: Meyer Steinberg
-
Publication number: 20090184293Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon feedstock, wherein the entire hydrocarbon feed is passed through a radiant furnace, heat exchanger reformer and autothermal reformer in a series arrangement, and in which effluent gas from the autothermal reformer is used as heat source for the reforming reactions occurring in the heat exchange reformer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2008Publication date: July 23, 2009Inventor: Pat A. Han
-
Patent number: 7431865Abstract: Ammonia synthesis gas production having a shift reaction stage employing a copper-based catalyst wherein the air supplied to the process is passed through an absorber that removes sulfur and/or halide contaminants, is described. The absorber has a support carrying an absorbent for sulfur compounds and/or absorbent for halide compounds. The removal of the contaminants improves the lifetime e.g. copper-zinc low temperature shift catalysts.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2002Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Johnson Matthey PLCInventors: Andrew Mark Ward, Alan Bruce Briston
-
Patent number: 7163648Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a hydrogen- and nitrogen containing gas mixture, where a mixture of steam and a carbon containing gas is fed to the retentate side of at least one hydrogen transport membrane syngas and sweep gas generator where said gas and steam are converted to synthesis gas. A part of the hydrogen in said synthesis gas is transported through the membrane to the permeate side in said generator where it reacts with oxygen in an air stream fed to said permeate side to generate heat and a nitrogen and steam containing gas.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2002Date of Patent: January 16, 2007Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASAInventors: Knut Ingvar Åsen, Henrik Solgaard Andersen
-
Patent number: 7138001Abstract: Low-energy hydrogen production is disclosed. A reforming exchanger is placed in parallel with a partial oxidation reactor in a new hydrogen plant with improved efficiency and reduced steam export, or in an existing hydrogen plant where the hydrogen capacity can be increased by as much as 20–30 percent with reduced export of steam from the hydrogen plant.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2004Date of Patent: November 21, 2006Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLCInventors: Stanislaus A. Knez, Avinash Malhotra, David P. Mann, Martin J. Van Sickels
-
Patent number: 7090816Abstract: A process for manufacturing ammonia from syngas with excess air for reforming and nitrogen removal with low pressure losses is disclosed. Auto-refrigeration for cooling the syngas for cryogenic hydrogen enrichment is provided by expansion of a hydrogen-lean waste fluid stream from a distillation column.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2003Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLCInventors: Avinash Malhotra, Tufail Ahmad, Bradley Richard Welter
-
Patent number: 6726850Abstract: A multistage catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) process for oxidizing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising C1-C4 hydrocarbons, with an oxygen-containing feedstream to produce a product comprising CO and H2, also known as synthesis gas or syngas.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2000Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Inventors: Sebastian C. Reyes, Jennifer S. Feeley, Frank Hershkowitz, Harry W. Deckman, Ioannis P. Androulakis
-
Patent number: 6685754Abstract: A method for the production of a hydrogen-containing gas composition, such as a synthesis gas including hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide (H2:CO) in the synthesis gas can be well-controlled to yield a ratio that is adequate for the synthesis of useful products such as methane or methanol, without the need to remove carbon oxides from the gas stream to adjust the ratio.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Alchemix CorporationInventors: James Kelly Kindig, Thomas E. Weyand
-
Publication number: 20030009943Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing a gas mixture containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and optionally nitrogen, from at least a hydrocarbon such as methane, propane, butane or LPG or natural gas, which consists in performing a partial catalytic oxidation (1) of one or several hydrocarbons, at a temperature of 500° C., at a pressure of 3 to 20 bars, in the pre of oxygen or a gas containing oxygen, such as air, to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide; then in recuperating the gas mixture which can subsequently be purified or separated, by pressure swing adsorption, temperature swing adsorption of by permeation (3), to produce hydrogen having a purity of at least 80% and a residue gas capable of supplying a cogeneration unit In another embodiment, the gas mixture can subsequently be purified of its water vapour impurities and carbon dioxide to obtain a thermal treatment atmosphere containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and nitrogen.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2002Publication date: January 16, 2003Inventors: Cyrille Millet, Daniel Gary, Philippe Arpentinier
-
Patent number: 6395243Abstract: A method is provided for performing catalytic or non-catalytic processes which uses oxygen supplied from the permeate side of a mixed oxygen ion and electron conducting membrane by means of a sweep gas at an elevated temperature. The sweep gas is formed by burning fuel in a sweep gas preheater. The sweep gas containing oxygen picked up from the membrane is reacted with a hydrocarbon fuel in a catalytic reactor to form a syngas containing nitrogen and hydrogen. The nitrogen and hydrogen containing syngas is worked up into ammonia; the ammonia is burned in an ammonia burner to produce a nitrogen oxides containing gas, and the nitrogen oxides containing gas is used in the production of nitric acid. The process is able to directly transfer the oxygen containing sweep gas to the catalytic reactor, without any intermediate cooling; recompression and reheating.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2000Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASAInventors: Knut Ingvar Åsen, Stein Julsrud
-
Patent number: 6254807Abstract: A process for enhancing H2 or CO production in a partial oxidation reaction by feeding H2O or CO2 with the feed hydrocarbon and oxygen over a transition metal monolith catalyst such as unsupported Ni monolith or alternatively contacting the hydrocarbon/oxygen first with a noble metal then with a transition metal with the H2O or CO2 being added before or after the noble metal catalyst. The addition of H2O suppresses CO and enhances H2 production and the addition of CO2 suppresses H2 and enhances CO production. Little steam or CO2 reforming occurs with the addition of up to 32% H2O or CO2 respectively. Thus, the ratio of H2:CO which is about 2 in a conventional partial oxidation is manipulated by the addition of either water or CO2 to the partial oxidation.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 1998Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Lanny D. Schmidt, Paul M. Witt
-
Patent number: 6224789Abstract: Process for the preparation of hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide rich gas by catalytic steam reforming of a hydrocarbon feedstock, wherein a first stream of the feedstock is autothermally steam reformed in parallel with a second stream of the feedstock being steam reformed in presense of a steam reforming catalyst in heat conducting relationship with hot effluent from the autothermal steam reforming and with steam reformed hot effluent withdrawn from steam reforming catalyst, and the effluent from the autothermal steam reforming step and the heat exchange steam reforming step are combined after having supplied heat to steam reforming reactions proceeding in the second stream of the feedstock.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1999Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/SInventor: Ib Dybkjær
-
Patent number: 6162267Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for the operation of a fuel cell to generate electric power from a feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon or an alcohol. The fuel cell comprises a proton exchange membrane which produces electric power from a hydrogen product stream which comprises essentially no carbon monoxide. The hydrogen product stream is produced from the feed stream in a novel steam reforming zone containing a steam reforming catalyst disposed in a bell-shaped catalyst zone. The bell-shaped catalyst zone is disposed over a combustion zone such that the exhaust gas from the combustion flows around the bell-shaped catalyst zone to heat the catalyst from the inside and the outside of the catalyst zone. Furthermore, the bell-shaped catalyst zone maintains a high inlet and a high outlet temperature to avoid methane slippage in the steam reforming zone. Heat for the steam reforming zone is provided by a fuel stream and at least a portion of the anode waste gas stream from the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1998Date of Patent: December 19, 2000Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: James W. Priegnitz, Anil R. Oroskar, Kenneth J. Stippich, Jr., Gavin P. Towler, Kurt Vanden Bussche
-
Patent number: 6159395Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of a synthesis gas mixture containing carbon oxides and hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feedstock material comprising: providing a reforming zone having a plurality of chambers charged with a catalyst effective for catalysis of at least one reforming reaction; supplying to the chambers of the reforming zone a vaporous mixture of the hydrocarbon feedstock and a reforming reagent; maintaining the reforming zone under suitable reforming conditions for reforming of the hydrocarbon feedstock and reforming reagent to form the synthesis gas mixture by supplying to the reforming zone a fuel for heating the chambers by combustion and by supplying to the steam reforming zone a vaporous steam comprising combustion oxygen in which the fuel may be combusted; humidifying the vaporous steam comprising combustion oxygen; exchanging heat between the humidified vaporous steam comprising combustion oxygen entering the reforming zone and the synthesis gas mixture exiting thType: GrantFiled: August 7, 1998Date of Patent: December 12, 2000Assignee: Kvaerner Process Technology LimitedInventors: Simon Robert Early, Timothy Douglas Gamlin, Mark Andrew Linthwaite
-
Patent number: 6129861Abstract: In a reactor and a method for the conversion of methanol to hydrogen wherein the reactor comprises first and second chambers divided by a membrane which is permeable for hydrogen and CO but not for CO.sub.2, the methanol is converted in the first chamber by a catalyst disposed therein to a gas mixture comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and the hydrogen and carbon monoxide pass through the membrane into the second chamber wherein the CO is converted by another catalyst disposed therein to methane.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1998Date of Patent: October 10, 2000Assignee: Forschungszentrum Julich GmbHInventors: Josefin Meusinger, Lambertus Haart, Ulrich Stimming
-
Patent number: 6123873Abstract: Method for initiating operation of an autothermal reformer including the steps of preparing a hot gas which is rich in hydrogen by contacting a methanol and steam containing feed gas with a methanation catalyst and introducing the hot gas into the autothermal reformer, thereby heating the reformer with heat contained in the hot gas to a temperature which is sufficiently high to initiate and maintain subsequent reforming reactions to be carried out in the reformer.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1999Date of Patent: September 26, 2000Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/SInventor: Ivar Ivarsen Primdahl
-
Patent number: 6077459Abstract: Process and process unit for the preparation of ammonia synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising sequentially primary and secondary catalytic steam reforming of the feedstock in a primary heat exchange steam reformer and in a subsequent secondary reformer, wherein an effluent stream of primary steam reformed gas is heated by indirect heat exchange with a hot product effluent of secondary reformed gas prior to introduction of the primary steam reformed gas into the secondary reformer.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1998Date of Patent: June 20, 2000Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/SInventors: Carsten Lau Laursen, Henrik Otto Stahl