And Means Loading Contact Material Into, Or Unloading Contact Material From, Reactor Or Means Providing Internal Contact Material Reservoir Patents (Class 422/219)
  • Patent number: 7883675
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel treatment device which can realize easy separation and collection of a catalyst contained in the device. In a fuel treatment device (21) of the present invention a fuel gas is supplied to a catalyst, which fills a catalyst filling space (24) surrounded by a cylindrical inner circumferential wall and a cylindrical outer circumferential wall, to produce a reformed gas. The fuel treatment device (21) has a removal section indicator indicating a catalyst removal section (29) on the outer circumferential surface of the outer circumferential wall of the cylindrical catalyst filling space (24) and an opening formation assister assisting the formation of a catalyst removal opening for removing the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Nakamura, Takashi Nakagawa, Yuji Tsutsui, Masatoshi Teranishi
  • Patent number: 7846403
    Abstract: An apparatus is for directing a fluid into a radial reactor is and which maintains a bed of solid particulate material within a reactor. The apparatus comprises a duct for directing fluid into a reactor and has a screenless face for the egress of the fluid, while providing for the retention of solid particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Vetter, Paul A. Sechrist, Bryan K. Glover
  • Patent number: 7846399
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a system for loading catalyst and/or additives into a fluidized catalytic cracking unit includes a bin for storing at least one of the catalyst and/or additives, and a loading unit in fluid communication with the storage bin and the fluidized catalytic cracking unit on a selective basis. The loading unit is capable of being evacuated so that a resulting vacuum within the loading unit draws the catalyst and/or additive from the bin. The loading unit is also capable of being pressurized so that the catalyst and/or additive is transferred from the loading unit to the fluidized catalytic cracking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Lenny Lee Albin
  • Patent number: 7842259
    Abstract: An apparatus for contacting a bed of particulate material with a cross flowing fluid, which maintains the bed of particulate material within a retention volume. The apparatus includes partitions for retaining particles, with apertures disposed within the partitions. The apertures are covered by shrouds that extend above the edges of the apertures to prevent solid particles from spilling through inlet apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Bryan K. Glover
  • Patent number: 7836919
    Abstract: A device and method for loading pellets into chemical reactor tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Tubemaster Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford L Johns, Daniel D. Sympson, August M. Dattilo, III, Munaf Najmuddin Chasmawala, Manfred Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7833496
    Abstract: The present invention provides a plate-shaped preferential oxidation (PROX) reactor. The plate-shaped PROX reactor of the present invention includes a plate-shaped chamber having an inlet to supply gas and an outlet to discharge fluid, a distributor for distributing gas supplied into the inlet, a main reactor having a catalyst for converting carbon monoxide contained in the gas into another material, and a radiator disposed on an outer surface of the chamber to dissipate heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: In-hyuk Son
  • Patent number: 7829038
    Abstract: A radial flow reactor design is presented. The reactor has individual and interchangeable screens that are arrayed circumferentially around the inside of the reactor. The reactor includes a plurality of screens held out from the reactor wall to form a circumferential screen, with channels defined between the reactor wall and the circumferential screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Vetter, Jeffrey E. Burgard
  • Patent number: 7824631
    Abstract: A nanocarbon generation equipment designed such that organic processed materials can be quickly thermally decomposed therein and the decomposed materials are then quenched and liquefied to obtain liquefied materials is disclosed. This equipment comprises thermal reactor for quickly thermally decomposing the organic processed materials, apparatus for recovering the liquefied materials which are liquefied through quenching of thermally decomposed organic processed materials, a rotary furnace to be filled with a reducing atmosphere and loaded with hydrocarbons to be obtained through vaporization of liquefied materials after impurities contained in the liquefied materials are removed, and metal balls made of a metal selected from stainless steel, iron, nickel, chromium and an optional combination thereof, wherein the hydrocarbon introduced into the rotary furnace is decomposed into carbon and hydrogen, thus enabling nanocarbon to be produced through vapor-phase growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Noma, Hidetoshi Ibe, Eiichi Sugiyama, Tadashi Imai, Kazutaka Kojo, Kiyoshi Imai
  • Publication number: 20100266844
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a product having a sub-micron primary particle such as metal oxide, metal oxidhydroxide or metal hydroxide product, said method comprising the steps of: introducing a solid reactor filling material in a reactor, introducing a metal-containing precursor in said reactor, introducing a co-solvent into the said reactor, introducing a supercritical solvent in the said reactor. By these steps a contact between the metal-containing precursor and the co-solvent is established, thus resulting in the formation of said product in the proximity of the said solid reactor filling material. The present invention offers the astonishing possibility of producing anatase phase of TiO2 at temperatures as low as between 50° C. and 100° C. and at concurrent pressures of 100-200 bar. The invention also relates to a product such as anatase TiO2 produced by the method and also relates to an apparatus utilising the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: AALBORG UNIVERSITET
    Inventors: Henrik Jensen, Erik Gydesen SØGAARD
  • Patent number: 7807115
    Abstract: A chemical reactor for catalytic reactions, comprises a substantially cylindrical shell (2) closed at the opposite ends by respective covers (3 and 4), at least one reaction zone (7, 8) in which a respective catalytic bed (9, 10) and a plurality of heat exchangers (25) placed in said at least one reaction zone (7, 8) are supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Methanol Casale S.A.
    Inventors: Ermanno Filippi, Enrico Rizzi, Mirco Tarozzo
  • Patent number: 7803326
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can include an apparatus for transferring catalyst from a regeneration zone to a reaction zone in a hydrocarbon conversion unit. The hydrocarbon conversion unit can include a transfer vessel, and first, second, and third lines. The transfer vessel can transfer regenerated catalyst from the regeneration zone at a first pressure to the reaction zone at a second pressure where the second pressure is greater than the first pressure. Generally, the first line communicates the catalyst to the transfer vessel and is coupled to a first valve to allow catalyst into the transfer vessel and the second line communicates the catalyst from the transfer vessel and is coupled to a second valve to allow catalyst out of the transfer vessel. The third line for allowing the passage of gas therethrough may be at a pressure higher than the first pressure having a first portion communicating with the transfer vessel and having a second portion coupled to third and fourth valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David J. Fecteau, Paul A. Sechrist, Christopher Naunheimer
  • Patent number: 7776288
    Abstract: A charging device for a tubular reactor has metering chambers which can be filled with filling material, such as, for example, catalytically coated carrier material, it being possible for a respective tube of the tubular reactor to be filled via a feed device which adjoins the metering chamber. The metering chamber has a sloping surface and an opposing surface for supporting the filling material, which run at an angle to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Süd-Chemie AG
    Inventors: Harald Dialer, Michael Hoffman
  • Patent number: 7753086
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for filling particulate material in vertical tubes (1) where the velocity of fall of the material (4) is reduced by having it glide down a rotating spiral duct (2) or by gliding down a rotating inner tube (5) with openings above the bottom (6) through which the material can fall out. The inner tube (5) is filled with the particulate material (4). After the material has fallen out of the spiral duct (2) or the inner tube (5), it can fall towards the tube's (1) wall during the drop onto the top layer of filled material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Catalyst Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik Dessen
  • Publication number: 20100152513
    Abstract: The invention relates to a feed vaporization and introduction system for an OTO reactor. The invention includes: means for vaporizing at least a portion of the feed; means for contacting the at least partially vaporized feed with a first catalyst comprising one or more metals from Groups 2, 3, and 4 of the Periodic Table and/or one or more metals in the Lanthanide and Actinide series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen N. Vaughn, Gary T. Schmidt, Teng Xu, Christopher E. Dilley
  • Patent number: 7713490
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for providing a flow of particulate matter such as a catalyst to a reactor, comprising intermittently adding said particulate matter and a diluent to a mixing tank, and continuously withdrawing a slurry of particulate matter in diluent from the mixing tank for introduction into the reactor, wherein prior to each addition of particulate matter and diluent to the mixing tank, the concentration of particulate matter in the diluent already in the mixing tank is measured or calculated, and the amount of particulate matter and diluent subsequently added is measured so as to achieve the same concentration at the end of the addition as that measured or calculated prior to the addition. Preferably measurement of the amount of particulate mailer and diluent added to the mixing tank is carried out before any diluent is added to the particulate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Ineos Manufacturing Belgium NV
    Inventor: Brent Walworth
  • Publication number: 20100080741
    Abstract: An apparatus for mixing regenerated and carbonized catalyst involves obstructing upward flow of catalyst by one or more baffles between a catalyst inlet and a feed distributor. Each catalyst stream may be passed to opposite sides of a riser. Baffles obstruct upward flow to effect mixing of regenerated and carbonized catalyst to obtain a more uniform temperature and catalyst mixture before contacting the feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Keith A. Couch, Kelly D. Seibert, Robert L. Mehlberg, Daniel R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7622089
    Abstract: An apparatus for contacting a bed of particulate material with a cross flowing fluid, which maintains the bed of particulate material within a retention volume. The apparatus includes partitions for retaining particles, with apertures disposed within the partitions. The apertures are covered by shrouds that extend above the edges of the apertures to prevent solid particles from spilling through inlet apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Bryan K. Glover
  • Publication number: 20090285732
    Abstract: A new reactor design is presented for a counter-current flowing reactor. The reactor has a catalyst flowing down through the reactor, and over baffles. Gas is admitted under the baffles and flows up through the solid catalyst bed. The design includes slotted plates that extend from the bottom of the baffle in the reactor to a position near the catalyst outlet. The gas flows through the slotted plates and is directed up through the catalyst bed, while directing the flowing catalyst to the catalyst outlet ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher Naunheimer, Paul A. Sechrist
  • Publication number: 20090215911
    Abstract: The present invention is a structured monolith reactor and method that provides for controlled Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis. The invention controls mass transport limitations leading to higher CO conversion and lower methane selectivity. Over 95 wt % of the total product liquid hydrocarbons obtained from the monolithic catalyst are in the carbon range of C5-C18. The reactor controls readsorption of olefins leading to desired products with a preselected chain length distribution and enhanced overall reaction rate. And, liquid product analysis shows readsorption of olefins is reduced, achieving a narrower FT product distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yong Wang, Wei Liu
  • Publication number: 20090159537
    Abstract: A downcomer for a reactor for downwardly conducting a multi-phase mixture, the downcomer includes a transport section having an interior comprised of inner and outer regions separated horizontally by a vertical barrier, and a baffle structure disposed on an inner surface of the barrier. The baffle structure is arranged to induce the mixture to flow in a downward generally helical path such that denser components of the mixture are centrifugally urged outwardly away from a center of the downcomer and less dense components migrate toward the center. The barrier includes openings enabling the denser components to travel from the inner region to the outer region to be collected herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Abdenour Kemoun
  • Publication number: 20090142241
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for the separation of suspensions of spent catalysts and hydrocarbons formed in an FCC unit with multiple ascending flow reaction tubes, comprising interconnections between each of the ascending flow reaction tubes and the separator vessel, each interconnection also comprises two sections The outside sections of the separator vessel are inclined and are connected to a single vertical section, which penetrates into the interior of the separator vessel, and which has at its lower end an open device for draining the spent catalyst from the suspensions separated in this sector. In the same vertical section, at the end of its internal part at the separator vessel, a series of two sets of cyclones are installed, the first set containing cyclones without sealing legs, and the second set containing conventional cyclones of the first stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: PETROLEO BRASILEIRO S.A. PETROBRAS
    Inventors: Wilson Kenzo HUZIWARA, Emanuel Freire Sandes, Luiz Carlos Casavechia, Jose Geraldo Ramos, Andrea de Rezende Pinho, Shelton Rolim Cercal, Aurelio Medina Dubois, Paulo Sergio Freire, Nelson Patricio Junior
  • Publication number: 20090127209
    Abstract: A reactor for treating with pressurized water a material in a fluid reaction medium. It comprises a body (2) delimiting a reaction area (10), an inlet (48) for the material to be treated in the reaction area (10), a point (46) for introducing an oxidant into the reaction area (10), at least one outlet for the treated material outside the reaction area (10), the material to be treated follows a path defined in the reaction area between its inlet and its outlet. The point (46) for introducing the oxidant in the reaction area (10) is located downstream from the inlet (48) for the material and is spaced apart from the latter by a certain distance so as to define an anoxic area (20) comprised between the inlet for the material to be treated and the point for introducing the oxidant, an area in which the fluid medium is in anoxia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Hubert-Alexandre Turc, Christophe Joussot-Dubien
  • Publication number: 20090110617
    Abstract: A new radial flow reactor design is presented. The design includes a plurality of cylindrically shaped beds wherein the beds are sized to be nested one within another, and the beds are disposed within a housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventor: William J. Koves
  • Patent number: 7507386
    Abstract: The invention relates to a catalytic reactor (1) with a compact construction, whose assembly prevents the biomaterial present in said reactor from fusing together and causing a malfunction. The reactor is characterized in that it is arranged vertically and consists of a reactor tube (2) and an internal tube (5). This forms an annular gap (7), across which the biomaterial to be treated is conducted from a mixing vat (3) to a conversion coal collector (4). The biomaterial is catalytically decomposed in the mixing vat (3) and the reactor tube (2) as a result of the supplied heat. The gas that forms is evacuated by a gas vent (10). The residual conversion coal is collected in the conversion coal collector (4) and is partially returned to the mixing vat (3) via a screw conveyor (6) in the internal tube (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Werkstoff & Funktion Grimmel Wassertechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst A. Stadlbauer, Walter Grimmel
  • Publication number: 20090074634
    Abstract: A cylindrical screw feeder main body, catalyst feeding portions for introducing a catalyst into the screw feeder main body, low hydrocarbon feeding portions for introducing a low hydrocarbon into the screw feeder main body as a raw material, a screw for conveying the catalyst and nanocarbon produced by pyrolysis of the low hydrocarbon in the feeder main body, a solid matter discharging portion for discharging the catalyst and the nanocarbon conveyed by the screw out of the screw feeder main body and a gas discharging portion for discharging the unreacted low hydrocarbon and hydrogen produced by the pyrolysis of the low hydrocarbon out of the screw feeder main body are provided. Nanocarbon grown with the catalyst as top with time is continuously discharged out of the screw feeder main body while unused catalyst is being fed thereto at the same amount as that of nanocarbon, allowing efficient continuous reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicants: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION KITAMI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, THE JAPAN STEEL WORKS, LTD., KAJIMA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Tada, Satoru Nakamura, Tetsunari Nakamura, Hajime Kakihara, Yoshitaka Togo, Kikuo Koseki, Hiroyuki Takasuna
  • Publication number: 20090068073
    Abstract: A catalyst loading system comprising: a vessel comprising at least one gas distribution nozzle at or near the bottom of the vessel, a top fluid distributor located at or near the top of the vessel, a catalyst inlet through which catalyst is introduced into the vessel, a first contact point at which catalyst introduced into the vessel first contacts the contents of the vessel, and a discharge outlet whereby catalyst exits the vessel. Methods of preparing catalyst slurry for introduction into a downstream reactor or in-situ activation within the vessel utilizing the catalyst loading system are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: RENTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Anselmo, Derek Bridgford, Nick Cozzi, Sergio Mohedas, Matt Greer, Paul Morton
  • Publication number: 20080305031
    Abstract: A system for producing carbon nanotubes includes a reaction chamber in which a process is performed for producing a carbon nanotube on a synthetic substrate; a station part disposed at one side of the reaction chamber and provided with a first transporter for loading/unloading the synthetic substrate to/from the reaction chamber; a first transporter installed inside the station part for loading/unloading synthetic substrates to/from the reaction chamber; a substrate accommodating part in which a substrate to be loaded to the reaction chamber is accommodated or a synthetic substrate unloaded from the reaction chamber waits; a retrieve part for drawing out a synthetic substrate from the substrate accommodating part to retrieve a carbon nanotube produced on the synthetic substrate; a catalyst coating unit configured for coating a synthetic substrate with a catalyst before the synthetic substrate is accommodated in the substrate accommodating part of the station part; and a second transporter for transporting a s
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: SEMES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Soo Kim, Ho-Soo Hwang, Hyung-Seok Kim, Suk-Won Jang, Suk-Min Choi
  • Publication number: 20080300432
    Abstract: Chemical production processes are provided that include reacting a metal comprising olefin to form a conjugated olefin; reacting a heterohalogenated olefin to form a conjugated olefin; reacting a halogenated alkane to form a conjugated olefin; and/or reacting a hydrohalogenated olefin to form a conjugated olefin. Chemical production systems are also provided that can include: a first reactant reservoir configured to house a perhalogenated olefin; a second reactant reservoir configured to house a catalyst mixture; a first reactor coupled to both the first and second reservoirs, the first reactor configured to house a metal-comprising mixture and receive both the perhalogenated olefin form the first reactant reservoir and the reactant mixture from the second reactant reservoir; and a product collection reservoir coupled to the first reactor and configured to house a conjugated olefin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Vicki Hedrick, Stephan Brandstadter, Janet Boggs, Mitchel Cohn, Venkat Reddy Ghojala, P.V. Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 7458401
    Abstract: A tool that can be used to load catalyst into a chemical reactor. In a preferred embodiment, the tool may also be used to measure the outage in the reactor tube. Also in a preferred embodiment, the tool provides a way to prevent dust from accumulating on the upper tube sheet of the reactor while loading catalyst into the reactor tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: TubeMaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford L. Johns, Daniel D. Sympson
  • Publication number: 20080253943
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for vapor phase catalytic oxidation which is almost free of variations in reaction states in respective reaction tubes of the fixed bed multi-tube heat-exchanger type reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Shuhei Yoda, Masayasu Goriki, Hirochika Hosaka, Kimikatsu Jinno, Teruo Saito, Yoshiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20080234522
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for vapor phase catalytic oxidation which is almost free of variations in reaction states in respective reaction tubes of the fixed bed multi-tube heat-exchanger type reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Shuhei Yada, Masayasu Goriki, Hirochika Hosaka, Kimikatsu Jinno, Teruo Saito, Yoshiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20080199376
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided simplified systems and methods for catalytically deactivating, removing, or reducing the levels of reactive component(s) from the vapor phase of fuel storage tanks. The simple apparatus described herein can be utilized to replace complex OBIGGS systems on the market. Simply stated, in one embodiment of the invention, the vapor phase from the fuel tank is passed over a catalytic bed operated at appropriate temperatures to allow the reaction between free oxygen and the fuel vapor by oxidation of the fuel vapor, thus deactivating reactive component(s) in the gas phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Santosh Limaye, Donald Koenig
  • Publication number: 20080193267
    Abstract: A charging device for a tube reactor has a plurality of metering chambers which can be filled with filling material, for example a catalytically coated carrier material. Each metering chamber is adjoined by a drop tube or some other filling device via which a tube of the filling device can be filled in each case. The metering chambers can each be filled via antechambers which are combined into one replaceable antechamber unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: SUD-CHEMIE AG
    Inventors: Michael Hoffmann, Renzo Nardini
  • Publication number: 20080168790
    Abstract: A storage compartment comprises an enclosure defining a storage space and an air treatment system in fluid communication with the interior space. The air treatment system includes a light source and a catalyst and configured to treat air without the use of ozone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Randy W. Hurlebaus, Curtis J. Scadden, Curtis Leroy Cruver, Chris Rieger, James E. Pelkey, Ronald M. Austin, Mark J. Blahnik, Colin R. Clerkin, Brian Wylie, Thomas Haft
  • Patent number: 7353847
    Abstract: A method of loading a granulated solid into a vessel having a containment zone for the granulated solid. The method comprises providing in a bottom portion of the containment zone a first substantially vertical rigid columnar portion having a horizontal cross section large enough to accommodate an operative's body. Support means is associated with the substantially vertical rigid columnar portion. Granulated solid is charged into the containment zone under control of the operative so as to distribute granulated solid around the substantially vertical rigid columnar portion. A further substantially vertical rigid columnar portion having a similar horizontal cross section to that of the first columnar portion is positioned on top of the first columnar portion. These steps are repeated a sufficient number of times until the desired amount of granulated solid has been charged to the containment zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Davy Process Technology Limited
    Inventor: Simon Early
  • Patent number: 7285251
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tool that can be used to load catalyst into a chemical reactor. In a preferred embodiment, the tool may also be used to measure the outage in the reactor tube. Also in a preferred embodiment, the tool provides a way to prevent dust from accumulating on the upper tube sheet of the reactor while loading catalyst into the reactor tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: TubeMaster Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford L. Johns, Daniel D. Sympson
  • Publication number: 20070224095
    Abstract: A charging device for a tubular reactor has metering chambers which can be filled with filling material, such as, for example, catalytically coated carrier material, it being possible for a respective tube of the tubular reactor to be filled via a feed device which adjoins the metering chamber. The metering chamber has a sloping surface and an opposing surface for supporting the filling material, which run at an angle to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: Sud-Chemie AG
    Inventors: Harald Dialer, Michael Hoffman
  • Patent number: 7179431
    Abstract: An embodiment of a method for producing a gas treatment device includes disposing a mat support material about a substrate to form a subassembly; passing at least a portion of the subassembly into a main body portion of a housing that has a first portion having a decreasing internal diameter from a first end to the main body portion, the main body portion extending from the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Lesher, Stephen J. Myers, Michael R. Foster, John Boehnke
  • Patent number: 7081233
    Abstract: A vessel is mounted external to a liquid sulfur storage pit for degassing liquid sulfur at atmospheric pressure. Liquid sulfur is re-circulated from the pit to a static mixing device extending from a head space to the liquid sulfur which provides intimate contact of the liquid sulfur as it flows downwardly and sweep air flowing through the head space above the pit. Further, the static mixing device prevents free fall of liquid sulfur and the hazards of static electricity associated therewith. Use of a heat traced gas outlet induces flow of sweep gas from the system, obviating the need for a steam eductor or blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Dynamax Engineering Ltd.
    Inventor: James G. (Jim) Louie
  • Patent number: 7067107
    Abstract: A steam reforming furnace has a plurality of substantially vertical reformer tubes. Each reformer tube has a feed inlet at its lower end, an outlet at its upper end, and a catalyst containment zone disposed intermediate its upper and lower ends and contains a charge of a particulate steam reforming catalyst which is insufficient to fill completely the catalyst containment zone. An upper retainer means is mounted at the upper end of the catalyst containment zone and is permeable to gas or vapor but retains particles of the catalyst in the catalyst containment zone. A follower means is movably mounted in the catalyst containment zone beneath the charge catalyst for movement upwardly from a lower end of the containment zone upon upward flow of gas through the catalyst containment zone at a rate beyond a threshold rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Davy Process Technology Limited
    Inventors: Peter Hinton, Roger K. Bence, Michael Hilton, Mark A. Linthwaite
  • Patent number: 7048772
    Abstract: A process for carrying out secondary reforming reactions for the production of synthesis gas wherein a gas flow comprising oxygen and a gas flow comprising hydrocarbons are fed into a combustion chamber and are reacted upon mixing, thus obtaining a gas flow comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide fed in turn to a catalytic bed for carrying out a steam reforming reaction, is distinguished in that it comprises the steps of:—feeding the gas flow comprising oxygen in the combustion chamber in the form of a plurality of jets not laid the one upon the other with respect to the direction of the flow comprising hydrocarbons and generated by corresponding parallel streamtubes having equal velocity;—splitting the plurality of jets within the gas flow comprising hydrocarbons in the combustion chamber so as to mix the gas flow comprising oxygen with amounts of gas flow comprising hydrocarbons at local constant ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Casale Chemicals S.A.
    Inventor: Gianfranco Bedetti
  • Patent number: 6969496
    Abstract: An apparatus provides for increased feed throughput without loss of conversion or selectivity by increasing the catalyst volume in a final reactor of at least three reaction zones. The catalyst volume of the final reactor may be larger because the inner and outer screens that define a radial flow bed are extended. A low LHSV is maintained by increasing the catalyst volume in the final reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Vetter, Paul R. Cottrell, Joseph E. Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 6911057
    Abstract: An apparatus for burning coal to produce substantially pure hydrogen for use in fuel cells, together with “sequestration ready” carbon dioxide and a stream of oxygen depleted air for powering gas turbines. The apparatus includes two fluidized bed reactors and a third transfer line reactor. The first reactor is supplied with coal particles or “char” and fluidized with high temperature steam. The second reactor is fluidized with high temperature steam and the third reactor is fluidized by compressed air. Solids circulated among these three reactors include a mixture of materials containing coal, calcium compounds (present as CaO, CaCO3 and mixtures thereof) and iron compounds (present as FeO, Fe2O3 and mixtures thereof).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Richard K. Lyon
  • Patent number: 6905660
    Abstract: There is provided a method for loading solid particles into a multi-tube reactor having an upper tube-sheet holding together the upper ends of the multitude of reactor tubes, the method comprising positioning a loading device having a plurality of holes on top of the upper tube-sheet such that the loading device rests on and substantially covers the upper tube-sheet and the holes correspond to the reactor tubes, the loading device comprising a plurality of adjacent polygonal plates, each polygonal plate having from 1 to 30 holes, each hole corresponding to one reactor tube; pouring the particles over the combined polygonal plates covering the tube-sheet; sweeping the particles through the holes in the plates into the respective reactor tubes; removing residual particles and any dust remaining on and between the plates; and removing the loading device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Cat Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamie Stewart Harper, Karl Barry Thew
  • Patent number: 6814945
    Abstract: A catalyst dumping device (10) for unloading a catalyst (50) inside a reactor (1), in which smashed used catalyst is thrown into a dumping pipe (11) formed of a plurality of pipe member (12) provided to the reactor (1) to unload to outside of the reactor (1) by fall by dead weight. Accordingly, the catalyst can be unloaded only by throwing the catalyst into the dumping pipe (11), thereby improving work efficiency. Furthermore, no special apparatus such as a vacuum apparatus is unnecessary, thereby reducing cost for the special apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Softard Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawakami, Nobuyoshi Sawamura, Shinichi Nagata
  • Patent number: 6814857
    Abstract: A process for contacting a bed of particulate material, usually catalyst, with a transverse flow of fluid is disclosed. The particulate material moves or is prevented from not moving, while the fluid passes through the bed at a rate greater than the stagnant bed pinning flow rate. This invention is applicable to hydrocarbon conversion processes and allows for higher fluid throughput rates compared to prior art processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Weikai Gu, Paul A. Sechrist
  • Publication number: 20040191135
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tool that can be used to load catalyst into a chemical reactor. In a preferred embodiment, the tool may also be used to measure the outage in the reactor tube. Also in a preferred embodiment, the tool provides a way to prevent dust from accumulating on the upper tube sheet of the reactor while loading catalyst into the reactor tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: Tubemaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford L. Johns, Daniel D. Sympson
  • Publication number: 20040191136
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of loading a granulated solid into a vessel (1) having a containment zone for the granulated solid. This comprises providing in a bottom portion of the containment zone a first substantially vertical rigid columnar portion (6) having a horizontal cross section large enough to accommodate an operative's body. Support means (7,8) is associated with the substantially vertical rigid columnar portion upon which an operative can stand. Granulated solid is charged into the containment zone so as to distribute granulated solid around the substantially vertical rigid columnar portion (6), charging being discontinued before the upper surface of the granulated solid in the containment zone reaches the top of the substantially vertical rigid columnar portion (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: Simon Robert Early
  • Publication number: 20040091405
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a device (1), and to the use thereof, apt to feed powdered substances or the like onto the surface (4) of a metal-slag bath (2, 3) inside of a reactor in a particularly effective manner, comprising: means (5, 6, 7, 8) apt to feed powdered substances or the like comprising a channel (5) formed in a tubular body (6) having, at the proximal end thereof, at least one opening (7); means (9, 10, 11) for the thermal and the chemical protection of the channel (5); and means for positioning said at least one opening (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: Centro Sviluppo Materiali S.p.A
    Inventor: Angelo Colletta
  • Publication number: 20040091404
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for reacting feed in and an apparatus comprising a radial flow reactor including a first catalyst bed disposed between an outer wall and a centerpipe of the vessel and a second catalyst bed disposed within a centerpipe. Also disclosed is a method of loading catalyst into the radial flow reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: David W. Ablin