Gas Sparger Type Mixing Means Submerged In Liquid Reactant Patents (Class 422/231)
  • Patent number: 11642650
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of using MOF adsorbents to remove elemental impurities from feed streams comprising active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). The process involves contacting the feed stream comprising API and elemental impurities with the MOF at purification conditions to obtain a purified stream with provides an API which has a concentration of the elemental impurity below its permitted daily exposure. The process can be carried in a batch mode where the MOF and feed stream are admixed in a vessel for a given amount of time or continuously by flowing the feed stream through a column or adsorbent bed containing the MOF adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: NuMat Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: William Morris, Timothy Chiaan Wang, Mitchell Hugh Weston, Vincent Rinaolo
  • Patent number: 11456473
    Abstract: A reformer of the present disclosure includes a reformer body having a cylindrical shape that carries out a reforming reaction by a raw fuel gas and water supplied thereto, the reformer body including therein a vaporization portion which generates steam and a reforming portion which reacts the steam generated in the vaporization portion with the raw fuel gas to generate a reformed gas, at least one of a convex portion and a rough portion having a higher degree of surface roughness than that of other portions, being disposed on at least one of an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface of the reformer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignees: KYOCERA CORPORATION, DAINICHI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Shintani, Naruto Takahashi, Norihisa Shibasaki, Naoki Yokoo
  • Patent number: 9711808
    Abstract: A heating system for optimizing execution of heating tasks in a fuel cell vehicle is disclosed, the system including a stack coolant loop with a fuel cell stack, a primary pump, and a radiator module. A bypass coolant loop is disposed parallel with and is connected to the stack coolant loop between the fuel cell stack and the radiator module. The bypass loop including a cabin heat exchanger and a coolant heater, along with a secondary pump for pumping coolant through the heaters when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Sebastian Lienkamp, Remy Fontaine
  • Patent number: 9452405
    Abstract: A liquid-fuel synthesizing method includes a synthesizing step of synthesizing liquid fuels by making a synthesis gas including a carbon monoxide gas and a hydrogen gas as the main components and a slurry having solid catalyst particles suspended in a liquid react with each other in a reactor, and a synthesis gas supply step of supplying the synthesis gas to the reactor from a plurality of supply devices provided in the reactor so as to have different heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignees: JAPAN OIL, GAS AND METALS NATIONAL CORPORATION, INPEX CORPORATION, JX NIPPON OIL & ENERGY CORPORATION, JAPAN PETROLEUM EXPLORATION CO., LTD., COSMO OIL CO., LTD., NIPPON STEEL ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Onishi, Akihiko Hirama
  • Patent number: 9039980
    Abstract: A slurry bubble column reactor with a gas distribution arrangement comprising an upper sparger, a lower sparger, and an open-ended tube. Gas from the lower sparger enters the tube and lowers the density of slurry in the tube. The difference in slurry density causes the slurry in the tube to rise, causing slurry outside the tube to move down, maintaining circulation and flushing catalyst from the vessel wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: GTL.FI AG
    Inventors: Manfred Ruppel, Thomas Gutermuth, Dag Schanke, Pal Soraker
  • Patent number: 9028762
    Abstract: A wet type exhaust gas desulfurization apparatus includes an absorption tower desulfurizing exhaust gas by causing the exhaust gas to come into gas-liquid contact with an absorbent, a spray mechanism spraying the absorbent into the tower, an oxidization mechanism provided in a bottom portion of the tower and supplying oxygen to the absorbent that accumulates inside the tower, a circulation mechanism feeding the absorbent from a discharge port formed in the bottom portion of the tower, to the spray mechanism, and a liquid ejection mechanism including a hydraulic nozzle ejecting liquid into the tower. In this apparatus, the oxidization mechanisms are provided with an interval in a horizontal direction relative to the discharge port. Furthermore, in the apparatus, the hydraulic nozzle is installed in the bottom portion of the tower and is provided at a location between the oxidization mechanism and the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Motofumi Ito
  • Patent number: 8906314
    Abstract: A bubble column reactor includes a reactor body which contains a slurry having solid catalyst particles suspended in a liquid, an inflow port which is provided at the bottom of the reactor body and allows a synthesis gas including a carbon monoxide gas and a hydrogen gas as the main components to flow into the slurry therethrough, and an outflow port which is provided at the top of the reactor body and allows gaseous hydrocarbons synthesized by a chemical reaction between the synthesis gas and the slurry, an unreacted synthesis gas, and the like to flow out therethrough. The distance in a vertical direction between the liquid surface of the slurry and the outflow port is 1.4 m or more and 10 m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignees: Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, Inpex Corporation, JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation, Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd., Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd., Nippon Steel Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Onishi, Yuzuru Kato, Eiichi Yamada, Atsushi Murata, Osamu Wakamura
  • Patent number: 8790601
    Abstract: Disclosed are process and apparatus for vertical splitting of the oxygen supply to a post-oxidation reactor. Further disclosed are process and apparatus for supplying reaction medium to a post-oxidation reactor at a mid-level inlet. Such apparatus and process can assist in reducing oxygen pinch throughout the post-oxidation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Grupo Petrotemex, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Ashfaq Shaikh, David Lange
  • Patent number: 8685334
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Grupo Petrotemex, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Alan George Wonders, Puneet Gupta, Lee Reynolds Partin, Wayne Scott Strasser, Marcel de Vreede
  • Patent number: 8470257
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Grupo Petrotemex, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Alan George Wonders, Lee Reynolds Partin, Wayne Scott Strasser, Marcel deVreede, Puneet Gupta
  • Patent number: 8350069
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for reacting a natural oil with a short chain alcohol in the presence of alkaline catalyst, in which a mixture of natural oil, short chain alcohol and alkaline catalyst is fed in one direction along a pipe reactor under transitional or turbulent conditions, so that the reactants are mixed in a direction normal to the flow direction to a greater degree than in a direction parallel to the flow direction or so that the reactants are mixed in a direction normal to the flow direction, such that the time taken for 90% of the elements of fluid to pass through the reactor is within 20% of the mean residence time of reactant in the reactor. There is also provided a ship, comprising means for storing a raw material used in the synthesis of biodiesel, a plant for the synthesis of biodiesel and means for storing the biodiesel synthesized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Renewable Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Owen Matthew Davies, Richard David Jackson
  • Patent number: 8329043
    Abstract: In a method of treating a liquid, a liquid to be treated is introduced into a space, a mechanical cavitation element acts upon the liquid while gas is supplied into the region of the surface of the cavitation element and introduces the gas into the liquid by moving the cavitation element, and sound waves are introduced directly into the liquid by at least one acoustic power transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ultrasonic Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Guenter Poeschl
  • Publication number: 20120231504
    Abstract: A septum is positioned within a disposable vessel and defines a lower chamber and an upper chamber. The septum includes a plurality of apertures that provide fluid communication between the upper chamber and lower chamber. Compressed gas is introduced in the lower chamber to produce fine bubbles rising up throughout the vessel to produce a mixing and gasification needed for the growth of a biological culture and manufacture of a biological product in a nutrient medium. Adding a binding resin to the upper chamber allows harvesting, separation and purification of biological products in the reactor as a single unit operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: Therapeutic Proteins Inc.
    Inventor: Sarfaraz K. Niazi
  • Patent number: 8246724
    Abstract: In a method for air treatment in a display cabinet for the storage and/or display of objects, whose walls, floor and roof structure more or less enclose the inside space of the display cabinet and in which a forced inflow of air from an air delivery system connected to the inside space (1) of the cabinet maintains a slight excess pressure compared with the air outside it, the said airflow passes through suitable dust or gas filtration means before entering the cabinet and its air humidity is adjusted and/or controlled by means of a cooling device. After filtration, the airflow passes through a catalyser (8) present in a liquid (7), the air picks up moisture from the liquid and is rendered completely free from germs. In this manner and in a simple way, a completely germ-free atmosphere is produced inside the display cabinet. A display cabinet for implementing the method has a corresponding structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Glasbau Hahn GmbH
    Inventor: Norbert Leonhardt
  • Patent number: 8232079
    Abstract: After various sugar nucleotide solutions and glycosyltransferases (or primers) have been mixed, they are introduced into a reaction tank (column) with primers (or glycosyltransferases) immobilized thereon. Then solutions coming out of the reaction tank are led to an ultrafiltration column. The oligosaccharide synthesizer according to the present invention is equipped with a flow path for ensuring that glycosyltransferases or primers separated by the ultrafiltration column are returned into a container for storing each solution in a sample injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kisaburo Deguchi, Genzou Hirata, Masahito Ito, Hiroaki Nakagawa, Shinichiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8178054
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Grupo Petrotemex, S. A. DE C. V.
    Inventors: Alan George Wonders, Lee Reynolds Partin, Wayne Scott Strasser, Marcel de Vreede
  • Patent number: 8157996
    Abstract: The invention concerns a water treatment device comprising a reactor (1) and means for injecting (2) at least one reagent into said reactor, characterized in that it comprises means for supporting said injection means mobile relative to said reactor (1) between an active position whereby the injecting means (2) are arranged inside said reactor and a retracted position whereby the injecting means (2) are brought outside said reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Abderrahmane Maloum, Abdelkader Gaid
  • Patent number: 8114356
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Grupo Pretrotemex, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Alan George Wonders, Lee Reynolds Partin, Wayne Scott Strasser
  • Publication number: 20110256037
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: GRUPO PETROTEMEX, S.A. DE C.V.
    Inventors: Alan George WONDERS, Puneet Gupta, Lee Reynolds Partin, Wayne Scott Strasser, Marcel De Vreede
  • Patent number: 8017090
    Abstract: Phosphine gas is generated by agitating a reaction mixture of a metal phosphide and water with agitation air in a reaction pot of a phosphine gas generator. The resulting phosphine gas is then diluted with dilution air to produce a fumigant phosphine gas which is directly delivered to a commodity for fumigation. The reaction pot does not have any rotating means such as agitators, rotors, or stirrers. The generator provides on-site generation of phosphine gas in a rapid manner improving the fumigation efficiency for a commodity, such as grain, preferably contained within a storage structures, such as a grain silo. The generator has a built in deactivation system for the unused metal phosphide and phosphine gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: United Phosphorus Ltd.
    Inventors: Shroff Rajnikant Devidas, Pushpaksen P. Asher
  • Patent number: 7967954
    Abstract: A process for the conversion of hydrocarbons that are solid or have a high boiling temperature and may be laden with metals, sulfur or sediments, into liquids (gasolines, gas oil, fuels) with the help of a jet of gas properly superheated between 600 and 800° C. The process comprises preheating a feed 5 in a heater 8 to a temperature below the selected temperature of a reactor 10. This feed is injected by injectors 4 into the empty reactor 10 (i.e., without catalyst.) The feed is treated with a jet of gas or superheated steam from superheater 2 to activate the feed. The activated products in the feed are allowed to stabilize at the selected temperature and at a selected pressure in the reactor and are then run through a series of extractors 13 to separate heavy and light hydrocarbons and to demetallize the feed. Useful products appearing in the form of water/hydrocarbon emulsions are generally demulsified in emulsion breaker 16 to form water laden with different impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: World Energy Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Pierre Jorgensen
  • Patent number: 7964153
    Abstract: In an upflow reactor for reacting heavy hydrocarbons with hydrogen gas in a liquefied catalyst slurry, that mixture is recirculated down through a downcomer having an upper degassing section which includes a frusto-conical upper surface. The mixture is caused to flow along that surface in a downward helical path, such that heavier components are centrifugally urged outwardly, and lighter components, e.g., gas, migrate inwardly. The gas bubbles can thus coalesce such that small bubbles become bigger bubbles having a greater tendency to rise out of the downcomer. Baffles placed on the upper surface can maximize the residence time of the mixture in the degassing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Abdenour Kemoun
  • Patent number: 7943099
    Abstract: A reactor for reacting at least two gases in the presence of a liquid phase, provided with an external liquid phase circulation device and including at least one injector for injecting the gases and the externally circulated liquid phase. In the injector the mixing of the gases together and with the externally circulated liquid phase only begins at the outlet of the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: SOLVAY (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Michel Strebelle, Michel Lempereur
  • Patent number: 7910071
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Alan George Wonders, Howard Wood Jenkins, Jr., Lee Reynolds Partin, Wayne Scott Strasser, Marcel de Vreede
  • Patent number: 7901636
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Alan George Wonders, Robert Lin, Marcel de Vreede, Lee Reynolds Partin
  • Publication number: 20100143217
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Alan George Wonders, Marcel de Vreede, Lee Reynolds Partin, Wayne Scott Strasser
  • Patent number: 7704401
    Abstract: A liquid treatment apparatus and a liquid treatment method are provided. The liquid treatment apparatus includes a nozzle configured to cause cavitation bubbles to be generated in liquid to be treated, and a discharger which generates discharge plasma in a region where the cavitation bubbles are generated. The liquid treatment method includes causing the cavitation bubbles to be generated in the liquid to be treated, and generating discharge plasma in the region where the cavitation bubbles are generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Hideaki Ike, Kazunori Hakiai
  • Publication number: 20100093098
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating the synthesis of compounds in a nonflow-through device are presented. Application of the nonflow-through methods and microfluidic devices to the synthesis of radiolabeled compounds is described. These methods and apparatus enable the introduction of a pressurized gas through a tangential slit into a vortex reactor of the nonflow-through device, while one or more liquids are delivered to the reaction chamber through the same or different inlet ports. The introduction of the pressurized gas produces a cyclonic motion of the mixture within the reactor. Such a mechanism may be used to facilitate the evaporation of various liquids within the reactor at lower temperatures, thus reducing the production of unwanted byproducts that are associated with the use of high temperatures. In addition, thorough mixing of various liquids may be effected rapidly while allowing chemical reactions to take place efficiently within the vortex reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Siemens Medical Solutions
    Inventors: Carroll Edward Ball, Arkadij Elizarov, Hartmuth C. Kolb
  • Patent number: 7678263
    Abstract: High rate gas stripping for removal of sulfur-containing components such as mercaptans from crude oil may be conducted by feeding sweet gas to the bottom of a tower containing pre-heated mercaptan-containing crude oil feed. The gas bubbles up through the crude becoming enriched with H2S, mercaptans, CO2 and/or hydrocarbons. The rich gas exits the tower, and is treated to produce a sweetened gas, a portion of which is recycled to the tower, and an acid gas. The remainder of the sweetened and/or the acid gas may be used as a fuel or processed to recover a portion of any hydrocarbons that may have been stripped out of the crude oil with the mercaptans, sulfur-containing components, CO2, used for enhanced oil recovery or disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventor: Jon M. Mock
  • Publication number: 20090257930
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Alan George Wonders, Lee Reynolds Partin, Wayne Scott Strasser, Marcel de Vreede
  • Patent number: 7585473
    Abstract: A carbamate condensation unit of the submerged type for synthesis urea production plants comprising a tube bundle for the condensation of gaseous compounds, is distinguished in that it further comprises a duct, structurally independent from the tube bundle, for the circulation of part of the condensed gaseous compounds inside the condensation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Urea Casale S.A.
    Inventor: Federico Zardi
  • Publication number: 20090214405
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bubble column reactor comprising a column reactor having a sparger plate dividing the column reactor into a top reaction compartment and a bottom compartment, characterized in that an inlet and outlet line for introducing and disposing a flushing medium are connected to the bottom compartment; and an operation method thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicants: LINDE AG ZENTRALE PATENTABTEILUNG, SAUDI BASIC INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Schneider, Peter M. Fritz, Sebastian Muschelknautz, Heinz Bölt, Talal Ali, Fuad Mosa
  • Patent number: 7575730
    Abstract: A method is provided for introducing or reintroducing a gas into a slurry vessel holding a slurry comprising a liquid and solid particles and having a gas distributor for injecting a gas into the slurry, where the gas distributor includes a sparger device comprising an apertured sparger portion inside the slurry vessel, an inlet portion leading into the slurry vessel and an outlet portion leading from the slurry vessel, and a valve, external of the slurry vessel, operable to allow or deny flow from the sparger portion out through the outlet portion of the sparger device. The method comprises operating the valve to allow flow through the outlet portion of the sparger device, flushing the sparger device through the outlet portion to remove settled material which may be present in the sparger device, operating the valve to deny flow through the outlet portion of the sparger device, and introducing or reintroducing the gas into the slurry vessel through the sparger device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: SASOL Technology (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventor: André Peter Steynberg
  • Patent number: 7556785
    Abstract: Phosphine gas is generated by agitating a reaction mixture of a metal phosphide and water with agitation air in a reaction pot of a phosphine gas generator. The resulting phosphine gas is then diluted with dilution air to produce a fumigant phosphine gas which is directly delivered to a commodity for fumigation. The reaction pot does not have any rotating means such as agitators, rotors, or stirrers. The generator provides on-site generation of phosphine gas in a rapid manner improving the fumigation efficiency for a commodity, such as grain, preferably contained within a storage structures, such as a grain silo. The generator has a built in deactivation system for the unused metal phosphide and phosphine gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: United Phosphorus, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shroff Rajnikant Devidas, Pushpaksen P. Asher
  • Publication number: 20090136398
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Alan George Wonders, Lee Reynolds Partin, Wayne Scott Strasser, Marcel deVreede, Puneet Gupta
  • Patent number: 7504077
    Abstract: With a method or a device for producing 1,2-dichloroethane or ethylene (di)chloride (EDC) with the use of a circulating reaction medium and a catalyst, whereby ethylene and chlorine are supplied to the reaction medium, the catalytic chlorination of ethylene is achieved in a manner that is particularly gentle to the product by introducing the ethylene or chlorine gas into the reaction medium via microporous gas diffuser elements for producing gas bubbles with a diameter of 0.3 to 3 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignees: Uhde GmbH, Vinnolit Technologie GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Benje
  • Patent number: 7498002
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Alan George Wonders, Howard Wood Jenkins, Jr., Lee Reynolds Partin, Wayne Scott Strasser, Marcel deVreede
  • Patent number: 7498003
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Alan George Wonders, Lee Reynolds Partin, Wayne Scott Strasser, Marcel deVreede, Puneet Gupta
  • Patent number: 7491369
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Alan George Wonders, Thomas Earl Woodruff, Ronald Buford Sheppard, Wayne Scott Strasser
  • Patent number: 7448603
    Abstract: A catalytic hydrocracking reactor vessel includes enhanced components for the conversion of a hydrogen gas and fossil fuel feedstream to light liquid hydrocarbons. The reactor vessel comprises one or more of a reactor cup riser with a helical cyclonic separator conduit for separating a liquid and vapor product stream to provide an essentially vapor-free liquid recycle stream; a grid plate bubble cap with wall housing having serrated edges for producing small hydrogen bubbles of increased total surface area of bubbles at lower pressure drop; a feedstream inlet pipe sparger containing rows of downward directed slots for even distribution of the feedstream across the cross-sectional area of the reactor and providing free drain of solid particles from the sparger; and optionally a liquid recycle inlet distributor containing vertically curved plates for creating a whirling motion in the liquid recycle stream for better mixing with the feedstream with minimal solids settling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Technologies Innovation Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Kao, Robert Chang
  • Patent number: 7201884
    Abstract: An improved process, such as a microbiological or enzymatic process, and apparatus, such as an apparatus for producing a cellular product, comprising introducing a gaseous feed stream of at least one gas of low solubility into an aqueous medium containing a microorganism capable of converting said gaseous feed stream to a cellular product, entraining the gas in the aqueous medium, stirring the gas-entrained aqueous medium so that the gas is retained within the reactor for a time sufficient for the microorganism to convert the majority of the gas to product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey David Cohen
  • Patent number: 7192562
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the generation of hydrogen peroxide. The apparatus provides for the production of a large scale volume of hydrogen peroxide by the generation of a liquid bearing bubble cloud. The bubbles are generated with a tiny volume before flowing over the reactor bed to generate the hydrogen peroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gavin P. Towler, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche
  • Patent number: 7100905
    Abstract: A reactor (1) for gas/liquid or gas/liquid/solid reactions having a vertical longitudinal axis and an inlet (2) for a liquid or liquid/solid feed stream in the upper region of the reactor and an inlet (3) for a gaseous stream in the lower region of the reactor (1), wherein the gaseous stream (3) is conveyed through a gas distributor module (9) which is made up exclusively of straight tube sections (14, 15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Weinle, Oliver Bey, Peter Zehner
  • Patent number: 6977002
    Abstract: A reforming catalyst is composed of a plurality of catalyst layers arranged in series, and when started from a low temperature, preheated air is supplied in parallel to a point upstream of each catalyst layer, thereby the catalyst in each layer is self-heated simultaneously so that the catalyst is heated. After the catalyst is heated, feed of air is temporarily stopped, and supply of fuel gas is started. Next, air is supplied while controlling its flow rate so that temperatures in the catalyst do not exceed the temperature that the catalyst can withstand. Thus, no other special equipment is needed, and the catalyst can be started quickly (cold start). The catalyst can be made compact enough to install it in a electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignees: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Takimoto, Minoru Mizusawa, Yasuhiko Fukuchi, Yasunori Kotani
  • Patent number: 6949231
    Abstract: A PCB decomposition reactor includes: an injector for injecting a mixture of water and sodium hydroxide connected to the lower part of the reaction vessel; an outlet pipe for withdrawing treated fluid connected to the sidewall of the reaction vessel and a cyclone for separating sodium carbonate from the treated fluid; a discharge pipe connected to the top of the cyclone to discharge treated fluid from which precipitated sodium carbonate has been removed; a downcomer for the separated fluid connected to the bottom of the cyclone so that precipitated sodium carbonate and fluid containing it are discharged therethrough and to an injector which is connected to a feed pipe for feeding a mixture of PCB and mineral oil; and a gas supply nozzle for injecting a gas into the reaction vessel installed at the bottom of the reaction vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yamauchi, Kan Ogata, Takashi Moribe, Masakazu Tateishi, Tadatsugu Fukuzumi, Mitsuji Iwao, Nobuyuki Ikeda, Naoki Shindo, Nobuhiro Hokao
  • Patent number: 6902707
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for atomizing a fluid is disclosed herein. The fluid is mixed with an atomizing fluid in a plurality of locations and passed through a nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: William R Adamson, George A. Swan, III, Michael W. Bedell
  • Patent number: 6896851
    Abstract: The wet-gas desulfurizing apparatus according to this invention removes the oxides of sulfur, such as SO2, from combustion exhaust gas by scrubbing the combustion exhaust with an absorption liquid which contains an alkali. It includes: 1) a branch pipe to circulate the absorption liquid which is inserted into a collection tank, of which the end discharges the absorption liquid into the collection tank, and the branch pipe having an internal diameter of D; and 2) an air-blowing pipe in inject air into the branch pipe, of which the end is inserted at an insertion point located between 3 D and 10 D from the discharge end of the branch pipe. The end of the air-blowing pipe is inserted into the branch pipe, and has an appearance of a semicircular trough facing downstream toward the collection tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Onizuka, Toru Takashina, Takeo Shinoda
  • Patent number: 6893484
    Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus for scrubbing either acidic or alkaline impurities from gas streams, wherein the gas streams to be scrubbed exist at a pressure which is only slightly higher than ambient pressure. An apparatus according to a preferred form of the invention exists substantially in the shape of a rectangular or cubic solid, having an inlet pipe which is directed to an inner chamber having a wall portion which functions as a manifold, including a plurality of gas conduction tubes in fluid contact with the inner chamber, and into which tubes the gas to be scrubbed enters. The gas to be scrubbed passes through holes in the walls of the gas conduction tubes and contacts a liquid absorbent substance present in the interior confines of the apparatus, which liquid is capable of reacting with one or more impurities in the gas stream, thus eliminating the impurities from the gas stream. The gas stream so treated emerges from the apparatus through a gas outlet provision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Desert Energy LTD
    Inventor: Paul E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6878856
    Abstract: A bioremediation system converts a waste stream, at least part of which is a fluid containing energetics, to carbon dioxide (CO2), water, and environmentally benign end products. It uses gas-enhanced sequencing-batch-reactors (SBRs), treating the waste stream in three SBRs seriatim. The first SBR uses a nitrogen purge, the second a hydrogen gas supplement, and the third an oxygen gas or forced air supplement. Each reactor may be supplemented with additives to optimize conditions such as pH, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient level. The system may be implemented under manual control, semi-automated, or fully automated, as needed. A waste stream of consideration is the pink water resultant from munitions fabrication and handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Byung J. Kim, Neal R. Adrian, Clint M. Arnett
  • Patent number: 6833145
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing healthy drinking water containing fullerenes, which is excellent as healthy water, are provided. In high-pressure water, by burning a mixed gas of oxygen and hydrogen and burning carbon using the combustion gas generated, water containing fullerenes, which include water molecules and are floating in water, is produced. The water containing fullerenes obtained is useful as healthy drinking water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Phild Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Hirata, Yoshio Ueda, Hiroaki Takase