With Separation Or Purification Means (e.g., Rectification, Evaporation, Ion Exchanger, Extraction, Settler, Absorption, Recrystallization, Etc.) Patents (Class 422/608)
  • Patent number: 8491856
    Abstract: A system for stripping fatty acids from triglycerides, the system including a reactor; a heating apparatus whereby a contents of the reactor may be heated to a temperature in the range of from 200° C. to 600° C.; and a vacuum pump capable of pulling a vacuum in the range of from 1 kPa to 50 kPa on the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: H R D Corporation
    Inventors: Abbas Hassan, Ebrahim Bagherzadeh, Rayford G. Anthony, Gregory Borsinger, Aziz Hassan
  • Patent number: 8491857
    Abstract: Processes and apparatus produce economically feasible biodiesel without subsidies. Toward that end, integrated small plants process materials containing lipids with anhydrous bioethanol as solvent and reactant, and sulfuric acid and potassium hydroxide mainly as catalysts to produce up to 3 million gallons of biodiesel per plant per year. The product is predominantly fatty acids ethyl esters (FAEE) and a chemically-enhanced organic fertilizer as byproduct. The raw material may include a wide variety of non-edible solid matter that contains lipids, which normally have from 0.5% to 80% by weight of free fatty acids in total oils. Multiple apparatus makes this process feasible. In addition to not competing with food production, since they supply fertilizer for small scale farmers, the processes and apparatus allow sustainable liquid fuel production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventor: Antonio Cantizani
  • Patent number: 8470251
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products. The heavy hydrocarbon feed is slurried with a particulate solid material to form a heavy hydrocarbon slurry and hydrocracked in a slurry hydrocracking unit to produce vacuum gas oil (VGO) and pitch. A first vacuum column separates VGO from pitch, and a second vacuum column further separates VGO from pitch. As much as 15 wt-% of VGO can be recovered by the second vacuum column and recycled to the slurry hydrocracking unit. A pitch composition is obtained which can be made into particles and transported without sticking together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, David N. Myers, Mark Van Wees, Paul R. Zimmerman, Ruth Buskus Kleinworth
  • Publication number: 20130156661
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a process roasting a metal bearing material under oxidizing conditions to produce an oxidized metal bearing material, roasting the oxidized metal bearing material under reducing conditions to produce a roasted metal bearing material, leaching the roasted metal hearing material in a basic medium to yield a pregnant leach solution, conditioning the pregnant leach solution to thrill a preprocessed metal bearing material; and leaching the preprocessed metal bearing material in acid medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: FREEPORT-MCMORAN CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8449847
    Abstract: Device and method for handling multi-component mixtures, comprising at least two not completely mixable fluid phases. The device comprises an arrangement of at least two high-pressure separators, being operatively connected each with a low-pressure separator. Each high-pressure separator comprises an outlet line for volatile gaseous constituents. Each low-pressure separator is operatively connected to a gas collecting container or shares at least one gas collecting container with a further low-pressure separator. At least one high-pressure separator has at least one outlet connection for gaseous constituents, being connected with a part to the analysis. The device is used in high-throughput research or in combinatory chemistry, preferably for the research of multi-component mixtures produced in experiments with catalyst, or in connection with high-pressure processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: HTE Aktiengesellschaft The High Throughput Experimentation Company
    Inventors: Alfred Haas, Uwe Vietze, Andreas Christian Moeller
  • Patent number: 8431094
    Abstract: A system and process for acetylene selective hydrogenation of an ethylene rich gas stream. An ethylene rich gas supply comprising at least H2S, CO2, CO, and acetylene is directed to a first treatment unit for removing H2S and optionally CO2 from the gas stream. A CO oxidation reactor is used to convert CO to CO2 and form a CO-depleted gas stream. A second treatment unit removes the CO2 from the CO-depleted gas stream and an acetylene selective hydrogenation treats the CO-depleted gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David A. Wegerer, Kurt M. VandenBussche
  • Patent number: 8414850
    Abstract: A rectification column and system for the working-up of a vitamin E (VE)- and/or vitamin E acetate (VEA)-containing product stream includes purification of a vitamin E-containing product stream, acetylation of at least a part of the purified vitamin E and purification of at least a part of the acetylated vitamin E, the purification of vitamin E and vitamin E acetate preferably being effected by distillation, for example rectification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: DSM IP Assets B.V.
    Inventors: Werner Pietzonka, Peter Ruckstuhl, Angela Wildermann
  • Patent number: 8414851
    Abstract: The apparatus converts ethylene in a dilute ethylene stream and dilute benzene in an aromatic containing stream via alkylation to heavier hydrocarbons. The catalyst may be a zeolite such as UZM-8. The catalyst is resistant to feed impurities such as hydrogen sulfide, carbon oxides, and hydrogen and selectively converts benzene. At least 40 wt-% of the ethylene in the dilute ethylene stream and at least 20 wt-% of the benzene in the dilute benzene stream can be converted to heavier hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Nicholas, Alakananda Bhattacharyya
  • Patent number: 8415402
    Abstract: A method for separating a polymer from carbon black in devulcanized rubber, the method comprising steps of inserting devulcanized rubber into a bath of a solvent, dissolving a polymer out of the devulcanized rubber and into a solution of the solvent and the polymer, removing the solution from the bath without disturbing an un-dissolved residue comprising carbon black, and recovering the un-dissolved residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Rubreco Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Harrison, Hurdon Hooper, Ross Gilders, Leo Cheung, Matthew Ness
  • Patent number: 8409514
    Abstract: A method for producing ammonia includes dissolving air in water to obtain a two-phase coexistence aqueous solution with air that is pressurized and heated to a critical state to separate critical state nitrogen, critical state oxygen and critical water from the two-phase coexistence aqueous solution. The critical water is electrolyzed to obtain super critical state hydrogen and super critical state oxygen. The critical state nitrogen reacts with the super critical state hydrogen to produce ammonia. A device for producing ammonia includes a pressurizing member and a heating member mounted between a conversion unit and a mixing unit. The conversion unit outputs a critical state gas. A synthesis unit is connected to the conversion unit by a pipe allowing the critical state gas to flow into the synthesis unit. A gas outlet pipe is connected to the synthesis unit and outputs a synthesis gas from the synthetic unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: National Pingtung University of Science & Technology
    Inventors: Chang-Hsien Tai, Wu-Jang Huang, Chuen-Huey Chiu
  • Patent number: 8409542
    Abstract: A method and a system for the production of potassium sulfate. The method comprises reacting a chloride of potassium with a magnesium sulfate in an aqueous alcoholic solution, with recycling of magnesium sulfate and production of hydrochloric acid, where the recycling of magnesium is done by a reaction of sulfuric acid on resulting magnesium chloride with corresponding production of magnesium sulfate and hydrochloric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Nichromet Extraction Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Lalancette, David Lemieux, Bertrand Dubreuil
  • Patent number: 8394345
    Abstract: A process for preparing an organic target compound by heterogeneously catalyzed gas phase partial oxidation of an organic precursor compound with molecular oxygen in two oxidation reactor lines operated in parallel and removal of the target compound from the mixture of the product gas streams in a workup line, wherein the catalysts charge of one of the oxidation lines comprises a portion of catalyst over which the heterogeneously catalyzed gas phase partial oxidation has already been carried out for longer than over the portions of catalyst of the catalyst charge of the other oxidation reactor line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Dieterle, Klaus Joachim Mueller-Engel, Jochen Petzoldt, Ulrich Hammon
  • Patent number: 8383050
    Abstract: A method and a device for the parallel study of chemical reactions in at least two spatially separated reaction spaces is provided. A device for the parallel study of chemical reactions includes at least the following components: (a) at least two spatially separated reaction spaces; (b) on the reaction space input side, at least one common educt feed for the reaction spaces according to (a); (d) on the reaction space output side, at least one connection per reaction space to at least one holding gas feed common to all the reaction spaces, or subsets of them; (e) on the reaction space output side, and downstream of the connection to the holding gas feed according to (d) in the product flow direction, at least one restrictor per reaction space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: HTE AG
    Inventors: Alfred Haas, Wolfgang Strehlau, Armin Brenner, Oliver Koechel, Markus Friess, Torsten Zech
  • Patent number: 8372934
    Abstract: Organopolysiloxanes with consistent product properties are prepared while minimizing alcohol usage in the hydrolysis of chlorosilanes by use of a vertical continuous loop reactor having a heating unit on an ascending side of the loop which is regulated such that the temperature of the reactant mixture is within ±5° C. of a set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Wacker Chemie AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Staiger
  • Patent number: 8323589
    Abstract: A pyrolysis process is provided. The process includes the steps of: depositing a quantity of waste into a porous container, the porous container adapted to allow a convective stream of substantially anaerobic gas to flow therethrough; inserting the porous container into a pyrolysis thermal processor; sealing the thermal processor; circulating the convective stream of gas through the pyrolysis thermal processor; heating the waste according to a first time-temperature profile to pyrolyze the waste and form a carbonaceous char; and cooling the carbonaceous char by circulating the convective stream of gas through a cooler. An oil product and a gaseous hydrocarbon product are produced during the pyrolysis. The carbonaceous char is further processed to form a carbon black product and a recyclable metal product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Tellus Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Wesley Hamby, James Brian Kelly, Timothy Joseph Kuhn
  • Patent number: 8318112
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and process for producing liquid hydrocarbons from a calcium carbonate feed-stock involving (i) liberation of a carbon dioxide gas from the heated calcium carbonate feedstock; (ii) filtering impurities from the extracted carbon dioxide of step (i); (iii) reacting the extracted carbon dioxide obtained in step (i) with a dihydrogen gas to form a methanol feedstock; (iv) isolating the cooled methanol feedstock formed in step (iii); (v) catalytically converting at least part of the methanol feedstock obtained in step (iii) at elevated temperature and pressure into aliphatic and aromatic liquid hydrocarbons; and (vi) isolating the decompressed liquid hydrocarbon product obtained in step (v).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Hydrocarbons Unlimited, LLC
    Inventors: William C. McKee, Kenneth R. Boyd, Steven J. Berger
  • Patent number: 8309041
    Abstract: Systems for hydrocracking a heavy oil feedstock employ a colloidally or molecularly dispersed catalyst (e.g., molybdenum sulfide) which provide for concentration of the colloidally dispersed catalyst within the lower quality materials requiring additional hydrocracking. In addition to increased catalyst concentration, the inventive systems and methods provide increased reactor throughput, increased reaction rate, and of course higher conversion of asphaltenes and lower quality materials. Increased conversion levels of asphaltenes and lower quality materials also reduces equipment fouling, enables the reactor to process a wider range of lower quality feedstocks, and can lead to more efficient use of a supported catalyst if used in combination with the colloidal or molecular catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Headwaters Heavy Oil, LLC
    Inventors: Roger K. Lott, Yu-Hwa Chang
  • Patent number: 8303917
    Abstract: A hydrogen producing system and a hydrogen producing method by which hydrogen can be efficiently produced using abundant seawater as the raw material. A hydrogen producing method has a system (10) for producing hydrogen from seawater, and the hydrogen producing system (10) has an activation device (12) and a pipe line device (14). The activation device (12) has a closed space (S) for introducing the seawater (W) and a vapor ejection means (18) for ejecting high-temperature, high-pressure vapor (T) into the closed space (S), and the activation device (12) activates under high temperature and high pressure the seawater (W) in the closed space (S). The pipe line device (14) is a device for receiving and leading the high-temperature, high-pressure seawater activated by the activation device (12) and includes one or more seawater leading tubes (403-408) having any one of triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal and octagonal cross sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventors: Tomonao Miyashiro, Kousaku Mabuchi, Masaharu Takao
  • Patent number: 8298500
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for the purification of epichlorohydrin. The process includes distilling and/or fractionating a feed stream containing epichlorohydrin, dichlorohydrin(s), and one or more other substances, subjecting at least a portion of the liquid phase effluent to a dichlorohydrin dehydrochlorination process for converting residual dichlorohydrin(s) in the liquid phase effluent to epichlorohydrin, and recovering purified epichlorohydrin from the vapor phase effluent in which the distillation/fractionation pressure and/or temperature of step (1) is adjusted to retain at least 5 weight-percent epichlorohydrin in the liquid phase effluent. The apparatus for making purified epichlorohydrin includes a dehydrochlorination apparatus, a first liquid-vapor contacting apparatus, and a second liquid-vapor contacting apparatus connected to the dehydrochlorination apparatus for recycling a distillate to the dehydrochlorination apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Christian D. Kneupper, Perry S. Basile, William W. Fan, Sascha Noormann
  • Patent number: 8293195
    Abstract: Systems and methods for contacting a liquid, gas, and/or a multi-phase mixture with particulate solids. The system can include a body having a first head and a second head disposed thereon. Two or more discrete fixed beds can be disposed across a cross-section of the body. One or more unobstructed fluid flow paths can bypass each fixed bed, and one or more baffles can be disposed between the fixed beds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Blanchard, David P. Mann
  • Publication number: 20120258017
    Abstract: A system for stripping fatty acids from triglycerides, the system including a reactor; a heating apparatus whereby a contents of the reactor may be heated to a temperature in the range of from 200° C. to 600° C.; and a vacuum pump capable of pulling a vacuum in the range of from 1 kPa to 50 kPa on the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: H R D CORPORATION
    Inventors: Abbas HASSAN, Ebrahim Bagherzadeh, Rayford G. Anthony, Gregory Borsinger, Aziz Hassan
  • Patent number: 8277733
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for making a peroxycarboxylic acid. The apparatus includes a reaction catalyst and a guard column for pretreating one or more reagents, which can increase the life, activity, and/or safety of the reaction catalyst. The peroxycarboxylic acid compositions made by the method and apparatus can include one or more peroxycarboxylic acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: David D. McSherry, Richard K. Staub, Dan N. Tallman, Junzhong Li, Keith D. Lokkesmoe
  • Patent number: 8273313
    Abstract: A system and process for separating methacrolein (MA) from methacrylic acid (MAA) and acetic acid in the gas phase product from partial oxidation of isobutylene (IB) in two oxidation steps is disclosed. The process and system maximize recovery of all three components at minimum capital and energy cost, under conditions that minimize polymerization conditions and plugging by solids deposition in compressors, columns, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick Merrill Galloway
  • Patent number: 8268266
    Abstract: The present embodiments are directed towards heat integration in gas processing units. In one embodiment, a system is provided that includes a gas processing section. The gas processing section has a gas path, a first shift reactor disposed along the gas path, wherein the first shift reactor is configured to perform a first shift reaction to produce a first shifted gas. A second shift reactor is also disposed along the gas path downstream from the first shift reactor, wherein the second shift reactor is configured to perform a second shift reaction to produce a second shifted gas. A first steam generator is disposed along the gas path between the first and second shift reactors, wherein the first steam generator is configured to transfer heat away from the gas path to generate a first steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Romit Ghosh
  • Patent number: 8246921
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be an alkylation unit. The alkylation unit can include at least one alkylation reaction zone having an alkylation catalyst, at least one cooler communicating with the at least one alkylation reaction zone, a settler communicating with the at least one alkylation reaction zone and the at least one cooler, a fractionation zone receiving an effluent from the settler passing through a line, and a boot coupled to a substantially horizontal portion of the line. Generally, the boot receives an effluent portion rich in the alkylation catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Clark, Jason J. Gislason
  • Patent number: 8231847
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for recovering product from catalytically converted product streams. Gaseous unstabilized naphtha from an overhead receiver from a main fractionation column is compressed in a compressor. Liquid unstabilized naphtha from the overhead receiver and liquid naphtha fraction from the compressor are sent to a naphtha splitter column upstream of a primary absorber. Consequently, less naphtha is circulated in the gas recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Joao Jorge da Silva Ferreira Alves, Saadet Ulas Acikgoz, Xin X. Zhu, Laura E. Leonard
  • Patent number: 8221707
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for the isomerization of a non-equilibrium alkylaromatic feed mixture. The process can include contacting the non-equilibrium alkylaromatic feed mixture in a C8 isomerization zone. The C8 isomerization zone may include a first isomerization stage and a second isomerization stage. At the first isomerization stage, at least a portion of the non-equilibrium alkylaromatic feed mixture can be contacted at a first isomerization condition in a liquid phase in the substantial absence of hydrogen to obtain an intermediate stream. At the second isomerization stage, at least part of the intermediate stream and at least a part of a stream rich in at least one naphthene can be contacted at a second isomerization condition to obtain a concentration of at least one alkylaromatic isomer that is higher than a concentration of that at least one alkylaromatic isomer in the non-equilibrium feed mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: John E. Bauer
  • Publication number: 20120165584
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing one or more hydrocarbons are provided. In one or more embodiments, the method can include thermally converting a hydrocarbon comprising methane to produce a first product comprising acetylene. The method can also include hydrogenating the first product to produce a second product comprising ethylene. The method can further include catalytically reacting the second product with one or more butene products to produce a third product comprising propylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventor: Curtis N. Eng
  • Patent number: 8205863
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a distributor for a liquid in a gas-liquid contacting vessel. The distributor can include: a first member forming a plurality of apertures permitting a liquid to pass there-through; a first compartment coupled to the first member forming a barrier proximate to a perimeter of a first aperture of the plurality of apertures; and a second compartment coupled to the first member forming a barrier proximate to a perimeter of a second aperture of the plurality of apertures. Generally, the first compartment forms a hole at a first height and the second compartment forms a hole at a second height different from the first height with respect to the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Daniel R. Monkelbaan
  • Patent number: 8202480
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products. The heavy hydrocarbon feed is slurried with a particulate solid material to form a heavy hydrocarbon slurry and hydrocracked in a slurry hydrocracking unit to produce vacuum gas oil (VGO) and pitch. A first vacuum column separates VGO from pitch, and a second vacuum column further separates VGO from pitch. As much as 15 wt-% of VGO can be recovered by the second vacuum column and recycled to the slurry hydrocracking unit. A pitch composition is obtained which can be made into particles and transported without sticking together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, David N. Myers, Mark Van Wees, Paul R. Zimmerman, Ruth Buskus Kleinworth
  • Patent number: 8188154
    Abstract: A decomposition reaction apparatus for the decomposition treatment of a thermosetting resin, which comprises a reaction apparatus comprising an introduction section for introducing a resin composition containing the thermosetting resin and a solvent containing a monomer component of the thermosetting resin or a component similar to the monomer component, a decomposition reaction section for heating and pressuring the resin composition and the above solvent so as for the solvent to have a supercritical state or a subcritical state, to thereby prepare a treated and recovered product containing a recycled resin formed by the reduction of the molecular weight of the above thermosetting resin, and a discharge section for discharging the treated and recovered product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Bakelite Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junya Goto, Sumiya Miyake, Masaki Ishikawa, Kazunori Shimoyachi
  • Publication number: 20120125814
    Abstract: A process for reforming a feed composed of one or more hydrocarbon cuts containing 9 to 22 carbon atoms comprises: at least one first step for reforming the feed in at least one reforming unit, during which a stream of hydrogen is produced; at least one first step for distillation of the effluent from the reforming unit in the presence of a reforming catalyst in order to obtain 4 cuts: a liquefied petroleum gas cut (LPG) (A); a C5-C8 cut: naphtha (B); a C9-C15 cut: densified kerosene (C); a C16-C22 cut: densified gas oil cut (D). The invention also concerns the device for carrying out this process. FIG. 1 to be published.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Eric SANCHEZ, Jacques RAULT, Pierre Yves LE GOFF, Christophe PIERRE, Joana FERNANDES
  • Patent number: 8182559
    Abstract: There are provided a fuel reformer housing container and a fuel reforming apparatus, which are capable of maintaining a level of vacuum inside the fuel reformer housing container favorably and which have less power generation loss. A fuel reformer housing container includes a base having a concave portion for housing a fuel reformer in which reformed gas containing hydrogen gas is generated from fuel, a discharge pipe for communicating inside of the concave portion with outside thereof to discharge the reformed gas from the fuel reformer, a supply pipe for communicating inside of the concave portion with outside thereof to supply the fuel to the fuel reformer, and a gas adsorbent housed in the concave portion, for adsorbing gas in the concave portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Basho, Toshihiro Hashimoto, Masaaki Miyahara, Ryuji Mori
  • Patent number: 8178059
    Abstract: A system for supplying chlorine to and recovering chlorine from a polysilicon plant may include a brine treatment system, at least one membrane cell, a chlorine drying system, a chlorine compression system, a hydrogen drying system, a hydrogen compression system, a hydrogen chloride synthesis/desorption system, a hydrogen chloride liquefaction system, a liquefied hydrogen chloride storage system, a hydrogen chloride vaporizer, and a waste conversion and filtration system. These systems may be operatively joined to generate hydrogen chloride gas for delivery to the polysilicon plant. A method for supplying chlorine to the polysilicon plant may include generating hydrogen gas and chlorine gas from recovered and raw salt, converting at least a portion of the hydrogen gas and at least a portion of the chlorine gas to hydrogen chloride, passing the hydrogen chloride through a cryogenic column, vaporizing the hydrogen chloride, and providing the vaporized hydrogen chloride to the polysilicon plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: CH2M HILL Engineers, Inc.
    Inventor: James T. Sims
  • Patent number: 8178061
    Abstract: Processes and systems are disclosed that relate to the removal of impurities and separation the light olefins from an MTO product vapor stream. Specifically, the processes and systems relate to recovery of light olefins during regeneration of an adsorber in an oxygenate removal unit. Processes and systems for recovering light olefins during regeneration of an adsorber in an oxygenate removal unit can include recycling residual effluent stream to an upstream operation unit upstream of the oxygenate removal unit. Processes and systems for recovering light olefins during regeneration of an adsorber in an oxygenate removal unit can also include recycling residual effluent gas produced by depressurizing residual effluent in the first adsorber, as well as preferably venting an effluent gas from the first adsorber to a compressor upstream of the oxygenate removal unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Jason T. Corradi
  • Patent number: 8158086
    Abstract: A gas treatment apparatus for treating a gas by bringing the gas into contact with a treatment liquid. The gas treatment apparatus includes a gas-liquid contact chamber for a gas-liquid contact of the gas with the treatment liquid, a storage chamber, located over the gas-liquid contact chamber, for storing the treatment liquid, and a treatment liquid supplying unit for supplying the treatment liquid stored in the storage chamber to an inside of the gas-liquid contact chamber with a gravity-drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Kouichirou Terada, Takashi Yamaguchi, Takuya Saeki
  • Publication number: 20120085973
    Abstract: With a method configured to generate process gas that contains hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide for the Claus process, hydrogen-sulfide containing feed gas is burnt with pure oxygen by means of several burners opening out into a combustion chamber wherein the pure oxygen is fed into the combustion chamber through a central tube each, the feed gas through a tube arranged coaxially around the central tube and inert gas as purge gas via an annular duct coaxially surrounding the feed gas tube. A favorable option of the method consists in the use of CO2 re-claimed by desorption of laden methanol as purge gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: LURGI GMBH
    Inventors: Eckhard Jüngst, Wolfgang Nehb, Alexander Schriefl
  • Patent number: 8147787
    Abstract: Refinery off gases are treated in a plant in two processing steps, wherein the off gases are first scrubbed in a wash column using lean oils for removal of heavy mercaptans and C5+ hydrocarbons, and wherein a hydrotreater is then used for saturating olefinic hydrocarbons and reducing sulfurous compounds. Most preferably, lean recycle oil is used for temperature control of the hydrotreater reactor(s) in configurations where the lean oil from a hydrotreater reactor outlet separator is mixed with the reactor feed to so cool the hydrotreater reactor via evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John Mak, Robert Henderson
  • Patent number: 8147797
    Abstract: A system for cooling and recuperative heating of a slurry in a metallurgical process which includes heat exchangers, pumps and autoclaves is described herein. The heat exchangers use a non-scaling common liquid heat transfer medium. Preferably, the heat exchangers are tube-in-tube heat exchangers with 3 to 7 slurry tubes in each heat exchanger. An advantage of this system is that it does not use flash tanks. To minimize abrasive wear on impinged surfaces, the velocity of the slurry is not more than 5 meters per second. The slurry comprises a solids concentration of 25% to 50%. Preferably, the pumps in the system are float-type pumps in which the driven liquid from the discharge pumps is also used as the drive liquid for the feed pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventor: Donald J. Donaldson
  • Publication number: 20120078011
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved processes for the manufacture of acetic acid. A pump around reactor is used to produce additional heat for the production of steam. The pump around reactor receives a portion of the reaction solution produced by the carbonylation reactor and further reacts that portion with additional carbon monoxide and/or reactants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Raymond J. Zinobile
  • Patent number: 8128895
    Abstract: Processing schemes and arrangements are provided for obtaining propylene and propane via the catalytic cracking of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock and converting the propylene into cumene without separating the propane from the propane/propylene feed stream. The disclosed processing schemes and arrangements advantageously eliminate any separation of propylene from propane produced by a FCC process prior to using the combined propane/propane stream as a feed for a cumene alkylation process. A bottoms stream from the cumene column of the cumene alkylation process can be used and an absorption solvent in the FCC process thereby eliminating the need for a transalkylation reactor and a DIPB/TIPB column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Michael A. Schultz
  • Patent number: 8124034
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a method of modifying an alkylation unit to increase capacity. The method may include combining a first alkylation zone with a second alkylation zone. Generally, the first alkylation zone includes a first settler having a height and a width. Typically, the width is greater than the height. In addition, the second alkylation zone may have a second settler having a height and a width. Usually, the height is greater than the width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Daryl Dunham, Dale James Shields
  • Publication number: 20120046507
    Abstract: A system and process for acetylene selective hydrogenation of an ethylene rich gas stream. An ethylene rich gas supply comprising at least H2S, CO2, CO, and acetylene is directed to a first treatment unit for removing H2S and optionally CO2 from the gas stream. A CO oxidation reactor is used to convert CO to CO2 and form a CO-depleted gas stream. A second treatment unit removes the CO2 from the CO-depleted gas stream and an acetylene selective hydrogenation treats the CO-depleted gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David A. Wegerer, Kurt Vanden Bussche
  • Publication number: 20120039776
    Abstract: The present embodiments are directed towards heat integration in gas processing units. In one embodiment, a system is provided that includes a gas processing section. The gas processing section has a gas path, a first shift reactor disposed along the gas path, wherein the first shift reactor is configured to perform a first shift reaction to produce a first shifted gas. A second shift reactor is also disposed along the gas path downstream from the first shift reactor, wherein the second shift reactor is configured to perform a second shift reaction to produce a second shifted gas. A first steam generator is disposed along the gas path between the first and second shift reactors, wherein the first steam generator is configured to transfer heat away from the gas path to generate a first steam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Romit Ghosh
  • Patent number: 8110161
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of alkylated aromatic compounds comprising introducing olefin and aromatic compounds into at least first and second vertically spaced catalytic reaction zones in an alkylation unit under alkylation reaction conditions to provide an alkylated product, wherein the second catalytic reaction zone is positioned above the first catalytic reaction zone; wherein aromatic compound from each of the at least first and second catalytic reaction zones are contacted with a cooling means for re-condensing at least a portion of the aromatic compounds vaporized from the exothermic heat of reaction of the alkylation process; and wherein the olefin is introduced into the at least first and second catalytic reaction zones via respective first and second olefin feed streams at respective olefin feed rates such as to maintain olefin partial pressures at inlets to at least first and second catalytic reaction zones which vary by less than about ten percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin John Schwint
  • Publication number: 20120014850
    Abstract: A combustor provides heat to a reformer. The combustor includes an inner wall, a thermocouple, a fuel supply tube, a fuel distribution portion and a first oxidation catalytic layer. The inner wall is formed in a shape of a hollow cylinder having a first oxidation portion in a space therein. The thermocouple extends to the first oxidation portion to measure the temperature of the first oxidation portion. The fuel supply tube has a shape of a hollow cylinder surrounding the thermocouple, and has fuel discharge holes formed at a lower portion thereof. The fuel distribution portion is located below the fuel supply tube, and has distribution nozzles through which fuel is distributed. The first oxidation catalytic layer is located beneath the fuel distribution portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventor: In-Hyuk Son
  • Patent number: 8080222
    Abstract: In an apparatus for the recovery of ethylene glycol in a polyethylene terephthalate(PET) production process water accumulating in the esterification reaction is mixed with a process fluid containing 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane (MDO). The mixing is carried out in a tank upstream of a rectification column. Through the increase in the water content in the fluid, a shift in the reaction equilibrium takes place and consequently a cleavage of the 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane present into ethylene glycol and acetaldehyde takes place. Following the cleavage reaction, the mixture is fed from the tank into a rectification column, whereby the ethylene glycol produced from the cleavage reaction is returned to the PET production process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Inventors: Randolf Reimann, Rolf Ambrassat
  • Patent number: 8067194
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and hydrolysis tank for enzymatic hydrolysis of raw materials containing collagen and proteins to produce the three layers: a top layer containing fat, a mid-layer comprising water soluble constituents and denatured collagen, and a non-soluble bottom layer comprising bones and non-soluble proteins. These layers are separated and the second layer is further separated by cooling for a time period sufficient to form two layers: a bottom layer containing partially or wholly set collagen, and a liquid top layer containing the remaining water soluble proteins which are removed. The other is heated until it becomes liquid. The hydrolysis tank comprises a turnable stirring mechanism, a device for heat exchange and a reversible screw that is arranged in the bottom of the tank. A clearing sump for separation of collagen, includes an inlet for supply of hydrolysate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Wahl Process Systems AS
    Inventor: Tony Wahl
  • Patent number: 8063176
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of crystallized polyesters with or without subsequent solid state polycondensation for the manufacture of bottles, foils, films and technical high-performance fibres, or with or without subsequent dealdehydization for the manufacture of bottles, foils, films and technical high-performance fibres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Lurgi Zimmer GmbH
    Inventors: Nazim S. Hally, Stefan Deiβ, Brigitte Otto
  • Patent number: 8057666
    Abstract: A supercritical fluid polymer depolymerization machine is disclosed herein, which machine is capable of converting a wide range of biomass and/or waste plastic materials into a plurality of reaction products (liquid and gaseous) including fermentable sugars, hydrocarbons, and various aromatic substances that, in turn, are readily convertible into liquid transportation fuel known as “neodiesel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Xtrudx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Graham Allan, Thomas E. Loop, James D. Flynn