Including Water Gas Shift Reaction Patents (Class 422/626)
  • Patent number: 10180664
    Abstract: A CO2 generation and control system for controlling ambient gas CO2 concentrations in a controlled environment agriculture facility, including a housing, a controller disposed within said housing, a CO2 gas supply electronically coupled to said controller so as to receive control signals from said controller; wherein said controller includes a plurality of data ports for connection to one or more environmental condition sensors, and further includes software, which when executed receives and responds to signals from said one or more data ports and adjusts gas output from said gas supply in response thereto, the adjustments being infinitely adjustable between no gas output to high gas output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Sentinel Global Product Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: R. Kurt Ascherman
  • Patent number: 9643856
    Abstract: Methods and systems for making ammonia are provided. The method can include heating a first compressed syngas to produce a heated first syngas. The heated first syngas and a second compressed syngas can be combined to produce a combined syngas. The combined syngas can be reacted within a first ammonia converter and a second ammonia converter to produce an ammonia product. Heat from the ammonia product can be transferred to a first heat transfer medium to produce a first cooled product and a second heat transfer medium. Heat from the first cooled product can be transferred to a third heat transfer medium to produce a second cooled product. Heat from the second cooled product can be transferred to the combined syngas to produce a third cooled product. The third cooled product can be separated to produce a purified ammonia product and a recycle gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown+Root LLC
    Inventors: Shashi Prakash Singh, Akhil Jain Nahar, Stephen Allen Noe
  • Patent number: 9017642
    Abstract: A process for reducing free oxygen in a hydrocarbon gas stream comprises the steps of (i) forming a gas mixture containing hydrogen from a hydrocarbon, (ii) mixing the hydrogen gas mixture with a gaseous hydrocarbon stream containing free oxygen, and (iii) passing the resulting hydrocarbon gas mixture over a conversion catalyst that converts at least a portion of the free oxygen present in the gaseous hydrocarbon to steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey PLC
    Inventors: Peter John Herbert Carnell, Martin Fowles, Raymond Anthony Hadden, Suzanne Rose Ellis
  • Patent number: 9011562
    Abstract: A method for producing a synthesis-gas product gas and a vapor stream includes catalytic steam reforming a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock in a steam reformer. The hot synthesis-gas product gas stream is cooled in a heat exchanger to form a cooled synthesis-gas product gas stream and a first partial vapor stream, which is supplied to the product vapor stream. The reforming furnace is operated so as to burn a burner feedstock in burners, cool a hot flue gas stream from the burners in a heat exchanger to form a cooled flue gas stream and a second partial vapor stream, and separate the cooled flue gas stream into a waste gas stream and a flue gas recirculation stream. The flow of the recirculated flue gas is increased with decreasing flow of the synthesis-gas product gas to obtain an approximately constant product vapor stream by increasing the second partial vapor stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Polster, Alexander Roesch, Matthew Shaver, Dieter Ulber, Ulrich Wolf
  • Patent number: 8975303
    Abstract: In a synthesis gas methanation process, at least one first fraction of synthesis gas to treat is fed, together with steam, to a shift reactor where a shift reaction occurs; the gas flow produced in the shift reactor is then fed to a first methanation reactor where a methanation reaction occurs and then to further second methanation reactors in series, where further methanation reactions, performed with the addition of fresh synthesis gas which has not been subjected to the shift reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Italiana S.r.l.
    Inventors: Luigi Bressan, Maria Sudiro
  • Patent number: 8968685
    Abstract: A fuel processing system for converting a logistical fuel and air into a liquid product comprising methanol. One such system comprises a fuel injection system configured to combine a logistical fuel and ambient air to produce a logistical fuel and air mixture, a synthesis gas production system configured to convert the logistical fuel and air mixture to synthesis gas, and a methanol synthesis system configured to convert the synthesis gas to a crude methanol liquid. Related methods are additionally disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Alliant TechSystems Inc.
    Inventors: Sabrina Hawkins, Jason S. Tyll, Florin Girlea
  • Patent number: 8858900
    Abstract: This invention relates to a power recovery process in waste steam/CO2 reformers whereby a waste stream can be made to release energy without having to burn the waste or the syngas. This invention does not make use of fuel cells as its critical component but makes use of highly exothermic chemical reactors using syngas to produce large amounts of heat, such as Fischer-Tropsch. It also relates to control or elimination of the emissions of greenhouse gases in the power recovery process of this invention with the goal of producing energy in the future carbonless world economy. A New Concept for a duplex kiln was developed that has the combined functionality of steam/CO2 reforming, heat transfer, solids removal, filtration, and heat recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Intellergy, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry Galloway
  • Patent number: 8734545
    Abstract: Methods and systems for low emission power generation in hydrocarbon recovery processes are provided. One system includes integrated pressure maintenance and miscible flood systems with low emission power generation. The system may also include integration of a pressure swing reformer (PSR), air-blown auto-thermal reformer (ATR), or oxygen-blown ATR with a gas power turbine system, preferably a combined cycle gas power turbine system. Such systems may be employed to capture and utilize greenhouse gases (GHG) and generate power for use in hydrocarbon recovery operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Frank Hershkowitz, Eric D. Nelson, Patrick D. McMahon
  • Patent number: 8702823
    Abstract: A method of shutting down a hydrogen generation apparatus for limiting degradation in a catalyst due to dew condensation at the time of shutdown is provided. The method of shutting down the hydrogen generation apparatus comprising, a combustor which supplies heat necessary to a reforming device, a first air supplier which supplies air to the combustor, a combustion exhaust gas path formed such that the combustion exhaust gas produced in the combustor makes heat exchange with the reforming device and then with a CO reducing device, and a controller which operates the first air supplier so that the temperature of the gas in the CO reducing device does not become equal to or lower than a dew point after shutdown of the combustion operation of the combustor and before a start of a purging operation to purge the interiors of the reforming device and the CO reducing device with a replacement gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yukimune Kani, Seiji Fujihara
  • Patent number: 8697451
    Abstract: A sulfur breakthrough monitoring assembly for use in a fuel utilization system for detecting sulfur-containing compounds in desulfurized fuel, said monitoring assembly comprising: a heater for heating desulfurized fuel to a predetermined temperature, the predetermined temperature being between 450° C. and 600° C., a sulfur breakthrough detector adapted to receive heated fuel from the heater and including at least a reforming catalyst bed for reforming the heated fuel and a plurality of temperature sensors including a first temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the heated fuel before the fuel is conveyed through the reforming catalyst bed and a second temperature sensor for sensing temperature in the reforming catalyst bed, and a controller for determining whether concentration of the sulfur-containing compounds in the fuel exceeds a first predetermined concentration based on temperature outputs from the first and second temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph M. Daly
  • Patent number: 8696773
    Abstract: In a reforming apparatus, for use in a fuel cell, for reforming a raw fuel into a hydrogen-rich reformed gas, a reformer generates the reformed gas from the raw fuel. A shift reactor reduces carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas through a shift reaction. A selective oxidation unit reduces the carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas that has passed through the shift reactor by performing selective oxidation on the carbon monoxide. A reforming reaction tube houses linearly the reformer, the shift reactor and the selective oxidation unit in this order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Fuju, Masataka Kadowaki, Kazumi Kobayashi, Kazuaki Nakajima, Yasushi Sato, Ken Samura
  • Patent number: 8663566
    Abstract: Disclosed are a fluidized bed water gas shift membrane reactor and a method for separating carbon dioxide using the same. More specifically, disclosed are a fluidized bed water gas shift membrane reactor provided on the back of a gasification reactor to produce a synthetic gas consisting of hydrogen and carbon monoxide by reaction of a solid hydrocarbon with water or oxygen, wherein the carbon monoxide present in an amount of 40 to 70 vol % in the synthesis gas reacts with steam in the presence of a catalyst to produce a mix gas of hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and the hydrogen is selectively isolated from the mix gas through a Pb—Cu shift membrane to increase the concentration of carbon dioxide present in the mix gas and separate the carbon dioxide, and a method for separating carbon dioxide using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Energy Research
    Inventors: See Hoon Lee, II Hyun Baek, Won Hyun Eom, Jeong Nam Kim
  • Patent number: 8617265
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generation of hydrogen. The apparatus includes a hydrogen reactor chamber (99) and a plurality of catalysts within the chamber (99) forming distinct zones or portions (200, 202, and 204), each zone or portion comprising a distinct catalyst or combination thereof. The plurality of catalysts include at least one of a high-activity steam reformation catalyst, coke resistant steam reformation catalyst and steam reformation catalyst that promotes a water gas shift reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Anand Chellappa
  • Patent number: 8597383
    Abstract: A catalytic membrane reactor assembly for producing a hydrogen stream from a feed stream having liquid hydrocarbons, steam, and an oxygen source through the use of an autothermal reforming reaction, a water-gas-shift reaction, and a hydrogen permeable membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, The University of Queensland
    Inventors: Thang V. Pham, Sai P. Katikaneni, Jorge N. Beltramini, Moses O. Adebajo, Joao Carlos Diniz Da Costa, Gao Qing Lu
  • Patent number: 8580211
    Abstract: An apparatus is described which comprises at least one process microchannel having a height, width and length, the height being up to about 10 mm, the process microchannel having a base wall extending in one direction along the width of the process microchannel and in another direction along the length of the process microchannel; at least one fin projecting into the process microchannel from the base wall and extending along at least part of the length of the process microchannel; and a catalyst or sorption medium supported by the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Dongming Qiu, Richard Q. Long, Barry L. Yang, Thomas Yuschak, Steven T. Perry
  • Patent number: 8577503
    Abstract: A fuel processing apparatus includes a reformer, raw material supply section, moisture supply section, heating section, reforming temperature detection section, shift converter, shift temperature detection section, and control section. When the apparatus is booted, the control section activates the raw material supply section to begin supplying a raw material to the reformer, and activates the heating section to begin supplying heat to the reforming catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Fujihara, Yukimune Kani, Hidenobu Wakita, Kunihiro Ukai
  • Patent number: 8535613
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for separating acidic gases from syngas are capable of reducing the necessary power and are capable of obtaining high-purity CO2 at a high recovery ratio. A purification method and a purification system of coal gasification gas using the method and the apparatus are also provided. An apparatus for separating acidic gases from syngas containing acidic gases of C02 and H2S, in order, converts CO in the syngas into C02, removes H2S contained in the syngas by using a solvent for physical absorption, removes physical solvent from the syngas followed by heating in a heat exchanger using the converted syngas heat, and removes C02 from the heated syngas by using a solvent for chemical absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Ogino, Fumiaki Sato, Yudai Kato, Motonari Aihara, Kazuo Ishida, Seiji Kakesako
  • Patent number: 8501102
    Abstract: A hydrogen generator is described, which comprises: a material supply device (4); a water supply device (5); an evaporator (10); a reforming catalyst layer (1) for generating reformed gas; a CO removing catalyst layer (2) configured to reduce the amount of carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas generated by the reforming catalyst layer (1); a combustor (3) for heating the reforming catalyst layer (1) and the CO removing catalyst layer (2); a reforming temperature detector (9) for detecting the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer (1); a heater (7) for heating the CO removing catalyst layer (2); a CO removing temperature detector (8) for detecting the temperature of the CO removing catalyst layer (2); and a controller (16) configured to perform control such that the heater (7) heats the CO removing catalyst layer at the time of start-up and such that if the temperature detected by the CO removing temperature detector (8) becomes greater than or equal to a first specified value, the combustor (3)
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Maenishi, Yukimune Kani, Yuji Mukai
  • Patent number: 8465563
    Abstract: In a process for producing synthesis gas by catalytic conversion of hydrocarbons contained in a desulfurized feed gas stream with steam, the mixture of feed gas and steam is preheated by heat exchange at a pressure of 10 to 45 bar to a temperature of 300 to 700° C. and is subsequently heated by heat exchange above a catalyst at a pressure of 10 to 45 bar to a temperature of 650 to 950° C. To minimize the apparatus involved, it is provided that the mixture of feed gas and steam traverses a catalyst bed contained in a reaction tank, and the catalyst bed is heated by thermal radiation and convection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Lurgi AG
    Inventors: Daniel Mateos-Queiruga, Ulrich Wolf
  • Patent number: 8460411
    Abstract: A process unit comprising: (a) a first microchannel module comprising: (i) a first unit operation including microchannels, in which at least a portion of a unit operation takes place, adapted to be in fluid communication with a first inlet stream and a first outlet stream, and (ii) a second unit operation including microchannels adapted to be in thermal communication with the first unit operation, the second unit operation adapted to be in fluid communication with a second inlet stream and a second outlet stream; and (b) a pressurized vessel at least partially containing the first microchannel module adapted to be concurrently occupied by a compressive medium in thermal communication with the first microchannel module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: William Allen Rogers, Jr., Christopher Paul Weil, Robert Dwayne Litt, Ronald Chester Pasadyn, George Bradley Smith, Charles Robert Miele, Thomas Peter Forte, Jimmy Glen Pelham
  • Patent number: 8425854
    Abstract: A synthesis gas conversion process for carrying out the process is disclosed. A hydrogen-containing sweep gas is caused to flow across a water permselective membrane adjacent a synthesis gas conversion reaction zone in which synthesis gas is contacted with a catalyst and converted to effluent including water. Water is removed from the reaction zone through the membrane. The sweep gas has sufficient hydrogen partial pressure to cause hydrogen to pass through the membrane into the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Shabbir Husain, Charles Kibby, Lixin You, Babak Fayyaz-Najafi
  • Patent number: 8409306
    Abstract: A fuel reformer including a reaction container including a first chamber, a first reactor in the first chamber, the first reactor, including a first catalyst, being configured to produce a first reformate by performing a steam reforming reaction on a first fuel, and having a first gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) at a set flow rate, a first heat source thermally connected to the first reactor, and a second reactor connected to the first reactor, the second reactor including a second catalyst, being configured to produce a second reformate having a lower carbon monoxide content than the first reformate, and having a second GHSV greater than the first GHSV at the set flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In-Hyuk Son, Woo-Cheol Shin, Sung-Chul Lee, Jin-Goo Ahn
  • Patent number: 8398731
    Abstract: A fuel treatment device includes: a reforming section that produces a hydrogen-rich gas containing carbon monoxide and water; a converting section that produces a hydrogen-rich gas containing a lower concentration of carbon monoxide by reacting the carbon monoxide and the water in the hydrogen-rich gas; a mixing channel that produces a mixed gas by mixing the hydrogen-rich gas containing the lower concentration of the carbon monoxide with air containing oxygen; an air supplying section that is connected to an upstream end of the mixing channel and supplies the air to the mixing channel; and a selective oxidizing section that is connected to a downstream end of the mixing channel and converts the mixed gas into a fuel gas by reacting the carbon monoxide and the oxygen in the mixed gas, wherein the mixing channel includes a gas supply region at the upstream side and a gas diffusion region at the downstream side, and has two or more gas supply ports connecting the gas supply region with the converting section, a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Nobuoka, Hiroyuki Nagai, Kazuya Shima, Miyuki Yoshimoto, Masayasu Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20130028815
    Abstract: An apparatus, containing: (I) an inlet section into which a liquid and optionally a gaseous reagent stream is fed, the inlet section containing a device, which nebulizes and/or vaporizes the liquid stream, the device optionally utilizing vapor and/or a gaseous hydrocarbon stream as propellant; (II) a mixing section containing a chamber having a cylindrical or truncated-conical geometry, which mixes the reagent stream exiting the inlet section (I), to form a reaction mixture; (III) a reaction section including i) a first structured catalytic bed a ii) a structured catalytic bed heating device, in which the reaction mixture exiting the mixing section (II) flows through each layer of the first structured catalytic bed with a contact time varying from 0.01 to 10 ms, to produce a mixture of reaction products; and IV) a cooling section of the mixture of reaction products leaving the reaction section (III).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: ENI S.p.A
    Inventors: Luca BASINI, Alessandra Guarinoni, Andrea Lainati
  • Patent number: 8357214
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for generating a gas. One or more liquid permeable pouches each define a cavity that contains a solid anhydrous reactant, such as a chemical hydride. A reaction chamber made of a heat, chemical and/or pressure resistant material receives the one or more pouches from a pouch feeder that transfers the one or more pouches into the reaction chamber successively at a feed rate. One or more liquid sources inject a liquid reactant into the reaction chamber so that the liquid reactant contacts a portion of the one or more pouches. The one or more liquid sources inject the liquid reactant at an injection rate that corresponds to the feed rate. A gas outlet releases a gas, such as hydrogen, oxygen, ammonia, borazine, nitrogen, or a hydrocarbon, that is produced by a reaction between the solid reactant and the liquid reactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Trulite, Inc.
    Inventors: John Madison Patton, Howard Anderson
  • Patent number: 8357213
    Abstract: The apparatus includes a liquid permeable pouch that defines a cavity for maintaining an anhydrous hydride reactant, wherein the cavity comprises a cross-section such that a point within the cross-section is separated from a perimeter of the liquid permeable pouch by no more than double the permeation distance, and a cartridge configured to receive the liquid permeable pouch and a liquid reactant such that at least a portion of the liquid permeable pouch is submerged in the liquid reactant. The system includes a plurality of pouches formed from two rectangular sheets of liquid permeable material, and each pouch has a width selected such that each point within a cross-section is separated from the sheets by no more than double the permeation distance. The method includes joining the sheets, forming one or more seals to define a cavity, disposing anhydrous hydride within the cavity, and sealing the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Trulite, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Patton, J. Kevin Shurtleff, Eric J. Ladd
  • Patent number: 8353977
    Abstract: A hydrogen separator exhibits excellent hydrogen separation performance and durability and prevents scattering of an iron-containing substance that causes defects of a selective hydrogen permeable metal membrane in a first passage by covering an iron-containing metal surface that is exposed in the first passage and forms at least part of the first passage and a member disposed in the first passage with an iron component scattering prevention film at least in an area positioned on an upstream side with respect to a downstream end of a permeable section of the selective hydrogen permeable metal membrane in a flow direction of a fluid that flows through the first passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Noda
  • Patent number: 8328886
    Abstract: A fuel processor includes a reformer that generates hydrogen gas by reacting a fuel source and water; a burner that heats the reformer to a temperature suitable for a hydrogen generation reaction; a CO shift reactor that removes CO generated during the hydrogen generation reaction in the reformer; a heating element for heating the CO shift reactor; and a cooling element for cooling the CO shift reactor, wherein the cooling element comprises at least one of a cooling water flow line for heat exchange with the CO shift reactor when cooling water flows through the cooling water flow line and a cooling gas flow line for heat exchange with the CO shift reactor when a cooling gas, which is a burner exhaust gas that has heat exchanged with cooling water, flows through the cooling gas flow line. When the fuel processor is operated, a stable CO removal performance can be maintained since the temperature of the CO shift reactor can be actively controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kang-hee Lee, Soon-ho Kim, Doo-hwan Lee, Hyun-chul Lee
  • Publication number: 20120288412
    Abstract: A reformer system (11) having a hydrodesulfurizer (12) provides desulfurized natural gas feedstock to a catalytic steam reformer (16), the outflow of which is treated by a water gas shift reactor (20) and optionally a preferential CO oxidizer (58) to provide reformate gas (28, 28a) having high hydrogen and moderate carbon dioxide content. To avoid damage to the hydrodesulfurizer from overheating, any deleterious hydrogen reactants, such as the oxygen in peak shave gas or olefins, in the non-desulfurized natural gas feedstock (35) are reacted (38) with hydrogen (28, 28a; 71) to convert them to alkanes (e.g., ethylene and propylene to ethane and propane) and to convert oxygen to water in a catalytic reactor (38) having no sulfide sorbent, and cooled (46), below a temperature which would damage the reactor, by evaporative cooling with pressurized hot water (42). Hydrogen for the desulfurizer and the hydrogen reactions may be provided as recycle reformate (28, 28a) or from a mini-CPO (67), or from other sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Antonio M. Vincitore, Peter F. Foley, Nancy P. Foley, Derek W. Hildreth, John L. Preston, Stephen G. Pixton, James A. Davies
  • Patent number: 8303930
    Abstract: The present invention relates to various processes for recovering high purity gaseous hydrogen and high purity gaseous carbon dioxide from the gas stream produced using steam hydrocarbon reforming, especially steam methane reforming, utilizing a H2 pressure swing adsorption unit followed by either a CO2 vacuum swing adsorption unit or a CO2 vacuum swing adsorption unit in combination with an additional CO2 pressure swing adsorption unit. By using an uncoupled H2 PSA and CO2 VSA unit it is possible to produce high purity H2 and high purity CO2. The present invention further relates to a process for optimizing the recovery of CO2 from waste gas streams produced during the hydrogen purification step of a steam hydrocarbon reforming/H2 pressure swing adsorption unit utilizing either a CO2 vacuum swing adsorption unit or a CO2 vacuum swing adsorption unit in combination with a CO2 pressure swing adsorption unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignees: American Air Liquide, Inc., Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventors: Yudong Chen, Glenn Fair
  • Patent number: 8287825
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for reformulating liquid fuel. In one step of the process the fuel is fractioned into light and heavy fractionates. The light fractionate is then reformed in a steam reformer into a reformed fuel that is suitable for use in fuel cells or other energy-producing devices. The heavy fractionate is burned with a part of the resulting heat used in the reforming step. In one process the light fractionate is desulfurized before entering the reforming step. In another process the heavy fractionate is directed into a holding vessel for subsequent use as a fuel which is suitable for burning to produce heat or other energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Altex Technologies
    Inventors: Mehdi Namazian, John T. Kelly
  • 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: 8257668
    Abstract: A hydrogen generator according to the invention comprises: a combustion gas passage (5) configured to flow combustion gas coming from a combustor; a preheat-evaporator (6) which is supplied with a material gas and water and configured to evaporate the water and heat the material gas by heat transmitted from the combustion gas passage and a carbon monoxide reducer (10) through partition a wall; a reformer (7) configured to generate reformed gas from the material gas and steam fed from the preheat-evaporator by using a reforming catalyst (8) and heat transmitted from the combustion gas passage through the partition wall; the carbon monoxide reducer (10) configured to remove carbon monoxide from the reformed gas fed from the reformer by a carbon monoxide removing catalyst (9); a cylindrical body (3) closed at both ends thereof having an internal space is divided by the partition walls (1), (2), (30), (47) to form the combustion gas passage, preheat-evaporator, reformer and carbon monoxide reducer within the cyli
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Mukai, Akira Maenishi, Kunihiro Ukai, Toru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8221511
    Abstract: A hydrogen generating device including a temperature adjustment section 8 for controlling a temperature of a hydrogen-containing gas to be introduced from a reforming section 1 into carbon monoxide reducing sections 2 and 3, the temperature adjustment section 8 including: a heat exchange section 26 having an air path 11 for allowing a cooling air to pass therethrough; an air intake portion 10 having an opening for taking the cooling air into the air path 11; and an air discharging portion 12 having an opening for discharging the cooling air out of the air path 11, wherein the opening of the air intake portion 10 and that of the air discharging portion 12 are facing in a same direction, and the same direction is a vertically upward direction or a vertically downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Yoshida, Kunihiro Ukai, Tomonori Aso, Akira Maenishi, Yoichi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8206667
    Abstract: A fixed bed membrane reactor is disclosed. The reactor has a housing including an inlet for receiving reactants and an outlet for discharging retentate streams of reaction products. The inlet and outlet are in fluid communication with a reaction zone in which the reactants may pass downstream from the inlet to the outlet with the reactants reacting to produce reaction products including water. The reactor further includes a membrane assembly disposed in fluid communication with the reaction zone. The membrane assembly includes at least one porous support with a water permselective membrane affixed thereto. The membrane allows water produced in the reaction zone to be selectively removed from the reaction zone as a permeate stream while allowing retentate reaction products to remain in the reaction zone and be discharged as a retentate stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Babak Fayyaz Najafi, Charles Leonard Kibby, Steven Xuqi Song, Daniel Chinn
  • Patent number: 8202499
    Abstract: A small cylindrical reformer having at least a combustion reaction unit and a fuel-converting catalytic reaction unit wherein the combustion reaction unit and the fuel-converting catalytic reaction unit are structured as six cylindrical pipes to realize optimal heat exchange efficiently, a route supplying a water gas shift reformate to a preferential oxidation reactor and a route supplying feed and water into reforming reaction parts from the feed/water inlet overlap each other at a lower portion of the reformer so as to increase heat transfer efficiency, and a preferential oxidation reactor provided outside the fuel-converting catalytic reaction unit to decrease the concentration of carbon monoxide in the water gas shift reformate to a predetermined level or lower and increase heat transfer efficiency with an air/fuel preheating passage communicating with the air/fuel inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: SK Energy Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae Woo Woo, Young Seek Yoon, Seong Ho Lee, Il Su Kim, Keun Seob Choi
  • Patent number: 8202333
    Abstract: In a shutdown method for a reforming apparatus, shutdown is carried out without exhausting untreated carbon monoxide as it is, the durability of catalyzer is inhibited from being lowered despite the repetition of start-up and shutdown, the shutdown is carried out without lowering the durability of a reforming section, and the shutdown is carried out with a little loss in energy. A control device for the reforming apparatus commences purge of residual gas in the reforming apparatus by stopping the supply of reforming fuel to the reforming section, by stopping the supply of reforming water to an evaporator section, and by supplying the reforming water remaining in the evaporator section to the reforming section while evaporating the reforming water by the utilization of the remaining heat of the reforming apparatus and flows oxidizing air for a predetermined period of time only from the time point of the commencement of the purge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Kuwaba
  • Patent number: 8178062
    Abstract: In a reforming apparatus, for use in a fuel cell, for reforming a raw fuel into a hydrogen-rich reformed gas, a reformer generates the reformed gas from the raw fuel. A shift reactor reduces carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas through a shift reaction. A selective oxidation unit reduces the carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas that has passed through the shift reactor by performing selective oxidation on the carbon monoxide. A reforming reaction tube houses linearly the reformer, the shift reactor and the selective oxidation unit in this order. A combustion means produces combustion exhaust gas by combusting the raw fuel. An outer casing is placed around the reforming reaction tube, and the outer casing has a larger diameter than that of the reforming reaction tube. A heated flow passage through which the combustion exhaust gas passes to heat the reforming reaction tube is formed between the reforming reaction tube and the outer casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Nippon Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Fuju, Masataka Kadowaki, Kazumi Kobayashi, Kazuaki Nakajima, Yasushi Sato, Ken Samura
  • Patent number: 8177869
    Abstract: Disclosed is a reaction device that includes a reaction device main body that includes a first reaction unit and a second reaction unit, a container to house the reaction device main body and a first region that corresponds to at least the first reaction unit and a second region that corresponds to the second reaction unit, the first and second regions being provided to the container or internal side of the container. The first reaction unit is set to a temperature higher than that of the second reaction unit, and the first region has a higher reflectivity than that of the second region, with respect to a heat ray that is radiated from the reaction device main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Nakamura, Masatoshi Nomura
  • Publication number: 20120114537
    Abstract: A reformer includes a heating unit and a reforming unit. The heating unit receives oxidation fuel and generates heat using an oxidation reaction. The reforming unit includes a first reaction part formed around the heating units and performing a reforming reaction; a second reaction part formed around the first reaction part and reducing carbon monoxide; and a mixing-reaction part connecting the outlet end of the first reaction part with an inlet of the second reaction part such that fluid can flow therebetween, and performing simultaneously a reforming reaction and a reduction reaction of carbon monoxide. The mixing-reaction part includes a mixed catalyst layer that can simultaneously perform reforming and reducing carbon monoxide, such that it is possible to increase the generation amount of hydrogen and reduce the generation amount of carbon monoxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventor: In-Hyuk Son
  • Publication number: 20120104321
    Abstract: A steam-hydrocarbon reforming process and apparatus wherein reformate from a prereformer is reacted in a gas heated reformer which is heated by reformed gas from a primary reformer. Reformate from the gas heated reformer is passed to the primary reformer as feed gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Hoanh Nang Pham, Xiang-Dong Peng, Shankar Nataraj, Michael Enever
  • Publication number: 20120079767
    Abstract: A process and system for producing synthesis gas (syngas) by combining hydrogen and carbon monoxide from separate sources while controlling the mole ratio (H2/CO) of the syngas product. Hydrogen is produced by splitting water. Carbon monoxide is produced by reacting carbon dioxide (CO2), which has been captured from the exhaust of stationary combustion engines, with hydrogen via the Reverse Water Gas Shift. Hydrocarbon fuels are produced from this syngas via the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Stephen Aplin, Donald S. Moore
  • Patent number: 8119076
    Abstract: In one aspect, the inventive process comprises a process for pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon feedstock containing nonvolatiles in a regenerative pyrolysis reactor system. The inventive process comprises: (a) heating the nonvolatile-containing hydrocarbon feedstock upstream of a regenerative pyrolysis reactor system to a temperature sufficient to form a vapor phase that is essentially free of nonvolatiles and a liquid phase containing the nonvolatiles; (b) separating said vapor phase from said liquid phase; (c) feeding the separated vapor phase to the pyrolysis reactor system; and (d) converting the separated vapor phase in said pyrolysis reactor system to form a pyrolysis product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Keusenkothen, James N. McCoy, Judith Hey, legal representative, Frank Hershkowitz
  • Publication number: 20120022299
    Abstract: A process to integrate a first biofuels process and a second generation cellulosic biofuels process is provided. The pyrolysis means which produces the char stream and a bioliquid stream. The low pressure hydrotreating component, a high pressure hydrotreating component, the low pressure hydrotreating component which produces the hydrocarbon stream, the high pressure hydrotreating component which produces the steam stream and bioliquid stream. A distillation means, which produces a green gasoline stream and a green diesel stream from the bioliquid stream. The second biofuels process may be a first generation bio-ethanol process, which produces a bio-ethanol stream. The hydrogen production unit, which produces the hydrogen stream and the steam stream. The hydrogen production unit may be a steam reformer or partial oxidation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Air Liquide Large Industries U.S. LP
    Inventor: Dennis A. Vauk
  • Publication number: 20110260113
    Abstract: The present application thus provides an integrated gasification combined cycle system. The integrated gasification combined cycle system may include a water gas shift reactor system and a heat recovery steam generator. The water gas shift reactor system may include a recirculation system with a recirculation heat exchanger to heat a flow of syngas. The heat recovery steam generator may include a diverted water flow in communication with the recirculation heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ashok Kumar Anand, Mahendhra Muthuramalingam, Jegadeesan Maruthamuthu
  • Patent number: 7988751
    Abstract: A method for controlling the purity of hydrogen in a reforming apparatus is described where in the apparatus includes a fuel processor, a purification unit and a system controller. The controller determines a calculated flow of reformate from the fuel processor and operates the purification unit based on the calculated flow. The calculated flow is derived from a process model of the fuel processor and known feed(s) to the fuel processor. The calculated flow of reformate is used to control the flow of reformate to adsorbent beds within the purification unit and can be used to control other materials flows within the apparatus. Means for reducing fluctuations in the pressure and/or flow rate of reformate flowing from the fuel processor to the purification unit are also disclosed. The purity of the hydrogen produced can be maintained by adjusting the operation of the purification unit in response to changes in reformate composition, pressure and/or flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: W. Spencer Wheat, Hongqiao Sun, Bhaskar Balasubramanian, Vesna R. Mirkovic
  • Publication number: 20110158866
    Abstract: A reformer including a heating unit, a first combustor for receiving and oxidizing a heating unit fuel at a first end of the heating unit, and a second combustor for receiving and oxidizing an anode off gas at a second end of the heating unit, a reforming unit having a first reforming portion surrounding the heating unit, a second reforming portion surrounding the first reforming portion, and a flow path portion connecting the first reforming portion and the second reforming portion to provide fluid communication therebetween, and a heat resistant shield between the flow path portion and the second combustor. Here, the heat resistant shield protects the reforming unit from being distorted by thermal expansion caused by the heating unit. In addition, the flow path portion may be formed with a blade configured to further protect the connector from being distorted by thermal expansion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: In-Hyuk Son, Woo-Cheol Shin, Jong-Rock Choi, Jin-Goo Ahn
  • Publication number: 20110085967
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a hydrogen containing product in which hydrocarbon containing feed gas streams are reacted in a steam methane reformer of an existing hydrogen plant and a catalytic reactor that reacts hydrocarbons, oxygen and steam. The catalytic reactor is a retrofit to the existing hydrogen plant to increase hydrogen production. The resulting synthesis gas streams are combined, cooled, subjected to water-gas shift and then introduced into a production apparatus that can be a pressure swing adsorption unit. The amount of synthesis gas contained in a shifted stream made available to the production apparatus is increased by virtue of the combination of the synthesis gas streams to increase production of the hydrogen containing product. The catalytic reactor is operated such that the synthesis gas stream produced by such reactor is similar to that produced by the steam methane reformer and at a temperature that will reduce oxygen consumption within the catalytic reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Troy Michael Raybold, Gregory Joseph Panuccio, Jerome Thomas Jankowiak, Vasilis Papavassiliou, Raymond Francis Drnevich
  • Publication number: 20110081291
    Abstract: Disclosed are a multi water-gas shift membrane reactor for producing high-concentration hydrogen and a method for producing hydrogen using the same. More specifically, disclosed are a multi water-gas shift membrane reactor wherein high-concentration carbon monoxide, obtained by dry-gasification performed by reacting dry bituminous coal with water and oxygen, reacts with water gas in the presence of catalysts in a single reactor, to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide and separate highly pure hydrogen and carbon dioxide through a separation membrane arranged in a low region, and a method for producing hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Il Hyun BAEK, See Hoon LEE, Jeong Nam KIM
  • Publication number: 20110054044
    Abstract: A process and system for producing hydrocarbon compounds or fuels that recycle products of hydrocarbon compound combustion—carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide, or both, and water. The energy for recycling is electricity derived from preferably not fossil based fuels, like from nuclear fuels or from renewable energy. The process comprises electrolysing water, and then using hydrogen to reduce externally supplied carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, then using so produced carbon monoxide together with any externally supplied carbon monoxide and hydrogen in Fischer-Tropsch reactors, with upstream upgrading to desired specification fuels—for example, gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, diesel fuel, and others. Energy released in some of these processes is used by other processes. Using adiabatic temperature changes and isothermal pressure changes for gas processing and separation, large amounts of required energy are internally recycled using electric and heat distribution lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Alexander J. SEVERINSKY