Including Decomposing Water Patents (Class 423/652)
  • Patent number: 11952769
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a modular process plant structural system which includes numerous modules, all ISO-certified under ISO 1496 and capable of holding within the entire module at least one chemical (or non-chemical) production plant piece of equipment, capable of individually being shipped or transported. The modules can be stacked vertically, horizontally, or mixed (both vertical and horizontal arrangement). The modules are pre-fabricated offsite, built with the desired equipment within the module, pre-plumbed with piping, instrumentation, and electrical wiring, and then the multiple modules are shipped multimodally as ISO 1496 containers to the desired location and assembled to form a plant. Generally, two or more modules are connected together to form a complete plant. The plant can be of any type, e.g., chemical, mechanical/production, thermal, and the like, or of any size, e.g., production, small, micro, or pilot plant scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Modular Plant Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Russell Richard Hillenburg, David Wayne Townsend, Joel Durham Hendricks
  • Patent number: 11925921
    Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts, methods of making catalysts, and methods of using catalysts, where the catalysts include: at least one of a transition metal and a transition metal oxide supported by yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), where the transition metal is promoted by at least one of an alkali metal and an alkaline-earth metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
    Inventors: James Douglas Way, Colin A. Wolden, Zhenyu Zhang
  • Patent number: 11891302
    Abstract: A water gas shift (WGS) reactor system includes a housing; a reaction tube disposed in the housing, wherein a reaction channel is defined within the reaction tube and a cooling fluid channel is defined between the housing and the reaction tube; a catalyst disposed in the reaction channel, the catalyst configured to catalyze a hydrogen generation reaction; and a heat transfer material disposed in the reaction channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: BAYOTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Herbert Lee Nigg, Robert Charles Moore, Millicent Capstaff, Ranko P. Bontchev, Viswanath Krishnamoorthy
  • Patent number: 11826721
    Abstract: Metal nanoparticle-deposited, nitrogen-doped carbon adsorbents are disclosed, along with methods of removing sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon feed stream using these adsorbents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignees: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC., TRIAD NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
    Inventors: Bi-Zeng Zhan, Zunqing He, Hoon Taek Chung, Piotr Zelenay
  • Patent number: 11819831
    Abstract: A Ni-based steam reforming catalyst having excellent carbon deposition resistance and sintering resistance is provided. The steam reforming catalyst is constituted by including nickel as a catalytically active metal, lanthanum as a first co-catalyst component, manganese as a second co-catalyst component, and a carrier containing ?-alumina as a main component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: RENAISSANCE ENERGY RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Okada, Kana Motomura, Junya Miyata, Chika Takada, Itsuro Kuwasako, Manami Kawano
  • Patent number: 11806706
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methane conversion devices that achieve autothermal conditions and related methods using the methane conversion devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
    Inventors: Dongxia Liu, Su Cheun Oh
  • Patent number: 11787693
    Abstract: A water gas shift (WGS) reactor system includes a housing; a reaction tube disposed in the housing, wherein a reaction channel is defined within the reaction tube and a cooling fluid channel is defined between the housing and the reaction tube; a catalyst disposed in the reaction channel, the catalyst configured to catalyze a hydrogen generation reaction; and a heat transfer material disposed in the reaction channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: BAYOTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Herbert Lee Nigg, Robert Charles Moore, Millicent Capstaff, Ranko P. Bontchev, Viswanath Krishnamoorthy
  • Patent number: 11772965
    Abstract: A stable aluminum slurry fuel and related systems and methods of use are provided herein. Certain embodiments of the disclosure are related to an aluminum slurry fuel comprising a plurality of aluminum particles dispersed in a carrier fluid. In some embodiments, the aluminum particles comprise an activating composition comprising gallium and/or indium. Additionally, methods of making and using the aluminum slurry fuel are presented herein. For instance, the resultant aluminum slurry fuel may react exothermically with water over a wide range of temperatures to produce hydrogen. The resulting slurry fuel may be used as an energy source for various applications and/or for generating hydrogen for other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jason Fischman, Peter Godart, Douglas P. Hart, Andrew Whitehead, Jean Sack, Eric Morgan
  • Patent number: 11746009
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the start-up of an autothermal reformer, wherein syngas is produced in the autothermal reformer during start-up through steam reforming. To facilitate autoignition in the autothermal reformer reactor of the autothermal reformer, the reformed syngas is recycled to an upstream section of the autothermal reformer reactor and is mixed with process steam and a hydrocarbon containing process stream. As soon as a minimum hydrogen threshold concentration at the upstream section of the autothermal reformer reactor is reached in the mixed process stream, oxygen is added to the burner of the ATR reactor to obtain autoignition of the mixed process stream. Due to the process of the invention, an external hydrogen source for facilitating autoignition of the mixed stream can be omitted. The invention further relates to a plant configured to carry out the process of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Chin Han Lim, Hans Kopetsch, Veronika Gronemann
  • Patent number: 11746011
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving the operation of groups of reverse flow reactors by operating reactors in a regeneration portion of the reaction cycle to have improved flue gas management. The flue gas from reactor(s) at a later portion of the regeneration step can be selectively used for recycle back to the reactors as a diluent/heat transport fluid. The flue gas from a reactor earlier in a regeneration step can be preferentially used as the gas vented from the system to maintain the desired volume of gas within the system. This results in preferential use of higher temperature flue gas for recycle and lower temperature flue gas for venting from the system. This improved use of flue gas within a reaction system including reverse flow reactors can allow for improved reaction performance while reducing or minimizing heat losses during the regeneration portion of the reaction cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Everett J. O'Neal, Anastasios I. Skoulidas
  • Patent number: 11731872
    Abstract: A water gas shift (WGS) reactor system includes a housing; a reaction tube disposed in the housing, wherein a reaction channel is defined within the reaction tube and a cooling fluid channel is defined between the housing and the reaction tube; a catalyst disposed in the reaction channel, the catalyst configured to catalyze a hydrogen generation reaction; and a heat transfer material disposed in the reaction channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: BAYOTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Herbert Lee Nigg, Robert Charles Moore, Millicent Capstaff, Ranko P. Bontchev, Viswanath Krishnamoorthy
  • Patent number: 11724936
    Abstract: A catalyst composition suitable for the ethanol reforming process at low temperature with enhanced stability on long term, comprises a noble metal, such as platinum or rhodium, and a transition non-noble metal, such as nickel or cobalt, supported by a carrier comprising, cerium, zirconium, optionally aluminium, supplemented with potassium. It is provided also a method for the stable production of hydrogen from an ethanol containing gas stream, comprising subjecting the gas stream to catalytic ethanol reforming as to form a rich H2 stream, using the catalyst as defined above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: KT—KINETICS TECHNOLOGY S.P.A.
    Inventors: Gaetano Iaquaniello, Emma Palo, Vincenzo Palma, Antonio Ricca, Concetta Ruocco
  • Patent number: 11712681
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing titanium dioxide-coated nanostars. Titanium precursors are hydrolyzed into crystalline TiO2 polymorphs at low temperatures, allowing the delicate morphology of the nanostars to be preserved while maintaining their desirable photocatalytic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
    Inventors: Laura Fabris, Fuat E. Celik, Supriya Atta, Ashley M. Pennington
  • Patent number: 11583824
    Abstract: A system and method for producing hydrogen from hydrocarbon and steam, including a membrane reformer with multiple membrane reactors each having a tubular membrane. The bore of the tubular membrane is the permeate side for the hydrogen. The region external to the tubular membrane is the retentate side for carbon dioxide. A sweep gas flows through the bore to displace hydrogen in a direction countercurrent to flow of hydrocarbon and steam in the region external to the tubular membrane. The method includes discharging hydrogen as permeate with the sweep gas from the bore, and discharging carbon dioxide in the region external to the tubular membrane as retentate from the membrane reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Aadesh Harale, Aqil Jamal, Stephen N. Paglieri, Henk van Veen, Francesco Sebastiani, Gerard de Jong, Jaap Vente
  • Patent number: 11508488
    Abstract: A system for transferring heat from a nuclear reactor comprises a nuclear reactor comprising a nuclear fuel and a reactor vessel surrounding the nuclear reactor and a heat transfer system surrounding the nuclear reactor. The heat transfer system comprises an inner wall surrounding the nuclear reactor vessel, first fins coupled to an outer surface of inner wall, an outer wall between the inner wall and a surrounding environment, and second fins coupled to an inner surface of the outer wall and extending in a volume between the outer surface of the inner wall and the inner surface of the outer wall, the outer surface of the inner wall and the first fins configured to transfer heat from the nuclear reactor core to the second fins and the inner surface of the outer wall by thermal radiation. The heat transfer system may be directly coupled to the nuclear reactor vessel, or may be coupled to an external reflector surrounding the nuclear reactor vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Abderrafi Mohammed El-Amine Ougouag, Ramazan Sonat Sen, George W. Griffith
  • Patent number: 11491456
    Abstract: A hydrogen reforming system includes: a reformer that generates first mixed gas through a reforming reaction between fuel gas and water; a transformer that is fed with the first mixed gas and generates second mixed gas from which carbon monoxide is removed by a water gas shift reaction; a pressure swing adsorption that purifies and separate hydrogen from the second mixed gas generated in the transformer; a heat exchanger that is provided between the reformer and the transformer and between the transformer and the PSA unit to control temperatures of the first mixed gas and the second mixed gas through heat exchange with water; a water feeder that communicates with the heat exchanger and supplies water to the heat exchanger; and a control value that is provided on a line through which water is discharged from the water feeder and adjusts a flow rate of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Dong Seok Ko
  • Patent number: 11453827
    Abstract: A syngas generator is disclosed as an exothermic gas generator that can accommodate high combustion temperatures of a natural gas/oxygen flame. The generator includes four sections: a heavily insulated combustion chamber, a catalyst chamber, a spray chamber, and a heat exchanger. These four sections may be arranged in series and tightly bolted together to form a gas-tight system. Natural gas, oxygen and steam are supplied to a burner at the inlet end of the combustion chamber. This mixture is ignited and the resulting hot process gas is then fed into a catalyst bed where it reacts with the steam and is converted to carbon monoxide and hydrogen (syngas). The syngas is fed to a Fischer-Tropsch unit to create liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Greenway Innovative Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond Wright
  • Patent number: 11444303
    Abstract: A steam methane reformer-integrated fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell having an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte matrix separating the anode and the cathode. The system further includes a steam methane reformer configured to react methane with steam to produce a first product stream including hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and carbon monoxide (CO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Jahnke, Matthew Lambrech
  • Patent number: 11417903
    Abstract: An anode layer for a solid oxide electrochemical device comprises a metal support structure having an electrolyte-facing surface and a gas distribution-facing surface, the metal support structure defining pores having a pore diameter, anode catalyst supported within the metal support structure, channels formed within the gas distribution-facing surface of the metal support structure, and a first reformer catalyst deposited onto surfaces of the metal support structure defining the channels, the first reformer catalyst having a diameter greater than the pore diameter. The anode layer can further comprise a second reformer catalyst, with the first reformer catalyst reforming a first fuel and the second reformer catalyst reforming a second fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Mohammed Hussain Abdul Jabbar
  • Patent number: 11408672
    Abstract: Natural gas liquefaction process in combination with a synthesis gas production process, where the steam derived from the synthesis gas production process is used as a heating source for the implementation of the pre-treatment step for eliminating the impurities liable to freeze during the natural gas liquefaction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pierre Costa De Beauregard, Pascal Marty, Thomas Morel
  • Patent number: 11125188
    Abstract: A system and method for co-production of hydrogen and electrical power includes operating an engine having an electrical power generator connected thereto, and a hydrogen gas production plant, from a single source of gaseous fuel such that hydrogen extracted from a heated reformate provided by a partial oxidation catalyst is removed and collected for storage or sale while a tail gas is recirculated to an engine inlet to reduce NOx emissions during engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Ginter, Mark W. Scaife, Ronald G. Silver, Jaswinder Singh
  • Patent number: 11066298
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods useful for providing one or more chemical compounds in a substantially pure form. In particular, the systems and methods can be configured for separation of carbon dioxide from a process stream, such as a process stream in a hydrogen production system. As such, the present disclosure can provide systems and method for production of hydrogen and/or carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: 8 Rivers Capital, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Rafati, Rodney John Allam
  • Patent number: 11034630
    Abstract: Organic sulfur compounds contained in refinery off gas streams having either high ort low concentrations of olefins are converted to hydrogen sulfides which can be then be removed using conventional amine treating systems. The process uses a catalytic reactor with or without a hydrotreater depending on the olefin concentration of the off gas stream. The catalytic reactor operates in a hydrogenation mode or an oxidation mode to convert a majority of organic sulfur compounds into hydrogen sulfides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Minish Mahendra Shah, Raymond Francis Drnevich, Vasilis Papavassiliou
  • Patent number: 10836635
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for obtaining a hydrogen rich gas from an off gas. Further, the invention relates to a system for operating said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Arjan Allert Jonckers, Julie Hélène Emond Duncan, Sanjay Madhoprasad Rungta
  • Patent number: 10710005
    Abstract: An adsorbent material is provided. The adsorbent material comprises a porous, non-particulate substrate comprising pores having a size in the range of about 1 ?m to about 1 mm, and a conformal coating film deposited on the porous, non-particulate substrate, wherein the conformal coating film comprises topographical features having a feature size in the range of about 1 nm to about 1 ?m. A method of preparing the adsorbent material and an adsorbent device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Agency for Science, Technology and Research
    Inventors: Yi Ren, Sing Yang Chiam, Lai Mun Wong
  • Patent number: 10450193
    Abstract: Reforming alcohol is disclosed. Alcohol is introduced into a conduit of an alcohol reformer so that the alcohol flows through a catalyst stage within the conduit. The catalyst stage includes an alcohol reforming catalyst, and a heat transfer member comprising thermally conductive material. The heat transfer member is in thermal contact with the conduit and the alcohol reforming catalyst. Simultaneously, exhaust gas is introduced from an internal combustion engine into an exhaust channel. The exhaust gas in the exhaust channel contacts fins extending outward from the conduit so that heat from the exhaust gas is transferred through the fins, the conduit, and the heat transfer member to the alcohol reforming catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: David A. Morgenstern, Erik D. Sall, Roger C. Smith, Brian Odell Ralph
  • Patent number: 10411266
    Abstract: Provided are: a dry reforming catalyst, in which a noble metal (M) is doped in a nickel yttria stabilized zirconia complex (Ni/YSZ) and an alloy (M-Ni alloy) of the noble metal (M) and nickel is formed at Ni sites on a surface of the nickel yttria stabilized zircona (YSZ); a method for producing the dry reforming catalyst using the noble metal/glucose; and a method for performing dry reforming using the catalyst. The present invention can exhibit a significantly higher dry reforming activity as compared with Ni/YSZ catalysts. Furthermore, the present invention can have an improved long-term performance by suppressing or preventing the deterioration. Furthermore, the preparing method is useful in performing the alloying of noble metal with Ni at Ni sites on the Ni/YSZ surface and can simplify the preparing process, and thus is suitable in mass production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Suk Woo Nam, Chang Won Yoon, Yeong Cheon Kim, Yong Min Kim, Jonghee Han, Sung Pil Yoon, Hyung Chul Ham, Jihoon Jeong, Seok-Keun Koh
  • Patent number: 10106405
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for heating an ATR or POX comprising the steps of heating a process stream by at least one heating means, admitting the heated process stream to an ATR or POX reactor through a main burner, and heating the ATR or POX reactor to or above autoignition temperature of the process stream via the heated process stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventors: Per Juul Dahl, Thomas Sandahl Christensen
  • Patent number: 10071909
    Abstract: An autothermal reforming catalytic structure for generating hydrogen gas from liquid hydrocarbons, steam and an oxygen source. The autothermal reforming catalytic structure includes a support structure and nanosized mixed metal oxide particles dispersed homogenously throughout the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, The University of Queensland
    Inventors: Jorge N. Beltramini, Moses O. Adebajo, Joao Carlos Diniz Da Costa, Gao Qing Lu, Thang V. Pham, Sai P. Katikaneni
  • Patent number: 10035704
    Abstract: An autothermal reforming catalytic structure for generating hydrogen gas from liquid hydrocarbons, steam and an oxygen source. The autothermal reforming catalytic structure includes a support structure and nanosized mixed metal oxide particles dispersed homogenously throughout the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, The University of Queensland
    Inventors: Jorge N. Beltramini, Moses O. Adebajo, Joao Carlos Diniz Da Costa, Gao Qing Lu, Thang V. Pham, Sai P. Katikaneni
  • Patent number: 9962682
    Abstract: A process for the providing a regenerant gas stream for a regenerable adsorbent used to remove water and hydrogen sulfide from a reactor effluent in a catalytic dehydrogenation process is described. The reactor effluent is compressed in a compressor to provide a compressed effluent. The compressed effluent may be treated to remove chlorides, and then passed to a dryer zone having a regenerable adsorbent. A regenerant gas stream is used to desorb the water and hydrogen sulfide and the spent regenerant stream may be passed to a cleaning zone having a sorbent configured to remove hydrogen sulfide from the spent regenerant stream. The cleaned regenerant gas stream may be recycled to the dryer zone to desorb and/or regenerate the regenerable adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
  • Patent number: 9890098
    Abstract: Process for the production of a synthesis gas for use in the production of chemical compounds from a hydrocarbon feed stock containing higher hydrocarbons comprising the steps of: (a) in a pre-reforming stage pre-reforming the feed stock with steam to a pre-reformed gas containing methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; and (b) cooling the pre-reformed gas to below its dewpoint and removing condensed water; and (c) reducing the amount of carbon dioxide the in the pre-reformed gas from step (b) to obtain a module of (H2?CO2)/(CO+CO2) of between 1.0 and 3.8 in the pre-reformed gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventors: Christian Wix, Ib Dybkjaer
  • Patent number: 9876244
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique method for operating a fuel cell system. Another embodiment is a unique system for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel. Another embodiment is a unique fuel cell system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fuel cell systems and steam reforming systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: LG Fuel Cell Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Budge
  • Patent number: 9834441
    Abstract: A reactor containing a heat exchanger is disclosed, which can be operated with co-current or counter-current flow. Also disclosed is a system that includes a reactor having a reformer and a vaporizer, a fuel supply, and a water supply. The reactor includes a source of combustion gas, a reformer operative to receive reformate, and a vaporizer operative to receive water. The reformer and vaporizer each include a stack assembly formed by a combination of separator shims and channel shims. The separator shims and channel shims are stacked in a regular pattern to form two sets of channels within the stack assembly. One set of channels will have vertical passageways at either end and a horizontal flowpath between them, while the other set of channels has only a horizontal flowpath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Paul E. George, II, Vincent Contini, Matthew E. Goshe
  • Patent number: 9776153
    Abstract: The invention relates to a commercially viable modular ceramic oxygen transport membrane system for utilizing heat generated in reactively-driven oxygen transport membrane tubes to generate steam, heat process fluid and/or provide energy to carry out endothermic chemical reactions. The system provides for improved thermal coupling of oxygen transport membrane tubes to steam generation tubes or process heater tubes or reactor tubes for efficient and effective radiant heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Sean M. Kelly, Gervase Maxwell Christie, Charles Robinson, Jamie R. Wilson, Javier E. Gonzalez, Uttam R. Doraswami
  • Patent number: 9737869
    Abstract: A reactor includes a reaction-side flow passage through which a reaction fluid being a fluid constituting a reaction object flows; a temperature controller (heat-medium side flow passage) configured to heat or cool the reaction fluid from outside the reaction-side flow passage; and a catalyst configured to promote a reaction of the reaction fluid, the catalyst provided in the reaction-side flow passage so that a contact area with the reaction fluid is larger on a downstream side than on an upstream side in the reaction-side flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kamata, Koki Hamada, Takuya Yoshinoya
  • Patent number: 9617152
    Abstract: A multiple adiabatic bed reforming apparatus and process are disclosed in which stage-wise combustion, in combination with multiple reforming chambers with catalyst, utilize co-flow and cross-flow under laminar flow conditions, to provide a reformer suitable for smaller production situation as well as large scale production. A passive stage by stage fuel distribution network suitable for low pressure fuel is incorporated and the resistances in successive fuel distribution lines control the amount of fuel delivered to each combustion stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Meggitt (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Anthony M. Johnston
  • Patent number: 9614241
    Abstract: A hydrogen purifier (100) includes: a shift conversion catalyst (5a) which reduces, through a shift reaction, carbon monoxide contained in a hydrogen-containing gas; and a methanation catalyst (6a) which reduces, through a methanation reaction, carbon monoxide contained in the hydrogen-containing gas that has passed through the shift conversion catalyst (5a). The shift conversion catalyst (5a) and the methanation catalyst (6a) are heat exchangeable with each other via a first partition wall (8), and a flow direction of the hydrogen-containing gas that passes through the shift conversion catalyst (5a) is opposite to a flow direction of the hydrogen-containing gas that passes through the methanation catalyst (6a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Nakajima, Hidenobu Wakita, Seiji Fujihara, Yukimune Kani
  • Patent number: 9579620
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for decreasing the spread of the tube temperatures between tubes in a process involving the heating of at least one fluid in a furnace that comprises at least one radiation chamber with radiant walls, at least one essentially vertical row of tubes inside of which circulate the at least one fluid to be heated, and being equipped with burners that heat the tubes, where the method comprises the steps of: determining, for each of the tubes the skin temperature of the tube, selecting the 50% tubes having the lowest temperatures determined, the process being stopped, realizing on each tube selected an operation that decreases the flow of the fluid distributed to said tube while keeping the total flow rate of the fluid unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean Gallarda, Frederic Camy-Perret, Julien Cances, Antoine Hsu, Jacques Segret, Daniel Gary, Patrice Levee, Antonio Coscia, Dirck Simons
  • Patent number: 9556391
    Abstract: A process of decomposing a biomass derivative to produce a gaseous product and then introducing the gaseous product into a steam reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Uchenna Prince Paul, Joe D. Allison, Kristi A. Fjare, Roland Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9540241
    Abstract: A catalyst which comprises nickel and/or cobalt supported on a support that includes a mixed oxide containing metals, such as aluminum, zirconium, lanthanum, magnesium, cerium, calcium, and yttrium. Such catalysts are useful for converting carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, and for converting methane to hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Enerkem, Inc.
    Inventors: Prashant Kumar, David Lynch
  • Patent number: 9533274
    Abstract: An apparatus for cracking gases with a supply line (1) for a carbon-containing gas, by means of which the gas is capable of being supplied to a first heat exchanger (5, 9) with a fill of a thermal storage mass, a first combustion chamber (6, 8) which is arranged downstream in the direction of flow of the gas and which, in particular, has a supply device capable of being regulated for another oxygen-containing gas, by means of which a partial oxidation of the carbon-containing gas is carried out by the hypostoichiometric supply of oxygen, and a reactor (7) which is arranged downstream of the first combustion chamber (6, 8) in the direction of flow of the gas which has a fill of a catalytically acting material for the catalytic splitting of impurities of the carbon-containing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Dragan Stevanovic, Thomas Oehmichen
  • Patent number: 9455463
    Abstract: In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for operating a molten carbonate fuel cell, such as a fuel cell assembly, with increased production of syngas while also reducing or minimizing the amount of CO2 exiting the fuel cell in the cathode exhaust stream. This can allow for improved efficiency of syngas production while also generating electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Paul J. Berlowitz, Timothy Andrew Barckholtz, Frank Hershkowitz
  • Patent number: 9399209
    Abstract: The catalyst may be used to obtain hydrogen or synthesis gas for chemical industry in processes of partial oxidation, steam reforming, and autothermal reforming of a hydrocarbon feed. The catalyst of oxidative conversion of gaseous hydrocarbons to form carbon monoxide and hydrogen contains platinum-group metals and an oxide composition and characterized in that the platinum-group metals include Pt, Pd, and Rh and the oxide composition is obtained from a mixture of a sol of Al, Si, and Zr hydroxides with particles of Ni, Mg and/or Ce oxides with a size of 5-30 nm, that were obtained by spray-pyrolysis of a solution of Ni, Mg and/or Ce salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: OBSHCHESTVO S OGRANICHENNOY OTVETSTVENNOST'YU “GAZOHIM TECHNO”
    Inventors: Sergey Erikovich Dolinskiy, Nikolay Yakovlevich Usachev, Andrey Mikhaylovich Pleshakov
  • Patent number: 9346039
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparation of oxide-polymetallic catalysts containing platinum-group metals for steam-oxidative conversion to obtain carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The method comprises treatment of NiO and CO3O4 by solutions of Al, Ce, Zr nitrates and palladium (Pd(NH3)4Cl2), platinum (H2[PtCl6]·6H2O) and rhodium (H3[RhCl6]) compounds followed by drying, carbonization of the obtained material in a methane flow at 550° C., preparation of slurry from this material, pseudo-boehmite and tetraisopropoxysilane, filling foam nichrome pores with obtained material suspension, elimination of water at 80° C., calcinating during 3 hours in an atmosphere of argon at 1300° C., elimination of carbon by water vapors at 600° C. during 3 hours. The technical result is development of a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst. 3 material claims, 7 tables, 4 examples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: OBSHCHESTVO S OGRANICHENNOY OTVETSTVENNOST'YU, “GAZOKHIM TEKHNO”
    Inventors: Sergey Erikovich Dolinskiy, Nikolay Yakovlevich Usachev, Andrey Mikhaylovich Pleshakov
  • Patent number: 9327259
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for reforming of hydrocarbons are presented. In one example, a method comprises burning fuel gas to form a hot flue gas and heat a reforming-zone feedstock that contains (C5-C11) hydrocarbons to form a heated reforming-zone feed stream. The heated reforming-zone feed stream is partially reformed to form a partially reformed effluent. The partially reformed effluent is advanced through a process heat recovery coil arrangement that is recovering heat from the hot flue gas to form a heated partially reformed effluent. The heated partially reformed effluent is contacted with reforming catalyst at reforming conditions effective to form a reforming reaction-zone effluent. The reforming reaction-zone effluent comprises H2, C5+ hydrocarbons including aromatics, and C4? hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: William M. Hartman, Xin X. Zhu, Lisa M. Lane, William Yanez
  • Patent number: 9321643
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for producing synthesis gas by steam reforming a hydrocarbon load in a reforming furnace provided with a combustion chamber and a convection chamber; the combustion chamber includes vertical tubes filled with catalyst wherein a mixture of hydrocarbons and steam circulates from top to bottom recovering raw synthesis gas at the bottom of the tubes, and burners disposed in rows heat the tubes; the convection chamber discharges fumes containing the gases produced by the combustion. The process also comprises steps of using the heat contained in the fumes for preheating and/or heating various fluids related or unrelated to the process. In the event of the reduction of the mass flow of fumes, the quantity of energy to be transferred into the convection area is maintained by supplying a supplementary gaseous flow to the combustion area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Catherine Denis, Pascal Marty, Michel-Jean Masson, Bernd Polster, Laurent Remy
  • Patent number: 9266729
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel processor that can reduce reforming catalyst deterioration caused by thermal deformation of a structure. The fuel processor includes a reformer 8 that is fed with fuel gas 70 to refine hydrogen-rich reformed gas 73 by a reaction of a reforming catalyst 7. A plurality of partition plates 20 for dividing the reforming catalyst 7 are provided in a space filled with the reforming catalyst 7 between an internal cylinder 18 and an external cylinder 19. All the partition plates 20 are cantilevered from the external cylinder, preventing the partition plates 20 from coming into contact with each other in temperature variations. This can reduce deterioration such as crushing or powdering that is caused by a compressive stress of the reforming catalyst 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Mita, Masaki Nobuoka, Masatoshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9147894
    Abstract: A system and method satisfies temperature and pressure requirements of solid oxide fuel cell system 10 in a manner that increases the overall efficiency and decreases the overall weight of system 10. The system and method include a secondary blower 30 for boosting air stream pressure level sufficient for operation of a reformer 12 that is designed to minimize pressure drop; an integrated heat exchanger 18 for recovering heat from exhaust 36 and comprising multiple flow fields 18A, 18B, 18C for ensuring inlet temperature requirements of a solid oxide fuel cell 14 are met; and a thermal enclosure 46 for separating hot zone 48 components from cool zone 50 components for increasing thermal efficiency of the system and better thermal management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Braun, Sean C. Emerson, Justin R. Hawkes, Ellen Y. Sun, Jean Yamanis, Tobias H. Sienel, Balbir Singh Bal, Stuart Anthony Astley, Thomas D. Radcliffe, James T. Beals, Walter H. Borst, Jr., May L. Corn, Louis Chiappetta, Jr., John T. Costello, Robert R. Hebert, Thomas Henry Vanderspurt
  • Publication number: 20150118146
    Abstract: This is a system for generating hydrogen on-board the vehicle from compressed natural gas (CNG) in select ratios to create hydrogen-enriched CNG (HCNG) fuel for use in internal combustion engines. The on-board generation of hydrogen is comprised of a reforming system of CNG fuel with direct contact with exhaust gases. The reforming system controls for production of HCNG fuel mixtures is based on specific engine operating conditions. The vehicle's engine controls and operating parameters are modified for combustion of selective ratios of HCNG fuel mixtures throughout engine operating cycle. The reforming system controls and engine controls modifications are also used to minimize combustion emissions and optimize engine performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Nick K. EDALATI, Daniel K. COLLINSON