Processes Patents (Class 48/197R)
  • Patent number: 4525176
    Abstract: The refractory lined reaction zone of a free flow vertical gas generator for the production of raw synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas by the partial oxidation of an ash-containing solid carbonaceous fuel or a high-metal-containing liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel is preheated and deslagged by first heating the slag and ash layer on the surface of the refractory lining to a temperature in the range of about 1800.degree.-2000.degree. F. by means of an annular-type elongated burner whose downstream tip is located near the upstream roof of the reaction zone. The tip of the burner is then lowered along the central longitudinal axis of the reaction chamber to above the bottom central outlet passage of the reaction chamber, and the slag and ash layer is heated to their melting point, or above. The molten slag at the bottom of the reaction chamber and the flue gas pass out through the bottom central outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Koog, Lawrence E. Estabrook
  • Patent number: 4521221
    Abstract: A pressure-swing adsorption system is used to enrich the methane content of mine gas obtained from bores around mine shafts or galleries from the customary 25 to 45% by volume to a product gas quality of 50% by volume. Using a carbon molecular sieve adsorbent, the adsorption is carried out at 5 to 8 bar and is followed by a uniflow expansion to an intermediate pressure and a counterflow expansion to a flushing pressure of 1.1 to 2 bar. Counterflow flushing is carried out with waste gas and the product gas is a mixture of the gases obtained by counterflow expansion and flushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Assignee: Bergwerksverband GmbH
    Inventors: Ekkehard Richter, Werner Korbacher, Karl Knoblauch, Klaus Giessler
  • Patent number: 4515604
    Abstract: In a process of producing a synthesis gas which has a low inert gas content and is intended for the synthesis of alcohols, particularly of methanol, and of hydrocarbons, and which is produced from coal or heavy hydrocarbons, by a gasification under pressure with oxygen and steam, whereafter the raw gas is cooled, the impurities are removed by a scrubbing with methanol, and the methanol is removed by means of molecular sieves from the cold pure gas. The pure gas is then cooled further and partly liquefied, the remaining gas is further cooled by a pressure relief and methane is distilled from the liquid part with simultaneous recovery of the synthesis gas, which consists of hydrogen and carbon monoxide and has a low methane content. All or part of the methane is compressed and is subsequently reacted with steam and oxygen to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The produced gas is admixed to the synthesis gas or to the partly purified raw gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Assignee: Metallgesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Eisenlohr, Hans Gaensslen, Manfred Kriebel, Heiner Tanz
  • Patent number: 4511372
    Abstract: A method of gasifying carbon (C) in the form of coal, hydrocarbons and/or hydrocarbon compounds, comprising the steps of into a reactor vessel holding a molten iron bath to inject carbon, oxygen and iron oxides beneath the surface of the molten iron bath, where the iron oxides constitute a coolant and where carbon is injected in a stoichiometric excess relative to oxygen included in the bath in the form of oxides, and where the molten iron bath has such a carbon content that it solves-in carbon. According to the invention, the reactor vessel is caused to have an inner total pressure of 2 to 50 bar, preferably 4 to 10 bar.Hereby the gas production and the production of pig iron increase. Furthermore, the dust formation and the lining wear are reduced substantially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Assignee: IPS Interproject Service AB
    Inventor: Carl-Lennart Axelsson
  • Patent number: 4511459
    Abstract: Coking of residual oil and devolatization/partial gasification and desulfurization of solid particulate fuel are carried out in a single reactor. The particulate fuel is burned in a combustion zone in the bottom of the reactor. A bed of particulate fuel is fluidized above the combustion zone with gases rising from the combustion zone. The fluidized bed is maintained at a temperature which cokes the residual oil and volatizes the particulate fuel. A high temperature, low velocity zone is maintained between the combustion zone and the fluidized bed for calcination and desulfurization of the solid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Tsoung Y. Yan, Paul Shu
  • Patent number: 4511371
    Abstract: A method for restoring slagging conditions in a substoichiometric slagging combustor first requires the establishment of a threshold condition below which an unacceptable risk of slag outlet pluggage exists. Upon observation of current slagging conditions below the threshold conditions, substantially pure oxygen is injected into the combustion reaction zone to increase both zone temperature and reaction rate, leading to improved slagging conditions within the slagging combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry J. Blaskowski
  • Patent number: 4508543
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for gasifying solid carbon fuels with steam. After forming a supersaturated solution of catalyst in steam the pressure is reduced to reaction pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Siegfried Peter
  • Patent number: 4508544
    Abstract: A sulfur-containing fuel is passed into a first fluidized bed (13) containing CaSO.sub.4 and CaO and an oxygen-transfer mediator (e.g. H.sub.2) whereby the fuel is converted to combustible gas (18), some CaSO.sub.4 being reduced to CaS and sulfur being fixed as CaS by reaction with CaO. Bed particles pass from the bottom layer of the first bed (13) into the bottom layer of the second bed (14) which is fluidized by air at conditions such that some, but not all of the CaS is selectively oxidized to CaSO.sub.4 with no liberation of sulfur moieties. Bed particles pass from the bottom layer of the second bed (14) to the bottom layer of a third bed (15) optionally after passage via a fourth bed (60, FIG. 2) between the second and third beds. In the third bed (15), particles are fluidized with air to convert CaS selectively to CaSO.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.
    Inventor: Gerald Moss
  • Patent number: 4504282
    Abstract: A method of producing a source of rich (in the general range of 900 BTU per cubic foot) gaseous fuel, and a method of producing a rich gaseous fuel, both include reducing metallic manganese or a mixture of metals in which manganese predominates and carbonaceous material to a powder finer than 200 mesh, mixing the powders in a proportion by weight between 1 to 1 and 4 to 1 manganese to carbonaceous material (available carbon), and heating the mixture, in a reducing atmosphere, to a temperature of between 600.degree. and 950.degree. C. to substantial equilibrium by completion of reaction, generally for a period of about forty minutes. The production of gaseous fuel includes the step of treating the source material with a reactant taken from the group consisting of steam and a mildly acidic solution. The source material residue is then recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Memphis State University
    Inventor: John W. Smith
  • Patent number: 4502869
    Abstract: Synthesis gas is produced by partial oxidation of hydrocarbon charge, a first portion being cooled by indirect heat exchange and scrubbed before being combined with the quenched second portion en route to particulate scrubbing, the combined gas scrubber overhead being characterized by a desired steam:dry gas ratio which is controlled by regulating the flow of the quenched second portion in accordance with the measured properties of the combined scrubber overhead gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1985
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick C. Jahnke, William B. Crouch, George M. Gulko
  • Patent number: 4501820
    Abstract: A tungsten-containing catalyst associated with coke containing vanadium and nickel is recovered by a method which includes steam gasification, low temperature burning to remove at least a portion of the coke and selective extraction of the nickel and vanadium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: David E. Allan, Byron V. Molstedt, Raam R. Mohan
  • Patent number: 4500323
    Abstract: An increased reaction velocity is achieved when gasifying a raw carboniferous material with H.sub.2 O. The raw material is suspended or emulsified in a liquid aqueous solution of a catalytically active salt, and the amount of the catalytically active salt and the pressure are such that the aqueous solution is maintained in the liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Siegfried, Martin Wenger
  • Patent number: 4499864
    Abstract: In a method of producing fuel for start-up to an automobile internal combustion engine which is continuously operated after start-up on alcohol and/or dissociated alcohol and/or liquid hydrocarbonthe improvement comprising the steps of:(a) providing a readily replaceable first container having an initial amount of hydride therein in fluid flow communication with said internal combustion engine,(b) heating said hydride whereby hydrogen is produced leaving a hydride product and a remainder of hydridesaid remainder of hydride being lesser in amount than said initial amount of hydride,(c) initially starting said engine,whereby hydrogen is produced from the hydride for initially starting said engine and said remainder of hydride without regeneration of hydride product is available for the next starting of said engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Dale R. Lovercheck, George P. Curran
  • Patent number: 4500324
    Abstract: The nickel content of a waste water stream, such as a stream of grey water that is separated in the decanting operation of a partial oxidation process or blow-down water from a gas quench cooling and/or scrubbing operation is reduced to below 1 mg/l to produce an environmentally upgraded water stream. In the process, the dilute waste water stream containing nickel impurities at a temperature in the range of about 60.degree. to 220.degree. F. is mixed with a water soluble material selected from the group consisting of formaldehyde, ionizable polysulfide salt, and hydrogen peroxide; and with dimethyl glyoxime. The pH is adjusted to a value in the range of over 7 to 11 by the addition of a base material and a water insoluble nickel precipitate forms. The precipitate and other insoluble matter are separated from the water by means of at least one conventional solids-liquid separator, and a stream of upgraded water is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Dinh-Cuong Vuong
  • Patent number: 4497638
    Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for generating fuel gas and decoking particulate solids used as the source of heat to effect chemical reactions in a TRC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1985
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Axel R. Johnson, Herman N. Woebcke
  • Patent number: 4497637
    Abstract: Biomass feedstock raw material is converted to synthesis gas by drying and sizing biomass raw material, pyrolyzing the processed biomass in intimate mixture with inert gases such as combustion products, thereby obtaining a product mixture of char, pyrolysis oil, and pyrolysis gas, and gasifying the char and some of the pyrolysis oil in the presence of steam and oxygen at a temperature sufficient to form the synthesis gas product substantially comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1985
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Institute
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Purdy, Charles W. Gorton, James A. Knight, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4496370
    Abstract: In the gasification of char with zinc oxide, the improvement which comprises reacting the off-gas stream of gaseous zinc and carbon monoxide with steam at elevated temperatures in a second reactor means thereby oxidizing the zinc to zinc oxide and yielding a second gaseous stream containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This improved process avoids having to condense and revaporize the zinc, heretofore an economic barrier to the development of the zinc oxide char processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: William G. Billings
  • Patent number: 4496371
    Abstract: A gas treating process is disclosed. Hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide are removed from a hydrocarbon vapor stream by absorption into an aqueous carbonate solution. Hydrogen sulfide picked up by the circulating carbonate solution is oxidized to produce liquid sulfur, which is withdrawn. The carbonate solution is then stripped to release carbon dioxide and produce the lean carbonate solution used for absorption. By-product thiosulfate formed in the oxidation step is eliminated by reaction with hydrogen sulfide. Metal phthalocyanines are used as the catalyst for the elimination of thiosulfate and for the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Urban, Russell W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4494467
    Abstract: Apparatus for combustion of methanol and similar fuels comprising first combustion apparatus receiving a supply of methanol or similar fuel for heating thereof and removing the water content thereof, thereby producing steam, second combustion apparatus disposed above the first combustion apparatus and in fluid communication therewith for combustion of hydrocarbon fuel resulting from the operation of the first combustion apparatus; and utilization apparatus receiving steam from the first combustion apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Inventor: Daniel Berman
  • Patent number: 4491456
    Abstract: A high turndown de-slagging burner is provided for simultaneously introducing one or two mixed pairs of reactant feedstreams into a free-flow noncatalytic partial oxidation gas generator for the production of synthesis gas, fuel gas, or reducing gas by way of the central and/or annular sections of the burner, respectively. Each pair of feedstreams comprises a stream of free-oxygen containing gas with or without a temperature moderator and a pumpable liquid slurry stream of solid carbonaceous fuel, such as a coal-water slurry. Other hydrocarbonaceous fuels may be employed. The burner comprises four coaxial concentric conduits that are radially spaced to provide coaxial concentric annular passages. All of the conduits and annular passages are closed at the upstream ends and open at the downstream ends. Each pair of feedstreams is separately mixed together in a central or annular pre-mix chamber located upstream from the face of the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1985
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Warren G. Schlinger
  • Patent number: 4490251
    Abstract: A novel vertical decanter is provided comprising a vertical cylindrical vessel with separate inner and outer coaxial concentric conduits that pass down through the central axial flanged inlet in the upper head of the vessel. The mixture of soot-water dispersion and first liquid organic extractant i.e. naphtha is passed through the inner conduit and is discharged through a first horizontal radial nozzle located below the interface level. Simultaneously, the second liquid organic extractant i.e. liquid organic by-products from an oxo or oxyl process is passed through the annular passage between the inner and outer conduits and is discharged through a second horizontal radial nozzle located above the interface level. Adjusting means are provided to vary the discharge height of the second horizontal radial nozzle, up or down should there be a change in location of the interface level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Assignee: Texaco Development Corporation
    Inventors: Manuel E. Quintana, Lawrence E. Estabrook
  • Patent number: 4489562
    Abstract: Fuel and oxidant feed rates into a gasifier 202 are regulated by monitoring overall output 14 and comparing with a pre-selected setpoint valve 10. An overall load demand signal 50, responsive to this comparision is generated and used as an input to control 102 oxidant feed rate. The heating value of the product gas is measured 76 and used to control 64 overall fuel feed rate to the gasifier 202. For a two stage slagging gasifier, the present invention controls 114 fuel feed rate to the slagging stage 210 responsive to the measured slagging stage reaction temperature 128.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Troxell K. Snyder, Paul H. Chase
  • Patent number: 4486199
    Abstract: In a fluidized bed gasification system an ash removal system to reduce the particulate ash to a maximum size or smaller, allow the ash to cool to a temperature lower than the gasifier and remove the ash from the gasifier system. The system consists of a crusher, a container containing level probes and a means for controlling the rotational speed of the crusher based on the level of ash within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Carl E. Schenone, Joseph Rosinski
  • Patent number: 4483691
    Abstract: In coal gasification processes for the production of synthetic natural gas by the reaction of coal with steam and oxygen under pressure to form a gasifier synthesis gas and a liquid hydrocarbon by-product, the liquid hydrocarbon by-product is treated for solids and metal removal and is then passed to a catalytic partial oxidation zone containing a monolithic platinum-palladium catalyst. The hydrocarbon by-product liquids are converted to secondary synthesis gas by being reacted with steam and oxygen. Optionally, the effluent from the catalytic partial oxidation zone may be passed through a second, steam reforming catalyst to react residual hydrocarbons with water to produce hydrogen and carbon oxides. The gasifier and secondary synthesis gases may be treated to remove acid gases therefrom and then methanated to provide a product synthetic natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: William T. McShea, III, Robert M. Yarrington
  • Patent number: 4482359
    Abstract: A combustible gas producer plant is described in which a finely divided inert particulate material fluidized bed is divided into a first, combustible-gas producing section and a second, heating section, to both of which sections fuel is fed. Heat transfer, by bed material migration, from the second to the first section sustains the reaction in the first section leading to the production of combustible gas. A diaphragm water wall divides and surrounds the volumes above bed sections and is part of a boiler generating steam used (optionally with added oxygen) to fluidize the first bed section. The steam is also used to fluidize the bed material at the boundary of the bed sections and prevent in-bed gas migration across that boundary. The second section of the bed is fluidized with air or an air/inert gas mixture. Fluidization is effected with sparge tubes and the plant may include evaporator, superheater and economizer sections for the boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Assignee: The Energy Equipment Company Limited
    Inventor: Peter B. Caplin
  • Patent number: 4478608
    Abstract: A method of treating process gases coming from a gasification reactor before entry of such process gases into a system of waste heat utilization. The process gases are cooled off to a temperature of at least 800.degree. C. before entry thereof into the waste heat system. Thereafter, the gases are extensively freed of solid matter in a cyclone separator system located ahead of the convective cooling system, and thereafter the gases are cooled off further to a temperature of at least 250.degree. C. in a convective cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: L. & C. Steinmuller GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Dorling, Ulrich Premel
  • Patent number: 4476683
    Abstract: A process for the energy efficient conduct of a multi-stage water gas shift reaction includes furnishing a carbon monoxide-containing feed gas stream at an inlet temperature of at least 600.degree. F. and water to a high-temperature shift reactor stage to produce a carbon dioxide and hydrogen enriched exhaust gas stream and introducing the exhaust gas stream to a low-temperature shift reactor stage at an inlet temperature of about 300.degree.-500.degree. F. to produce a product gas stream further enriched in carbon dioxide and hydrogen. A heat exchange fluid is passed in heat exchange relationship with at least the feed and exhaust gas streams to recover thermal energy therefrom by concurrently cooling the gas streams and heating the heat exchange fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rasiklal P. Shah, Cynthia L. Gleason
  • Patent number: 4476818
    Abstract: A method of fuel treatment and distribution for an internal combustion engine including the sequence of steps as follows:(a) heating a catalyst bed reactor to a start-up temperature using exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine being operated on atomized alcohol; the catalyst bed reactor including a partial combustion catalyst and an alcohol dissociation catalyst;(b) vaporizing liquid alcohol to form alcohol vapor;(c) mixing the alcohol vapor with a fixed flow rate of air to form a partial combustion mixture, the flow rate being substantially fixed at about the flow rate required for adiabatic dissociation of the alcohol vapor at the flow rate of the alcohol vapor during idling of the internal combustion engine;(d) contacting the partial combustion mixture and the partial combustion catalyst and the dissociation catalyst to form a hydrogen-rich fuel;(e) mixing air and the hydrogen rich fuel to form a total combustion mixture;(f) burning the total combustion mixture in an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Heeyoung Yoon
  • Patent number: 4475925
    Abstract: A method for the gasification of a carbonaceous material is disclosed wherein a carbonaceous material containing potassium nitrate and a solid heat-transfer material comprising sintered bauxite are introduced into a reaction vessel, then the carbonaceous material is reacted with steam to form a hot char and a gaseous product, wherein the heat necessary for said reaction is supplied by the heat-transfer material. Preferably, the carbonaceous material contains from 2 percent to 15 percent potassium nitrate. More preferably, the carbonaceous material is petroleum coke mixed with about 5 percent potassium nitrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: C. Richard Hsieh
  • Patent number: 4474584
    Abstract: Hot synthesis gas is cooled and deashed by passage through first zone in contact with a downwardly descending film of cooling liquid, a second zone in contact with a spray of cooling liquid, a third zone in contact with a body of cooling liquid, and a fourth zone in contact with a spray of cooling liquid--at least a portion of the cooling liquid to the first zone preferably being recycled cooling liquid from which at least a portion of the solids contained therein has been removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignee: Texaco Development Corporation
    Inventor: Wolfgang Koog
  • Patent number: 4474583
    Abstract: A heat recovery process for use in gasification of solid carbonaceous fuel such as coal utilizing a fluidized bed of char. The vapor and entrained char dusts rise from a gasification section into a gas solids disengaging section and into a heat recovery section, from which a major portion of the char solids are returned to the gasification section. The vapor and some retaining fine solids pass upwardly into the cooling section containing a fluidized bed of char particles maintained at a temperature of about 800.degree.-1500.degree. F. by a cooling fluid to solidify sticky ash on the char particles. The char containing the sticky ash is then returned to the lower gasification section for reheating and further gasification reactions. The remaining fine solids are separated from vapors and returned to the lower fluidized beds, and a clean product gas stream is withdrawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Chia-Wei Chen, Leonard W. Zahnstecher, William J. Maier, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4473490
    Abstract: A reforming furnace having a radiant section containing cracking tubes, a convection section and a stack is controlled so as to maintain a desired synthesis gas temperature unless such maintenance would result in the violation of a process constraint. The desired excess oxygen concentration in the combustion gases withdrawn from the radiant section is also maintained while maintaining the desired synthesis gas temperature. As for the convection section, the temperature of a fluid stream passing through the convection section is maintained while still maintaining a desired excess oxygen concentration in the stack gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: William S. Stewart
  • Patent number: 4472363
    Abstract: Fuel gas produced in a coal distillation or gasification plant 1 is fed to a power plant 5 and chlorine, fluorine, sulphur and compounds thereof in the fuel gas are separated from the fuel gas, and also from flue or exhaust gas emanating from the power plant, in two stages. In a first stage, chlorine and fluorine and their compounds are separated, preferably in the dry using alkali metal or alkaline earth metal oxides, hydroxides or carbonates, in a separator 3. In a second stage sulphur and its compounds, together with further chlorine, fluorine and their compounds, if any, produced in the power plant, are removed from the flue or exhaust gas from the power plant in a desulphurizing plant 6. This two stage process is thermally more efficient and less costly than a process in which the chlorine, fluorine sulphur and their compounds are all removed at once from the fuel gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1984
    Assignee: Vereinigte Elektrizitatswerke Westfalen AG
    Inventors: Jurgen Poller, Klaus Weinzierl
  • Patent number: 4472171
    Abstract: Method and/or system for removing liquid slag from a pressurized gasifier. Hot liquid slag is quenched in a quenching medium such as water. The quenched and solidified slag is crushed to a maximum particle size. The crushed slag and quenching medium are alternatively connected to opposite ends of a floating piston while the other end is connected to an outlet for disposal of the slag. The crushed slag and quenching medium are subjected to the gasifier pressure so that the piston acts to forceably eject the mixture through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1984
    Assignee: Texaco Development Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Broderick
  • Patent number: 4471063
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and sequence of processing steps within an apparatus arrangement comprising two separate fluidized relatively dense catalyst beds undergoing regeneration to remove carbonaceous deposits wherein catalyst particles are circulated between catalyst beds to transfer heat from one bed to another and transfer partially regenerated catalyst from one bed to a second heat generating catalyst bed, said catalyst regeneration system arranged to maintain a desired heat balanced temperature restriction less than 787.degree. C. (1450.degree. F.) and the generation of a CO.sub.2 rich flue gas with utilization thereof to achieve reaction with carbon form carbon monoxide under endothermic reaction temperature conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: Ashland Oil, Inc.
    Inventor: William P. Hettinger
  • Patent number: 4469487
    Abstract: Fuels, particularly caking fuels, are supplied in a fluidized bed reactor by conveying a fuel through an injection pipe with an end provided with an injection nozzle in a fluidized bed reactor, conveying a fluid through a jacket pipe surrounding the injection pipe and having an end provided with a jacket nozzle, wherein the jacket pipe is interrupted prior to the jacket nozzle, as considered in the flow direction, and at a predetermined location, and bypassing by a heat exchanger at this location at which the jacket pipe is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1984
    Assignee: Bergwerksverband GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Peters, Harald Juntgen, Karl H. Van Heek, Reinhold Kirchhoff, Heinrich Wagener
  • Patent number: 4466807
    Abstract: In a process for manufacturing a gas substantially containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas from a starting material containing carbon and/or hydrocarbon, the starting material is injected in powder or liquid form together with an oxidizing agent and slag former in a combustion zone while heat energy is simultaneously supplied. The combustion zone is formed in the lower portion of a shaft filled with particulate, solid, carbonaceous material and sulphur-binding slag former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Assignee: SKF Steel Engineering Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Sven Santen, Borje Johansson
  • Patent number: 4466808
    Abstract: Hot gases containing ash and char which pass through an undesirable viscous, sticky phase on cooling through an intermediate temperature range, are cooled in a first cooling zone including a falling film of cooling liquid and a spray of cooling liquid followed by contact with a body of cooling liquid and subsequent mixing therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Assignee: Texaco Development Corporation
    Inventor: Wolfgang Koog
  • Patent number: 4466810
    Abstract: A continuous process for preventing the build-up of metals from the hydrocarbonaceous fuel feed in a partial oxidation system in which about 80-100 wt. % of the carbon-soot produced is recycled to the gas generator. By the subject process a significantly large portion of the metals and metal compounds i.e. ash in the soot-water feed stream to the decanter become concentrated in the grey water that separates out in the decanter in the carbon recovery section. The concentration of ash suspended in the grey water may be then easily reduced in a solids-liquid separator with or without the addition of a flocculant and prior to recycling a portion of the grey water to the gas quench tank and/or gas scrubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Roger M. Dille, George N. Richter, Lawrence E. Estabrook, Jean-Georges P. Rohner, Harold A. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 4466809
    Abstract: Method for supplying fuel material to a gasification reactor into which a mixture of finely powdered fuel material, in suspension in a liquid phase, is charged inside a pressurized combustion chamber into which the combustion-supporting gas is injected and constituting the reactor, by means of a screw conveyor producing a continuously fluid-tight plug by compression of the driven material. By intermeshing at least two overlapping screws with identical threads rotated in the same direction, a wringing of the mixture introduced through an input orifice is compressed by regulating the flow rate of the mixture supply and the rotary speed of the screws so that, for a given flow rate of material, the plug constituted in a braking zone is at a given pressure and contains a certain proportion of liquid phase. The additional amount of liquid phase is expelled into the braking zone and reascends upstream into a drive zone where it is removed through orifices formed in filtering parts of a sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Assignee: Creusot-Loire
    Inventors: Rolande Kissel, Pierre Berger, Gerard Chrysostome
  • Patent number: 4465496
    Abstract: A process for the removal of slag and other residual solid material from a coal gasification process as a suspension in water free from noxious gases normally associated therewith wherein water is drawn off from the quench section of a coal gasifier with the slag into lock hopper and is displaced by introducing cold fresh water into the lower portion of the lock hopper displacing the sour water from an exit in the upper portion of the lock hopper back into the quench section of the coal gasification system. In an alternate embodiment, noxious gases are stripped from the quench water in the lock hopper with a stripping gas. Solid waste and clean or decontaminated water are discharged from the system without pollution of the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1984
    Assignee: Texaco Development Corporation
    Inventor: Robert M. Suggitt
  • Patent number: 4462928
    Abstract: This is a partial oxidation process in which heavy hydrocarbonaceous fractions from a petroleum refinery and light liquid paraffinic hydrocarbon extractants are used in the production of synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas i.e. gaseous mixtures comprising H.sub.2 and CO. In the process, substantially all of the particulate carbon and soot that are simultaneously produced are recovered and recycled to the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Roger M. Dille, Harold A. Rhodes, Susan B. Wallon
  • Patent number: 4461628
    Abstract: A method of operating a gasifier having at least four, and preferably eight, tuyeres, so as to bring about a rapid turndown from full operational loading to a relatively lower operational loading without the risk of either a temporary or permanent loss of a tuyere. The gasifying medium is arranged to be supplied to the tuyeres at either a first velocity and loading or a second, lower, velocity and loading and in carrying out the method the gasifying medium supplied to some or all of the tuyeres is changed abruptly from the first to the second velocity and loading at selected frequent intervals, in a predetermined pattern, so that a selective pulsing operation of the tuyeres occurs to bring about the required reduction in loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1984
    Assignee: British Gas Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis Hebden, Charles T. Brooks
  • Patent number: 4459138
    Abstract: In a coal gasification operation (32) or similar conversion process carried out in the presence of an alkali metal-containing catalyst wherein particles containing alkali metal residues are produced, alkali metal constituents are recovered from the particles by contacting them (46, 53, 61, 69) with water or an aqueous solution to remove water-soluble alkali metal constituents and produce an aqueous solution enriched in said constituents. The aqueous solution thus produced is then contacted with carbon dioxide (63) to precipitate silicon constituents, the pH of the resultant solution is increased (81), preferably to a value in the range between about 12.5 and about 15.0, and the solution of increased pH is evaporated (84) to increase the alkali metal concentration. The concentrated aqueous solution is then recycled to the conversion process (86, 18, 17) where the alkali metal constituents serve as at least a portion of the alkali metal constituents which comprise the alkali metal-containing catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Wen Y. Soung
  • Patent number: 4459137
    Abstract: The gasification of solid carbonaceous materials such as coal is achieved by directing a stream containing the carbonaceous materials onto a high temperature hot spot which has been formed on the surface of a bath of molten iron by oxygen jets blown thereagainst, the stream containing the carbonaceous materials emanating from a non-submerged, top-blowing lance, the oxygen jets emanating from the same lance or from different lances, and the bath of molten iron being contained in a reactor such that its total volume remains essentially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries Limited
    Inventors: Toyosuke Tanoue, Masanobu Sueyasu, Mitsuichiro Fukuda, Tohru Matsuo
  • Patent number: 4455154
    Abstract: This invention provides a heat exchanger, particularly useful for systems requiring cooling of hot particulate solids, such as the separated fines from the product gas of a carbonaceous material gasification system. The invention allows effective cooling of a hot particulate in a particle stream (made up of hot particulate and a gas), using gravity as the motive source of the hot particulate.In a preferred form, the invention substitutes a tube structure for the single wall tube of a heat exchanger. The tube structure comprises a tube with a core disposed within, forming a cavity between the tube and the core, and vanes in the cavity which form a flow path through which the hot particulate falls. The outside of the tube is in contact with the cooling fluid of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: George A. Blasiole
  • Patent number: 4450241
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the conversion of high boiling oil feeds having a significant level of Conradson carbon components and metals to form lighter oil products by contacting the feed under catalytic conversion conditions with a catalyst containing one of a select group of metal additives to catalyze the endothermic removal of carbon with CO.sub.2. Conversion conditions are such that hydrocarbonaceous material and metals are deposited to deactivate the catalyst in the conversion zone. Deactivated catalyst is partially regenerated in the presence of carbon dioxide containing gas before or after oxygen regeneration at a temperature below 1600.degree. F. to provide a regenerated catalyst which is recycled to the conversion zone for further contact with fresh feed. The metal additive is present on the catalyst in an amount sufficient to catalyze the endothermic removal of carbonaceous material in the presence of a carbon dioxide rich gas at regeneration temperature below 1500.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: Ashland Oil, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Hettinger, Jr., Stephen M. Kovach, James F. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 4448589
    Abstract: Particulate carbonaceous solids are pyrolytically converted to fuel gas in a fluidized bed containing quartz sand as the primary inert heat-transfer medium. In addition to the quartz sand, the fluidized bed contains an anti-agglomerating composition consisting of a carbonate or oxide of calcium, magnesium, or barium, or mixtures thereof. The formation of sand agglomerates (viz. clinkers) interferring with fluidized bed operation is prevented. Coarsely ground limestone is the preferred additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: Kansas State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Liang-tseng Fan, Walter P. Walawender
  • Patent number: 4444569
    Abstract: A carbonaceous material, such as coal, is gasified in a vertically elongated reaction vessel having a lower portion, an upper portion, and a re-entrainment zone which is located above the upper portion. The effective diameter of the upper portion of the vessel is larger than that of the lower portion of the vessel and the re-entrainment zone. A gasification agent is passed upwardly through the vessel at a rate sufficient to entrain the coal and fluidize a heat-transfer material in the lower portion of the vessel. The gasification agent reacts with the coal to form a hot char and a gaseous product, with the necessary heat being supplied by the heat-transfer material. In this process, the heat-transfer material substantially flows downwardly in the reaction vessel, in a fluidized state or an unfluidized state through the upper portion of the vessel and in a fluidized state through the lower portion of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: John C. Haas
  • Patent number: 4444568
    Abstract: In a process of simultaneously producing fuel gas and process heat from carbonaceous materials wherein the carbonaceous materials are gasified in a first fluidized bed stage and the combustible constituents left after the gasification are subsequently burnt in a second fluidized bed stage the throughput rate and the flexibility are increased in that the gasification is carried out at a pressure of up to 5 bars and a temperature of 800.degree. to 1100.degree. C. by a treatment with oxygen-containing gases in the presence of steam in a circulating fluidized bed and 40 to 80% of the carbon contained in the starting material are thus reacted. Sulfur compounds are removed from the resulting gas in a fluidized state at a temperature in the range from 800.degree. to 1000.degree. C. and the gas is then cooled and subjected to dust collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: Metallgesellschaft, Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans Beisswenger, Georg Daradimos, Martin Hirsch, Ludolf Plass, Harry Serbent