Air Injected Patents (Class 48/212)
  • Patent number: 11879104
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon recovery facility includes: a washing column configured to bring a gas and water into contact to deposit a hydrocarbon contained in the gas into the water; an automatic strainer for continuously removing the hydrocarbon together with part of the water from the water mixed with the hydrocarbon; an oil-water mixing drum for mixing the water and the hydrocarbon removed by the automatic strainer with an organic solvent to prepare an oil-water mixture; and an oil-water separation drum for separating the oil-water mixture prepared in the oil-water mixing drum into an oil phase and a water phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kaori Yoshida, Rikio Kan, Seiji Kakesako
  • Patent number: 11841190
    Abstract: A biomass combustion system for ceramic roller kiln, including a roller kiln including a preheating section, a combustion section and a cooling section; a biomass gasifier with a feed port, a first gas inlet, a second gas inlet and an gas outlet; a fuel manifold; and a pentane gasification device connected to the fuel manifold. The biomass or biomass waste is fed through the feed port. The gas outlet is connected to the fuel manifold through a heat exchanger. The premixer is configured to mix part of the hot air discharged from the cooling section with a mixture of biomass gas and gaseous pentane transported by the fuel manifold to obtain an air-fuel mixture, and distribute the mixture to the combustion section through burners. A biomass combustion process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU INSTITUTE OF ENERGY TESTING
    Inventors: Kuo Huang, Yuanming Zhang, Xiaozhou Liu, Qilun Lu, Chao Feng, Guoyu Chen, Liling Chen, Wei Xiao, Huixuan Liang
  • Patent number: 9290709
    Abstract: A process and device for the gasification of liquid or fine-grain solid fuel materials with the aid of oxygenous, gaseous gasification agents in a reactor is described. Liquid slag is separated on the walls of the reactor. The synthesis gas is generated in a first reaction chamber arranged in the upper part of the reactor and the feedstock is fed to the upper part. Liquid slag precipitates on its lateral walls, with free downflow and no solidification of the slag surface. The lower side has a hole with a slag drop-off edge, from which the generated synthesis gas can be withdrawn in downward direction and the liquid slag can drop off the edge. A second chamber which is delimited by a water film is located under the opening and used to keep the synthesis gas dry and cool. A third chamber is adjacent to the bottom of the second and fed with water to cool the synthesis gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kowoll, Eberhard Kuske, Ralf Abraham, Max Heinritz-Adrian
  • Patent number: 9028568
    Abstract: A system includes a carbon dioxide treatment system that includes a catalyst configured to treat carbon dioxide to produce a treated carbon dioxide. The system also includes a gasifier injector configured to inject the treated carbon dioxide, a fuel, and oxygen into a gasifier. The gasifier injector may be coupled to or located inside the gasifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raymond Douglas Steele, Pradeep Stanley Thacker
  • Publication number: 20150052813
    Abstract: A method for using a downdraft gasifier comprising a housing and a refractory stack contained within the housing. The refractory stack may comprise various sections. Apertures in the sections may be aligned to form multiple columnar cavities. Each columnar cavity may comprise an individual oxidation zone. The method of use may include the steps of placing a feedstock into an upper portion of the refractory stack, measuring the temperature of each columnar cavity, and adjusting the flow of oxygen to a particular columnar cavity to maintain the temperature of the particular columnar cavity within a particular range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Alan M. Neves, Grover R. Brockbank, Morris K. Ebeling
  • Patent number: 8808411
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making a high-purity gas. The process includes an interrelationship among at least four bath vessels, each of which has a molten metal bath. In one embodiment, the process generally includes adding a gas stream into a first bath vessel and then removing that gas stream to introduce it into a third bath vessel. The third bath gas stream is removed to ultimately obtain hydrogen. Steam is added to a fourth bath vessel to ultimately produce additional hydrogen. One or more gas streams produced in the third and/or fourth bath vessels are added to a second bath vessel to ultimately result in production of methane or carbon monoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventors: Michael C. Collins, Robert D. Bach
  • Patent number: 8801813
    Abstract: A gasification apparatus for solid fuel, especially an apparatus for producing syngas by pressurized gasification of coal powder, including a gasification chamber (II) and a syngas cooling and purification chamber (III). The inner wall of the gasification chamber is a water-cooling wall (4). The inner side of the water-cooled wall is evenly coated with a layer of fire-resistant material (16). There is an annular cavity between the water-cooling wall of the gasification chamber and the furnace body. A syngas quencher, a vertical pipe (22), a gas distribution device (24), a defoaming device, and a dewatering and deashing device (21) are provided in the syngas cooling and purification chamber. The apparatus has a simple structure and is easy to operate. A high temperature gasification method for dry powder of carbonaceous material comprises spraying the combustible material and oxygen into the furnace and followed by ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Changzheng Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhengtao Lu, Mingkun Wang, Congbin Jiang, Wei Xin, Ruiheng Gao, Honghai Li
  • Patent number: 8801814
    Abstract: A process for partial oxidation of hydrocarbons in a reactor, in which a stream comprising the hydrocarbon and a stream comprising the oxygen are fed to the reactor, wherein both streams fed to the reactor are conducted within the reactor separately through in each case one or more spatially separate lines, these lines having turbulence generators in their interior, owing to which, as a result of the imposed deflection of the flow direction downstream of turbulence generators, a highly turbulent flow field forms, and the streams are then mixed in a mixing zone after exiting from the lines and then converted in a reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Dirk Grossschmidt, Maximilian Vicari, Christian Weichert, Hans Zapf, Andreas Joa, Ravindra Aglave, Jens Denecke
  • Patent number: 8784515
    Abstract: A process of catalytic partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon fuel with an oxidant to produce partially-oxidized reaction products including hydrogen, with simultaneous in-situ coke removal. The process involves feeding a hydrocarbon fuel and an oxidant to a reactor in a fuel-rich feed ratio; reacting the fuel and oxidant for a fuel-rich cycle-time so as to produce a partially-oxidized reaction product; varying the fuel feed, or the oxidant feed, or both feeds to produce a fuel-lean feed to the reactor; maintaining the fuel-lean feed for a fuel-lean cycle-time sufficient to reduce coke deposits while maintaining a substantially constant yield of partially-oxidized reaction product; and alternating between the fuel-rich and fuel-lean operating cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: Precision Combustion, Inc., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Subir Roychoudhury, Richard Mastanduno, David Spence, Jun Iwamoto, Go Motohashi
  • Patent number: 8778038
    Abstract: A method for controlling the peak temperature of a fluid gasification zone used for the gasification of carbonaceous materials to a syngas. Pulsed oxygen is used to control the peak temperature of the gasification zone and to avoid hot spots in the gasifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Syngas Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Duane A. Goetsch, Jacqueline R. Hitchingham, Lloyd R. White
  • Patent number: 8518133
    Abstract: A gasifier is disclosed. The gasifier may include a housing and a refractory system contained within the housing. The refractory system may comprise an upper manifold, an intermediate portion, and a lower manifold. The refractory system may also include columnar cavities. The columnar cavities may extend vertically through the intermediate portion and place the upper manifold in communication with the lower manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventors: Alan M. Neves, Grover R. Brockbank, Morris K. Ebeling, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8480790
    Abstract: Method of producing syngas in an IGCC system, comprising compressing and heating carbon dioxide-rich gas to produce heated compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas, mixing the heated compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas with oxygen and feedstock to form a feedstock mixture, subjecting the feedstock mixture to gasification to produce syngas, cooling the syngas in a radiant syngas cooler, contacting syngas cooled in the radiant syngas cooler with compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas to further cool the syngas, and removing an amount of carbon dioxide-rich gas from the product mixture and compressing the removed carbon dioxide-rich gas prior to mixing with oxygen and feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Duckett Winter, Paul Steven Wallace, George Gulko, Pradeep S. Thacker
  • Patent number: 8480768
    Abstract: A gasifier 10 includes a first chemical process loop 12 having an exothermic oxidizer reactor 14 and an endothermic reducer reactor 16. CaS is oxidized in air in the oxidizer reactor 14 to form hot CaSO4 which is discharged to the reducer reactor 16. Hot CaSO4 and carbonaceous fuel received in the reducer reactor 16 undergo an endothermic reaction utilizing the heat content of the CaSO4, the carbonaceous fuel stripping the oxygen from the CaSO4 to form CaS and a CO rich syngas. The CaS is discharged to the oxidizer reactor 14 and the syngas is discharged to a second chemical process loop 52. The second chemical process loop 52 has a water-gas shift reactor 54 and a calciner 42. The CO of the syngas reacts with gaseous H2O in the shift reactor 54 to produce H2 and CO2. The CO2 is captured by CaO to form hot CaCO3 in an exothermic reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Herbert E. Andrus, Jr., Michael S. McCartney
  • Patent number: 8404007
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a reforming apparatus and the like capable of uniformly mixing water (steam) and a raw material together, of preventing the precipitation of carbon without using a temperature controller, and of efficiently heating the water and the mixture by heating gas. Accordingly, the reforming apparatus has the following configuration. The reforming apparatus includes: a first vaporizer (05) that is cylindrically shaped and includes a first flow passage; a second vaporizer (06) that is cylindrically shaped and includes a second flow passage; a duct (027) that connects an outlet of the first flow passage to an inlet of the second flow passage; a raw-material mixing portion (028) formed at a certain point of the duct. The first vaporizer and the second vaporizer are concentrically disposed. An interstice between the first vaporizer and the second vaporizer serves as a heating-gas flow passage (024).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Naohiko Matsuda, Katsuki Yagi, Keiji Tanizaki, Akira Goto
  • Patent number: 8398729
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a gasifier having a partial moderator bypass are provided. The gasifier includes a partial oxidation reactor including an inlet and an outlet and a primary reaction zone extending therebetween, the partial oxidation reactor configured to direct a flow of products of partial oxidation including fuel gases, gaseous byproducts of partial oxidation, and unburned carbon, and a secondary reaction chamber coupled in flow communication with the partial oxidation reactor, the secondary reaction chamber is configured to mix a flow of moderator with the flow of gaseous byproducts of partial oxidation and unburned carbon such that a concentration of fuel gases is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Paul Steven Wallace
  • Patent number: 8388708
    Abstract: A process and device for the material utilization of soot from the waste water of a gasification appliance (heavy oil POX) in which a hydrogen- and carbon monoxide-containing (crude synthesis gas) is generated from relatively high-boiling hydrocarbons by partial oxidation, is disclosed. The soot-loaded waste water from the heavy oil POX is mixed with naphtha and is subsequently introduced into a separator (decanter) from which a substantially soot-free water fraction and a substantially water-free naphtha/soot mixture are taken off separately, where the naphtha/soot mixture is fed as feed to a further gasification appliance (naphtha POX), in which appliance predominantly naphtha is converted into a crude synthesis gas by partial oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Juergen Glaser
  • Patent number: 8268027
    Abstract: Gas generation apparatus and methods are provided, including apparatus and methods for efficient vaporization, and optional burning, of meltable fuels. The apparatus and methods provide controlled generation and combustion of any low melting point dimensionally stable combustible meltable fuel. This is preferably accomplished by first converting the solid or semi solid meltable fuel material into a liquid state, then into vapor, and finally mixing with an air source or other oxidizer before combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Raymond M Gatt
  • Patent number: 8241404
    Abstract: Method of producing syngas in an IGCC system, comprising compressing and heating carbon dioxide-rich gas to produce heated compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas, mixing the heated compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas with oxygen and feedstock to form a feedstock mixture, subjecting the feedstock mixture to gasification to produce syngas, cooling the syngas in a radiant syngas cooler, contacting syngas cooled in the radiant syngas cooler with compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas to further cool the syngas, and removing an amount of carbon dioxide-rich gas from the product mixture and compressing the removed carbon dioxide-rich gas prior to mixing with oxygen and feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Duckett Winter, Paul Steven Wallace, George Gulko, Pradeep S. Thacker
  • Patent number: 8110012
    Abstract: In a retrofit system for hot solids combustion and gasification, a chemical looping system includes an endothermic reducer reactor 12 having at least one materials inlet 22 for introducing carbonaceous fuel and CaCO3 therein and a CaS/gas outlet 26. A first CaS inlet 40 and a first CaSO4 inlet 64 are also defined by the reducer reactor 12. An oxidizer reactor 14 is provided and includes an air inlet 68, a CaSO4/gas outlet 46, a second CaS inlet 44, and a second CaSO4 inlet 66. A first separator 30 is in fluid communication with the CaS/gas outlet 26 and includes a product gas and a CaS/gas outlet 32 and 34 from which CaS is introduced into said first and second CaS inlets. A second separator 50 is in fluid communication with the CaSO4/gas outlet 46 and has an outlet 52 for discharging gas therefrom, and a CaSO4 outlet from which CaSO4 is introduced into the first and second CaSO4 inlets 62, 66.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: John H. Chiu, Herbert E. Andrus, Gregory N. Liljedahl, Paul R. Thibeault
  • Patent number: 8105401
    Abstract: A method for using a downdraft gasifier comprising a housing and a refractory stack contained within the housing. The refractory stack may comprise various sections. Apertures in the sections may be aligned to form multiple columnar cavities. Each columnar cavity may comprise an individual oxidation zone. The method of use may include the steps of placing a feedstock into an upper portion of the refractory stack, measuring the temperature of each columnar cavity, and adjusting the flow of oxygen to a particular columnar cavity to maintain the temperature of the particular columnar cavity within a particular range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Refill Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan M. Neves, Grover R. Brockbank, Morris K. Ebeling, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8043391
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing and preparing fast pyrolysis products from a biomass for entrained-flow pressure gasification that includes: heating of the biomass under exclusion of oxygen in a pyrolysis reactor, a temperature of between 400 to 600° C. being established for one to 50 seconds, such that the biomass reacts to form porous pyrolysis coke, pyrolysis condensate and pyrolysis gas; and drawing off the pyrolysis gas; condensing vaporous constituents of the pyrolysis condensate in a plurality of condensation stages so as to: condense, in a first condensation stage, at temperatures above the dew point of water, a low-temperature carbonization tar from the vaporous constituents; and condense and separate at temperatures between 0° C. and the dew point of water, in at least one subsequent condensation stage, an aqueous solution of oxygen containing organic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhard Dinjus, Edmund Henrich, Klaus Raffelt, Friedhelm Weirich
  • Patent number: 7988752
    Abstract: A gasifier 10 includes a first chemical process loop 12 having an exothermic oxidizer reactor 14 and an endothermic reducer reactor 16. CaS is oxidized in air in the oxidizer reactor 14 to form hot CaSO4 which is discharged to the reducer reactor 16. Hot CaSO4 and carbonaceous fuel received in the reducer reactor 16 undergo an endothermic reaction utilizing the heat content of the CaSO4, the carbonaceous fuel stripping the oxygen from the CaSO4 to form CaS and a CO rich syngas. The CaS is discharged to the oxidizer reactor 14 and the syngas is discharged to a second chemical process loop 52. The second chemical process loop 52 has a water-gas shift reactor 54 and a calciner 42. The CO of the syngas reacts with gaseous H2O in the shift reactor 54 to produce H2 and CO2. The CO2 is captured by CaO to form hot CaCO3 in an exothermic reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Herbert E. Andrus, Jr., Michael S. McCartney
  • Patent number: 7862633
    Abstract: A system and method for creating reformate with decreased carbon deposition. The system is made up of a steam source, a superheater, a fuel injection device, a prereformer, and a reformer with catalyst linings. The system functions to superheat steam while maintaining the fuel at a lower temperature prior to injection and mixing with the steam. After injection and mixing, the steam and fuel mixture is then passed through a prereformer where catalysts treat a portion of the fuel and steam mixture. After these portions are treated with a catalyst, the mixture is passed through to a reformer where further treatment of the material by catalyst takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Greg A. Whyatt, Christopher M. Fischer, James D. Davis
  • Patent number: 7740811
    Abstract: A hydrogen generator having double burners and a method of operating the samewhere the hydrogen generator includes a housing, a barrier wall to divide a space in the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, a fuel reformer installed in the first chamber, a first burner installed in the first chamber to heat a fuel reformer, a shift reactor installed in the second chamber, a second burner mounted in the barrier wall to heat the shift reactor, and a first igniter and a second igniter respectively ignite the first burner and the second burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-sang Park, Dong-woo Lee, Soon-ho Kim, Doo-hwan Lee, Hyun-chul Lee
  • Patent number: 7736402
    Abstract: A biomass gasifier includes a wall structure defining a gasification chamber having a biomass inlet at an upper end thereof and a char outlet at a lower end. A generally U-shaped char tube has a base and first and second substantially vertical limbs. The first limb of the char tube is positioned to receive char from the char outlet of the gasification chamber and the second limb terminates upwardly at a level above the char outlet of the gasification chamber. A blower has a suction side connected to the second limb of the char tube for inducing a flow of gas through the gasification chamber and the char tube and also has a pressure side for connection to a consuming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventor: William G. Crorey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7569085
    Abstract: A system for production of hydrogen comprises at least one steam reforming zone configured to receive a first fuel and steam to produce a first reformate gas stream comprising hydrogen using a steam reforming process. The system further comprises a mixed reforming zone configured to receive an oxidant to produce a second reformate gas stream comprising hydrogen, wherein the first reformate gas stream is sent to the mixed reforming zone to complete the reforming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ravi Vipperia Kumar, Vladimir Zamansky, Boris Nikolaevich Eiteneer, Shawn David Barge, Parag Prakash Kulkarni, Ke Liu
  • Patent number: 7371265
    Abstract: A gas generator with the sole input of air, water and coal that continuously produces hydrogen and carbon monoxide and further reacts these two gases into alcohol. This gas generator/reactor is using its own by-products and is therefore also self sustaining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Inventor: Sten R. Gerfast
  • Patent number: 7361199
    Abstract: An apparatus removes CO from a hydrogen-rich gas stream in a hydrogen fuel cell system. CO fouls costly catalytic particles in the membrane electrode assemblies. Both a catalyst adapted to perform a water gas shift reaction, and a carbon dioxide adsorbent are disposed in a rotating pressure swing adsorber housing. The adsorption of carbon dioxide shifts equilibrium toward carbon monoxide consumption. A second adsorbent may be disposed in the housing for adsorbing carbon monoxide at low temperatures, and is adapted to desorb carbon monoxide at high temperatures. The present invention advantageously eliminates a unit operation from a space-constrained fuel cell vehicle by combining the WGS catalyst and a CO2 adsorbent in a single reactor/housing. The apparatus further eliminates the use of a PROX reactor, by providing an apparatus which incorporates CO2 adsorption and consequent carbon monoxide consumption in the place of the PROX reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Craig S Gittleman, Ramesh Gupta
  • Patent number: 7261750
    Abstract: A method for the autothermal reforming of a hydrocarbon, in particular of diesel, includes introducing a combustible mixture of the hydrocarbon to be reformed and an oxygen-containing medium into a first reaction zone of a reformer, A gas-phase reaction is ignited. After an operating temperature required for the autothermal reforming process is reached, water or a water-containing medium is introduced into the first reaction zone, and the water content is increased until the conditions for the reforming process of the hydrocarbon prevail. The reforming process then takes place predominantly in a second reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Rainer Autenrieth, Andreas Docter, Steffen Oliver Wieland
  • Patent number: 7261749
    Abstract: An autothermal reformer is provided for a fuel cell system utilizing one volume and a plurality of inlets for both start-up and normal operation. In start-up mode, thermal combustion is employed for heating the catalyst reformation section of the reformer. Two inlets are used to feed air and fuel into the system, which are mixed and ignited in the common volume. Once the catalyst has reached light-off temperature, a second set of inlets provide air, steam and fuel into the common volume. The mixture then passes into the catalytic reformation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William H Pettit, Mohammed E. H. Sennoun, Gerald E Voecks
  • Patent number: 7156887
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing hydrogen are provided. The methods and apparatus utilize reforming catalysts in order to produce hydrogen gas. The reforming catalysts may be platinum group metals on a support material, and they may be located in a reforming reaction zone of a primary reactor. The support material may an oxidic support having a ceria zirconia promoter. The support material may be an oxidic support and a neodymium stabilizer. The support material may also be an oxidic support material and at least one Group IA, Group IIA, manganese, or iron metal promoter. The primary reactor may have a first and second reforming reaction zones. Upstream reforming catalysts located in the first reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the first reforming reaction zone. Downstream reforming catalysts located in the second reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the second reforming reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Ian Petch, David Thompsett, Suzanne Rose Ellis, David Wails, Jillian Elaine Bailie, Mark Robert Feaviour, Paul James Millington
  • Patent number: 7153334
    Abstract: Carbonaceous material is removed from a catalyst within an autothermal reformer by introducing an isolated oxidant stream into the autothermal reformer prior to introduction of hydrocarbon fuel into the reformer. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into the autothermal reformer following removal of the carbonaceous material. A concurrent supply of the hydrocarbon stream and the oxidant stream to the autothermal reformer is maintained such that an exothermic reaction driven by the oxidant stream provides heat to an endothermic reaction driven by water vapor in the hydrocarbon stream. In accordance with 37 CFR 1.72(b), the purpose of this abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract will not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Suzanne Rose Ellis, Jessica Grace Reinkingh, Jullian Elaine Bailie, David Wails, Michael Ian Petch
  • Patent number: 7128768
    Abstract: A hydrogen-rich reformate gas generator (36), such as a mini-CPO, POX, ATR or other hydrogen generator provides warm, dry, hydrogen-rich reformate gas to a hydrogen desulfurizer (17) which provides desulfurized feedstock gas to a major reformer (14) (such as a CPO) which, after processing in a water-gas shift reactor (26) and preferential CO oxidizer (27) produces hydrogen-containing reformate in a line (31) for use, for instance, as fuel for a fuel cell power plant. The expensive prior art hydrogen blower (30) is thereby eliminated, thus reducing parasitic power losses in the power plant. The drier reformate provided by the small hydrogen generator to the hydrogen desulfurizer favors hydrogen sulfide adsorption on zinc oxide and helps to reduce sulfur to the parts per billion level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: UTC Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventors: Ke Liu, Richard J. Bellows, John L. Preston, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7097676
    Abstract: A process and a device are provided for producing hydrogen gas from water and carbon. The process includes introducing steam and powdered carbon in stoichiometric ratio of carbon to water into a preheated oxidization chamber in such a way that a gas plasma is produced in which the steam is decomposed into its hydrogen and oxygen gas components and oxygen is combined with carbon to form carbon dioxide gas in an exothermic reaction at temperatures above 2000° C., and separating the carbon dioxide gas from the hydrogen gas. The device for conducting this process has an oxidization chamber defined in a hollow body and being provided with a preheater and having at least one inlet port for introducing steam into the oxidization chamber, at least one inlet port for introducing powdered carbon into the oxidization chamber, and at least one exit port for carrying off generated hydrogen gas and/or generated carbon dioxide gas from the oxidization chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Inventors: Norman Wootan, Kenneth Hawkins
  • Patent number: 6872379
    Abstract: The method for the reformation of fuels, in particular of heating oil (20?) and of another liquid fuel is carried out using an oxygen containing gas (5a, 5b, 21?, 22?). The method includes the following steps: formation of a fuel/gas mixture by dispersing of the fuel in a jet of the oxygen containing gas (21?); additionally an admixture of gas of a return flow (3b) and vaporization of the dispersed fuel; generation of synthesized gas from the gas mixture by means of partial oxidation and also reformation processes by heterogeneous catalysis; branching off of the produced synthesized gas into a product flow (3a) and the return flow (3b) for a recirculation; and a regulated extraction of heat from the return flow for the setting of a predetermined temperature of a catalyst support (10) on which the heterogeneous catalysis takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Sulzer Hexis AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zähringer, Alexander Schuler
  • Patent number: 6843814
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for utilizing fuels, residues and waste by gasification in a free-flowing stream under normal or increased pressure at temperatures higher than 900° C., preferably between 1100 and 1600° C., with a gasifying medium containing free oxygen, in which the fuels, residues and waste are completely vaporized by the direct or indirect supply of heat and then fed in vapor form to a gasification reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Noell-KRC Energie-und Umwelttechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Schingnitz, Dietmar Adler, Manfred Windmüller
  • Publication number: 20040232046
    Abstract: An apparatus as a suitable embodiment, wherein a reactor (102) has a nozzle (means for supplying a raw material, an oxidizing agent and water) (103), a high temperature and high pressure gas formed by reacting the raw material with oxygen or the like in an oxidizing agent under a water-containing atmosphere is introduced to a heat exchanger (104) which is provided between a pressure vessel (101) and the reactor (102), the pressure vessel (101) has a water inlet (114) connected with a water supply line (106) and an opening (117) for a discharge line (105) for a formed gas which is connected with the heat exchanger (104), and the nozzle (103) has a flow route for supplying water present between the pressure vessel (101) and the reactor (102) to the inside of the reactor(102); and a method for pyrolysis and gasification using the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka, Kazuaki Ota, Wenbin Dai, Wataru Saiki, Gang Bai, Ryouhei Mori
  • Publication number: 20040194383
    Abstract: A method for start-up and shut down of a fuel processor including an autothermal reformer employing a non-pyrophoric shift catalyst is disclosed. Also disclosed are a computer programmed to start-up or shut down a fuel processor including an autothermal reformer employing a non-pyrophoric shift catalyst or a program storage medium encoded with instruction that, when executed by a computer, start-up or shut down a fuel processor including an autothermal reformer employing a non-pyrophoric shift catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: W. Spencer Wheat, Vesna R. Mirkovic, Kevin H. Nguyen, Curtis L. Krause, James F. Stevens, Daniel G. Casey
  • Patent number: 6790247
    Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a multi-step process of converting hydrocarbon fuel to a substantially pure hydrogen gas feed includes a plurality of reaction zones arranged in an insulated, box-shaped, compact fuel processor. The multi-step process includes preheating the hydrocarbon fuel utilizing integration with the inherent exothermic processes utilized with the fuel processor, reacting the preheated hydrocarbon fuel to form the hydrogen rich gas, and purifying the hydrogen rich gas to produce a gas that is suitable for consumption in a fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Childress, John R. Farrell, Wendell B. Leimbach, James W. Marshall
  • Publication number: 20040163312
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for steam reforming a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon fuel, such as a diesel hydrocarbon fuel. The apparatus includes a desulphurization unit, a pre-reformer, and a steam reforming unit. A carbon dioxide fixing material is present in the steam reforming catalyst bed to fix carbon dioxide that is produced by the reforming reaction. The carbon dioxide fixing material is an alkaline earth oxide, a doped alkaline earth oxide or a mixture thereof. The fixing of carbon dioxide within the steam reforming catalyst bed creates an equilibrium shift in the steam reforming reaction to produce more hydrogen and less carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide fixed in the catalyst bed can be released by heating the carbon dioxide fixing material or catalyst bed to a temperature in excess of the steam reforming temperature. Fuel processors having multiple catalyst beds and methods and apparatus for generating electricity utilizing such fuel processors in conjunction with a fuel cell are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicants: Texaco Inc., TEXACO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: David P. Bloomfield, James F. Stevens
  • Publication number: 20040163313
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation apparatus includes controls for delivering a feedstock to a reactor and a water gas step membrane reactor operating at a lower temperature than the reactor so as to efficiently produce purified hydrogen and manage heat within the apparatus. Catalytic combustion of feedstock in the presence of a combustible gas based on a computer controller facilitates operation. Flat plate heat exchangers in various configurations are contemplated as a reactor, water gas step membrane reactor, and purifier. Catalytic burning of feedstock in the presence of a combustible gas enhances apparatus efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventor: Robert E. Buxbaum
  • Patent number: 6773630
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process whereby a high viscosity hydrocarbonaceous material is fed to a gasifier for conversion to synthesis gas. The feedstock, steam, oxygen, and recycled gasification system water are all fed into the gasifier through a four stream feed injector. The feedstock in this design is sandwiched between two oxygen streams so as to provide better conversion for the exceptionally heavy feed. The fourth stream down the central bayonet of the feed injector provides the flow path for the recycled water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Stellaccio, Donald D. Brooker, Henry C. Chan
  • Publication number: 20040148862
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (60) for a fuel processing system (10) that produces a hydrogen reformate gas. The heat exchanger (60) includes a catalyst for converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The heat exchanger (60) can be any suitable heat exchanger, such as a tube and fin type heat exchanger, that is able to cool the reformate gas and includes a suitable surface on which the catalyst can be coated. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger (60) is part of a WGS reactor assembly (48). The WGS reactor assembly (48) includes a first stage WGS adiabatic reactor (52) followed by the catalyzed heat exchanger (60) and a second stage WGS adiabatic reactor (68). Also, in one embodiment, both the first stage and the second stage WGS reactors (52, 68) are medium temperature reactors. By catalyzing the heat exchanger (60) in the WGS reactor assembly (48), the assembly (48) can be smaller than what is currently known in the art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Paul Taichiang Yu, Steven D. Burch, John C. Fagley, Annette M. Brenner, Reena L. Datta
  • Publication number: 20040134126
    Abstract: The invention relates to the method and device for plasmacatalytic conversion of liquid hydrocarbons, such as engine fuels, into a synthesis gas by employing a pulse-periodic pseudocorona streamer microwave discharge (or semi-continuous microwave discharge) in the presence of air, and in certain cases, water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Ricardo Blach Vizoso, Boris-Vasilievich Potapkin, Victor-Konstantinovi Zhivotov, Vladimir-Dmitrievich Rusanov, Aleksandr-Ivanovich Babaristky, Marsim-Alksandrovic Deminsky, Michael-Fedorovich Krotov, Vladimir Nikolaeevic Fateev
  • Patent number: 6733552
    Abstract: A hydrogen generating apparatus having a fuel feeding part, a water feeding part for fuel reforming, an oxidant gas feeding part, a reforming catalyst body, a heating part for the reforming catalyst, a CO shifting catalyst body and a CO purification catalyst body is provided wherein the reforming catalyst body, the CO shifting catalyst body and the CO purification catalyst body are sequentially ordered from the fuel feeding part toward the downstream side, and wherein a shifting catalyst of the shifting catalyst body contains as one component at least a platinum group-type catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Taguchi, Takeshi Tomizawa, Kunihiro Ukai, Toshiyuki Shono, Kouichiro Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20040068934
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for converting fuel and air into reformate with a reformer (10) which has a reaction space (12), a nozzle (14) for supplying a fuel/air mixture to the reaction space (12), and a fuel feed (16) for supplying fuel to the nozzle (14). As claimed in the invention it is provided that in the air inlet area (18) of the nozzle (14) there are air guidance means (40) which impart a swirl to the inflowing air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Felix Wolf, Bernd Mittmann, Christine Sallinger, Christian Hubbauer, Thomas Kerscher, Christian Baecker, Stefan Kunz, Marcus Neumueller, Florian Metz, Martin Wegner, Ingrid Lanzl, Peter Lamp
  • Publication number: 20030208960
    Abstract: Improved method for recovering hydrogen and carbon monoxide from hydrocarbon conversion processes are disclosed. A monolith catalyst reactor means is utilized in treating the waste gas stream from the hydrocarbon conversion process to assist in recovering hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the waste gas stream. The present invention also provides a method for improving the yield of hydrogen and carbon monoxide from a hydrocarbon conversion process utilizing a monolith catalyst reactor means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Natarajan Narasimhan, Ramakrishnan Ramachandran, Satish S. Tamhankar, Weibin Jiang
  • Publication number: 20030196381
    Abstract: An evaporator device for generating a hydrocarbon-air mixture which can be decomposed in a reformer for producing hydrogen comprises a burner/evaporator area, which has a combustion/mixing chamber (14), into which air enters via an inlet opening device (16), a hydrocarbon evaporating means (24, 34), comprising a porous evaporator medium (24) and, associated with same, a first heating means (34) and a glow-type igniting member (28) for igniting the hydrocarbon-air mixture present in the combustion/mixing chamber (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventor: Gunter Eberspach
  • Publication number: 20030192251
    Abstract: A steam reformer that produces hydrogen gas from water and a carbon-containing feedstock, such as an alcohol or a hydrocarbon. The steam reformer includes a hydrogen-producing region, in which a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases is produced from water and a carbon-containing feedstock. The steam reformer includes a separation region, in which the mixed gas stream is separated into a hydrogen-rich stream containing at least substantially pure hydrogen gas, and a byproduct stream containing at least a substantial portion of the other gases. In some embodiments, the steam reformer is a vertically oriented fuel processor. In some embodiments, the separation region includes at least one hydrogen-selective membrane. In some embodiments, the steam reformer further includes a polishing region, in which the hydrogen-rich stream produced in the separation region is further purified. In some embodiments, the reformer includes an external metal or sealed ceramic shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: David J. Edlund, Arne LaVen, Timothy G. Mace, William A. Pledger, R. Todd Studebaker, Douglas J. Wambaugh
  • Publication number: 20030182862
    Abstract: A method for generating a hydrogen-containing product gas from liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons includes providing a reformer installation having a combustion space, a mixing chamber and a reformer unit. Partial oxidation of a first hydrocarbon stream with a first oxygen-containing gas stream is performed and a first product-gas stream containing hydrogen is formed, in the combustion space. A second hydrocarbon stream is reformed with water and a second product gas stream containing hydrogen is formed, in the reformer unit. The first product-gas stream and the second product-gas stream are mixed in the mixing chamber to form a third product-gas stream. The reformer unit is heated with the third product-gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventor: Walter Jager