Air Patents (Class 48/215)
  • Patent number: 11401476
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aftertreatment arrangement (1.0) for the aftertreatment of at least gases downstream of a fluidized bed gasification process, in particular downstream of an HTW gasifier (1) of a pressure-loaded fluidized bed gasification process, having a particle separation unit (2; 11) which can be arranged downstream of the fluidized bed gasification process and upstream of a gas cooler (3) that can be used for the further aftertreatment of the gases, wherein the aftertreatment arrangement comprises an intermediate cooling unit (12) which can be arranged downstream of the fluidized bed gasification process and upstream of the particle separation unit (11), having a return (B1) for gasification steam (B) that can be coupled to the fluidized bed gasification process. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the aftertreatment of at least gases downstream of a fluidized bed gasification process as well as the use of an intermediate cooling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: GIDARA ENERGY B.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Abraham, Domenico Pavone, Dobrin Toporov, Herbert Palmowski
  • Patent number: 11079108
    Abstract: A fluidized bed boiler plant and a method of preheating combustion gas in a fluidized bed boiler plant. The boiler plant includes a furnace and a combustion gas channel, and a water-steam cycle including an evaporator section, a superheater section including a last superheater and a steam turbine, and a superheating path for conveying steam from the evaporator section via the superheater section to the steam turbine, and a first combustion gas preheater. The fluidized bed boiler plant includes a second combustion gas preheater, a steam extraction line attached in flow connection with the second combustion gas preheater and with the superheating path in a location upstream of the last superheater for conveying steam from the superheating path to the second combustion gas preheater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Sumitomo SHI FW Energia Oy
    Inventors: Ari Kettunen, Marko Ruuskanen, Krister Sundqvist
  • Patent number: 11001543
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for generating higher hydrocarbon(s) from a stream comprising compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C2+), comprising introducing methane and an oxidant (e.g., O2) into an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor. The OCM reactor reacts the methane with the oxidant to generate a first product stream comprising the C2+ compounds. The first product stream can then be directed to a separations unit that recovers at least a portion of the C2+ compounds from the first product stream to yield a second product stream comprising the at least the portion of the C2+ compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Lummus Technology LLC
    Inventors: Suchia Duggal, Guido Radaelli, Jarod McCormick, Andrew Aronson, Joel Cizeron, Divya Jonnavittula
  • Patent number: 8845770
    Abstract: A gasification system including a gasifier, a feed injector, and a fuel feed system that includes a first feed line, a second feed line, and a controller that includes a processor. The processor is programmed to enable the first feed line to supply a fuel gas into the feed injector, enable the second feed line to supply oxygen into the feed injector, receive instructions to add a slurry to the gasifier, prevent the first feed line from supplying the fuel gas into the feed injector, enable the first feed line to supply the slurry into the feed injector, enable the second feed line to simultaneously supply the oxygen and the inert gas into the feed injector, and prevent the second feed line from supplying the inert gas into the feed injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald Frederick Tyree, Huan Van Ho
  • 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: 8486166
    Abstract: Fuel reforming catalysts 28 generate a hydrogen-containing reformed gas when they come into contact with exhaust gas that contains a reforming fuel. Upstream and downstream air-fuel ratio sensors 58, 60 are respectively installed upstream and downstream of the fuel reforming catalysts 28. The upstream air-fuel ratio sensor 58 outputs a upstream sensor signal in accordance with oxygen concentration. The downstream air-fuel ratio sensor 60 outputs a downstream sensor signal in accordance with oxygen concentration and hydrogen concentration by using zirconia's oxygen detection capability and a change of a diffusion layer's hydrogen-concentration-dependent oxygen detection capability. An ECU 50 detects the hydrogen concentration without being affected by the oxygen concentration through the use of the upstream sensor signal in which only the oxygen concentration is reflected and the downstream sensor signal in which the oxygen concentration and hydrogen concentration are reflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Yahagi, Isamu Nakada, Keiichiro Aoki, Takanori Sasaki
  • 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: 8404008
    Abstract: A system for reforming diesel fuel into hydrogen including feeds for water and diesel fuel, a supercritical water (SCW) reactor in fluid communication with the water feed and the diesel fuel, at least one pre-heater in thermal communication with the water feed, the diesel fuel feed that is configured to heat water from the water feed and diesel fuel from the diesel fuel feed to a predetermined temperature equal to or greater than the critical temperature of water before the water and the diesel fuel are mixed, a water-gas shift (WGS) reactor, and a hydrogen capturing system, where the SCW reactor reforms the diesel fuel into a synthesis gas comprising a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide and outputs the synthesis gas, the synthesis gas output by the SCW reactor is fed into the WGS reactor which converts the carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and hydrogen and outputs an output gas including a higher percentage of hydrogen to carbon monoxide compared to the synthesis gas, and the hydrogen in the output ga
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Wootton, Sunggyu Lee, Asdrubal Garcia-Ortiz
  • Patent number: 8297537
    Abstract: An atomization system for fuels, particularly for charging a chemical reformer for obtaining hydrogen, includes at least one metering device for metering fuel at at least one metering point into a connecting tube capable of receiving a temperature-adjusted substance stream. The connecting tube features at least one atomization point located downstream of the at least one metering point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Miller, Hartmut Albrodt
  • Patent number: 8292977
    Abstract: The invention has its object to arbitrarily adjust an amount of particles to be circulated without changing a flow rate of a gasification agent to thereby enhance gasification efficiency in a fluidized bed gasification furnace. The fluidized bed gasification furnace 107 comprises first and second chambers 113 and 114 in communication with each other in a fluidized bed 105. The hot particles 102 separated in the separator 104 and raw material M are introduced into the first chamber 113. The particles 102 introduced from the first chamber 113 through interior in the fluidized bed 105 to the second chamber 114 are supplied in an overflow manner to the fluidized bed combustion furnace 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Suda, Yoshiaki Matsuzawa, Toshiro Fujimori
  • Patent number: 8173082
    Abstract: A fuel processing system for heavier sulfur-laden hydrocarbon fuels, such as JP-8 and diesel fuels, having a fuel processor in which the sulfur-laden hydrocarbon fuels are reformed using steam reforming, an integrated desulfurization/methanation unit, and a solid oxide fuel cell. The heart of the system is the desulfurization/methanation unit which has a first reactor vessel and a second reactor vessel disposed within the first reactor vessel, forming an enclosed reaction space between the first reactor vessel and the second reactor vessel. A methanation catalyst is provided in the enclosed reaction space or the second reactor vessel. A desulfurization material is provided in the other of the enclosed reaction space and the second reactor vessel. During the normal course of operation, the desulfurization material will reach a saturation point at which it is no longer able to adsorb the sulfur-containing compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: James Wangerow, Andy Hill, Chakravarthy Sishtla, Michael Onischak
  • 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: 8100992
    Abstract: A biomass thermochemical gasification apparatus is provided that can manufacture high-quality fuel gas out of solid biomass in an industrial manner. This fuel gas can be used as fuel for a gas engine and a gas turbine for example and also can be used as synthesis gas for methanol synthesis. A high-temperature combustion gas generation apparatus (101) for biomass operates entirely by biomass and the heat source thereof does not depend on fossil fuel. A coarsely-ground powder biomass (205) subjected to gasification and gasification agent (303) are introduced to a primary gasification reaction room (202) and generate gasification reaction by, as reaction heat, radiation heat from a wall face of the primary gasification reaction room (202) heated by combustion gas (109a) generated in the high-temperature combustion gas generation apparatus (101) and are dissolved. Consequently, the biomass (205) is converted to clean and high-quality generated gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Nagasaki Institute of Applied Science
    Inventors: Masayasu Sakai, Toshiyuki Takegawa, Hachiro Kawashima, Nobuaki Murakami
  • Patent number: 8038744
    Abstract: A system and process for maximizing the generation of marketable products from a variety of hydrocarbon feedstocks. The hydrocarbon feedstocks are first gasified and then oxidized in a two-chamber system and process using oxygen gas rather than ambient air. Intermediate gases generated in the system and process are recirculated and recycled to the gasification and oxidation chambers in order to maximize both energy generation and the resulting stoichiometric reaction products. The energy produced through the system and process is used to generate steam and produce power through conventional steam turbine technology. In addition to the release of heat energy, the hydrocarbon feedstocks are oxidized to the pure product compounds of water and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is subsequently purified and marketed. The water recovered from the system and process is collected and electrolyzed to generate oxygen and hydrogen gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventor: Steve L. Clark
  • Patent number: 8038743
    Abstract: A supercritical water reformer (SCWR) and methods for using supercritical water to convert hydrocarbons, particularly hydrocarbon fuels such as diesel fuel or gasoline, into carbonaceous gases and hydrogen. The synthesis gas stream generated by the fuel reforming reaction can then be further refined to increase hydrogen content, and the resultant hydrogen can be utilized to power fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Wootton, Sunggyu Lee, Asdrubal Garcia-Ortiz
  • Patent number: 8038746
    Abstract: A system and process are disclosed for the controlled combustion of a wide variety of hydrocarbon feedstocks to produce thermal energy, liquid fuels, and other valuable products with little or no emissions. The hydrocarbon feeds, such as coal and biomass, are first gasified and then oxidized in a two-chamber system/process using pure oxygen rather than ambient air. A portion of the intermediate gases generated in the system/process are sent to a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process for conversion into diesel fuel and other desired liquid hydrocarbons. The remaining intermediate gases are circulated and recycled through each of the gasification/oxidation chambers in order to maximize energy production. The energy produced through the system/process is used to generate steam and produce power through conventional steam turbine technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventor: Steve L. Clark
  • 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: 7972394
    Abstract: A method of operating a methanation reactor to reduce carbon monoxide concentration in a reformate stream in a fuel cell reformer. The reactor includes a flowpath with a noble metal catalyst supported by a ceramic support such that the reactor preferentially converts carbon monoxide via methanation over that of carbon dioxide. The reduced level of carbon monoxide present in the reformate stream after passing through the methanation reactor reduces the likelihood of poisoning of the catalyst used on the fuel cell anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mark Robert Feaviour, Julia Margaret Rowe
  • Patent number: 7942943
    Abstract: A down-draft fixed bed gasifier is disclosed that produced clean producer or synthesis gas. The gasifier can be installed at a stationary location or can be scaled down to enable placing the gasifier on a trailer that can be moved to the site of biomass generation. The gasifier is vertically oriented and generally cylindrical, and the design allows for a continual input of feedstock into the gasifier with less clogging and without lowering the gas pressure inside the gasifier. The design incorporates an internal catalyst to clean tars from the produced gas, and uses heat from the combustion chamber of the gasifier to heat the catalyst. The flow of air may be either positive flow or negative flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
    Inventor: Chandra S. Theegala
  • Patent number: 7931708
    Abstract: A reformer burner that includes a fuel supply tube through which a fuel is supplied and a fuel supply chamber that surrounds the fuel supply tube and has a plurality of atomizing holes to atomize a fuel into a combustion chamber of a reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-woo Lee, Tae-sang Park
  • Patent number: 7931711
    Abstract: Methods for using supercritical water to convert hydrocarbons, particularly hydrocarbon fuels such as diesel fuel, jet fuel, or gasoline, into carbonaceous gases and hydrogen. The synthesis gas stream generated by the fuel reforming reaction can then be further refined to increase hydrogen content, and the resultant hydrogen can be utilized to power fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Wootton, Sunggyu Lee, Asdrubal Garcia-Ortiz
  • Patent number: 7867299
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing hydrogen with reforming catalysts. 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 be an oxidic support having a ceria and zirconia promoter, or may include a neodymium stabilizer. The support material may also include at least one Group IA, Group IIA, manganese, or iron metal promoter. The primary reactor may have a first and second reforming reaction zones, where upstream catalysts located in the first reforming reaction zone and downstream catalysts located in the second reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in their respective reforming reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael Ian Petch, Jonathan Charles Frost, Suzanne Rose Ellis, Jessica Grace Reinkingh, Mark Robert Feaviour, Jillian Elaine Bailie, David Wails, Paul James Millington
  • Patent number: 7833296
    Abstract: A system and process for maximizing the generation of electrical power from a variety of hydrocarbon feedstocks. The hydrocarbon feedstocks are first gasified and then oxidized in a two-chamber system and process using oxygen gas rather than ambient air. Intermediate gases generated in the system and process are recirculated and recycled to the gasification and oxidation chambers in order to maximize energy production. The energy produced through the system and process is used to generate steam and produce power through conventional steam turbine technology. In addition to the release of heat energy, the hydrocarbon feedstocks are oxidized to the pure product compounds of water and carbon dioxide, which are subsequently purified and marketed. The system and process minimizes environmental emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventor: Steve L. Clark
  • Patent number: 7828864
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing hydrogen gas with a fuel processing system that includes a hydrogen-producing region that produces hydrogen gas from a feed stream and a heating assembly that consumes a fuel stream to produce a heated exhaust stream for heating the hydrogen-producing region. In some embodiments, the heating assembly heats the hydrogen-producing region to at least a minimum hydrogen-producing temperature. In some embodiments, the feed stream and the fuel stream both contain a carbon-containing feedstock and at least 25 wt % water. In some embodiments, at least one of the feed and fuel streams contain at least one additional component. In some embodiments, the feed and fuel streams have the same composition. In some embodiments, the feed and fuel streams are drawn or obtained from a common source or supply, and in some embodiments as a liquid stream that is selectively apportioned to form the feed and fuel streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Idatech, LLC
    Inventors: David J. Edlund, Darrell J. Elliott, Alan E. Hayes, William A. Pledger, Curtiss Renn, Redwood Stephens, R. Todd Studebaker
  • Patent number: 7753971
    Abstract: Two types of cells (first cells and second cells) are used to constitute a honeycomb structure. The first cells and second cells differ in the catalyst supporting position. The first cells and second cells are alternately arranged. The catalyst supporting position of the second cells is shifted in the direction of the downstream side of the flow of an air-fuel mixture from the catalyst supporting position of the first cells so that when an exothermic reaction occurs on the second cell side of a partition wall for separating a first cell from a second cell, an endothermic reaction occurs on the opposing first cell side of the partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sakurai, Kazuhiro Wakao
  • Patent number: 7682597
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for extracting hydrogen from a gas containing methane, especially natural gas. Hydrocarbons contained in the gas are catalytically broken down in a reformer (4) by steam in order to form hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Catalytic conversion of the obtained carbon monoxide with steam occurs in a downstream conversion step in order to form carbon monoxide and water. Carbon dioxide is removed from the converted gas flow (8) by gas washing (7), and the washed hydrogen-rich gas flow (10) is subsequently divided in a pressure-swing adsorption system (11) into a product gas flow (12) made of hydrogen and a waste gas flow (13). The waste gas flow (13) is introduced with hydrogen (14), which is separated from the gas flow (10) after gas washing, into a reformer (4) which is essentially a carbon-free combustible gas, and is combusted there. The invention also relates to a system for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Uhde GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Blumenfeld, Vincent Liu, Bernd Mielke, Marcus Michel
  • Patent number: 7658078
    Abstract: A heavy oil reforming system includes a reforming preheater raising the temperature of a mixed fluid comprising a high pressure heavy oil and high pressure steam up to a temperature for reforming reaction. The mixed fluid having been heated up to the temperature for reforming reaction is introduced into a reformer kept at the temperature for reforming reaction and thereby the heavy oil is reformed. This reforming system allows the attainment of a residence time of 1 to 10 min necessary for reforming in a uniform or nearly uniform temperature field, thereby implementing the manufacturing of reformed fuels from a large volume of heavy oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Petroleum Energy Center
    Inventors: Koji Nishida, Nobuyuki Hokari, Shin-ichi Inage, Osami Yokota, Hirokazu Takahashi, Masahiko Yamagishi, Akinori Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7648084
    Abstract: A dosing mechanism for fuels, particularly for the input into a chemical reformer to obtain hydrogen, has a metering-in device for metering fuel into a supply line, which opens out at at least one dosing aperture into a transporting line transporting a tempered material flow. A holding device for accommodating the metering-in device has an insulating body which thermally insulates the metering-in device from the transporting line that transports the tempered material flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Nau, Marc Bareis, Frank Ilgner, Horst Harndorf
  • Patent number: 7575612
    Abstract: Methods and systems for decomposing ammonia in a gasifier are provided. The system includes a gasifier including a pressure vessel and an injection nozzle extending through the pressure vessel and including a nozzle tip at a distal end of the injection nozzle, the injection nozzle further includes a passage configured to direct a fluid stream including ammonia proximate the nozzle tip such that the fluid stream including ammonia facilitates reducing a temperature of at least a portion of the nozzle tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Paul Steven Wallace
  • Patent number: 7452392
    Abstract: This invention is a reactor and a process for the conversion of organic waste material such as municipal trash, sewage, post-consumer refuse, and biomass to commercially salable materials. The invention produces the following: 1. Maximum energy conversion from the organic material 2. High volume consumption of the organic feed material 3. Less pollution of gaseous products than prior art systems 4. Solid residuals for disposal are minimal and non-hazardous. The conversion is accomplished by combining anaerobic gasification and pyrolysis of the feed organic material and making it into synthetic gas. The synthetic gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons (CxHy), hydrogen, and carbon monoxide with small amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. An essential feature of the invention is a hot driver gas, devoid of free oxygen and rich in water, which supplies the entire thermal and chemical energy needed for the reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Inventors: Peter A. Nick, Hugh Hunnicutt, Robert Roy Peters, Eric A. Anderson, Geoffrey E. Dolbear
  • Patent number: 7445649
    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 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Herbert E. Andrus, Jr., Michael S. McCartney
  • Patent number: 7410622
    Abstract: A reactor is proposed for partial oxidations of a fluid reaction mixture in the presence of a heterogeneous particulate catalyst, comprising one or more cuboidal thermoplate modules (1) which are each formed from two or more rectangular thermoplates (2) arranged parallel to each other while in each case leaving a gap (3) which can be filled with the heterogeneous particulate catalyst and is flowed through by the fluid reaction mixture; the heat of reaction being absorbed by a heat carrier which flows through the thermoplates (2) and thus at least partly evaporates, and also having a predominantly cylindrical shell (4, 15, 16) which releases the pressure at the thermoplate modules, completely surrounds them and comprises a cylinder jacket (4) and hoods (15, 16) which seal it at both ends and whose longitudinal axis is aligned parallel to the plane of the thermoplates (2), and also having one or more sealing elements (7, 23) which are arranged in such a way that the fluid reaction mixture, apart from flowing
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Olbert, Claus Hechler
  • 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: 7338643
    Abstract: A reformate clean-up reactor. The reactor takes a reformate stream and passes it through multiple subreactors that are integrated into a common reactor housing to reduce reformate stream by-product concentration prior to use of the reformate in a fuel cell. The reactor includes a gas shift subreactor to promote the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, a gaseous diffusion membrane subreactor to provide a hydrogen-rich portion of the reformate stream, and a methanation subreactor to convert carbon monoxide into methane and water. In applications where space for a fuel cell system is limited, the integration of the clean—up devices into a common housing provides significant improvements in structural and volumetric efficiency. Moreover, in at least one embodiment of the present invention, the juxtaposition of the gaseous diffusion membrane and the gas shift reactor improves membrane robustness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Barrey Irons, Julia Margaret Rowe, Peter Geoffrey Gray, Peter Albert Walker
  • Patent number: 7267699
    Abstract: A fuel processing system including a filter for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel and its operation is disclosed. The system includes a first chamber for receiving a hydrocarbon fuel and combining it with air or water; a reformer in fluid connection with and down stream of the first chamber, which receives the hydrocarbon fuel combined with either air or water to reform the fuel to a reformate stream, which contains a hydrogen rich atmosphere; a second chamber in fluid connection with the reformer which is capable of receiving the reformate stream from the reformer; a water inlet connected to the second chamber capable of introducing water to the reformate stream; and a filter in fluid connection with and down stream of the second chamber, which is capable of preventing a substantial portion of any solid particles contained in the reformate stream from passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Motohisa Kamijo
  • Patent number: 7244281
    Abstract: A plasma fuel reformer assembly for producing reformate gas includes a fuel reformer having an air/fuel input assembly, an electrode assembly, and a soot trap positioned downstream of the electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode and a second electrode that is spaced apart from the first electrode. The fuel reformer further includes a reformer controller electrically coupled to the air/fuel input assembly. The reformer controller includes a processing unit electrically connected to a memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel N. Crane, Jr., William Taylor, III
  • Patent number: 7172638
    Abstract: An autothermal reformer according to the principles of the present invention comprises a first stage that selectively receives a fuel flow, a first oxidant flow, and a steam flow. The first stage has a first portion of a catalyst bed. The fluids within the first stage are routed through the first portion of the catalyst bed and react. There is a second stage downstream from and communicating with the first stage. The second stage receives the fluids from the first stage and also selectively receives a second oxidant flow. The second oxidant flow and the fluids received from the first stage flow through a second portion of a catalyst bed and further react.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Gary M. Robb
  • 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: 7070633
    Abstract: The present invention improves the start-up characteristics of a fuel gas generating apparatus for a fuel cell comprising a reformer. In a fuel gas generating apparatus 1 for a fuel cell comprising a vaporizer 22 that generates a fuel vapor by vaporizing a raw liquid fuel, a reformer 11 that generates a reforming gas that includes hydrogen from the raw fuel gas that has been partially oxidized by adding reforming air to the fuel vapor generated by the vaporizer 22, and a CO eliminator 13 that generates a fuel gas having carbon monoxide eliminated by adding a CO eliminating air to the reforming gas generated by the reformer 11, the supplied amount of the reforming air during the warm-up of the fuel gas generating apparatus for a fuel cell is larger than the supplied amount of reforming air during idle operation after completion of the warm-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hikaru Okada, Yasunori Kotani, Atsushi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 7060118
    Abstract: Process for the preparation of hydrogen and carbon monoxide rich gas by steam reforming of hydrocarbon feedstock in presence of a steam reforming catalyst supported as thin film on the wall of a reactor, comprising steps of (a) optionally passing a process gas of hydrocarbon feedstock through a first reactor with a thin film of steam reforming catalyst supported on walls of the reactor in heat conducting relationship with a hot gas stream; (b) passing effluent from the first reactor to a subsequent tubular reactor being provided with a thin film of steam reforming catalyst and/or steam reforming catalyst pellets and being heated by burning of fuel, thereby obtaining a partially steam reformed gas effluent and a hot gas stream of flue gas; (c) passing the effluent from the second reactor to an autothermal reformer; and (d) withdrawing from the autothermal reformer a hot gas stream of product gas rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Haldor Topse A/S
    Inventors: Ib Dybkjaer, Peter Seier Christensen, Viggo Lucassen Hansen, J. R. Rostrup-Nielsen
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20040250472
    Abstract: A fuel gas production apparatus includes a vaporization mechanism, a reforming mechanism, a PSA mechanism, a supply passage, a combustion air supply mechanism and an ECU. The vaporization mechanism has a combustion catalyst for vaporizing a fuel. The reforming mechanism reforms the vaporized fuel to obtain a reformed gas. The PSA mechanism refines the reformed gas by removing impurities to produce a fuel gas. The impurities removed by the PSA mechanism are continuously supplied as a heat source fuel to the vaporization mechanism through the supply passage. The combustion air supply mechanism supplies combustion air to the vaporization mechanism. The ECU controls the amount of the combustion air supplied to the vaporization mechanism synchronously with the change in the amount of heat energy of the impurities supplied to the vaporization mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiraku Okada, Hiroshi Machida, Nobuyoshi Yoshida
  • 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: 20040221507
    Abstract: Experiments were conducted to investigate the reforming of organic compounds (primarily methanol) in supercritical water at 550° C.-700° C. and 27.6 MPa in a tubular Inconel® 625 reactor. The results show that methanol can be completely converted to a product stream that is low in methane and near the equilibrium composition of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. The effect of reactor temperature, feed concentration of methanol, and residence time on both conversion and product gas composition are presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Wu, Karl Wally, Steven F. Rice, Robert W. Crocker
  • Patent number: 6811578
    Abstract: In a fuel reforming apparatus having a reformer for reforming a raw fuel containing a hydrocarbon-containing compound so as to produce a hydrogen-rich fuel gas for use in a fuel cell, a carbon removal process for removing carbon deposited on a reforming catalyst contained in the reformer is executed by controlling the amount of the raw fuel supplied to the reformer and the amount of the oxygen supplied to the reformer so that a ratio of the number of oxygen atoms O supplied to the reformer to the number of carbon atoms supplied to the reformer becomes larger than an appropriate range of the O/C ratio that is to be established during a normal operation of the reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Kunitake, Satoshi Iguchi, Satoshi Aoyama, Hiroyuki Usami
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20040182002
    Abstract: Low-energy, low-capital hydrogen production is disclosed. A reforming exchanger 14 is placed in parallel with an autothermal reformer (ATR) 10 to which are supplied a preheated steam-hydrocarbon mixture. An air-steam mixture is supplied to the burner/mixer of the ATR 10 to obtain a syngas effluent at 650°-1050° C. The effluent from the ATR is used to heat the reforming exchanger, and combined reformer effluent is shift converted and separated into a mixed gas stream and a hydrogen-rich product stream. High capital cost equipment such as steam-methane reformer and air separation plant are not required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: KELLOGG BROWN AND ROOT, INC.
    Inventors: Avinash Malhotra, James Hanlan Gosnell
  • 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