Liquid Phase Fischer-tropsch Reaction Patents (Class 518/700)
  • Patent number: 7217741
    Abstract: Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is performed using a compact catalytic reactor unit (10) defining channels in which is a gas-permeable catalyst structure (16), the channels extending between headers (18). The synthesis occurs in at least two stages, as the reactor unit provides at least two successive channels (14, 14a) for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis connected by a header, the gas flow velocity through the first channel being sufficiently high that no more than 65% of the carbon monoxide undergoes conversion. The gases are cooled (25) in the header between the two stages, so as to condense water vapor, and then pass through the second channel at a sufficiently high gas flow velocity that no more than 65% of the remaining carbon monoxide undergoes conversion. This lowers the partial pressure of water vapor and so suppresses oxidation of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Compactgtl PLC
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Bowe, Clive Derek Lee-Tuffnell
  • Patent number: 7214719
    Abstract: The invention is directed to process for performing a chemical reaction in a reaction mixture, which reaction produces water as by-product, wherein the reaction mixture is in contact with a hydroxy sodalite membrane, through which water produced during the reaction is removed from the reaction mixture, to a process for removing water form mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Technische Universiteit Delft
    Inventors: Jacobus Cornelis Jansen, Frederik Kapteijn, Sander Adriaan Strous
  • Patent number: 7214720
    Abstract: The invention relates to an installation and a process for the production of liquid fuels starting from a solid feedstock that contains the organic material in which: a) the solid feedstock is subjected to a gasification stage so as to convert said feedstock into synthesis gas, b) the synthesis gas is subjected to a purification treatment, c) the purified synthesis gas is subjected to a conversion stage that comprises the implementation of a Fischer-Tropsch-type synthesis so as to convert said synthesis gas into a liquid effluent and a gaseous effluent, d) the liquid effluent is fractionated so as to obtain a gaseous fraction, a naphtha fraction, a kerosene fraction and a gas oil fraction, and e) at least a portion of the naphtha fraction is recycled in gasification stage a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignees: Institut Francais du Petrole, Commissariat a l'Energie Atomic
    Inventors: Jérôme Bayle, Guillaume Boissonnet, Eric Marty, Jean-Marie Seiller
  • Patent number: 7211606
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for the preparation of dimethylether from hydrocarbons, including tri-reforming a feedstock mixture comprised of hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and water vapor in the presence of a tri-reforming catalyst, to prepare a syngas, which then undergoes gas-phase direct synthesis into dimethylether in one step in the presence of a hybrid catalyst. According to the process of this invention, three main processes among typical syngas preparation processes are simultaneously performed, and then, the syngas thus obtained is prepared into dimethylether through a direct reaction in one step, thereby decreasing the apparatus cost and operation cost. In addition, all of the carbon dioxide separated and recovered from the unreacted material and by-products may be reused as reaction material, thus decreasing the generation of carbon dioxide and reducing the material cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Kores Gas Corporation
    Inventors: Young Soon Baek, Won Ihl Cho, Byoung Hak Cho, Jung Chul Suh, Dong Hyuk Kim, Hyung Gyu Kim, Seung Ho Lee, Woo Sung Ju
  • Patent number: 7208530
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a synthesis gas for use as a gaseous fuel or as feed into a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce a liquid fuel in a substantially self-sustaining process. A slurry of particles of carbonaceous material in water, and hydrogen from an internal source, are fed into a hydro-gasification reactor under conditions whereby methane rich producer gases are generated and fed into a steam pyrolytic reformer under conditions whereby synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide are generated. A portion of the hydrogen generated by the steam pyrolytic reformer is fed through a hydrogen purification filter into the hydro-gasification reactor, the hydrogen therefrom constituting the hydrogen from an internal source. The remaining synthesis gas generated by the steam pyrolytic reformer is either used as fuel for a gaseous fueled engine to produce electricity and/or process heat or is fed into a Fischer-Tropsch or similar reactor under conditions whereby a liquid fuel is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Joseph N. Norbeck, Colin E. Hackett, James E. Heumann, Uy Q. Ngo, Nguyen T. Tran, Bilge Yilmaz
  • Patent number: 7208642
    Abstract: A production process and a catalyst are provided, which can be less decreased in activity of the catalyst even when CO2, water and the like are present in the starting material and/or the reaction system, and which can produce a formic ester or a methanol at a low temperature and a low pressure. The present invention relates to a process for producing methanol, comprising reacting carbon monoxide with an alcohol in the presence of an alkali metal-type catalyst, and/or an alkaline earth metal-type catalyst to produce a formic ester, wherein a hydrogenolysis catalyst of formic ester and hydrogen are allowed to be present together in the reaction system to hydrogenate the produced formic ester and thereby obtain a methanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Kaoru Fujimoto, Noritatsu Tsubaki, Kenichiro Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7196239
    Abstract: The present invention provides various processes for producing light olefins from methanol and ethanol, optionally in a mixed alcohol stream. In one embodiment, the invention includes directing a first syngas stream to a methanol synthesis zone to form methanol and directing a second syngas stream and methanol to a homologation zone to form ethanol. The methanol and ethanol are directed to an oxygenate to olefin reaction system for conversion thereof to ethylene and propylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Cornelis F. Van Egmond, Andrew Argo, Teng Xu, Marcel Johannes Janssen, Jaimes Sher
  • Patent number: 7192987
    Abstract: This invention is directed to processes (i.e., methods) for making methanol compositions, and to processes (i.e., methods) of using the methanol compositions. The methanol compositions contain ethanol and are particularly suitable for contacting with an olefin forming catalyst to form an olefin stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Cor F. Van Egmond, Teng Xu
  • Patent number: 7186757
    Abstract: An effective catalyst includes an amorphous silica-alumina support having a bimodal pore size-distribution. The support may be prepared by a method that includes the physical mixing of two silica-alumina gels prepared so as to have two different average pore sizes. The catalyst has the advantage that both metal dispersion on the support and product diffusion in the pores are optimized. Further, the catalyst has improved performance in the production of hydrocarbons from synthesis gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Rafael L. Espinoza, Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Kevin L. Coy
  • Patent number: 7183326
    Abstract: What is described is a method and an installation for the simultaneous production of methanol synthesis gas, ammonia synthesis gas, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from natural gas, in which several plant elements (or plant units) are serially arranged one by one in one single production chain, whereat these elements comprise: a first reactor A, in which the natural gas is transformed under oxygen supply into a synthesis gas mixture comprised of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and steam (water vapor), a second reactor B, which allows to control the transformation of carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide, optionally a compressor C for compressing the generated gases, an absorber D for the absorption of carbon dioxide and for obtaining the carbon monoxide-hydrogen mixture used for methanol synthesis, a low-temperature separator E, in which ammonia synthesis gas is obtained by introducing liquid nitrogen, and in which simultaneously carbon monoxide, argon and methane are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Lurgi AG
    Inventors: William Davey, Manfred Meyer, Jürgen Hofmockel
  • Patent number: 7183328
    Abstract: A process for producing methanol is described in which a hydrocarbon is steam reformed in a reforming zone, and during the reforming stage, of a cyclic steam reformer having a reforming stage and a regeneration stage, the steam reforming being conducted under conditions effective to produce a first effluent stream containing synthesis gas. A fuel and an oxygen-containing gas are combusted in the regeneration stage of the reformer so as to reheat the reforming zone to a temperature sufficient for the reforming stage and generate a flue gas. At least part of the first effluent stream is contacted with a methanol synthesis catalyst under conditions effective to convert synthesis gas to methanol and form a methanol-containing stream and a tail gas stream comprising unreacted carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Hershkowitz, James R. Lattner
  • Patent number: 7183327
    Abstract: A method for selecting maximum and minimum catalyst particle sizes for use in a multiphase reactor that reflects optimum operating conditions of the reactor is based on a maximum Archimedes number for estimating the maximum particle size and a property of a separation system linked to the reactor to determine the minimum particle size. The maximum Archimedes number could be selected based on a maximum catalyst non-uniformity in the reactor. Additionally, a method for producing hydrocarbons from syngas in a slurry bubble column reactor comprises the use of a plurality of fresh catalyst particles with an optimum size distribution based on a range of Archimedes numbers between about 0.02 and 250 or alternatively based on an average Reynolds number less than about 0.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Rafael L. Espinoza, Oluwaseyi A. Odueyungbo, Jianping Zhang, Sergio R. Mohedas
  • Patent number: 7179843
    Abstract: Production of methanol includes supplying into a reactor a hydrocarbon-containing gas, supplying into the reactor an oxygen-containing as gas, carrying out in the reactor an oxidation of the heated hydrocarbon-containing gas by oxygen of the oxygen-containing gas, and supplying into the reactor a cold hydrocarbon-containing gas to be mixed directly with a mixture of the heated hydrocarbon-containing gas and the oxygen-containing gas at a later stage of the reaction to produce also formaldehyde.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Gas Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Oleg Vitalievich Bichkov, Yury Budansky, Alexander Leonidovich Tots, Vladimir Ivanovich Vedeneev
  • Patent number: 7176246
    Abstract: A process for thermochemical conversion of heavy oil and petroleum coke to fluid fuels includes the steps of: providing a fossil fuel selected from the group consisting of heavy oil, petroleum coke and mixtures thereof; and exposing the fossil fuel to an external source of concentrated radiation so as to increase the temperature of the fossil fuel, supply high-temperature heat required for the desired endothermic conversion process, and convert the fossil fuel to a product selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, gaseous hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Intevep, S.A.
    Inventors: Domingo Rodriguez, Alfredo Morales, Julian Blanco, Manuel Romero, Aldo Steinfeld
  • Patent number: 7168265
    Abstract: An integrated process for producing LNG and GTL products is provided, wherein a CO2-containing natural gas feed to an LNG production zone is first pre-treated to separate at least a portion of the CO2 therefrom, and the resulting CO2 stream obtained thereby is then directed to a GTL production zone and utilized to make GTL products that include methanol and/or methanol derivatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Briscoe, Theo H. Fleisch, Michael J. Gradassi, Jeffrey H. Sawchuk, Pedro Ernesto Fischer-Calderon
  • Patent number: 7166643
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a hydrogen-rich stream from a hydrogen-depleted stream. More particularly, the invention relates to a hydrocarbon synthesis process, by way of example, a Fischer Tropsch process, from which both hydrocarbons and high purity hydrogen are obtained. The process comprises contacting the hydrogen-depleted stream with a reverse-selective membrane to provide a CO2-enriched permeate and a hydrogen-containing retentate. The high purity hydrogen is produced from the hydrogen-containing retentate. The high purity hydrogen thus obtained may be used in a process selected from the group consisting of upgrading hydrocarbons produced from the hydrocarbon synthesis process, hydrotreating a natural gas stream, recycling to the hydrocarbon synthesis reaction unit, high purity hydrogen production, catalyst rejuvenation, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford M. Lowe, Daniel Chinn
  • Patent number: 7157501
    Abstract: Fischer-Tropsch process for the conversion of carbon monoxide and hydrogen to C5+ hydrocarbon mixtures in which process use is made of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles and fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst particles. The FCC catalyst can be a fresh FCC catalyst, or an equilibrium catalysts (E-cat).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Albemarle Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Edgar Evert Steenwinkel, Marieke Paulyne Renate Spee, Johannes Petrus Jozef Verlaan, Eelco Titus Carel Vogt
  • Patent number: 7153432
    Abstract: A process for the production of highly purified water 38 from Fischer-Tropsch reaction water 12, includes at least the steps of a primary treatment stage comprising an equilibrium staged separation process 14 having at least one stage for removing at least a fraction of non-acid oxygenated hydrocarbons from the Fischer-Tropsch reaction water 12 to produce a primary water-enriched stream 16, a secondary treatment stage comprising at least one membrane separation process 28 for removing at least some suspended solids and acidic oxygenated hydrocarbons from at least a portion of the primary water-enriched stream 16 to produce a secondary water-enriched stream 34 and a tertiary treatment stage comprising a dissolved salt and organic removal stage 36 for removing at least some dissolved salts and organic constituents from at least a portion of the secondary water-enriched stream 34.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Sasol Technology (Pty) Ltd.
    Inventors: Luis Pablo Fidel Dancuart Kohler, Gert Hendrik Du Plessis, Francois Jacobus Du Toit, Edward Ludovicus Koper, Trevor David Phillips, Janette Van Der Walt
  • Patent number: 7148261
    Abstract: A process for producing methanol is described in which a hydrocarbon is steam reformed in a reforming zone, and during the reforming stage, of a cyclic steam reformer having a reforming stage and a regeneration stage, the steam reforming being conducted under conditions effective to produce a first effluent stream containing synthesis gas. Fuel and an oxygen-containing gas are combusted in the regeneration stage of the reformer so as to reheat the reforming zone to a temperature sufficient for the reforming stage and generate a flue gas. At least part of the first effluent stream is contacted with a methanol synthesis catalyst under conditions effective to convert synthesis gas to methanol and form a methanol-containing stream and a tail gas stream comprising unreacted carbon monoxide and hydrogen. At least part of the tail gas stream is recycled as fuel for the regeneration stage of the cyclic steam reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Hershkowitz, James R. Lattner
  • Patent number: 7144924
    Abstract: Hydrocarbons are prepared, liquid at the reaction temperature, by feeding synthesis gas into three-phase turbulent reactors in which the solid phase, consisting of the catalyst in the form of particles, is kept in suspension in the liquid phase by the rising synthesis gas. The reaction product is separated/filtered in continuous from the catalyst dispersed therein by means of at least one filtration device consisting of a hydrocyclone over which there is a first hollow metal element in which a second hollow element is situated, coaxial with the first, made of a material having a porous structure, with an average pore diameter ranging from 0.002 to 0.1 micrometers, suitable for micro/ultrafiltration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignees: ENI S.p.A., Institut Francais du Petrole, Enitechnologie S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gabriele Carlo Ettore Clerici, Giuseppe Belmonte
  • Patent number: 7125524
    Abstract: To facilitate operation of a facility for chemical conversion of a feed that comprises a reactor (2) containing a slurry constituted by at least one suspension of at least one solid in a liquid, a gas supply, and a circuit that is external of the reactor, for continuous movement of a slurry stream, wherein the external circuit withdraws slurry from the reactor from at least one point (A) and re-introduces at least a portion of the slurry at at least one other point (B), the facility is further provided with means for stopping circulation of the slurry in the circuit; means for pressurized introduction of at least one fluid for draining the slurry contained in the circuit; and means for circulating the slurry in the external circuit under conditions such that the Reynolds number is more than 2500.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Schweitzer, Eric Lenglet, Franck Gaviot-Blanc
  • Patent number: 7119240
    Abstract: A process for converting natural gas to an olefin includes heating the gas to a selected range of temperature to convert a fraction of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbons, primarily ethylene or acetylene, and reacting with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to produce the olefin, usually ethylene. A portion of the incoming natural gas may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Hydrogen resulting from the reactions may be used to make electricity in a fuel cell. Alternatively, hydrogen may be burned to heat the natural gas to the selected range of temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Hall, Jerry A. Bullin, Philip T. Eubank, Aydin Akgerman, Rayford G. Anthony
  • Patent number: 7115668
    Abstract: Hydrocarbons are prepared, which are liquid at the reaction temperature, by feeding synthesis gas into three-phase turbulent reactors in which the solid phase, consisting of the catalyst in the form of particles, is kept in suspension in the liquid phase by the rising synthesis gas. The reaction product is extracted in continuous, together with the catalyst dispersed therein, and sent to a separation section which comprises a primary filtration unit and a micro/ultra-filtration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignees: ENI S.p.A., Institut Francais du Petrole, Enitecnologie S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Belmonte, Vincenzo Calemma
  • Patent number: 7115670
    Abstract: A process for the conversion of synthesis gas to higher hydrocarbons by synthesis gas, at an elevated temperature and pressure, with a suspension of a particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, in a system comprising at least one high shear mixing zone and a reactor vessel wherein the process comprises: (a) passing the suspension and the gaseous stream through the high shear mixing zone wherein the gaseous stream is broken down into gas bubbles and/or irregularly shaped gas voids; (b) discharging suspension having gas bubbles and/or irregularly shaped gas voids dispersed therein from the high shear mixing zone into the reactor vessel; and (c) maintaining the temperature of the suspension discharged into the reactor vessel at the desired reaction temperature by means of an internal heat exchanger positioned within the suspension in the reactor vessel. At least 5% of the exothermic heat of reaction is removed from the system by means of the internal heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignees: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, Davy Process Technology Limited
    Inventors: John Richard Hensman, David Newton
  • Patent number: 7115669
    Abstract: A gas-agitated multiphase reactor system that is effective for enabling maximum reactor productivity or minimizing reactor volume comprising at least two stages with or without recycle, wherein inlet gas superficial velocity is at least 20 cm/sec at Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, yielding a total syngas conversion of greater than about 90%, while syngas conversion in each reactor is less than 60%. More specifically, the total reactor volume is held to a minimum such that minimum reactor volume is less than 0.02 cubic meters total reactor volume/(kg C5+/hr production).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Jianping Zhang, Harold A. Wright
  • Patent number: 7112613
    Abstract: Process for converting synthesis gas to hydrocarbons which comprises contacting a gaseous stream comprising synthesis gas, at an elevated temperature and pressure, with a suspension comprising a particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst having a particle size in the range 5 microns to 500 microns, suspended in a liquid medium, in a system comprising at least one high shear mixing zone and a reactor vessel. The suspension and the gaseous stream is passed through the high shear mixing zone(s) wherein the gaseous stream is broken down into gas bubbles. The suspension having gas bubbles dispersed therein is discharged from the high shear mixing zone(s) into the reactor vessel, and suspension comprising the particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst suspended in the liquid medium and liquid hydrocarbon products is withdrawn from the reactor vessel and at least a portion of the suspension is recycled to the high shear mixing zone(s) via an external conduit at a flow rate of at least 10,000 m3 of suspension per hour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignees: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, Davy Process Technology Limited
    Inventors: Timothy Douglas Gamlin, Carole Graham, John Richard Hensman, Barry Nay, David Newton
  • Patent number: 7109248
    Abstract: Natural gas is processed to generate longer-chain hydrocarbons, the process comprising subjecting the gas to steam reforming to generate a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and then subjecting this mixture to Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is performed at an elevated temperature above 230° C. and with a gas hourly space velocity greater than 10 000 hr?1 so as to achieve a selectivity to the production of C5+ hydrocarbons that is less than 65%. The resulting liquid product can be used as a vehicle fuel, while the tail gases may be used to generate electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: GTL Microsystems AG
    Inventor: Michael Joseph Bowe
  • Patent number: 7105706
    Abstract: Process for the preparation of an alkoxylated alcohol composition comprising one or more alkoxylated alcohols wherein the process comprises the steps of: (a) reacting carbon monoxide with hydrogen under Fischer-Tropsch reaction conditions in the presence of a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst; (b) separating from the product of step (a) at least one hydrocarbon fraction comprising paraffins having from 9 to 17 carbon atoms and olefins having from 9 to 17 carbon atoms, the hydrocarbon fraction additionally comprising at least a portion of alcohols; (c) contacting one or more of the hydrocarbon fractions obtained in step (b) with an alkylene oxide; and (d) recovering an alkoxylated alcohol composition from the reaction product of step (c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Hendrik Dirkzwager, Laurent Alain Fenouil, Rendert Jan Wiersma
  • Patent number: 7098251
    Abstract: Hydrocarbons are prepared, liquid at the reaction temperature, by feeding synthesis gas into three-phase turbulent reactors wherein the solid phase, consisting of the catalyst in particle form, is kept in suspension in the liquid phase by the rising synthesis gas. The reaction product is separated/filtrated in continuous from the catalyst dispersed therein, by means of a separation/filtration unit consisting of several filtration cartridges, each consisting of at least two porous filtering elements, the first having an average pore diameter ranging from 0.5 to 15 ?m, whereas the second has an average pore diameter ranging from 0.002 to 0.1 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignees: ENI S.p.A., Institut Francais du Petrole, Enitecnologie S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gabriele Carlo Ettore Clerici, Giuseppe Belmonte
  • Patent number: 7091252
    Abstract: Bubble columns fractionate with vapor-liquid mass transfer efficiencies approaching that of distillation towers when vapor velocities in excess of 50% of jet flood are used. If the vapor velocities are pushed above about 70% of jet flood then the distillation performance of a given column packing becomes similar for both liquid continuous operation (bubble column mode) and vapor continuous operation (ordinary distillation tower mode).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Smith, Jr., Mitchell E. Loescher
  • Patent number: 7091251
    Abstract: In a process for the use of a hydrocarbon feedstock (10) by reacting the feedstock in a reactor (11) with oxygen (9) to form a synthesis gas containing at least carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen and subjecting the synthesis gas to a conversion process comprising an exothermic reaction to produce methanol as a final product in a converter (15), the converter operating at an operating pressure, the oxygen being provided to the reactor at an oxygen pressure, the synthesis gas is produced at a pressure such that it undergoes at most one compression step with a compression ratio ranging from 1 to 1.7 before entering the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide—Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Counseil de Survelliance pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alain Guillard, Emmanuel Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7087651
    Abstract: Methane is reacted with steam, to generate carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a first catalytic reactor; the resulting gas mixture can then be used to perform Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in a second catalytic reactor. In performing the steam/methane reforming, the gas mixture is passed through a narrow flow channel containing a catalyst structure on a metal substrate, and adjacent to a source of heat, in a time less than 0.5 s, so that only those reactions that have comparatively rapid kinetics will occur. Both the average temperature and the exit temperature of the channel are in the range 750° to 900° C. The ratio of steam to methane should preferably be 1.4 to 1.6, for example about 1.5. Almost all the methane will undergo the reforming reaction, almost entirely forming carbon monoxide. After performing Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, the remaining hydrogen is preferably used to provide heat for the reforming reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: GTL Microsystems AG
    Inventors: Clive Derek Lee-Tuffnell, Ian Frederick Zimmerman, Michael Joseph Bowe, Jason Andrew Maude
  • Patent number: 7087652
    Abstract: Synthesis gas for a Fischer-Tropsch process is obtained by primary steam reforming a hydrocarbon feedstock in tubes in a heat exchange reformer, subjecting the primary reformed gas to secondary reforming and using the hot secondary reformed gas to heat the tubes in the heat exchange reformer. The resultant reformed gas is cooled, de-watered and used to form hydrocarbons in the Fischer-Tropsch process. At least part of the tail gas from the Fischer-Tropsch process is combusted in a gas turbine to provide power for the reforming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey PLC
    Inventors: Peter Edward James Abbott, Martin John Fernie
  • Patent number: 7087653
    Abstract: A gas-to-liquid (GTL) process and system for converting a natural gas) into liquid hydrocarbons (e.g. diesel, naphtha, distillates, etc.) wherein the equipment subsystems from existing gas-to-methanol plants are re-utilized in the (GTL) process. The syngas generator from the methanol plant is used to generate syngas in the present process. The syngas is then adjusted to remove CO2 and H2 before the syngas is passed through a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reactor to convert the syngas to liquid hydrocarbons. The FT reactor is comprised of the same equipment that was use previously to convert syngas into methanol except for the respective catalysts. The liquid hydrocarbons are then upgraded and separated into individual hydrocarbon products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: World GTL, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. A. Tijm, David Loring, Leigh Takeo Noda
  • Patent number: 7087804
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent from the air separation unit of a Gas To Liquids, Heavy Hydrocarbon Conversion, or Methanol Synthesis Facility on transport vessels. The primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent is used to reduce corrosion, reduce product biodegradation and oxidation, control invasive species, and prevent fires and explosions by reducing oxygen content. Accordingly, the present invention relates to integrated processes for producing hydrocarbonaceous products and using a primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent supplied from the process in shipping the products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis J. O'Rear
  • Patent number: 7084180
    Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a process for converting a reactant composition comprising H2 and CO to a product comprising at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon having at least about 5 carbon atoms, the process comprising: flowing the reactant composition through a microchannel reactor in contact with a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst to convert the reactant composition to the product, the microchannel reactor comprising a plurality of process microchannels containing the catalyst; transferring heat from the process microchannels to a heat exchanger; and removing the product from the microchannel reactor; the process producing at least about 0.5 gram of aliphatic hydrocarbon having at least about 5 carbon atoms per gram of catalyst per hour; the selectivity to methane in the product being less than about 25%. The disclosed invention also relates to a supported catalyst comprising Co, and a microchannel reactor comprising at least one process microchannel and at least one adjacent heat exchange zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Wang, Anna Lee Tonkovich, Terry Mazanec, Francis P. Daly, Dave VanderWiel, Jianli Hu, Chunshe Cao, Charles Kibby, Xiaohong Shari Li, Michael D. Briscoe, Nathan Gano, Ya-Huei Chin
  • Patent number: 7078439
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for separating liquid products and catalyst particles from a slurry used in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor system. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are characterized by a separation system that uses a sedimentation chamber, which contains at least one inclined channel that enhances the settling of particles within the slurry. The enhanced settling separates the slurry into a catalyst-rich bottom stream and a catalyst-lean overhead stream. The catalyst-rich bottom product stream is preferably recycled to the reactor, while the catalyst-lean overhead stream can be further processed by a secondary separation system to produce valuable synthetic fuels. The inclined channel may be provided by a structure selected from the group consisting of tube, pipe, conduit, sheets, trays, walls, plates, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Oluwaseyi A. Odueyungbo, Rafael L. Espinoza, Sergio R. Mohedas, James Dale Ortego, Jr., Beatrice C. Ortego, Ralph T. Goodwin, Todd H. Harkins
  • Patent number: 7071236
    Abstract: The natural gas flowing in through line 1 is cooled, then expanded in turbine T1. The liquid at the bottom of drum D2 is the liquefied natural gas. The gas at the top of drum D2 is compressed by compressor K1, then fed into the treating plant using a Fischer-Tropsch process to convert the natural gas to natural gas liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Béatrice Fischer, Alexandre Rojey
  • Patent number: 7071237
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method to start a process for producing normally gaseous, normally liquid and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbonaceous feed, which process involves the steps of: (i) compressing and optionally separating an oxygen containing gas; (ii) partial oxidation of the hydrocarbonaceous feed at elevated temperature and pressure using the compressed oxygen containing gas of step (i) to obtain synthesis gas and steam; (iii) catalytically converting the synthesis gas of step (ii) at elevated temperature and pressure to obtain the normally liquid and/or gaseous hydrocarbons and steam; and (iv) using steam obtained in step (ii) and/or step (iii) and optionally combusting of hydrocarbons for generating power for providing the pressurized oxygen containing gas for step (i), which method starts with using a hydrocarbonaceous feed fired boiler for providing steam for the generation of power for step (i) for compressing and optionally separating the pressurized oxygen containing
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Joachim Ansorge, Joannes Ignatius Geijsel
  • Patent number: 7071238
    Abstract: Process for the conversion of synthesis gas to hydrocarbons, at least a portion of which are liquid at ambient temperature and pressure, by contacting the synthesis gas at an elevated temperature and pressure with a suspension comprising a particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst suspended in a liquid medium, in a reactor system comprising at least one high shear mixing zone and a reactor vessel. The process comprises passing the suspension and synthesis gas through the high shear mixing zone(s) where the synthesis gas is broken down into gas bubbles and/or irregularly shaped gas voids; discharging suspension having gas bubbles and/or irregularly shaped gas voids dispersed therein from the high shear mixing zone(s) into the reactor vessel; and introducing a liquid coolant into the reactor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignees: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, Davy Process Technology Limited
    Inventors: Timothy Douglas Gamlin, Lawrence Trevor Hardy, David Newton
  • Patent number: 7067561
    Abstract: Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is performed on a CO/H*2 feed gas using a plurality of compact catalytic reactor modules (12) each defining catalytic reaction channels and coolant channels, in two successive stages, with the same number of reactor modules for each stage. The gas flow velocity in the first stage is sufficiently high that no more than 75% of the CO undergoes conversion. The gases are cooled (16) between successive stages so as to remove water vapour, and the pressure is reduced (20) before they are subjected to the second stage. In addition the reaction temperature for the second stage is lower than for the first stage, such that no more than 75% of the remaining carbon monoxide undergoes conversion during the second stage too. The deleterious effect of water vapour on the catalyst is hence suppressed, while the overall capacity of the plant (10) can be adjusted by closing off modules in each stage while keeping the numbers equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: GTL Microsystems AG
    Inventor: Michael Joseph Bowe
  • Patent number: 7067559
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for the preparation of liquid hydrocarbons which process comprises contacting synthesis gas with a slurry of solid catalyst particles and a liquid in a reactor vessel by introducing the synthesis gas at a low level into the slurry at conditions suitable for conversion of the synthesis gas into liquid hydrocarbons, the solid catalyst particles comprising a catalytic active metal selected from cobalt or iron on a porous refractory oxide carrier, preferably selected from silica, alumina, titania, zirconia or mixtures thereof, the catalyst being present in an amount between 10 and 40 vol. percent based on total slurry volume liquids and solids, and separating liquid material from the solid catalyst particles by using a filtration system comprising an asymmetric filtration medium (the selective side at the slurry side), in which filtration system the average pressure differential over the filtration medium is at least 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Bharat Lajjaram Bhatt, Dirk Coenraad Engel, Edward Clyde Heydorn, Matthijis Maria Gerardus Senden
  • Patent number: 7067560
    Abstract: Natural gas is processed to generate longer-chain hydrocarbons, the process comprising subjecting the gas to steam reforming to generate a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and then subjecting this mixture to Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The reforming reaction (20) is performed at 0.4–0.5 MPa and the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (50) at 1.8–2.1 MPa, and two compressors (36, 44) are used to raise the pressure, the gas mixture being cooled (26, 32, 40) before and after the first compressor (36). This reduces both the operating cost and capital cost of the plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: GTL Microsystems AG
    Inventor: Michael Joseph Bowe
  • Patent number: 7067558
    Abstract: A process for the production of methanol from liquid or gaseous starting materials, in which the emission of carbon dioxide is reduced or completely eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Lurgi AG
    Inventors: Mauricio Grobys, Hermann Göhna, Thomas Wurzel
  • Patent number: 7064150
    Abstract: A process for hydrogenating carbon dioxide to generate methanol. In the process, a strip of copper base plate is transported by the groups of rotating drive rollers to deposit porous metallic zinc on the copper base plate. Hydrogen is generated from the porous metallic zinc upon electrochemical reactions in the inner space sealed with the above groups of rollers. Simultaneously, zinc oxide and copper oxide catalysts are formed on the porous metallic zinc. Carbon dioxide is introduced into the sealed inner space under high-temperature and high-pressure to generate methanol by hydrogenation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Inventor: Masayoshi Matsui
  • Patent number: 7053128
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing liquid hydrocarbons by first generating in a pressure swing reformer a synthesis gas stream having a mole ratio of H2:CO greater than 2:1. Then, a portion of the hydrogen is separated to produce a synthesis gas stream having a mole ratio of H2:CO of about 2:1 which steam is then introduced into a hydrocarbon synthesis reactor for conversion to liquid products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Frank Hershkowitz
  • Patent number: 7045553
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing liquid hydrocarbons by first generating in a pressure swing reformer a synthesis gas stream having a mole ratio of H2:CO greater than 2:1. Then, a portion of the hydrogen is separated to produce a synthesis gas stream having a mole ratio of H2:CO of about 2:1 which steam is then introduced into a hydrocarbon synthesis reactor for conversion to liquid products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Frank Hershkowitz
  • Patent number: 7037948
    Abstract: A method of increasing the production in an existing process plant for converting natural gas into a product, where the natural gas is first converted to a synthesis gas in a synthesis gas section, the synthesis gas is brought to reaction in a reactor for synthesis of the product, where non-converted synthesis gas and product are separated into two streams, where a product-rich stream is taken off the process, while a product-poor stream is re-circulated back as feed to the reactor together with fresh synthesis gas, and where part of the re-circulating stream is taken off the re-circulation loop as a purge gas, where the purge gas is separated into hydrogen-rich and hydrogen-poor streams, where hydrogen-rich streams are introduced in stages of the process where addition of hydrogen is desirable, and where the residual thermal value of the hydrogen-poor stream may be used for heating prior to the stream being discharged, wherein the synthesis gas from the synthesis gas section receives a hydrogen-rich stream f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Statoil ASA
    Inventors: Roger Hansen, Jostein Sogge, Bjorn Jarle Veland, Ola Olsvik
  • Patent number: 7037947
    Abstract: A process for the conversion of natural gas to higher hydrocarbons in a system comprising (1) a synthesis gas production unit and (2) a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis unit comprising at least one high shear mixing zone and a reactor vessel wherein the units are located abroad a floatable structure. The process comprises the steps of: (a) converting the natural gas to synthesis gas in the synthesis gas production unit; and (b) converting the synthesis gas to higher hydrocarbons, at an elevated temperature and pressure, in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis unit by (i) passing synthesis gas and a suspension comprising a particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst suspended in a liquid medium through the high shear mixing zone(s) wherein the synthesis gas is broken down into gas bubbles and/or irregularly shaped gas voids which are dispersed in the suspension, and (ii) discharging suspension containing the dispersed gas bubbles and/or irregularly shaped gas voids from the high shear mixing zone(s) into the reactor vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignees: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, Davy Process Technology Limited
    Inventors: Josephus Johannes Helena Maria Font Freide, John Richard Hensman, David Newton
  • Patent number: 7034062
    Abstract: Process for the conversion of synthesis gas to higher hydrocarbons. A gaseous stream comprising synthesis gas is contacted at an elevated temperature and pressure with a suspension comprising a particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst suspended in a liquid medium, in a reactor system comprising at least one high shear mixing zone and a tubular loop reactor. The suspension and the gaseous stream are passed through the high shear mixing zone(s) wherein the gaseous stream is broken down into gas bubbles and/or irregularly shaped gas voids. Suspension having gas bubbles and/or irregularly shaped gas voids dispersed therein is discharged from the high shear mixing zone(s) into the tubular loop reactor, the discharged suspension is circulated around the tubular loop reactor, and a product suspension stream comprising at least a portion of the circulating suspension is withdrawn from the tubular loop reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignees: BP Exploration Operatiing Company Limited, Davy Process Technology Limited
    Inventors: Josephus Johannes Helena Maria Font Freide, David Newton, Christopher Sharp