Liquid Phase Fischer-tropsch Reaction Patents (Class 518/700)
  • Patent number: 8497309
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a method of reacting one or more components in a liquid medium to form an organic product that may include feeding a carbonaceous gas and a liquid medium to a high shear device; processing the gas and the liquid medium under shearing conditions in the high shear device, resulting in an emulsion comprising at least some of the carbonaceous gas dispersed in the liquid medium, wherein the dispersed carbonaceous gas comprises gas bubbles with a mean diameter of less than about 1 ?m; and reacting the emulsion to produce the organic product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: H R D Corporation
    Inventors: Aziz Hassan, Abbas Hassan, Rayford G. Anthony, Gregory Borsinger
  • Patent number: 8497310
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing normally gaseous, normally liquid and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons during a production cycle (i.e. between regenerations or between start-up with freshly loaded catalyst and the first regeneration) by catalytic conversion of synthesis gas in a multiple reactor arrangement comprising at least two parallel operating reactors containing a catalyst capable of converting synthesis gas to hydrocarbons, and each reactor having a different relative reaction rate, wherein synthesis gas is distributed to each reactor at a feed rate proportional to the relative reaction rate in the respective reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Arend Hoek, Hans Michiel Huisman
  • Patent number: 8497308
    Abstract: A process for carrying out at least two unit operations in series, the process comprising the step of: (a) directing a feed stream into an integrated assembly which comprises a first microchannel unit operation upon at least one chemical of the feed stream to generate a distributed output stream that exits the first microchannel unit operation in a first set of discrete microchannels isolating flow through the discrete microchannels; and (b) directing the distributed output stream of the first microchannel unit operation into a second microchannel unit operation as a distributed input stream, to continue isolating flow between the first set of discrete microchannels, and conducting at least one operation upon at least one chemical of the input stream to generate a product stream that exits the second microchannel unit operation, where the first microchannel unit operation and the second unit operation share a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Y. Tonkovich, Robert D. Litt, Timothy M. Werner, Bin Yang
  • Patent number: 8487010
    Abstract: A process for reducing the carbon oxide content in natural gas, by producing a carbon oxide containing natural gas from a geological formation through a natural gas delivery system; providing a reaction zone containing at least one catalyst suitable for hydrocarbon conversion in the natural gas delivery system; introducing hydrogen into the carbon oxide containing natural gas to form a reaction mixture; and passing the reaction mixture to the catalyst in the reaction zone to convert at least a portion of the carbon oxides in the natural gas to hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: David Thomas, Rod Travis, Michael Moppert, Christopher John Kalli, Gerald M. Elphingstone, Jr., David L. Charlesworth
  • Patent number: 8487011
    Abstract: Methods and compositions relate to a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst utilized to convert syngas into paraffins. The catalyst includes a given amount of sulfur content from contact of a catalytic supported metal with sulfur. Subsequent activation of the catalyst prepares the catalyst to be used for conversion of the syngas. The sulfur content maintained in the catalyst after being activated influences selectivity to paraffins over olefins and oxygenates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Douglas E. Fjare, Joe D. Allison
  • Patent number: 8481601
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of performing a synthesis gas conversion reaction in which synthesis gas contacts a catalyst system including a mixture of ruthenium loaded Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles and at least one set of catalyst particles including an acidic component promoted with a noble metal, e.g., Pt or Pd. The reaction occurs at conditions resulting in a hydrocarbons product containing 1-15 weight % CH4, 1-15 weight % C2-C4, 70-95 weight % C5+, 0-5 weight % C21+ normal paraffins, and 0-10 weight % aromatic hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Tapan Das, Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Charles L Kibby, Robert J. Saxton
  • Patent number: 8481602
    Abstract: My process does not convert natural gas into compressed natural gas, does not convert natural gas into liquified natural gas but uses 2 new chemical formulas to convert natural gas into synthetic gasolines or into synthetic diesels. After producing CO through a technology of partial combustion , my process improves Fischer-Tropsch process using CH4 instead of H2, following 2 new chemical equations and adding salt, NaCl, to an iron, FeO, catalyst or to any other catalyst capable of generating hydrocarbons. Instead of producing a large variety of synthetic hydrocarbons like other processes do, my process delivers only synthetic gasolines following 5 CH4+2 CO=C7H16+2 H2O or only synthetic diesels following 11 CH4+5 CO=C16H34+5 H2O thanks to the addition of salt to an iron catalyst or to any other catalyst. No oil refining needed. Because natural gas is the cleanest hydrocarbon, my process produces clean synthetic gasolines or clean synthetic diesels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Gagnon
  • Patent number: 8471076
    Abstract: In the production of methanol from a synthesis gas containing hydrogen and carbon oxides, the synthesis gas is passed through a first, preferably water-cooled reactor, in which a part of the carbon oxides is catalytically converted to methanol. The obtained mixture containing synthesis gas and methanol vapor is supplied to a second, preferably gas-cooled reactor, in which a further part of the carbon oxides is converted to methanol. Subsequently, methanol is separated from the synthesis gas, and the synthesis gas is recirculated to the first reactor. To achieve a maximum methanol yield even with an aged catalyst, a partial stream of the synthesis gas is guided past the first reactor and introduced directly into the second reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Lurgi GmbH
    Inventors: Dierk Müller, Andreas Bormann
  • Publication number: 20130158136
    Abstract: In order to avoid fouling (precipitation of solid matter on cold surfaces) in heat-exchangers down-stream of the gas outlet of a Fischer-Tropsch reactor, the reactor gas stream containing hydrocarbon products that are solid at lower temperatures is fed into a liquid wash tank. Condensation of heavy oil in the liquid wash tank is effected by feeding an evaporable light oil into the liquid wash tank. Heavy oil is recovered as a bottom product from the liquid wash tank while a gaseous product is taken out of the liquid wash tank as the top product. The light oil is obtained from the wash tank top product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: GTL.F1 AG
    Inventor: Roger Hansen
  • Patent number: 8461216
    Abstract: A process for the co-production of superheated steam and methane includes reacting a gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a series of methanation regions to produce a product gas containing methane The gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen flows, in passing through the series of methanation regions, successively through at least a first internally cooled methanation region and a second internally cooled methanation region, cooling the first and second internally cooled methanation region with water, which water is vaporized in the first internally cooled methanation region to produce steam and which steam is subsequently superheated in the second internally cooled methanation region to produce superheated steam The internally cooled methanation regions include tubes filled with a methanation catalyst and a space surrounding the tubes The gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen and/or product gas flows through the tubes and the water flows through the space surrounding the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Lloyd Anthony Clomburg, Jr., Anand Nilekar
  • Patent number: 8461215
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for rendering coal as an environmentally essentially carbon dioxide-neutral fuel. Carbon dioxide produced from coal combustion is captured, purified, combined with coalbed methane or any other natural methane or natural gas source, or with hydrogen, and reacted under reaction conditions sufficient to form methanol and/or dimethyl ether, which can be used as fuel or feedstock for derived synthetic hydrocarbons and products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
  • Patent number: 8461218
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for rendering petroleum oil as an essentially environmentally carbon dioxide-neutral fuel and source material. Carbon dioxide produced from petroleum oil combustion is captured, purified, combined with steam and light hydrocarbon fractions, or with hydrogen, and reacted under reaction conditions sufficient to form methanol and/or dimethyl ether, which can be used as fuel or feedstock for derived synthetic hydrocarbons and products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
  • Patent number: 8461217
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for rendering natural gas as an environmentally essentially carbon dioxide-neutral fuel. Carbon dioxide produced from natural gas combustion or from natural gas wells is captured, purified, combined with natural gas or methane or with hydrogen, and reacted under reaction conditions sufficient to form methanol and/or dimethyl ether, which can be used as fuel or feedstock for derived synthetic hydrocarbons and products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20130143971
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon oil obtained by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction using a slurry bed reactor holding a slurry of a liquid hydrocarbon in which a catalyst is suspended; the hydrocarbon oil is fractionated into a distilled oil and a column bottom oil containing the catalyst fine powder by a rectifying column; at least part of the column bottom oil is transferred to a storage tank, and the catalyst fine powder is sedimented to the bottom of the storage tank to capture the catalyst fine powder; a residue of the column bottom oil is transferred from the rectifying column to a hydrocracker, and/or the supernatant of the column bottom oil from which the catalyst fine powder is captured by the storage tank is transferred from the storage tank to the hydrocracker; and using the hydrocracker, the residue of the column bottom oil and/or the supernatant of the column bottom oil is hydrocracked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicants: JAPAN OIL, GAS AND METALS NATIONAL CORPORATION, INPEX CORPORATION, NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN ENGINEERING CO., LTD., JAPAN PETROLEUM EXPLORATION CO., LTD., COSMO OIL CO., LTD., JX NIPPON OIL & ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marie Iwama, Kazuhiko Tasaka, Yuichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8455555
    Abstract: Higher molecular weight hydrocarbon compounds or oxygenates are produced from a gas comprising methane in a process comprising the steps of generating synthesis gas (“syngas”) comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen by reaction of a gas comprising methane with steam and/or an oxidant gas comprising oxygen, producing higher molecular weight hydrocarbon compounds or oxygenates in a syngas conversion process, removing offgas comprising unreacted hydrogen and unreacted carbon monoxide from said syngas conversion process and separating cryogenically unreacted hydrogen from said offgas or from a gas derived therefrom to produce separated hydrogen product that is substantially free of unreacted carbon monoxide and a first cryogenic liquid comprising unreacted carbon monoxide. The unreacted hydrogen is preferably separated from the offgas in a liquid methane wash column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: GTLpetrol LLC
    Inventors: Rodney Allam, Andrew Weaver, Vincent White, David B. Byard
  • Publication number: 20130131197
    Abstract: Disclosed are a gas to liquids (GTL)-floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) system that can be used in offshore oil fields or stranded gas fields and a method for producing synthetic fuel using the same. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a GTL-FPSO system capable of producing liquid synthetic fuel from gas extracted from stranded gas fields or associated gas extracted from oil fields, including a reforming reactor and a liquid hydrocarbon producer, and a method for producing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventor: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
  • Publication number: 20130131196
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to a method and system for improving the conversion of carbon-containing feed stocks to renewable fuels, and more particularly to a thermal chemical conversion of biomass to renewable fuels and other useful chemical compounds, including gasoline and diesel, via a unique combination of unique processes. More particularly, this combination of processes includes (a) a selective pyrolysis of biomass, which produces volatile hydrocarbons and a biochar; (b) the volatile hydrocarbons are upgraded in a novel catalytic process to renewable fuels, (c) the biochar is gasified at low pressure with recycled residual gases from the catalytic process to produce synthesis gas, (d) the synthesis gas is converted to dimethyl ether in a novel catalytic process, and (e) the dimethyl ether is recycled to the selective pyrolysis process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: MICHAEL CHEIKY, RAJASHEKHARAM MALYALA, VERN S. TRAXLER
  • Patent number: 8445548
    Abstract: The invention is related to the preparation of low-tar syngas from organic wastes and optionally to the preparation of methanol from the syngas or from the separated carbon dioxide. The process is characterized by introducing the secondary raw material comprising preferably solid communal waste, sludge and/or biomass waste into a double-flow one-body generator, comprising an inner pyrolysing, oxidizing and reducing zone and converting the obtained pyrolysis coke, pyrolysis water and tar formed by the aid of the heat content of the gas flowing upwards in the outer gas space by blowing oxygen into the fix-bed, to a raw syngas comprising carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen, on the fix bed of the pyrolysis coke and optionally a liquid containing liquid hydrocarbons or a powder of high carbon content are added in order to control the temperature and hydrohalides are removed from the obtained raw syngas on a calcium carbonate bed at 200-700° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventors: Iván Raisz, István Barta
  • Patent number: 8440728
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for increasing the yield of a slurry bed reactor. The method provides a slurry bed reactor with a recycling unit or a replacing unit. An absorbing agent is fed into the slurry bed reactor. The absorbing agent is a substance that can react with at least one product of a primary reaction or at least one reactant of a side reaction. Then, the absorbing agent is transmitted into the recycling unit or the replacing unit. The recycling unit renews the absorbing agent and sends the renewed absorbing agent back into the slurry bed reactor for reuse. The replacing unit replaces the absorbing agent with new absorbing agent and sends the new absorbing agent into the slurry bed reactor for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Atomic Energy Council—Institute of Nuclear Energy Research
    Inventors: Kuo-Chao Liang, How-Ming Lee, Chin-Ching Tzeng
  • Patent number: 8431622
    Abstract: A process for producing Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon products onboard a marine vessel from at least one gas, liquid or solid carbonaceous feedstock, which includes the steps of conducting gasification in a thermal conversion plant operationally connected to an onboard power plant and forming Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbons in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor with the thermal conversion plant sending a gas stream intermediate product from the conversion plant to the Fischer-Tropsch reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: How Kiap Gueh
  • Patent number: 8410183
    Abstract: A low-temperature catalytic process for converting biomass (preferably glycerol recovered from the fabrication of bio-diesel) to synthesis gas (i.e., H2/CO gas mixture) in an endothermic gasification reaction is described. The synthesis gas is used in exothermic carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions, such as Fischer-Tropsch, methanol, or dimethylether syntheses. The heat from the exothermic carbon-carbon bond-forming reaction is integrated with the endothermic gasification reaction, thus providing an energy-efficient route for producing fuels and chemicals from renewable biomass resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignees: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy D. Cortright, James A. Dumesic
  • Publication number: 20130079426
    Abstract: Configurations, systems, and methods for a gas-to-liquids plant are presented in which the energy demand for natural gas reformation is provided at least in part by biomass gasification to reduce or eliminate net carbon emissions. Preferred plants, systems, and methods may recycle various process streams to further reduce water demand, improve the hydrogen/carbon ratio of a feed stream to a Fischer-Tropsch process, and recover and/or recycle carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: FLUOR TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: FLUOR TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8399527
    Abstract: A Fischer-Tropsch process including the steps of providing a reactor having a substrate element with a surface and a plurality of elongated micro-structures of catalyst material attached to the substrate surface The catalyst material includes at least one of cobalt, iron, or ruthenium and the micro-structures have a width of less than about 1 um and a length at least five times the width. A carbon compound and hydrogen are injected into the reactor such that at least a portion of the carbon compound and hydrogen contact the catalyst material. The carbon compound and hydrogen are reacted with the catalyst at a temperature between about 80° F. and about 200° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Louisiana Tech University Research Foundation; a division of Louisiana Tech University Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Brown, John McDonald, Chester Wilson
  • Patent number: 8394861
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a method of producing synthesis gas from carbonaceous material, the method comprising: (a) providing a mixture comprising carbonaceous material and a liquid medium; (b) subjecting the mixture to high shear under gasification conditions whereby a high shear-treated stream comprising synthesis gas is produced; and (c) separating a product comprising synthesis gas from the high shear-treated stream. Herein also disclosed is a method for producing a liquid product. The method comprises forming a dispersion comprising gas bubbles dispersed in a liquid phase in a high shear device, wherein the average gas bubble diameter is less than about 1.5 ?m; contacting the dispersion with a multifunctional catalyst to form the liquid product; and recovering the liquid product. In an embodiment, the liquid product is selected from the group consisting of C2+ hydrocarbons, C2+ oxygenates, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: HRD Corporation
    Inventors: Abbas Hassan, Aziz Hassan, Rayford G. Anthony, Gregory G. Borsinger
  • Patent number: 8394862
    Abstract: A unique process and catalyst is described that operates efficiently at low pressures for the direct production of a high cetane diesel type fuel or diesel type blending stock from stoichiometric mixtures of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. This invention allows for, but is not limited to, the economical and efficient production high quality diesel type fuels from small or distributed fuel production plants that have an annual production capacity of less than 100 million gallons per year by eliminating traditional hydrocracking and other costly upgrading processes. This catalytic process is ideal for distributed diesel fuel production plants such as biomass to fuel production plants and stranded natural gas to diesel fuel production plants, and other applications that require optimized economics based on supporting distributed feedstock resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Pacific Renewable Fuels, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Schuetzle, Dennis Schuetzle, David De Villiers
  • Patent number: 8389585
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention are characterized by degasifying a portion of a gas and slurry mixture in a three-phase slurry process and lowering the solids content of the degassed slurry portion to below about 20 wt %. The degassed and lowered solids content slurry portion is then introduced into a fines separation device for separation and removal of fines. The foregoing procedure has been found to increase the effectiveness of the fines separation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: David G. Hammond, Jorge L. Soto, F. Craig Moates
  • Patent number: 8389586
    Abstract: The present invention is a multiple reaction set for the production of chemicals by equilibrium limited reactions utilizing plate-type or extended surface heat exchangers. The heat exchangers cool the reaction products to condense methanol within the reaction products for separation, and to warm incoming feed reactants prior to entrance of the reactants into a reactor utilized for methanol production. The various reactors, heat exchangers, and separators can be formed as separated zones within enclosed vessels, thereby eliminating the need for separately constructed reactors, heat exchangers, and separators. Multi-stream plate-type of extended surface heat exchangers can be utilized to allow efficient cooling and methanol separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventors: James Andrew Banister, Anthony Matthew Johnston, Brian S. Haynes
  • Patent number: 8378162
    Abstract: The invention relates to the integration of a dehydroaromatization process with the processes for the utilization of associated gas; gases comprising methane and higher hydrocarbons, and/or liquefied natural gas (LNG) production or usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Larry L. Iaccino, Steven E. Silverberg, James R. Lattner, Andrea P. Wight, Garth M. Norman, Douglas E. Smith, Eric D. Nelson, Mark A. Nierode, Moses K. Minta
  • Patent number: 8354456
    Abstract: In a so-called GTL process for producing liquid hydrocarbons containing fuel oil by producing synthesis gas from natural gas, subsequently producing Fischer-Tropsch oil from the obtained synthesis gas by way of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and upgrading the produced Fischer-Tropsch oil, the synthesis gas produced from a synthesis gas production step is partly branched at a stage prior to getting to a Fischer-Tropsch oil production step and high-purity hydrogen is separated and produced from the synthesis gas entering the branch line. All the separated high-purity hydrogen is supplied to an upgrading reaction step and consumed as hydrogen for an upgrading reaction. Additionally, the synthesis gas entering the branch line is subjected to a water gas shift reaction to raise the hydrogen concentration before the step of separating and producing high-purity hydrogen and the residual gas left after the separation may be circulated to the synthesis gas production step as raw material for producing synthesis gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignees: Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, Inpex Corporation, JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation, Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd., Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd., Nippon Steel Engineering Co., Ltd., Chiyoda Corporation
    Inventors: Fuyuki Yagi, Kenichi Kawazuishi
  • Patent number: 8354457
    Abstract: A process (200) to synthesise hydrocarbons includes gasifying (12) a carbonaceous feed material at a temperature sufficiently high to produce at least one hot synthesis gas stream (42) at a temperature of at least 900° C. and comprising at least CO and H2. In a Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage (22), synthesis gas is converted to hydrocarbons, providing a tail gas stream (40) containing methane. The tail gas stream (40) is subjected to steam reforming (30) thereby converting the methane to CO and H2 producing a reformed gas stream which is recycled to the Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage (22). The steam reforming (30) takes place at an elevated temperature of at least 700° C. and heat for the steam reforming is provided by indirect heat exchange with the at least one hot synthesis gas stream (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Sasol Technology (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventor: Werner Siegfried Ernst
  • Patent number: 8338495
    Abstract: In a GTL process of producing various kinds of hydrocarbon oils from natural gas, provided is improved heat efficiency in the case of using a steam reforming process or a carbon dioxide reforming process in the reforming. The process includes producing a synthesis gas by converting the natural gas and at least one of steam and carbon dioxide into a synthesis gas through a tubular reformer filled with a reforming catalyst, producing Fischer-Tropsch oil by subjecting the produced synthesis gas to a Fischer-Tropsch reaction, and upgrading in which the Fischer-Tropsch oil is subjected to hydrotreatment and distillation to produce various kinds of hydrocarbon oils, in which excess heat generated in the synthesis gas production is recovered, and the recovered heat is used as heat for at least one of hydrotreatment and distillation in the upgrading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignees: Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, Inpex Corporation, Nippon Oil Corporation, Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd., Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd., Nippon Steel Engineering Co., Ltd., Chiyoda Corporation
    Inventors: Fuyuki Yagi, Kenichi Kawazuishi
  • Publication number: 20120322898
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to petrochemistry, gas chemistry, coal chemistry, particularly to a synthesis of hydrocarbons C5 and higher from CO and H2 under the Fischer-Tropsch reaction; the invention relates to a process and a system for producing synthetic liquid hydrocarbons. A process for producing synthetic liquid hydrocarbons is provided by catalytic converting syngas under the Fischer-Tropsch reaction on a fixed catalyst bed in a vertical shell and tube reactor with coolant supply into shell wherein as soon as the syngas conversion degree achieves 60-80%, a pressure gradient along the tubes is reduced below 0.1 bar/m and this value is maintained during the whole process. A reactor for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is provided comprising tubes with catalyst in a shell, the ratio of the tube diameter at the tube outlet to the diameter at the inlet is from 1.5/1 to 2.5/1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: INFRA TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Vadim Sergeevich Ermolaev, Vladimir Zalmanovich Mordkovic, Igor Grigorievich Solomonik, Igor Vladimirovich Derevich, Lilia Vadimovna Sineva, Eduard Borisovich Mitberg
  • Patent number: 8329765
    Abstract: Process for converting synthesis gas to hydrocarbons in a slurry reactor in the presence of a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst comprising cobalt and zinc oxide. The process is carried out by a) activating the Fischer-Tropsch catalyst with a reducing gas consisting of hydrogen and an inert gas at a temperature between 330 and 400° C., and b) contacting the activated Fischer-Tropsch catalyst from step a) with synthesis gas in the slurry reactor in order to convert the synthesis gas into hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignees: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, Davy Process Technology Limited
    Inventors: Jay Simon Clarkson, Timothy Douglas Gamlin, Lawrence Trevor Hardy
  • Publication number: 20120295991
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is providing a method for producing formic acid under mild reaction conditions and by a simple procedure. As a means for achieving the object, the method for producing formic acid of the present invention is characterized by a reaction between carbon dioxide and hydrogen in the presence of an ionic liquid. According to the present invention, it is possible to generate formic acid effectively, because the method does not require that carbon dioxide be brought into a supercritical state and because no basic substances are required to be added to the reaction system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Masaru Nakahara, Nobuyuki Matsubayashi, Yoshiro Yasaka
  • Patent number: 8309616
    Abstract: A new method of producing liquid transportation fuels from coal and other hydrocarbons that significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions by combining Fischer-Tropsch synthesis with catalytic dehydrogenation is claimed. Catalytic dehydrogenation (CDH) of the gaseous products (C1-C4) of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) can produce large quantities of hydrogen while converting the carbon to multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). Incorporation of CDH into a FTS-CDH plant converting coal to liquid fuels can eliminate all or most of the CO2 emissions from the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction that is currently used to elevate the H2 level of coal-derived syngas for FTS. Additionally, the FTS-CDH process saves large amounts of water used by the WGS reaction and produces a valuable by-product, MWCNT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: University of Kentucky Research Foundation
    Inventor: Gerald P. Huffman
  • Patent number: 8309617
    Abstract: A process for improving the overall carbon conversion efficiency of a gasification process, as well as improving the suitability of a syngas containing 0.5-10% methane for use as a feedstock for chemical production. A gasification reactor converts carbonaceous feedstock to syngas that is, in turn, utilized for a chemical production process in a chemical production reactor. An off-gas from this chemical production reactor is directed to a selective membrane that separates the off-gas into methane-rich and hydrogen-rich fractions. The hydrogen-rich fraction, is re-utilized as feedstock for the chemical production process, while the methane-enriched fraction is returned to the gasification reactor to form additional syngas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventor: Shuncheng Ji
  • Patent number: 8303923
    Abstract: Process for the co-production of methanol and ammonia from a hydrocarbon feed without venting to the atmosphere carbon dioxide captured from the methanol or ammonia synthesis gas and without using expensive air separation units, water gas shift and carbon dioxide removal steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventor: Pat A. Han
  • Patent number: 8299133
    Abstract: Process for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock into alcohol(s) wherein the hydrocarbons are first converted into syngas, which is converted into alcohols, by converting hydrocarbon feedstock in a steam reformer into stream A? of carbon oxide(s), hydrogen and water, feeding stream A? with hydrocarbon and oxygen feedstocks into an auto-thermal reformer to produce stream A, converting stream A in an oxygenate synthesis reactor into stream B containing methanol, ethanol, propanol(s), H2, C1-C3 alkanes, CO, CO2 and water, separating stream B, into stream C containing CO, C1-C3 alkanes, H2 and methanol, stream D containing CO2, recovering stream B containing the ethanol, propanol(s) and water, treating stream C to separate into a stream comprising CO and a stream comprising H2 and C1-C3 alkanes, reintroducing part of stream C with the stream comprising CO into the oxygenate synthesis reactor. At least part of stream D is reintroduced into the steam reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Patrick Gracey, Michael Keith Lee
  • Patent number: 8299134
    Abstract: A system and method for converting the natural gas into liquid hydrocarbons. A plurality of reaction cells are provided. Each reaction cell contains two concentric tubes. The concentric tubes are close in diameter and therefore create a very narrow uniform gap space in between the concentric tubes. The outer most of the tubes is heated. Natural gas and steam are passed into the gap space of at least some of the reaction cells. Due to the confinement of the gases and the heat, the mixture undergoes a water gas shift reaction to produce syngas. The syngas can then be reintroduced into other reaction cells to induce the Fischer-Tropsch process. Accordingly, the syngas is converted into complex hydrocarbons and water. The hydrocarbons and water are separated and cooled into liquid. The water is recycled and the liquid hydrocarbons are stored and transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventor: Peter R. Bossard
  • Patent number: 8299132
    Abstract: Process for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock into alcohol(s), wherein the hydrocarbons are first converted into syngas, which is subsequently converted into alcohols. The process is carried out by performing the steps of (1) converting a hydrocarbon feedstock, together with an oxygen feedstock, in a auto-thermal reactor (ATR), into a stream A, containing a mixture of carbon oxide(s) and hydrogen, (2) converting at least part of stream A, in the presence of a catalyst in a oxygenate synthesis reactor under a temperature between 150 and 400° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Patrick Gracey, Michael Keith Lee
  • Patent number: 8288446
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process of making a syngas mixture containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, comprising a step of contacting a gaseous feed mixture containing carbon dioxide and hydrogen with a catalyst, wherein the catalyst substantially consists of chromia/alumina. This process enables hydrogenation of carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide with high selectivity, and good catalyst stability over time and under variations in processing conditions. The process can be applied separately, but can also be combined with other processes, for example up-stream with other synthesis processes for making products like aliphatic oxygenates, olefins or aromatics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Agaddin M. Kh. Mamedov, Abdulaziz M. Al-Jodai
  • Patent number: 8283386
    Abstract: Method of operating a three-phase slurry reactor includes feeding at a low level at least one gaseous reactant into a vertically extending slurry body of solid particles suspended in a suspension liquid, the slurry body being contained in at least two vertically extending shafts housed within a common reactor shell, each shaft being divided into a plurality of vertically extending channels at least some of which are in slurry flow communication and the slurry body being present in at least some of the channels. The gaseous reactant is allowed to react as it passes upwardly through the slurry body present in at least some of the channels of the shafts, thereby to form a non-gaseous and/or a gaseous product. Gaseous product, if present, and/or unreacted gaseous reactant is allowed to disengage from the slurry body in a head space above the slurry body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Sasol Technology (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventors: Andre Peter Steynberg, Berthold Berend Breman, Derk Willem Frederik Brilman
  • Patent number: 8278363
    Abstract: A method of converting synthesis gas into Fischer-Tropsch products comprises: (a) charging synthesis gas to a reactor comprising a shell, having an inlet nozzle near one end for receiving synthesis gas and an outlet nozzle near the opposite end for discharging products, with a plurality of heat transfer tubes inside the shell, having associated therewith means to pass heat transfer fluids through the inside of said heat transfer tubes to remove heat, and whereby the outside surfaces of said tubes have a layer of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, (b) converting exothermically on said catalyst layer at least a portion of said synthesis gas to produce heat and Fischer-Tropsch products, (c) removing heat from said catalyst layer by passage of a heat transfer fluid through the inside of said tubes, and (d) recovering Fischer-Tropsch products from said reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas Charles Holcombe
  • Patent number: 8278362
    Abstract: A method for producing hydrocarbon fuels from environmentally friendly non-petroleum based sources using existing chemical reactions is disclosed. In this method, air is passed through a reactor containing amine and carbon dioxide mixture to produce carbon dioxide. The reactor containing amine and carbon dioxide mixture, a Sabatier reactor, a partial oxidation reactor and a Fischer-Tropsch reactor are in thermal contact with each other. Heat derived from the exothermic reactions is used to release carbon dioxide from the amine-carbon dioxide mixture. The resulting hydrocarbon fuel products are separated from the Fischer-Tropsch reactor and sold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventor: Barak Leland Wiesner
  • Publication number: 20120238645
    Abstract: A process for the generation of energy and/or hydrocarbons and other products utilizing carbonaceous materials. In a first process stage (P1) the carbonaceous materials are supplied and are pyrolysed, wherein pyrolysis coke (M21) and pyrolysis gas (M22) are formed. In a second process stage (P2), the pyrolysis coke (M21) from the first process stage (P1) is gasified, wherein synthesis gas (M24) is formed, and slag and other residues (M91, M92, M93, M94) are removed. In a third process stage (P3), the synthesis gas (M24) from the second process stage (P2) is converted into hydrocarbons and/or other solid, liquid, and/or gaseous products (M60), which are discharged. The three process stages (P1, P2, P3) form a closed cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Mikael Rüdlinger
  • Patent number: 8268899
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing gaseous products, and in particular methane, via the catalytic hydromethanation of a carbonaceous feedstock in the presence of steam, syngas and an oxygen-rich gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Greatpoint Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Earl T. Robinson, Pattabhi K. Raman, Vincent G. Reiling
  • Patent number: 8268897
    Abstract: A method for producing liquid fuels includes the steps of gasifying a starting material selected from a group consisting of coal, biomass, carbon nanotubes and mixtures thereof to produce a syngas, subjecting that syngas to Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) to produce a hyrdrocarbon product stream, separating that hydrocarbon product stream into C1-C4 hydrocarbons and C5+ hydrocarbons to be used as liquid fuels and subjecting the C1-C4 hydrocarbons to catalytic dehydrogenation (CDH) to produce hydrogen and carbon nanotubes. The hydrogen produced by CDH is recycled to be mixed with the syngas incident to the FTS reactor in order to raise the hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio of the syngas to values of 2 or higher, which is required to produce liquid hydrocarbon fuels. This is accomplished with little or no production of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: The University of Kentucky Research Foundation
    Inventor: Gerald P. Huffman
  • Patent number: 8268898
    Abstract: In a so-called GTL process of producing synthesis gas from natural gas, producing Fischer-Tropsch oil by way of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of the obtained synthesis gas and producing liquid hydrocarbons containing fuel oil by upgrading, the synthesis gas produced from the synthesis gas production step is partly branched off prior to getting to the Fischer-Tropsch oil production step and the synthesis gas entering the branch line is subjected to a water gas shift reaction to raise the hydrogen concentration thereof. Subsequently, high-purity hydrogen is isolated from the synthesis gas and the residual gas left after the isolation is circulated to the synthesis gas production step and used as raw material for synthesis gas production. As a result, a significant improvement can be achieved in terms of raw material consumption per product of the entire process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignees: Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, Inpex Corporation, JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation, Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd., Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd., Nippon Steel Engineering Co., Ltd., Chiyoda Corporation
    Inventors: Fuyuki Yagi, Kenichi Kawazuishi
  • Patent number: 8268896
    Abstract: A method and system for co-production of electric power, fuel, and chemicals in which a synthesis gas at a first pressure is expanded using a stand-alone mechanical expander or a partial oxidation gas turbine, simultaneously producing electric power and an expanded synthesis gas at a second pressure after which the expanded synthesis gas is converted to a fuel and/or a chemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Arunabha Basu, Iosif K Rabovitser, John J Lewnard, John M Pratapas, Howard S Meyer, Dennis Leppin, Dmitri Boulanov
  • Publication number: 20120232172
    Abstract: A hydrocracking process for a wax fraction that includes a wax fraction hydrocracking step of hydrocracking a wax fraction contained within liquid hydrocarbons synthesized by a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction, thereby obtaining a hydrocracked product, a fractional distillation step of supplying the hydrocracked product to a fractionator in which a bottom cut temperature is set to a constant value, and obtaining at least a middle distillate and a bottom oil from the fractionator, a recycling step of resupplying all of the bottom oil to the wax fraction hydrocracking step, and a hydrocracking control step of controlling the wax fraction hydrocracking step using a flow rate of the bottom oil as an indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Tasaka, Yuichi Tanaka, Marie Iwama