Treatment Of Feed Or Recycle Stream Patents (Class 518/705)
  • 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: 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
  • 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
  • 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20120232174
    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: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: Atomic Energy Council-Institute of Nuclear Energy Research
    Inventors: Kuo-Chao Liang, How-Ming Lee, Chin-Ching Tzeng
  • Patent number: 8198339
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the disposal and utilization of waste materials of all types, in which the waste materials are compressed in batches to form compact packets and pass through temperature treatment zones, synthesis gas being produced, and the synthesis gas is converted in a subsequent reaction into hydrocarbon molecules for the production of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Thermoselect Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Günter H. Kiss
  • Patent number: 8193254
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing methanol includes reacting a heated hydrocarbon-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor; to provide a product stream comprising methanol; and transferring heat from the product stream to the hydrocarbon-containing gas to heat the hydrocarbon containing gas. After removing methanol and CO2 from the product stream, unprocessed hydrocarbons are mixed with the hydrocarbon containing gas for reprocessing through the reactor. Reactor byproducts are injected into the ground to increase the output of a hydrocarbon producing well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Gas Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Nathan A. Pawlak, Walter Breidenstein, Robert W. Carr
  • Publication number: 20120129958
    Abstract: A method for producing methanol from a synthesis gas containing hydrogen and carbon oxides with a high content of inert components includes passing the synthesis gas through a synthesis reactor so as to catalytically convert a part of the carbon oxides to methanol. The methanol is separated from the obtained mixture from the reactor. The mixture liberated from methanol is separated into a cycle stream and a purge stream. The cycle stream is recirculated so as to form a synthesis circle and combined with a fresh gas stream including hydrogen and carbon oxides before being charged into the synthesis reactor. The purge stream is supplied to a secondary reactor so as to catalytically convert a further part of the hydrogen and carbon oxides to methanol. Further methanol is separated the obtained mixture including synthesis gas, inert components and methanol vapor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: LURGI GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Bormann, Veronika Gronemann, Rainer Morgenroth, Jan Hagemann, Holger Schlichting, Philipp Marius Hackel
  • Patent number: 8178587
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for recovering a natural gas contaminated with high levels of carbon dioxide. A gas containing methane and carbon dioxide is extracted from a reservoir containing natural gas, where carbon dioxide comprises at least 50 vol. % of the extracted gas. The extracted gas is oxidized with an oxygen containing gas in the presence of a partial oxidation catalyst at a temperature of less than 600° C. to produce an oxidation product gas containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. The oxidation product gas is then utilized to produce a liquid hydrocarbon or a liquid hydrocarbon oxygenate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Mahendra Ladharam Joshi, Jingyu Cui, Frederik Arnold Buehrman, Scott Lee Wellington
  • Publication number: 20120108681
    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: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: James Andrew Banister, Anthony Matthew Johnston, Brian S. Haynes
  • Patent number: 8168684
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing liquid hydrocarbons, preferably internal combustion engine fuels, using feedstocks of coal or methane. Depending on the nature of the feedstock it is subjected to a gasification and/or reforming process and/or water gas shift process which produces a syngas that is rich in carbon dioxide and hydrogen rather than carbon monoxide and hydrogen as in the conventional process. The carbon dioxide and hydrogen are combined in a Fischer Tropsch process to produce desired hydrocarbons and water. The energy requirements of the gasification/reforming process to produce a syngas that is rich in carbon dioxide and hydrogen is considerably less than the energy requirements for gasification/reforming process for producing the conventional carbon monoxide rich syngas. This reduction in energy consumption reduces considerably the quantities of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere compared to conventional processes that are based on carbon monoxide rich syngas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
    Inventors: Diane Hildebrandt, David Glasser, Bilal Patel, Brendon Patrick Hausberger
  • Patent number: 8168686
    Abstract: A method and system for reforming a carbonaceous feedstock comprising the steps, reforming the feedstock produce a first synthesis gas, subjecting a portion of the first synthesis gas to catalytic conversion, separating from the synthesis gas conversion product at least one byproduct, and utilizing at least a portion of the at least one byproduct during reforming of additional carbonaceous material. In certain instances, the method and system may be used to produce a liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Rentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Blevins, Joshua B. Pearson, Harold A. Wright
  • Patent number: 8148435
    Abstract: An integrated coal-to-liquids process is provided to minimize carbon dioxide emissions and efficiently make use of carbon resources, by recovering carbon dioxide emissions from Coal-to-Liquids (CTL) facilities, using the recovered carbon dioxide in at least one carbonylation reaction step for converting ammonia to urea and then converting urea into dimethyl carbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Accelergy Corporation
    Inventor: Rocco A. Fiato
  • Patent number: 8143319
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting carbonaceous material to a stream of carbon rich gas, comprising heating a slurry feed containing the carbonaceous material in a hydrogasification process using hydrogen and steam, at a temperature and pressure sufficient to generate a methane and carbon monoxide rich stream in which the conversion time in the process is between 5 and 45 seconds. In particular embodiments, the slurry feed containing the carbonaceous material is fed, along with hydrogen, to a kiln type reactor before being fed to the fluidized bed reactor. Apparatus is provided comprising a kiln type reactor, a slurry pump connected to an input of the kiln type reactor, means for connecting a source of hydrogen to an input of the kiln type reactor; a fluidized bed reactor connected to receive output of the kiln type reactor for processing at a fluidizing zone, and a source of steam and a source of hydrogen connected to the fluidized bed reactor below the fluidizing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Chan Seung Park, Joseph M. Norbeck
  • Patent number: 8143320
    Abstract: A process and a system are disclosed for producing methanol from synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is a stream containing H2, CO, and CO2 that is created using a nitrogen containing oxidant stream, such as air. The synthesis gas is then reacted through a conventional reactor system to create methanol. Unreacted synthesis gas is recycled back through the reactor system. The disclosed methanol production process can be mounted and operated on a seagoing vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Starchem Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lowell D. Fraley
  • Patent number: 8138381
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for recovering a natural gas contaminated with high levels of carbon dioxide. A gas containing methane and carbon dioxide is extracted from a reservoir containing natural gas, where carbon dioxide comprises greater than 40 vol. % of the extracted gas. The extracted gas is scrubbed with a wash effective to produce a washed extracted gas containing less carbon dioxide than the extracted gas and at least 20 vol. % carbon dioxide. The washed extracted gas is oxidized with an oxygen containing gas in the presence of a partial oxidation catalyst to produce an oxidation product gas containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. The oxidation product gas is then utilized to produce a liquid methanol product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Mahendra Ladharam Joshi, Jingyu Cui, Frederik Arnold Buhrman, Scott Lee Wellington, Stanley Nemec Milam, Rogier Maarten Kamerbeek
  • Patent number: 8133925
    Abstract: A method for forming C2+ hydrocarbons by forming a dispersion comprising synthesis gas bubbles dispersed in a liquid phase comprising hydrocarbons in a high shear device, wherein the average bubble diameter of the synthesis gas bubbles is less than about 1.5 ?m, introducing the dispersion into a reactor, and removing a product stream comprising C2+ hydrocarbons from the reactor. A system for converting carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas into C2+ hydrocarbons including at least one high shear mixing device comprising at least one rotor and at least one stator separated by a shear gap, wherein the high shear mixing device is capable of producing a tip speed of the at least one rotor of greater than 22.9 m/s (4,500 ft/min), and a pump configured for delivering a fluid stream comprising liquid medium to the high shear mixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: H R D Corporation
    Inventors: Abbas Hassan, Ebrahim Bagherzadeh, Rayford G. Anthony, Gregory Borsinger, Aziz Hassan
  • Publication number: 20120058921
    Abstract: A process for producing a purified synthesis gas stream from a feed synthesis gas stream comprising besides the main constituents carbon monoxide and hydrogen also hydrogen sulphide, HCN and/or COS, the process comprising the steps of: (a) removing HCN and/or COS by contacting the feed synthesis gas stream with a catalyst in a HCN/COS reactor in the presence of steam/water, to obtain a synthesis gas stream depleted in HCN and/or in COS; (b) converting hydrogen sulphide in the synthesis gas stream depleted in HCN and/or in COS to elemental sulphur, by contacting the synthesis gas stream with an aqueous reactant solution containing solubilized Fe(III) chelate of an organic acid, at a temperature below the melting point of sulphur, and at a sufficient solution to gas ratio and conditions effective to convert H2S to sulphur and inhibit sulphur deposition, to obtain a synthesis gas stream depleted in hydrogen sulphide; (c) removing carbon dioxide from the synthesis gas stream depleted in hydrogen sulphide, to obta
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Van Den Berg, Mathieu Simon Henri Fleys, Mark Jan Prins, Cornelis Jacobus Smit, Alex Frederik Woldhuis
  • Patent number: 8129436
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for simplifying manufacture of a mixed alcohol or mixed oxygenate product from synthesis gas. The mixed alcohol or mixed oxygenate product contains ethanol and other oxygenates with two or more carbon atoms per molecule. The method includes stripping a portion of carbon dioxide and inert gases contained in a mixed alcohol synthesis reaction product using a methanol-containing stream, such as one produced as part of the method, as a medium to absorb said carbon dioxide and inert gases and recycling light products and heavy products to one or more of synthesis gas generation, mixed alcohol synthesis and separation of desired mixed alcohol or mixed oxygenate products from other components of a mixed alcohol synthesis stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Max M. Tirtowidjojo, Barry B. Fish, Hendrik L. Pelt, Dennis W. Jewell, Mark D. Bearden, John G. Pendergast, Jr., Jon H. Siddall, Brien A. Stears, Haivan D. Tran, Jan W. Verwijs, Aaltje Verwijs-van den Brink, legal representative, Lena Verwijs, legal representative, Hendrika Gerrita Verwijs, legal representative, Richard M. Wehmeyer
  • Publication number: 20120046370
    Abstract: A process for producing a purified synthesis gas stream from a feed synthesis gas stream comprising besides the main constituents carbon monoxide and hydrogen also hydrogen sulphide, HCN and/or COS, the process comprising the steps of: (a) contacting one part of the feed synthesis gas stream with a water gas shift catalyst in a shift reactor in the presence of water and/or steam to react at least part of the carbon monoxide to hydrogen and carbon dioxide, to obtain a shifted synthesis gas stream enriched in hydrogen and in carbon dioxide; (b) contacting another part of the feed gas stream with a hydrolysis catalyst in the presence of water to remove HCN and/or COS to obtain a hydrolysed synthesis gas stream depleted in HCN and/or COS; (c) removing H2S from the shifted synthesis gas stream and from the hydrolysed synthesis gas stream by contacting these gas streams in a H2S-removal zone with an aqueous alkaline washing liquid to obtain a H2S-depleted synthesis gas stream and a sulphide-comprising aqueous strea
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventor: Gerald Sprachmann
  • Patent number: 8106102
    Abstract: A process (10) for the preparation and conversion of synthesis gas includes reforming a feed gas (34) comprising methane in a reforming stage (18) to produce synthesis gas (46) which includes hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Some of the hydrogen and carbon monoxide is converted to a Fischer-Tropsch product (48) in a Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage (24). A tail gas (52), including unreacted hydrogen and carbon monoxide, methane and carbon dioxide, is separated from the Fischer-Tropsch product (48). In a tail gas treatment stage (28,30), the tail gas (52) is treated by reforming the methane in the tail gas (52) with steam (66) and removing carbon dioxide to produce a hydrogen rich gas (56). The tail gas treatment stage (28,30) may be either a combined tail gas treatment stage (28,30) or a composite tail gas treatment stage. The carbon dioxide from the tail gas treatment stage (28,30) is fed to the reforming stage (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: Sasol Technology (Proprietary) Limited, Haldor Topsøe A/S
    Inventors: Andre Peter Steynberg, Ib Dybkjaer, Kim Aasberg-Petersen
  • Patent number: 8105403
    Abstract: A novel method of combining the CTL fuel plant and IGCC electrical plant by sharing the systems of coal intake, coal preparation, gas separation, and water units is described herein. This configuration allows for the combined facility to offer advantages in efficiencies of production, operational flexibility, scalability, and reliability by a multi-path integration of the processing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Rentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Regnery, Richard O. Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20120022171
    Abstract: Low water-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oils and processes for producing them are provided. The process includes condensing pyrolysis gases including condensable pyrolysis gases and non-condensable gases to separate the condensable pyrolysis gases from the non-condensable gases, the non-condensable gases having a water content, drying the non-condensable pyrolysis gases to reduce the water content of the-non-condensable gases to form reduced-water non-condensable pyrolysis gases, and providing the reduced-water non-condensable pyrolysis gases to a pyrolysis reactor for forming the biomass-derived pyrolysis oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Stanley J. Frey
  • Patent number: 8097172
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for recovering organic compounds from plant waste water. A saturator (10) is coupled to a feed gas stream (70) and a heated makeup water stream (54) which includes recoverable organic compounds. The saturator provides a saturated feed gas stream (70) which includes feed gas, steam and recovered organic compounds. A pump (30) recycles saturator water (56) and the makeup water stream (50) is added to that recycle stream (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Aker Kvaerner, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad Nazrul Islam, Gwo-Jang Abraham Liou, Stephen D. York
  • Publication number: 20120010306
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for finally removing sulphur-containing, nitrogen-containing and halogen-containing impurities contained in a synthesis gas, said process including: a) a joint step for hydrolysing COS and HCN contained in the gas and for collecting the halogen-containing compounds, using a TiO2-based catalyst, b) a washing step using a solvent, c) a step for desulphurisation on a collecting or adsorbing mass. The synthesis gas purified in accordance with the process of the invention contains less than 10 ppb by weight, less than 10 ppb by weight of nitrogen-containing impurities and less than 10 ppb by weight of halogen-containing impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: David Chiche, Nicolas Boudet, Jean Christophe Viguie, Marc Antoine Lelias, Olivier Ducreux
  • Patent number: 8093306
    Abstract: A method and system for reforming a carbonaceous feedstock comprising the steps, reforming the feedstock produce a first synthesis gas, subjecting a portion of the first synthesis gas to catalytic conversion, separating from the synthesis gas conversion product at least one byproduct, and utilizing at least a portion of the at least one byproduct during reforming of additional carbonaceous material. In certain instances, the method and system may be used to produce a liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Rentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Blevins, Joshua B. Pearson, Harold A. Wright
  • Publication number: 20110313065
    Abstract: There is provided a method for recovering hydrocarbon compounds from a gaseous by-products generated in the Fisher-Tropsch synthesis reaction, the method comprising a pressurizing step in which the gaseous by-products are pressurized, a cooling step in which the pressurized gaseous by-products are pressurized to liquefy hydrocarbon compounds in the gaseous by-products, and a separating step in which the hydrocarbon compounds liquefied in the cooling step are separated from the remaining gaseous by-products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Tasaka
  • Patent number: 8067474
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of hydrocarbon products comprising the steps of a) providing a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; (b) reacting at least part of the synthesis gas to an oxygenate mixture comprising methanol and dimethyl ether in presence of one or more catalysts which together catalyse a reaction of hydrogen and carbon monoxide to oxygenates at a pressure of at least 3 MPa; (c) withdrawing from step (b) a reaction mixture comprising amounts of methanol, dimethyl ether, carbon dioxide and water together with unreacted synthesis gas and cooling the reaction mixture to obtain a liquid phase with the amounts of methanol, dimethyl ether and water and simultaneously dissolving carbon dioxide in the liquid phase; (d) separating the carbon dioxide containing liquid phase from a remaining gaseous phase comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide; (e) evaporating and reacting the liquid phase being withdrawn from step (d) in presence of a catalyst being active in the convers
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Haldor Topsøe A/S
    Inventors: Poul Erik Højlund Nielsen, Finn Joensen, John Bøgild Hansen, Esben Lauge Sørensen, Jørgen Madsen, Rachid Mabrouk
  • Patent number: 8063110
    Abstract: Process for the conversion of carbon oxide(s) and hydrogen-containing feedstocks to oxygen containing hydrocarbon compounds in the presence of a particulate rhodium-based catalyst, by reacting carbon oxide(s) and hydrogen in the presence of a particulate rhodium-based catalyst in a conversion reactor to form oxygen containing hydrocarbon compounds. At least one paraffinic aliphatic monohydric alcohol of the formula R-OH where R is a hydrocarbon radical having 1 or 3 to 5 carbon atoms is/are separated from the other oxygenates produced in the conversion reactor, and is/are then sent back to the conversion reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventor: Martin Philip Atkins
  • Publication number: 20110281960
    Abstract: A method of selectively removing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst from a Fischer-Tropsch synthetic crude oil is provided, the method including the steps of extracting a slurry, containing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst having magnetism and Fischer-Tropsch synthetic crude oil obtained by a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction, from a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor; separating a catalyst having a predetermined diameter or more from the slurry by means of a first solid-liquid separator; and separating a catalyst which is not be separated by means of the first solid-liquid separator from the slurry from which the catalyst having the predetermined diameter or more is removed, by means of a second solid-liquid separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Tasaka
  • Patent number: 8039519
    Abstract: A process for producing substitute natural gas (SNG) comprising the steps of reacting a fresh syngas (11) into a methanation section (10) comprising adiabatic reactors (101-104) connected in series, with heat removal and reacted gas-recirculation, wherein the fresh syngas is fed in parallel to said adiabatic reactors. In a preferred embodiment the reacted gas is recirculated to the first reactor (101) and further dilution of the fresh gas at the inlet of the first and second reactor is achieved by steam addition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Methanol Casale S.A.
    Inventors: Ermanno Filippi, Francesco Baratto
  • Patent number: 8013025
    Abstract: A 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 a plurality of vertically extending horizontally spaced slurry channels inside a common reactor shell, the slurry channels being defined between vertically extending horizontally spaced divider walls or plates and each slurry channel having a height, width and breadth such that the height and breadth are much larger than the width. The gaseous reactant is allowed to react as it passes upwardly through the slurry body present in the slurry channels, thereby to form non-gaseous and/or gaseous product. Gaseous product and/or unreacted gaseous reactant is allowed to disengage from the slurry body in a head space above the slurry body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sasol Technology (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventors: Andre Peter Steynberg, Berhold Berend Breman, Derk Willem Frederick Brilman
  • Patent number: 8008359
    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: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Sasol Technology (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventors: Andre Peter Steynberg, Berthold Berend Breman, Derk Willem Frederik Brilman
  • Publication number: 20110207836
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for decreasing or eliminating unwanted hydrocarbon and oxygenate products caused by FTS reactions in a syngas treatment unit by utilizing heat exchangers and optionally associated pipes that are substantially fabricated of a metal material selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, cobalt, carbon steel or stainless steel and having deposited on the metal surfaces that will come in contact with the coldbox overhead gas stream an inert coating selected from the group consisting of silicon based materials, zinc based materials, tin based materials, chromium based materials, polymers, ceramics and mixtures thereof for heating up gas streams having a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide and obtained from a front end purification unit/cold box unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anoyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Yudong Chen, Christian Monereau, Trapti Chaubey, Guillaume Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 7994366
    Abstract: Provided is a process for continuously preparing methyl mercaptan by reacting a reactant mixture comprising solid, liquid and/or gaseous carbon- and/or hydrogen-containing compounds with air or oxygen, and/or water and sulfur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Jan-Olaf Barth, Hubert Redlingshoefer, Caspar-Heinrich Finkeldei, Christoph Weckbecker, Klaus Huthmacher
  • Publication number: 20110190403
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon compound synthesis reaction unit which synthesizes a hydrocarbon compound by a chemical reaction of a synthesis gas including a hydrogen and a carbon monoxide as the main components, and a slurry having a solid catalyst suspended in liquid hydrocarbons, the hydrocarbon compound synthesis reaction unit is provided with: a reactor which contains the slurry inside, into which the synthesis gas is introduced, and from which the gas after the reaction is discharged from the top thereof; an internal separation device provided inside the reactor to separate the catalyst and the synthesized liquid hydrocarbons in the slurry; and an external separation device provided outside the reactor to separate the catalyst and the liquid hydrocarbons in the slurry which is extracted from the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Onishi, Yuzuru Kato, Eiichi Yamada, Atsushi Murata, Osamu Wakamura, Kentarou Morita
  • Patent number: 7989509
    Abstract: In various implementations, various feed gas streams which include hydrogen and carbon monoxide may be processed for conversion to product streams. For example, the feed gas stream may be processed using the Fischer-Tropsch process. Unconverted hydrogen and carbon monoxide can be recycled using an off-gas catalytic reformer and a gas turbine exhaust gas heat exchanger that will perform preheating duties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: GTLpetrol LLC
    Inventor: Rodney J. Allam
  • Patent number: 7985777
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing gas-to-liquids products using reactive distillation are provided. The method for producing gas-to-liquids products can include reacting a feedstock in a column having a distillation zone and a reaction zone to provide a bottoms stream and an overhead stream. A first portion of the overhead stream can be recycled to the column at the top of the reaction zone and second portion of the overhead stream can be recycled to the column at the bottom of the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Inventors: Michael J. Stickney, Edward M. Jones, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7973087
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting a feed comprising synthesis gas to liquid hydrocarbons within a single reactor at essentially common reaction conditions. The synthesis gas contacts a catalyst bed comprising a mixture of a synthesis gas conversion catalyst on a support containing an acidic component and a dual functionality catalyst including a hydrogenation component and a solid acid component. The hydrocarbons produced are liquid at about 0° C., contain at least 25% by volume C10+ and are substantially free of solid wax.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Kibby, Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Tapan K. Das, Robert J. Saxton, Allen W. Burton, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110118366
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for operating a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, wherein a feed gas comprising CO and H2 from coal gasification (1) is desulfurized and subsequently fed into a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis as an input gas, wherein hydrocarbons are formed from carbonic oxides and hydrogen by catalytic reactions. The hydrocarbons are separated as liquid products (4), and a gas flow comprising CO and CO2 exiting the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis unit (3) is compressed and fed into a conversion stage, wherein CO and steam are transformed into H2 and CO2. In the method according to the invention, the gas exiting the conversion stage is fed back into the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis unit as a gas rich in H2, together with the desulfurized input gas, after the gas is prepared in that CO2 and/or further components other than H2 are removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventor: Johannes Menzel
  • Publication number: 20110098367
    Abstract: This invention concerns methods and apparatus for processing Fischer-Tropsch off-gas comprising the following steps: a) subjecting Fischer-Tropsch off-gas to at least a water gas shift reaction and partial CO2 removal resulting in a Fischer-Tropsch off-gas with significantly reduced levels of carbon dioxide and a CO2 rich stream; and optionally b) subjecting part of the carbon dioxide depleted Fischer-Tropsch off-gas to synthesis gas manufacturing; and c) using another part of the carbon dioxide depleted Fischer-Tropsch off-gas for generating energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Gerrit Jan Barend ASSINK, Eva Marfilia Van Dorst, Ulrich Markus Hinrich Hennings
  • Patent number: 7932296
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing syngas are provided. A first hydrocarbon can be partially oxidized in the presence of an oxidant and one or more first catalysts at conditions sufficient to partially combust a portion of the first hydrocarbon to provide carbon dioxide, non-combusted first hydrocarbon, and heat. The non-combusted first hydrocarbon can be reformed in the presence of the heat generated in the partial oxidation step and the one or more first catalysts to provide a first syngas. Heat can be indirectly exchanged from the first syngas to a second hydrocarbon to reform at least a portion of the second hydrocarbon in the presence of steam and one or more second catalysts to provide a second syngas. A syngas, which can include the at least a portion of the first syngas, at least a portion of the second syngas, or a mixture thereof can be converted to provide one or more Fischer-Tropsch products, methanol, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventors: Avinash Malhotra, David P. Mann
  • Patent number: 7910629
    Abstract: The GTL process of the invention comprises: reacting a combustible carbonaceous material in a syngas reactor, preferably an autothermal reformer, under conditions to produce a synthesis gas; contacting the synthesis gas with an F-T catalyst to form liquid products and a tail gas; separating the tail gas from the liquid products; separating CO2 from the light products in the tail gas; recovering the light products as additional products for sale or other use and utilizing at least a portion of the separated CO2 as a feed stream to the syngas reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Moses K. Minta, Edward L. Kimble, Russ H. Oelfke, Eric D. Nelson, Ross Mowrey, Albrecht Goethe
  • Patent number: 7910630
    Abstract: Process for the preparation of dimethyl ether product by catalytic conversion of synthesis gas to dimethyl ether comprising the steps of contacting a stream of synthesis gas comprising carbon dioxide in a dimethyl ether synthesis step in one or more reactors and with one or more catalysts being active in formation of methanol and dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether, to form a product mixture comprising the dimethyl ether and carbon dioxide, washing the product mixture in a scrubbing zone with a liquid solvent being rich in dialkyl ether of a polyalkylene glycol and thereby dissolving carbon dioxide and dimethyl ether in the liquid solvent, treating the liquid solvent being withdrawn from the scrubbing zone sequentially in separation zone to effect desorption of the dissolved carbon dioxide and to recover a substantially pure dimethyl ether product and the liquid solvent in its substantially lean form and recycling the lean liquid solvent to the scrubbing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Haldor Topsøe A/S
    Inventors: Thomas Rostrup-Nielsen, Jørgen Madsen
  • Patent number: 7910787
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing methanol includes reacting a heated hydrocarbon-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor; to provide a product stream comprising methanol; and transferring heat from the product stream to the hydrocarbon-containing gas to heat the hydrocarbon containing gas. After removing methanol and CO2 from the product stream, unprocessed hydrocarbons are mixed with the hydrocarbon containing gas for reprocessing through the reactor. Reactor byproducts are injected into the ground to increase the output of a hydrocarbon producing well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Gas Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Nathan A Pawlak, Walter Breidenstein, Robert W. Carr
  • Patent number: 7897649
    Abstract: An improved, economical alternative method to supply steam and methane to a steam methane reformer (SMR) is accomplished by a combination of procedures, wherein product gas from a steam hydro-gasification reactor (SHR) is used as the feedstock for the SMR by removing impurities from the product stream from the SHR with a gas cleanup unit that operates substantially at process pressures and at a temperature above the boiling point of water at the process pressure, is located between the SHR and SMR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Joseph M. Norbeck, Chan Seung Park
  • Patent number: 7879297
    Abstract: A method of operating a carbon-to-liquids system is provided. The method includes receiving a flow of syngas at the carbon-to-liquids system, shifting the syngas to facilitate increasing a hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio (H2/CO) of the syngas, adding additional hydrogen to the shifted syngas to increase the H2/CO ratio, reacting the hydrogen/shifted syngas mixture with a catalyst in a vessel, extracting hydrogen from the syngas mixture, recycling the hydrogen to facilitate increasing the H2/CO ratio, and recycling naphta to act as solvent for wax extraction, and to facilitate catalyst recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Steven Wallace, Arnaldo Frydman
  • Patent number: 7879919
    Abstract: A process for producing hydrocarbons from natural gas includes, in a cryogenic separation stage, cryogenically separating the natural gas to produce at least a methane stream and natural gas liquids, in a reforming stage, reforming the methane stream to produce a synthesis gas which includes at least CO and H2, and in a Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage, converting at least some of the CO and H2 into a Fischer-Tropsch product which includes hydrocarbons. A Fischer-Tropsch tail gas which includes at least CO and H2, methane and heavier than methane hydrocarbons, is separated from the Fischer-Tropsch product in a Fischer-Tropsch product separation stage. At least a portion of the Fischer-Tropsch tail gas is recycled to the cryogenic separation stage, where the Fischer-Tropsch tail gas is cryogenically separated into two or more streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sasol Technology (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventors: Werner Siegfried Ernst, Jacobus Francois Van Tonder
  • Publication number: 20110021645
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the purification of an aqueous stream coming from the Fischer-Tropsch reaction which comprises: feeding the aqueous stream containing organic by products of the reaction to a fractionating distillation column or to a stripping column; —condensation of the vaporized stream leaving the head of the column and the removal of a distillate enriched in the heaviest by-products; —feeding the partially purified aqueous stream leaving the bottom of the distillation column, at the head to one or more sensible contact exchangers; —sending a process gas in countercurrent to the tail of the exchanger at a temperature lower than that of the aqueous stream; —sending the process gas enriched in water and part of the residual organic product leaving the head of the exchanger to the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis plant of hydrocarbons; —sending the purified colder water leaving the exchanger directly to further treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: ENI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Lino Locatelli, Franca Pisani, Gabriele Clerici