Pulsed, Sonic, Or Plasma Process Patents (Class 585/953)
  • Patent number: 8784617
    Abstract: A non-thermal, repetitively-pulsed gliding discharge reactor includes a high-voltage power source configured to provide a pulsed high-voltage potential; a gas inlet; a liquid sorbent inlet; a product outlet; a plurality of first electrodes connected to the high-voltage power source; a plurality of second electrodes that are grounded; and a trough; the plurality of first electrodes being separated from the plurality of second electrodes by a discharge region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: EVOEnergy, LLC
    Inventors: Yury N. Novoselov, Alexey I. Suslov, Oleg P. Kutenkov
  • Patent number: 7288693
    Abstract: A method of operating a multi-phase downflow reactor so as to induce a pulsing flow regime is disclosed. The pulse may be induced by increasing the gas rate while maintaining the liquid rate until a pressure drop sufficient to induce the pulse flow is achieved. The method is particularly useful in the sulfuric acid catalyzed alkylation of olefins in a reactor packed with a stainless steel/polypropylene mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Smith, Jr., William M. Cross, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6774275
    Abstract: A method of operating a multi-phase downflow reactor so as to induce a pulsing flow regime is disclosed. The pulse may be induced by increasing the gas rate while maintaining the liquid rate until a pressure drop sufficient to induce the pulse flow is achieved. The method is particularly useful in the sulfuric acid catalyzed alkylation of olefins in a reactor packed with a stainless steel/polypropylene mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Smith, Jr., William M. Cross, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5998681
    Abstract: A process for preventing the formation of a solid phase from hydrocarbons and water in a fluid is disclosed. A physical disturbance is transmitted to the fluid intermittently in time to prevent the formation of crystalline bonds in the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventor: Alexandre Rojey
  • Patent number: 5695618
    Abstract: A method of oxidatively coupling methane onto a manganese oxide molecular sieve comprising:(a) passing methane through a microwave plasma activation flow reaction zone onto a manganese oxide molecular sieve, whereby polymer-free methane coupled products are produced; and,(b) recovering the polymer-free methane coupled products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Chi-Lin O'Young, Yan-Fei Shen, Mark William Simon, Steven Lawrence Suib, Richard Paul Zerger
  • Patent number: 5181998
    Abstract: Low value hydrocarbons can be upgraded by contact with the products formed during irradiation of a hydrogen donor using microwave energy in the presence of at least one plasma initiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: William J. Murphy, David H. Shaw
  • Patent number: 5131993
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for cracking a hydrocarbon material. The method includes introducing a stream including a hydrocarbon fluid and a carrier fluid into a reaction zone. A microwave discharge plasma is continuously maintained within the reaction zone, and in the presence of the hydrocarbon fluid and the carrier fluid. Reaction products of the microwave discharge are collected downstream of the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: The Univeristy of Connecticut
    Inventors: Steven L. Suib, Zongchao Zhang
  • Patent number: 5034108
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for increasing the molecular weight of hydrocarbons and/or derivatives thereof by contacting them with an active hydrogen-containing system which comprises generating a hydrogen-containing plasma at a pressure of at least 5 mm and allowing contact of said hydrocarbons and/or derivatives thereof in liquid form with the plasma-generated system and recovering therefrom a product having an increased average molecular weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Jacques J. Dufour, Yves P. R. Jean
  • Patent number: 5015349
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for cracking a hydrocarbon material. The method includes introducing a stream including a hydrocarbon fluid into a reaction zone. A microwave discharge plasma is continuously maintained within the reaction zone, and in the presence of the hydrocarbon fluid. Reaction products of the microwave discharge are collected downstream of the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Steven L. Suib, Zongchao Zhang
  • Patent number: 4992614
    Abstract: A solid catalyst composition which has undergone a partial loss of catalytic activity due to the accumulation of reaction product residue is treated in a chemical conversion process reaction zone in the presence of feedstock(s) with ultrasonic energy of a magnitude and a duration sufficient to restore at least a significant percentage of the lost activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp.
    Inventor: Paul G. Rodewald
  • Patent number: 4914256
    Abstract: A solid catalyst composition which has undergone a partial loss of catalytic activity due to the accumulation of reaction product residue is treated in a chemical conversion process reaction zone in the presence of feedstock(s) with ultrasonic energy of a magnitude and a duration sufficient to restore at least a significant percentage of the lost activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp.
    Inventor: Paul G. Rodewald
  • Patent number: 4271007
    Abstract: Deposit of solids on the walls of tubular continuous flow reactors is avoided by a process and apparatus in which an oscillating motion is superimposed on the linear flow of reactants in order to maintain turbulent flow throughout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf Canada Limited
    Inventors: Frank Souhrada, Buenaventura B. Galvez
  • Patent number: 4166830
    Abstract: A continuous process for the selective production of ethylene by the diacritic cracking of heavy hydrocarbon feeds such as residual oils, heavy vacuum gas oils, atmospheric gas oils, crude oils and coal-derived liquids. The diacritic cracking takes place in a non-tubular multi-zone reactor at elevated pressures (e.g. 70-1000 p.s.i.a.) A fuel is combusted with oxygen in the first section of the multi-zone reactor. The high temperature products of combustion of the first zone pass into a second section of the reactor where the feed is atomized and cracked to yield products including ethylene, acetylene and synthesis gas. The reaction products of the second zone then pass into a third section in which they are quenched. In each stage of the reactor the present process seeks to prevent the build-up of coke deposits on the walls of the reactor. In the first two stages, a film of gas such as CO.sub.2 or N.sub.2 is injected along the inner walls to prevent build-up of coke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1979
    Inventors: Eugene D. Guth, LeGrand A. Daly, John K. Arand