Synthesis Process Patents (Class 700/268)
  • Patent number: 11675334
    Abstract: Techniques regarding the synthesis of one or more polymers of a target polymer class are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a system, which can comprise a memory that can store computer executable components. The system can also comprise a processor, operably coupled to the memory, and that can execute the computer executable components stored in the memory. The computer executable components can comprise a recommendation component that can generate a recommended chemical reactor control setting for inverse synthesis of a polymer based on a target polymer characteristic and reactor training data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dmitry Zubarev, Nathaniel H. Park, Victoria A. Piunova, Sarathkrishna Swaminathan, James L. Hedrick
  • Patent number: 11574709
    Abstract: To facilitate production of “regenerative medicine products” using a quality by design (QbD) approach. In one embodiment of the present invention, a production device which produces a medical product and analyzes a starting material and a central management device which determines processing conditions in the production device are provided separately. In addition, by transmitting and receiving data and the like pertaining to the starting material between the production device and central management device data, the medical product is produced while production conditions therefor are continuously optimized. Thus, it is easy to produce a medical product while reducing or eliminating effects from changes in cells and tissues over time, from oscillation during transport, and from changes in surrounding environment such as changes in temperature, and to produce the desired medical product even when there are individual differences in the starting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: PharmaBio Corporation
    Inventors: Hidemasa Miyauchi, Hitoshi Kusano
  • Patent number: 10941377
    Abstract: Method for operating an agitating device and a digester wherein the digester (1) is filled with a substrate (7) and wherein an agitating device (10) controlled by a control device (50) is disposed in the digester (1). The following process steps are carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: UTS BIOGASTECHNIKGMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Czwaluk
  • Patent number: 10774275
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are used for investigating the naphtha reforming process in catalyst test devices with reactors arranged in parallel. The apparatus has a plurality of reactors arranged in parallel with reaction chambers (R1, R2, . . . ), a product fluid supply, a process control, and at least one analysis unit. Each individual reactor has an outlet line for the product fluid stream, wherein the analysis unit is operatively connected to each outlet line for the product fluid stream and the apparatus is functionally connected to the control of the apparatus. In carrying out the method, naphtha-containing reactant fluid streams are brought into contact with catalysts in the individual reactors and the product fluid streams are subsequently supplied to the online analysis unit from the respective outlet lines of the individual reactors and analyzed. Using the evaluation of the online analytical characterization data, the process parameters of the respective reactor unit are adapted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: hte GmbH the high throughput experimentation company
    Inventors: Marius Kirchmann, Christoph Hauber
  • Patent number: 10039844
    Abstract: A novel pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2)-specific activator, [11C]DASA-23 and derivatives thereof, and methods for their rapid synthesis are provided. The probes are particularly useful in methods for the non-invasive positron emission tomography (PET) detection and imaging of PKM2 expression in subcutaneous and orthotopic tumors. [11C]DASA-23 cell uptake correlates with PKM2 protein expression in cultured tumor cells and orthotopic tumors are delineated from the surrounding normal brain tissue in vivo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Timothy Witney, Michelle L. James, Sanjiv S. Gambhir
  • Patent number: 9649469
    Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems are described that include accepting an indication of a schedule for administration of a bioactive agent to an individual and presenting an indication of an artificial sensory experience at least partly based on the accepting an indication of the schedule for administration of the bioactive agent to the individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Eric C. Leuthardt, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9646439
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a vehicle system that include accessing the bandwidth of a wireless communication system whose bandwidth may be available for use by a vehicle. The vehicle receives permission from the wireless communication system that has access to bandwidth to utilize the bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: AUTOCONNECT HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Patent number: 9002521
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for optimizing and controlling the particle size distribution and scale-up of production of nanoparticle in an aerosol flame reactor. The method provides nanoparticles with desired, optimized and controlled particle size and the specific surface area in aerosol reactors using a simulation tool with programmed instructions. The simulation tool couples flame dynamics model and particle population balance model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
    Inventors: Venkataramana Runkana, Venkata Sudheendra Buddhiraju, Nagaravi Kumar Varma Nadimpalli
  • Patent number: 8954196
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to temperature control of a reactor using probability distribution of temperature measurements. In one embodiment, a method of controlling a temperature of a chemical reaction includes injecting a reactant stream into a reactor and through a catalyst bed of the reactor. The reactant stream includes a hydrocarbon and oxygen. Injection of the reactant stream into the catalyst bed causes an exothermic chemical reaction. The method further includes circulating a coolant through the reactor, thereby removing heat from the catalyst bed. The method further includes measuring temperature at a plurality of locations in the catalyst bed. The method further includes calculating a fraction of the catalyst bed greater than a predetermined maximum temperature limit using a probability distribution generated using the temperature measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Huntsman Petrochemical LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Gross
  • Publication number: 20140257566
    Abstract: The present invention relates to calibration and normalization systems and methods for ensuring the quality of radiopharmaceuticals during the synthesis thereof, such as radiopharmaceuticals used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Torgrim Engell, Julian Grigg, Ingvil Gausemel, Knut Dyrstad, Jonathan R. Shales
  • Patent number: 8818562
    Abstract: A method of modeling a fermentation process comprises providing a first principles model of a fermentation process; determining the concentration of at least one substrate in a fermentation composition at a first time; and predicting the concentration of at least one component of the fermentation composition at a second time using the first principles model, wherein the second time is after the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Bluck, Prashant R. Karbhari, Wen-Jing Lin
  • Patent number: 8805586
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for optimizing and controlling the particle size distribution and scale-up of production of nanoparticle in an aerosol flame reactor. The method provides nanoparticles with desired, optimized and controlled particle size and the specific surface area in aerosol reactors using a simulation tool with programmed instructions. The simulation tool couples flame dynamics model and particle population balance model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
    Inventors: Venkataramana Runkana, Venkata Sudheendra Buddhiraju, Nagaravi Kumar Varma Nadimpalli
  • Patent number: 8790579
    Abstract: Methods and systems for preparing catalyst, such as chromium catalysts, are provided. The valence of at least a portion of the catalyst sent to an activator is changed from Cr(III) to Cr(VI). The catalyst is prepared or activated continuously using a fluidization bed catalyst activator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. Benham, Max P. McDaniel, Ted H. Cymbaluk, Charles K. Newsome, Charles R. Nease, H. Kenneth Staffin, Thomas R. Parr
  • Patent number: 8731721
    Abstract: Described is a system and method for synthesizing polymeric molecules such as oligonucleotides and polypeptides. The system is capable of continuously synthesizing molecules by providing an array of reaction sites and an array of stations for carrying out synthetic manipulations. The reaction sites in the former array can be placed in a fixed order and at fixed intervals relative to each other. Similarly, the stations can be placed in a fixed order and at fixed intervals relative to each other. The two arrays can be moved relative to each other such that the stations carry out desired steps of a reaction scheme at each reaction site. The relative locations of the stations and the schedule for the relative movement can correlate with the order and duration of reaction steps in the reaction scheme such that once a reaction site has completed a cycle of interacting with the full array of stations then the reaction scheme is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Illumina, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Heiner, Aaron C. Jones, Steven P. Fambro, Mark J. Nibbe, Steve R. Burgett, Brett M. Ellman, Michal Lebl
  • Patent number: 8676383
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for carrying out of chemical or biological reactions with a reaction vessel receiving element for receiving a microtiter plate with several reaction vessels, wherein the reaction vessel receiving element has several recesses arranged in a regular pattern to receive the respective reaction vessels, a heating device for heating the reaction vessel receiving element, and a cooling device for cooling the reaction vessel. The invention is characterized by the fact that the reaction vessel receiving element is divided into several segments. The individual segments are thermally decoupled from one another, and each segment is assigned a heating device which may be actuated independently of the others. By means of the segmentation of the reaction vessel receiving element, it is possible for zones to be set and held at different temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems, LLC
    Inventors: Lim Hi Tan, Jew Kwee Ngui, Hon Siu Shin, Ui Leng Soh, Yang Hooi Kee, Hock Lai Khoo, Mark T. Reed, Ching Ong Lau, Wolfgang Heimberg
  • Patent number: 8655471
    Abstract: This impurity amount control system for manufacturing a single crystal has a resistivity profile memory which stores a resistivity profile for a portion of a single crystal that is rendered into wafers; a simulator which determines a resistivity profile formula for indicating a resistivity profile within a reusable ingot that is the reusable material in the single crystal from an impurity concentration estimating formula including one or more variables selected from among resistivities at both ends of the reusable ingot in the crystal growth axis direction, the impurity concentration when crystal pulling begins, a segregation coefficient, a solidification ratio and a correction coefficient, and from the resistivity profile; and an impurity amount calculator which calculates, based on the resistivity profile formula, the amount of impurity within the reusable ingot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sumco Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Kawahara
  • Patent number: 8615325
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an advanced control system for steam hydrocarbon reformer furnaces, especially steam methane reformer furnaces. As described herein, the advanced control system may improve the control quality and efficiency of adjusting steam hydrocarbon reformer furnaces operating coefficients. As a result, the steam hydrocarbon reformer furnace operations become more stable, resulting in energy savings and improved furnace yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Tong Li, Justin Jian Wang
  • Patent number: 8594848
    Abstract: Systems and methods for software-reconfigurable chemical process systems useful in a wide range of applications. Embodiments may include software control of internal processes, automated provisions for cleaning internal elements with solvents, provisions for clearing and drying gasses, and multitasking operation. In one family of embodiments, a flexible software-reconfigurable multipurpose reusable “Lab-on-a-Chip” or “embedded chemical processor” is realized that can facilitate a wide range of applications, instruments, and appliances. Through use of a general architecture, a single design can be economically manufactured in large scale and readily adapted to diverse specialized applications. Clearing and cleaning provisions may be used to facilitate reuse of the device, or may be used for decontamination prior to recycling or non-reclaimed disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Inventor: Lester F. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8554373
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of synthesizing alkylating agents and methods of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: The Queen's Medical Center
    Inventor: John Lim
  • Patent number: 8551445
    Abstract: Methods of alkylating target compounds are disclosed. The alkylating agent can be radiolabeled. In some instances, the alkylating agent is synthesized and then reacted with a target compound without an intervening purification step. The method comprises synthesizing an alkylating agent having the formula: X—(CR1R2)aCR3R4-LG wherein, a is 0, 1, 2 or 3, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently H, X or alkyl, X is a halogen or a label, with the proviso that at least one X is a halogen, LG is a leaving group; and directly reacting said alkylating agent with a target compound comprising an alkylation reactive group under conditions suitable for the alkylation of said target compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: The Queen's Medical Center
    Inventor: John Lim
  • Patent number: 8521308
    Abstract: A supervisory control system includes a supervisory control target device and a supervisory control device. The supervisory control device is configured such that an attribute usage flag that indicates whether the supervisory control device supports any changes in the attributes due to adding of a function, and an attribute effectiveness flag which indicates whether the supervisory control target device supports the changes, are added, as information concerning the attributes that undergo the changes, to a definition of the instance which the supervisory control device retains. Further, the supervisory control device includes a control unit which, on a basis of data of the attribute usage flag and attribute effectiveness flag relating to the attributes undergoing the changes due to adding of a function, determines whether the supervisory control target device supports a new function or whether supervisory control based upon the new function is effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Kimio Ozawa
  • Patent number: 8500832
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel reforming device, which can produce and supply a reformed gas in quick response to a demand for the reformed gas and which is so inexpensive as can be suitably mounted on a vehicle. The fuel reforming device feeds a material to a reforming catalyst and produces the reformed gas under a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure. The fuel reforming device comprises a material supply means for supplying the material to the reforming catalyst, a reforming means having the reforming catalyst, for reforming the material supplied from the material supply means, to produce the reformed gas, and a run control means for controlling the run of the fuel reforming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Go Motohashi, Hitoshi Mikami, Jun Iwamoto, Shinya Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 8502004
    Abstract: Process for evaluating the effect of a refinery feedstock on a refinery process by (i) providing a refinery feedstock (ii) treating the refinery feedstock to produce a plurality of fractions each representative of a feedstock for the refinery process, the plurality of fractions having at least two fractions with different properties; (iii) treating each of the plurality of fractions under experimental conditions representative of those in the refinery process, the treatments being carried out in an essentially parallel manner; and (iv) determining one or more performance criteria for each fraction for the refinery process by analyzing the respective product streams produced from each fraction at least partially in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: BP Oil International Limited
    Inventors: Graham Butler, John William Couves, Paul Greenough, Nicholas John Gudde, Michael Graham Hodges
  • Patent number: 8486705
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for characterizing complex polymeric mixture of interest. Candidate solutions are eliminated from a solution space using one or more experimental measurements of a polymeric mixture of interest. The elimination step can be repeated one or more times using different experimental measurements produced by various chemical and physical protocols, so that the remaining candidate solutions converge to describe the actual polymeric mixture under investigation. Once the composition of the complex polymeric mixture has been characterized, the information thus generated can be used to facilitate, for example, the manufacture of a bio-equivalent of the complex polymeric mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventor: Sasisekharan Raguram
  • Patent number: 8465694
    Abstract: An apparatus for high-throughput combinatorial synthesis of organic molecules including a reaction vessel for containing a combinatorial chemistry synthetic reaction, a liquid dispenser for dispensing the liquid, a liquid aspirator and an adjustment mechanism. The reaction vessel includes an ingress aperture allowing a liquid to enter into an interior of the vessel and an egress aperture for aspirating the liquid from the vessel. The liquid dispenser dispenses liquid through the ingress aperture. The liquid aspirator aspirates liquid through the egress aperture and includes a rotor for carrying the vessel and orbiting the vessel about an axis of rotation. The rotor is oriented generally in a horizontal plane and includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the angle of the vessel relative to the horizontal plane in response to the centrifugal force generated by orbiting the vessel about the axis or rotation. A method of combinatorial synthesis of organic molecules is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Illumina, Inc.
    Inventors: Michal Lebl, Mark S. Chee, Steven M. Barnard, David L. Heiner, Vit Pokorny, Mark J. Nibbe, Aaron Christopher Jones
  • Patent number: 8433443
    Abstract: Generally, a method of monitoring a polymerization reaction in a fluid bed reactor to generate, in on-line fashion, data indicative of the imminent occurrence of a discontinuity event (for example, sheeting) and optionally also control the reaction to prevent the occurrence of the discontinuity event is provided. Typical embodiments include the steps of generating in on-line fashion at least one of bed static data indicative of static charge in the fluidized bed and carryover static data indicative of carryover static; and generating at least one of temperature data (in on-line fashion using at least one monitored reaction parameter) indicative of a first temperature and acoustic emission data indicative of resin stickiness in the reactor, where the first temperature is indicative of at least one of degree of resin stickiness in the reactor and a characteristic of melting behavior of polymer resin in the reactor in the presence of at least one diluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Hagerty, Ian D. Burdett, Marc L. DeChellis, F. David Hussein, Eric J. Markel, Michael E. Muhle, Richard B. Pannell, Daniel P. Zilker
  • Patent number: 8404109
    Abstract: A method of inverting sucrose, including (i) determining an initial solids concentration of an aqueous sucrose solution, an initial bed volume of a sucrose inversion resin system, a minimum target inversion percentage, a maximum target inversion percentage, a target maximum hydroxymethylfuran (HMF) concentration, a minimum target pH, or a maximum target pH; (ii) contacting the sucrose inversion resin system with the aqueous sucrose solution under conditions of aqueous solution flow rate and aqueous solution temperature to produce an inverted sucrose solution having an inversion percentage, an HMF concentration, and a pH; (iii) observing an instantaneous inversion percentage, an instantaneous HMF concentration, or an instantaneous pH of the inverted sucrose solution; and, if appropriate; (iv) changing at least one of the aqueous solution flow rate or the aqueous solution temperature to yield a product having a desired inversion percentage, HMF concentration, and/or pH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: European Sugar Holdings S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Robert Jansen, John Kerr, Anthony Baiada
  • Patent number: 8406928
    Abstract: Methods for controlling polyolefin reactor temperature. In one embodiment, a simulation model is constructed for improving control of polymerization temperature in a polyethylene loop slurry reactor. The model is used to design the reactor coolant system to capacity and to improve tuning of system controllers, such as the reactor temperature controller and coolant temperature controller. A coolant control valve is sized having a bilinear flow characteristic that improves Cv reproducibility at low coolant flow rates and thus improves reactor temperature control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Anurag Gupta, Donald W. Verser
  • Patent number: 8357418
    Abstract: The invention relates to a computer-aided method for preparing chocolates and/or chocolate-/cocoa-flavored compositions from a bank of ingredients Pj using tools such as a valuation system E which can be used to assign a numerical value vij to the taste descriptor Gi of each ingredient Pj and a function f designating the set of rules that can be used to calculate the values vic characterising the taste of a combination C of chocolates. The invention also relates to a device for performing the inventive method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Barry Callebaut AG
    Inventors: Philippe Bouvier, Valentine Detalle
  • Patent number: 8306665
    Abstract: The present invention provides a control system for the conversion of carbonaceous feedstock into a gas. In particular, the control system is designed to be configurable for use in controlling one or more processes implemented in, and/or by, a gasification system for the conversion of such feedstock into a gas, which may be used for one or more downstream applications. Gasification processes controllable by different embodiments of the disclosed control system may include in various combinations, a converter, a residue conditioner, a recuperator and/or heat exchanger system, one or more gas conditioners, a gas homogenization system and one or more downstream applications. The control system operatively controls various local, regional and/or global processes related to the overall gasification process, and thereby adjusts various control parameters thereof adapted to affect these processes for a selected result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Plasco Energy Group Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, Kenneth Craig Campbell, Douglas Michael Feasby, Alisdair Alan McLean
  • Patent number: 8290626
    Abstract: A method for assuring safety of a particular chemical process plant includes measuring, for each of a plurality of sets of proposed process conditions for a particular chemical process within the particular chemical process plant, a pressure rise rate following a deliberate contained ignition of at least one material used within the particular chemical process. From the resulting plurality of pressure rise rates that corresponds with the plurality of sets of proposed process conditions a particular pressure rise rate that allows for a safe operation of the particular chemical reaction within the particular chemical process plant may be selected. The particular chemical process may be implemented within the particular chemical process plant while using a particular set of process conditions from the plurality of sets of process conditions that corresponds with the selected pressure rise rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: SD Lizenzverwertungsgesellschadt mbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Barry Billig, John James Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8280554
    Abstract: A novel fail-safe temperature monitoring system that can distinguish excessive chemical adsorbent temperature from temperature sensing component failure is provided. This system prevents the gas purifier from shutting down as a result of temperature sensing component failure, and thereby prevents a false shutdown of a high-purity gas production plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas John Bergman, Jr., Rick Boyer, Sandro Di Santo, Michael Henry Hawke, Keith Randall Pace, Thomas Robert Schulte, Brian Donald Warrick
  • Patent number: 8225745
    Abstract: System and method for operating a material deposition system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method can include periodically injecting a precursor into a vaporizer through an injector at the vaporizer, vaporizing the precursor in the vaporizer and supplying the vaporized precursor to a reaction chamber in fluid communication with the vaporizer, and shutting down the vaporizer and the reaction chamber after a period of time. The method can also include conducting maintenance of the injector at the vaporizer by using a vapor solvent rinse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene P. Marsh, David R. Atwell
  • Patent number: 8202485
    Abstract: Process for providing a flow of particulate matter to a reactor, by intermittently adding the particulate matter and a diluent to a mixing tank, and continuously withdrawing a slurry of particulate matter in diluent from the mixing tank for introduction into the reactor. Prior to each addition of particulate matter and diluent to the mixing tank, the concentration of particulate matter in the diluent already in the mixing tank is measured or calculated, and the amount of particulate matter and diluent subsequently added is measured so as to achieve the same concentration at the end of the addition as that measured or calculated prior to the addition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Ineos Manufacturing Belgium NV
    Inventor: Brent Walworth
  • Patent number: 8195336
    Abstract: A pressure regulator for controlling pressure with high response and high accuracy even a flow change occurs on the downstream side. The pressure regulator (1) regulates the rate of inflow into an isothermal pressure vessel (13) for the gas supplied from a gas supply source (10) by means of a servo valve (11) to maintain the constant pressure in the isothermal pressure vessel (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Kenji Kawashima, Toshiharu Kagawa, Tomonori Kato
  • Patent number: 8158436
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for characterizing complex polymeric mixture of interest. Candidate solutions are eliminated from a solution space using one or more experimental measurements of a polymeric mixture of interest. The elimination step can be repeated one or more times using different experimental measurements produced by various chemical and physical protocols, so that the remaining candidate solutions converge to describe the actual polymeric mixture under investigation. Once the composition of the complex polymeric mixture has been characterized, the information thus generated can be used to facilitate, for example, the manufacture of a bio-equivalent of the complex polymeric mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventor: Sasisekharan Raguram
  • Patent number: 8155791
    Abstract: Methods and systems for creating dynamic performance measures (DPMs) for an IBA manufacturing process. Included is a method for monitoring an Isobutyl Alcohol (IBA) recovery system that includes computing at least one of an amount of IBA recovered from the IBA recovery system and an amount of waste material produced from the IBA recovery system, and displaying at least one of the recovered IBA and the waste material produced based on time. The method also includes computing a cost saved based on a cost of virgin IBA and the amount of IBA recovered. Computing an amount of waste material includes measuring waste material flow, and computing a cost of waste material management based on the measured waste material flow and a cost per unit volume to dispose of waste material. The IBA recovery system can include an evaporation IBA recovery system and/or a distillation IBA recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell Barr
  • Publication number: 20120055088
    Abstract: A system includes a carbon dioxide treatment system that includes a catalyst configured to treat carbon dioxide to produce a treated carbon dioxide. The system also includes a gasifier injector configured to inject the treated carbon dioxide, a fuel, and oxygen into a gasifier. The gasifier injector may be coupled to or located inside the gasifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Raymond Douglas Steele, Pradeep Stanley Thacker
  • Patent number: 8065038
    Abstract: A method of optimizing a chemical reaction in a plate-type open reactor, the method consisting in: establishing a dynamic model of the reactor for a given reaction on the basis of a model of the reactor and its heat exchanges; applying an integration software tool to the dynamic model in order to solve the above-mentioned equations; determining and optimizing a set of dimension and/or operation parameters of the reactor on the basis of evaluating targets to be achieved, constraints to be complied with, and variable data for the reactor and/or the reaction; building a plate reactor of the said type accordingly to the set of optimized parameters; and doing measurements of physical parameters during the execution of said reaction in the built reactor, for validating its operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Vicarb
    Inventors: Sébastien Elgue, Fabrice Chopard, Michel Roger Cabassud, Patrick Alain Cognet, Laurent Emile Georges Prat, Christophe Jacques Jean Gourdon
  • Patent number: 8060258
    Abstract: A multivariable method and process controller is for controlling a catalyzed chemical reaction to form phthalic anhydride (PA), produced by a production unit including a chemical reactor having a plurality of pipes connected in parallel having inner surfaces affixed with at least one solid catalyst. The reactor implements a process for forming PA by receiving flows of reagents including at least one oxidizable substituted aromatic and an oxygen including source gas at one or more inlets of the reactor. A dynamic multivariable model for the process represents the effects of moving a plurality of manipulated variables (MVs) including a flow of the oxygen including source gas and a flow or temperature of the oxidizable substituted aromatic on controlled variables (CVs) including a temperature at a plurality of positions along a length of the pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Firmin Butoyi
  • Publication number: 20110264267
    Abstract: A process for the production of a reaction product consisting essentially of P4O6 is carried out by reacting oxygen with phosphorus in an exothermic reaction in a reaction unit. Heat created by the exothermic reaction is removed by feeding P4O6 and/or by-products of the process into the reaction unit. The generated reaction product is then quenched to a lower temperature where no essential decomposition of the reaction product occurs, and at least part of P4O6 is separated from the reaction product obtained after quenching. The resulting yield of P4O6 based on the phosphorus used is improved and the heat of the exothermic reaction can be controlled in an economic way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Straitmark Holding AG
    Inventor: Willem J. Schipper
  • Publication number: 20110202177
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for chemical synthesis, the method includes accessing a recipe, the recipe including a sequence of one or more processing steps for the chemical synthesis. The processing steps including one or more steps. The recipe is executed by sorting the processing steps and executing the one or more selected steps prior to executing other steps. The chemical synthesis is monitored by providing status data, indicating a status of the execution and enabling input of control data to modify execution based on the status data or user-initiated modification. Information related to the status of the execution is displayed, typically as a graphical representation of a process action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.
    Inventors: Arkadij M. Elizarov, Carroll Edward Ball, Ansgar Graw, Hartmuth C. Kolb, Uttam D. Shah
  • Patent number: 7966098
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program for controlling an ammonia production system are provided. At least one model is associated with production equipment operable to produce ammonia, where the production equipment includes a reformer section, a carbon dioxide wash section, and an ammonia synthesis reactor section. The production equipment is controlled using the at least one model. The at least one model is associated with a plurality of controlled variables and a plurality of manipulated variables. At least some of the controlled variables are associated with the reformer section, the carbon dioxide wash section, and/or the ammonia synthesis reactor section. At least some of the manipulated variables are associated with the reformer section, the carbon dioxide wash section, and/or the ammonia synthesis reactor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Michiel van Wijck
  • Patent number: 7966096
    Abstract: Methods and systems for creating dynamic performance measures (DPMs) for an IBA manufacturing process. Included is a method for monitoring an Isobutyl Alcohol (IBA) recovery system that includes computing at least one of an amount of IBA recovered from the IBA recovery system and an amount of waste material produced from the IBA recovery system, and displaying at least one of the recovered IBA and the waste material produced based on time. The method also includes computing a cost saved based on a cost of virgin IBA and the amount of IBA recovered. Computing an amount of waste material includes measuring waste material flow, and computing a cost of waste material management based on the measured waste material flow and a cost per unit volume to dispose of waste material. The IBA recovery system can include an evaporation IBA recovery system and/or a distillation IBA recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell Barr
  • Publication number: 20110060464
    Abstract: An adiabatic control method for isothermal reaction vessels for exothermic reactions, includes with a first reaction vessel and a second non-reaction vessel, each having cooling control and adjustment mechanisms. Chemical reactants are added to the first vessel for an isothermal exothermic reaction to create reaction product(s), and appropriate cooling is provided to regulate the rate of reaction. A second vessel non-reactant control material for adiabatic measurements has similar heat capacity and mass to chemical reactants of the first vessel. The second vessel is identically cooled as the first vessel. A pseudo heat of reaction is calculated for the second vessel material utilizing the heat change rate, the control material heat capacity and mass, and it is assumed to be the heat of reaction of the first vessel to identify optimal reaction parameters. The method involves heating, instead of cooling, for endothermic isothermal reactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventor: Li Young
  • Publication number: 20110059004
    Abstract: A system and a method for the production of polycrystalline silicon according to the monosilane process are disclosed. At least one reactor (10), at least one converter (20), at least one injection tank (30) and at least one vaporizer (40) are provided. Each reactor (10) is provided with an inlet pipe (11a) for fresh mixtures of gases and an outlet pipe (11b) for partially used-up mixtures of gases. Likewise, each converter (20) comprises an outlet pipe (21) for a mixture of gases and each vaporizer (40) comprises an outlet pipe (41) for a mixture of gases. Several sampling elements (7) for specimens to be measured are provided in the inlet pipe (11a) and the outlet pipe (11b) of each reactor (10) as well as in the outlet pipe (21) of each converter (20) and the outlet pipe (41) of each vaporizer (40). The withdrawn specimens to be measured are fed by the sampling elements (7) via a pipe (8) to at least one gas-phase chromatograph (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: G+R POLYSILICON GMBH
    Inventor: Robert Stöcklinger
  • Publication number: 20110054692
    Abstract: A reformer having improved performance and stability and a reformer control method, the reformer including a reforming reaction unit, a first sensor, a heat source unit, a second sensor, and a flow control unit. The reforming reaction unit converts a first fuel into a reformate. The first sensor senses a first temperature of the reformate generated from the reforming reaction unit. The heat source unit heats the reforming reaction unit with a combustion heat of a second fuel. The second sensor senses a second temperature at a fuel inlet of the heat source unit. The flow control unit controls a temperature of the reformate by regulating a flow of an oxidizer supplied to the heat source unit based on the first temperature, and controls a temperature of the heat source unit by regulating a flow of the second fuel supplied to the heat source unit based on the second temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Woo-Cheol Shin
  • Publication number: 20110028725
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of synthesizing alkylating agents and methods of use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: The Queen's Medical Center
    Inventor: John L. Lim
  • Patent number: 7881825
    Abstract: Method of controlling production of a plant incorporating one or more chemical processes in which products are produced through consumption of raw materials. In accordance with the method, current production rates of the products are computed by semi-empirical process models that are corrected through error corrections of actual production rates to produce corrected models. The production is then optimized using the corrected models to maximize the variable margin gained upon the sale of the products. The optimization yields targets that either directly or at least influence consumption of the raw materials. The raw materials are then introduced into the process or processes in accordance with the targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Esposito, Solomon Dadebo
  • Publication number: 20110004345
    Abstract: A process unit comprising: (a) a first microchannel module comprising: (i) a first unit operation including microchannels, in which at least a portion of a unit operation takes place, adapted to be in fluid communication with a first inlet stream and a first outlet stream, and (ii) a second unit operation including microchannels adapted to be in thermal communication with the first unit operation, the second unit operation adapted to be in fluid communication with a second inlet stream and a second outlet stream; and (b) a pressurized vessel at least partially containing the first microchannel module adapted to be concurrently occupied by a compressive medium in thermal communication with the first microchannel module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: William Allen Rogers, JR., Chistopher Paul Weil, Robert Dwayne Litt, Ronald Chester Pasadyn, George Bradley Smith, Charles Robert Miele, Thomas Peter Forte, Jimmy Glen Pelham