Search Patents
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Patent number: 8252245Abstract: The invention provides methods, apparatus and systems in which there is partial boiling of a liquid in a mini-channel or microchannel. The partial boiling removes heat from an exothermic process.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2005Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Velocys, Inc.Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, David J. Hesse, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Bin Yang, Ravi Arora, Laura J. Silva, G. Bradley Chadwell, Kai Jarosch, Dongming Qiu
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Microchannel technology having structures with reduced material and enhanced volumetric productivity
Patent number: 8802039Abstract: Novel designs for microchannel apparatus are described in which microchannels are shaped to reduce the amount of material needed to build an apparatus. In these designs, some microchannels are shaped, in cross-section, to provide relatively more structural material in areas of greatest stress, while leaving greater area for unit operations in areas of the apparatus that are subjected to relatively less stress.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2009Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Velocys, Inc.Inventors: Paul W. Neagle, Anna Lee Tonkovich, Soumitra Deshmukh, Ravi Arora -
Patent number: 8106249Abstract: Methods of oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) is provided wherein conducting ODH in microchannels has unexpectedly been found to yield superior performance when compared to the same reactions at the same conditions in larger reactors. ODH methods employing a Mo—V—Mg—O catalyst is also described. Microchannel apparatus for conducting ODH is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2010Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: VelocysInventors: John H. Brophy, Kai Jarosch, Terry J. Mazanec, Matthew B. Schmidt, Laura J. Silva, Anna Lee Tonkovich, Fred Pesa, David J. Hesse
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Patent number: 8029748Abstract: The invention provides methods, apparatus and chemical systems for making vinyl acetate from ethylene, oxygen, and acetic acid.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignees: Velocys, Inc, Celanese International CorporationInventors: Terry Mazanec, Victor J. Johnston, Michael Huckman, Sean P. Fitzgerald, James A. Foster, Daniel Lindley, Anna Lee Tonkovich, Francis P. Daly, Leslie Wade, Tony Hammock, Thomas Yuschak, Bin Yang, Kai Jarosch
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Patent number: 7999144Abstract: Methods of oxidative dehydrogenation are described. Surprisingly, Pd and Au alloys of Pt have been discovered to be superior for oxidative dehydrogenation in microchannels. Methods of forming these catalysts via an electroless plating methodology are also described. An apparatus design that minimizes heat transfer to the apparatus' exterior is also described.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2006Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: VelocysInventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Bin Yang, Steven T. Perry, Terry Mazanec, Ravi Arora, Francis P. Daly, Richard Long, Thomas D. Yuschak, Paul W. Neagle, Amanda Glass
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Patent number: 9011781Abstract: The invention describes catalysts, methods of making catalysts, methods of making a microchannel reactor, and methods of conducting chemical reactions. It has been discovered that superior performance can be obtained from a catalyst formed by directly depositing a catalytic material onto a (low surface area) thermally-grown alumina layer. Improved methods of conducting oxidative dehydrogenations are also described.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2012Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Velocys, Inc.Inventors: Richard Long, Junko M. Watson, Francis P. Daly, Terry Mazanec, Barry L. Yang
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Patent number: 8580211Abstract: An apparatus is described which comprises at least one process microchannel having a height, width and length, the height being up to about 10 mm, the process microchannel having a base wall extending in one direction along the width of the process microchannel and in another direction along the length of the process microchannel; at least one fin projecting into the process microchannel from the base wall and extending along at least part of the length of the process microchannel; and a catalyst or sorption medium supported by the fin.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2010Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Velocys, Inc.Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Dongming Qiu, Richard Q. Long, Barry L. Yang, Thomas Yuschak, Steven T. Perry
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Patent number: 8557186Abstract: Integrated Combustion Reactors (ICRs) and methods of making ICRs are described in which combustion chambers (or channels) are in direct thermal contact to reaction chambers for an endothermic reaction. Superior results were achieved for combustion chambers which contained a gap for free flow through the chamber. Particular reactor designs are also described. Processes of conducting reactions in integrated combustion reactors are described and results presented. Some of these processes are characterized by unexpected and superior results.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Velocys, Inc.Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Gary Roberts, Steven T. Perry, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Robert S. Wegeng, Yong Wang, David Vanderwiel, Jennifer L. Marco
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Patent number: 8685365Abstract: Provided is a process and device for exchanging heat energy between three or more streams in a microchannel heat exchanger which can be integrated with a microchannel reactor to form an integrated microchannel processing unit. The combining of a plurality of integrated microchannel devices to provide the benefits of large-scale operation is enabled. In particular, the microchannel heat exchanger enables flexible heat transfer between multiple streams and total heat transfer rates of about 1 Watt or more per core unit volume expressed as W/cc.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Velocys, Inc.Inventors: James A. Mathias, G. Bradley Chadwell, Annalee Y. Tonkovich, Steven T. Perry, Matthew B. Schmidt, Sean P. Fitzgerald, David J. Hesse, Thomas D. Yuschak, Bin Yang
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Patent number: 8206597Abstract: The invention describes microchannel apparatus and catalysts that contain a layer of a metal aluminide or are made in a process in which a metal aluminide layer is formed as an intermediate. Certain processing conditions have surprisingly been found to result in superior coatings. The invention includes chemical processes conducted through apparatus described in the specification. Other catalysts and catalyst synthesis techniques are also described.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2011Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Velocys, Inc.Inventors: Barry L. Yang, Anna Lee Tonkovich, Junko M. Watson, Francis P. Daly, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Chunshe Cao, Xiaohong Li, Terry Mazanec, Bradley R. Johnson, Ravi Arora, David J. Hesse, Dongming Qiu, Rachid Taha, Jeffrey J. Ramler, Yong Wang, Richard Long, Ya-Huei Chin
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Patent number: 8383054Abstract: Integrated Combustion Reactors (ICRs) and methods of making ICRs are described in which combustion chambers (or channels) are in direct thermal contact to reaction chambers for an endothermic reaction. Particular reactor designs are also described. Processes of conducting reactions in integrated combustion reactors are described and results presented. Some of these processes are characterized by unexpected and superior results, and/or results that can not be achieved with any prior art devices.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2011Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Velocys, Inc.Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Gary Roberts, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Paul W. Neagle, Dongming Qiu, Matthew B. Schmidt, Steven T. Perry, David J. Hesse, Robert J. Luzenski, G. Bradley Chadwell, Ying Peng, James A. Mathias, Nathan P. Gano, Richard Q. Long, Wm. Allen Rogers, Ravi Arora, Wayne W. Simmons, Barry L. Yang, David J. Kuhlmann, Yong Wang, Thomas D. Yuschak, Thomas Forte, John Arthur Monahan, Robert Jetter
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Patent number: 8188153Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a process for converting a reactant composition comprising H2 and CO to a product comprising at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon having at least about 5 carbon atoms, the process comprising: flowing the reactant composition through a microchannel reactor in contact with a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst to convert the reactant composition to the product, the microchannel reactor comprising a plurality of process microchannels containing the catalyst; transferring heat from the process microchannels to a heat exchanger; and removing the product from the microchannel reactor; the process producing at least about 0.5 gram of aliphatic hydrocarbon having at least about 5 carbon atoms per gram of catalyst per hour; the selectivity to methane in the product being less than about 25%. The disclosed invention also relates to a supported catalyst comprising Co, and a microchannel reactor comprising at least one process microchannel and at least one adjacent heat exchange zone.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2010Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Velocys, Inc.Inventors: Yong Wang, Anna Lee Tonkovich, Terry Mazanec, Francis P. Daly, Dave VanderWiel, Jianli Hu, Chunshe Cao, Charles Kibby, Xiaohong Shari Li, Michael D. Briscoe, Nathan Gano, Ya-Huei Chin