Abstract:
Aspects of the invention are associated with the discovery of processes for converting methane (CH4), present in a methane-containing feedstock that may be obtained from a variety of sources such as natural gas, to higher hydrocarbons (e.g., C4+ hydrocarbons) such as gasoline, diesel fuel, or jet fuel boiling-range hydrocarbons, which may optionally be separated (e.g., by fractionation) for use as transportation fuels, or otherwise as blending components for such fuels. Particular aspects of the invention are associated with advantages arising from maintaining reaction conditions that improve the yield of C4+ hydrocarbons. Further aspects relate to the advantages gained by integration of the appropriate reactions to carry out the methane conversion, with downstream separation to recover and recycle desirable components of the reaction effluent, thereby improving process economics to the extent needed for commercial viability.
Abstract:
A method for producing organic liquid fuels and other valuable products in which an organic compound is provided to an anode electrode having a metal oxide catalyst disposed on an anode side of an electrolyte membrane, thereby producing an organic liquid fuel and/or other valuable organic product and electrons on the anode side. The electrons are conducted to a cathode electrode disposed on a cathode side of the electrolyte membrane, thereby transforming water provided to the cathode side to H2 gas and hydroxide ions. The method is carried out at a temperature less than or equal to about 160° C., preferably at room temperature.
Abstract:
A method of converting methane to methanol at low temperatures utilizes a reactor including an anode, a cathode, a membrane separator between the anode and cathode, a metal oxide catalyst at the anode and a hydrogen recovery catalyst at the cathode. The method can convert methane to methanol at as rate exceeding the theoretical Faradaic rate due to the contribution of an electrochemical reaction occurring in tandem with a Faradaic reaction.
Abstract:
A reactor system for partial oxidation gasification includes a reactor vessel that has a defined reaction zone with a reaction zone inlet and a reaction zone outlet. An injector section is operable to inject reactants to the reaction zone inlet. A coolant injector is operable to inject a coolant adjacent a reaction zone outlet. A reactor vessel outlet is located downstream of the coolant injector. A controller is configured to operate the coolant injector with respect to cooling a synthesis gas discharged from the reaction zone outlet and upwardly shifting a ratio H2:CO to a target ratio.
Abstract:
Hydropyrolysis processes are described, in which differing types of feedstocks, including at least one biorenewable feedstock, namely a biomass-containing feedstock, may be co-processed to allow enhancements in operating conditions and/or product properties, depending on changing customer requirements and/or overall market demands. According to specific embodiments, an aliphatic hydrocarbon precursor or an aromatic hydrocarbon precursor is co-processed with the biomass-containing feedstock to enhance an operating condition (e.g., a reactor temperature profile) of the hydropyrolysis process and/or a property (e.g., cetane number) of a liquid product (e.g., a diesel boiling range fraction) obtained from a substantially fully deoxygenated hydrocarbon liquid.
Abstract:
A self-sustaining process for producing liquid fuels from biomass in which the biomass is hydropyrolyzed in a reactor vessel containing molecular hydrogen and a deoxygenating catalyst, producing a partially deoxygenated pyrolysis liquid, which is hydrogenated using a hydroconversion catalyst, producing a substantially fully deoxygenated pyrolysis liquid and a gaseous mixture comprising CO and light hydrocarbon gases (C1-C4). The gaseous mixture is reformed in a steam reformer, producing reformed molecular hydrogen, which is then introduced into the reactor vessel for hydropyrolizing the biomass. The deoxygenated liquid product is further processed to produce diesel fuel and gasoline.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a process for thermochemically transforming biomass or other oxygenated feedstocks into high quality liquid hydrocarbon fuels. In particular, a catalytic hydropyrolysis reactor, containing a deep bed of fluidized catalyst particles is utilized to accept particles of biomass or other oxygenated feedstocks that are significantly smaller than the particles of catalyst in the fluidized bed. The reactor features an insert or other structure disposed within the reactor vessel that inhibits slugging of the bed and thereby minimizes attrition of the catalyst. Within the bed, the biomass feedstock is converted into a vapor-phase product, containing hydrocarbon molecules and other process vapors, and an entrained solid char product, which is separated from the vapor stream after the vapor stream has been exhausted from the top of the reactor. When the product vapor stream is cooled to ambient temperatures, a significant proportion of the hydrocarbons in the product vapor stream can be recovered as a liquid stream of hydrophobic hydrocarbons, with properties consistent with those of gasoline, kerosene, and diesel fuel. Separate streams of gasoline, kerosene, and diesel fuel may also be obtained, either via selective condensation of each type of fuel, or via later distillation of the combined hydrocarbon liquid.
Abstract:
A two-stage process for upgrading a gaseous stream containing CO2 and H2S in which the gaseous stream and pressurized water are provided to a first stage absorption process in which a portion of the CO2 is absorbed by the pressurized water. The reduced-CO2 gaseous stream and a chemical solvent suitable for absorbing CO2 and H2S are provided to a second stage absorption process in which the H2S and remaining CO2 are removed from the gaseous stream, producing an acid gas stream and an upgraded gaseous stream meeting pipeline-quality specifications.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a system for pressurizing liquid hydrogen (LH2). The system has a pressure vessel for containing an initial quantity of LH2, with the pressure vessel containing an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice. A vaporizer is used which has an inlet and an outlet. A supply tube is used to couple the outlet orifice of the pressure vessel with the inlet of the vaporizer. A discharge tube couples the discharge outlet of the vaporizer with the inlet orifice of the pressure vessel. The vaporizer receives LH2 from the pressure vessel via the supply tube during a pressurization operation, warms the LH2 using an ambient environment, and discharges heated and pressurized H2 back to the pressure vessel through the supply tube.
Abstract:
Process are disclosed for converting plastics, and especially thermoplastic oxygenated polymers, by hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) to hydrocarbons, such as aromatic hydrocarbons including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers. These hydrocarbons may be recovered as chemicals and/or fuels, depending on the particular chemical structures of the starting materials, including the presence of oxygen in the polymer backbones. Advantageously, using a sufficiently active catalyst, only moderate conditions, such as in terms of hydrogen partial pressure, are required, in comparison to known hydrotreating processes. This leads to the formation, with fewer non-selective side reactions, of desired liquid hydrocarbons from substantially all carbon in the oxygenated polymer, as well as water from substantially all oxygen in the oxygenated polymer. In some cases, the liquid hydrocarbons obtained are platform chemicals that can be used for a number of specialized purposes. For example, they may be converted to monomers for regenerating the oxygenated polymer or otherwise for producing a different polymer.