Did You Know...
...that Thomas Edison's patent application on his phonograph was approved by the Patent Office in just seven weeks? In contrast, it took Gordon Gould, the inventor of the laser, 30 years to obtain his patent -- finally awarded in 1988!
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of PatentStorm
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest patents by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Got questions? Ask a Patent Expert!
Registered users: Manage your profile, comments and alerts.
US Patent 5861441 - Combusting a hydrocarbon gas to produce a reformed gas
US Patent Issued on January 19, 1999
Estimated Patent Expiration Date:
February 14, 2017Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
Estimated Patent Expiration Date:
February 14, 2017Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.AbstractA system and process are provided for converting a hydrocarbon gas to a reformed gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide. In accordance with a first embodiment, the system includes a primary combustor, compressor and power turbine. The process is practiced by compressing a feed air in the primary compressor to produce a primary air. The primary air is fed with a primary hydrocarbon gas to the primary combustor, producing a reformed gas that drives the primary power turbine. The primary power turbine is linked to the primary compressor, compressing the feed air in an energy self-sufficient manner. In a second embodiment, the system of the first embodiment further includes a secondary combustor, compressor and power turbine. The process is practiced in the same manner as the first embodiment, producing the reformed gas and driving the primary power turbine and compressor. A portion of the primary air is also fed with a secondary hydrocarbon gas to the secondary combustor, producing an off-gas that drives the secondary power turbine and compressor to compress a gas in an energy self-sufficient manner. In a third embodiment, the system is substantially the same as the second embodiment, but reconfigures the compressors and power turbines and further includes an auxiliary secondary power turbine. The process is practiced in the same manner as the first embodiment, producing the reformed gas and driving the primary power turbine and compressor. The off-gas is produced in the same manner as the second embodiment to drive the secondary power turbine, but the secondary power turbine drives an auxiliary primary compressor, compressing the feed air ahead of the primary compressor in an energy self-sufficient manner. The off-gas further drives the auxiliary secondary power turbine to provide additional power for alternate power users.Other References
| InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 800642 filed on 02/14/1997US Classes:518/703, Gaseous oxygen utilized in the preliminary reaction60/39.12, With combustible gas generator60/39.53, With addition of steam and/or water60/780, Having fuel conversion (e.g., reforming, etc.)252/373, Carbon-oxide and hydrogen containing518/704Water utilized in the preliminary reactionField of Search518/703, Gaseous oxygen utilized in the preliminary reaction518/704, Water utilized in the preliminary reaction252/373, Carbon-oxide and hydrogen containing60/39.12, With combustible gas generator60/39.53With addition of steam and/or waterExaminersPrimary: Geist, GaryAssistant: Padmanabhan, Sreeni Attorney, Agent or FirmUS Patent References2552308, 2660032, 2686195, 3866411, 3868817, 3920579, 3959972, Power plant processIssued on: 06/01/1976 Inventor: Rudolph , et al.3986349, Method of power generation via coal gasification and liquid hydrocarbon synthesis Issued on: 10/19/1976 Inventor: Egan4074981, Partial oxidation process Issued on: 02/21/1978 Inventor: Slater4075831, Process for production of purified and humidified fuel gas Issued on: 02/28/1978 Inventor: McGann4092825, Process for base-load and peak-load power generation Issued on: 06/06/1978 Inventor: Egan4121912, Partial oxidation process with production of power Issued on: 10/24/1978 Inventor: Barber , et al.4132065, Production of H2 and co-containing gas stream and power Issued on: 01/02/1979 Inventor: McGann4158680, Production of purified and humidified fuel gas Issued on: 06/19/1979 Inventor: McGann4309359, Energy process in methanol synthesis Issued on: 01/05/1982 Inventor: Pinto4338292, Production of hydrogen-rich gas Issued on: 07/06/1982 Inventor: Duranleau4434613, Closed cycle gas turbine for gaseous production Issued on: 03/06/1984 Inventor: Stahl4618451, Synthesis gas Issued on: 10/21/1986 Inventor: Gent4678723, High pressure low heat rate phosphoric acid fuel cell stack Issued on: 07/07/1987 Inventor: Wertheim4732092, Pyrolysis and combustion apparatus Issued on: 03/22/1988 Inventor: Gould4833170, Process and apparatus for the production of heavier hydrocarbons from gaseous light hydrocarbons Issued on: 05/23/1989 Inventor: Agee4946477, IGCC process with combined methanol synthesis/water gas shift for methanol and electrical power production Issued on: 08/07/1990 Inventor: Perka, et al.4973453, Apparatus for the production of heavier hydrocarbons from gaseous light hydrocarbons Issued on: 11/27/1990 Inventor: Agee5026934, Method for converting light hydrocarbons to olefins, gasoline and methanol Issued on: 06/25/1991 Inventor: Bains, et al.5177114, Process for recovering natural gas in the form of a normally liquid carbon containing compound Issued on: 01/05/1993 Inventor: Van Dijk, et al.5245110, Process for producing and utilizing an oxygen enriched gas Issued on: 09/14/1993 Inventor: Van Dijk, et al.5295356, Process and apparatus for the production of carbon monoxide and hydrogen Issued on: 03/22/1994 Inventor: Billy5472986Methanol production process using a high nitrogen content synthesis gas with a hydrogen recycle Issued on: 12/05/1995 Inventor: van Dijk Foreign Patent References
International ClassC07C 027/06 |
