Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090196805 | In Situ Mixing in Microchannels - The present invention provides methods, systems and apparatus in which one fluid passes through an orifice or orifices and mixes with another fluid as it flows through a microchannel. | 08-06-2009 |
20090214404 | Process and Apparatus for Improved Methods for Making Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) - The invention provides methods, apparatus and chemical systems for making vinyl acetate from ethylene, oxygen, and acetic acid. | 08-27-2009 |
20090252658 | Loading/Unloading of Particulates to/from Microchannel Reactors - The invention providing methods of loading and unloading particulate from microchannels in apparatus that contains multiple microchannels, typically apparatus that is designed to operate with hundreds or thousands of particulate-containing microchannels. Aligning a sonicating head at one end of a set of microchannels provides a particularly effective mode for densifying particulate in microchannels. | 10-08-2009 |
20090253941 | Microchannel Apparatus Comprising Structured Walls, Chemical Processes, Methods of Making Formaldehyde - Methods for controlling series or series-parallel reactions are described. Novel microchannel apparatus having mesoporous structures adjacent to bulk flow paths are described. Methods of synthesizing formaldehyde from methanol are also described. | 10-08-2009 |
20090259076 | PROCESS FOR CONVERTING A CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL TO METHANE, METHANOL AND/OR DIMETHYL ETHER USING MICROCHANNEL PROCESS TECHNOLOGY - This invention relates to a process for converting a carbonaceous material to a desired product comprising methane, methanol and/or dimethyl ether, the process comprising: gasifying the carbonaceous material at a temperature in excess of about 700° C. to form synthesis gas; and flowing the synthesis gas through two or more reaction zones in a microchannel reactor to convert the synthesis gas to the desired product. | 10-15-2009 |
20090293359 | PROCESS FOR UPGRADING A CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL USING MICROCHANNEL PROCESS TECHNOLOGY - This invention relates to a process for converting a carbonaceous material to a desired product comprising one or more hydrocarbons or one or more alcohols, the process comprising: (A) gasifying the carbonaceous material at a temperature in excess of about 700° C. to form synthesis gas; and (B) flowing the synthesis gas in a microchannel reactor in contact with a catalyst to convert the synthesis gas to the desired product. | 12-03-2009 |
20090326279 | Support for use in microchannel processing - The disclosed technology relates to an apparatus, comprising: at least one microchannel, the microchannel comprising at least one heat transfer wall; a porous thermally conductive support in the microchannel in contact with the heat transfer wall; a catalyst or a sorption medium supported by the porous support; and a heat source and/or heat sink in thermal contact with the heat transfer wall. | 12-31-2009 |
20100068366 | MULTIPHASE MIXING PROCESS USING MICROCHANNEL PROCESS TECHNOLOGY - The disclosed invention relates to a process for making a multiphase mixture, comprising: flowing a first fluid stream through a process microchannel, the first fluid stream comprising at least one liquid and/or at least one gas, the process microchannel having an apertured section; flowing a second fluid stream through the apertured section into the process microchannel in contact with the first fluid stream to form the multiphase mixture, the second fluid stream comprising at least one gas and/or at least one microbody-forming material, the first fluid stream forming a continuous phase in the multiphase mixture, the second fluid stream forming a discontinuous phase dispersed in the continuous phase. | 03-18-2010 |
20100071410 | DISTILLATION PROCESS USING MICROCHANNEL TECHNOLOGY - The disclosed invention relates to a distillation process for separating two or more components having different volatilities from a liquid mixture containing the components. The process employs microchannel technology for effecting the distillation and is particularly suitable for conducting difficult separations, such as the separation of ethane from ethylene, wherein the individual components are characterized by having volatilities that are very close to one another. | 03-25-2010 |
20100081726 | Catalytic reaction process using microchannel technology - The disclosed technology relates to a process for conducting a chemical reaction between at least one liquid reactant and at least one gaseous reactant in a process microchannel containing at least one catalyst, the catalyst comprising a solid phase catalyst or a homogeneous catalyst immobilized on a solid. In one embodiment, the process microchannel comprises a processing zone containing one or more structures for disrupting fluid flow and a reaction zone containing one or more structures for contacting and/or supporting the catalyst, the one or more structures for contacting and/or supporting the catalyst containing openings to permit the reactants to flow through the one or more structures and contact the catalyst. The process comprises: forming a reactant mixture comprising at least one liquid reactant and the at least one gaseous reactant; flowing the reactant mixture in the processing zone in contact with the one or more structures for disrupting fluid flow to enhance mixing of the liquid reactant and the gaseous reactant; flowing the reactant mixture in openings in the one or more structures for contacting and/or supporting the catalyst in contact with catalyst; and reacting the at least one liquid reactant with the at least one gaseous reactant to form at least one product. In one embodiment, the process relates to a process for conducting a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in a process microchannel containing at least one Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst, the catalyst comprising a solid phase catalyst or a homogeneous catalyst immobilized on a solid, the process comprising: flowing reactants comprising H | 04-01-2010 |
20100174124 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYING MICROCHANNEL PROCESS TECHNOLOGY - This invention relates to a process for conducting a hydrocracking or a hydrotreating process in a microchannel reactor. This invention also relates to a process and apparatus for flowing a vapor and liquid into a plurality of microchannels in a microchannel processing unit. | 07-08-2010 |
20100258198 | Flow Control Through Plural, Parallel Connection Channels To/From a Manifold - The invention provides apparatuses and techniques for controlling flow between a manifold and two or more connecting microchannels. Flow between plural connecting microchannels, that share a common manifold, can be made more uniform by the use of flow straighteners and distributors that equalize flow in connecting channels. Alternatively, flow can be made more uniform by sections of narrowed diameter within the channels. Methods of making apparatus and methods of conducting unit operations in connecting channels are also described. | 10-14-2010 |
20100267993 | MICROCHANNEL APPARATUS COMPRISING STRUCTURED WALLS, CHEMICAL PROCESSES, METHODS OF MAKING FORMALDEHYDE - Methods for controlling series or series-parallel reactions are described. Novel microchannel apparatus having mesoporous structures adjacent to bulk flow paths are described. Methods of synthesizing formaldehyde from methanol are also described. | 10-21-2010 |
20110039955 | Fluidization and Solids Processing In Microchannel Devices - This invention describes gas-solid, liquid-solid and gas-solid-liquid processes in microchannels devices including such processes as heterogeneous catalysis, particle formation, particle attrition, particle separation and adsorption or desorption of selected species. Various processes can be enhanced by the unique properties of microchannels such as the predominance of laminar flow, high rates of shear, high rates of heat transfer and high rates of mass transfer. Also encompassed by this invention are methods for the introduction to and removal from microchannels of particle containing fluid streams. | 02-17-2011 |
20110083997 | PROCESS FOR TREATING HEAVY OIL - This invention relates to a process for hydroprocessing heavy oil under process intensification conditions to form an upgraded hydrocarbon product. | 04-14-2011 |
20110112348 | PROCESS FOR MAKING STYRENE USING MIRCOHANNEL PROCESS TECHNOLOGY - The disclosed invention relates to a process for converting ethylbenzene to styrene, comprising: flowing a feed composition comprising ethylbenzene in at least one process microchannel in contact with at least one catalyst to dehydrogenate the ethylbenzene and form a product comprising styrene; exchanging heat between the process microchannel and at least one heat exchange channel in thermal contact with the process microchannel; and removing product from the process microchannel. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising a process microchannel, a heat exchange channel, and a heat transfer wall positioned between the process microchannel and heat exchange channel wherein the heat transfer wall comprises a thermal resistance layer. | 05-12-2011 |
20110147665 | Microchannel Technology Having Structures With Reduced Material and Enhanced Volumetric Productivity - 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. | 06-23-2011 |
20110182804 | Protected Alloy Surfaces In Microchannel Apparatus and Catalysts, Alumina Supported Catalysts, Catalyst Intermediates, and Methods of Forming Catalysts and Microchannel Apparatus - 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. | 07-28-2011 |
20110236279 | INTEGRATED REACTORS, METHODS OF MAKING SAME, AND METHODS OF CONDUCTING SIMULTANEOUS EXOTHERMIC AND ENDOTHERMIC REACTIONS - 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. | 09-29-2011 |
20120031349 | Methods of Making Devices By Stacking Sheets and Processes of Conducting Unit Operations Using Such Devices - New designs, methods and processes are described that in which laminated devices and configured in a style named the “ortho” style. To form a device in the ortho style, plates or sheets are machined to have apertures and then stacked together such that the apertures connect and fluid can flow through the device in a direction that is substantially parallel to the direction of sheet thickness. Various laminated devices and processes using them are also described. For example, devices in which non-rectangular microchannels conform around reaction chambers or other bodies that need to be heated or cooled, are described. Features that separate or trip boundary layer and enhance heat transfer are also described. | 02-09-2012 |
20120058063 | PROCESS FOR TREATING AND/OR FORMING A NON-NEWTONIAN FLUID USING MICROCHANNEL PROCESS TECHNOLOGY - The disclosed invention relates to a process, comprising: conducting unit operations in at least two process zones in a process microchannel to treat and/or form a non-Newtonian fluid, a different unit operation being conducted in each process zone; and applying an effective amount of shear stress to the non-Newtonian fluid to reduce the viscosity of the non-Newtonian fluid in each process zone, the average shear rate in one process zone differing from the average shear rate in another process zone by a factor of at least about 1.2. | 03-08-2012 |
20120095268 | MICROCHANNEL PROCESSOR - This invention relates to an apparatus, comprising: a plurality of plates in a stack defining at least one process layer and at least one heat exchange layer, each plate having a peripheral edge, the peripheral edge of each plate being welded to the peripheral edge of the next adjacent plate to provide a perimeter seal for the stack, the ratio of the average surface area of each of the adjacent plates to the average penetration of the weld between the adjacent plates being at least about 100 cm | 04-19-2012 |
20120138151 | Flow Distribution Channels To Control Flow In Process Channels - The invention describes features that can be used to control flow to an array of microchannels. The invention also describes methods in which a process stream is distributed to plural microchannels. | 06-07-2012 |
20120171517 | Welded, Laminated Apparatus, Methods of Making, and Methods of Using the Apparatus - The invention describes methods of welding onto laminated devices using a low temperature welding process. Also described are laminated devices with welds that do not disrupt a brazed core block of sheets in the laminated devices. Novel laminated devices with welded features for servicing the devices are also described. | 07-05-2012 |
20130165536 | PARTIAL BOILING IN MINI AND MICRO-CHANNELS - 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. | 06-27-2013 |