Velocys Corp.

Other

Christopher Paul Weil

Robert Dwayne Litt

William Allen Rogers, Jr

Thomas Peter Forte

Charles Robert Miele

Ronald Chester Pasadyn

Jimmy Glen Pelham

Paul William Neagle

Michael Alan Marchiando

G Bradley Smith

George Bradley Smith

Richard K Bennett

Elizabeth A De Lucia

W Allen Rogers

A method of starting up one or more units, the method comprising the steps of: (a) starting up a first unit including a microchannel reactor housing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst by initially feeding a carbon monoxide source and a hydrogen source to the first unit and through the microchannel reactor; (b) processing, within the microchannel reactor, at least a portion of the carbon monoxide source and the hydrogen source; (c) monitoring at least one of internal pressure, temperature, and concentration at least one of within the microchannel reactor and downstream from the microchannel reactor; (d) at least partially containing the microchannel reactor using a wall of a containment device, the wall cooperating with the microchannel reactor to delineate at least one of a first inlet cavity and a first outlet cavity of the microchannel reactor, where at least one of the first inlet cavity and the first outlet cavity is not in fluid communication with at least one of a second inlet cavity and a second outlet cavity; and, (e) using the containment device to reinforce the integrity of the microchannel reactor.

Microchannel compression reactor

The present invention includes a removable microchannel unit including an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice in fluid communication with a plurality of microchannels distributed throughout the removable microchannel unit, and a pressurized vessel adapted have the removable microchannel unit mounted thereto, the pressurized vessel adapted to contain a pressurized fluid exerting a positive gauge pressure upon at least a portion of the exterior of the removable microchannel unit. The invention also includes a microchannel unit assembly comprising a microchannel unit operation carried out within a pressurized vessel, where pressurized vessel includes a pressurized fluid exerting a positive gauge pressure upon an exterior of the microchannel unit operation, and where the microchannel unit operation includes an outlet orifice in fluid communication with an interior of the pressurized vessel.

Microchannel compression reactor assembly

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.

A method of starting up and shutting down a microchannel process is provided. Included are the steps of providing a first multi-planar process unit, preferably adapted to process an endothermic reaction, a second multi-planar process unit, preferably adapted to process an exothermic reaction, providing a containment vessel, the containment vessel containing at least a portion of the first, and preferably the second, process unit. In startup, the microchannel process is first checked for pressure integrity by pressurizing and checking the important components of the process for leaks. Subsequently, the process units are heated by introducing a dilute low-thermal energy density material, preferably to the second process unit, followed by the introduction of a dilute high-thermal energy density material, and adjusting the proportion of high-thermal energy density material as required. In shutdown, a purge material from the containment vessel is introduced into the first, and preferably the second, process unit.

Control of pressurized microchannel processes

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Pickerington, OH, United States of America

Christopher Paul Weil