Texaco Inc.

David L Alexander

James R Muenger

Everett M Barber

Warren G Schlinger

Samuel W Rein

Frank H Choi

A method and apparatus for measuring viscosity of an oil at low temperature and low shear stress. It employs a columnar container of the oil with vertically spaced temperature control devices to apply different cooling histories simultaneously. After the cooling histories have been applied, the viscosity of all the different histories is determined by measuring the instantaneous velocity of a probe moving through the column of oil under a constant force.

Method and apparatus for measuring viscosity

A chemical plant, wherein gaseous reactants are converted in an exothermic chemical reaction to a reaction product, is combined with a semi-closed Brayton-cycle power plant to utilize the heat of reaction to generate power. Specifically, in one embodiment, an ammonia synthesis plant, wherein gaseous nitrogen and hydrogen are catalytically converted to ammonia, is combined with a semi-closed Brayton-cycle power plant to utilize the heat of reaction of the ammonia synthesis reaction to generate power.

Combination chemical plant and Brayton-cycle power plant

Power is developed by an expansion turbine in which the working fluid is a gaseous mixture comprising all of the hot raw gas stream leaving an unpacked partial oxidation gas generator, after removing if present a portion of the entrained solids, in admixture with a temperature moderating stream. A molal increase is associated with the partial oxidation process. Power is obtained from this molal increase in addition to the power obtained from the elevated pressure and sensible heat in the hot raw partial oxidation product gas. The temperature moderating stream may comprise a recycle portion of the turbine exhaust gas stream after being cooled, cleaned, optionally water-gas shifted or purified, or both, and recompressed. Alternatively, the recycle gas stream may be mixed with water, steam, or both. In one embodiment the temperature moderating stream comprises liquid water or condensate produced in the process. Auxiliary gas compressors for recompressing said recycle gas, and optionally for compressing a free-oxygen containing gas for use in the gas generation zone may be driven by said expansion turbine. Similarly, an electric generator may be coupled to the turbine shaft.

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Fishkill, NY, United States of America

David L Alexander