Texaco Inc.

Texaco Development Corporation

Texaco Inc. & Texaco Development Corporation

Ge Energy, LLC

Donald Duane Brooker

James K Wolfenbarger

Dinh-Cuong Vuong

James S Falsetti

Michael Edward Fahrion

George N Richter

Byron Von Klock

Augustine Camacho

Gary Thomas Delgrego

Henry C Chan

Allen M Robin

Robert J Stellaccio

Jerrold S Kassman

John Corwyn Groen

Dick Y Jung

Allen J Pertuit

James Kenneth Wolfenbarger

The method of protecting a surface in a gasifier which is normally an exposed surface in the gasifier. The method includes forming a refractory attachment with a securement surface that confronts the protectable surface in the gasifier and mechanically securing the refractory attachment onto the protectable surface in the gasifier without the refractory attachment penetrating the protectable surface. Such mechanical securing is achieved by providing a latch which if formed of complementary shapes of the securement surface and the protectable surface.

Method of protecting a surface in a gasifier

The present invention provides a process whereby a high viscosity hydrocarbonaceous material is fed to a gasifier for conversion to synthesis gas. The feedstock, steam, oxygen, and recycled gasification system water are all fed into the gasifier through a four stream feed injector. The feedstock in this design is sandwiched between two oxygen streams so as to provide better conversion for the exceptionally heavy feed. The fourth stream down the central bayonet of the feed injector provides the flow path for the recycled water.

Process for the gasification of heavy oil

A corrosion sensor for sensing corrosion in a pipeline. The sensor includes a housing and a device for joining the housing to a wall of an enclosure that receives a fluid. The sensor also includes a rupture member which extends across a portion of the housing to define a sealed chamber in the housing. The rupture member, upon rupture, provides an opening to the sealed chamber. The rupture member is formed of a material and thickness such that the rupture member will fail from corrosion before the enclosure wall will fail from corrosion. The rupture member is arranged such that fluid received in the enclosure can contact the rupture member. The sensor also includes a sensory device which is connected to the housing at the sealed chamber to signal a rupture condition of the rupture member when the sealed chamber opens.

Corrosion monitoring system

The self-anchoring expansion gap assembly for refractory lined vessels such as a gasifier includes a substantially annular insulating blanket structure formed of compressible refractory material. A coil of rope formed of relatively incompressible refractory material is positioned proximate an outer periphery of the insulating blanket structure. The expansion gap assembly is placed in an expansion gap of a gasifier, for example, such that the coil of rope aligns with an annular channel formed in the refractory lining of the gasifier at the expansion gap. Compression of the expansion gap assembly locks the coil of rope in the annular channel of the expansion gap thereby resisting vacuum pullout. The coil of rope can be formed as a single coil or a plurality of substantially concentric coils preferably from a single length of refractory rope.

Self-anchoring expansion gap assembly for a gasifier

A corrosion sensor ( ) for sensing corrosion includes a housing ( ) and a device ( ) for jointing the housing ( ) to a wall of a pipeline ( ) that receives a fluid ( ). The sensor ( ) also includes a rupture member ( ) which extends across a portion of the housing ( ) to define a seal chamber ( ) in the housing ( ). The rupture member ( ), upon rupture, provides an opening to the sealed chamber ( ). The rupture member ( ) is formed of a material and thickness such that the rupture member ( ) will fail from corrosion before the enclosure wall will fail from corrosion. The sensor also includes a sensory device ( ) which is connected to the housing ( ) at the sealed chamber ( ) to signal a rupture condition.

The fuel injector nozzle for a gasifier includes a protective refractory sheath that is flush mounted at a downstream end proximate the nozzle outlet portion. The refractory insert is of annular form to surround the nozzle outlet. The annular refractory member can be a one-piece structure or a multi-segment structure of preferably not more than four pieces. Whether the annular refractory member is a one-piece structure or a multi-segment structure, it is recessed in a downstream end surface of the fuel injector nozzle and retained in the recess by locking pins or by thread-like engagement between a projection and a groove that are provided on complementary inter-engaging surfaces of the recess and the refractory member. The retaining structure provided on the annular refractory member and at the recess in which the refractory member is disposed securely maintain the annular refractory protective member in position. The enduring presence of the annular refractory member prolongs the service life of the fuel injector nozzle by protecting the vulnerable surface areas at the downstream end of the fuel injector nozzle that are close to a hot and corrosive reaction zone within the gasifier.

Fuel injector nozzle with protective refractory insert

The protective refractory shield for a gasifier includes a refractory attachment that is mechanically secured to a protectable surface of the gasifier. The refractory attachment includes a plurality of attachment members of predetermined angular sector. The refractory attachment is provided to cover a downwardly facing horizontal surface of the gasifier or to be positioned upon a vertical surface thereof. Latching means for the attachment include a projecting formation that projects from the protectable surface that engages a complementary shaped recess in the attachment to mechanically secure the attachment to the protectable surface. The latching means do not form recesses in the protectable surface nor does the refractory attachments form recesses in the protectable surface. Thus the integrity of the protectable surface is maintained while it is protected.

Protective refractory shield for a gasifier

Gasifier throat

The operating life of a fuel injector nozzle for a gasifier is prolonged by shielding the fuel injector nozzle with a preformed protective insulating sheath before the fuel injector nozzle is installed inside a preheated reaction chamber of the gasifier. The thermal insulating sheath has low thermal conductivity and is placed around the fuel injector nozzle body. The thermal sheath can also be positioned to cover a downstream end of the fuel injector nozzle that includes a nozzle portion. The thermal insulating sheath is supported by ceramic rope, solder or metal wire and is gradually consumable in the environs of the reaction chamber immediately after the fuel injector nozzle is installed. Before the thermal sheath is consumed, it moderates the temperature rise rate of the fuel injector nozzle while the fuel injector nozzle is being installed in the gasifier.

Fuel injector nozzle with preheat sheath for reducing thermal shock

Method and apparatus for deslagging a gasifier's combustion chamber which has accumulated a residual solidified slag as a result of the fuel being combusted. The gasifier is provided with means for liquefying the slag into a flowable state by heating the combustion chamber to a temperature of which the slag will flow. To epitomize the gasifiers' deslagging mode, the combustion chamber is provided with an array of strain monitoring or measuring load cells which are located to detect and collectively respond to movement at the combustion chamber floor whereby to control the slag removing procedure.

Gasifier monitoring apparatus

The progress and completion of slag removal from the quench chamber of a partial oxidation reactor during controlled oxidation can be monitored by measuring such quench water parameters as pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, and sulfate concentration.

Method of monitoring slag removal during controlled oxidation of a

A selective deslagging operation is conducted in a partial oxidation reactor wherein a first predetermined portion of the reactor is selectively deslagged by derivatization while limiting derivatizing slag conditions in a second predetermined portion of the reactor. Selective deslagging can be accomplished by controlled oxidation conditions in the reactor that vary from one predetermined portion of the reactor to another. Thus, the slag present in one predetermined portion is derivatized and fluidized for removal from the reactor at a faster rate than the slag present in another portion of the reactor, which is not derivatized or is subjected to more limited derivatizing slag conditions. Derivatized slag can be differentiated from non-derivatized slag that does not flow or more limited derivatized slag that has a lower mass flow rate then the derivatized slag at conditions of controlled oxidation. The derivatized slag can then be selectively removed because it has attained a lower fluidizing temperature.

Oxidant injection for improved controlled oxidation

A gasifier for partially combusting a carbonaceous fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of the gasifier. The latter includes a water bath into which the hot effluent or products of combustion are immersed, including a synthetic gas. The products of combustion are directed into the bath by way of a constricted throat section. To avoid excessive erosion action and/or thermal shock to the throat section as a result of exposure to the effluent's high temperatures, the throat section is structured with an internal framework of pipes. The framework is communicated with a pressurized source of a cooling fluid, preferably water, whereby to cool the throat section sufficiently to counteract the ill effects of exposure to contact with the high temperature effluent.

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Hopewell Junction, NY, United States of America

Donald Duane Brooker