Texaco Inc.

Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Texaco Inc. & Texaco Development Corporation

Texaco Development Corporation

James F Stevens

Curtis L Krause

Kevin Nguyen

Daniel Glenn Casey

Kerry Kennedy Spilker

William Spencer Wheat

Peter Charles Ricci

Roger F Vogel

Vesna Radovan Mirkovic

W Spencer Wheat

Vijay Anant Deshpande

Paul Francis Martin

Thomas M Vu

William L Schinski

Douglas G Naae

Mukund Karanjikar

Eric G Pow

Lixin You

Yunquan Liu

Jerry Max Rovner

Farshad Bavarian

Jennifer L Phan

John Prieditis

Phillip K Notz

Dennis P Essl

Julie M Cao

Balaji Krishnamurty

Jeffrey A Hedges

Jason C Hicks

Stephen J Decanio

Zoran Mirkovic

William S Wheat

Kevin H Nguyen

Daniel G Casey

The instant invention pertains to new processes which produce an energy source effectively, efficiently, and in a more environmentally friendly manner. The process comprises hydrolyzing a lignocellulosic feedstock to form lignocellulosic hydrolyzate and a hydrolyzate residue. The lignocellulosic hydrolyzate is treated to produce hydrogen. The hydrolyzate residue may be reacted with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to yield the energy source.

Integrated biofuel process

The present invention is generally directed to methods for processing lignin-containing biomass so as to render it more amenable to hydroprocessing, wherein such processing typically reduces the level of oxygen in the biomass. Following such processing, the resulting reduced-oxygen lignin-derived product can be hydroprocessed into a biofuel suitable for use as a transportation fuel. Additionally, in some embodiments, such methods can be integrated with one or more other processes, wherein such other processes can be production and/or logistical in nature.

Lignin upgrading for hydroprocessing to biofuel

A portable fuel processing apparatus and enclosure including an enclosure having an outer wall that defines an interior space and provides a gas impermeable barrier. Attached to the enclosure is porting means for use in moving the enclosure from one location to another. A fuel reformer capable of providing sufficient hydrogen-rich reformate to a fuel cell stack for use in generating at least about 1 kW per hour is disposed within the enclosure. An optional gas detection system includes a sensor disposed within the enclosure to monitor the interior of the enclosure for presence of combustible gases. The portable apparatus can have a number of connectors for connecting the enclosure and the fuel processing systems to a source of a reformer fuel and water as well as a domestic drain. Preferred sources of fuel and water are common utility lines available in buildings. Additional connectors can be provided to couple the fuel processor with a fuel cell, for used in delivering a reformate stream, air stream and circulating cooling medium to a fuel cell and for returning a fuel cell exhaust stream to the enclosure. Moreover, the portable fuel processing apparatus and enclosure can further include connectors for establishing electronic communications with a remote process control unit. A method of installing the portable fuel processing apparatus is also provided.

Portable fuel processor apparatus and enclosure and method of installing same

The present invention discloses a fluidized bed system for the single step reforming technology for the production of hydrogen. Single step reforming combines the steam methane reforming, water gas shift, and carbon dioxide removal in a single step process of hydrogen generation. In the present invention, to address the heat transfer and the replenishment issues associated with single step reforming, the sorbent particles are fluidized. This fluidization allows the sorbent particles to be regenerated and consequently allows the optimal operating conditions for single step reforming to be maintained.

Fluidized bed system for single step reforming for the production of hydrogen

A combustor for oxidizing a combustion fuel and pre-heating one or more reactants for fuel reforming. The combustor includes an elongated housing having an inlet for receiving a combustion fuel and an outlet for exhausting combustion products. The elongated housing further includes a cylindrical side wall, a bottom wall, and a top wall. Inert particles are disposed within the housing adjacent the inlet. A combustion catalyst bed is disposed within the housing above the inert particles that is a mixture of inert particles and combustion catalyst. The inert particles and the combustion catalyst preferably have a volumetric ratio of inert particles to catalyst between about 2:1 and about 4:1. The combustor has at least one heat exchanger within the combustion catalyst bed for heating a reformer reactant and generating steam. Preferably, the combustor includes at least two heat exchangers within the combustion catalyst bed, the heat exchanging elements have different surface areas. The combustor can include at least one sensor for measuring temperature within the combustor, and preferably the reactor includes two or more sensors for measuring temperature at two or more locations within the combustion catalyst bed. A power-generating apparatus comprising the combustor, a fuel processor and fuel cell is also provided. Methods for pre-heating a reactant and generating steam for use in a fuel reformer and for manufacturing a combustor for use in fuel reforming are provided.

Anode tailgas oxidizer

The present invention relates to methods and systems for processing biomass to selectively yield a variety of hydrocarbon molecules and hydrogen as products, wherein some or all of these products can be further utilized for other biomass processing sub-processes, particularly wherein they lead to the generation of biofuels and/or other high-value products.

Selective, integrated processing of bio-derived ester species to yield low molecular weight hydrocarbons and hydrogen for the production of biofuels

The present invention relates to methods for processing biomass to selectively yield a variety of hydrocarbon molecules and hydrogen as products, wherein some or all of these products can be further utilized for other biomass processing sub-processes, particularly wherein they lead to the generation of biofuels and/or other high-value products.

A method for start-up and shut down of a fuel processor including an autothermal reformer employing a non-pyrophoric shift catalyst is disclosed. Also disclosed are a computer programmed to start-up or shut down a fuel processor including an autothermal reformer employing a non-pyrophoric shift catalyst or a program storage medium encoded with instruction that, when executed by a computer, start-up or shut down a fuel processor including an autothermal reformer employing a non-pyrophoric shift catalyst.

Autothermal reforming in a fuel processor utilizing non-pyrophoric shift catalyst

Methods for converting hydrocarbon fuels to hydrogen-rich reformate that incorporate a carbon dioxide fixing mechanism into the initial hydrocarbon conversion process. The mechanism utilizes a carbon dioxide fixing material to remove carbon dioxide from the reformate product stream. The removal of carbon dioxide from the product stream shifts the reforming reaction equilibrium toward higher hydrocarbon conversion with only small amounts of carbon oxides produced. Repeated absorption/desorption of carbon dioxide by the fixing materials tends to decrease the fixing capacity of the materials. Hydration of the carbon dioxide fixing materials between one or more cycles serves to sustain their fixing capacity and to enhance the efficiencies of the reforming and shift reactions occurring in the catalyst bed. Hydration can occur during reactor start-up or shut down, periodically over a number of cycles, and/or upon a monitored change in the reformate composition.

Reforming with hydration of carbon dioxide fixing material

An apparatus for carrying out a multi-step process of converting hydrocarbon fuel to a substantially pure hydrogen gas feed includes a plurality of reaction zones arranged in a common reaction chamber. The multi-step process includes: providing a fuel to the fuel processor so that as the fuel reacts and forms the hydrogen rich gas, the intermediate gas products pass through each reaction zone as arranged in the reactor to produce the hydrogen rich gas.

Single chamber compact fuel processor

An illustrative method for converting hydrocarbon fuel to hydrogen rich gas, includes the steps of: reacting the hydrocarbon fuel with steam in the presence of reforming catalyst and a carbon dioxide fixing material to produce a first hydrogen gas; and removing carbon monoxide from the first hydrogen gas to produce the hydrogen rich gas, wherein the removing step utilizes a process selected from methanation or selective oxidation. In one illustrative embodiment the carbon dioxide fixing material is selected from calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, strontium oxide, strontium hydroxide, allanite, andralite, ankerite, anorthite, aragoniter, calcite, dolomite, clinozoisite, huntite, hydrotalcite, lawsonite, meionite, strontianite, vaterite, jutnohorite, minrecordite, benstonite, olekminskite, nyerereite, natrofairchildite, farichildite, zemkorite, butschlite, shrtite, remondite, petersenite, calcioburbankite, burbankite, khanneshite, carboncernaite, brinkite, pryrauite, strontio dressenite, and similar such materials and any combination of these. The reforming catalyst in one preferred and illustrative embodiment is selected from nickel, platinum, rhodium, palladium, ruthenium, or similar supported reforming catalysts or combinations of these. In such instances the reforming catalyst is preferably supported on a high surface area support thus promoting the reforming reaction and more preferably is selected from alumina, titania, zirconia, or similar such compounds or combinations of these. It is preferred that in one illustrative embodiment that the temperature of the reacting step is from about 400&deg; C. to about 800&deg; C.

Integrated fuel processor, fuel cell stack, and tail gas oxidizer with carbon dioxide removal

A method is provided for increasing the rate of injection of flooding fluids into injection wells. A slug of polar solvent or a mixture of polar solvent and non-aqueous flooding fluid is injected into the injection well to displace aqueous and hydrocarbon liquids in the rock surrounding the injection well. Thereafter, the solvent is removed from the vicinity of the injection well by flooding fluid. The process may be repeated following each time water is injected into the injection well.

Method for improving injectivity of fluids in oil reservoirs

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Katy, TX, United States of America

James F Stevens