The University of Texas System

Other

Philip T Eubank

Rayford Gaines Anthony

Kenneth R Hall

Jerry A Bullin

Aydin Akgerman

Bedri Bozkurt

Somchintana Norasetthekul

Brent E Stucker

Walter L Bradley

A process for converting natural gas to an olefin includes heating the gas to a selected range of temperature to convert a fraction of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbons, primarily ethylene or acetylene, and reacting with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to produce the olefin, usually ethylene. A portion of the incoming natural gas may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Hydrogen resulting from the reactions may be used to make electricity in a fuel cell. Alternatively, hydrogen may be burned to heat the natural gas to the selected range of temperature.

Method for converting natural gas to olefins

A process for converting natural gas to a liquid includes heating the gas to a selected range of temperature to convert a fraction of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbons, primarily ethylene or acetylene, and reacting methane and the reactive hydrocarbons in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a liquid, predominantly naphtha or gasoline. A portion of the incoming natural gas may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Hydrogen resulting from the reactions may be used to make electricity in a fuel cell. Alternatively, hydrogen may be burned to heat the natural gas to the selected range of temperature.

Method for converting natural gas to liquid hydrocarbons

A process for converting natural gas to a liquid includes heating the gas to a selected range of temperature to convert a fraction of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbons, primarily acetylene, and reacting methane and the reactive hydrocarbons in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a liquid, predominantly pentane. Hydrogen resulting from the reactions is used to heat the incoming natural gas, either with a hydrogen furnace or by electrical energy generated from the hydrogen. Little or no use of methane is required to supply energy for the process.

The invention relates to ZrB.sub.2 /Cu composites, and more specifically to methods of making ZrB.sub.2 /Cu composite electrodes and methods of using ZrB.sub.2 /Cu composite electrodes. ZrB.sub.2 powder is contacted with a polymer and shaped to a desired form. The polymer is vaporized and the ZrB/.sub.2 powder is sintered. The sintered ZrB.sub.2 is contacted with Cu and heated above the melting point of Cu which causes the Cu to infiltrate the ZrB.sub.2, forming the ZrB.sub.2 /Cu composite electrode.

Manufacture and use of ZrB.sub.2 /Cu or TiB.sub.2 /Cu composite

The invention relates to ZrB.sub.2 /Cu composites, and more specifically to methods of making ZrB.sub.2 /Cu composite electrodes and methods of using ZrB.sub.2 /Cu composite electrodes. ZrB.sub.2 powder is contacted with a polymer and shaped to a desired form. The polymer is vaporized and the ZrB.sub.2 powder is sintered. The sintered ZrB.sub.2 is contacted with Cu and heated above the melting point of Cu which causes the Cu to infiltrate the ZrB.sub.2, forming the ZrB.sub.2 /Cu composite electrode.

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Bryan, TX, United States of America

Philip T Eubank