Mixing and Mass Transfer Technologies, LLC

The Penn State Research Foundation

Arco Chemical Technology, L.p.

Lyondell Chemical Technology, L.p.

Other

General Signal Corporation

Prakash G Balan

John R McWhirter

Bradley A Swope

Bradley S Dominik

Paul M Kubera

Robert N Cochran

Bernard Cooker

Mark A Liepa

A unique reactor configuration especially suitable for interphase mass transfer and mixing of multiple phases, i.e. gas(es), liquid(s), and solid(s) where reaction is catalyzed by a solid catalyst comprises a draught tube reactor wherein the solid catalyst particles are maintained in an annular space between the draught tube of the reactor and an annulus-defining wall by means of filter elements positioned downstream and optionally also upstream from the catalyst bed.

Multiphase reactor design incorporating filtration system for fixed&#x2014;bed catalyst

A continuous flow multistage aerobic wastewater sludge treatment system and process comprising at least two stages connected in series, each stage comprising one or more covered tanks, tank segments or compartments, each having an enclosed separate gas headspace, wherein the gas headspaces of each stage are connected in a specified sequence that may be identical to or different from the staging sequence followed by the sludge liquid. An oxygen containing gas stream, such as air or an oxygen enriched gas stream, is supplied to the headspace of each stage, and a means for aerating the sludge in one or more of the tanks, tank segments or compartments is provided to enhance the transfer of oxygen from the gas headspace into the sludge liquid for use by bacteria in digestion of the sludge. At least one stage of the sludge digestion system is operated at a thermophilic temperature above 50&#xb0; C., and the flow of oxygen containing gas through the system can be co-current, countercurrent, or a mixture of both with respect to the flow of the liquid. Embodiments of the invention include use of the aerobic digestion system prior to anaerobic digestion.

Continuous multistage thermophilic aerobic and aerobic-anaerobic sludge treatment process

A continuous flow multistage aerobic wastewater sludge digestion system comprising at least two stages connected in series, each stage comprising one or more covered tanks, tank segments or compartments, each having an enclosed separate gas headspace, wherein the gas headspaces of each stage are connected in a specified sequence that may be identical to or different from the staging sequence followed by the sludge liquid. An oxygen containing gas stream, such as air or an oxygen enriched gas stream, is supplied to the headspace of each stage, and a means for aerating the sludge in one or more of the tanks, tank segments or compartments is provided to enhance the transfer of oxygen from the gas headspace into the sludge liquid for use by bacteria in digestion of the sludge. At least one stage of the sludge digestion system is operated at a thermophilic temperature above 50&#xb0; C. and the flow of oxygen containing gas through the system can be co-current, countercurrent, or a mixture of both with respect to the flow of the liquid. Preferred embodiments of the invention include the use of this aerobic digestion system prior to anaerobic digestion.

Continuous multistage thermophilic aerobic and aerobic-anaerobic sludge treatment systems

Multiphase reactor design incorporating filtration system for fixed--bed catalyst

A continuous flow multistage aerobic wastewater sludge digestion system comprising at least two stages connected in series, each stage comprising one or more covered tanks, tank segments or compartments, each having an enclosed separate gas headspace, wherein the gas headspaces of each stage are connected in a specified sequence that may be identical to or different from the staging sequence followed by the sludge liquid. An oxygen containing gas stream, such as air or an oxygen enriched gas stream, is supplied to the headspace of each stage, and a means for aerating the sludge in one or more of the tanks, tank segments or compartments is provided to enhance the transfer of oxygen from the gas headspace into the sludge liquid for use by bacteria in digestion of the sludge. At least one stage of the sludge digestion system is operated at a thermophilic temperature above 50&#xb0; C. and the flow of oxygen containing gas through the system can be cocurrent, countercurrent, or a mixture of both with respect to the flow of the liquid.

Continuous multistage thermophilic aerobic sludge digestion system

A surface aeration impeller for use in a liquid filled tank. The impeller is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the static liquid surface. The impeller has a plurality of blades mounted on the underside of a disc or disc-like surface. Each blade has a multi-faceted or curved geometry ranging from vertical at the point of attachment to the disc to partially inclined at the bottom. The blades are spaced circumferentially about the axis and are disposed at acute angles to radial lines from the axis of rotation of the impeller. The lower portions of the blades, which are inclined but non-vertical, are positioned at or below the static liquid surface. When the impeller is rotated, the lower portion pumps the liquid up onto the vertical portion of the blades where the liquid is discharged into a spray umbrella in a direction upwardly and outwardly away from the impeller. The design of the invention produces substantially higher oxygen transfer efficiency and overall liquid pumping rates than prior art designs and is particularly useful in the aeration of sewage and other wastewater.

Surface aeration impeller designs

Surface aeration impellers

Propylene oxide is produced by liquid phase reaction of propylene oxygen and hydrogen in contact with a solid epoxidation catalyst at elevated temperature and pressure, the reaction conditions being regulated to provide a weight ratio of dissolved oxygen to dissolved hydrogen in the liquid reaction mixture of at least 16.

Epoxidation process

A system for providing improved bulk liquid mixing and effective gas-liquid contacting for mass transfer of the gas to the liquid, especially a non-Newtonian liquid, the viscosity of which decreases when under shearing conditions (shear thinning), in an upright tank. An upright draft tube is mounted within the tank and has a lower end spaced from the tank bottom and an upper end spaced below the surface of the liquid in the tank. A plurality of mixing impellers in the draft tube are sufficiently close to each other to establish a field or pattern of agitation to cause shear thinning and upflow throughout the draft tube and which produces significant turbulence at the liquid surface. A plurality of radially inwardly projecting, circumferentially spaced baffles extend from the draft tube and are proximate the mixing impellers to prevent swirling of the liquid within the draft tube. The system may also contain a surface aeration impeller and gas may be sparged into the vessel in or adjacent to the lower end of the draft tube.

Mixer systems

A catalytic dehydrogenation of alkylene glycol ether to ether ketone or aldehyde is disclosed. The dehydrogenation is performed with copper chromite catalyst and at least 5 wt % of water based on alkylene glycol ether. It has been found that the selectivity to formation of ether ketone or aldehyde increases with increasing the amount of water in the alkylene glycol ether.

Dehydrogenation of alkylene glycol ethers to ether ketones and aldehydes

The invention is an olefin epoxidation process that comprises reacting olefin, oxygen, and hydrogen in a liquid medium in the presence of an epoxidation catalyst in a reactor system comprising a tank, a tube, a plurality of impellers, and means for inhibiting flow. The reactor system facilitates transfer of the hydrogen and oxygen to the liquid medium.

Direct epoxidation process

A system for providing improved bulk liquid mixing and effective gas-liquid contacting for mass transfer of the gas to the liquid, especially a non-Newtonian liquid, the viscosity of which decreases when under shearing conditions (shear thinning), in an upright tank. A process, such as fermentation which produces commercial quantities of polysaccharides such as xanthan gum, may be carried out in the tank. An upright draft tube is mounted within the tank and has a lower end spaced from the tank bottom and an upper end spaced below the surface of the liquid in the tank. A plurality of mixing impellers in the draft tube are sufficiently close to each other to establish a field or pattern of agitation to cause shear thinning and upflow throughout the draft tube and which may produce turbulence at the liquid surface. A plurality of radially inwardly projecting, circumferentially spaced baffles extend from the draft tube and are proximate the mixing impellers to prevent swirling of the liquid within the draft tube. Gas may be sparged into the vessel in or adjacent to the lower end of the draft tube. A circulating co-current flow of gas and liquid, with intimate gas-liquid contact, is induced up through the draft tube and out the upper end of the draft tube so as to provide a high rate of mass transfer from the gas to the liquid. The flow including entrained gas turns down through the annular region between the tank wall and the draft tube for recirculation of the liquid and gas above the surface of the liquid, resulting in high gas holdup and gas-liquid contact in the downflow annular region and in the upflow draft tube region, without gas flooding of the impellers. The concentration of dissolved gas and the effectiveness of the system for gas-phase mass transfer is determined by reaeration of a test sample of the liquid. Additional surface aeration can be provided with a surface impeller having a plurality of blades with vertical portions and outwardly inclined portions, the vertical portions being inclined with respect to radial lines from the axis of rotation of the impeller.

Growing community of inventors

Wilmington, DE, United States of America

Prakash G Balan