Patent US3928973A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3928973A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for extracting water and energy from synthesis gas
Assignee: Mintech Corp
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Filing: 1974-08-12
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Granted: 1975-12-30
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Expires: 1994-08-12
Abstract
Abstract Synthesis gas is produced, at moderate to high pressure, by reacting steam and oxygen with a solid carbonaceous material, and the gas is then saturated under pressure, with water obtained both from drying the carbonaceous material and from scrubbing the gas in aqueous solutions of alkali salts to remove inpurities. The pressurized, water saturated synthesis gas is then cooled and dried by passing it through an expansion turbine, followed by a condensor of the tube and shell type. The expansion turbine is mechanically coupled to one or more rotary compressors, which recompress the noncondensable components of the synthesis gas stream passing through the condensor to a pressure suited for subsequent catalytic synthesis of methanol, methane or ammonia. Work extracted from the moist synthesis gas stream by the expansion turbine, is used for recompressing the dry synthesis gas, for compressing air for manufacturing oxygen used in the synthesis gas generator, or for producing an electric current or other purpose.
Inventors
- 👤 John W Hand
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:45
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01K; F01K21/00; F01K21/04; F01K9/00; F01K9/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A PROCESS FOR EXTRACTING WATER AND WORK FROM A CONDITIONED, HOT MOISTURE LADEN SYNTHESIS GAS STREAM PRODUCED FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATTER AND FOR PRESSURIZING THE DRIED SYNTHESIS GAS FOR USE IN THE CATALYTIC SYNTHESIS OF METHANOL, METHANE OR AMMONIA, CONSISTING OF THE SEQUENTIAL STEPS OF: A. CLEANING THE CONDITIONED SYNTHESIS GAS STREAM, UNDER PRESSURE, BY SCRUBBING IT WITH AND A SOLUTION OF HOT ALKALI SALT; B. PASSING SAID CLEANED AND WATER-SATURATED PRESSURIZED SYNTHESIS GAS STREAM THROUGH AN EXPANSION TURBINE BY DIRECT LOWED BY A CONDENSER; C. EXTRACTING WORK FROM SAID EXPANSION TURBINE BY DIRECT COUPLING OF SAID TURBINE TO ONE OR MORE ROTARY COMPRESSORS, D. EXTRACTING WATER FROM THE CONDENSER FOR USE AS BOILER FEEDWATER AND COOLING WATER, AND E. COMPRESSING THE DRIED SYNTHESIS GAS BY UTILIZING A PORTION OF THE WORK EXTRACTED IN THE EXPANSION TURBINE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A PROCESS FOR EXTRACTING WATER AND WORK FROM A CONDITIONED, HOT MOISTURE LADEN SYNTHESIS GAS STREAM PRODUCED FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATTER AND FOR PRESSURIZING THE DRIED SYNTHESIS GAS FOR USE IN THE CATALYTIC SYNTHESIS OF METHANOL, METHANE OR AMMONIA, CONSISTING OF THE SEQUENTIAL STEPS OF: A. CLEANING THE CONDITIONED SYNTHESIS GAS STREAM, UNDER PRESSURE, BY SCRUBBING IT WITH AND A SOLUTION OF HOT ALKALI SALT; B. PASSING SAID CLEANED AND WATER-SATURATED PRESSURIZED SYNTHESIS GAS STREAM THROUGH AN EXPANSION TURBINE BY DIRECT LOWED BY A CONDENSER; C. EXTRACTING WORK FROM SAID EXPANSION TURBINE BY DIRECT COUPLING OF SAID TURBINE TO ONE OR MORE ROTARY COMPRESSORS, D. EXTRACTING WATER FROM THE CONDENSER FOR USE AS BOILER FEEDWATER AND COOLING WATER, AND E. COMPRESSING THE DRIED SYNTHESIS GAS BY UTILIZING A PORTION OF THE WORK EXTRACTED IN THE EXPANSION TURBINE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a process for preparing synthesis gas derived from the gasification of carbonaceous material for use in the preparation of methane, methanol or ammonia, wherein the synthesis gas produced from the gasification process contains carbon oxides, hydrogen, methane, steam and gaseous sulfur compounds, at a pressure between 200 and 2,000 psi, and at a temperature above the dew point of the contained water, the improvement consisting of the sequential steps of: a. scrubbing the synthesis gas with water and a hot alkali salt solution; b. expanding said scrubbed synthesis gas through an expansion turbine coupled to a compressor; c. condensing and removing water from the expanded synthesis gas; d. and compressing the dried, expanded, synthesis gas in said compressor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a process for preparing synthesis gas derived from the gasification of carbonaceous material for use in the preparation of methane, methanol or ammonia, wherein the synthesis gas produced from the gasification process contains carbon oxides, hydrogen, methane, steam and gaseous sulfur compounds, at a pressure between 200 and 2,000 psi, and at a temperature above the dew point of the contained water, the improvement consisting of the sequential steps of: a. scrubbing the synthesis gas with water and a hot alkali salt solution; b. expanding said scrubbed synthesis gas through an expansion turbine coupled to a compressor; c. condensing and removing water from the expanded synthesis gas; d. and compressing the dried, expanded, synthesis gas in said compressor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process defined in claim 2 wherein said alkali salt solution is a potassium carbonate solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process defined in claim 2 wherein said dried expanded synthesis gas is compressed to a pressure of between about 200 psi and abOut 2,000 psi.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US962108A
Cited
US3568438A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |