IP Library Granted Patent US 9,217,112
Granted Patent B2
US 9,217,112 · App. 14/794,918 · Granted Dec 22, 2015

Systems and methods for converting gases to liquids

Inventors: Surinder Prabhjot Singh (Niskayuna, NY); John Brian McDermott (Rexford, NY); Lingzhi Zhang (Lansdale, PA)
Assignee: General Electric Company
C10G2/34B01J19/245C01B3/36B01J2219/00103B01J2219/24C01B2203/0261C01B2203/062C01B2203/1241
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,217,112
App. No.
14/794,918
Granted
Dec 22, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method of converting natural gases to liquids is provided. The system includes a catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) system with natural gas, air and steam input, a Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) system taking syngas from the CPO system, and supplying product gases to a power engine (PE), after separation of the product liquids. An F-T steam output line is in fluid communication with the CPO-steam input line. The energy output from the PE is supplied to the compressors and condensers, to provide self-sustainability in energy, for the gas-to-liquid separation system.

Claims (20)

1. A system, comprising:

a catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) system comprising a CPO-input line and a CPO-output line, wherein

the CPO-input line is in fluid communication with a CPO-natural gas input line, a CPO-air input line, and a CPO-steam input line;

a Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) system comprising an F-T-reactor input line, an F-T-reactor output line, an F-T water input line, and an F-T steam output line, wherein

the F-T-reactor input line is in fluid communication with the CPO-output line and an F-T-syngas compressor,

the F-T-reactor output line is in fluid communication with an F-T-liquid output line, and an F-T-gas output line, and

the F-T steam output line is in fluid communication with the CPO-steam input line; and

a power engine (PE) system comprising a power engine (PE), a PE-input line, and a PE-output line, wherein

the PE-input line is in fluid communication with the F-T-gas output line, and the PE is configured to provide energy to the F-T-syngas compressor.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the CPO-air input line is further in communication with a CPO-air compressor, and the CPO-air compressor is in communication with the PE.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a steam-heat exchanger in communication with the CPO-output line and the CPO-steam input line.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a natural gas-heat exchanger in communication with the CPO-output line and the CPO-natural gas input line.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an air-heat exchanger in communication with the CPO-output line and the CPO-air input line.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a syngas-condenser in fluid communication with the CPO-output line and the F-T-reactor input line.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a F-T gas-liquid separator in fluid communication with the F-T-reactor output line, the F-T-gas output line, and the F-T-liquid output line.

8. A system, comprising:

a) a catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) system configured to convert natural gas, air, and steam, to syngas, in a CPO reaction;

b) a Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) system in communication with the CPO system, and configured to receive at least a portion of the syngas from the CPO system, and to produce a steam product, and F-T liquids and gases;

wherein the F-T system comprises a compressor for compressing the syngas; and also comprises a conduit configured to direct at least a portion of the steam product to the CPO system for carrying out the CPO reaction; and

c) a power engine, in communication with the F-T system and at least partially fueled by the F-T liquids or gases, and configured to supply energy to the syngas compressor.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 050798/0659 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2015
From: SINGH, SURINDER PRABHJOT; MCDERMOTT, JOHN BRIAN; ZHANG, LINGZHI
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 036854/0983 →
Continuity (2)
Division 13435852 · Mar 30, 2012
Related Publication 20150315482A1 · Nov 5, 2015