A method is described for optimizing the operation of a reaction section for the synthesis of hydrocarbons from a feed comprising synthesis gas, operated in the presence of a catalyst comprising cobalt, said method comprising the following steps: a) determining the theoretical partial pressure of CO in the reaction section;b) optionally, adjusting the partial pressure of CO determined in step a) to a value of 4 bar or higher;c) determining a new value for the theoretical partial pressure of CO in the reaction section.

The invention relates to a process for increasing the carbon monoxide content of a feed gas mixture comprising carbon dioxide, hydrogen and carbon monoxide via a catalytic reversed water gas shift reaction, comprising the steps of (1) heating the feed gas mixture having an initial feed temperature of at most 350° C. in a first zone to a temperature within a reaction temperature range in the presence of a first catalyst; and (2) contacting the heated feed gas in a second zone within the reaction temperature range with a second catalyst. This process shows relatively high conversion of carbon dioxide, and virtually no methane or coke is being formed, allowing stable operation.

A process for treating offshore natural gas includes processing the natural gas on an off-shore processing facility by, (i) liquefying and fractionating the natural gas to generate a liquefied natural gas stream and a higher hydrocarbon stream, (ii) vaporizing at least a portion of the higher hydrocarbon stream, (iii) passing the vaporized higher hydrocarbon stream and steam over a steam reforming catalyst to generate a reformed gas mixture comprising methane, steam, carbon oxides and hydrogen, (iv) passing the reformed gas mixture over a methanation catalyst to generate a methane rich gas, and (v) combining the methane-rich gas with the natural gas prior to the liquefaction step.

A method for producing a gas comprising at least 80 vol % carbon monoxide from a Fischer-Tropsch off-gas comprises: (1) feeding Fischer-Tropsch off-gas through a column comprising an adsorbent bed at high pressure and discharging effluent; (2) reducing the pressure in the column and the bed slightly; (3) rinsing the column and the adsorbent bed with methane or a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide; (4) reducing the pressure of the column and adsorbent bed to a low pressure; (5) rinsing the column and adsorbent bed with a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen; (6) pressurizing the column and adsorbent bed to a high pressure using a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen. The product stream obtained in step (3) comprising at least 80 vol % carbon monoxide can be sent as feed to a Fischer-Tropsch reaction. In an embodiment, a gas comprising at least 80 vol % hydrogen is also produced.

A methanol synthesis process includes reacting a process gas containing hydrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide over a catalyst including shaped units formed from a reduced and passivated catalyst powder the powder including copper in the range 10-80% by weight, zinc oxide in the range 20-90% by weight, alumina in the range 5-60% by weight and optionally one or more oxidic promoter compounds selected from compounds of Mg, Cr, Mn, V, Ti, Zr, Ta, Mo, W, Si and rare earths in the range 0.01-10% by weight, to form a product gas, and condensing methanol, water and oxygenate by-products therefrom, wherein the total oxygenate by-product level in the condensate is below 500 ppm.

Systems and methods are provided for enhancing the integration of processes for recovering products from algae-derived biomass. The enhanced process integration allows for increased use of input streams and other reagents that are derived from renewable sources. This increases the overall renewable character of the products extracted from the algae-derived biomass. The process integration can include exchange of input streams or energy between an algae processing system and a system for processing non-algal biomass. One example of improving process integration is using oxygenates that are generated in a renewable manner as a reagent for enhancing the algae processing system.

Iron/carbon (Fe/C) nanocomposite catalysts are prepared for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction. A preparation method includes steps of mixing iron hydrate salts and a mesoporous carbon support to form a mixture, infiltrating the iron hydrate salts into the carbon support through melt infiltration of the mixture near a melting point of the iron hydrate salts, forming iron-carbide particles infiltrated into the carbon support through calcination of the iron hydrate salts infiltrated into the carbon support under a first atmosphere, and vacuum-drying the iron-carbide particles after passivation using ethanol. Using such catalysts, liquid hydrocarbons are produced.

A fuel processing system for converting a logistical fuel and air into a liquid product comprising methanol. One such system comprises a fuel injection system configured to combine a logistical fuel and ambient air to produce a logistical fuel and air mixture, a synthesis gas production system configured to convert the logistical fuel and air mixture to synthesis gas, and a methanol synthesis system configured to convert the synthesis gas to a crude methanol liquid. Related methods are additionally disclosed.

In a process for the production of substitute natural gas, a feed gas is provided to a first and/or second and/or subsequent bulk methanator. The feed gas is subjected to methanation in the presence of a suitable catalyst. An at least partially reacted stream from the first bulk methanator is removed and supplied to the second and/or subsequent bulk methanator where it is subjected to further methanation. A product stream from the final bulk methanator is passed to a trim methanator train where it is subjected to further methanation. A recycle stream is removed downstream of the first, second or subsequent bulk methanator, and, in any order, passed through a compressor, subjected to cooling and then supplied to a trim and/or recycle methanator for further methanation before being recycled to the first and/or second and/or subsequent methanator.

In a synthesis gas methanation process, at least one first fraction of synthesis gas to treat is fed, together with steam, to a shift reactor where a shift reaction occurs; the gas flow produced in the shift reactor is then fed to a first methanation reactor where a methanation reaction occurs and then to further second methanation reactors in series, where further methanation reactions, performed with the addition of fresh synthesis gas which has not been subjected to the shift reaction.

A system and process for removing catalyst fines from a gas stream overhead the slurry in a Fischer-Tropsch slurry bubble column reactor. The gas phase at the top of the slurry bubble column reactor containing small amounts of entrained liquid and catalyst particles. The unreacted gases are passed through a demister, which removes larger droplets and catalyst particles. Smaller droplets and catalyst fines are conveyed to a secondary gas cleaner, such as a cyclone, whereby substantially all remaining particles are removed from the gas phase. A particle-containing liquid produced in the secondary gas cleaner can be further subjected to a filtrate cleaning unit to filter out fine catalyst particles and produce a substantially particle-free liquid product stream and a slurry stream of liquid product containing catalyst particles.

A process for improving the hydrogen content of a synthesis gas stream to a synthesis loop, comprising the steps of: (a) removing a purge stream comprising hydrogen and hydrocarbons from a synthesis loop; (b) separating hydrogen from the purge stream; (c) passing the purge stream to a reformer and reacting with steam and oxygen to produce a stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide; (d) subjecting the reformed reaction product stream to a shift reaction to produce a stream comprising carbon dioxide and hydrogen; (e) subjecting the product stream from the shift reaction to separation to separate hydrogen from carbon dioxide; (f) supplying the separated hydrogen to the synthesis loop; and (g) removing the carbon dioxide.

The present invention provides a process for producing a hydrocarbon oil by performing a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction using a reactor for a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis including a reaction apparatus having a slurry containing catalyst particles and a gaseous phase located above the slurry to obtain a hydrocarbon oil, wherein the Fischer-Tropsch reaction is performed while controlling a temperature of the slurry so that a difference T2−T1 between the average temperature T1 of the slurry and a temperature T2 at the liquid level of the slurry in contact with the gaseous phase is 5 to 30° C.

A method for producing synthetic hydrocarbons from at least one carbonaceous material is provided. The method includes evaluating the resources of the carbonaceous material available on a determined territory; determining from the resources a total production capacity of synthetic hydrocarbons; determining from the total production capacity, a number of elementary production units required for obtaining the total production capacity, each elementary production unit having an elementary production capacity between a 100 and a 1,000 barrels a day of synthetic hydrocarbons; building the number of elementary production units on the territory; transporting the carbonaceous material from the territory as far as the elementary production units; producing the synthetic hydrocarbons in the elementary production units from the transported carbonaceous material.

The disclosed invention relates to a process for conducting a Fischer-Tropsch reaction, comprising flowing a reactant mixture comprising fresh synthesis gas and tail gas in a microchannel reactor in contact with a catalyst to form at least one hydrocarbon product, the catalyst being derived from a catalyst precursor comprising cobalt and a surface modified catalyst support.

Disclosed are hybrid Fischer-Tropsch catalysts containing cobalt deposited on hybrid supports. The hybrid supports contain an acidic zeolite component and a silica-containing material. It has been found that the use of the hybrid Fischer-Tropsch catalysts in synthesis gas conversion reactions results in high C5+ productivity, high CO conversion rates and low olefin formation.

Disclosed is a process for converting a reactant composition comprising H2 and CO to a product comprising at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon having at least about 5 carbon atoms, the process comprising: flowing the reactant composition through a microchannel reactor in contact with a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst to convert the reactant composition to the product, the microchannel reactor comprising a plurality of process microchannels containing the catalyst; transferring heat from the process microchannels to a heat exchanger; and removing the product from the microchannel reactor; the process producing at least about 0.5 gram of aliphatic hydrocarbon having at least about 5 carbon atoms per gram of catalyst per hour; the selectivity to methane in the product being less than about 25%. Also disclosed is a supported catalyst comprising Co, and a microchannel reactor comprising at least one process microchannel and at least one adjacent heat exchange zone.

A synthesis gas conversion process and system are disclosed. Fresh syngas from a methane reformer is used as a sweep zone gas feed which is caused to flow across a water permselective membrane in a membrane reactor. The water permselective membrane is adjacent a synthesis gas conversion reaction zone in which synthesis gas is contacted with a catalyst and converted to effluent including water. Water is removed from the reaction zone through the membrane and passes out of the reactor with the sweep zone gas. The water is then removed from the sweep zone gas forming a modified gas feed which is fed to the reaction zone. The modified gas feed has a preferred H2/CO ratio to feed into the reaction zone.

The present invention is directed to a process for the production of hydrocarbon product from two different hydrocarbonaceous feedstocks comprising the steps of preparing a feed syngas having a hydrogen/carbon monoxide [H2/CO] molar feed ratio suitable for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, wherein the feed syngas is prepared by combining a first syngas having a H2/CO molar ratio below the molar feed ratio and a second syngas having a H2/CO molar ratio above the molar feed ratio; the first syngas is prepared from a liquid hydrocarbon comprising feedstock as the sole source of carbon in a first syngas manufacturing process comprising a non-catalytic partial oxidation step; the second syngas is prepared from a methane comprising feedstock as the sole source of carbon in a second syngas manufacturing process comprising a heat exchange reforming step and an auto-thermal reforming step; and the first and second syngas manufacturing processes are operated in parallel.

A process for the synthesis of methanol, comprising the steps of reforming a hydrocarbon source obtaining a make-up gas feed (101), feeding said make up gas to a synthesis loop (L), converting said make up gas to methanol (108) in a substantially isothermal catalytic environment, wherein said catalytic environment comprises a plurality of isothermal catalytic beds (11, 12, 21) preferably arranged in series, and at least a portion of make-up gas (101) is mixed with recycle gas (112) from the loop (L), obtaining a gaseous mixture of fresh gas and recycle gas, and at least a portion of said gaseous mixture is directed between two consecutive catalytic beds acting as a quench gas. A related plant is also disclosed.

In designing supersonic aircrafts, a method of designing a natural laminar flow wing is provided which reduces friction drag by delaying boundary layer transition under flight conditions of actual aircrafts. A target Cp distribution on wing upper surface, suited to natural laminarization in which boundary layer transition is delayed rearward in desired Reynolds number states, is defined by a functional type having as coefficients parameters depending on each spanwise station, a sensitivity analysis employing a transition analysis method is applied to the parameters, and a search is performed for the optimum combination of parameters to delay transition rearward.

Disclosed herein is a method for determining a trajectory for a transfer of a spacecraft from a starting space body to a target space body with respect to a given central space body, wherein the determined trajectory is optimal with respect to a given space mission requirement to be met by the transfer of the spacecraft. The method comprises providing, according to the Pontryagin maximum principle, a physical-mathematical model relating model quantities and physical quantities representing the transfer of the spacecraft with respect to the given central space body.

A method of modelling a hydrocarbon-containing reservoir which is representative of such reservoir in at least one physical characteristic such as reservoir porosity or permeability. Data, such as reservoir porosity is firstly determined. Such data is then transformed into printing instructions for a 3D printer. The 3D printer is used to print a reduced-scale model which is representative of the reservoir in respect of the at least one physical characteristic, such as reservoir porosity. A method of comparative testing of different hydrocarbon recovery techniques on a single hydrocarbon-containing reservoir is also disclosed and claimed.

A computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for updating simulation models of a subterranean reservoir. An ensemble of reservoir models representing a subterranean reservoir having non-Gaussian characteristics is provided and the ensemble of reservoir models is updated using a subspace ensemble Kalman filter. Kemal principle component analysis parameterization or K-L expansion parameterization can be used to update the ensemble of reservoir models.

Methods and systems are provided for executing a simulation of an operation in a data processing system. In one implementation, the method includes executing an operation under a first set of conditions, determining a characteristic associated with the execution of the operation under the first set of conditions, and executing a simulation of the operation under a second set of conditions different from the first set of conditions. The simulation of the operation is constrained by the determined characteristic. The method can further include determining a cost/benefit of executing the operation under a set of conditions different from the first set of conditions based at least in part on the simulation.

The present invention aims to simulate a response more similar to a actual machine while inhibiting load increase in analog operation. Program configuration of the present invention is a component of a simulation program for circuit design, which is executed by a computer. The computer includes an operation portion, a storage portion, a manipulation portion, and a display portion, so that the computer exerts a function of a circuit design simulator, and as a macro model of an operational amplifier for use in the circuit design simulator, enabling the computer to act by simulating a response of the operational amplifier on the circuit design simulator. The macro model of the operational amplifier includes a control portion (LMT1) for generating output exception in the event of input exception or power supply exception of the operational amplifier.

The cost necessary for introducing and maintaining a development environment that includes multiple simulators is suppressed, and a sharing of designing information is promoted, to make parameter adjustment of simulators easy. Provided is a service that unifies development environment on a computer provided with: a working computer system that can guarantee that there is no leaking of designing files; a user behavior monitoring system that collects utilization history of simulators or software, for each of the users, and selects development process of each of the users from the collected information; and a dynamic computational-resource distribution system that can conduct an automatic optimization of a complex simulation configuration, from information collected by the aforementioned user behavior monitoring system.

Methods and apparatuses for circuit design are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a distribution of nets of a circuit, the distribution of the nets comprising numbers of blocks that each of the nets has in each of a plurality of partitions of the circuit in a partitioning solution, moving a first block of the circuit from a source partition to a destination partition to modify the partitioning solution, and updating the distribution of the nets after the moving.

A device for the collection and processing of information relating to the exposure of one or more persons to one or more products of chemical or biological origin has: at least one coded sensor for automatic or semi-automatic identification of a person likely to be exposed to at least one product,at least one coded sensor for the collection of information relating to the handling of at least one product by the person likely to be exposed to the product,at least one sensor for validating the information collected by the identification and collection sensors,at least one module for reading at least one coded sensor, anda module for processing information collected by the sensors.

The invention is directed to methods for determining clonotypes and clonotype profiles in assays for analyzing immune repertoires by high throughput nucleic acid sequencing of somatically recombined immune molecules. In one aspect, the invention comprises generating a clonotype profile from an individual by generating sequence reads from a sample of recombined immune molecules; forming from the sequence reads a sequence tree representing candidate clonotypes each having a frequency; coalescing with a highest frequency candidate clonotype any lesser frequency candidate clonotypes whenever such lesser frequency is below a predetermined value and whenever a sequence difference therebetween is below a predetermined value to form a clonotype. After such coalescence, the candidate clonotypes is removed from the sequence tree and the process is repeated. This approach permits rapid and efficient differentiation of candidate clonotypes with genuine sequence differences from those with experimental or measurement errors, such as sequencing errors.

A computer method of material modeling for crash test dummy finite element models includes the steps of making a material card for the material, applying the material card to validate a finite element model of a crash test dummy component, determining whether the finite element model is acceptable, ending the method if the finite element model is acceptable, and adjusting a relative volume (J) range for the material to make the material soft or stiff if the finite element model is not acceptable.

A system and method is taught to substantially automate forecasting for a hydrocarbon producing reservoir through integration of modeling module workflows. A control management module automatically generates static and dynamic offspring models, with static and dynamic modeling software, until a performance objective associated with the forecasting of the reservoir is satisfied. The performance objective can include an experimental design table to determine a sensitivity of a particular parameter or can be directed towards reservoir optimization, i.e., ultimate hydrocarbon recovery, net present value, reservoir percentage yield, reservoir fluid flow rate, or history matching error.

The embodiments relate to modeling resistance in a multi-fin multi-gate field effect transistor (MUGFET). In these embodiments, a design for a multi-fin MUGFET comprises a gate structure with a horizontal portion traversing multiple semiconductor fins and comprising a plurality of first resistive elements connected in series, with vertical portions adjacent to opposing sides of the semiconductor fins and comprising second resistive elements connected in parallel by the horizontal portion, and with contact(s) comprising third resistive element(s). The total gate resistance is determined based on resistance contributions from the first resistive elements, the second resistive elements and the third resistive element(s), particularly, where each resistive contribution is based on a resistance value of the resistive element, a first fraction of current from the semiconductor fins entering the resistive element and a second fraction of the current from the semiconductor fins exiting the resistive element.

A method (and system) of emulation in a multiprocessor system, includes performing an emulation in which a host multiprocessing system of the multiprocessor system supports a weak consistency model, and the target multiprocessing system of the multiprocessor system supports a strong consistency model.

An apparatus, system and method are introduced for preserving privacy of data in a dataset in a database with a number n of entries. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes memory including computer program code configured to, with a processor, cause the apparatus to form a random matrix of dimension m by n, wherein m is less than n, operate on the dataset with the random matrix to produce a compressed dataset, form a pseudoinverse of the random matrix, and operate on the dataset with the pseudoinverse of the random matrix to produce a decompressed dataset.

A method and apparatus for data processing. The method calculates correlations between a plurality of attributes in a dataset. The attributes are factors involved in transaction processing. The method generates a relationship graph by using the plurality of attributes and the correlations between the plurality of attributes; and extracts a sub-graph from the relationship graph to represent a hypothesis. The hypothesis describes the impacts of the factors on the transaction processing. Also provided is an apparatus for implementing the above data processing method.

Systems and methods are provided for evaluating performance of forecasting models. A plurality of forecasting models may be generated using a set of in-sample data. Two or more forecasting models from the plurality of forecasting models may be selected for use in generating a combined forecast. An ex-ante combined forecast may be generated for an out-of-sample period using the selected two or more forecasting models. The ex-ante combined forecast may then be compared with a set of actual out-of-sample data to evaluate performance of the combined forecast.

Disclosed herein are methods, compositions and tools for repairing articular surfaces repair materials and for repairing an articular surface. The articular surface repairs are customizable or highly selectable by patient and geared toward providing optimal fit and function. The surgical tools are designed to be customizable or highly selectable by patient to increase the speed, accuracy and simplicity of performing total or partial arthroplasty.

A proposed feature vector for a first deign is received and an existing feature vector for an existing design is retrieved for a given task. The proposed design is evaluated against the existing design using task-based scores associated with each design and based on their performances for the given task.

The present disclosure relates to a method of melt processing an active agent. The method may include encapsulating an active agent in a first polymer material exhibiting a first processing temperature T1 and forming capsules including the active agent. The method may also include melt processing the capsules with a second polymer material exhibiting a second processing temperature T2, wherein T1>T2.

A solution-processed organic electronic structural element has an improved electrode layer. Located between the active organic layer and the electrode layer there is either an interface or an interlayer containing a cesium salt.

An adhesion promotion process and composition for enhancing adhesion between a copper conducting layer and a dielectric material during manufacture of a printed circuit board. The composition contains a corrosion inhibitor, an inorganic acid, and an alcohol which is effective to increase copper-loading in the composition.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacture of styrene-butadiene latexes. The styrene-butadiene latex according to the present invention is characterized by having a superior adhesive force as the formation of films at an early stage is promoted by adjusting the gel content and molecular weight of the outermost layer, as well as a fast ink-drying speed and a high air permeability as the formation of paper films is maintained. It may be applied to paper coating very stably since the mechanical stability and chemical stability of the latex are superior.

A method is disclosed for curing ink printed images on golf balls by printing an image onto a golf ball and exposing the printed image to infrared radiation, then exposing the printed image to ultraviolet radiation.

Methods for formation of silicon carbide on substrate are provided. Atomic layer deposition methods of forming silicon carbide are described in which a first reactant gas of the formula SinHaXb wherein n=1-5, a+b=2n+2, a>0, and X=F, Cl, Br, I; and a second reactant gas of the formula MR3-bYb, wherein R is a hydrocarbon containing substituent, Y is a halide, hydride or other ligand and b=1-3 are sequentially deposited on a substrate and then exposed to a plasma. The process can be repeated multiple times to deposit a plurality of silicon carbide layers.

Provided are superhydrophobic coatings, devices and articles including superhydrophobic coatings, and methods for preparing the superhydrophobic coatings. The exemplary superhydrophobic device can include a substrate component and one or more superhydrophobic coatings disposed over the substrate component, wherein at least one of the one or more superhydrophobic coatings has a water contact angle of at least about 150° and a contact angle hysteresis of less than about 1°. The one or more superhydrophobic coatings can include an ultra high water content acid catalyzed polysilicate gel, the polysilicate gel including a three dimensional network of silica particles having surface functional groups derivatized with a silylating agent and a plurality of pores.

The invention relates to the application of a coating to a substrate in which the coating includes a polymer material and the coating is selectively fluorinated and/or cured to improve the liquid repellance of the same. The invention also provides for the selective fluorination and/or curing of selected areas of the coating thus, when completed, providing a coating which has regions of improved liquid repellance with respect to the remaining regions and which remaining regions may be utilized as liquid collection areas.

Provided are methods of depositing polymer solutions on substrates to form various optical elements. A polymer solution may include about 0.1%-30% by weight of a specific polymer having rigid rod-like molecules. The molecules may include various cores, spacers, and sides groups to ensure their solubility, viscosity, and cross-linking ability. The deposition techniques may include slot die, spray, molding, roll coating, and so forth. Pre-deposition techniques may be used to improve wettability and adhesion of substrates. Post-deposition techniques may include ultraviolet cross-linking, specific drying techniques, evaporation of solvent, treating with salt solutions, and shaping. The disclosed polymers and deposition processes may yield optical elements with high refractive index values, such as greater than 1.6. These optical elements may be used as +A plates, −C plates, or biaxial polymers and used as retarders in LCD active panels or as light collimators and light guides.

A family of catheter electrode assemblies includes a flexible circuit having a plurality of electrical traces and a substrate; a ring electrode surrounding the flexible circuit and electrically coupled with at least one of the plurality of electrical traces; and an outer covering extending over at least a portion of the electrode. A non-contact electrode mapping catheter includes an outer tubing having a longitudinal axis, a deployment member, and a plurality of splines, at least one of the plurality of splines comprising a flexible circuit including a plurality of electrical traces and a substrate, a ring electrode surrounding the flexible circuit and electrically coupled with at least one of the plurality of electrical traces; and an outer covering extending over at least a portion of the ring electrode. A method of constructing the family of catheter electrode assemblies is also provided.

A textile for providing traditional Chinese medicine therapy to a wearer using electronic stimulation includes at least two conductive paths that are made from conductive textile material, the conductive paths are separated by nonconductive textile material, at least one pair of electrodes attach to the conductive paths corresponding to specific part of body or acupoints according to traditional Chinese medicine theory, and an electronic stimulation signal controller configured to conduct electronic stimulation signals to the electrodes via the conductive paths.