Methane conversion to higher hydrocarbons invention
Pursuant to our earlier report of United States Patent 1905520, issued in 1933 to German inventors, for the
"Conversion of methane into liquid hydrocarbons", we wanted to follow up by demonstrating that a domestic US knowledge base does exist for the conversion of Methane, as can be manufactured by the Sabatier recycling of Carbon Dioxide or the steam/hydro gasification of Coal, into liquid hydrocarbons.
Enclosed is a collection of three links with accompanying excerpts, with the first link above and all else following, which details something of what we think to be an integrated trail of technology development, though the entries aren't sequential, detailing that the methods have been developed which will enable the transformation of Coal-, or CO2-, derived Methane into Liquid Hydrocarbons via the intermediary of Acetylene.
First, excerpted from the link above, we present a US Patent Application filed by, almost predictably, ExxonMobil. We are uncertain of this US Patent Application's precise date. However, we believe it to have been filed in 2007, based on the following passage within the body of the text:
"This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/753,961, filed Dec. 23, 2005, and benefit of related US Non-Provisional Application No. (Serial number not yet assigned), titled "Controlled Combustion for Regenerative Reactors," filed on Dec. 15, 2006, as the assignee's Family No. P2005J047-US2, the entirety of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.",
which we won't repeat in our main excerpt from the application, that contains a very lengthy description of prior art, which we will also not include. But, that, we think, is significant: There is a large body of prior art for the conversion of Methane, as can be synthesized from Coal or Carbon Dioxide, into higher hydrocarbons
In any case, the abbreviated excerpts from:
"Methane conversion to higher hydrocarbons
USPTO Application #: 20070191664
Title: Methane conversion to higher hydrocarbons
Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of acetylene and other higher hydrocarbons from methane feed using a reverse-flow reactor system, wherein the reactor system includes (i) a first reactor and (ii) a second reactor, the first and second reactors oriented in a series relationship with respect to each other, the process comprising supplying each of first and second reactant through separate channels in the first reactor bed of a reverse-flow reactor such that both of the first and second reactants serve to quench the first reactor bed, without the first and second reactants substantially reacting with each other until reaching the core of the reactor system.
(Note that they do specify "other higher hydrocarbons", as well.)
Inventors: Frank Hershkowitz, et. al.
Agent (and, we'll presume, "Assignee"): ExxonMobil Chemical Company, Baytown, Texas
The invention relates to the manufacture of acetylene from methane. The present invention also relates broadly to regenerative reactors. More particularly the invention relates to an improved process and apparatus for producing acetylene from a methane feed by controlling combustion for thermal regeneration of reverse flow regenerative reactors in a unique and thermally efficient way.
The present inventors have discovered that acetylene can be efficiently manufactured from methane feed according to the inventive reverse-flow regenerative reactor system, method, and process. This invention provides processes and apparatus for efficiently converting methane by controlling location, movement, and removal of reaction heat. The inventive process beneficially feeds all of the exothermically reacting regeneration reactant streams through the recuperation or quenching reactor bed media, while simultaneously deferring combustion, until the reactants reach a desired region of the reactor system. The invention also includes use of an inventive mixing apparatus within the high heat region to provide efficient and complete mixing and exothermic reaction within the reactor system. The inventive process also preferably utilizes hydrogen as a methane synthesis reaction diluent. The inventive process creates and confines a regenerating "heat bubble" within the reactor system, without exposing any degradable components to the high heat. The inventive process consistently provides controlled exothermic reaction location and temperature migration and successfully avoids equipment heat degradation."
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That concludes our very brief excerpt from this lengthy, very detailed, US Patent Application. You get the picture: ExxonMobil has invented a better way to make Acetylene, and other higher hydrocarbons, from Methane; which itself can be synthesized from Coal or Carbon Dioxide.
Immediately following, unfortunately, is documentation of US Government, i.e., US Taxpayer, supported work, conducted at USDOE facilities in Idaho and Pittsburgh, PA, which just might have helped lay the technical foundation for ExxonMobil's attempt to patent technology for converting Methane into higher hydrocarbons via Acetylene:
ScienceDirect - Fuel : Conversion of natural gas to liquids via acetylene as an intermediate*1
"Conversion of natural gas to liquids via acetylene as an intermediate
R. P. Anderson, J. R. Fincke and C. E. Taylor
Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 84315-2110, USA
National Energy Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA
January 2001
Abstract
This paper describes an experimental investigation of the conversion of natural gas to liquid transportation fuels through acetylene as an intermediate. The first step is the direct thermal conversion of methane to acetylene utilizing a thermal plasma heat source to dissociate the methane. The dissociation products react to form a mixture of acetylene and hydrogen. Significant improvements over the prior art were observed; these improvements may be attributed to an improved methane injection configuration and minimization of radial temperature gradients. Conversion efficiencies (percent methane converted) approached 100% and acetylene yields in the 90–95% range with 2–4% solid carbon production were obtained. A variety of methods were examined for the second step, the conversion of acetylene to liquid products. The most promising technology was the reaction of acetylene with hydrogen over a shape-selective zeolite to form C3–C5+ aliphatics."
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All of the foregoing might, unsurprisingly, have been motivated by an even earlier US Patent awarded to "The University of Texas System", as follows:
Zeolite catalyzed conversion of acetylene - Patent 5118893
"Zeolite catalyzed conversion of acetylene; United States Patent 5118893
Inventors: Timmons, Richard B. (Arlington, TX); He, Yigong (Arlington, TX); Jang, Wen-long (Arlington, TX)
Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System (Austin, TX)
Date: 06/02/1992
The invention relates to an efficient process for the production of higher hydrocarbon from the catalyzed conversion of acetylene. This invention describes the use of a nickel or cobalt-containing zeolite catalyst, coupled with the addition of a hydrogen donor co-reactant to the acetylene feed, to obtain continuous and complete conversion of acetylene to other hydrocarbons. The catalyst/reactant feed process described eliminates rapid catalyst deactivation."
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Now, far be it from us to suggest that the University of Texas System - with whom we've recently enjoyed such cordial correspondence regarding their well-promoted, well-publicized scheme to get all of us coal-dependent Northerners to ship them, at our expense, of course, all of the nasty Carbon Dioxide generated by our use of coal, for sequestration in their leaky, drying-up oil wells - just might know that Carbon Dioxide can be converted into Methane, that Methane can then be converted into Acetylene, and that Acetylene can then be employed "for the production of higher hydrocarbons".
However, they are specifying, in their patent, the use of a zeolite catalyst, just as ExxonMobil does in their "MTG"(r), "methanol-to-gasoline" Process, wherein the Methanol is posited to be made from, among other things, Coal.
Guaranteed: ExxonMobil knows all about the facts that: Carbon Dioxide can be converted into Methane. Methane can be converted into Acetylene. And, Acetylene can be converted into "higher hydrocarbons".
Just what, do you suppose, those "higher hydrocarbons" might be?