As with any number of expositions and dissertations, especially as in some of those originating from the Oil industry we have documented for you, which concern the conversion of our abundant Coal into more versatile hydrocarbons, use of the dirty, four-letter word "Coal", is avoided herein to the point of absurdity.
We conjecture that, in the United States Patent we report in this dispatch, based on the way the full Disclosure is formatted, our honest US Government patent examiners compelled the inventor, and the assignee of rights, Chevron, to at least insert, near the end of the document, a separate "Definitions" section, wherein their weasel phrases are clarified.
So, as prologue, here are their "Definitions":
""Hydrocarbon asset" include(s) ... coal ... .
"Heavy hydrocarbon" means coal, ... municipal sewage sludge, recycled plastic ... and mixtures thereof.
"Heavy Hydrocarbon Conversion" refers to the conversion of a heavy hydrocarbon to products comprising synthesis gas by reaction with a gaseous oxidant (O2, steam, air, and mixtures thereof). In particular, heavy hydroconversion processes include processes such as coal conversion ... . (emphases added)
"Hydrocarbonaceous product" means a material containing hydrogen, carbon, and optionally other heteroatoms such as oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen. Examples ... include ... methanol, and Fischer-Tropsch products.""
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With that established, and with the above-indicated potentials for the recycling of waste Carbon aside, we'll tell you what they're actually divulging herein:
A way in which a by-product, Nitrogen, of an indirect Coal conversion process, - - wherein Coal is first gasified with purified Oxygen separated from the Air - - is subsequently used to prevent oxidation of, and consequent loss of energy value from, the Coal-based liquid hydrocarbon products during shipping to points of use and distribution that are distant from the Coal liquefaction facility.
As a bonus, such use, of the indirect Coal conversion process by-product Nitrogen, also helps to prevent corrosion within the Coal liquid transport vessel's product storage and handling components, thus further reducing as-delivered costs of the Coal liquefaction products.
Summary comment follows unfortunately lengthy excerpts from the above link to:
"United States Patent 7,087,804 - Use of Waste Nitrogen ... for Blanketing Cargo and Ballast Tanks
Date: August, 2006
Inventor: Dennis O'Rear, CA
Assignee: Chevron USA, Inc., CA
Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent from the air separation unit of a Gas To Liquids, Heavy Hydrocarbon Conversion, or Methanol Synthesis Facility on transport vessels. The primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent is used to reduce corrosion, reduce product biodegradation and oxidation, control invasive species, and prevent fires and explosions by reducing oxygen content. Accordingly, the present invention relates to integrated processes for producing hydrocarbonaceous products and using a primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent supplied from the process in shipping the products.
Claims: An integrated process for the production and transportation of a hydrocarbonaceous product in a transport vessel containing one or more ballast tanks, one or more cargo tanks, and optionally one or more liquid nitrogen storage tanks, comprising the steps of:
a) obtaining a hydrocarbon asset; (From a Coal mine, we suggest.)
b) separating air into a primarily oxygen containing gas and a primarily nitrogen
c) reacting the primarily oxygen containing gas with the hydrocarbon asset to form syngas;
d) converting the syngas into a hydrocarbonaceous product;
e) transferring at least a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous product into at least one of the cargo tanks;
f) transferring at least a portion of the primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent to the transport vessel; and
g) using at least a portion of the primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent to blanket at least one of the tanks on the vessel.
2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent is used to blanket at least one ballast tank.
3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent is used to blanket at least one cargo tank.
4. A process according to claim 1, wherein the primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent is a primarily nitrogen containing gas.
5. A process according to claim 1, wherein the syngas is converted to a hydrocarbonaceous product by a Fischer Tropsch process.
6. A process according to claim 1, wherein the syngas is converted to a hydrocarbonaceous product by a Methanol Synthesis process.
A process for transporting a hydrocarbonaceous product, including a first site and a second site, remote from each other, wherein the first site forms the product to be used at the second site, wherein the process comprises: a. receiving at the second site the hydrocarbonaceous product, which is made at the first site by a process comprising: i. obtaining a hydrocarbon asset; ii. separating air into a primarily oxygen containing gas and a primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent; iii. reacting the primarily oxygen containing gas with the hydrocarbon asset to form syngas; iv. converting the syngas to hydrocarbonaceous products; v. transferring at least a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous product into at least one cargo tank on a transport vessel; and vi. using at least a portion of the primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent to blanket at least one tank on the transport vessel during transportation, wherein the tank is selected from the group consisting a cargo tank, a ballast tank, a liquid nitrogen storage tank, and combinations thereof; and b. transferring the hydrocarbonaceous product from the transport vessel to a storage container at the second site.
Field and Background: The present invention is related to an integrated process for the production and transportation of hydrocarbonaceous products in transport vessels, and more particularly to an integrated process for the production and transportation of Fischer-Tropsch products in transport vessels.
In the transportation of products, in particular hydrocarbonaceous products, by transport vessels, several problems are often encountered. These problems include product biodegradation, product oxidation, corrosion, transfer of invasive species, and fires and explosions. During transportation, the hydrocarbonaceous products may be subject to biodegradation by microorganisms. In particular, hydrocarbonaceous products are frequently exposed to a layer of water when stored in large storage vessels, fuel tanks of aircraft and holds of tankers. In these large storage vessels, water invariably forms due to condensation or it is initially present in the stored hydrocarbonaceous product and slowly separates therefrom. This water gradually forms a layer in the bottom of the storage vessels. The water layer forms an interface with the hydrocarbonaceous product, and becomes a breeding ground for a wide variety of microorganisms. These microorganisms utilize the hydrocarbonaceous product as a nutrient and can multiply.
Eventually the microorganisms can consume a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous product.
The extent to which the microorganisms consume the product is known as the extent of biodegradation, or the biodegradability of the product.
The microorganisms or microbes will grow mostly in the water phase, but when the hydrocarbonaceous product is disturbed during pumping or mixing, the microbes can be dispersed into the hydrocarbonaceous product and cause contamination.
When contaminated hydrocarbonaceous products are used in an engine or equipment, the microbes and/or the sludge may decrease the efficiency of the engine or equipment or prevent it from functioning altogether, for example, by plugging filters. In addition, growth of microorganisms, in particular anaerobic sulfate reducing bacteria, in hydrocarbonaceous products during storage or transport may create corrosive sulfur-containing acids and damage the vessels in which the products are contained. This corrosion damage may lead to the need for eventual replacement of these large, expensive vessels.
Corrosion on ships has been linked to several major disasters. Most prominent was the 1999 sinking of the oil tanker Erika which spilled millions of gallons of fuel oil on the coast of France. The French government found that corrosion was one of the strong contributing factors that lead to the sinking of this ship.
During transportation, the hydrocarbonaceous products may be subject to oxidation and the ballast and cargo tanks on the ship may be subject to corrosion. During transportation, the hydrocarbonaceous product can oxidize.
Although environmentally friendly, Fischer Tropsch products can oxidize relatively rapidly when exposed to air. The rapid oxidation may be due to a lack natural anti-oxidants, such as sulfur compounds. Further, some of the products produced by the Fischer Tropsch process may be waxy, and these products are frequently are shipped at elevated temperature. Shipping at elevated temperatures increases the tendency of Fischer Tropsch products to oxidize.
During transportation of hydrocarbonaceous products on marine vessels, there is the potential of fires and explosions on the transport vessels. When transporting methanol, from, for example a methanol synthesis process, methanol is quite flammable and precautions to prevent fires and explosions must be taken when shipping it.
Requirements for the removal of oxygen ... from the cargo space of volatile petroleum products are recognized in regulations such as the United States Coast Guard regulations. The regulations require that the oxygen content of the gas phase in contact with the petroleum product be less than 8 volume %.
Summary: In one aspect, the present invention relates to an integrated process for the production and transportation of a hydrocarbonaceous product in a transport vessel containing one or more ballast tanks, one or more cargo tanks, and optionally one or more liquid nitrogen storage tanks. The process comprises obtaining a hydrocarbon asset and separating air into a primarily oxygen containing gas and a primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent. The primarily oxygen containing gas is reacted with the hydrocarbon asset to form syngas and the syngas is converted into a hydrocarbonaceous product. At least a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous product is transferred into at least one of the cargo tanks and at least a portion of the primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent is transferred to the transport vessel. At least a portion of the primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent is used to blanket at least one of the tanks on the vessel. Preferably, the primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent is used to blanket the cargo tank containing the hydrocarbonaceous product during transportation. Preferably, the process to convert the syngas into a hydrocarbonaceous product is either a Fischer Tropsch process or a methanol synthesis process.
Description: The present invention relates to an integrated process for the production and transportation of a hydrocarbonaceous product in a transport vessel containing one or more ballast tanks and one or more cargo tanks. The transport vessel may optionally also comprise one or more liquid nitrogen storage tanks. In the present invention, a nitrogen containing blanketing agent is used to blanket the hydrocarbonaceous product in the cargo tank and optionally the ballast tank. Advantageously, this nitrogen containing blanketing agent is produced as part of the process for obtaining the hydrocarbonacous product. Accordingly, the present invention also relates to a transport vessel for transporting the hydrocarbonaceous product wherein the marine vessel is equipped to store and use the nitrogen containing blanketing agent from the process to produce the product. The present invention further relates to the primarily nitrogen containing blanketing agent.
Definitions: The following terms will be used throughout the specification and will have the following meanings unless otherwise indicated.
"Hydrocarbon asset" include natural gas, petroleum, tar sands, oil shale, coal, and heavy oils found in abundant supply in locations that are remote from the markets for the hydrocarbonaceous products.
"Heavy hydrocarbon" means coal, refinery sludge, refinery coke, municipal sewage sludge, recycled plastic petroleum products such as residual stocks, heavy gas oils, and the like, and mixtures thereof. A heavy oil is one that contains portions boiling above 1000.degree. F.
"Heavy Hydrocarbon Conversion" refers to the conversion of a heavy hydrocarbon to products comprising synthesis gas by reaction with a gaseous oxidant (O2, steam, air, and mixtures thereof).
In particular, heavy hydroconversion processes include processes such as coal conversion and upgrading of heavy oil.
"Hydrocarbonaceous product" means a material containing hydrogen, carbon, and optionally other heteroatoms such as oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen. Examples of hydrocarbonaceous products include petroleum, petroleum products, methanol, and Fischer-Tropsch products.""
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We felt the need to repeat some of Chevron's official definitions, as we included in our foreword, with some few added emphases, just so it is really clear what this is actually all about:
Chevron has devised a way to reduce and optimize the total, as-delivered cost of Coal liquefaction products, by inventing a process in which Nitrogen - - produced as an otherwise lower-value by-product of an indirect Coal conversion process - - can be utilized to, by reducing both vessel corrosion and oxidative wastage of product, minimize the expense of delivering those Coal liquefaction products to market.
Overall profitability for the Coal-derived liquid fuels is, thus, improved.
That, we submit, is highly-evolved and well-developed technical thinking, devoted to improving the commerciality of a technology, the manufacture of Petroleum substitutes via Coal liquefaction, that, in the minds of the general public, doesn't even exist; except for, perhaps, as in a university laboratory exercise.