We claim:
1. Aspirating reagent device comprising:
a probe having at one end a shaped surface with a hole;
tubing connected to the hole of the probe; and
a vial insert having an upper surface that is shaped, the upper surface having a hole;
wherein at least a portion of shaped surface of the probe engages with at least a portion of the upper surface of the vial insert.
2. Aspirating reagent device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
a cavity being formed when the portion of shaped surface of the probe engages with the portion of the upper surface of the vial insert.
3. Aspirating reagent device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the upper surface of the vial insert is conical in shape.
4. Aspirating reagent device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the one end of the probe is hemispherical in shape.
5. Aspirating reagent device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hole includes a vial transition area and further comprising a dip tube adjacent to the vial transition area.
6. Aspirating reagent device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
a syringe connected to the tubing that is connected to the hole of the probe.
7. Aspirating reagent device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vial insert has an outer surface and further comprising:
reagent vial having an opening wherein the outer surface of the vial insert abuts the opening of the reagent vial.
8. Aspirating reagent device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the outer surface of the vial insert has ribs, the ribs pressing against the opening of the reagent vial.
9. Aspirating reagent device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a pathway formed in between the opening of the reagent vial and the outer surface of the vial insert, the pathway allowing air to flow.
10. Aspirating reagent device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the pathway is circuitous.
11. Aspirating reagent device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the ribs have breaks, the breaks forming a pathway for allowing air to flow.
12. Aspirating reagent device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the vial insert is composed of a pliable material.
13. Dispensing reagent device comprising:
a probe having at one end a shaped surface with a hole;
tubing connected to the hole of the probe; and
a probe dispense station having an upper surface that is shaped, the upper surface having a hole;
wherein at least a portion of shaped surface of the probe mates with at least a portion of the upper surface of the probe dispense station.
14. Dispensing reagent device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the shaped surface of the probe is hemispherical and wherein the upper surface of the probe dispense station is hemispherical.
15. Dispensing reagent device as claimed in claim 13 wherein at least a portion of the probe is composed of a pliable material.
16. Dispensing reagent device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the portion of the probe that is composed of a pliable material is an o-ring.
17. Dispensing reagent device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the vial insert further has a trough, the trough adjacent to the upper surface of the vial insert.
18. Dispensing reagent device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the trough spirals downward.
19. Dispensing reagent device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the vial dispense station further has a second hole in the upper surface, the second hole connected to tubing for sending wash buffer to the upper surface of the vial dispense station.
20. Reagent aspirate system comprising:
probe having a hole;
tubing connected to the hole of the probe;
means for moving fluid within the tubing;
reagent vial having an opening;
vial insert abutting the opening of the reagent vial, the vial insert also engaging the probe; and
means for moving the probe to engage the vial insert.
21. Reagent aspirate system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the means for moving fluid within the tubing includes:
a syringe having a plunger, the syringe connected to the tubing; and
a motor connected to the plunger.
22. Reagent aspirate system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the means for moving the probe to engage the vial insert includes at least one air cylinder.
23. Reagent aspirate system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the probe is cylindrical in shape with the hole at a lower portion of the probe.
24. Reagent aspirate system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the probe has at one end a shaped surface,
wherein the vial insert has an upper surface that is shaped, and
wherein at least a portion of shaped surface of the probe mates with at least a portion of the upper surface of the vial insert.
25. Reagent aspirate system as claimed in claim 24 further comprising:
a cavity being formed when the portion of shaped surface of the probe mates with the portion of the upper surface of the vial insert.
26. Reagent dispense system comprising:
probe having a hole;
tubing connected to the hole of the probe;
means for moving fluid within the tubing;
vial dispense station having an upper surface for engaging the probe; and
means for moving the probe to engage the vial dispense station.
27. Reagent dispense system as claimed in claim 26 wherein the means for moving fluid within the tubing includes:
a syringe having a plunger, the syringe connected to the tubing; and
a motor connected to the plunger.
28. Reagent dispense system as claimed in claim 26 wherein the upper surface of the vial dispense station is hemispherical and wherein the probe is hemispherical at one end.
29. Reagent dispense system as claimed in claim 28 wherein at least a portion of the probe is composed of a pliable material.
30. Method of aspirating reagent from a reagent vial comprising the steps of:
providing a probe having a lower surface, a vial insert with an upper surface and a reagent vial with an opening wherein the vial insert is placed in the opening;
engaging the lower surface of the probe with the upper surface of the vial insert to form a seal between at least a portion of the lower surface of the probe with at least a portion of the upper surface of the vial insert;
withdrawing reagent from the reagent vial; and
disengaging the lower surface of the probe from the upper surface of the vial insert.
31. Method of aspirating reagent as claimed in claim 30 wherein the step of engaging the lower surface of the probe with the upper surface of the vial insert further includes forming a cavity between the lower surface of the probe with the upper surface of the vial insert.
32. Method of aspirating reagent as claimed in claim 30 wherein the vial insert has a dip tube which extends into the reagent vial and further comprising the step of blowing air into the dip tube prior to the step of withdrawing reagent from the reagent vial.
33. Method of aspirating reagent as claimed in claim 32 wherein the dip tube has a predetermined volume and wherein the step of blowing an amount of air into the dip tube includes blowing at least an amount of air into the dip tube equal to the predetermined volume of the dip tube.
34. Method of aspirating reagent as claimed in claim 30 wherein the lower surface of the probe has a hole and further comprising the step of withdrawing an amount at least equal to one drop of liquid from the hole in the probe after the step of disengaging the lower surface of the probe from the upper surface of the vial insert.
35. Method of aspirating reagent as claimed in claim 30 wherein the lower surface of the probe has a hole and the upper surface of the vial insert has a hole, further comprising the step of
providing tubing connected to the hole in the lower surface of the probe and a syringe with a plunger connected to the tubing, and
wherein the step of withdrawing reagent from the reagent vial includes moving the plunger to withdraw reagent through the hole in the upper surface of the vial insert, through the hole in the lower surface of the probe and into the tubing connected to the hole of the lower surface of the probe.
36. Method of aspirating reagent as claimed in claim 30 wherein the step of engaging the lower surface of the probe with the upper surface of the vial insert includes activating at least one air cylinder to move the probe.
37. Method of dispensing reagent comprising the steps of:
providing a probe having a lower surface, a probe dispense station with an upper surface and tubing connected to the probe dispense station;
engaging the lower surface of the probe with the upper surface of the probe dispense station to form a seal between at least a portion of the lower surface of the probe with at least a portion of the upper surface of the vial insert;
dispensing reagent through the tubing; and
disengaging the lower surface of the probe from the upper surface of the probe dispense station.
38. Method of dispensing reagent as claimed in claim 37 wherein the step of engaging the lower surface of the probe with the upper surface of the probe dispense station includes contacting a pliable surface on the probe with the upper surface of the probe dispense station.
39. Method of dispensing reagent as claimed in claim 37 further comprising the step of cleaning at least the lower surface of the probe and the upper surface of the probe dispense station prior to the step of disengaging the lower surface of the probe from the upper surface of the probe dispense station.
40. Method of dispensing reagent as claimed in claim 39 wherein the lower surface of the probe has a hole and the upper surface of the probe dispense station has a hole, further comprising the step of
providing tubing connected to the hole in the lower surface of the probe and tubing connected to the hole in the probe dispense station, and
wherein the step of cleaning includes sending fluid through the tubing connected to the hole in the lower surface of the probe and through the tubing connected to the hole in the probe dispense station.
41. Method of dispensing reagent as claimed in claim 40 wherein the step of cleaning includes alternating sending fluid through the tubing connected to the hole in the lower surface of the probe and fluid through the tubing connected to the hole in the probe dispense station.
42. Method of cleaning a probe and probe dispense station comprising the steps of:
providing the probe having a lower surface, the probe dispense station with an upper surface and tubing connected to the probe dispense station;
engaging the lower surface of the probe with the upper surface of the probe dispense station to form a seal between at least a portion of the lower surface of the probe with at least a portion of the upper surface of the vial insert;
cleaning at least the lower surface of the probe and the upper surface of the probe dispense station; and
disengaging the lower surface of the probe from the upper surface of the probe dispense station.
43. Method of dispensing reagent as claimed in claim 42 wherein the lower surface of the probe has a hole and the upper surface of the probe dispense station has a hole, further comprising the step of
providing tubing connected to the hole in the lower surface of the probe and tubing connected to the hole in the probe dispense station, and
wherein the step of cleaning includes sending fluid through the tubing connected to the hole in the lower surface of the probe and through the tubing connected to the hole in the probe dispense station.
44. Method of dispensing reagent as claimed in claim 43 wherein the step of cleaning includes alternating sending fluid through the tubing connected to the hole in the lower surface of the probe and fluid through the tubing connected to the hole in the probe dispense station.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A process for producing a paraffin-rich diesel product from a renewable feedstock comprising:
a) adding from about 0.1 to about 30 mass-% water to the feedstock or to a first reaction zone, wherein the mass-% water is measured as mass-% water of the total feed to the first reaction zone including any recycle;
b) treating the feedstock and treating the water in the first reaction zone by hydrogenating and deoxygenating the feedstock and converting carbon monoxide and water to carbon dioxide and hydrogen using a catalyst at reaction conditions in the presence of hydrogen to provide a first reaction zone product stream comprising hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and a hydrocarbon fraction comprising n-paraffins having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms;
c) separating the first reaction zone product stream to form
i) a stream comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide,
ii) a stream comprising the hydrocarbon fraction, and
iii) a water stream; and
d) recovering the hydrocarbon fraction as product.
2. The process of claim 1 further comprising recycling a portion of the water stream to provide the water for step 1(a).
3. The process of claim 1 further comprising recycling a portion of the hydrocarbon fraction comprising a least the n-paraffins to the first reaction zone at a volume ratio of recycle to feedstock in the range of about 2:1 to about 8:1.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein the reaction conditions in the first reaction zone include a temperature of about 40\xb0 C. to about 400\xb0 C. and a pressure of about 689 kPa absolute (100 psia) to about 13,790 kPa absolute (2000 psia).
5. The process of claim 1 further comprising separating carbon dioxide from the stream comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide and recycling the remaining hydrogen to the first reaction zone.
6. The process of claim 1 further comprising separating the hydrocarbon fraction into a diesel product stream and a naphtha and LPG stream and separating the naphtha and LPG stream into a naphtha stream and an LPG stream.
7. The process of claim 1 further comprising treating a petroleum derived hydrocarbon in the first reaction zone with the renewable feedstock.
8. The process of claim 1 further comprising pre-treating the feedstock in a pretreatment zone at pretreatment conditions to remove at least a portion of contaminants in the feedstock.
9. The process of claim 1 where the deoxygenating comprises at least one of decarboxylation and hydrodeoxygenation.
10. A process for producing a paraffin-rich diesel product from a renewable feedstock comprising;
a) adding from about 0.1 to about 30 mass-% water to the feedstock or to a first reaction zone, wherein the mass-% water is measured as mass-% water of the total feed to the first reaction zone including any recycle;
b) treating the feedstock and the water in the first reaction zone by hydrogenating and deoxygenating the feedstock and converting carbon monoxide and water to carbon dioxide and hydrogen using a catalyst at reaction conditions in the presence of hydrogen to provide a first reaction zone product stream comprising hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and paraffins having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms;
c) separating, in a hot high pressure hydrogen stripper, the first reaction zone product stream into a gaseous stream comprising hydrogen and at least a portion of the water and carbon dioxide from the first reaction zone product stream and remainder stream comprising at least the paraffins;
d) recycling a portion of the remainder stream to the first reaction zone;
e) separating a combination of the gaseous stream and a portion of the remainder stream to provide:
i) a stream comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide
ii) a stream comprising paraffins; and
iii) a water stream; and
f) recovering the stream comprising paraffins.
11. The process of claim 10 further comprising recycling a portion of the water stream to provide the water for step 10(a).
12. A process for producing a branched-paraffin-rich diesel product from a renewable feedstock comprising:
a) adding from about 0.1 to about 30 mass-% water to the feedstock or to a first reaction zone, wherein the mass-% water is measured as mass-% water of the total feed to the first reaction zone including any recycle;
b) treating the feedstock and the water in a first reaction zone by hydrogenating and deoxygenating the feedstock and converting carbon monoxide and water to carbon dioxide and hydrogen using a catalyst at reaction conditions in the presence of hydrogen to provide a first reaction zone product stream comprising hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and n-paraffins having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms;
c) separating, in a hot high pressure hydrogen stripper, a gaseous stream comprising hydrogen and at least a portion of the water and carbon oxides from the first reaction zone product stream and introducing a remainder stream comprising at least the n-paraffins to a second reaction zone to contact an isomerization catalyst at isomerization conditions to isomerize at least a portion of the n-paraffins and generate a branched paraffin-rich stream;
d) separating a combination of the branched paraffin-rich stream and the gaseous stream to provide:
i) a stream comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide;
ii) a stream comprising branched paraffins, and
iii) a water stream; and
e) recovering the stream comprising branched paraffins.
13. The process of claim 12 further comprising recycling at least a portion of the water stream to provide the water for step 12(a).
14. The process of claim 12 further comprising removing at least a portion of the hydrogen from the branched paraffin-rich stream.
15. The process of claim 14 further comprising recycling the hydrogen removed from the branched paraffin-rich stream to the hot high pressure hydrogen stripper.
16. The process of claim 14 further comprising recycling the gaseous component to the first reaction zone.
17. The process of claim 12 further comprising recycling at least a portion of the branched paraffin-rich stream to the second reaction zone.
18. The process of claim 12 wherein the isomerization conditions in the second reaction zone include a temperature of about 40\xb0 C. to about 400\xb0 C. and a pressure of about 689 kPa absolute (100 psia) to about 13,790 kPa absolute (2000 psia).
19. The process of claim 12 wherein the hot high pressure hydrogen stripper is operated at a temperature of about 40\xb0 C. to about 300\xb0 C. and a pressure of about 689 kPa absolute (100 psia) to about 13,790 kPa absolute (2000 psia).
20. The process of claim 12 further comprising recycling a portion of the hydrocarbon fraction comprising a least the n-paraffins to the first reaction zone at a volume ratio of recycle to feedstock in the range of about 2:1 to about 8:1.
21. The process of claim 12 further comprising separating the stream comprising branched paraffins into a diesel product stream and a naphtha and LPG stream and separating the naphtha and LPG stream into a naphtha stream and an LPG stream.
22. The process of claim 12 wherein the isomerization conditions in the second reaction zone include a temperature of about 40\xb0 C. to about 400\xb0 C. and a pressure of about 689 kPa absolute (100 psia) to about 13,790 kPa absolute (2000 psia) and wherein the second reaction zone is operated at a pressure at least 345 kPa absolute (50 psia) greater than that of the first reaction zone.
23. The process of claim 12 further comprising treating a petroleum derived hydrocarbon in the first reaction zone with the renewable feedstock.
24. The process of claim 12 further comprising introducing a make up hydrogen stream to the hot high pressure hydrogen stripper.
25. The process of claim 12 further comprising combining a fresh hydrogen stream with the remainder stream.