1. A process for producing a mixed alcohol product, said process comprising:
a. contacting a feed stream comprising a syngas with a CO2-lean mixed alcohol under process conditions sufficient to form a CO2-lean syngas and a CO2-rich mixed alcohol;
b. contacting the CO2-lean syngas with an alcohol synthesis catalyst under conditions sufficient to form a liquid comprising a crude mixed alcohol composition and a gas comprising unreacted syngas wherein the CO2-rich mixed alcohol and the crude mixed alcohol composition are combined before CO2 removal; and
c. removing CO2 from the CO2-rich mixed alcohol and the crude mixed alcohol composition, to form the mixed alcohol product, which comprises at least about 40 wt % methanol, at least about 3 wt % ethanol, from about 0.25 wt % to about 10 wt % water and no more than about 1 mol % CO2.
2. The process of claim 1, wherein a portion of the mixed alcohol product forms at least a portion of the CO2-lean mixed alcohol.
3. The process of claim 1, wherein the feed stream further comprises at least a portion of the gas.
4. The process of claim 1, wherein the CO2 removal from the CO2-rich mixed alcohol and the crude mixed alcohol composition is accomplished by depressurization, distillation, or both.
5. The process of claim 1, further comprising:
d. removing water from the feed stream before contacting with the CO2-lean mixed alcohol for absorbing CO2.
6. The process of claim 5, further comprising:
e. contacting natural gas, an oxygen source, and a water source under conditions sufficient to form the syngas; and
f. recycling at least a portion of the CO2, separated from the combined CO2-rich mixed alcohol and crude mixed alcohol composition, for combining with the natural gas, oxygen source, and water source to form the syngas.
7. The process of claim 5, wherein the water is removed by:
(i) chilling the syngas to a temperature below about 0\xb0 C. and isolating condensed water therefrom;
(ii) contacting the syngas with a CO2-lean alcohol composition; or (iii) both (i) and (ii).
8. The process of claim 7, wherein the syngas is contacted with the CO2-lean alcohol composition, and wherein a portion of the mixed alcohol product forms at least a portion of the CO2-lean alcohol composition.
9. The process of claim 7, wherein the condensed water is isolated from the chilled syngas, and wherein the condensed water and, optionally, at least a portion of the CO2-lean alcohol composition are recycled to step d.
10. The process of claim 1, wherein the crude mixed alcohol composition and the CO2-lean mixed alcohol each comprise at least about 40 wt % methanol and at least about 3 wt % ethanol.
11. The process of claim 10, wherein the crude mixed alcohol composition comprises one or more of the following:
(i) at least about 50 wt % methanol;
(ii) at least about 5 wt % ethanol;
(iii) at least about 1 wt % of one or more C3-C4 monoalcohols;
(iv) not more than about 3 wt % CO2; and
(v) from about 0.25 wt % to about 10 wt % water.
12. The process of claim 10, wherein the mixed alcohol product, prior to any treatment step, comprises one or more of the following:
(i) at least about 50 wt % methanol;
(ii) at least about 5 wt % ethanol;
(iii) at least about 1 wt % of one or more C3-C4 monoalcohols;
(iv) not more than about 0.8 wt % CO2; and
(v) from about 0.1 wt % to about 10 wt % water.
13. The process of claim 1, wherein the alcohol synthesis catalyst comprises a copper-containing catalyst.
14. The process of claim 13, wherein the copper-containing catalyst comprises a copper oxide.
15. The process of claim 1, wherein the contacting of the CO2-lean syngas with the alcohol synthesis catalyst occurs at a temperature from more than 250\xb0 C. to about 320\xb0 C. and at a pressure from about 30 barg (30.6 kgcm2 gauge) to about 150 barg (153 kgcm2 gauge).
16. The process of claim 1, wherein the contacting of the CO2-lean syngas with the alcohol synthesis catalyst occurs within a single reaction vessel.
17. A process for producing a mixed alcohol product, said process comprising:
a. contacting a feed stream comprising a syngas with a CO2-lean mixed alcohol under process conditions sufficient to form a CO2-lean syngas and a CO2-rich mixed alcohol;
b. contacting the CO2-lean syngas with an alcohol synthesis catalyst at a temperature from more than 250\xb0 C. to about 320\xb0 C. and at a pressure from about 30 barg (30.6 kgcm2 gauge) to about 150 barg (153 kgcm2 gauge) to form a liquid comprising a crude mixed alcohol composition and a gas comprising unreacted syngas, wherein the CO2-rich mixed alcohol and the crude mixed alcohol composition are combined before CO2 removal; and
c. removing CO2 from the CO2-rich mixed alcohol and the crude mixed alcohol composition, to form the mixed alcohol product, which comprises no more than about 1 mol% CO2,
wherein the CO2-lean mixed alcohol and the mixed alcohol product each comprise at least about 40 wt % methanol, from about 0.25 wt % to about 10 wt % water and at least about 3 wt % ethanol.
18. A process for producing a mixed alcohol product, said process comprising:
a. contacting a feed stream comprising a syngas with a CO2-lean mixed alcohol under process conditions sufficient to form a CO2-lean syngas and a CO2-rich mixed alcohol;
b. contacting the CO2-lean syngas with an alcohol synthesis catalyst under conditions sufficient to form a liquid comprising a crude mixed alcohol composition and a gas comprising unreacted syngas, wherein the CO2-rich mixed alcohol and the crude mixed alcohol composition are combined before CO2 removal; and
c. removing CO2 from the CO2-rich mixed alcohol and the crude mixed alcohol composition, to form the mixed alcohol product, which comprises at least about 40 wt % methanol, at least about 3 wt % ethanol, from about 0.25 wt % to about 10 wt % water and no more than about 1 mol % CO2, wherein a portion of the mixed alcohol product forms at least a portion of the CO2-lean mixed alcohol.
19. The process of claim 18, wherein the CO2-lean syngas is contacted with the alcohol synthesis catalyst at a temperature from more than 250\xb0 C. to about 320\xb0 C. and at a pressure from about 30 barg (30.6 kgcm2 gauge) to about 150 barg (153 kgcm2 gauge).
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 work vehicle, comprising:
an engine;
a hydraulic pump driven by the engine;
a work implement driven by hydraulic fluid discharged from the hydraulic pump;
a travel device driven by the engine;
a power transmission device that transmits driving power from the engine to the travel device;
a control unit for controlling the power transmission device;
a travel direction detecting unit for detecting a travel direction of a vehicle;
a forwardreverse travel operating member for selectively switching between a forward travel position and a reverse travel position, and switching between forward travel and reverse travel of the vehicle; and
a forwardreverse travel position detecting unit for detecting a position of a forwardreverse travel operating member;
the power transmission device including
an input shaft;
an output shaft;
a gear mechanism including a planetary gear mechanism to transmit rotation of the input shaft to the output shaft;
a motor connected to a rotating element of the planetary gear mechanism; and
a forwardreverse travel switch mechanism including a forward travel clutch and a reverse travel clutch, the forward travel clutch being connected and the reverse travel clutch being disconnected when the vehicle is traveling forward and the forward travel clutch being disconnected and the reverse travel clutch being connected when the vehicle is traveling in reverse;
the power transmission device configured so that a rotation speed ratio of the output shaft with respect to the input shaft is changed by changing the rotation speed of the motor;
the control unit including
a shuttle action evaluating unit for determining that the vehicle is in a shuttle action when a direction corresponding to a position of the forwardreverse travel operating member and a traveling direction of the vehicle differ;
a target input shaft torque determination unit for determining a target input shaft torque which is a target value of a torque on the input shaft of the power transmission device;
a target output shaft torque determination unit for determining a target output shaft torque which is a target value of a torque on the output shaft of the power transmission device, so that a deceleration force for decelerating the vehicle is generated on the output shaft of the power transmission device in a state in which the connection and disconnection states of the forward travel clutch and the reverse travel clutch are maintained at a state before the start of the shuttle action when the shuttle action is started;
a storage unit for storing torque-balance information for defining a relationship between the target input shaft torque and the target output shaft torque so that a balance of the torques in the power transmission device is achieved; and
a command torque determination unit using the torque-balance information to determine a command torque for the motor from the target input shaft torque and the target output shaft torque.
2. The work vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
the target output shaft torque determination unit gradually changes the deceleration force during the shuttle action.
3. The work vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising
an accelerator operating member;
an accelerator operation detecting unit for detecting an operating amount of the accelerator operating member;
a brake operating member; and
a brake operation detecting unit for detecting an operating amount of the brake operating member;
the target output shaft torque determination unit determining a predetermined reference deceleration force on the basis of an operating amount of the accelerator operating member and an operating amount of the brake operating member; and
the target output shaft torque determination unit gradually changing the deceleration force approaching the reference deceleration force during the shuttle action.
4. The work vehicle according to claim 3, wherein
when the deceleration force for decelerating the vehicle is generated on the output shaft of the power transmission device at the start of the shuttle action, the target output shaft torque determination unit gradually changes the deceleration force from the deceleration force when the shuttle action starts to the reference deceleration force.
5. The work vehicle according to claim 3, wherein
when a torque for accelerating the vehicle is generated on the output shaft of the power transmission device when the shuttle action starts, the target output shaft torque determination unit determines the target output shaft torque so that the torque on the output shaft of the power transmission device changes to zero; and
the target output shaft torque determination unit gradually changes the deceleration force to the reference deceleration force after the torque on the output shaft of the power transmission device reaches zero.
6. The work vehicle according to claim 5, wherein
when a torque for accelerating the vehicle is generated on the output shaft of the power transmission device when the shuttle action starts, the target output shaft torque determination unit determines the target output shaft torque so that the torque on the output shaft of the power transmission device changes to zero during a predetermined first time period; and
the target output shaft torque determination unit gradually changes the deceleration force approaching the reference deceleration force in a second time period that is longer than the first time period after the first time period has elapsed.
7. The work vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising
an engine rotation speed detecting unit for detecting an engine rotation speed;
the target output shaft torque determination unit calculating a deceleration power regenerated by the deceleration force, and when the engine rotation speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, determining the target output shaft torque so that the upper limit of the deceleration power is reduced in response to an increase in the engine rotation speed.
8. The work vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising
an energy reservoir unit for storing energy generated in the motor;
the control unit further including a target energy reservoir power determination unit for determining a target energy reservoir power for accumulating energy in the energy reservoir unit;
the target output shaft torque determination unit calculating a deceleration power regenerated by the deceleration force; and
the target input shaft torque determination unit determining the target input shaft torque on the basis of the target energy reservoir power and the deceleration power.
9. A control method of a work vehicle provided with a power transmission device, wherein
the power transmission device includes
an input shaft;
an output shaft;
a gear mechanism that includes a planetary gear mechanism and that transmits rotation of the input shaft to the output shaft; and
a motor connected to a rotating element of the planetary gear mechanism;
a forwardreverse travel switch mechanism includes a forward travel clutch and a reverse travel clutch, the forward travel clutch being connected and the reverse travel clutch being disconnected when the vehicle is traveling forward and the forward travel clutch being disconnected and the reverse travel clutch being connected when the vehicle is traveling in reverse; and
the power transmission device is configured to change the rotation speed ratio of the output shaft with respect to the input shaft by changing the rotation speed of the motor, and
the control method comprising:
a step for determining that a vehicle is in a shuttle action when a direction corresponding to a position of a forwardreverse travel operating member differs from a traveling direction of the vehicle;
a step for determining a target input shaft torque that is a target value of a torque on the input shaft of the power transmission device;
a step for determining a target output shaft torque which is a target value of a torque on the output shaft of the power transmission device, so that a deceleration force for decelerating the vehicle is generated on the output shaft of the power transmission device in a state in which the connection and disconnection states of the forward travel clutch and the reverse travel clutch are maintained at a state before the start of the shuttle action when the shuttle action is started; and
a step for determining a command torque for the motor from the target input shaft torque and the target output shaft torque by using torque-balance information for defining a relationship between the target input shaft torque and the target output shaft torque so that a balance of the torques in the power transmission device is achieved.
10. The work vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising
an engine rotation speed detecting unit for detecting an engine rotation speed;
the target output shaft torque determination unit calculating a deceleration power regenerated by the deceleration force, and when the engine rotation speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, determining the target output shaft torque so that the upper limit of the deceleration power is reduced in response to an increase in the engine rotation speed.
11. The work vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising
an energy reservoir unit for storing energy generated in the motor;
the control unit further including a target energy reservoir power determination unit for determining a target energy reservoir power for accumulating energy in the energy reservoir unit;
the target output shaft torque determination unit calculating a deceleration power regenerated by the deceleration force; and
the target input shaft torque determination unit determining the target input shaft torque on the basis of the target energy reservoir power and the deceleration power.