Photocatalytic conversion of hydrogen sulfide to hydrogen

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12559366-B2
Application number	US-202318193183-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2023
Priority date	Mar 30, 2023
Publication date	Feb 24, 2026
Grant date	Feb 24, 2026

Abstract

A system for photocatalytic conversion includes a flowline, in which a production flow travels in a flow direction; and a reactor module. The reactor module includes a waveguide; a photocatalyst coupled to the waveguide, configured to convert hydrogen sulfide in the production flow to hydrogen and sulfur; a heater configured to heat a bottom of the reactor module, such that the sulfur is in liquid phase; and a sulfur collector configured to collect the sulfur. A method for photocatalytic conversion includes introducing a production flow from a flowline to a reactor module, the production flow including hydrogen sulfide and traveling in a flow direction; directing a light from a light source to a photocatalyst through a waveguide; converting the hydrogen sulfide into hydrogen and sulfur using the photocatalyst; and heating a portion of the reactor module to an elevated temperature, the sulfur in a liquid phase under the elevated temperature.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A system for photocatalytic conversion, comprising:
a flowline, in which a production flow travels in a flow direction; and a reactor module, wherein the reactor module comprises:
a waveguide;
a photocatalyst coupled to the waveguide, configured to convert hydrogen sulfide in the production flow to hydrogen and sulfur;
a heater configured to heat a bottom of the reactor module, such that the sulfur is in liquid phase; and
a sulfur collector configured to collect the sulfur.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a light source configured to generate a light directed to the photocatalyst through the waveguide.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a tubing configured to guide the sulfur to the sulfur collector, wherein at least a portion of the tubing is curved.

4 . The system of claim 3 , further comprising a valve disposed at an uppermost point of the portion of the tubing that is curved.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more of a first outlet for the hydrogen, a second outlet for the sulfur, and a third outlet for a residue of the production flow.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a permeation filter configured to allow selective permeation of the hydrogen.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a filter configured to remove unreacted hydrogen sulfide.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the filter comprises porous silicon carbide doped with aluminum or copper.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the photocatalyst is in form of nanoparticles and is embedded in a cladding of the waveguide.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the photocatalyst is in form of a thin film and is coated on an outer surface of the waveguide.

11 . A method for photocatalytic conversion, comprising:
introducing a production flow from a flowline to a reactor module, wherein the production flow includes hydrogen sulfide and travels in the flowline in a flow direction; directing a light from a light source to a photocatalyst through a waveguide; converting the hydrogen sulfide into hydrogen and sulfur using the photocatalyst; and heating a portion of the reactor module to an elevated temperature, wherein the sulfur is in a liquid phase under the elevated temperature.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising directing the sulfur in the liquid phase to a sulfur collector through a tubing having a curved portion.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising controlling a valve disposed at an uppermost point of the curved portion of the tubing.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising directing the hydrogen to a hydrogen collector.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising filtering unreacted hydrogen sulfide before the directing the hydrogen to the hydrogen collector.

16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising allowing selective permeation of the hydrogen before the directing the hydrogen to the hydrogen collector.

17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising directing a residue of the production flow to a gas-oil separation plant.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• San Roman Alerigi Damian Pablo
• Cavazos Sepulveda Adrian Cesar
• Batarseh Sameeh Issa

Classifications

• C01B2203/1205

  Composition of the feed · CPC title

• C01B17/0426

  characterised by the catalytic conversion · CPC title

• C01B3/50

  Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen-containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification · CPC title

• B01D2259/804

  UV light · CPC title

• B01D2259/802

  Visible light · CPC title