As a continuation of the previous review (SYNTHETIC FUELS 2019/ key indicators), the results of patenting activity of major applicants from patent applications dedicated to synthetic fuel in 2019 are briefly evaluated here. 941 patent applications were collected for the analysis, which are represented by 388 applicants from 29 countries and filed in 29 patent offices around the world. The methodology of searching and processing patent documents is provided on the Advanced Energy Technologies website.
Among the top ten applicants by the number of registered applications are the residents of five countries – China, Denmark, Japan, France and Great Britain. There are top synthetic fuel, technologies and equipment producers in the world among them – Haldor Topsoe A/S, China Petroleum & Chemical Company, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Ltd, Air Liquide, BP PLC, as well as, National Institute of Clean and Low Carbon Energy (NICE), Sinopec RIPP Research Institute of Petroleum Processing, Tsinghua University, CHN Energy Invest Group Co., Ltd, Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute. Their aggregate share accounted for nearly 30% of the total number of patent applications.
Top 10 applicants by the number of patent applications filed in 2019
| Status | Country | Name | Average, Rate | Total, 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company | DK | Haldor Topsoe A/S | 14.5 | 45 |
| Company | CN | China Petroleum & Chemical Company | 14.2 | 41 |
| Company | JP | Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Ltd | 11.1 | 35 |
| Company | FR | Air Liquide | 12.8 | 33 |
| Company | GB | BP PLC | 10.2 | 24 |
| Organization | CN | National Institute of Clean and Low Carbon Energy (NICE) | 12.7 | 23 |
| Organization | CN | Sinopec RIPP Research Institute of Petroleum Processing | 15.4 | 23 |
| Organization | CN | THU Tsinghua University | 11.9 | 18 |
| Company | CN | CHN Energy Invest Group Co., Ltd | 11.7 | 16 |
| Organization | CN | Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute | 10.7 | 15 |
Source: Advanced Energy Technologies
Haldor Topsoe A/S and Air Liquide filed patent applications in 10 patent offices around the World, which is more than the other applicants, while BP PLC filed in 8, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Ltd filed in 5 and National Institute of Clean and Low Carbon Energy (NICE) filed with two patent offices. No patent applications filed in foreign countries are found for Sinopec RIPP Research Institute of Petroleum Processing, Tsinghua University, CHN Energy Invest Group Co., Ltd, Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute and China Petroleum & Chemical Company.
Distribution of patent applications by patent offices around the world among the top 10 applicants
Source: Advanced Energy Technologies
CIPO (CA) - Canadian Intellectual Property Office; CNIPA (CN) - National Intellectual Property Administration; DPMA (DE) - German Patent and Trade Mark Office; EAPO - Eurasian Patent Organization; EPO - European Patent Organization; IMPI (MX) - Mexican Institute of Industrial Property; INPI (BR) - National Institute of Industrial Property (Brazil); INPI (FR) - National Institute of Industrial Property (France); IP Australia (AU) - IP Australia; IPOS (SG) - Intellectual Property Office of Singapore; Indecopi (PE) - National Institute for the Defense of Competition of Peru; JPO (JP) - Industrial Property Office (Japan); KIPO (KR) - Korean Intellectual Property Office; MyIPO (MY) - Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia; PRH(FI) - Finnish Patent and Registration Office; PRV (SE) - Swedish Patent and Registration Office; Rospatent (RU) - Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Russia); USPTO (US) - United States Patent and Trademark Office; WIPO - World Intellectual Property Organization
Like last year, the low efficiency of main processes was the most popular problem at which the technical proposals of the applicants disclosed in their patent applications were aimed. Almost all applicants in the majority of their patent documents also addressed the problems "High OPEX / Repair and replacement" and "Low efficiency due to energy losses". Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute demonstrated major interest in resolving the "Saving ecosystems" problem.
BP PLC, China Petroleum & Chemical Company, CHN Energy Invest Group Co., Ltd., National Institute of Clean and Low Carbon Energy (NICE) and Sinopec SRIPT (Shanghai Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology) concentrated on the development and improvement of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Almost 50% of applications by Haldor Topsoe A/S and Air Liquide were dedicated to Primary technologies of syngas production.
Technological elements of the top 10 applicants
Source: Advanced Energy Technologies
FP - Feedstock preparation; FTC - Fischer-Tropsch catalysts; FTS - Fischer-Tropsch synthesis; MFT - Microchannel Fischer-Tropsch; MS - Methanol synthesis; OT - Other technologies; PSG - Syngas production in general; PTS - Primary technologies of syngas production; SE - Syngas to electricity; SFT - Refining of products; SGM - Microchannel syngas production; SMT - Syngas to methane; TS - Treatment of syngas
It is difficult to highlight the most promising patent applications on a reasonable basis in this brief review; nevertheless, we will take the liberty of providing some of the documents having the highest bibliography rating:
- Steam Reforming Heated By Resistance Heating / A: CA3098785A1 / IPC: B01J15/00, B01J19/24, C01B3/38, C01B3/40 / Mortensen Peter Molgaard, Klein Robert, Aasbergpetersen Kim / Topsoe Haldor As / Appl. date: 15.05.2019; Publ. date: 05.12.2019/ Technology categories: GTL, OFM / Technology elements: PTS / Problems: HCE, LEEL, LEMP, SES / Technical solution types: D, M / Claims: 28 / Rate: 18 and A: CN110177772A, A: AU2017339575A1, A: CN110023269A.
Some of the single applications that are not members of any patent family are listed below:
A: WO2019228795A1, A: CN109718770A, A: CN109718807A, A: CN109718788A, A: CN109718799A, A: CN109718763A, A: CN109200959A.
More detailed information on the methodology as well as on the results of patent researches in the most important fields of contemporary energy industry can be found at Advanced Energy Technologies.
