Patents by Inventor Brian D. Albert
Brian D. Albert has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10918967Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for separating a feedstock into a plurality of separation products using dividing wall column technology that includes a plurality of dividing walls. Including a plurality of dividing walls in the column can provide reduced energy consumption and reduced equipment footprint for production of a plurality of high purity distillation products. The systems and methods can allow for separation of a large number of products from a feed while having a reduced or minimized number of liquid splits and/or vapor splits.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Robert Piszczek, Michael L. Hergenrother, Brian D. Albert, Jose X. Simonetty, Brian W. Heins, Vikram Singh, Zhonghcheng Wang
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Patent number: 10336951Abstract: A petroleum desalting process in which the oil/water emulsion layer which forms in the desalter vessel between the settled water layer and the settled oil layer is separated into the oil and water components by contact with a heated high boiling hydrocarbon to break the emulsion and vaporize water from the emulsion in a flash drum. The vessel has an emulsion outlet for removing an emulsion stream from the emulsion layer and a conduit connecting the emulsion withdrawal port to an inlet of an optional settling drum to effect and initial separation into an oil-enriched phase and a water phase with the oil-enriched phase led to the flash drum.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2018Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Brian D. Albert, Theodore Trent Trier, Jose X. Simonetty, Magaly A. Barroeta, Victor Alva, Michael Louis Hergenrother, Owen P. Jacobs
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Publication number: 20190091600Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for separating a feedstock into a plurality of separation products using dividing wall column technology that includes a plurality of dividing walls. Including a plurality of dividing walls in the column can provide reduced energy consumption and reduced equipment footprint for production of a plurality of high purity distillation products. The systems and methods can allow for separation of a large number of products from a feed while having a reduced or minimized number of liquid splits and/or vapor splits.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Robert PISZCZEK, Michael L. HERGENROTHER, Brian D. ALBERT, Jose X. SIMONETTY, Brian W. HEINS, Vikram SINGH, Zhonghcheng WANG
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Publication number: 20190048269Abstract: A petroleum desalting process in which the oil/water emulsion layer which forms in the desalter vessel between the settled water layer and the settled oil layer is separated into the oil and water components by contact with a heated high boiling hydrocarbon to break the emulsion and vaporize water from the emulsion in a flash drum. The vessel has an emulsion outlet for removing an emulsion stream from the emulsion layer and a conduit connecting the emulsion withdrawal port to an inlet of an optional settling drum to effect and initial separation into an oil-enriched phase and a water phase with the oil-enriched phase led to the flash drum.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2018Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventors: Brian D. Albert, Theodore Trent Trier, Jose X. Simonetty, Magaly A. Barroeta, Victor Alva, Michael Louis Hergenrother, Owen P. Jacobs
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Patent number: 10119080Abstract: A petroleum desalting process in which the oil/water emulsion layer which forms in the desalter vessel between the settled water layer and the settled oil layer is separated into the oil and water components by contact with a heated high boiling hydrocarbon to break the emulsion and vaporize water from the emulsion in a flash drum. The vessel has an emulsion outlet for removing an emulsion stream from the emulsion layer and a conduit connecting the emulsion withdrawal port to an inlet of an optional settling drum to effect and initial separation into an oil-enriched phase and a water phase with the oil-enriched phase led to the flash drum.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2014Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Brian D. Albert, Theodore Trent Trier, Jose X. Simonetty, Magaly C. Barroeta, Victor Alva, Michael Louis Hergenrother, Owen P. Jacobs
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Patent number: 10077405Abstract: An improved method and process unit for desalting petroleum crude oils in which a portion of the stable emulsion layer which forms in the desalter vessel is withdrawn from the desalter and diluted with a liquid diluent, typically oil or water or both to destabilize the emulsion which is then separated into separate oil and water phases.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2016Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Michel Daage, Magaly C. Barroeta, Brian D. Albert, Mohsen S. Yeganeh, Andrew P. Sullivan, Jose X. Simonetty, Christopher J. Wolfe
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Patent number: 9611433Abstract: An improved separator for desalting petroleum crude oils which may be operated in a continuous manner under automatic control; the improved desalter is therefore well suited to modern refinery operation with minimal downtime. A portion of the emulsion layer is withdrawn from the desalter through external withdrawal ports according to the thickness and position of the emulsion layer with the selected withdrawal header(s) being controlled by sensors monitoring the position and thickness of the emulsion layer. The withdrawn emulsion layer can be routed as such or with the desalter water effluent to a settling tank or directly to another unit for separation and reprocessing.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2016Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Magaly C. Barroeta, Jose X. Simonetty, Brian D. Albert, Jennifer A. Gillett, Victor Alva, Theodore T. Trier, John R. Faber
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Publication number: 20170037324Abstract: An improved method and process unit for desalting petroleum crude oils in which a portion of the stable emulsion layer which forms in the desalter vessel is withdrawn from the desalter and diluted with a liquid diluent, typically oil or water or both to destabilize the emulsion which is then separated into separate oil and water phases.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2016Publication date: February 9, 2017Inventors: Michel Daage, Magaly C. Barroeta, Brian D. Albert, Mohsen S. Yeganeh, Andrew P. Sullivan, Jose X. Simonetty, Christopher J. Wolfe
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Publication number: 20170029714Abstract: An improved separator for desalting petroleum crude oils which may be operated in a continuous manner under automatic control; the improved desalter is therefore well suited to modern refinery operation with minimal downtime. A portion of the emulsion layer is withdrawn from the desalter through external withdrawal ports according to the thickness and position of the emulsion layer with the selected withdrawal header(s) being controlled by sensors monitoring the position and thickness of the emulsion layer. The withdrawn emulsion layer can be routed as such or with the desalter water effluent to a settling tank or directly to another unit for separation and reprocessing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2016Publication date: February 2, 2017Inventors: Magaly C. Barroeta, Jose X. Simonetty, Brian D. Albert, Jennifer A. Gillett, Victor Alva, Theodore T. Trier, John R. Faber
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Patent number: 9499748Abstract: An improved method and process unit for desalting petroleum crude oils in which a portion of the stable emulsion layer which forms in the desalter vessel is withdrawn from the desalter and diluted with a liquid diluent, typically oil or water or both to destabilize the emulsion which is then separated into separate oil and water phases.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2014Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Michel Daage, Magaly C. Barroeta, Brian D. Albert, Mohsen S. Yeganeh, Andrew T. Sullivan, Jose X. Simonetty, Christopher J. Wolfe
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Patent number: 9493712Abstract: An improved separator for desalting petroleum crude oils which may be operated in a continuous manner under automatic control; the improved desalter is therefore well suited to modern refinery operation with minimal downtime. A portion of the emulsion layer is withdrawn from the desalter through external withdrawal ports according to the thickness and position of the emulsion layer with the selected withdrawal header(s) being controlled by sensors monitoring the position and thickness of the emulsion layer. The withdrawn emulsion layer can be routed as such or with the desalter water effluent to a settling tank or directly to another unit for separation and reprocessing.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Magaly C. Barroeta, Jose X. Simonetty, Brian D. Albert, Jennifer A. Gillett, Victor Alva, Theodore T. Trier, John R. Faber
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Patent number: 9354183Abstract: System to detect coking in at least one component of refinery equipment is provided. The system includes a fiber optic assembly having at least one optical fiber operably coupled with the component, the fiber optic assembly further including a light source to transmit light having a known parameter through the optical fiber and a receiver to receive the light from the optical fiber, and a processor in communication with the fiber optic assembly to identify a shift in the parameter received by the receiver, the shift corresponding to an operating characteristic of the component. Method also provided for detecting coking using the system to detect coking disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2013Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Robert J. Chimenti, Brian D. Albert, Berne K. Stober, Christopher J. Wolfe
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Patent number: 9266047Abstract: Vane type mist eliminator segments are arranged in a plurality of tiers at separate vertically spaced locations in a tower, typically of the upright, cylindrical type, with the eliminator at each tier covering only a portion of the cross section of the tower. The eliminator segment(s) in each tier are laterally displaced in the tower from the adjacent vertically spaced eliminator segments to form a staggered configuration for the segments. Each mist eliminator preferably extends over 50-70% of the cross-sectional area of the tower to leave an open flow passage in the tier; the staggering of the segments and the associated flow passages defines an upward tortuous or zig-zag open flow path for vapors ascending the tower through the open flow passages when the eliminator segment(s) become fouled in use.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2014Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Robert Piszczek, Todd P. Marut, Brian D. Albert, Vikram Singh, Simon Y. Yeung
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Patent number: 9266035Abstract: A feed device for a distillation tower has an annular, open-bottomed channel located around the periphery of the feed zone of the tower with an inner wall spaced from the inner curved wall of the tower and a top covering the channel to confer a generally inverted-U shape to the cross section of the channel. One or more tangential feed inlets are provided to admit a heated, mixed phase feed to the tower and direct the feed into and along the channel. One or more vapor scoops are provided for each feed inlet with the scoop(s) located on the inner wall of the channel at a sufficient distance along the channel from the inlet to permit cyclonic separation of vapor and liquid before the vapor in the feed from the inlet enters the scoop(s) and passes through a vapor exit port into the central core of the tower.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2013Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Vikram Singh, Brian D. Albert, Berne K. Stober
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Publication number: 20150128543Abstract: Vane type mist eliminator segments are arranged in a plurality of tiers at separate vertically spaced locations in a tower, typically of the upright, cylindrical type, with the eliminator at each tier covering only a portion of the cross section of the tower. The eliminator segment(s) in each tier are laterally displaced in the tower from the adjacent vertically spaced eliminator segments to form a staggered configuration for the segments. Each mist eliminator preferably extends over 50-70% of the cross-sectional area of the tower to leave an open flow passage in the tier; the staggering of the segments and the associated flow passages defines an upward tortuous or zig-zag open flow path for vapors ascending the tower through the open flow passages when the eliminator segment(s) become fouled in use.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2014Publication date: May 14, 2015Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Robert Piszczek, Todd P. Marut, Brian D. Albert, Vikram Singh, Simon Y. Yeung
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Publication number: 20150083644Abstract: A petroleum desalting process in which the oil/water emulsion layer which forms in the desalter vessel between the settled water layer and the settled oil layer is separated into the oil and water components by contact with a heated high boiling hydrocarbon to break the emulsion and vaporize water from the emulsion in a flash drum. The vessel has an emulsion outlet for removing an emulsion stream from the emulsion layer and a conduit connecting the emulsion withdrawal port to an inlet of an optional settling drum to effect and initial separation into an oil-enriched phase and a water phase with the oil-enriched phase led to the flash drum.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Brian D. Albert, Theodore Trent Trier, Jose X. Simonetty, Magaly C. Barroeta, Victor Alva, Michael Louis Hergenrother, Owen P. Jacobs
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Publication number: 20140353214Abstract: An improved method and process unit for desalting petroleum crude oils in which a portion of the stable emulsion layer which forms in the desalter vessel is withdrawn from the desalter and diluted with a liquid diluent, typically oil or water or both to destabilize the emulsion which is then separated into separate oil and water phases.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Michel Daage, Magaly C. Barroeta, Brian D. Albert, Mohsen S. Yeganeh, Andrew T. Sullivan, Jose X. Simonetty, Christopher J. Wolfe
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Publication number: 20140311953Abstract: System to detect coking in at least one component of refinery equipment is provided. The system includes a fiber optic assembly having at least one optical fiber operably coupled with the component, the fiber optic assembly further including a light source to transmit light having a known parameter through the optical fiber and a receiver to receive the light from the optical fiber, and a processor in communication with the fiber optic assembly to identify a shift in the parameter received by the receiver, the shift corresponding to an operating characteristic of the component. Method also provided for detecting coking using the system to detect coking disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2013Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Robert J. CHIMENTI, Brian D. ALBERT, Berne K. STOBER, Christopher J. WOLFE
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Publication number: 20140251874Abstract: An improved separator for desalting petroleum crude oils which may be operated in a continuous manner under automatic control; the improved desalter is therefore well suited to modern refinery operation with minimal downtime. A portion of the emulsion layer is withdrawn from the desalter through external withdrawal ports according to the thickness and position of the emulsion layer with the selected withdrawal header(s) being controlled by sensors monitoring the position and thickness of the emulsion layer. The withdrawn emulsion layer can be routed as such or with the desalter water effluent to a settling tank or directly to another unit for separation and reprocessing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Magaly C. Barroeta, Jose X. Simonetty, Brian D. Albert, Jennifer A. Gillett, Victor Alva, Theodore T. Trier, John R. Faber
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Publication number: 20140061024Abstract: A feed device for a distillation tower or column with a flash zone, wash zone and stripping zone has an annular, open-bottomed channel located around the periphery of the feed zone of the tower with an inner wall spaced from the inner curved wall of the tower and a top covering the channel to confer a generally inverted-U shape to the cross section of the channel. One or more tangential feed inlets are provided to admit a heated, mixed phase feed to the tower and direct the feed into and along the channel. One or more vapor scoops are provided for each feed inlet with the scoop(s) located on the inner wall of the channel, each at a sufficient distance along the channel from the inlet to permit cyclonic separation of vapor and liquid to take place before the vapor in the feed from the inlet enters the scoop(s) and passes through a vapor exit port into the central core of the tower. The tower is preferably used with a radial louvre baffle at the top of the stripping zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Vikram SINGH, Brian D. ALBERT, Berne K. STOBER