Patents by Inventor Daniel N. Myers

Daniel N. Myers 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).

  • Patent number: 11028325
    Abstract: Pyrolysis methods and apparatuses that allow effective heat removal, for example when necessary to achieve a desired throughput or process a desired type of biomass, are disclosed. According to representative methods, the use of a quench medium (e.g., water), either as a primary or a secondary type of heat removal, allows greater control of process temperatures, particularly in the reheater where char, as a solid byproduct of pyrolysis, is combusted. Quench medium may be distributed to one or more locations within the reheater vessel, such as above and/or within a dense phase bed of fluidized particles of a solid heat carrier (e.g., sand) to better control heat removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Sathit Kulprathipanja, Paolo Palmas, Daniel N. Myers
  • Patent number: 10794588
    Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for controlling heat for rapid thermal processing of carbonaceous material are provided herein. The apparatus comprises a reactor, a reheater for forming a fluidized bubbling bed comprising an oxygen-containing gas, inorganic heat carrier particles, and char and for burning the char into ash to form heated inorganic particles. An inorganic particle cooler is in fluid communication with the reheater. The inorganic particle cooler comprises a shell portion and a tube portion. The inorganic particle cooler is configured such that the shell portion receives a portion of the heated inorganic particles and the tube portion receives a cooling medium for indirect heat exchange with the portion of the heated inorganic particles to form partially-cooled heated inorganic particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Sathit Kulprathipanja, Daniel N. Myers, Paolo Palmas
  • Publication number: 20190170347
    Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for controlling heat for rapid thermal processing of carbonaceous material are provided herein. The apparatus comprises a reactor, a reheater for forming a fluidized bubbling bed comprising an oxygen-containing gas, inorganic heat carrier particles, and char and for burning the char into ash to form heated inorganic particles. An inorganic particle cooler is in fluid communication with the reheater. The inorganic particle cooler comprises a shell portion and a tube portion. The inorganic particle cooler is configured such that the shell portion receives a portion of the heated inorganic particles and the tube portion receives a cooling medium for indirect heat exchange with the portion of the heated inorganic particles to form partially-cooled heated inorganic particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Sathit Kulprathipanja, Daniel N. Myers, Paolo Palmas
  • Patent number: 10041667
    Abstract: A rapid thermal processing system includes an inorganic heat carrier particles reheater coupled to an inorganic particle cooler. For example. inorganic heat carrier particles may be cooled in a shell and tube inorganic particle cooler by indirect heat exchange with a cooling medium. The cooled inorganic heat carrier particles may then be supplied to a reactor to transfer heat to carbonaceous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Sathit Kulprathipanja, Daniel N. Myers, Vincenza Myers, Paolo Palmas
  • Patent number: 9587824
    Abstract: A catalyst cooler for cooling regenerated catalyst in a regenerator associated with a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The catalyst cooler includes a first passage for transporting hot regenerated catalyst away from the regenerator and a second passage for returning cooled regenerated catalyst to the regenerator. The catalyst cooler also includes at least one heat exchanger. The second passage may be disposed within the first passage, or the first and second passage may each occupy a portion of a horizontal cross section of the catalyst cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Daniel N. Myers
  • Publication number: 20160348005
    Abstract: Pyrolysis methods and apparatuses that allow effective heat removal, for example when necessary to achieve a desired throughput or process a desired type of biomass, are disclosed. According to representative methods, the use of a quench medium (e.g., water), either as a primary or a secondary type of heat removal, allows greater control of process temperatures, particularly in the reheater where char, as a solid byproduct of pyrolysis, is combusted. Quench medium may be distributed to one or more locations within the reheater vessel, such as above and/or within a dense phase bed of fluidized particles of a solid heat carrier (e.g., sand) to better control heat removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Sathit Kulprathipanja, Paolo Palma, Daniel N. Myers
  • Patent number: 9446399
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for regenerating catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking unit. Generally, the process includes providing a feed to a riser of a reaction vessel, and providing a stream to a distributor positioned within a void proximate to an inlet receiving unregenerated catalyst in a regenerator. The feed can include at least one of a gas oil, a vacuum gas oil, an atmospheric gas oil, a coker gas oil, a hydrotreated gas oil, a hydrocracker unconverted oil, and an atmospheric residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Daniel N. Myers, Paolo Palmas, David N. Myers
  • Patent number: 9441887
    Abstract: Pyrolysis methods and apparatuses that allow effective heat removal, for example when necessary to achieve a desired throughput or process a desired type of biomass, are disclosed. According to representative methods, the use of a quench medium (e.g., water), either as a primary or a secondary type of heat removal, allows greater control of process temperatures, particularly in the reheater where char, as a solid byproduct of pyrolysis, is combusted. Quench medium may be distributed to one or more locations within the reheater vessel, such as above and/or within a dense phase bed of fluidized particles of a solid heat carrier (e.g., sand) to better control heat removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Sathit Kulprathipanja, Paolo Palmas, Daniel N Myers
  • Patent number: 9422478
    Abstract: Char-handling processes for controlling overall heat balance, ash accumulation, and afterburn in a reheater are provided. Carbonaceous biomass feedstock is pyrolyzed using a heat transfer medium forming pyrolysis products and a spent heat transfer medium. The spent heat transfer medium is separated into segregated char and char-depleted spent heat transfer medium. The char-depleted spent heat transfer medium is introduced into a dense bed of heat transfer medium fluidized by a stream of oxygen-containing regeneration gas. All or a portion of the segregated char is combusted in the dense bed using the stream of oxygen-containing regeneration gas. A portion of the segregated char may be exported out of the pyrolysis system to control the overall heat balance and ash accumulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Paul A. Sechrist, Sid Kulprathipanja, Stanley J. Frey, Barry Freel, Daniel N. Myers, Vincenza Myers
  • Publication number: 20160169506
    Abstract: A catalyst cooler for cooling regenerated catalyst in a regenerator associated with a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The catalyst cooler includes a first passage for transporting hot regenerated catalyst away from the regenerator and a second passage for returning cooled regenerated catalyst to the regenerator. The catalyst cooler also includes at least one heat exchanger. The second passage may be disposed within the first passage, or the first and second passage may each occupy a portion of a horizontal cross section of the catalyst cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Daniel N. Myers
  • Patent number: 9238600
    Abstract: A process for improving the yield of ethylene and propylene from a light naphtha feedstock includes obtaining light naphtha feedstock from a primary cracking zone having a cracking catalyst. The light naphtha feedstock is contacted with an olefin catalyst in an olefin producing zone to produce an ethylene- and propylene-rich stream. After reacting with the olefin catalyst, the ethylene- and propylene-rich stream is separated from the olefin catalyst from in a separator zone. At least a portion of the olefin catalyst is regenerated by combusting coke deposited on a surface of the olefin catalyst in an oxygen-containing environment, and at least a portion of the olefin catalyst is heated. These portions could be the same one or they could be different. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the olefin catalyst could be neither regenerated nor heated. The olefin catalyst is returned to the olefin producing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David A. Wegerer, Brian W. Hedrick, Zhihao Fei, Daniel N. Myers, Vincenza Myers, Paolo Palmas, Laura E. Leonard
  • Publication number: 20150148214
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for regenerating catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking unit. Generally, the process includes providing a feed to a riser of a reaction vessel, and providing a stream to a distributor positioned within a void proximate to an inlet receiving unregenerated catalyst in a regenerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel N. Myers, Paolo Palmas, David N. Myers
  • Patent number: 8999146
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon feed to a catalytic reactor can be heat exchanged with flue gas from a catalyst regenerator. This innovation enables recovery of more energy from flue gas thus resulting in a lower flue gas discharge temperature. As a result, other hot hydrocarbon streams conventionally used to preheat hydrocarbon feed can now be used to generate more high pressure steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Yunbo Liu, Xin X. Zhu, Daniel N. Myers, Patrick D. Walker
  • Patent number: 8936756
    Abstract: The apparatus herein provide a catalyst cooler with a vent that communicates fluidizing gas to a lower chamber of a regenerator. Air that is used as fluidizing gas can then be consumed in the regenerator without promoting after burn in the upper chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Daniel N. Myers
  • Patent number: 8927799
    Abstract: A process for the production of propylene from a propane rich hydrocarbon source is presented. The process converts a propane rich stream and uses less equipment and energy for the separation and production of propylene. The process uses a non-noble metal catalyst and utilizes a continuous reactor-regeneration system to keep the process on line for longer periods between maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David N. Myers, Daniel N. Myers, Joseph E. Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 8883666
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for regenerating catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking unit. Generally, the process includes providing a feed to a riser of a reaction vessel, and providing a stream to a distributor positioned within a void proximate to an inlet receiving unregenerated catalyst in a regenerator. The feed can include at least one of a gas oil, a vacuum gas oil, an atmospheric gas oil, a coker gas oil, a hydrotreated gas oil, a hydrocracker unconverted oil, and an atmospheric residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Daniel N. Myers, Paolo Palmas, David N. Myers
  • Patent number: 8609566
    Abstract: The process herein provide a catalyst cooler with a vent that communicates fluidizing gas to a lower chamber of a regenerator. Air that is used as fluidizing gas can then be consumed in the regenerator without promoting after burn in the upper chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Daniel N. Myers
  • Publication number: 20130327629
    Abstract: Char-handling processes for controlling overall heat balance, ash accumulation, and afterburn in a reheater are provided. Carbonaceous biomass feedstock is pyrolyzed using a heat transfer medium forming pyrolysis products and a spent heat transfer medium. The spent heat transfer medium is separated into segregated char and char-depleted spent heat transfer medium. The char-depleted spent heat transfer medium is introduced into a dense bed of heat transfer medium fluidized by a stream of oxygen-containing regeneration gas. All or a portion of the segregated char is combusted in the dense bed using the stream of oxygen-containing regeneration gas. A portion of the segregated char may be exported out of the pyrolysis system to control the overall heat balance and ash accumulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicants: ENSYN RENEWABLES, INC.
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Paul A. Sechrist, Sid Kulprathipanja, Stanley J. Frey, Barry Freel, Daniel N. Myers
  • Patent number: 8603406
    Abstract: An apparatus and process are presented for drying a catalyst in a reactor-regenerator system. The process includes a continuous operating system with catalyst circulating between a reactor and regenerator, and the catalyst is dried before returning the catalyst to the reactor. The process uses air that is split between the drying stage and the combustion stage without adding equipment outside of the regenerator, minimizing energy, capital cost, and space requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David N. Myers, Daniel N. Myers, Paolo Palmas, Laura E. Leonard, Wolfgang A. Spieker
  • Patent number: 8513149
    Abstract: An apparatus and process are presented for drying a catalyst in a reactor-regenerator system. The process includes a continuous operating system with catalyst circulating between a reactor and regenerator, and the catalyst is dried before returning the catalyst to the reactor. The process uses air that is split between the drying stage and the combustion stage without adding equipment outside of the regenerator, minimizing energy, capital cost, and space requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David N. Myers, Daniel N. Myers, Paolo Palmas, Laura E. Leonard, Wolfgang A. Spieker