Patents by Inventor Frank P. Achorn

Frank P. Achorn 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: 4619684
    Abstract: Process for producing diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer from phosphoric and sulfuric acids, anhydrous ammonia, and water in a specially designed reactor operated at high pressures to granulate diammonium phosphate at low recycle ratios and with relatively small fossil fuel requirement drying per ton of product. Previously operated reactors employed pressures ranging from 0 to 10 psig pressures. This reactor operates at 40 to 80 psig. The process substantially increases production in existing DAP granulation plants and has helped reduce grade deficiencies. Also, use of this reactor for DAP production results in about the same levels of ammonia loss to the scrubber as the prior-art tank preneutralizer, higher operating factors, less maintenance and no transfer pump plugging. Operation is at a temperature of 300.degree. or more .degree.F., while the tank preneutralizer operates normally at 240.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Assignee: Tennessee Valley Authority
    Inventors: David G. Salladay, Frank P. Achorn
  • Patent number: 4531962
    Abstract: In the first embodiment of our invention, solution type fertilizers are produced by reacting phosphoric acid with urea-ammonium nitrate solution (35 percent CO{NH.sub.2 }.sub.2, 45 percent NH.sub.4 NO.sub.3, and 20 percent H.sub.2 O), and urea. In the second embodiment of our invention, the same solution is produced by reacting phosphoric acid with a urea-ammonium nitrate suspension that contains 36 percent nitrogen, 56 percent urea, and 29 percent ammonium nitrate. The ammonium nitrate portion of the nitrogen solution in said first embodiment reacts with the urea and phosphoric acid to produce urea nitrate (CO{NH}.sub.2.HNO.sub.3) and ammonium phosphate (probably NH.sub.4 H.sub.2 PO.sub.4). This solution contains rapidly available nitrate nitrogen as well as ammonium type nitrogen that is more slowly available than nitrate nitrogen. Similar results were obtained in said second embodiment when nitrogen solution and urea were reacted with sulfuric acid. The resulting solution contained CO(NH.sub.2).sub.2.HNO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Assignee: Tennessee Valley Authority
    Inventors: Frank P. Achorn, Carl A. Cole, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4377406
    Abstract: A process for the production of fluid fertilizers (suspensions and/or solution type) made from merchant-grade phosphoric acid (50-58 percent P.sub.2 O.sub.5), sulfuric acid, liquid anhydrous ammonia, and water, wherein liquid ammonia is heated in heat exchange means juxtaposed hot fertilizer product to form gaseous ammonia, which gaseous ammonia, along with phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid, is fed to a pipe-cross reactor wherein a melt of ammonium polyphosphate sulfate is formed, which melt is subsequently mixed with cooled recycled product to produce a fluid fertilizer with N:P.sub.2 O.sub.5 weight ratios ranging from about 0.3 to 1, which contains from about 10 to 60 percent of its P.sub.2 O.sub.5 values in the form of polyphosphates and 3 to 8 percent by weight sulfur. About 45 percent of the P.sub.2 O.sub.5 as polyphosphate is easily attainable in the product with ambient acid feed temperatures, i.e., about 50.degree. F. to 100.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Assignee: Tennessee Valley Authority
    Inventors: Frank P. Achorn, Kenneth E. McGill
  • Patent number: 3954942
    Abstract: A process for the production of fertilizers from phosphoric and sulfuric acids, liquid anhydrous ammonia, and water. The ammonia is premixed with a small quantity of water in a common pipe; the resulting mixture is subsequently mixed downstream of said common pipe with the acids introduced to the pipe through a pipe cross. The acids and aqua ammonia react in the pipe cross and extension of the pipe beyond the cross. Overall length of the pipe reactor is 7 feet and it is cooled by a water jacket. In another variation of the process, the cooling water jacket is not used and the reaction tube is made of either Hastelloy C metal or Teflon-lined mild steel pipe. Slurry from the reactor is granulated with recycle fines, additional phosphoric and sulfuric acids, and ammonia in a rotary drum. Product from the granulator is cooled and screened for product size removal. Equipment is uncomplicated, easy to operate, and inexpensive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1976
    Assignee: Tennessee Valley Authority
    Inventors: Frank P. Achorn, Josiah S. Lewis, Jr.
  • Patent number: T101901
    Abstract: A process for the production of fluid fertilizers (suspensions and/or solution type) made from merchant-grade phosphoric acid (50-58 percent P.sub.2 O.sub.5), sulfuric acid, liquid anhydrous ammonia, and water, wherein liquid ammonia is heated in heat exchange means juxtaposed hot fertilizer product to form gaseous ammonia, which gaseous ammonia, along with phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid, is fed to a pipe-cross reactor wherein a melt of ammonium polyphosphate sulfate is formed, which melt is subsequently mixed with cooled recycled product to produce a fluid fertilizer with N:P.sub.2 O.sub.5 weight ratios ranging from about 0.3 to 1, which contains from about 10 to 60 percent of its P.sub.2 O.sub.5 values in the form of polyphosphates and 3 to 8 percent by weight sulfur. About 45 percent of the P.sub.2 O.sub.5 as polyphosphate is easily attainable in the product with ambient acid feed temperatures, i.e., about 50.degree. F. to 100.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1982
    Inventors: Frank P. Achorn, Kenneth E. McGill
  • Patent number: T104201
    Abstract: Process for producing diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer from phosphoric and sulfuric acids, anhydrous ammonia and water in a specially designed reactor operated at high pressures to granulate diammonium phosphate at low recycle ratios and with either no, or relatively small, fossil fuel requirement drying per ton of product. By operating at elevated pressures, it is possible to force ammonia into a high temperature (250.degree. to 300.degree. F.) melt without exceeding the recovery capacity of the acid fed to the scrubber. The high pressure slurry from the reactor is forced into the bed of materials in a rotary granulator. Previously operated reactors employed pressures ranging from 0 to 10 psig pressures. This reactor operates at 40 to 80 psig. The process substantially increases production in existing DAP granulation plants and has helped reduce grade deficiencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1984
    Inventors: David G. Salladay, Frank P. Achorn
  • Patent number: T104701
    Abstract: In the first embodiment of the present invention, solution type fertilizers are produced by reacting phosphoric acid with urea-ammonium nitrate solution (35 percent CO(NH.sub.2).sub.2, 45 percent NH.sub.4 NO.sub.3, and 20 percent H.sub.2 O), and urea. In the second embodiment, the same solution is produced by reacting phosphoric acid with a urea-ammonium nitrate suspension that contains 36 percent nitrogen, 56 percent urea, and 29 percent ammonium nitrate. The ammonium nitrate portion of the nitrogen solution in said first embodiment reacts with the urea and phosphoric acid to produce urea nitrate (CO{NH}.sub.2.HNO.sub.3) and ammonium phosphate (probably NH.sub.4 H.sub.2 PO.sub.4). This solution contains rapidly available nitrate nitrogen as well as ammonium type nitrogen that is more slowly available than nitrate nitrogen. Similar results were obtained in said second embodiment when nitrogen solution and urea were reacted with sulfuric acid. The resulting solution contained CO(NH.sub.2).sub.2.HNO.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Inventors: Frank P. Achorn, Carl A. Cole, Jr.