Patents by Inventor Hank M. Hudson
Hank M. Hudson 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: 8667812Abstract: A process and an apparatus are disclosed for removing carbon dioxide from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The gas stream is cooled, expanded to intermediate pressure, and supplied to a fractionation tower at a top column feed position. The tower overhead vapor stream is compressed to higher pressure and cooled to partially condense it, forming a condensed stream. The condensed stream is expanded to intermediate pressure, used to subcool a portion of the tower bottom liquid product, then supplied to the tower at a mid-column feed position. The subcooled portion of the tower bottom liquid product is expanded to lower pressure and used to cool the compressed overhead vapor stream. The quantities and temperatures of the feeds to the fractionation tower are effective to maintain the overhead temperature of the fractionation tower at a temperature whereby the major portion of the carbon dioxide is recovered in the tower bottom liquid product.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2011Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Ordoff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: Kyle T. Cuellar, John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson
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Patent number: 8590340Abstract: A process and apparatus for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to the pressure of a fractionation tower and supplied to the fractionation tower at a first mid-column feed position. The second stream is expanded to the tower pressure and is then supplied to the column at a second mid-column feed position. A distillation vapor stream is withdrawn from the column below the feed point of the first stream and compressed to an intermediate pressure, and is then directed into heat exchange relation with the tower overhead vapor stream to cool the distillation stream and condense substantially all of it, forming a condensed stream.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2008Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Ortoff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: Richard N. Pitman, John D. Wilkinson, Joe T. Lynch, Hank M. Hudson, Tony L. Martinez
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Patent number: 8584488Abstract: A process and an apparatus for liquefying a portion of a natural gas stream are disclosed. The natural gas stream is cooled under pressure and divided into a first stream and a second stream. The first stream is cooled, expanded to an intermediate pressure, and supplied to a lower feed point on a distillation column. The second stream is expanded to the intermediate pressure and divided into two portions. One portion is cooled and then supplied to a mid-column feed point on the distillation column; the other portion is used to cool the first stream. The bottom product from this distillation column preferentially contains the majority of any hydrocarbons heavier than methane that would otherwise reduce the purity of the liquefied natural gas, so that the overhead vapor from the distillation column contains essentially only methane and lighter components.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2009Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Publication number: 20130283853Abstract: A process for recovering heavier hydrocarbons from a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream and a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The LNG stream is heated to vaporize at least part of it, expanded, and supplied to a fractionation column at a first mid-column feed position. The gas stream is expanded, cooled, and supplied to the column at a second mid-column feed position. A distillation vapor stream is withdrawn from the column below the mid-column feed positions and cooled by the LNG stream sufficiently to condense at least a part of it, with at least a portion of the condensed stream directed to the column at an upper mid-column feed position. A portion of the column overhead stream is cooled by the LNG feed stream to condense it and form both a “lean” LNG stream and a reflux stream that is supplied to the column at a top column feed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Inventors: Tony L. Martinez, John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Patent number: 8434325Abstract: A process for the recovery of heavier hydrocarbons from a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream and a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The LNG feed stream is heated to vaporize at least part of it, then expanded and supplied to a fractionation column at a first mid-column feed position. The gas stream is expanded and cooled, then supplied to the column at a second mid-column feed position. A distillation vapor stream is withdrawn from the fractionation column below the mid-column feed positions and directed in heat exchange relation with the LNG feed stream, cooling the distillation vapor stream as it supplies at least part of the heating of the LNG feed stream. The distillation vapor stream is cooled sufficiently to condense at least a part of it, forming a condensed stream. At least a portion of the condensed stream is directed to the fractionation column as its top feed.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2009Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: Tony L. Martinez, John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Publication number: 20120000246Abstract: A process for the recovery of heavier hydrocarbons from a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream and a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The LNG feed stream is heated to vaporize at least part of it, then expanded and supplied to a fractionation column at a first mid-column feed position. The gas stream is expanded and cooled, then supplied to the column at a second mid-column feed position. A distillation vapor stream is withdrawn from the fractionation column below the mid-column feed positions and directed in heat exchange relation with the LNG feed stream, cooling the distillation vapor stream as it supplies at least part of the heating of the LNG feed stream. The distillation vapor stream is cooled sufficiently to condense at least a part of it, forming a condensed stream. At least a portion of the condensed stream is directed to the fractionation column as its top feed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2009Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: Tony L. Martinez, John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Publication number: 20110296867Abstract: A process and an apparatus are disclosed for removing carbon dioxide from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The gas stream is cooled, expanded to intermediate pressure, and supplied to a fractionation tower at a top column feed position. The tower overhead vapor stream is compressed to higher pressure and cooled to partially condense it, forming a condensed stream. The condensed stream is expanded to intermediate pressure, used to subcool a portion of the tower bottom liquid product, then supplied to the tower at a mid-column feed position. The subcooled portion of the tower bottom liquid product is expanded to lower pressure and used to cool the compressed overhead vapor stream. The quantities and temperatures of the feeds to the fractionation tower are effective to maintain the overhead temperature of the fractionation tower at a temperature whereby the major portion of the carbon dioxide is recovered in the tower bottom liquid product.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2011Publication date: December 8, 2011Applicant: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: Kyle T. Cuellar, John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson
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Publication number: 20110232328Abstract: A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to recover propane, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The gas stream is cooled, expanded to lower pressure, and fed to an absorbing means. A first distillation liquid stream from the absorbing means is fed to a mass transfer means. A first distillation vapor stream from the mass transfer means is cooled to partially condense it, forming a residual vapor stream and a condensed stream. The condensed stream is supplied as the top feed to the absorbing means. A second distillation vapor stream from the absorbing means is heated by cooling the first distillation vapor stream, combined with the residual vapor stream, and heated by cooling the gas stream. A second distillation liquid stream from the mass transfer means is heated in a heat and mass transfer means to strip out its volatile components.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicants: S.M.E. PRODUCTS LP, ORTLOFF ENGINEERS, LTD.Inventors: Andrew F. Johnke, W. Larry Lewis, L. Don Tyler, John D. Wilkinson, Joe T. Lynch, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Publication number: 20110226013Abstract: A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to recover C2 (or C3) components and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The gas stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled, expanded to lower pressure, and supplied as a feed between two absorbing means. The second stream is expanded to lower pressure and supplied as a bottom feed to the lower absorbing means. A distillation liquid stream from the bottom of the lower absorbing means is heated in a heat and mass transfer means to strip out its volatile components. A distillation vapor stream from the top of the heat and mass transfer means is cooled by a distillation vapor stream from the top of the upper absorbing means, thereby forming a condensed stream that is supplied as a top feed to the upper absorbing means.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicants: S.M.E. Products LP, Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: Andrew F. Johnke, W. Larry Lewis, L. Don Tyler, John D. Wilkinson, Joe T. Lynch, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Publication number: 20110226012Abstract: A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to recover C2 (or C3) components and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The gas stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled, expanded to lower pressure, and supplied as a feed between first and second absorbing means. The second stream is expanded to lower pressure and supplied as bottom feed to the second absorbing means. A distillation vapor stream from the first absorbing means is heated, compressed to higher pressure, and divided into a volatile residue gas fraction and a compressed recycle stream. The compressed recycle stream is cooled, expanded to lower pressure, and supplied as top feed to the first absorbing means. A distillation liquid stream from the second absorbing means is heated in a heat and mass transfer means to strip out its volatile components.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicants: S.M.E. Products LP, Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: Andrew F. Johnke, W. Larry Lewis, L. Don Tyler, John D. Wilkinson, Joe T. Lynch, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Publication number: 20110226014Abstract: A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to recover C2 (or C3) and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The gas stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled, expanded to lower pressure, heated, and its liquid fraction is supplied as a first top feed to an absorbing means. The second stream is expanded to lower pressure and supplied as a bottom feed to the absorbing means. A distillation vapor stream from the absorbing means is combined with the vapor fraction of the first stream, then cooled by the expanded first stream to form a condensed stream that is supplied as a second top feed to the absorbing means. A distillation liquid stream from the bottom of the absorbing means is heated in a heat and mass transfer means to strip out its volatile components.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicants: S.M.E. Products LP, Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: Andrew F. Johnke, W. Larry Lewis, L. Don Tyler, John D. Wilkinson, Joe T. Lynch, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Publication number: 20110226011Abstract: A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to recover C2 components (or C3 components) and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The gas stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled to condense substantially all of it, expanded to lower pressure, and supplied as top feed to an absorbing means. The second stream is also expanded to lower pressure and fed to the bottom of the absorbing means. A distillation vapor stream from the absorbing means is heated by cooling the gas stream and the first stream. A distillation liquid stream from the absorbing means is fed to a heat and mass transfer means to heat it and strip out its volatile components while cooling the gas stream. The absorbing means and the heat and mass transfer means are housed in the processing assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicants: S.M.E. Products LP, Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: Andrew F. Johnke, W. Larry Lewis, L. Don Tyler, John D. Wilkinson, Joe T. Lynch, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Publication number: 20110167868Abstract: A process and an apparatus are disclosed for recovering ethane, ethylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The stream is cooled, expanded to lower pressure, and supplied to a first fractionation tower at a mid-column feed position. A distillation liquid stream is withdrawn from the first fractionation tower below the feed position of the expanded stream, heated, and directed into a second fractionation tower that produces an overhead vapor stream and a bottom liquid stream. The overhead vapor stream is cooled to condense it, with a portion of the condensed stream directed to the second fractionation tower as its top feed and the remainder directed to the first fractionation tower at a lower column feed position. The bottom liquid stream from the second fractionation tower is cooled and directed to the first fractionation tower as its top feed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: Michael C. Pierce, John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson
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Publication number: 20110120183Abstract: A process and an apparatus for liquefying a portion of a natural gas stream are disclosed. The natural gas stream is cooled under pressure and divided into a first stream and a second stream. The first stream is cooled, expanded to an intermediate pressure, and supplied to a lower feed point on a distillation column. The second stream is expanded to the intermediate pressure and divided into two portions. One portion is cooled and then supplied to a mid-column feed point on the distillation column; the other portion is used to cool the first stream. The bottom product from this distillation column preferentially contains the majority of any hydrocarbons heavier than methane that would otherwise reduce the purity of the liquefied natural gas, so that the overhead vapor from the distillation column contains essentially only methane and lighter components.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2009Publication date: May 26, 2011Applicant: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Publication number: 20110067441Abstract: A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to the fractionation tower pressure, heated, and supplied to the fractionation tower at an upper mid-column feed position. The second stream is expanded to the tower pressure and is then supplied to the column at a mid-column feed position. A distillation vapor stream is withdrawn from the column above the feed point of the second stream and is then directed into heat exchange relation with the expanded cooled first stream and the tower overhead vapor stream to cool the distillation vapor stream and condense at least a part of it, forming a condensed stream. At least a portion of the condensed stream is directed to the fractionation tower as its top feed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: Tony L. Martinez, John D. Wilkinson, Joe T. Lynch, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Publication number: 20110067443Abstract: A process and an apparatus are disclosed for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to the fractionation tower pressure and supplied to the fractionation tower at an upper mid-column feed position. The second stream is expanded to the tower pressure and supplied to the column at a mid-column feed position. A distillation vapor stream is withdrawn from the column above the feed point of the first stream, combined with a portion of the tower overhead vapor stream, compressed to higher pressure, and directed into heat exchange relation with the remaining tower overhead vapor stream to cool the compressed combined vapor stream and condense at least a part of it, forming a condensed stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: Tony L. Martinez, John D. Wilkinson, Joe T. Lynch, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Publication number: 20110067442Abstract: A process and an apparatus are disclosed for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled to condense substantially all of it and divided into first and second portions. The first and second portions are expanded to the fractionation tower pressure and supplied to the fractionation tower at upper mid-column feed positions, with the expanded second portion being heated before it enters the tower. The second stream is expanded to the tower pressure and supplied to the column at a mid-column feed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: Tony L. Martinez, John D. Wilkinson, Joe T. Lynch, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Publication number: 20100326134Abstract: A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to remove carbon dioxide from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The gas stream is cooled, expanded to intermediate pressure, and fed to the top of a mass transfer means. A distillation liquid stream from the mass transfer means is heated in a first heat and mass transfer means to strip out its volatile components and form a bottom liquid product. A distillation vapor stream from the mass transfer means is combined with any vapor in the expanded cooled gas stream, and the combined vapor stream is cooled in a second heat and mass transfer means to partially condense it, forming a condensed stream that is fed to the top of the mass transfer means. A portion of the bottom liquid product is subcooled, expanded to lower pressure, and used to cool the combined vapor stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2010Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicants: Ortloff Engineers Ltd., S.M.E. Products LPInventors: Andrew F. Johnke, W. Larry Lewis, John D. Wilkinson, Joe T. Lynch, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Publication number: 20100287983Abstract: A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to recover ethane, ethylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The gas stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled, expanded to lower pressure, heated, and its liquid fraction is supplied as a first top feed to an absorbing means. The second stream is expanded to lower pressure and supplied as a bottom feed to the absorbing means. A distillation vapor stream from the absorbing means is combined with the vapor fraction of the first stream, then cooled by the expanded first stream to form a condensed stream that is supplied as a second top feed to the absorbing means. A distillation liquid stream from the bottom of the absorbing means is heated in a heat and mass transfer means to strip out its volatile components.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2010Publication date: November 18, 2010Applicants: ORTLOFF ENGINEERS, LTD., S.M.E. PRODUCTS LPInventors: Andrew F. Johnke, W. Larry Lewis, John D. Wilkinson, Joe T. Lynch, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Publication number: 20100287984Abstract: A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to recover ethane, ethylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The gas stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled, expanded to lower pressure, and supplied as a feed between two absorbing means. The second stream is expanded to lower pressure and supplied as a bottom feed to the lower absorbing means. A distillation liquid stream from the bottom of the lower absorbing means is heated in a heat and mass transfer means to strip out its volatile components. A distillation vapor stream from the top of the heat and mass transfer means is cooled by a distillation vapor stream from the top of the upper absorbing means, thereby forming a condensed stream that is supplied as a top feed to the upper absorbing means.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2010Publication date: November 18, 2010Applicants: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd., S.M.E. Products LPInventors: Andrew F. Johnke, W. Larry Lewis, John D. Wilkinson, Joe T. Lynch, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar