Patents by Inventor James H. Colvert

James H. Colvert 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: 5045177
    Abstract: An improvement has been found in the gas recovery section of a delayed coking process. In the improvement the compressor discharge is amine scrubbed to remove hydrogen sulfide. The compressor discharge is the entire vapor feed to the gas recovery section and contains about 90% of the hydrogen sulfide. This has been found to cause a significant drop in both the depropanizer and debutanizer pressure and allow a saving in the investment cost of the pressure vessel. Synergistically a reduced amount of hydrogen sulfide is present in the entire gas recovery section. The remaining 10% of the hydrogen sulfide is removed by amine scrubbing the fuel gas and propane/propylene fractions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Cooper, James H. Colvert
  • Patent number: 5024730
    Abstract: A system controls a delayed coker in which a heavy liquid hydrocarbon feedstock is thermally decomposed to a solid coke product in a cyclical process. When the coking portion of the cycle is completed, the coke in the drum is cooled by quench water, and the quench water is then passed from the coke drum through a manifold to a drain conduit. Hot vapor is passed through the coke drum, via the same manifold to warm the coke drum. A temperature controller, valve actuator and ball valve allow passage of vapor to the coker fractionator at a manifold temperature at which all water is in the vapor state. Manifold temperatures at which liquid water may exist causes the ball valve to close, preventing liquid water from flowing into the coker fractionator. Upset of the coker fractionator is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: James H. Colvert
  • Patent number: 4886644
    Abstract: In an ebullated bed reactor it has been found that an improved gas-liquid separator effectively removes gas from recycle liquid used to ebullate the catalyst bed. The gas-liquid separator comprises a cup with a plurality of riser conduits. Helical members are positioned within the riser conduits which impart a tangential velocity component to the fluid. Cyclone separators effect the final liquid-vapor separation. Vapor is directed to a vapor rich zone in the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Ting Y. Chan, James H. Colvert
  • Patent number: 4874583
    Abstract: A bubble cap assembly and distributor plate is revealed uniquely suited for a reactor in an ebullated bed process. In the riser of the bubble cap assembly a ball check valve is mounted on a valve seat. An orifice mixer below the valve seat delivers a homogeneous vapor-liquid mixture to the orifice in the valve seat thereby minimizing slug flow which causes destructive valve chatter. The fluid outlet port is positioned in the riser to hydraulically limit ball travel between the valve seat and the cap, eliminating the need for pins or other restraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: James H. Colvert
  • Patent number: 4828802
    Abstract: A method for supplying spent catalyst to a catalyst regenerator comprises (1) guiding the flow of spent catalyst from the lower end of a spent catalyst standpipe downwardly therefrom and (2) curving the downward flow of spent catalyst away from the wall of the catalyst regenerator towards the vertical center line of the air distributor for providing the most thorough and even distribution of spent catalyst and air. An extension tube means for performing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Colvert, Thomas A. Lionetti, John P. MacLean
  • Patent number: 4610851
    Abstract: An improved air ring for a regenerator in a fluid catalytic cracking process in which a baffle extends vertically downward from the air ring for a critical length. The baffle prevents catalyst erosion on the underside of the air ring and improves air distribution in the catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Inventors: James H. Colvert, Thomas A. Lionetti
  • Patent number: 4539303
    Abstract: An improved process for recovering energy via an expander turbine axial flow gas compressor set which utilizes hot regeneration gas recovered from the regeneration of fluidized catalytic cracking catalyst, and during turndown conditions when the output of the gas compressor is required to be increased by an excess amount to prevent surge and the excess amount is normally vented to the atmosphere prior to entering the regenerator to prevent afterburn, the process including the steps of:(1) adjusting air compressor air rate set point to at least 10% above surge; thereby(2) increasing air rate to an amount in excess of regeneration requirement;(3) flowing all air compressed to the regenerator;(4) by use of complete combustion catalyst, oxidizing essentially all coke to carbon dioxide,(5) driving the expander with all the hot flue gas produced and thereby;(6) driving the motor-generator thereby generating electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: John P. MacLean, Joel S. Bittensky, James H. Colvert
  • Patent number: 4138219
    Abstract: Apparatus for the regeneration of fluidized solid catalyst including a regeneration chamber adapted to hold a fluidized solids bed, oxygen containing gas source communicating with the chamber, a tangential inlet communicating with the regeneration chamber to impart a swirling motion to spent catalyst entering the regeneration chamber and a free standing drawoff conduit disposed within the regeneration chamber, the drawoff conduit having an upper, open end in communication with the solids bed, the open end being formed by an obliquely truncated, outwardly flared portion of the conduit, the high portion of said truncated conduit lying closest the spent catalyst inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1979
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Colvert, John P. MacLean, Dale Williams, Henry B. Jones
  • Patent number: 4033857
    Abstract: The present application discloses a fluidized catalytic cracking process wherein light cycle gas oil is stripped of heavy naphtha components employing reboiled light cycle gas oil as stripping vapor. Heavy naphtha vapors stripped from the light cycle gas oil are returned to the reaction vapor as primary stripping vapor. This process results in increased naphtha octanes, and reduced sour water production from a fluidized catalytic cracking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1977
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Dale Williams, James H. Colvert, Frederick C. Jahnke
  • Patent number: 4033856
    Abstract: The present application discloses a fluidized catalytic cracking process wherein intermediate cycle gas oil is stripped of light cycle gas oil components employing reboiled intermediate cycle gas oil as stripping vapor for improving light cycle gas oil yield, reducing feed preheat requirements, and reducing sour water production from a fluidized catalytic cracking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1977
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Colvert, Frederick C. Jahnke, Dale Williams