Patents by Inventor John B. Stone
John B. Stone 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: 9593881Abstract: Provided is a natural gas processing facility for the liquefaction or regasification of natural gas. The facility includes a primary processing unit, e.g., refrigeration unit, for warming natural gas or chilling natural gas to at least a temperature of liquefaction. The facility also has superconducting electrical components integrated into the facility. The superconducting electrical components incorporate superconducting material so as to improve electrical efficiency of the facility by at least one percent over what would be experienced through the use of conventional electrical components. The superconducting electrical components may be one or more motors, one or more generators, one or more transformers, switch gears, one or more electrical transmission conductors, variable speed drives, or combinations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2011Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Eric D Nelson, Peter C Rasmussen, John B Stone, Stanley O Uptigrove
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Publication number: 20160003529Abstract: The described invention relates to processes and systems for treating a gas stream, particularly one rich in methane for forming liquefied natural gas (LNG), said process including: (a) providing a gas stream; (b) providing a refrigerant; (c) compressing said refrigerant to provide a compressed refrigerant; (d) cooling said compressed refrigerant by indirect heat exchange with a cooling fluid; (e) expanding the refrigerant of (d) to cool said refrigerant, thereby producing an expanded, cooled refrigerant; (f) passing said expanded, cooled refrigerant to a first heat exchange area; (g) compressing the gas stream of (a) to a pressure of from greater than or equal to 1,000 psia to less than or equal to 4,500 psia; (h) cooling said compressed gas stream by indirect heat exchange with an external cooling fluid; and heat exchanging the compressed gas stream with the expanded, cooled refrigerant stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2015Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: Moses MINTA, John B. Stone, Raymond Scott Feist
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Patent number: 9140490Abstract: The described invention relates to processes and systems for treating a gas stream, particularly one rich in methane for forming liquefied natural gas (LNG), the process including: (a) providing a gas stream; (b) providing a refrigerant; (c) compressing the refrigerant to provide a compressed refrigerant; (d) cooling the compressed refrigerant by indirect heat exchange with a cooling fluid; (e) expanding the refrigerant of (d) to cool the refrigerant, thereby producing an expanded, cooled refrigerant; (f) passing the expanded, cooled refrigerant to a first heat exchange area; (g) compressing the gas stream of (a) to a pressure of from greater than or equal to 1,000 psia to less than or equal to 4,500 psia; (h) cooling the compressed gas stream by indirect heat exchange with an external cooling fluid; and heat exchanging the compressed gas stream with the expanded, cooled refrigerant stream.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2008Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Moses Minta, John B. Stone, Raymond Scott Feist
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Publication number: 20100186445Abstract: The described invention relates to processes and systems for treating a gas stream, particularly one rich in methane for forming liquefied natural gas (LNG), said process including: (a) providing a gas stream; (b) providing a refrigerant; (c) compressing said refrigerant to provide a compressed refrigerant; (d) cooling said compressed refrigerant by indirect heat exchange with a cooling fluid; (e) expanding the refrigerant of (d) to cool said refrigerant, thereby producing an expanded, cooled refrigerant; (f) passing said expanded, cooled refrigerant to a first heat exchange area; (g) compressing the gas stream of (a) to a pressure of from greater than or equal to 1,000 psia to less than or equal to 4,500 psia; (h) cooling said compressed gas stream by indirect heat exchange with an external cooling fluid; and heat exchanging the compressed gas stream with the expanded, cooled refrigerant stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2008Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventors: Moses Minta, John B. Stone, Raymond Scott Feist
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Publication number: 20090217701Abstract: Embodiments of this invention relate to a process for liquefaction of natural gas and other methane-rich gas streams, and more particularly to a process for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG). In a first step of the process, a first fraction of the feed gas is withdrawn, compressed to a pressure greater than or equal to 1500 psia, cooled and expanded to a lower pressure to cool the withdrawn first fraction. The remaining fraction of the feed stream is cooled by indirect heat exchange with the expanded first fraction in a first heat exchange process. In a second step a separate stream comprising flash vapor is compressed, cooled and expanded to a lower pressure providing another cold stream. This cold stream is used to cool the remaining feed gas stream in a second indirect heat exchange process. The expanded stream exiting from the second heat exchange process is used for supplemental cooling in the first indirect heat exchange step.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2006Publication date: September 3, 2009Inventors: Moses Minta, Kevin N. Stanley, John B. Stone, Ronald R. Bowen, Linda J. Cote
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Patent number: 6510706Abstract: A process for removing hydrocarbons less volatile than methane from a pressurized liquid natural gas (PLNG). PLNG is heated in a heat exchanger, thereby vaporizing at least a portion of the PLNG. The partially vaporized PLNG is passed to a fractionation column. A liquid stream enriched with hydrocarbons (C2+ or C3+) less volatile than methane is withdrawn from a lower portion of the fractionation column and a vapor stream lean in the hydrocarbons less volatile than methane is withdrawn from an upper portion of the fractionation column. The withdrawn vapor stream is passed to the heat exchanger to condense the vapor to produce PLNG lean in hydrocarbons less volatile than methane.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2001Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: John B. Stone, Horace G. Winningham
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Patent number: 6378330Abstract: This invention relates to process for liquefying a pressurized gas stream rich in methane. In a first step of the process, a first fraction of a pressurized feed stream, preferably at a pressure above 11,000 kPa, is withdrawn and entropically expanded to a lower pressure to cool and at least partially liquefy the withdrawn first fraction. A second fraction of the feed stream is cooled by indirect heat exchange with the expanded first fraction. The second fraction is subsequently expanded to a lower pressure, thereby at least partially liquefying the second fraction of the pressurized gas stream. The liquefied second fraction is withdrawn from the process as a pressurized product stream having a temperature above −112° C. and a pressure at or above its bubble point pressure.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2000Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Moses Minta, Ronald R. Bowen, John B. Stone
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Publication number: 20020029585Abstract: A process for removing hydrocarbons less volatile than methane from a pressurized liquid natural gas (PLNG). PLNG is heated in a heat exchanger, thereby vaporizing at least a portion of the PLNG. The partially vaporized PLNG is passed to a fractionation column. A liquid stream enriched with hydrocarbons (C2+ or C3+) less volatile than methane is withdrawn from a lower portion of the fractionation column and a vapor stream lean in the hydrocarbons less volatile than methane is withdrawn from an upper portion of the fractionation column. The withdrawn vapor stream is passed to the heat exchanger to condense the vapor to produce PLNG lean in hydrocarbons less volatile than methane.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Inventors: John B. Stone, Horace G. Winningham
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Patent number: 6237364Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing from a pressurized methane-rich gas stream a pressurized methane-rich liquid stream having a temperature above −112° C. (−170° F.) and having a pressure sufficient for the liquid to be at or below its bubble point. In this process, a methane-rich liquid stream having a temperature below about −155° C. (−247° F.) is supplied and its pressure is increased. A pressurized methane-rich gas to be liquefied is supplied and introduced to the pressurized methane-rich liquid stream at a rate that produces a methane-rich liquid stream having a temperature above −112° C. (−170° F.) and a pressure sufficient for the liquid to be at or below its bubble point.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1999Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventor: John B. Stone
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Patent number: 5682835Abstract: A bird feeder assembly having a funnel integrated into the feeder assembly facilitates the filling of the bird feed container.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 1995Date of Patent: November 4, 1997Assignee: Safety 1st, Inc.Inventors: Glen V. Walter, Mark P. Zieff, John B. Stone, Leon A. Gainsboro
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Patent number: 5265427Abstract: A process for obtaining ethane and propane refrigerant from a lean feed gas is disclosed. Said process involves the addition of a small amount of propane to a stream of said lean feed gas, thus widening the phase envelope and increasing the ease of separation of the methane and nitrogen from heavier components.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1992Date of Patent: November 30, 1993Assignee: Exxon Production Research CompanyInventors: John B. Stone, George N. Jones
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Patent number: 4450066Abstract: Scale formation during the liquefaction of lower ranking coals and similar carbonaceous materials is significantly reduced and/or prevented by hydrothermal pretreatment. The said pretreatment is believed to convert the scale-forming components to the corresponding carbonate prior to liquefaction. The said pretreatment is accomplished at a total pressure within the range from about 1000 to about 4400 psia. Temperature during said pretreatment will generally be within the range from about 500.degree. to about 700.degree. F.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1982Date of Patent: May 22, 1984Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.Inventors: John B. Stone, Frank M. Floyd
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Patent number: 4351716Abstract: Scale formation during the liquefaction of lower ranking coals and similar carbonaceous materials is significantly reduced and/or prevented by pretreatment with a combination of pretreating agents comprising SO.sub.2 and an oxidizing agent. The pretreatment is believed to convert at least a portion of the scale-forming components and particularly calcium, to the corresponding sulfate prior to liquefaction. The pretreatment may be accomplished with the combination of pretreating agents either simultaneously by using a mixture comprising SO.sub.2 and an oxidizing agent or sequentially by first treating with SO.sub.2 and then with an oxidizing agent.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1979Date of Patent: September 28, 1982Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.Inventors: Martin L. Gorbaty, John B. Stone, Syamal K. Poddar