Patents by Inventor Nicholas Vidonic

Nicholas Vidonic 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).

  • Publication number: 20080118416
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid is cracked by a process comprising: (a) heating the hydrocarbon feedstock; (b) mixing the heated hydrocarbon feedstock with steam and optionally water to form a mixture stream; (c) introducing the mixture stream to a flash/separation apparatus to form i) a vapor phase at its dew point which partially cracks and loses/or heat causing a temperature decrease and partial condensation of the vapor phase in the absence of added heat to provide coke precursors existing as uncoalesced condensate, and ii) a liquid phase; (d) removing the vapor phase as overhead and the liquid phase as bottoms from the flash/separation apparatus; (e) treating the overhead by contacting with a hydrocarbon-containing nucleating liquid substantially free of resid and comprising components boiling at a temperature of at least about 260° C. (500° F.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Richard Stell, Nicholas Vidonic
  • Publication number: 20070193729
    Abstract: A novel outlet fitting for use in connection with a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is used in the role of a quench exchanger for cooling cracking effluent and solves particular problems associated with gas-oil cracking applications and other heavy feed based applications wherein differences between process outlet temperature and coolant temperatures are larger than in, for example, naphtha and gas cracking applications. The specific solution is achieved through a novel outlet fitting for the quench exchanger that eliminates the need for a steam purge, addresses thermal stress issues and reduces pressure drop within the system. The outlet fitting includes internal insulation to avoid the need for a steam purge. In addition, the outlet fitting includes a low-angle diffuser with an angle of less than 7 degrees and preferably less than 5 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Dave Spicer, Nicholas Vidonic
  • Publication number: 20070031307
    Abstract: A process for decoking of a process that cracks hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid and coke precursors, wherein steam is added to the feedstock to form a mixture which is thereafter separated into a vapor phase and a liquid phase by flashing in a flash/separation vessel, separating and cracking the vapor phase, and recovering cracked product. Coking of internal surfaces in and proximally downstream of the vessel is controlled by interrupting the feed flow, purging the vessel with steam, introducing an air/steam mixture to at least partially combust the coke, and resuming the feed flow when sufficient coke has been removed. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventors: Richard Stell, Arthur Di Nicolantonio, James Frye, Subramanian Annamalai, Nicholas Vidonic
  • Publication number: 20060014993
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid is cracked by a process comprising: (a) heating said hydrocarbon feedstock; (b) mixing the heated hydrocarbon feedstock with steam to form a mixture stream; (c) introducing the mixture stream to a flash/separation apparatus to form i) a vapor phase comprising coke precursors existing as uncoalesced condensate, and ii) a liquid phase; (d) removing the vapor phase as overhead and the liquid phase as bottoms from the flash/separation apparatus; (e) treating the overhead by contacting with a condensing means downstream of the flash/separation apparatus to at least partially coalesce the coke precursors to provide residue hydrocarbon liquid, and subsequently removing the hydrocarbon liquid; (f) heating the treated overhead to provide a heated vapor phase (g) cracking the heated vapor phase in a radiant section of a pyrolysis furnace to produce an effluent comprising olefins, the pyrolysis furnace comprising a radiant section and a convection section; and (h) quenching the eff
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Stell, Nicholas Vidonic
  • Publication number: 20060014992
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid is cracked by a process comprising: (a) heating the hydrocarbon feedstock; (b) mixing the heated hydrocarbon feedstock with steam and optionally water to form a mixture stream; (c) introducing the mixture stream to a flash/separation apparatus to form i) a vapor phase at its dew point which partially cracks and loses/or heat causing a temperature decrease and partial condensation of the vapor phase in the absence of added heat to provide coke precursors existing as uncoalesced condensate, and ii) a liquid phase; (d) removing the vapor phase as overhead and the liquid phase as bottoms from the flash/separation apparatus; (e) treating the overhead by contacting with a hydrocarbon-containing nucleating liquid substantially free of resid and comprising components boiling at a temperature of at least about 260° C. (500° F.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Stell, Nicholas Vidonic
  • Publication number: 20050261532
    Abstract: A process for decoking of a process that cracks hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid and coke precursors, wherein steam is added to the feedstock to form a mixture which is thereafter separated into a vapor phase and a liquid phase by flashing in a flash/separation vessel, separating and cracking the vapor phase, and recovering cracked product. Coking of internal surfaces in and proximally downstream of the vessel is controlled by interrupting the feed flow, purging the vessel with steam, introducing an air/steam mixture to at least partially combust the coke, and resuming the feed flow when sufficient coke has been removed. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Richard Stell, Arthur Di Nicolantonio, James Frye, Subramanian Annamalai, Nicholas Vidonic