Compression, Expansion, And Condensation Patents (Class 62/619)
  • Patent number: 11969694
    Abstract: New carbon nanomaterials, preferably titanium carbide-derived carbon (CDC) nanoparticles, were embedded into a polyamide film to give CDC/polyamide mixed matrix membranes by the interfacial polymerization reaction of an aliphatic diamine, e.g., piperazine, and an activated aromatic dicarboxylate, e.g., isophthaloyl chloride, supported on a sulfone-containing polymer, e.g., polysulfone (PSF), layer, which is preferably previously prepared by dry/wet phase inversion. The inventive membranes can separate CO2 (or other gases) from mixtures of CO2 and further gases, esp. CH4, based upon the generally selective nanocomposite layer(s) of CDC/polyamide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Isam H. Aljundi, Abdelrahman M. Awad
  • Patent number: 11964240
    Abstract: New carbon nanomaterials, preferably titanium carbide-derived carbon (CDC) nanoparticles, were embedded into a polyamide film to give CDC/polyamide mixed matrix membranes by the interfacial polymerization reaction of an aliphatic diamine, e.g., piperazine, and an activated aromatic dicarboxylate, e.g., isophthaloyl chloride, supported on a sulfone-containing polymer, e.g., polysulfone (PSF), layer, which is preferably previously prepared by dry/wet phase inversion. The inventive membranes can separate CO2 (or other gases) from mixtures of CO2 and further gases, esp. CH4, based upon the generally selective nanocomposite layer(s) of CDC/polyamide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Isam H. Aljundi, Abdelrahman M. Awad
  • Patent number: 11794127
    Abstract: Methods and systems for separating a desublimatable compound from hydrocarbons is disclosed. A feed fluid stream, consisting of a hydrocarbon and a desublimatable compound, is passed into an upper chamber of a vessel. The feed fluid stream is cooled in the upper chamber, thereby desublimating a portion of the desublimatable compound out of the feed liquid stream to form a product gas stream and a desublimatable compound snow which is collected in the lower chamber of the vessel. A lower portion of the desublimatable compound snow is melted to form a liquid desublimatable compound stream such that an upper portion of the solid desublimatable compound snow remains as an insulative barrier between the upper chamber and the liquid desublimatable compound stream. The liquid desublimatable compound stream is removed at a rate that matches a production rate of the solid desublimatable compound snow, thereby maintaining the insulative barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions, Inc
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Stephanie Burt, Dave Frankman, Christopher Hoeger, Eric Mansfield, Skyler Chamberlain, Kyler Stitt
  • Patent number: 11717784
    Abstract: A natural gas adsorptive separation system and method is described. A method of separating natural gas includes directing a natural gas mixture through an activated carbon adsorption tower until the adsorption tower is saturated, collecting methane from the output of the adsorption tower, heating the saturated carbon adsorption tower with adsorbate using a heater and/or a vacuum pump in a closed loop circuit with the carbon adsorption tower until the input to the vacuum pump is within a specified temperature of the output of the heater, lowering the pressure in the heated activated carbon adsorption tower using the vacuum pump to desorb at least one hydrocarbon compound of the plurality of different hydrocarbon compounds, compressing and cooling the desorbed hydrocarbon compound, separating the cooled and compressed hydrocarbon compound into gas and liquid in a fluid separator, and collecting the liquid from the fluid separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventors: Pedro T. Santos, Xuepei Yuan
  • Patent number: 11629050
    Abstract: A method for decreasing the SFFC of a steam reforming plant, including establishing a base operating mode. Then modifying the base operating mode by introducing the shift gas stream into a solvent based, non-cryogenic separator prior to introduction into the pressure swing adsorption and introducing the compressed hydrogen depleted off-gas stream in a membrane separation unit, wherein the membrane is configured to produce the hydrogen enriched permeate stream at a suitable pressure to allow the hydrogen enriched permeate stream to be combined with carbon dioxide lean shift gas stream, prior to introduction into the pressure swing adsorption unit without requiring additional compression. Thereby establishing a modified operating mode. Wherein said pressure swing adsorption unit has a modified overall hydrogen recovery. Wherein said modified operating mode has a modified hydrogen production, a modified hydrogen production unit firing duty, a modified SCO2e, and a modified SFFC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pierre-Philippe Guerif, Joseph T. Stroffolino, IV, Alain Guillard
  • Patent number: 11629051
    Abstract: A method for decreasing the SFFC of a steam reforming plant, including establishing a base operating mode. Then modifying the base operating mode by introducing the shift gas stream into a solvent based, non-cryogenic separator prior to introduction into the pressure swing adsorption and introducing the compressed hydrogen depleted off-gas stream in a membrane separation unit, wherein the membrane is configured to produce the hydrogen enriched permeate stream at a suitable pressure to allow the hydrogen enriched permeate stream to be combined with carbon dioxide lean shift gas stream, prior to introduction into the pressure swing adsorption unit without requiring additional compression. Thereby establishing a modified operating mode. Wherein said pressure swing adsorption unit has a modified overall hydrogen recovery. Wherein said modified operating mode has a modified hydrogen production, a modified hydrogen production unit firing duty, a modified SCO2e, and a modified SFFC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pierre-Philippe Guerif, Joseph T. Stroffolino, IV, Alain Guillard
  • Patent number: 11603496
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process (100) for producing liquefied natural gas using a feedstock mixture that contains at least methane, one or more components boiling at a temperature lower than methane and one or more hydrocarbons boiling at a temperature higher than methane, wherein the hydrocarbon(s) boiling at a temperature higher than methane comprise one or more hydrocarbons freezing at a higher temperature, with a freezing point higher than ?50° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Fritz, Werner Leitmayr, Tobias Keller, Christian Voss
  • Patent number: 11604024
    Abstract: A process for liquefying a natural gas feed stream including cooling a feed gas stream to obtain a liquefied natural gas stream; introducing the liquefied natural gas stream into a deazotization column to produce a liquefied natural gas stream and a nitrogen-enriched vapor stream; at least partially condensing at least part of the nitrogen-enriched vapor stream to produce a two-phase stream; introducing the two-phase stream into a phase-separating vessel to produce a first liquid stream and a first nitrogen-enriched gas stream; introducing at least part of the nitrogen-enriched gas stream into a distillation column thereby producing a second nitrogen-enriched stream containing less than 1 mol % of methane and a second liquid stream containing less than 10 mol % of nitrogen; wherein at least part of the liquefied natural gas stream is used to cool the at least part of the nitrogen-enriched vapor stream in said heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Henri Paradowski, Sébastien Lichtle, Marie Muhr
  • Patent number: 11549496
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a reconfigurable multi-stage gas compressor having a first-stage compression cylinder, a second-stage compression cylinder, and two stepped cylinders. Each of the stepped cylinders include first and second compression cylinders. The gas flow paths through the stepped cylinders are configured in a user-selectable configuration to be in series or in parallel so that the reconfigurable multi-stage gas compressor functions as one of: a three-stage compressor, as a four-stage compressor, and as a hybrid three/four stage compressor. In first and second configurations, the system generates four stages of compression and outputs 4-stage compressed gas through a single exit port, and through dual exit ports, respectively. In a third configuration, the system outputs hot and cooled 3-stage compressed gas through first and second ports and 4-stage compressed gas through a third port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: ESTIS COMPRESSION, LLC
    Inventors: William Elmer, Jr., Will Nelle
  • Patent number: 11506453
    Abstract: A heat exchanger system includes a core-in-shell heat exchanger and a liquid/gas separator. The liquid/gas separator is configured to receive a liquid/gas mixture and to separate the gas from the liquid. The liquid/gas separator is connected to the core-in-shell heat exchanger via a first line for transmitting gas from the liquid/gas separator to a first region in the core-in-shell heat exchanger and connected to the core-in-shell heat exchanger via a second line for transmitting liquid from the liquid/gas separator to a second region of the core-in-shell heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul R. Davies, James L. Harris
  • Patent number: 11492255
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon is reacted with water in the presence of a catalyst to form hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. Hydrogen is selectively allowed to pass through a hydrogen separation membrane to a permeate side of a reactor, while water and carbon-containing compounds remain in a retentate side of the reactor. An outlet stream is flowed from the retentate side to a heat exchanger. The outlet stream is cooled to form a cooled stream. The cooled stream is separated into a liquid phase and a vapor phase. The liquid phase is flowed to the heat exchanger and heated to form steam. The vapor phase is cooled to form condensed water and a first offgas stream. The first offgas stream is cooled to form condensed carbon dioxide and a second offgas stream. The steam and the second offgas stream are recycled to the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mourad Younes, Aadesh Harale, Aqil Jamal
  • Patent number: 11402154
    Abstract: Compressed rich natural gas is divided into a cooling gas stream and a fuel gas stream. The cooling gas stream is depressurized. The cooling gas and the fuel gas are then heat exchanged to provide a first cooling step to the fuel gas. The cooled fuel gas continues into a second cooling step in a second heat exchanger, and then flows into a separator vessel where liquids are removed from the bottom of the separator and conditioned fuel gas exits the top of the separator. The conditioned fuel gas from the separator and produced from its influent is depressurized and heat exchanged to provide the second cooling fluid for the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Inventor: James M. Meyer
  • Patent number: 11340013
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for liquefying natural gas. The apparatus for liquefying natural gas includes a gas compressor configured to receive and compress the natural gas from a natural gas feed stream, a heat exchanging unit configured to cool a high-pressure natural gas passing through the gas compressor through heat exchange, an expansion valve configured to expand the cooled natural gas passing through the heat exchanging unit, a hold-up drum configured to phase-separate a gas-liquid mixture produced by passing through the expansion valve and divide the gas-liquid mixture into a liquefied natural gas and a cryogenic recycle gas having nitrogen content greater than that of the liquefied natural gas so as to discharge the liquefied natural gas and the cryogenic recycle gas, and a bypass line configured to provide the recycle gas discharged from the hold-up drum to the heat exchanging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignees: SUNG-IL ENCARE Co., Ltd., KOGAS-TECH, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology
    Inventors: Jang-ik Park, Ta Kwan Woo, Taehee Kang, Heeseung Na, Hweeung Kwon, Gaehyun Nam, Young Cheol Lee, Dong-Ha Lim
  • Patent number: 11306655
    Abstract: A component for a turbine engine includes a body having a wall at least partially defining an interior and separating a combustion air flow path from a cooling air flow path. The component also includes at least one fluid inlet supplying cooling air to the interior of the body, as well as a cyclone separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Endecott Osgood, Jonathan Russell Ratzlaff, Kirk D. Gallier
  • Patent number: 11254626
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for producing and separating ethane and ethylene. In some embodiments, an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) product gas comprising ethane and ethylene is introduced to a separation unit comprising two separators. Within the separation unit, the OCM product gas is separated to provide a C2-rich effluent, a methane-rich effluent, and a nitrogen-rich effluent. Advantageously, in some embodiments the separation is achieved with little or no external refrigeration requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Lummus Technology LLC
    Inventors: Sam Weinberger, Justin Dwight Edwards, Julian Wolfenbarger, Srinivas R. Vuddagiri, Iraj Isaac Rahmim
  • Patent number: 11220470
    Abstract: Various illustrative embodiments of a system and process for recovering high-quality biomethane and carbon dioxide product streams from biogas sources and utilizing or sequestering the product streams are provided. The system and process synergistically yield a biomethane product which meets gas pipeline quality specifications and a carbon dioxide product of a quality and form that allows for its transport and sequestration or utilization and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The system and process result in improved access to gas pipelines for products, an improvement in the carbon intensity rating of the methane fuel, and improvements in generation of credits related to reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: WM INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HOLDINGS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Noah Whitmore
  • Patent number: 11125499
    Abstract: A method for removing condensable components from a fluid containing condensable components. The method involves optimizing the temperature of an initial feed stream including the condensable components through heat exchange and cooling to condense liquids there from. The liquids are removed to form a gas stream which is then compressed and after-cooled to form a high pressure stream. A portion of the high pressure stream is expanded to form a cooled low pressure stream which is mixed with the initial feed stream to augment cooling and condensation of condensable components in the initial feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: DEXPRO CORPORATION
    Inventors: N. Wayne McKay, James Maddocks
  • Patent number: 11053814
    Abstract: A component for a turbine engine includes a body having an outer surface confronting a combustion air flow path and defining an interior, as well as a first cooling passage having at least a portion supplying cooling air to the interior of the body. The component also includes a cyclone separator having a cooling air inlet, a clean air outlet, and a dirty air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Endecott Osgood, Jonathan Russell Ratzlaff, Kirk D. Gallier
  • Patent number: 11021365
    Abstract: Steam reforming system having a steam cracker and a steam reformer. The steam cracker includes a steam cracking unit to steam crack a feed stream to produce a stream comprising hydrogen, methane and C2+ hydrocarbons; a heat exchanger for cooling the steam cracking product stream; a separation unit for separating the cooled steam cracking product stream into a gas stream including hydrogen and methane and a liquid stream including methane and C2+ hydrocarbons, a demethanizer which is fed the liquid stream producing a third stream containing at least 95% methane and a fourth stream comprising C2+ hydrocarbons. The steam reformer includes a feed preheater which is fed the third stream and steam to provide a preheated stream and a steam reforming unit arranged for heating the preheated stream to at least 800° C. to steam reforming the heated stream and obtain a product stream containing hydrogen and CO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventor: Joris Van Willigenburg
  • Patent number: 10890376
    Abstract: In a method for separating a synthesis gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen, a synthesis gas flow from a synthesis gas source is compressed in a compressor and separated into at least three gaseous products. If there is insufficient synthesis gas, at least three separation products are recycled in the compressor in order to separate said products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Bertrand Demolliens, Antoine Hernandez, Jean-Marc Tsevery
  • Patent number: 10882004
    Abstract: This invention provides a method to smooth out the concentration peak generated from the regeneration stream of a cyclic adsorption process such as PTSA or TSA process. A fixed-bed adsorber (called a capacitor) to process the spent regeneration gas from a TPSA or TSA unit to maintain a constant composition of the spent regeneration gas to the downstream unit. The adsorber operates in a once-through non-cyclic manner, very similar to the conventional fixed bed reactor or adsorber. The spent regeneration gas stream coming out of the adsorber will have a more uniform CO2 composition than without the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Shain-Jer Doong
  • Patent number: 10816140
    Abstract: Apparatus for supplying natural gas fuel to an ocean-going tanker for the transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG), includes a first line with a compressor (12) having an inlet communicating with an ullage space (4) of at least one LNG storage tank (2) and an outlet communicating with a conduit leading from the compressor to at least one engine (38), and a second line with a forcing vaporiser (24) having an inlet communicating with a liquid storage region (6) of the tank (2), the second line being connected to the first line downstream of the compressor (12) and upstream of the at least one engine (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: CRYOSTAR SAS
    Inventor: David De Nardis
  • Patent number: 10786780
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for lowering the water dew point subsea in a produced multiphase hydrocarbon fluid stream containing water, the method comprising the steps of: separating (10) the hydrocarbon fluid stream (1) into a liquid phase (3) and a first gas phase (2); cooling (20) the first gas phase in a controlled mariner to knock out water or condensing water and optionally other condensates while keeping the fluid above a hydrate formation temperature thereof; separating off condensed liquids (6) and a second gas phase; wherein the second gas phase (8) has a water dew point which is lower than that of the initial multiphase hydrocarbon fluid stream. The invention also concerns a system for lowering the water dew point subsea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: EQUINOR ENERGY AS
    Inventors: Baard Kaasa, Bernt Henning Rusten, Knut Arild Marak, Arne Olav Fredheim
  • Patent number: 10781359
    Abstract: A method for enhanced or improved oil recovery includes injecting a miscible injection fluid comprising an unfractionated hydrocarbon mixture through an injection well into a hydrocarbon bearing formation. Simultaneously and/or subsequently, a mobility control fluid is injected into the hydrocarbon bearing formation. Residual hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon bearing formation are mobilized and displaced by the miscible injection fluid and/or the mobility control fluid to a production well through which they are produced to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: John A. Babcock, Charles P. Siess, III, Kevin G. Watts
  • Patent number: 10767890
    Abstract: A drive shaft rotates a load. A drive support rotates the drive shaft and supports a radial load of the drive shaft in a non-contact manner, by an electromagnetic force generated by the flow of a current within a predetermined current range through the drive support. A control section controls an operation of the load based on a magnetic flux margin degree expressed by the difference between a total magnetic flux amount generated at the drive support and a predetermined limit of the total magnetic flux amount for the drive support. The total magnetic flux amount includes driving magnetic flux and the supporting magnetic flux in a predetermined operation region of the load. The driving magnetic flux is generated at the drive support for rotating the drive shaft. The supporting magnetic flux is generated at the drive support for supporting a radial load of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Nakazawa, Atsushi Sakawaki
  • Patent number: 10662821
    Abstract: A power recovery system for recovering power from a working fluid, comprising a heat exchanger that is configured to receive a first stream of the working fluid, one or more expansion stages for expanding the working fluid to recover power from the working fluid, wherein one or more of the expansion stages is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat between the first stream of the working fluid and another stream of the working fluid that is received from one or more of the expansion stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Highview Enterprises Limited
    Inventor: Nicola Castellucci
  • Patent number: 10590861
    Abstract: A method for operating a power plant having a gas turbine and an emergency fuel system where in a normal operating state, gas is supplied from a supply line to the combustion process of the gas turbine, and in addition gas is supplied from the supply line to a gas liquefaction plant where it is liquefied, forming a liquid gas which is stored in a liquid gas store. In special operating state, liquefied gas is drawn from the liquid gas store and is evaporated in an evaporator, and is fed in the gaseous state into the combustion process of the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Nixdorf, Karl-Heinz Persicke, Wilhelm Thiele
  • Patent number: 10571189
    Abstract: A method for operating a main cryogenic heat exchanger for use in a natural gas liquefaction process, involves monitoring or predicting variations in the flow rate of a feed gas stream provided to the main cryogenic heat exchanger. When a variation of the flow rate exceeding a predetermined threshold value is monitored or predicted, a control scheme is started to control one or more compressor recycle valves in response to the monitored or predicted variation of the flow rate to recycle part of a compressed mixed refrigerant stream in a refrigerant loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeroen Van De Rijt, Pierre Christian Marie Carrette, Hossein Khajavi
  • Patent number: 9505692
    Abstract: The invention provides improved energy content in and shaft power recovery from off-gas from xylene oxidation reactions while at the same time minimizing wastewater treatment cost. More shaft power is produced using off-gas than is required to drive the main air compressor, even with preferred, relatively low oxidation temperatures. Simultaneously, an amount of wastewater greater than byproduct water from oxidation of xylene is kept in vapor form and treated along with off-gas pollutants in a self-sustaining (self-fueling) gas-phase thermal oxidative destruction unit. Optionally, off-gas is combined from multiple xylene oxidation reactors, comprising primary and/or secondary oxidation reactors and forming TPA and/or IPA. Optionally, air compressor condensate and caustic scrubber blowdown are used in a TPA process or as utility water, effectively eliminating normal flow of liquid wastewater effluent from a TPA plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Grupo Petrotemex, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Raymond Elbert Fogle, III, Ronald Buford Sheppard, Timothy Alan Upshaw, Alan George Wonders
  • Patent number: 9493387
    Abstract: The invention provides improved energy content in and shaft power recovery from off-gas from xylene oxidation reactions while at the same time minimizing wastewater treatment cost. More shaft power is produced using off-gas than is required to drive the main air compressor, even with preferred, relatively low oxidation temperatures. Simultaneously, an amount of wastewater greater than byproduct water from oxidation of xylene is kept in vapor form and treated along with off-gas pollutants in a self-sustaining (self-fueling) gas-phase thermal oxidative destruction unit. Optionally, off-gas is combined from multiple xylene oxidation reactors, comprising primary and/or secondary oxidation reactors and forming TPA and/or IPA. Optionally, air compressor condensate and caustic scrubber blowdown are used in a TPA process or as utility water, effectively eliminating normal flow of liquid wastewater effluent from a TPA plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Grupo Petrotemex, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Raymond Elbert Fogle, III, Ronald Buford Sheppard, Timothy Alan Upshaw, Alan George Wonders
  • Patent number: 9493389
    Abstract: The invention provides improved energy content in and shaft power recovery from off-gas from xylene oxidation reactions while at the same time minimizing wastewater treatment cost. More shaft power is produced using off-gas than is required to drive the main air compressor, even with preferred, relatively low oxidation temperatures. Simultaneously, an amount of wastewater greater than byproduct water from oxidation of xylene is kept in vapor form and treated along with off-gas pollutants in a self-sustaining (self-fueling) gas-phase thermal oxidative destruction unit. Optionally, off-gas is combined from multiple xylene oxidation reactors, comprising primary and/or secondary oxidation reactors and forming TPA and/or IPA. Optionally, air compressor condensate and caustic scrubber blowdown are used in a TPA process or as utility water, effectively eliminating normal flow of liquid wastewater effluent from a TPA plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Grupo Petrotemex, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Raymond Elbert Fogle, III, Ronald Buford Sheppard, Timothy Alan Upshaw, Alan George Wonders
  • Patent number: 9493388
    Abstract: The invention provides improved energy content in and shaft power recovery from off-gas from xylene oxidation reactions while at the same time minimizing wastewater treatment cost. More shaft power is produced using off-gas than is required to drive the main air compressor, even with preferred, relatively low oxidation temperatures. Simultaneously, an amount of wastewater greater than byproduct water from oxidation of xylene is kept in vapor form and treated along with off-gas pollutants in a self-sustaining (self-fueling) gas-phase thermal oxidative destruction unit. Optionally, off-gas is combined from multiple xylene oxidation reactors, comprising primary and/or secondary oxidation reactors and forming TPA and/or IPA. Optionally, air compressor condensate and caustic scrubber blowdown are used in a TPA process or as utility water, effectively eliminating normal flow of liquid wastewater effluent from a TPA plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Grupo Petrotemex, S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Raymond Elbert Fogle, III, Ronald Buford Sheppard, Timothy Alan Upshaw, Alan George Wonders
  • Patent number: 9284831
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for operating a subsea compression system. The subsea compression system comprising a separator, a compressor and a pump, wherein the compressor is operable for compression and discharge of gas that is separated from a well stream fed into the separator, and the pump is operable for pumping liquid that is separated from the well stream. The compressed gas is recycled from the compressor discharge side to the compressor intake side via a turbo-expander unit which is drivingly connected to the pump, the pump operable in response to circulation of compressed gas from the compressor discharge side to the compressor intake side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Scandinavia AS
    Inventors: Ole Petter Tomter, Jorgen Wessel
  • Patent number: 9163564
    Abstract: The present techniques provide systems and methods for recovering energy from flare gases in chemical plants and refineries. The systems use an engine to burn a portion of gas diverted from the flare system. The engine may be a reciprocating engine, or a burner in a boiler system, among others. The power generated by burning the flare gas is then used to power an energy recovery device. The energy recovery device may be an electrical generator, a compressor, or a steam boiler, among others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventor: John D. Hottovy
  • Patent number: 9127594
    Abstract: A system for compressing a cryogenic gas, particularly a hydrocarbon gas, has a compressor for compressing the gas and a line arrangement, which passes the gas to the intake side of the compressor and passes the compressed gas to a subsequent device for use. The line arrangement has a bypass and the compressed gas can be passed back to the intake side of the compressor via the bypass. An expander is disposed in the bypass, for re-cooling the gas that flows through the bypass. A method regulates a system for compressing a cryogenic gas, particularly a hydrocarbon gas that occurs during storage of a cryogenic liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Energas GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Dany
  • Publication number: 20150121953
    Abstract: A process for reliquefying a methane-rich fraction, in particular boil-off gas, is described. In this process, a) a methane-rich fraction is compressed to a pressure at least 20% above the critical pressure of the fraction to be compressed, b) liquefied and supercooled, c) depressurized to a pressure in the range from 5 to 20 bar, d) separated into a gaseous nitrogen-rich fraction and a liquid nitrogen-depleted fraction, e) the nitrogen-depleted fraction is depressurized to a pressure in the range from 1.1 to 2.0 bar, f) the gaseous fraction obtained, without being warmed and compressed, is mixed into the methane-rich fraction, and g) the liquid product fraction obtained in the depressurization of the low-nitrogen fraction has a nitrogen content of ?1.5 mol %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Heinz Bauer, Hubert Franke, Andreas Bub
  • Patent number: 8931306
    Abstract: A wet hydrocarbon stream having at least methane and water, provided at a temperature equal to a first temperature, is cooled thereby lowering the temperature to a second temperature. In a water removal device a wet disposal stream having water is withdrawn from the wet hydrocarbon stream, at the second temperature. An effluent stream having the wet hydrocarbon stream from which the wet disposal stream has been removed, is discharged from the water removal device and passed to a further heat exchanger. A refrigerant stream is also passed to the further heat exchanger, and both the effluent stream and the refrigerant stream are cooled in the further heat exchanger by indirect heat exchanging against an evaporating refrigerant fraction. The effluent stream is heated by indirectly heat exchanging against the wet hydrocarbon stream. The cooling of the wet hydrocarbon stream includes this indirectly heat exchanging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Cornelis Buijs, Francois Chantant
  • Patent number: 8920538
    Abstract: A method and a device for compressing a gas-phase medium, particularly hydrogen or natural gas, in a single-stage or multistage process using at least one piston compressor, wherein the medium may have a water content up to total saturation with water. The medium to be compressed is heated before the compression at least to such point that the water is unable to condense out during the compression process, and the compressed medium undergoes a water separation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert Adler, Sascha Dorner, Georg Siebert, Martin Stehrlein
  • Publication number: 20140366577
    Abstract: The present invention is a field-deployable system for separating methane and natural gas liquids (NGLs) from a raw gas stream comprising a compressor; a dehydrator; a refrigerator having one or more stages; and a separation subsystem adapted to separate the raw gas stream into three product streams including a methane stream that is at least 80% methane, an ethane-rich stream, and a NGLs stream having a vapor pressure of no more than 250 psia at 38° C. The methane stream is sufficiently lean to be useable in existing natural gas engines without modification. The NGLs stream has a sufficiently low vapor pressure to be transportable in standard propane containers. The ethane-rich stream may be utilized within the system itself to power its own operations. The system can be utilized to reduce flaring from liquids-rich gas production sites to an absolute minimum, produce natural gas liquids for transport, and provide dry methane gas suitable for use in portable field generators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: PIONEER ENERGY INC.
    Inventors: Robert M Zubrin, Gevorg Sargsyan, Kevin Hotton, Matthew Lewis, Andrew Young
  • Patent number: 8911535
    Abstract: A process for efficiently removing carbon dioxide from a hydrocarbon containing feed stream utilizing a membrane separation unit in conjunction with a heat exchanger and a carbon dioxide separation unit wherein the streams obtained in the carbon dioxide separation unit are utilized to provide the cooling effect in the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Sudhir S. Kulkarni, Edgar S. Sanders, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8899074
    Abstract: A method of natural gas liquefaction may include cooling a gaseous NG process stream to form a liquid NG process stream. The method may further include directing the first tail gas stream out of a plant at a first pressure and directing a second tail gas stream out of the plant at a second pressure. An additional method of natural gas liquefaction may include separating CO2 from a liquid NG process stream and processing the CO2 to provide a CO2 product stream. Another method of natural gas liquefaction may include combining a marginal gaseous NG process stream with a secondary substantially pure NG stream to provide an improved gaseous NG process stream. Additionally, a NG liquefaction plant may include a first tail gas outlet, and at least a second tail gas outlet, the at least a second tail gas outlet separate from the first tail gas outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce M. Wilding, Terry D. Turner
  • Patent number: 8893515
    Abstract: A LNG storage and regasification plant includes a reliquefaction unit in which boil-off vapors from the storage tanks are re liquefied and recycled back to the LNG storage tanks for tank pressure and Wobbe index control. Preferably, LNG cold is used for reliquefaction and operational flexibility is achieved by feeding a portion of the pressurized boil-off gas to a fuel gas header and/or to be recondensed by the sendout LNG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Patent number: 8881549
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignees: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd., S.M.E. Products, LP
    Inventors: Andrew F. Johnke, W. Larry Lewis, John D. Wilkinson, Joe T. Lynch, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
  • Publication number: 20140137599
    Abstract: A system and methods for recovering helium from a natural gas stream are disclosed. The system may include a cold box configured to chill a feed stream and a cryogenic stripper column configured to separate the feed stream into a gaseous top stream and a liquid bottom stream. The gaseous top stream includes an enhanced concentration of helium. A Joule-Thompson (J-T) valve is configured to flash at least a portion of the liquid bottom stream into a first gaseous stream into a heat exchanger in a cold box to chill the feed stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Russell H. Oelfke, Donald Victory
  • Patent number: 8707730
    Abstract: A process comprising receiving an ethane-rich stream comprising at least about 70 molar percent ethane, conditioning the ethane-rich stream to a temperature such that the ethane-rich stream has a vapor pressure similar to the vapor pressure of conventional liquefied natural gas (LNG), and transporting the conditioned ethane-rich stream. Included is a plurality of processing equipment configured to implement a process comprising receiving an ethane-rich stream, adjusting a temperature, a pressure, or both of the ethane-rich stream such that the ethane-rich stream has a temperature from about ?160° F. to about 0° F. and a pressure from about 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute (psia) to about 100 psia, and removing substantially all of any vapor fraction from the ethane-rich stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Alkane, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Prim
  • Publication number: 20140075986
    Abstract: A process is described herein for the production of a selected quantity of ethane as a component of a production inventory of mixed refrigerant for an LNG production plant prior to start-up of the LNG production plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Woodside Energy Technologies Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Derek William Hodges
  • Patent number: 8673056
    Abstract: The invention is directed to processes and apparatuses for gas treatment, in particular for the purification of methane rich gas streams, such as gas obtained from the conversion from organic matter (“biogas”). In accordance with the present invention there is provided an apparatus and a process for producing a purified methane comprising gas stream (P) from a methane containing gas stream (A), comprising the steps of: (a) pressurising said methane containing gas stream (A) and subsequently cooling it, whereby a stream comprising condensed contaminants (C) and a methane comprising stream (B) are obtained; (b) optionally feeding said methane comprising stream (B) to an adsorption unit and/or a catalytic conversion unit, whereby the concentration of contaminants in stream (B) is further decreased; and (c) cooling the methane comprising stream (B) to a temperature which is sufficient to condensate CO2 from said stream (B), whereby said purified methane comprising gas stream (P) is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Gastreatment Services B.V.
    Inventors: Mathieu André De Bas, Jacob Kuiper, Jeroen De Pater
  • Patent number: 8667812
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ordoff Engineers, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyle T. Cuellar, John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson
  • Publication number: 20140060112
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for separating C2+-hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-rich fraction comprising partially condensing a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, and separating the hydrocarbon-rich fraction into a gaseous fraction and a liquid fraction. These fractions are subjected to a rectification fractionation to obtain a methane-rich fraction and a C2+-hydrocarbon-rich fraction. The methane-rich fraction is compressed, and a partial stream of the compressed methane-rich fraction is condensed is fed as reflux to rectification fractionation. In addition, before rectification fractionation, the liquid fraction is separated into two partial streams. The first partial stream is partially evaporated and then is fed to rectification fractionation. The second partial stream is undercooled and then is fed as additional reflux to rectification fractionation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Rainer SAPPER, Jurgen WITTE
  • Publication number: 20140060113
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for separating C2+-hydrocarbons or C3+-hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-rich fraction is described, whereby the separation is carried out in a rectification fractionation. The rectification fractionation is provided with at least three heating circuits via which intermediate fractions are drawn off from rectification fractionation, partially evaporated and fed back again to rectification fractionation. In the method, removal of the intermediate fraction circulating in the heating circuit located at the highest temperature level is at least temporarily interrupted. During this interruption, a partial stream of a bottom fraction from the rectification fractionation is partially evaporated against an external medium and is fed as a bottom heating to the rectification fractionation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Rainer SAPPER, Jurgen WITTE