Patents Assigned to Air Products and Chemical, Inc.
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Publication number: 20220049848Abstract: A process for combusting a high-moisture fuel to generate steam in which the high-moisture solid fuel is first dried by contacting with an oxygen-depleted gas stream while being heated by indirect heat exchange with a recirculating thermal fluid. The dried fuel is then combusted with a combustion air stream to produce a combustion products stream whose heat first is used to generate steam, and then to preheat the combustion air stream by indirect heat exchange in which a portion of the combustion air stream and/or a portion of the combustion products stream bypasses the heat exchanger. The combustion products stream also provides heat to dry the solid fuel via the recirculating thermal fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2020Publication date: February 17, 2022Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventor: Mark Daniel D'Agostini
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Publication number: 20220033983Abstract: Hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water using electricity generated from a renewable energy source such as wind and/or solar radiation, compressed in a multistage compression system and consumed in at least one downstream process. Supply of hydrogen to the downstream process(es) fluctuates with demand and/or the availability of the renewable energy source. In order to accommodate such fluctuations, excess hydrogen is stored during periods when production of hydrogen exceeds that required by the downstream process(es) so that, during periods when demand exceeds production, hydrogen is removed from storage and, after suitable pressure reduction, fed to the downstream process(es) via a stage of the multistage compression system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Paul Higginbotham, Vince White
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Publication number: 20220026147Abstract: A control scheme for a furnace can use real-time and historical data to model performance and determine relationships between different data and performance parameters for use in correcting suboptimal performance of the furnace in real-time. Operational parameters can be logged throughout the cycle for all cycles for a period of time in order to establish a baseline. This data can then be used to calculate the performance of the process. A regression analysis can be carried out in order to determine which parameters affect different aspects of performance. These relationships can then be used to predict performance during a single cycle in real-time and provide closed or open loop feedback to control furnace operation to result in enhanced performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2020Publication date: January 27, 2022Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Martin Lawrence, Avishek Guha, Reed Jacob Hendershot
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Publication number: 20220016565Abstract: A radial adsorber can be configured to facilitate utilization of different layers of material. The radial adsorber, system using at least one radial adsorber, and methods of utilizing embodiments of the radial adsorber can help permit improved efficient operation of fluid purification processing while also being configured to minimize, if not fully avoid, being susceptible to the effect of fluidization.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2020Publication date: January 20, 2022Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Gowri Krishnamurthy, Nasim Ul Hassan Malik, Edward Landis Weist, JR., King Wai Hung
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Publication number: 20220008995Abstract: A method and system for providing cooling to a part formed using high-temperature additive manufacturing process. Infrared sensors or cameras are used to measure sidewall temperatures and, optionally, top layer temperature. Coolant nozzles provide cooling to the sidewalls of the finished layers and, optionally, to the top layer. The coolant intensity of the coolant nozzles is controlled in order to reduce temperature gradients between layers and/or to maintain temperatures in each layer below preferred maximum temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Liang He, Ranajit Ghosh, Mark Kurt Weise
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Patent number: 11221176Abstract: A natural gas liquefaction method and system having integrated nitrogen removal. Recycled LNG gas is cooled in a separate and parallel circuit from the natural gas stream in the main heat exchanger. Cooled recycled gas and natural gas streams are directed to a nitrogen rectifier column after the warm bundle. The recycle stream is introduced to the rectifier column above the natural gas stream and at least one separation stage is located in the rectifier column between the recycle stream inlet and the natural gas inlet. The bottom stream from the rectifier column is directed to a cold bundle of the main heat exchanger where it is subcooled.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2018Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Mark Julian Roberts, Fei Chen, Christopher Michael Ott, Annemarie Ott Weist
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Publication number: 20210402346Abstract: A radial flow adsorption vessel comprising a cylindrical outer shell having a top end and a bottom end, the top end is enclosed by a vessel head that provides a centrical opening usable as a port to introduce or remove adsorbent particles into or from the vessel; at least one annular adsorption space disposed inside the shell, the at least one annular adsorption space defined by an outer and inner cylindrical porous wall, both co-axially disposed inside the shell; and a loading device for the adsorbent particles positioned above the at least one annular adsorption space at the top end of the vessel, the loading device comprises at least one conical element that extends radially to the outer cylindrical porous wall, the at least one conical element provides a plurality of orifices arranged at least in a region sitting above the at least one annular adsorption space.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2020Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Micah S. Kiffer, William Eric Karlson
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Publication number: 20210404738Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for liquefying natural gas using an open-loop natural gas refrigeration cycle; coil wound heat exchanger units suitable for cooling one or more feed streams, such as for example one or more natural gas feed streams, via indirect heat exchange with a gaseous refrigerant; and methods and systems for removing heavy components from a natural gas prior to liquefying the natural gas using an open-loop natural gas refrigeration cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2020Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Mark Julian Roberts, John A. Dally
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Publication number: 20210372611Abstract: A burner gas supply apparatus for increasing flame turbulence, the apparatus comprising a conduit having a characteristic width, W, defined by an inner surface having a circumferential direction and an axial direction, the axial direction terminating in a nozzle defining a nozzle exit plane and having a characteristic dimension, d, where d<=W; and three bluff bodies each with a characteristic dimension, Dbb-i, projecting a length, Li into the conduit from the inner surface, and an axial spacing Xi between adjacent bluff bodies (between the downstream bluff body and the nozzle exit plane in the case of X1) wherein 0.5<=Li/W<=1 and wherein Xi/Dbb-i<=30.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2020Publication date: December 2, 2021Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Mark Daniel D'Agostini, Michael J. Gallagher, Ashwin Vinod
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Patent number: 11187467Abstract: A method of constructing a coil wound heat exchange module and transporting and installing the coil wound heat exchange module at a plant site, such as an natural gas liquefaction plant. A module frame is constructed and attached to a heat exchanger shell prior to telescoping of a coil wound mandrel into the shell. The module frame includes a lug and two saddles that remain attached to the shell throughout the process and when the heat exchanger is operated. The lug and saddles are constructed and located to stabilize the shell during construction, telescoping and transport (when in a horizontal orientation), and when the shell is installed at the plant site (in a vertical orientation). The lugs and saddles are adapted to allow for thermal expansion and contraction of the shell when it is transitioned from ambient to operating temperature and vice versa.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2020Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Joseph E. Voda, Adam R. Garcia
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Publication number: 20210364237Abstract: A method for preheating metal pellets before charging into a melting furnace, wherein the pellets are transported by a conveyor belt to a chute and discharged from the chute into the melting furnace, the method including heating the pellets by direct flame impingement from two or more banks of burners, wherein the two or more banks of burners comprise an upstream bank of burners and a downstream bank of burners; and controlling the upstream bank of burners to operate oxygen-rich so as to create an oxidizing zone and the downstream bank of burners to operate fuel-rich so as to create a reducing zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Gregory J. Buragino, Anup Vasant Sane, Shailesh Pradeep Gangoli, Xiaoyi He, Larry Saul Zelson
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Patent number: 11173451Abstract: Trace hydrogen may be removed from a dry gas by passing the dry gas at a temperature from about 0° C. to about 60° C. through at least one layer of a first hopcalite catalyst to produce product gas that is at least substantially free of hydrogen, wherein the first hopcalite catalyst has a molar ratio of copper to manganese of more than 0.55. Advantages include increase hydrogen capacity, lower feed and regeneration temperatures and lower sensitivity to carbon dioxide than equivalent processes using standard hopcalite catalyst having a Cu/Mn molar ratio from 0.45 to 0.55.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Garret Chi-Ho Lau, William Jack Casteel, Jr., Timothy Christopher Golden, Venkataramanan Ravi, Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, Guarav Kumar
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Patent number: 11173443Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption process for reducing fluctuations in the flow rate of tail gas from the adsorption unit and reducing fluctuations in the stoichiometric oxidant flow rate required to completely combust the tail gas in a reformer furnace. Constant flow rate and constant fuel property can be obtained by intelligent mixing designs.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Xiang-Dong Peng, Elizabeth M. D'Addio, Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, Yu Zhang
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Publication number: 20210348850Abstract: A coil-wound heat exchanger with mixed refrigerant shell side cooling that is adapted to reduce radial temperature maldistribution by providing tube sheets at one end of a warm bundle that are each connected to tube sheets in a single circumferential zone and are in fluid flow communication with a control valve. Tube sheets at the other end of the warm bundle are each connected to tube sheets in a single radial section and in multiple circumferential zones. A temperature sensor is provided in each circumferential zone. When a temperature difference is detected, one or more of the control valves is adjusted to reduce the temperature difference.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2020Publication date: November 11, 2021Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Mark Julian Roberts, Justin David Bukowski, Annemarie Ott Weist
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Patent number: 11167240Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption process for reducing fluctuations in the flow rate of tail gas from the adsorption unit. The flow rate of the stream of blowdown gas is regulated responsive signals from a sensor measuring the pressure and/or flow rate of the tail gas comprising the blowdown gas and purge gas effluent before the tail gas is introduced into a surge vessel.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth M. D'Addio, Christopher H. Wood, Quan Min Shao
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Patent number: 11167732Abstract: A system comprising an ammonia cracking unit in which ammonia is split into hydrogen and nitrogen and a hydrogen fueling station for fueling of vehicle tanks with hydrogen from the ammonia cracking unit which comprises gas operated valves (GOVs), one or more hydrogen compressing units wherein the hydrogen from the ammonia cracking unit is compressed, and one or more dispensing units for dispensing the compressed hydrogen to vehicle tanks which each comprise a nozzle through which the hydrogen is passed to the vehicle tank, wherein nitrogen from the ammonia cracking unit is used in e.g.: the operation of one or more of the GOVs; for blanketing one or more of said hydrogen compressing units; for blanketing and/or purging one or more of the dispensing units; for drying one or more of the nozzles between uses to prevent nozzle freeze on.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Joseph P. Cohen, Simone L. Kothare, Anthony R. Kyvelos
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Publication number: 20210341222Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling a gas stream is provided comprising at least one heat exchanger in which a gas stream is cooled against a cooling liquid, whereby the cooling liquid temperature increases from a first temperature to a second temperature, at least one air cooler for cooling the cooling liquid after passing though the at least one heat exchanger, surface area of the at least one air cooler being designed to decrease temperature of the cooling liquid to the first temperature; a pump; and conduits to form a closed-circuit for the cooling liquid to pass continuously through the at least one heat exchanger and the at least one air cooler. The ratio of surface area of the at least one air cooler to the surface area of the at least one heat exchanger is optionally 12 or lower, and the difference of temperature between the second temperature and first temperature being greater than 15° C.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2020Publication date: November 4, 2021Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Todd M. Moyle, Xukun Luo
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Publication number: 20210333050Abstract: A method of constructing a coil wound heat exchange module and transporting and installing the coil wound heat exchange module at a plant site, such as an natural gas liquefaction plant. A module frame is constructed and attached to a heat exchanger shell prior to telescoping of a coil wound mandrel into the shell. The module frame includes a lug and two saddles that remain attached to the shell throughout the process and when the heat exchanger is operated. The lug and saddles are constructed and located to stabilize the shell during construction, telescoping and transport (when in a horizontal orientation), and when the shell is installed at the plant site (in a vertical orientation). The lugs and saddles are adapted to allow for thermal expansion and contraction of the shell when it is transitioned from ambient to operating temperature and vice versa.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2020Publication date: October 28, 2021Applicants: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Joseph E. Voda, Adam R. Garcia
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Patent number: 11155890Abstract: A tuyere comprising an inner tube including a lower section having a first diameter, an upper section having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and a converging transition section having a converging angle ? from 30° to 60° connecting the lower section to the upper section, the inner tube terminating in an inner nozzle at a downstream end of the upper section; and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube so as to create an annulus there between, the outer tube including a lower section having a third diameter larger than the first diameter, an upper section having a fourth diameter smaller than the third diameter but larger than the second diameter, and a converging transition section having connecting the lower section to the upper section, the outer tube terminating in an outer nozzle at a downstream end of the upper section.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Anandkumar Makwana, Anup Vasant Sane, Michael David Buzinski, Gregory J. Buragino
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Publication number: 20210321820Abstract: A processor of a sensor device receives a plurality of images capturing a scene that depicts at least a portion of a conveyer entering a treatment area of a food processing system. The processor processes one or more images, among the plurality of images, to detect one or more characteristics in the scene. Processing the one or more images includes detecting presence or absence of a product on the at least the portion of the conveyor depicted in the scene, and classifying the scene as having one or more characteristics among a predetermined set of characteristics. The sensor device provides characteristics information indicating the one or more characteristics detected in the scene to a controller. The characteristics information is to be used by the controller to control operation of one or both of the conveyor and the treatment area of the food processing system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2020Publication date: October 21, 2021Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Reed Jacob Hendershot, Avishek Guha, Shawn Haupt, Ankit Naik, Michael Robert Himes, Erdem Arslan
