Patents Assigned to Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11781809
    Abstract: Provided are mixed refrigerant systems and methods and, more particularly, to a mixed refrigerant system and methods that provides greater efficiency and reduced power consumption via control of a liquid level in a cold vapor separator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas, Peter J. Turner, Michael Malsam
  • Patent number: 11732962
    Abstract: A system for cooling a gas with a mixed refrigerant includes a heat exchanger that receives and cools a feed of the gas so that a product is produced. The system includes a mixed refrigerant processing system having compression devices and aftercoolers as well as a low pressure accumulator and a high pressure accumulator. A cold vapor separator receives vapor from the high pressure accumulator and features a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet. Vapor from the cold vapor separator vapor outlet is cooled, expanded and directed to a primary refrigeration passage of the heat exchanger. Liquid from the liquid outlet of the cold vapor separator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage. Liquid from the low pressure accumulator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage. Liquid from the high pressure accumulator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas
  • Patent number: 11686528
    Abstract: A system for removing nitrogen from a natural gas fluid feed stream includes a main heat exchanger that receives the natural gas fluid feed stream. A distillation column receives a cooled fluid stream from the main heat exchanger and features a return vapor outlet and a side vapor outlet port. The return vapor outlet provides nitrogen vapor to the main heat exchanger which is warmed therein. The side vapor outlet port provides vapor to the main heat exchanger and a reflux compressor receives and compresses the resulting fluid from the main heat exchanger. A reflux aftercooler receives and cools fluid from the reflux compressor, directs cooled fluid to the main heat exchanger and the resulting fluid is directed to a reflux separation device. The reflux separation device has a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet. The vapor outlet of the reflux separation device directs fluid to the main heat exchanger so that fluid is directed to the first reflux inlet port of the distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Turner, Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas
  • Patent number: 11629912
    Abstract: A main heat exchanger receives and partially condenses an effluent fluid stream so that a mixed phase effluent stream is formed. A primary separation device receives and separates the mixed phase effluent stream into a primary vapor stream including hydrogen and a primary liquid stream including an olefinic hydrocarbon. The main heat exchanger receives and warms at least a portion of the primary vapor stream to provide refrigeration for partially condensing the effluent fluid stream. The main heat exchanger also receives, warms and partially vaporizes the primary liquid stream. A mixed refrigerant compression system also provides refrigeration in the main heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Brent A. Heyrman, Timothy P. Gushanas, Richard Hopewell
  • Patent number: 11566827
    Abstract: A system for condensing and phase separating a refrigerant fluid includes a condenser inlet header configured to receive a stream of refrigerant vapor. A condenser is in fluid communication with the condenser header and is configured to receive vapor and produce a mixed phase fluid stream. An elongated manifold separator including multiple mixed phase inlets is configured to separate mixed phase fluid received from the condenser. Resulting vapor and liquid streams exit vapor and liquid outlets of the manifold separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. Turner
  • Patent number: 11543181
    Abstract: A system for separating olefinic hydrocarbon and hydrogen in an effluent fluid stream from a dehydrogenation reactor includes a heat exchanger that receives and partially condenses the effluent fluid stream so that a mixed phase effluent stream is formed. A primary separation device receives and separates the mixed phase effluent stream into a primary vapor stream and a primary liquid product stream. A heat exchanger receives and partially condenses the primary vapor stream so that a mixed phase primary stream is formed. A secondary separation device receives and separates the mixed phase primary stream into a secondary vapor stream and a secondary liquid product stream. A heat exchanger receives and warms the secondary vapor stream to provide refrigeration for partially condensing the effluent fluid stream and a heat exchanger receives and warms the secondary vapor stream to provide refrigeration for partially condensing the primary vapor stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Brent A. Heyrman, Timothy P. Gushanas, Richard Hopewell
  • Patent number: 11428463
    Abstract: Provided are mixed refrigerant systems and methods and, more particularly, to a mixed refrigerant system and methods that provides greater efficiency and reduced power consumption via control of a liquid level in a cold vapor separator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas, Peter J. Turner, Michael Malsam
  • Patent number: 11408676
    Abstract: A system and method for cooling a gas using a mixed refrigerant includes a compressor system and a heat exchange system, where the compressor system may include an interstage separation device or drum with no liquid outlet, a liquid outlet in fluid communication with a pump that pumps liquid forward to a high pressure separation device or a liquid outlet through which liquid flows to the heat exchanger to be subcooled. In the last situation, the subcooled liquid is expanded and combined with an expanded cold temperature stream, which is a cooled and expanded stream from the vapor side of a cold vapor separation device, and subcooled and expanded streams from liquid sides of the high pressure separation device and the cold vapor separation device, or combined with a stream formed from the subcooled streams from the liquid sides of the high pressure separation device and the cold vapor separation device after mixing and expansion, to form a primary refrigeration stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., James Podolski
  • Patent number: 11408673
    Abstract: Provided are mixed refrigerant systems and methods and, more particularly, to a mixed refrigerant system and methods that provides greater efficiency and reduced power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas, Peter J. Turner, Brent Heyrman
  • Patent number: 11268877
    Abstract: A plate fin fluid processing device includes active layers, where each active layer includes a fin plate sandwiched between parting sheets so that an active fluid space is defined between the parting sheets. The active layers include an outermost active layer having an inlet and an outlet. A contingent layer body is positioned adjacent to the outermost active layer and includes a fin plate positioned between a parting sheet and a cap sheet. The contingent layer body has a fluid space that is sealed with respect to the atmosphere. A pressure monitoring system is in communication with the fluid space of the contingent layer body. An emergency pressure relief device is configured to release a pressure within the fluid space if a preset pressure is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam McNeilly, Steven J. Vallee, Kyle Adams, Emma Carter, Zeke Skarlupka, Joseph Vanevenhoven, Robert Robson
  • Patent number: 11187457
    Abstract: A system for cooling a gas with a mixed refrigerant includes a heat exchanger that receives and cools a feed of the gas so that a product is produced. The system includes a mixed refrigerant processing system having compression devices and aftercoolers as well as a low pressure accumulator and a high pressure accumulator. A cold vapor separator receives vapor from the high pressure accumulator and features a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet. Vapor from the cold vapor separator vapor outlet is cooled, expanded and directed to a primary refrigeration passage of the heat exchanger. Liquid from the liquid outlet of the cold vapor separator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage. Liquid from the low pressure accumulator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage. Liquid from the high pressure accumulator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas
  • Patent number: 10883761
    Abstract: A device for distributing a fluid to a processing component includes a vessel having an inlet port for receiving a stream of fluid. A vapor outlet line is in fluid communication with the fluid processing component and has a vapor outlet line inlet in fluid communication with the headspace of the vessel. A liquid outlet line has a liquid outlet line inlet in fluid communication with a liquid side of the vessel and the fluid processing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Vallee, Zeke Skarlupka, Adam McNeilly, Emma Carter, Ryan Mehus, Michael Ruskin, Robert Robson
  • Patent number: 10663221
    Abstract: A system and method for cooling a gas using a mixed refrigerant includes a compressor system and a heat exchange system, where the compressor system may include an interstage separation device or drum with no liquid outlet, a liquid outlet in fluid communication with a pump that pumps liquid forward to a high pressure separation device or a liquid outlet through which liquid flows to the heat exchanger to be subcooled. In the last situation, the subcooled liquid is expanded and combined with an expanded cold temperature stream, which is a cooled and expanded stream from the vapor side of a cold vapor separation device, and subcooled and expanded streams from liquid sides of the high pressure separation device and the cold vapor separation device, or combined with a stream formed from the subcooled streams from the liquid sides of the high pressure separation device and the cold vapor separation device after mixing and expansion, to form a primary refrigeration stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., James Podolski
  • Patent number: 10619918
    Abstract: A system for removing freezing components from a feed gas includes a heavy hydrocarbon removal heat exchanger and a scrub device. The scrub device includes a scrub column that receives a cooled feed gas stream from the heat exchanger and a reflux separation device. Vapor from the scrub column is directed to the heat exchanger and cooled to create a reflux stream that includes a liquid component. This reflux stream is directed to the reflux separation device and a resulting liquid component stream is used to reflux the column. Vapor from the reflux separation device is expanded and directed to the heat exchanger, where it provides refrigeration, and a processed feed gas line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas, Mark R. Glanville
  • Patent number: 10502483
    Abstract: A system and method for cooling and liquefying a gas in a heat exchanger that includes compressing and cooling a mixed refrigerant using first and last compression and cooling cycles so that high pressure liquid and vapor streams are formed. The high pressure liquid and vapor streams are cooled in the heat exchanger and then expanded so that a primary refrigeration stream is provided in the heat exchanger. The mixed refrigerant is cooled and equilibrated between the first and last compression and cooling cycles so that a pre-cool liquid stream is formed and subcooled in the heat exchanger. The stream is then expanded and passed through the heat exchanger as a pre-cool refrigeration stream. A stream of gas is passed through the heat exchanger in countercurrent heat exchange with the primary refrigeration stream and the pre-cool refrigeration stream so that the gas is cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Gushanas, Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., James Podolski
  • Patent number: 10480851
    Abstract: Provided are mixed refrigerant systems and methods and, more particularly, to a mixed refrigerant system and methods that provides greater efficiency and reduced power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas
  • Patent number: 10345039
    Abstract: A system and method for cooling and liquefying a gas in a heat exchanger that includes compressing and cooling a mixed refrigerant using first and last compression and cooling cycles so that high pressure liquid and vapor streams are formed. The high pressure liquid and vapor streams are cooled in the heat exchanger and then expanded so that a primary refrigeration stream is provided in the heat exchanger. The mixed refrigerant is cooled and equilibrated between the first and last compression and cooling cycles so that a pre-cool liquid stream is formed and subcooled in the heat exchanger. The stream is then expanded and passed through the heat exchanger as a pre-cool refrigeration stream. A stream of gas is passed through the heat exchanger in countercurrent heat exchange with the primary refrigeration stream and the pre-cool refrigeration stream so that the gas is cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Gushanas, Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., James Podolski
  • Patent number: 10267559
    Abstract: A system for liquefying a gas includes a liquefaction heat exchanger having a feed gas inlet adapted to receive a feed gas and a liquefied gas outlet through which the liquefied gas exits after the gas is liquefied in the liquefying passage of the heat exchanger by heat exchange with a primary refrigeration passage. A mixed refrigerant compressor system is configured to provide refrigerant to the primary refrigeration passage. An expander separator is in communication with the liquefied gas outlet of the liquefaction heat exchanger, and a cold gas line is in fluid communication with the expander separator. A cold recovery heat exchanger receives cold vapor from the cold gas line and liquid refrigerant from the mixed refrigerant compressor system so that the refrigerant is cooled using the cold vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas, Mark R. Glanville
  • Patent number: 10060671
    Abstract: A system for liquefying a gas includes a liquefaction heat exchanger having a feed gas inlet adapted to receive a feed gas and a liquefied gas outlet through which the liquefied gas exits after the gas is liquefied in the liquefying passage of the heat exchanger by heat exchange with a primary refrigeration passage. A mixed refrigerant compressor system is configured to provide refrigerant to the primary refrigeration passage. An expander separator is in communication with the liquefied gas outlet of the liquefaction heat exchanger, and a cold gas line is in fluid communication with the expander separator. A cold recovery heat exchanger receives cold vapor from the cold gas line and liquid refrigerant from the mixed refrigerant compressor system so that the refrigerant is cooled using the cold vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas, Mark R. Glanville