Patents Assigned to Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
  • Patent number: 6383455
    Abstract: A cracking furnace within the firebox of which is located a ceramic structure presenting opposing wall surfaces which thereby define a slot-like passageway through which hydrocarbons may be fed through the firebox of the furnace. This ceramic structure is capable of service under much greater heat loads and temperatures than are metallic reaction lines as have heretofore been used, allowing for a greater firebox temperature which in turn produces an even more rapid cracking of saturated hydrocarbon into ethylene at millisecond residence times within the firebox limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Dennis A. Duncan, Joseph M. Gondolfe
  • Patent number: 6312652
    Abstract: A furnace construction for cracking of saturated hydrocarbon feed stocks to olefinic product mixtures, wherein the reaction lines of such furnace are fabricated of a ceramic refractory feed inlet pipe coaxially located with a ceramic refractory tube to define an annular space there between which in part is located without and within the radiant heating firebox volume of such furnace, this to provide for a zone wherein hot cracked olefin product gas is quenched in temperature in such annular space outside of such firebox and a cracking zone within the firebox within which hydrocarbon feed is cracked to an olefin containing product gas composition. The ceramic refractory material construction permits of such pipe-tube reaction line structure to be exposed to a much greater heat/temperature content of which the firebox is capable than reaction lines of metallic construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Dennis A. Duncan
  • Patent number: 6271433
    Abstract: The invention relates to a new process for more efficient separation and recovery of light olefins such as ethylene and propylene from a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The new process invention for recovering olefins from a mixture of cracked hydrocarbons from a fluid catalytic cracker comprises the steps of: (a) providing a mixture of cracked hydrocarbons including methane, ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane, butylene, butane and heavier hydrocarbons such as naphtha produced in a fluid catalytic cracker; (b) separating said mixture into (i) a first stream comprising substantially all of said ethane, ethylene, and methane and a major portion of said propane and propylene and (ii) a second stream comprising a portion of said butylene and butane, and a major portion of said heavier hydrocarbons; and (c) processing said first stream to recover the ethylene and propylene therefrom, and the details of such process described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Ginger S. Keady, Juan Puerto, Berj Garbouchian
  • Patent number: 6267359
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of orthogonal tray stiffeners in supporting tray panels for process tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: John Stippick
  • Patent number: 5981818
    Abstract: A novel process is provided which integrates the cracking of hydrocarbon containing feedstocks with the olefins purification and olefins derivative process utilizing dilute olefin feedstocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: David Purvis, Richard H. Mc Cue
  • Patent number: 5976355
    Abstract: A process for producing liquid fuels from heavy hydrocarbons such as residual oil in which the cracking temperatures are in the range of 800.degree. F. to 1200.degree. F., and the residence times are between 0.05 seconds and 0.50 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Axel R. Johnson, Robert J. Gartside, Joseph L. Ross, Dennis A. Duncan
  • Patent number: 5939596
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process and system for the removal of butadiene from a cracked gas stream prior to entering a front end hydrogenation reactor in an olefin production facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Mark Whitney
  • Patent number: 5859304
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method for recovering high purity olefins from cracked gas effluents or other parafin/olefin gaseous mixtures by use of a chemical absorption process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Richard Barchas, Richard McCue, Jr., Christopher Wallsgrove, Mark Whitney
  • Patent number: 5837129
    Abstract: The invention is a process and apparatus for rapidly and efficiently separating a fluidized catalytic cracking mixture into cracking catalysts and hydrocarbon vapor. The invention decreases the production of unwanted hydrocarbon byproducts by decreasing the contact time between the separated hydrocarbon vapor and the cracking catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Ross, Jr., Charles Schaub
  • Patent number: 5768913
    Abstract: A process and system for providing cooling service (refrigerant) for a gas separation process wherein the refrigerant is obtained from the system process fluid and after serving as refrigerant is returned to the process side for separation into product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Richard H. McCue, Jr., Mark Whitney, John L. Pickering, Jr., David Chen
  • Patent number: 5766558
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for improving the contacting of feedstock and regenerated catalytic particulates in certain fluid catalytic cracking processes and apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Warren S. Letzsch, Gerald Earl
  • Patent number: 5763715
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process and system for the removal of butadiene from a cracked gas stream prior to entering a front end hydrogenation reactor in an olefin production facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Mark Whitney
  • Patent number: 5523502
    Abstract: A novel process having improved flexibility in olefins production is provided which integrates a deep catalytic cracking process with a steam cracking process, and optionally, also including steps of disproportionation and C.sub.4 hydrocarbon processing including methyl tertiary butyl ether synthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Jacob N. Rubin
  • Patent number: 5427655
    Abstract: A quench boiler apparatus and process is disclosed wherein the hot effluent gases are indirectly cooled by contact with a central internal cold side, one or more internal bayonets and one or more waterwall tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Herman N. Woebcke, Victor Andruszewski
  • Patent number: 5382707
    Abstract: There is provided a novel integrated process for producing methyl tertiary butyl ether from a C.sub.4 containing hydrocarbon feedstock comprising passing the feedstock through zones of butadiene hydrogenation, MTBE synthesis, paraffin/olefin separation and skeletal isomerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Jacob N. Rubin, Johannes C. Norenburg
  • Patent number: 5368726
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating and regenerating a spent caustic solution at ambient temperatures which includes means for oxidizing the spent caustic stream with an air/ozone gas mixture, followed by irradiating the oxidized spent caustic stream with a broad range of ultraviolet radiation and finally filtering the spent caustic solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Stephen Z. Masoomian
  • Patent number: 5340545
    Abstract: A catalytic cracking unit is disclosed which provides for quenching of a riser reactor effluent downstream of a rough cut separator and upstream of a cyclone separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Robert J. Gartside, Richard C. Norton
  • Patent number: 5324484
    Abstract: A catalytic cracking unit is disclosed which provides for separation and quenching of a catalytic cracking effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Robert J. Gartside, Richard C. Norton
  • Patent number: 5280756
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling and providing guidance in reducing the level of NO.sub.x emissions based on controllable combustion parameters and model calculations while maintaining satisfactory plant performance and not causing other harmful consequences to the furnace. To implement such a system, boiler control values of flow, pressure, temperature, valve and damper positions in addition to emission sensors for data associated with the production of NO.sub.x, O.sub.2, CO, unburned carbon and fuel. This information is received from standard sensors located throughout a boiler which are connected either to a distributed control system (DCS), or another data acquisition system which is time coordinated with the DCS. The DCS passes this information to a computing device which then processes the information by model based optimization simulation programs, also referred to as the NO.sub.x Emissions Advisor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Donald E. Labbe
  • Patent number: 5271827
    Abstract: An improved hydrocarbon pyrolysis process and apparatus for the production of ethylene comprising a novel furnace comprised of an unfired superheater radiant section and a fired radiant section, adiabatic tube reactor and quench boiler is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Herman N. Woebcke