Patents by Inventor Ari A. Minkkinen
Ari A. Minkkinen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 6336334Abstract: A device for crystallization of a component from a liquid mixture comprising a chamber, a first conduit connected to said chamber for supplying said mixture, a second conduit connected to and in connection with said chamber for introducing cold gas, a third conduit for withdrawing warmed gas from said crystallizer, a turbo-expander for cooling gas withdrawn from said chamber, and a fourth conduit Icading from the turbo-expander to said chamber. The device has particular application for the crystallization of paraxylene.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1999Date of Patent: January 8, 2002Assignee: Institut Francais de PetroleInventors: Ari Minkkinen, Paul Mikitenko
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Patent number: 6191332Abstract: The specification describes a method and a fixed bed apparatus for producing olefinic hydrocarbons from a charge of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons with 2 to 20 carbon atoms and hydrogen in a chamber 1 comprising a plurality of parallel tubes 3 filled with a catalyst and arranged in rows. A so-called reaction phase and a catalyst-regenerating phase are carried out in the tubes of the chamber. The tubes are heated by appropriate radiant heating means 6, arranged in layers substantially perpendicular to the tubes. These layers heat a first part of the tubes (at the feed side) with a heat flux greater than the mean heat flux of the chamber and a second, subsequent part with a mean flux no more than equal to the mean heat flux, so that the isothermicity of the catalyst is substantially maintained, using appropriate control means.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 1998Date of Patent: February 20, 2001Assignee: Institut Francais du PetroleInventors: Didier Duee, Larry Mank, Pierre Renard, Jean-Piere Burzynski, Gerard Leger, Philippe Vacher, Ari Minkkinen
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Patent number: 6162262Abstract: Device and process for crystallizing a component, e.g.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1998Date of Patent: December 19, 2000Assignee: Institut Francais du PetroleInventors: Ari Minkkinen, Paul Mikitenko
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Patent number: 5782958Abstract: A process for the dehydration, deacidification and stripping of a gas, characterized in that:(a) at least one fraction of the gas is contacted with an aqueous phase containing methanol, the resultant gas being thus charged with methanol being withdrawn from stage (a);(b) the gas withdrawn from stage (a) is contacted with a mixture of solvents comprising methanol, water, and a solvent heavier than methanol, the gas leaving stage (b) being thus at least in part freed of the acid gases which it contained initially;(c) the mixture of solvent obtained from stage (b) is at least in part generated by special reduction and/or heating while liberating at least part of the acid gases, the mixture of solvent being at least partially regenerated, or being at the outlet of stage (c) recycled through stage (b); and(d) the gas obtained from (stage b) is refrigerated while producing at least an aqueous phase containing methanol which is at least in part recycled through stage (a).Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1996Date of Patent: July 21, 1998Assignee: Institut Francais du PetroleInventors: Alexandre Rojey, Etienne Lebas, Joseph Larue, Ari Minkkinen
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Patent number: 5735936Abstract: The process comprises a cold absorption step 2 for removing acid gas from natural gas using a solvent phase at a pressure P.sub.2 which delivers a purified gas 5; a step for depressurizing and separating resultant acidic solvent phase containing hydrocarbons (lines 4, 11), at a pressure P.sub.12 which is lower than pressure P.sub.2 in a column-heat exchanger 12 which delivers a purified gaseous effluent 13 overhead and a further solvent phase at the bottom (line 17) which is enriched in hydrogen sulphide; and a solvent phase regeneration step carried out in a distillation column 18 at a pressure P.sub.18 and no higher than pressure P.sub.12. A gas 29 containing essentially hydrogen sulphide which is depleted in hydrocarbons is recovered from column 18 and is a suitable feed for a Claus plant for eliminating H.sub.2 S. The regenerated hot solvent phase 20 indirectly exchanges heat with the cold acidic solvent phase from absorber 2 or separator 6. It is then recycled to the absorbent after cooling.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 1996Date of Patent: April 7, 1998Assignee: Institut Francais du PetroleInventors: Ari Minkkinen, Joseph Larue, Pierre Capron
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Patent number: 5720929Abstract: A device for the catalytic dehydrogenation of a C.sub.2+ paraffinic hydrocarbon charge is applicable to the synthesis of methyl tert-butyl ether. Effluent coming from the dehydrogenation reactor and containing olefins and water is cooled in at least one heat exchanger (41), saturated with water in a column (3) and sent to a stripping column (10) where it is at least partly put in contact with a recycled aqueous liquid phase containing a solvent, preferably methanol. The compressed gaseous effluent in which the water is thereby inhibited from freezing by the methanol is cooled in a heat exchanger (13) then separated in separator (8) into olefins and into hydrogen. An aqueous liquid phase with methanol is decanted at (8) and recycled in column (10).Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: February 24, 1998Assignee: Institut Francais Du PetroleInventors: Ari Minkkinen, Jean-Pierre Burzynski, Joseph Larue
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Patent number: 5711919Abstract: A device for catalytic dehydrogenation of a C.sub.2+ paraffinic cut with an improved system for cooling the effluent is applicable, for example, to the synthesis of methyl tert-butyl ether. Liquid charge 12 is evaporated in the calandria of a heat exchanger 13 in the optional presence of at least one part recycled hydrogen 15, then optionally compressed in a compressor 14 before being pre-heated in an exchanger 41 by effluent 1 and introduced into a dehydrogenation reactor 40. The effluent cooled in the tubes of exchanger 13 can be mixed with a cryogenic phase 17 resulting from the isentropic expansion of a hydrogen-rich phase separated in a separator 8, the hydrogen optionally being recycled to the calandria of the heat exchanger. The olefins recovered with the unconverted paraffins are stabilized in a column 20.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: January 27, 1998Assignee: Institut Francais du PetroleInventors: Ari Minkkinen, Jean-Pierre Burzynski
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Patent number: 5657705Abstract: A furnace for effecting pyrolysis of waste material includes an essentially cylindrical cavity for effecting pyrolysis of the waste material rotating around its lengthwise axis, a combustion chamber located around the cavity and injectors for introducing fuel and comburant or oxidizing agent into said chamber. The injectors for introducing fuel and comburant are oriented tangentially to a wall of the combustion chamber so that flame or flames created by combustion of the fuel developed in the swirling fashion around the cavity containing the waste material. Also, the injectors are arranged to effect staged combustion within the combustion chamber.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 1995Date of Patent: August 19, 1997Assignee: Institut Francais du PetroleInventors: Gerard Martin, Eric Marty, Ari Minkkinen
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Patent number: 5602291Abstract: The invention involves a process for the isomerization of C.sub.5 /C.sub.6 n-paraffins into isoparaffins comprising:a stage (1) of isomerizing a charge constituted by a light naphtha and recycling a flow rich in methyl-pentanes and n-paraffins,an adsorption stage (2) performed by passing the isomerization effluent onto an adsorbent retaining the n-paraffins and alternating with the adsorpotion stage (2), a desorption stage (3) performed by lowering the pressure and stripping by means of a gas flow rich in methyl-pentanes from the deisohexanization stage (4) anda deisohexanization stage (4) for the adsorption effluent.The isomerate freed from the n-paraffins in stage (2) and distilled in stage (4) is a high octane number product.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1994Date of Patent: February 11, 1997Assignee: Institut Francais du PetroleInventors: Ari Minkkinen, Andre Deschamps, Jean-Paul Cariou
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Patent number: 5536887Abstract: Process for the production of tertiary ethers (MTBE, ETBE, TAME, ETAE) in which a hydrocarbon cut (1) containing four or five carbon atoms is reacted with methanol or ethanol (2, 3) in a reactor and recovering ethers (11) and a distillate (10) after distillation (C.sub.I). The distillate undergoes a first extractive distillation step in column (C.sub.11) in the presence of a solvent (27) which is selective towards olefinic hydrocarbons. A saturated hydrocarbon-rich overhead fraction (15) is recovered along with a bottom fraction (18) which is rich in olefins, solvent and alcohol. The olefins (20) are separated from the solvent and alcohol (24) in a second extractive distillation step (C.sub.III). The olefins are isomerised in a skeletal isomerisation reactor (5) and the isomerate is recycled (2) to reactor (6). The alcohol and solvent are separated in a stripping column (C.sub.IV). Alcohol (26) is recycled to the synthesis reactor (6) while the solvent (27) is recycled to C.sub.II.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 1994Date of Patent: July 16, 1996Assignee: Institut Fracnais du PetroleInventors: Ari Minkkinen, Paul Mikitenko, Lionel Asselineau
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Patent number: 5520249Abstract: A process is described for the pretreatment of a pressurized natural gas which is saturated with water and contains hydrocarbons and hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2 S) from a producing well. At least a portion of the natural gas (1) is brought into contact with at least a portion of recycled liquid condensate (2) in a cyclone (5). The vapor phase (6), containing H.sub.2 S and hydrocarbons, is cooled in zone (20), condensed and separated in separator (3). A gas (30) which is enriched in methane and depleted in H.sub.2 S is recovered while the condensate (8) is recycled to cyclone (5) after preheating if necessary. A water-containing liquid effluent (7) which is enriched in H.sub.2 S and depleted in hydrocarbons is recovered from the bottom of cyclone (5). This is reintroduced into the well (10).Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 1995Date of Patent: May 28, 1996Assignee: Institut Francais du PetroleInventors: Ari Minkkinen, Daniel Benayoun, Yves Barthel
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Patent number: 5491274Abstract: A process and a device for catalytic dehydrogenation of a C.sub.2+ paraffinic cut with an improved system for cooling the effluent is applicable, for example, to the synthesis of methyl tert-butyl ether. Liquid charge 12 is evaporated in the calandria of a heat exchanger 13 in the optional presence of at least one part recycled hydrogen 15, then optionally compressed in a compressor 14 before being preheated in an exchanger 41 by effluent 1 and introduced into a dehydrogenation reactor 40. The effluent cooled in the tubes of exchanger 13 can be mixed with a cryogenic phase 17 resulting from the isentropic expansion of a hydrogen-rich phase separated in a separator 8, the hydrogen optionally being recycled to the calandria of the heat exchanger. The olefins recovered with the unconverted paraffins are stabilized in a column 20.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1993Date of Patent: February 13, 1996Assignee: Institut Francais du PetroleInventors: Ari Minkkinen, Jean-Pierre Burzynski
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Patent number: 5489725Abstract: A process and a device for the catalytic dehydrogenation of a C.sub.2+ paraffinic hydrocarbon charge is applicable to the synthesis of methyl tert-butyl ether. Effluent coming from the dehydrogenation reactor and containing olefins and water is cooled in at least one heat exchanger (41), saturated with water in a column (3) and sent to a stripping column (10) where it is at least partly put in contact with a recycled aqueous liquid phase containing a solvent, preferably methanol. The compressed gaseous effluent in which the water is thereby inhibited from freezing by the methanol is cooled in a heat exchanger (13) then separated in separator (8) into olefins and into hydrogen. An aqueous liquid phase with methanol is decanted at (8) and recycled in column (10).Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1993Date of Patent: February 6, 1996Assignee: Institut Francais Du PetroleInventors: Ari Minkkinen, Jean-Pierre Burzynski, Joseph Larue
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Patent number: 5351756Abstract: A process for the treatment or processing and transportation of a natural gas from a gas well to a reception and treatment or processing terminal comprises, in a zone in the producing well, contacting the natural gas and a recycled liquid phase containing water and at least one anti-hydrate additive and/or at least one anti-corrosion additive, both of which being at least partly miscible with water and which vaporize in the pure state or as an azeotrope. The resultant additive-containing gaseous phase is cooled to form an uncondensed and a condensate. The condensate containing substantially all of the additive is separated from the uncondensed gas and is recycled to the contact zone in the producing well.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1993Date of Patent: October 4, 1994Assignee: Institut Francais du PetroleInventors: Ari Minkkinen, Joseph Larue
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Patent number: 5233120Abstract: The isomerization of C.sub.5 /C.sub.6 n-paraffins to isoparaffins, comprises:a stage (1) of deisopentanizing a charge constituted by a light naphtha,a stage (2) of isomerizing the deisopentanization residue, an adsorption stage (3) carried out by passing the isomerization effluent onto an adsorbent retaining the n-paraffins and alternating with the adsorption stage (3), a desorption stage (4) carried out by lowering the pressure and stripping by means of an isopentane-rich gas flow from the deisopentanization stage.The isomerate freed from the n-paraffins in stage (3) is a product having a high octane number.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 1992Date of Patent: August 3, 1993Assignee: Institut Francais du PetroleInventors: Ari Minkkinen, Larry Mank, Sophie Jullian
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Patent number: 5127231Abstract: Described are a process and an apparatus for transporting and treating a natural gas.The process according to the invention comprises contacting in a zone G.sub.1 the gas issuing from a production well (1) with a liquid phase coming at least in part from recycling (4) and containing water and at least one anti-corrosion additive and/or at least one anti-hydrate additive which is at least partly water-miscible and vaporizing in the pure state or in azeotrope form; transporting the additive-charge gaseous phase in a conduit (5), cooling it at E.sub.1, separating at B.sub.1 an aqueous phase from the non-condensed gas which is collected by way of a conduit (10) and recycling the additive-charged aqueous phase to the contact zone G.sub.1 by way of the line (9, 4).The process and apparatus are for the transportation of natural gas over long distances in particular.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1991Date of Patent: July 7, 1992Assignee: Institut Francais du PetroleInventors: Joseph Larue, Jean Claude Collin, Ari Minkkinen, Alexandre Rojey
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Patent number: 4824445Abstract: A method for recycling gas in an installation for the stabilization of crude oil (1) containing gas/liquid separation stages (2, 3, 4) whose gas removal pipes (12, 13, 14) are connected to the intake of a gas treatment installation (18) which provides a current of rich gas (19) and a current of poor residual gas (20), characterized in that an adjustable part (21, 22) of the poor residual gas current is injected into the flow of crude oil (8), preferably between the penultimate (3) and last (4) gas/liquid separation stage, of the installation for stabilization of crude oil (1), in order to increase the production of liquified petroleum gas and condensates.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1988Date of Patent: April 25, 1989Assignees: Total Compagnie Francaise des Petroles, Abu Dhabi Gas Industries LimitedInventor: Ari Minkkinen
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Patent number: 4561965Abstract: A hot aqueous waste, containing solids, such as tailings from the hot water extraction of bitumen from tar sands, is contacted with air to increase the heat and moisture content of the air, followed by contacting the heated and moisturized air with water to condense moisture from the air and increase the heat content of the water, with the heated water containing condensed moisture being employed as make-up hot water in the extraction. Water recovery can be further increased by subjecting at least a portion of the tailings, prior to contact with air, to an evaporation procedure wherein heat requirements are provided by indirect heat transfer with steam. Evaporate and condensed steam are employed in the extraction.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1981Date of Patent: December 31, 1985Assignee: Lummus Crest Inc.Inventor: Ari A. Minkkinen
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Patent number: 4343691Abstract: A hot aqueous waste, containing solids, such as tailings from the hot water extraction of bitumen from tar sands, is contacted with air to increase the heat and moisture content of the air, followed by contacting the heated and moisturized air with water to condense moisture from the air and increase the heat content of the water, with the heated water containing condensed moisture being employed as make-up hot water in the extraction. Water recovery can be further increased by subjecting at least a portion of the tailings, prior to contact with air, to an evaporation procedure wherein heat requirements are provided by indirect heat transfer with steam. Evaporate and condensed steam are employed in the extraction.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1981Date of Patent: August 10, 1982Assignee: The Lummus CompanyInventor: Ari A. Minkkinen
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Patent number: 4263019Abstract: Volatile liquid, such as benzene, isoprene, cyclopentadiene, butadiene present as a vapor in a blanket gas released from a storage zone for the liquid is absorbed from the gas by use of an absorption oil, followed by contacting of the rich absorption oil with an immiscible extraction solvent in an amount much less than the absorption oil to extract absorbed volatile liquid and provide a lean absorption oil. The volatile liquid is recovered from the extraction solvent, for example, by stripping. By recovering the volatile liquid from the small amount of extraction solvent, rather than the absorption oil, heating and cooling duties are decreased.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 1979Date of Patent: April 21, 1981Assignee: The Lummus CompanyInventor: Ari A. Minkkinen