Patents by Inventor Attilio J. Praderio
Attilio J. Praderio 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).
-
Publication number: 20230251032Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for processing liquefied natural gas (LNG). In one implementation, a solvent is injected into a feed of natural gas at a solvent injection point. A mixed feed is produced from a dispersal of the solvent into the feed of natural gas. The mixed feed contains heavy components. A chilled feed is produced by chilling the mixed feed. The chilled feed includes a vapor and a condensed liquid. The condensed liquid contains a fouling portion of the heavy components condensed by the solvent during chilling. The liquid containing the fouling portion of the heavy components is separated from the vapor. The vapor is directed into a feed chiller heat exchanger following separation of the liquid containing the fouling portion of the heavy components from the vapor, such that the vapor being directed into feed chiller heat exchanger is free of freezing components.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Inventors: Michael J. Calderon, Dale L. Embry, Paul R. Davies, Attilio J. Praderio
-
Publication number: 20230194161Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for processing liquefied natural gas (LNG). In one implementation, a dry feed gas is received. The dry feed gas is chilled with clean vapor from a heavies removal column to form a chilled feed gas. The chilled feed gas is partially condensed into a vapor phase and a liquid phase. The liquid phase retains freezing components. The freezing components are extracted using a reflux stream in the heavies removal column. The freezing components are removed as a condensate. The vapor phase is compressed into a clean feed gas. The clean feed gas is free of the freezing components for downstream liquefaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2023Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Jinghua Chan, Qi Ma, Dale L. Embry, Attilio J. Praderio
-
Patent number: 11662141Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for processing liquefied natural gas (LNG). In one implementation, a solvent is injected into a feed of natural gas at a solvent injection point. A mixed feed is produced from a dispersal of the solvent into the feed of natural gas. The mixed feed contains heavy components. A chilled feed is produced by chilling the mixed feed. The chilled feed includes a vapor and a condensed liquid. The condensed liquid contains a fouling portion of the heavy components condensed by the solvent during chilling. The liquid containing the fouling portion of the heavy components is separated from the vapor. The vapor is directed into a feed chiller heat exchanger following separation of the liquid containing the fouling portion of the heavy components from the vapor, such that the vapor being directed into feed chiller heat exchanger is free of freezing components.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventors: Michael J. Calderon, Dale L. Embry, Paul R. Davies, Attilio J. Praderio
-
Patent number: 11604025Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for processing liquefied natural gas (LNG). In one implementation, a dry feed gas is received. The dry feed gas is chilled with clean vapor from a heavies removal column to form a chilled feed gas. The chilled feed gas is partially condensed into a vapor phase and a liquid phase. The liquid phase retains freezing components. The freezing components are extracted using a reflux stream in the heavies removal column. The freezing components are removed as a condensate. The vapor phase is compressed into a clean feed gas. The clean feed gas is free of the freezing components for downstream liquefaction.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2020Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventors: Jinghua Chan, Qi Ma, Dale L. Embry, Attilio J. Praderio
-
Publication number: 20220364005Abstract: The invention relates to a system, method and apparatus for processing natural gas in an LNG facility. A natural gas feed is introduced into a heavies removal unit. The heavies removal system includes a heavies removal column and a distillation column. The heavies removal column and the distillation column are connected via a purge/recovery line. One or more components of the natural gas feed is purged from the heavies removal column to the distillation column via the purge/recovery line to obtain a specified concentration or concentration range of heavy components feeding into the distillation column.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: Attilio J. PRADERIO, Qi MA, Wesley R. QUALLS, Will T. JAMES, Michael J. CALDERON, Paul R. DAVIES
-
Publication number: 20210116173Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for processing liquefied natural gas (LNG). In one implementation, a dry feed gas is received. The dry feed gas is chilled with clean vapor from a heavies removal column to form a chilled feed gas. The chilled feed gas is partially condensed into a vapor phase and a liquid phase. The liquid phase retains freezing components. The freezing components are extracted using a reflux stream in the heavies removal column. The freezing components are removed as a condensate. The vapor phase is compressed into a clean feed gas. The clean feed gas is free of the freezing components for downstream liquefaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: Jinghua Chan, Qi Ma, Dale L. Embry, Attilio J. Praderio
-
Publication number: 20200340741Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for processing liquefied natural gas (LNG). In one implementation, a solvent is injected into a feed of natural gas at a solvent injection point. A mixed feed is produced from a dispersal of the solvent into the feed of natural gas. The mixed feed contains heavy components. A chilled feed is produced by chilling the mixed feed. The chilled feed includes a vapor and a condensed liquid. The condensed liquid contains a fouling portion of the heavy components condensed by the solvent during chilling. The liquid containing the fouling portion of the heavy components is separated from the vapor. The vapor is directed into a feed chiller heat exchanger following separation of the liquid containing the fouling portion of the heavy components from the vapor, such that the vapor being directed into feed chiller heat exchanger is free of freezing components.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2020Publication date: October 29, 2020Inventors: Michael J. Calderon, Dale L. Embry, Paul R. Davies, Attilio J. Praderio
-
Publication number: 20190376741Abstract: The invention relates to a system, method and apparatus for processing natural gas in an LNG facility. A natural gas feed is introduced into a heavies removal unit. The heavies removal system includes a heavies removal column and a distillation column. The heavies removal column and the distillation column are connected via a purge/recovery line. One or more components of the natural gas feed is purged from the heavies removal column to the distillation column via the purge/recovery line to obtain a specified concentration or concentration range of heavy components feeding into the distillation column.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2018Publication date: December 12, 2019Inventors: Attilio J. PRADERIO, Qi MA, Wesley R. QUALLS, Will T. JAMES, Michael J. CALDERON, Paul R. DAVIES
-
Patent number: 9989304Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for liquefying natural gas. In another aspect, the invention concerns an improved liquefied natural gas facility employing a closed loop methane refrigeration cycle. In another aspect, the invention concerns the utilization of lean boil-off gas.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2010Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Megan V. Evans, Attilio J. Praderio, Lisa M. Strassle
-
Patent number: 9920985Abstract: A process and apparatus for liquefying natural gas includes a heavies recovery system. In another aspect, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility may employ an ethylene independent heavies recovery system. The recovery system may thus operate relying only on fluid input from upstream of an ethylene refrigeration cycle. A heavies-depleted stream recovered from a liquid withdrawn from a heavies removal column in the heavies recovery system may combine at a location downstream of the heavies removal column with an overhead withdrawn from the heavies removal column for further cooling of such combined stream into liquefied natural gas product.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2012Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Jon M. Mock, Megan V. Evans, Attilio J. Praderio
-
Patent number: 9644889Abstract: A liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility that employs a system to remove incondensable material from one or more refrigeration cycles within the facility. One or more embodiments of the present invention can be advantageously employed in an open-loop refrigeration cycle to remove at least a portion of one or more high vapor pressure components that have accumulated in the refrigerant cycle over time. In addition, several embodiments can be advantageously employed to stabilize facility operation in the event of drastic changes to the concentration of the natural gas feed stream introduced into the facility.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2009Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventors: Weldon L. Ransbarger, Megan V. Evans, Attilio J. Praderio, David B. Messersmith
-
Publication number: 20140260417Abstract: Systems and methods for removing heavy hydrocarbons are provided. Methods for liquefying a natural gas stream include: (a) cooling at least a portion of the natural gas stream in an upstream refrigeration cycle of a liquefaction process to produce a cooled natural gas stream; (b) separating via a first distillation column the cooled natural gas stream into a first top fraction and a first bottom fraction, wherein the first fraction does not freeze in a subsequent downstream step of the liquefaction process; (c) separating via a second distillation column the first bottom fraction into a second top fraction and a second bottom fraction, wherein the second top fraction at least a portion of a reflux stream; (d) optionally separating via a third distillation column the second bottom fraction into a third top fraction and a third bottom fraction, wherein the third top fraction forms a portion of the reflux stream; and (e) introducing the reflux stream into the first distillation column.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Karl Lee HERZOG, Qi MA, Will T. JAMES, Attilio J. PRADERIO, Jackie CHAN, Wesley Roy QUALLS
-
Patent number: 8505333Abstract: An LNG facility employing an optimized heavies removal system. The optimized heavies removal system can comprise at least one distillation column and at least two separate heat exchangers. The heat exchangers can be operable to heat a liquid stream withdrawn from a distillation column to thereby provide predominantly vapor and/or liquid streams that can be reintroduced into the column.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2008Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: ConocoPhilips CompanyInventors: Megan V. Evans, Attilio J. Praderio, Lisa M. Strassle, Mohan S. Chahal, Matthew C. Gentry, Wesley R. Qualls, Marc T. Bellomy, James L. Rockwell
-
Publication number: 20130199238Abstract: This invention relates to a process and apparatus for liquefying natural gas. In another aspect, the invention concerns a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility employing an ethylene independent heavies recovery system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2012Publication date: August 8, 2013Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Jon M. MOCK, Megan V. EVANS, Attilio J. PRADERIO
-
Publication number: 20100218551Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for liquefying natural gas. In another aspect, the invention concerns an improved liquefied natural gas facility employing a closed loop methane refrigeration cycle. In another aspect, the invention concerns the utilization of lean boil-off gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2010Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Megan V. Evans, Attilio J. Praderio, Lisa M. Strassle
-
Publication number: 20100058803Abstract: A liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility that employs a system to remove incondensable material from one or more refrigeration cycles within the facility. One or more embodiments of the present invention can be advantageously employed in an open-loop refrigeration cycle to remove at least a portion of one or more high vapor pressure components that have accumulated in the refrigerant cycle over time. In addition, several embodiments can be advantageously employed to stabilize facility operation in the event of drastic changes to the concentration of the natural gas feed stream introduced into the facility.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2009Publication date: March 11, 2010Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Weldon L. Ransbarger, Megan V. Evans, Attilio J. Praderio, David B. Messersmith
-
Publication number: 20090301132Abstract: An LNG facility employing an optimized heavies removal system. The optimized heavies removal system can comprise at least one distillation column and at least two separate heat exchangers. The heat exchangers can be operable to heat a liquid stream withdrawn from a distillation column to thereby provide predominantly vapor and/or liquid streams that can be reintroduced into the column.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2008Publication date: December 10, 2009Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Megan V. Evans, Attilio J. Praderio, Lisa M. Strassle, Mohan S. Chahal, Matthew C. Gentry, Wesley R. Qualls, Marc T. Bellomy, James L. Rockwell
-
Patent number: 7591149Abstract: Cascade-type natural gas liquefaction methods and apparatus are provided, having enhanced thermodynamic efficiencies, through the use of added refrigeration levels in one or both of the ethylene and methane refrigeration systems thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2006Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventors: Weldon L. Ransbarger, Bobby D. Martinez, Attilio J. Praderio
-
Publication number: 20080016908Abstract: Cascade-type natural gas liquefaction methods and apparatus are provided, having enhanced thermodynamic efficiencies, through the use of added refrigeration levels in one or both of the ethylene and methane refrigeration systems thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2006Publication date: January 24, 2008Inventors: Weldon L. Ransbarger, Bobby D. Martinez, Attilio J. Praderio