Patents by Inventor Brian Keith Johnston

Brian Keith Johnston 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).

  • Patent number: 10788260
    Abstract: Described herein is a method of removing refrigerant from a natural gas liquefaction system in which vaporized mixed refrigerant is withdrawn from the closed-loop refrigeration circuit and introduced into a distillation column so as to be separated into an overhead vapor enriched in methane and a bottoms liquid enriched in heavier components. Overhead vapor is withdrawn from the distillation column to form a methane enriched stream that is removed from the liquefaction system, and bottoms liquid is reintroduced from the distillation column into the closed-loop refrigeration circuit. Also described are methods of altering the rate of production in a natural gas liquefaction system in which refrigerant is removed as described above, and a natural gas liquefaction systems in which such methods can be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Johnston, Gowri Krishnamurthy, Mark Julian Roberts
  • Patent number: 10393429
    Abstract: A method for controlling the flow of natural gas and refrigerant in the main heat exchanger of a natural gas liquefaction facility. The method provides for the automated control of a flow rate of a natural gas feed stream through a heat exchanger based on one or more process variables and set points. The flow rate of refrigerant streams through the heat exchanger is controlled by different process variables and set points, and is controlled independently of the flow rate of the natural gas feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Fei Chen, Brian Keith Johnston, Mark Julian Roberts
  • Publication number: 20180058752
    Abstract: Described herein is a method of removing refrigerant from a natural gas liquefaction system in which vaporized mixed refrigerant is withdrawn from the closed-loop refrigeration circuit and introduced into a distillation column so as to be separated into an overhead vapor enriched in methane and a bottoms liquid enriched in heavier components. Overhead vapor is withdrawn from the distillation column to form a methane enriched stream that is removed from the liquefaction system, and bottoms liquid is reintroduced from the distillation column into the closed-loop refrigeration circuit. Also described are methods of altering the rate of production in a natural gas liquefaction system in which refrigerant is removed as described above, and a natural gas liquefaction systems in which such methods can be carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Johnston, Gowri Krishnamurthy, Mark Julian Roberts
  • Publication number: 20170292783
    Abstract: A method for controlling the flow of natural gas and refrigerant in the main heat exchanger of a natural gas liquefaction facility. The method provides for the automated control of a flow rate of a natural gas feed stream through a heat exchanger based on one or more process variables and set points. The flow rate of refrigerant streams through the heat exchanger is controlled by different process variables and set points, and is controlled independently of the flow rate of the natural gas feed stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Fei Chen, Brian Keith Johnston, Mark Julian Roberts
  • Patent number: 9671161
    Abstract: A gas liquefaction process, especially for producing LNG, maintains product flow rate and temperature by controlling the refrigeration so that variation to reduce any difference between actual and required product temperatures is initiated before variation of the product flow rate to reduce any difference between actual and required flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Sicinski, Brian Keith Johnston, Scott Robert Trautmann, Mark Julian Roberts
  • Publication number: 20160102908
    Abstract: Described herein is a method of removing refrigerant from a natural gas liquefaction system in which vaporized mixed refrigerant is withdrawn from the closed-loop refrigeration circuit and introduced into a distillation column so as to be separated into an overhead vapor enriched in methane and a bottoms liquid enriched in heavier components. Overhead vapor is withdrawn from the distillation column to form a methane enriched stream that is removed from the liquefaction system, and bottoms liquid is reintroduced from the distillation column into the closed-loop refrigeration circuit. Also described are methods of altering the rate of production in a natural gas liquefaction system in which refrigerant is removed as described above, and a natural gas liquefaction systems in which such methods can be carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Johnston, Gowri Krishnamurthy, Mark Julian Roberts
  • Publication number: 20120079850
    Abstract: A gas liquefaction process, especially for producing LNG, maintains product flow rate and temperature by controlling the refrigeration so that variation to reduce any difference between actual and required product temperatures is initiated before variation of the product flow rate to reduce any difference between actual and required flow rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Sicinski, Brian Keith Johnston, Scott Robert Trautmann, Mark Julian Roberts
  • Publication number: 20090025422
    Abstract: A gas liquefaction process, especially for producing LNG, maintains product flow rate and temperature by controlling the refrigeration so that variation to reduce any difference between actual and required product temperatures is initiated before variation of the product flow rate to reduce any difference between actual and required flow rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Sicinski, Brian Keith Johnston, Scott Robert Trautmann, Mark Julian Roberts