Patents by Inventor Christopher Michael Ott
Christopher Michael Ott 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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Publication number: 20240125543Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for producing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) product by cooling and liquefying a natural gas stream via indirect heat exchange with a gaseous refrigerant and then flashing and separating the liquefied natural gas stream to obtain the LNG product. In particular, the gaseous refrigerant may be a refrigerant circulating in a reverse Brayton cycle. The gaseous refrigerant is warmed in the shell side first, second and third coil-wound heat exchanger sections each having a tube side and a shell side, the shell side of the first coil-wound heat exchanger section being separated from and operating at a different pressure to the shell side of the second and third coil-wound heat exchanger sections.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2022Publication date: April 18, 2024Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Mark Julian Roberts, Katherine Bannister Wells, Christopher Michael Ott
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Publication number: 20240125549Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for removing natural gas liquids from a natural gas feed stream and for liquefying the natural gas feed stream so as to produce a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream and a natural gas liquids (NGL) streamType: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2022Publication date: April 18, 2024Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Mark Julian Roberts, Russell B. Shnitser, Christopher Michael Ott, Annemarie Ott Weist
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Patent number: 11668522Abstract: A system and method for integrated heavy hydrocarbon removal in a liquefaction system having a lean natural gas source. An economizer located between a main cryogenic heat exchanger and a reflux drum is provided to cool an overhead vapor stream against a partially condensed stream. In addition, pressure of the natural gas feed stream is maintained into a scrub column. A pressure drop is provided by a valve located between the economizer and the reflux drum on a partially condensed stream withdrawn from the cold end of the warm section of the main cryogenic heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2016Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Fei Chen, Mark Julian Roberts, Christopher Michael Ott, Annemarie Ott Weist
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Publication number: 20230147084Abstract: Described herein are coil wound heat exchangers (CWHEs), and methods of cooling and/or liquefying streams of fluid using said CWHEs, in which one or more tube layers of the tube bundle are provided with a non-uniform tube winding angle and tube pitch in order to facilitate the equalization of radial pressure imbalances on the shell side of the CWHE, thereby reducing radial maldistribution of fluid on the shell side and improving the heat transfer efficiency of the CWHE.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2021Publication date: May 11, 2023Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Bo Jin, Justin David Bukowski, Patrick Alan Houghton, Christopher Michael Ott, Mark Julian Roberts, Mark Robert Pillarella
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Publication number: 20230076428Abstract: A method and system for controlling the nitrogen concentration in an LNG product and fuel from flash gas within preferred ranges. A cooled LNG stream is separated into a nitrogen-enriched vapor stream, a fuel stream, and an LNG product stream using a plurality of phase separating devices, such as flash drum or rectifying column. A portion of the vapor stream is recycled to the rectifying column as reflux. A portion of a stream having a higher concentration of nitrogen is combined with the fuel stream to maintain the fuel stream within a desired nitrogen concentration range.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2021Publication date: March 9, 2023Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Michael Ott, Mark Julian Roberts, Annemarie Ott Weist
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Patent number: 11221176Abstract: A natural gas liquefaction method and system having integrated nitrogen removal. Recycled LNG gas is cooled in a separate and parallel circuit from the natural gas stream in the main heat exchanger. Cooled recycled gas and natural gas streams are directed to a nitrogen rectifier column after the warm bundle. The recycle stream is introduced to the rectifier column above the natural gas stream and at least one separation stage is located in the rectifier column between the recycle stream inlet and the natural gas inlet. The bottom stream from the rectifier column is directed to a cold bundle of the main heat exchanger where it is subcooled.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2018Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Mark Julian Roberts, Fei Chen, Christopher Michael Ott, Annemarie Ott Weist
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Patent number: 10982898Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for the liquefaction of natural gas to produce a LNG product. The methods and systems use an apparatus for separating a flash gas from a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream to produce a LNG product and recovering refrigeration from the flash gas. The apparatus includes a shell casing enclosing a heat exchange zone comprising a coil wound heat exchanger, and a separation zone. The heat exchange zone is located above and in fluid communication with the separation zone. Flash gas is separated from the LNG product in the separation zone and flows upwards from the separation zone into the heat exchange zone where refrigeration is recovered from the separated flash gas.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2018Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Fei Chen, Christopher Michael Ott, Annemarie Ott Weist, Mark Julian Roberts
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Patent number: 10935312Abstract: A split mixed refrigerant (“MR”) natural gas liquefication system, where low-pressure (“LP”) and medium pressure (“MP”) MR compressors are driven by a first gas turbine and a propane compressor and a high-pressure (“HP”) MR compressor is driven by a second gas turbine, is disclosed. The split MR liquefication system is configured to adjust the characteristics of the HP MR compressor to require less power when less power is available and more power when more power is available compared to the system's design point. Such adjustments allow for shifting the balance of power between the propane compressor and the HP MR compressor to improve LNG production efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2018Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Michael Ott, Jonathan James Berg, Annemarie Ott Weist, Joseph Gerard Wehrman
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Patent number: 10767922Abstract: A method and apparatus for liquefying a natural gas feed stream and removing nitrogen therefrom to produce a nitrogen-depleted LNG product, in which a natural gas feed stream is fed into the warm end of a main heat exchanger, cooled and at least partially liquefied, withdrawn from an intermediate location of the main heat exchanger and separated to form a nitrogen-enriched natural gas vapor stream and a nitrogen-depleted natural gas liquid stream, the liquid and vapor streams being reintroduced into an intermediate location of the main heat exchanger and further cooled in parallel to form a first LNG stream and a first at least partially liquefied nitrogen-enriched natural gas stream, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2017Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Fei Chen, Yang Liu, Gowri Krishnamurthy, Christopher Michael Ott, Mark Julian Roberts
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Publication number: 20200056836Abstract: A natural gas liquefaction method and system having integrated nitrogen removal. Recycled LNG gas is cooled in a separate and parallel circuit from the natural gas stream in the main heat exchanger. Cooled recycled gas and natural gas streams are directed to a nitrogen rectifier column after the warm bundle. The recycle stream is introduced to the rectifier column above the natural gas stream and at least one separation stage is located in the rectifier column between the recycle stream inlet and the natural gas inlet. The bottom stream from the rectifier column is directed to a cold bundle of the main heat exchanger where it is subcooled.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2018Publication date: February 20, 2020Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Mark Julian Roberts, Fei Chen, Christopher Michael Ott, Annemarie Ott Weist
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Publication number: 20200041203Abstract: A split mixed refrigerant (“MR”) natural gas liquefication system, where low-pressure (“LP”) and medium pressure (“MP”) MR compressors are driven by a first gas turbine and a propane compressor and a high-pressure (“HP”) MR compressor is driven by a second gas turbine, is disclosed. The split MR liquefication system is configured to adjust the characteristics of the HP MR compressor to require less power when less power is available and more power when more power is available compared to the system's design point. Such adjustments allow for shifting the balance of power between the propane compressor and the HP MR compressor to improve LNG production efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2018Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Michael Ott, Jonathan James Berg, Annemarie Ott Weist, Joseph Gerard Wehrman
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Publication number: 20190346203Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for the liquefaction of natural gas to produce a LNG product. The methods and systems use an apparatus for separating a flash gas from a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream to produce a LNG product and recovering refrigeration from the flash gas. The apparatus includes a shell casing enclosing a heat exchange zone comprising a coil wound heat exchanger, and a separation zone. The heat exchange zone is located above and in fluid communication with the separation zone. Flash gas is separated from the LNG product in the separation zone and flows upwards from the separation zone into the heat exchange zone where refrigeration is recovered from the separated flash gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2018Publication date: November 14, 2019Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Fei Chen, Christopher Michael Ott, Annemarie Ott Weist, Mark Julian Roberts
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Patent number: 10359228Abstract: A system and method for liquefaction of a natural gas stream utilizing a plurality of asymmetric parallel pre-cooling circuits. The use of asymmetric parallel cooling circuits allows for greater control over each refrigerant stream during the cooling process and simplifies process control by dedicating heat exchangers to performing similar duties.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2016Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Adam Adrian Brostow, Fei Chen, Mark Julian Roberts, Christopher Michael Ott
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Patent number: 9945604Abstract: A method for liquefying a natural gas feed stream and removing nitrogen therefrom, the method comprising passing a natural gas feed stream through a main heat exchanger to produce a first LNG stream, and separating a liquefied or partially liquefied natural gas stream in a distillation column to form nitrogen-rich vapor product, wherein a closed loop refrigeration system provides refrigeration to the main heat exchanger and to a condenser heat exchanger that provides reflux to the distillation column.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2014Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Michael Ott, Gowri Krishnamurthy, Fei Chen, Yang Liu, Mark Julian Roberts
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Publication number: 20180023889Abstract: A system and method for integrated heavy hydrocarbon removal in a liquefaction system having a lean natural gas source. An economizer located between a main cryogenic heat exchanger and a reflux drum is provided to cool an overhead vapor stream against a partially condensed stream. In addition, pressure of the natural gas feed stream is maintained into a scrub column. A pressure drop is provided by a valve located between the economizer and the reflux drum on a partially condensed stream withdrawn from the cold end of the warm section of the main cryogenic heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2016Publication date: January 25, 2018Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Fei Chen, Mark Julian Roberts, Christopher Michael Ott, Annemarie Ott Weist
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Publication number: 20170336136Abstract: A system and method for liquefaction of a natural gas stream utilizing a plurality of asymmetric parallel pre-cooling circuits. The use of asymmetric parallel cooling circuits allows for greater control over each refrigerant stream during the cooling process and simplifies process control by dedicating heat exchangers to performing similar duties.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2016Publication date: November 23, 2017Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Adam Adrian Brostow, Fei Chen, Mark Julian Roberts, Christopher Michael Ott
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Patent number: 9816754Abstract: A method and apparatus for liquefying a natural gas feed stream and removing nitrogen therefrom to produce a nitrogen-depleted LNG product, in which a natural gas feed stream is passed through main heat exchanger to produce a first LNG stream, which is separated to form a nitrogen-depleted LNG product and a recycle stream composed of nitrogen-enriched natural gas vapor, and in which the recycle stream is passed through main heat exchanger to produce a first LNG stream, separately from and in parallel with the natural gas feed stream, to produce a first at least partially liquefied nitrogen-enriched natural gas stream that is separated to provide a nitrogen-rich vapor product.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Fei Chen, Yang Liu, Gowri Krishnamurthy, Christopher Michael Ott, Mark Julian Roberts
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Publication number: 20170284737Abstract: A method and apparatus for liquefying a natural gas feed stream and removing nitrogen therefrom to produce a nitrogen-depleted LNG product, in which a natural gas feed stream is fed into the warm end of a main heat exchanger, cooled and at least partially liquefied, withdrawn from an intermediate location of the main heat exchanger and separated to form a nitrogen-enriched natural gas vapor stream and a nitrogen-depleted natural gas liquid stream, the liquid and vapor streams being reintroduced into an intermediate location of the main heat exchanger and further cooled in parallel to form a first LNG stream and a first at least partially liquefied nitrogen-enriched natural gas stream, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.Inventors: Fei Chen, Yang Liu, Gowri Krishnamurthy, Christopher Michael Ott, Mark Julian Roberts
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Patent number: 9631864Abstract: A method and apparatus of removing heavy hydrocarbons from a natural gas feed stream, the method comprising using first and second hydrocarbon removal systems in series such that the first system processes the natural gas feed stream to produce a heavy hydrocarbon depleted natural gas stream and the second system processes at least a portion of the heavy hydrocarbon depleted natural gas stream from the first system to produce a natural gas stream lean in heavy hydrocarbons, wherein one of said systems is a adsorption system that comprises one or more beds of adsorbent for adsorbing and thereby removing heavy hydrocarbons from a heavy hydrocarbon containing natural gas, and the other of said systems is a gas-liquid separation system for separating a heavy hydrocarbon containing natural gas into a heavy hydrocarbon depleted natural gas vapor and a heavy hydrocarbon enriched liquid.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Fei Chen, Xukun Luo, Christopher Michael Ott, Mark Julian Roberts, Gowri Krishnamurthy
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Publication number: 20150308738Abstract: A method for liquefying a natural gas feed stream and removing nitrogen therefrom, the method comprising passing a natural gas feed stream through a main heat exchanger to produce a first LNG stream, and separating a liquefied or partially liquefied natural gas stream in a distillation column to form nitrogen-rich vapor product, wherein a closed loop refrigeration system provides refrigeration to the main heat exchanger and to a condenser heat exchanger that provides reflux to the distillation column.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2014Publication date: October 29, 2015Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.Inventors: Christopher Michael Ott, Gowri Krishnamurthy, Fei Chen, Yang Liu, Mark Julian Roberts