Patents by Inventor David B. Spicer
David B. Spicer 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: 12139350Abstract: A conveying system employs independently controlled flights. The flights are controlled separately from a conveying surface using a linear transport system. The linear transport system allow the position of the flights to be controlled based on a parameter, such as the length of a conveyed object. The flights are pivotally mounted to a mover of the linear transport system and can pivot relative to the conveying surface to allow the flights to fit in a space between an end of carryway and a receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2023Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: Laitram L.L.C.Inventors: Matthew L. Fourney, Robert K. Paquin, James L. Brun, Christopher B. Spicer, David L. Marsh
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Patent number: 11155756Abstract: The invention relates weldments useful as heat transfer tubes in pyrolysis furnaces. The invention relates to tubes that are useful in pyrolysis furnaces. The weldments include a tubular member and at least one mixing element. The tubular member comprises an aluminum-containing alloy. The mixing element comprises an aluminum-containing alloy. The mixing element's aluminum-containing alloy can be the same as or different from the tubular member's aluminum-containing alloy. Other aspects of the invention relate to pyrolysis furnaces which include such weldments, and the use of such pyrolysis furnaces for hydrocarbon conversion processes such as steam cracking.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2020Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: David B. Spicer, Changmin Chun
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Patent number: 11078429Abstract: A burner sub-system, a furnace comprising the same, a fuel combustion process and steam cracking process carried out in the furnace. The burner sub-system comprises a barrier wall segment between the burner tip and the flue-gas recirculation (“FGR”) duct, effectively blocking direct gas flow between the burner tip and the FGR duct opening, but without encircling the whole burner tip. The presence of the partial barrier wall has the advantage of preventing the temperature inside the FGR duct from becoming too high, while achieving low NOx emissions from the combustion process without overheating the burner tip because of reduced amount of heat reflection to the burner tip compared to an annular barrier wall. The invention is particularly useful in furnaces where hydrogen-rich fuel gas is combusted.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2020Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: George Stephens, David B. Spicer
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Patent number: 11053445Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a heat transfer tube including an inner surface and an outer surface. The heat transfer tube further includes a first mixing element and a second mixing element disposed on the inner surface of the tube and projecting inwardly toward a central longitudinal axis of the tube. Adjacent mixing elements are separated by a gap arc distance of about 0.5 inches (1.27 cm) or greater. The first helical row has an angle (?) from about 15 degrees to about 85 degrees relative to the central longitudinal axis of the tube. The tube has an inner diameter of about 1.85 inches (4.7 cm) or less.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2018Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: David B. Spicer, Bharath Krishnamoorthi
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Publication number: 20200239783Abstract: The invention relates weldments useful as heat transfer tubes in pyrolysis furnaces. The invention relates to tubes that are useful in pyrolysis furnaces. The weldments include a tubular member and at least one mixing element. The tubular member comprises an aluminum-containing alloy. The mixing element comprises an aluminum-containing alloy. The mixing element's aluminum-containing alloy can be the same as or different from the tubular member's aluminum-containing alloy. Other aspects of the invention relate to pyrolysis furnaces which include such weldments, and the use of such pyrolysis furnaces for hydrocarbon conversion processes such as steam cracking.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2020Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: David B. Spicer, Changmin Chun
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Publication number: 20200172815Abstract: A burner sub-system, a furnace comprising the same, a fuel combustion process and steam cracking process carried out in the furnace. The burner sub-system comprises a barrier wall segment between the burner tip and the flue-gas recirculation (“FGR”) duct, effectively blocking direct gas flow between the burner tip and the FGR duct opening, but without encircling the whole burner tip. The presence of the partial barrier wall has the advantage of preventing the temperature inside the FGR duct from becoming too high, while achieving low NOx emissions from the combustion process without overheating the burner tip because of reduced amount of heat reflection to the burner tip compared to an annular barrier wall. The invention is particularly useful in furnaces where hydrogen-rich fuel gas is combusted.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2020Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: George Stephens, David B. Spicer
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Patent number: 10655072Abstract: The invention relates weldments useful as heat transfer tubes in pyrolysis furnaces. The invention relates to tubes that are useful in pyrolysis furnaces. The weldments include a tubular member and at least one mixing element. The tubular member comprises an aluminum-containing alloy. The mixing element comprises an aluminum-containing alloy. The mixing element's aluminum-containing alloy can be the same as or different from the tubular member's aluminum-containing alloy. Other aspects of the invention relate to pyrolysis furnaces which include such weldments, and the use of such pyrolysis furnaces for hydrocarbon conversion processes such as steam cracking.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2019Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: David B. Spicer, Changmin Chun
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Patent number: 10597586Abstract: A burner sub-system, a furnace comprising the same, a fuel combustion process and steam cracking process carried out in the furnace. The burner sub-system comprises a barrier wall segment between the burner tip and the flue-gas recirculation (“FGR”) duct, effectively blocking direct gas flow between the burner tip and the FGR duct opening, but without encircling the whole burner tip. The presence of the partial barrier wall has the advantage of preventing the temperature inside the FGR duct from becoming too high, while achieving low NOx emissions from the combustion process without overheating the burner tip because of reduced amount of heat reflection to the burner tip compared to an annular barrier wall. The invention is particularly useful in furnaces where hydrogen-rich fuel gas is combusted.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2016Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: George Stephens, David B. Spicer
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Publication number: 20190284483Abstract: The invention relates weldments useful as heat transfer tubes in pyrolysis furnaces. The invention relates to tubes that are useful in pyrolysis furnaces. The weldments include a tubular member and at least one mixing element. The tubular member comprises an aluminum-containing alloy. The mixing element comprises an aluminum-containing alloy. The mixing element's aluminum-containing alloy can be the same as or different from the tubular member's aluminum-containing alloy. Other aspects of the invention relate to pyrolysis furnaces which include such weldments, and the use of such pyrolysis furnaces for hydrocarbon conversion processes such as steam cracking.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: David B. Spicer, Changmin Chun
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Patent number: 10351784Abstract: The invention relates weldments useful as heat transfer tubes in pyrolysis furnaces. The invention relates to tubes that are useful in pyrolysis furnaces. The weldments include a tubular member and at least one mixing element. The tubular member comprises an aluminum-containing alloy. The mixing element comprises an aluminum-containing alloy. The mixing element's aluminum-containing alloy can be the same as or different from the tubular member's aluminum-containing alloy. Other aspects of the invention relate to pyrolysis furnaces which include such weldments, and the use of such pyrolysis furnaces for hydrocarbon conversion processes such as steam cracking.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2015Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: David B. Spicer, ChangMin Chun
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Patent number: 10336945Abstract: A process for the decoking of a hydrocarbon steam cracking furnace having a firebox, radiant coils, a transfer line exchanger, and an oil quench connection wherein liquid quench oil is injected to directly cool the steam-cracked effluent. Decoking feed comprising steam and air is supplied to the furnace under conditions sufficient to at least partially combust coke accumulated on the interior of the radiant coils, the transfer line exchanger, and the quench connection. Quench steam is supplied and injected into the decoking process effluent in an amount sufficient to cool the decoking process effluent below the metallurgical temperature limit of downstream piping. Also, a pyrolysis furnace for the production of ethylene is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2015Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: David B. Spicer, Subramanian Annamalai, James M. Frye
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Patent number: 10315968Abstract: A steam cracking process for converting hydrocarbons into smaller hydrocarbons, particularly olefins, in a tube reactor comprising a convection section, a cross-over section, and a radiant section. The process includes heating the fluid mixture inside the tube to a temperature at the end of the convection section where significant cracking occurs in the cross-over section. The high convection section and cross-over section temperatures allow for lower tube wall temperature in the radiant section resulting in less coke deposition on the inner wall of the tube, and hence extended run-lengths between adjacent decoking sessions.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2017Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Gary F. Janda, David B. Spicer
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Patent number: 10207242Abstract: This disclosure relates to weldments useful as heat transfer tubes in refinery processes dealing with gas phase hydrocarbon process streams at high temperatures. This disclosure also relates to tubes that are useful in refinery processes dealing with gas phase hydrocarbon process streams at high temperatures. The weldments include a tubular member and at least one mixing element. The tubular member comprises an aluminum-containing alloy. The mixing element comprises an aluminum-containing alloy. The mixing element's aluminum-containing alloy can be the same as or different from the tubular member's aluminum-containing alloy. Other aspects of the disclosure relate to refinery processes dealing with gas phase hydrocarbon process streams at high temperatures which include such weldments.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2015Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Changmin Chun, David B. Spicer
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Patent number: 10160919Abstract: A method and apparatus of reducing thermal shock in one or more radiant tubes of a pyrolysis furnace is provided. The apparatus is a furnace comprising a blower and blower bypass conduit providing separate fluid communication paths for flue gas from the convection section to a natural draft flue gas stack. The method comprises the steps of: redirecting at least a portion of the flue gas through the blower bypass conduit when a blower shut-off event is indicated as well as reducing the firing rate of the furnace.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2016Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: David B. Spicer, Philippe J. Le Roy, George Stephens
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Publication number: 20180320088Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a heat transfer tube including an inner surface and an outer surface. The heat transfer tube further includes a first mixing element and a second mixing element disposed on the inner surface of the tube and projecting inwardly toward a central longitudinal axis of the tube. Adjacent mixing elements are separated by a gap arc distance of about 0.5 inches (1.27 cm) or greater. The first helical row has an angle (?) from about 15 degrees to about 85 degrees relative to the central longitudinal axis of the tube. The tube has an inner diameter of about 1.85 inches (4.7 cm) or less.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: David B. Spicer, Bharath Krishnamoorthi
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Publication number: 20180170832Abstract: A steam cracking process for converting hydrocarbons into smaller hydrocarbons, particularly olefins, in a tube reactor comprising a convection section, a cross-over section, and a radiant section. The process includes heating the fluid mixture inside the tube to a temperature at the end of the convection section where significant cracking occurs in the cross-over section. The high convection section and cross-over section temperatures allow for lower tube wall temperature in the radiant section resulting in less coke deposition on the inner wall of the tube, and hence extended run-lengths between adjacent decoking sessions.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2017Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Gary F. Janda, David B. Spicer
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Patent number: 9828554Abstract: The invention relates a process for removing coke formed during steam-cracking of a hydrocarbon feed. The process includes providing a decoking feed to at least one radiant coil of a steam-cracking furnace under conditions to remove at least a portion of coke from the at least one radiant coil to form a decoking effluent. The decoking effluent is cooled with a liquid quench medium to provide an partially-quenched decoking effluent. The partially-quenched decoking effluent is cooled with a gaseous quench medium to provide a quenched effluent. An apparatus configured to perform such a process is also described.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2015Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patent Inc.Inventors: David B. Spicer, Subramanian Annamalai, William A. Aslaner
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Publication number: 20170283713Abstract: A burner sub-system, a furnace comprising the same, a fuel combustion process and steam cracking process carried out in the furnace. The burner sub-system comprises a barrier wall segment between the burner tip and the flue-gas recirculation (“FGR”) duct, effectively blocking direct gas flow between the burner tip and the FGR duct opening, but without encircling the whole burner tip. The presence of the partial barrier wall has the advantage of preventing the temperature inside the FGR duct from becoming too high, while achieving low NOx emissions from the combustion process without overheating the burner tip because of reduced amount of heat reflection to the burner tip compared to an annular barrier wall. The invention is particularly useful in furnaces where hydrogen-rich fuel gas is combusted.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2016Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: George Stephens, David B. Spicer
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Publication number: 20170081594Abstract: A method and apparatus of reducing thermal shock in one or more radiant tubes of a pyrolysis furnace is provided. The apparatus is a furnace comprising a blower and blower bypass conduit providing separate fluid communication paths for flue gas from the convection section to a natural draft flue gas stack. The method comprises the steps of: redirecting at least a portion of the flue gas through the blower bypass conduit when a blower shut-off event is indicated as well as reducing the firing rate of the furnace.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: David B. Spicer, Philippe J. Le Roy, George Stephens
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Publication number: 20160168479Abstract: The invention relates a process for removing coke formed during steam-cracking of a hydrocarbon feed. The process includes providing a decoking feed to at least one radiant coil of a steam-cracking furnace under conditions to remove at least a portion of coke from the at least one radiant coil to form a decoking effluent. The decoking effluent is cooled with a liquid quench medium to provide an partially-quenched decoking effluent. The partially-quenched decoking effluent is cooled with a gaseous quench medium to provide a quenched effluent. An apparatus configured to perform such a process is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2015Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: David B. Spicer, Subramanian Annamalai, William A. Aslaner