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).

  • Patent number: 12139350
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Laitram L.L.C.
    Inventors: Matthew L. Fourney, Robert K. Paquin, James L. Brun, Christopher B. Spicer, David L. Marsh
  • Patent number: 11155756
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Changmin Chun
  • Patent number: 11078429
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: George Stephens, David B. Spicer
  • Patent number: 11053445
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Bharath Krishnamoorthi
  • Publication number: 20200239783
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Changmin Chun
  • Publication number: 20200172815
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: George Stephens, David B. Spicer
  • Patent number: 10655072
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Changmin Chun
  • Patent number: 10597586
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: George Stephens, David B. Spicer
  • Publication number: 20190284483
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Changmin Chun
  • Patent number: 10351784
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, ChangMin Chun
  • Patent number: 10336945
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Subramanian Annamalai, James M. Frye
  • Patent number: 10315968
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Gary F. Janda, David B. Spicer
  • Patent number: 10207242
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Changmin Chun, David B. Spicer
  • Patent number: 10160919
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Philippe J. Le Roy, George Stephens
  • Publication number: 20180320088
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Bharath Krishnamoorthi
  • Publication number: 20180170832
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Gary F. Janda, David B. Spicer
  • Patent number: 9828554
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patent Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Subramanian Annamalai, William A. Aslaner
  • Publication number: 20170283713
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: George Stephens, David B. Spicer
  • Publication number: 20170081594
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Philippe J. Le Roy, George Stephens
  • Publication number: 20160168479
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Subramanian Annamalai, William A. Aslaner