Patents by Inventor Douglas Ducote

Douglas Ducote 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: 20230375260
    Abstract: A system for cooling a gas with a mixed refrigerant includes a heat exchanger that receives and cools a feed of the gas so that a product is produced. The system includes a mixed refrigerant processing system having compression devices and aftercoolers as well as a low pressure accumulator and a high pressure accumulator. Liquid from the low pressure accumulator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage. Liquid from the high pressure accumulator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage. Vapor from the high pressure accumulator is liquefied, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Peter J. Turner, Michael Malsam, Douglas A. Ducote, JR., Timothy P. Gushanas
  • Publication number: 20230366620
    Abstract: A system for cooling a feed stream including hydrogen or helium with a mixed refrigerant includes a pre-cooling heat exchanger. A compression system has an inlet in fluid communication with the pre-cooling heat exchanger and receives and increases a pressure of a refrigerant vapor stream including hydrogen and/or helium mixed with at least one other refrigerant such that the molecular weight of the mixture is greater than 6 kg/kgmol. The compression system has an outlet in fluid communication with the pre-cooling heat exchanger. A first refrigerant separation device receives fluid from the pre-cooling heat exchanger and has a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the pre-cooling heat exchanger and a vapor outlet. A refrigerant purifier has a purifier inlet in fluid communication with the vapor outlet of the first refrigerant separation device and an outlet in fluid communication with the pre-cooling heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, JR., Timothy P. Gushanas, Brent A. Heyrman, Joseph M. Schwartz, Mathew R. Watt
  • Patent number: 11781809
    Abstract: Provided are mixed refrigerant systems and methods and, more particularly, to a mixed refrigerant system and methods that provides greater efficiency and reduced power consumption via control of a liquid level in a cold vapor separator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas, Peter J. Turner, Michael Malsam
  • Patent number: 11732962
    Abstract: A system for cooling a gas with a mixed refrigerant includes a heat exchanger that receives and cools a feed of the gas so that a product is produced. The system includes a mixed refrigerant processing system having compression devices and aftercoolers as well as a low pressure accumulator and a high pressure accumulator. A cold vapor separator receives vapor from the high pressure accumulator and features a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet. Vapor from the cold vapor separator vapor outlet is cooled, expanded and directed to a primary refrigeration passage of the heat exchanger. Liquid from the liquid outlet of the cold vapor separator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage. Liquid from the low pressure accumulator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage. Liquid from the high pressure accumulator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas
  • Patent number: 11686528
    Abstract: A system for removing nitrogen from a natural gas fluid feed stream includes a main heat exchanger that receives the natural gas fluid feed stream. A distillation column receives a cooled fluid stream from the main heat exchanger and features a return vapor outlet and a side vapor outlet port. The return vapor outlet provides nitrogen vapor to the main heat exchanger which is warmed therein. The side vapor outlet port provides vapor to the main heat exchanger and a reflux compressor receives and compresses the resulting fluid from the main heat exchanger. A reflux aftercooler receives and cools fluid from the reflux compressor, directs cooled fluid to the main heat exchanger and the resulting fluid is directed to a reflux separation device. The reflux separation device has a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet. The vapor outlet of the reflux separation device directs fluid to the main heat exchanger so that fluid is directed to the first reflux inlet port of the distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Turner, Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas
  • Patent number: 11629912
    Abstract: A main heat exchanger receives and partially condenses an effluent fluid stream so that a mixed phase effluent stream is formed. A primary separation device receives and separates the mixed phase effluent stream into a primary vapor stream including hydrogen and a primary liquid stream including an olefinic hydrocarbon. The main heat exchanger receives and warms at least a portion of the primary vapor stream to provide refrigeration for partially condensing the effluent fluid stream. The main heat exchanger also receives, warms and partially vaporizes the primary liquid stream. A mixed refrigerant compression system also provides refrigeration in the main heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Brent A. Heyrman, Timothy P. Gushanas, Richard Hopewell
  • Publication number: 20230113414
    Abstract: A system for separating olefinic hydrocarbon and hydrogen in an effluent fluid stream from a dehydrogenation reactor includes a heat exchanger that receives and partially condenses the effluent fluid stream so that a mixed phase effluent stream is formed. A primary separation device receives and separates the mixed phase effluent stream into a primary vapor stream and a primary liquid product stream. A heat exchanger receives and partially condenses the primary vapor stream so that a mixed phase primary stream is formed. A secondary separation device receives and separates the mixed phase primary stream into a secondary vapor stream and a secondary liquid product stream. A heat exchanger receives and warms the secondary vapor stream to provide refrigeration for partially condensing the effluent fluid stream and a heat exchanger receives and warms the secondary vapor stream to provide refrigeration for partially condensing the primary vapor stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, JR., Brent A. Heyrman, Timothy P. Gushanas, Richard Hopewell
  • Publication number: 20230093093
    Abstract: A pump for pumping a cryogenic liquid includes a pump housing having a cylinder with a piston slidably positioned therein. An intermediate fluid chamber that receives an intermediate fluid is defined within the cylinder adjacent to a first end of the piston and a fluid pumping chamber is defined within the cylinder adjacent to a second end of the piston. An intermediate fluid seal is attached to the piston and engages the cylinder. A pumped fluid seal attached to the piston and configured to engage the cylinder, said pumped fluid seal spaced from the intermediate fluid seal so that a differential pressure space is defined within the cylinder between the intermediate fluid and pumped fluid seals. A differential pressure vent valve is in fluid communication with the differential pressure space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventor: Douglas A. Ducote, JR.
  • Patent number: 11543181
    Abstract: A system for separating olefinic hydrocarbon and hydrogen in an effluent fluid stream from a dehydrogenation reactor includes a heat exchanger that receives and partially condenses the effluent fluid stream so that a mixed phase effluent stream is formed. A primary separation device receives and separates the mixed phase effluent stream into a primary vapor stream and a primary liquid product stream. A heat exchanger receives and partially condenses the primary vapor stream so that a mixed phase primary stream is formed. A secondary separation device receives and separates the mixed phase primary stream into a secondary vapor stream and a secondary liquid product stream. A heat exchanger receives and warms the secondary vapor stream to provide refrigeration for partially condensing the effluent fluid stream and a heat exchanger receives and warms the secondary vapor stream to provide refrigeration for partially condensing the primary vapor stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Brent A. Heyrman, Timothy P. Gushanas, Richard Hopewell
  • Publication number: 20220390169
    Abstract: A system and method for liquefying a hydrogen gas feed stream uses a pre-cooling refrigerant for pre-cooling the feed stream, where the pre-cooling refrigerant is compressed, cooled and then separated to provide high pressure mixed refrigerant vapor and liquid streams. The high pressure vapor stream is cooled and directed to a cold vapor separator where cold separator liquid and vapor streams are formed. The cold separator vapor stream is cooled and expanded to provide a pre-cool refrigeration stream in a heat exchanger system. The high pressure pre-cooling refrigerant liquid and cold separator liquid streams are cooled and expanded and directed to the pre-cool refrigeration stream. A high pressure primary refrigerant steam, after compression and cooling, is further cooled in the heat exchanger system and then expanded using warm and cold expanders, with the resulting expanded primary refrigerant streams used to liquefy the pre-cooled hydrogen feed stream via heat exchange in the heat exchanger system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Brent A. Heyrman, Timothy P. Gushanas, Ravikumar Vipperla, Mathew R. Watt, Douglas A. Ducote, JR.
  • Publication number: 20220373255
    Abstract: Provided are mixed refrigerant systems and methods and, more particularly, to a mixed refrigerant system and methods that provides greater efficiency and reduced power consumption via control of a liquid level in a cold vapor separator device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas, Peter J. Turner, Michael Malsam
  • Publication number: 20220373254
    Abstract: A system and method for cooling a gas using a mixed refrigerant includes a compressor system and a heat exchange system, where the compressor system may include an interstage separation device or drum with no liquid outlet, a liquid outlet in fluid communication with a pump that pumps liquid forward to a high pressure separation device or a liquid outlet through which liquid flows to the heat exchanger to be subcooled. In the last situation, the subcooled liquid is expanded and combined with an expanded cold temperature stream, which is a cooled and expanded stream from the vapor side of a cold vapor separation device, and subcooled and expanded streams from liquid sides of the high pressure separation device and the cold vapor separation device, or combined with a stream formed from the subcooled streams from the liquid sides of the high pressure separation device and the cold vapor separation device after mixing and expansion, to form a primary refrigeration stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, JR., James Podolski
  • Publication number: 20220364789
    Abstract: A heavies removal heat exchanger cools at least a portion of a feed gas stream. A scrubbing section receives the cooled main feed gas stream. A stripping section receives a fluid stream from the scrubbing section. A stripping gas feed expansion device receives a portion of the feed gas stream and is in fluid communication with the stripping section. A side draw vapor line receives a vapor stream from the vapor outlet of the stripping section and is in fluid communication with a reflux stream cooling passage of the heavies removal heat exchanger. A reflux separation device receives fluid from the heavies removal heat exchanger and has a liquid outlet and a vapor outlet. The liquid outlet is in fluid communication with the scrubbing section. A return vapor expansion device receives a vapor stream from the scrubbing section and directs a cooled vapor stream to a return vapor stream warming passage of the heavies removal heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas, Mark R. Glanville, Ravikumar Vipperla, Peter J. Turner, Brent A. Heyrman
  • Patent number: 11428463
    Abstract: Provided are mixed refrigerant systems and methods and, more particularly, to a mixed refrigerant system and methods that provides greater efficiency and reduced power consumption via control of a liquid level in a cold vapor separator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas, Peter J. Turner, Michael Malsam
  • Patent number: 11408676
    Abstract: A system and method for cooling a gas using a mixed refrigerant includes a compressor system and a heat exchange system, where the compressor system may include an interstage separation device or drum with no liquid outlet, a liquid outlet in fluid communication with a pump that pumps liquid forward to a high pressure separation device or a liquid outlet through which liquid flows to the heat exchanger to be subcooled. In the last situation, the subcooled liquid is expanded and combined with an expanded cold temperature stream, which is a cooled and expanded stream from the vapor side of a cold vapor separation device, and subcooled and expanded streams from liquid sides of the high pressure separation device and the cold vapor separation device, or combined with a stream formed from the subcooled streams from the liquid sides of the high pressure separation device and the cold vapor separation device after mixing and expansion, to form a primary refrigeration stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., James Podolski
  • Patent number: 11408673
    Abstract: Provided are mixed refrigerant systems and methods and, more particularly, to a mixed refrigerant system and methods that provides greater efficiency and reduced power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas, Peter J. Turner, Brent Heyrman
  • Publication number: 20220228802
    Abstract: A main heat exchanger receives and partially condenses an effluent fluid stream so that a mixed phase effluent stream is formed. A primary separation device receives and separates the mixed phase effluent stream into a primary vapor stream including hydrogen and a primary liquid stream including an olefinic hydrocarbon. The main heat exchanger receives and warms at least a portion of the primary vapor stream to provide refrigeration for partially condensing the effluent fluid stream. The main heat exchanger also receives, warms and partially vaporizes the primary liquid stream. A mixed refrigerant compression system also provides refrigeration in the main heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, JR., Brent A. Heyrman, Timothy P. Gushanas, Richard Hopewell
  • Publication number: 20210381757
    Abstract: A system for removing selected components from a gas stream has a heat exchanger including a first cooling passage configured to receive a feed gas stream and to provide a cooled feed gas stream. An expander receives at least a portion of the cooled feed gas stream. A separation device receives an expanded fluid stream from the expander and separates the expanded fluid stream into a liquid stream containing selected components and a purified vapor stream having a purified vapor temperature. A compressor receives the purified vapor stream at approximately the purified vapor temperature and produces a compressed vapor stream that is returned to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventor: Douglas A. Ducote, JR.
  • Patent number: 11187457
    Abstract: A system for cooling a gas with a mixed refrigerant includes a heat exchanger that receives and cools a feed of the gas so that a product is produced. The system includes a mixed refrigerant processing system having compression devices and aftercoolers as well as a low pressure accumulator and a high pressure accumulator. A cold vapor separator receives vapor from the high pressure accumulator and features a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet. Vapor from the cold vapor separator vapor outlet is cooled, expanded and directed to a primary refrigeration passage of the heat exchanger. Liquid from the liquid outlet of the cold vapor separator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage. Liquid from the low pressure accumulator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage. Liquid from the high pressure accumulator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas
  • Publication number: 20210302095
    Abstract: A system for cooling a gas with a mixed refrigerant includes a heat exchanger that receives and cools a feed of the gas so that a product is produced. The system includes a mixed refrigerant processing system having compression devices and aftercoolers as well as a low pressure accumulator and a high pressure accumulator. A cold vapor separator receives vapor from the high pressure accumulator and features a vapor outlet and a liquid outlet. Vapor from the cold vapor separator vapor outlet is cooled, expanded and directed to a primary refrigeration passage of the heat exchanger. Liquid from the liquid outlet of the cold vapor separator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage. Liquid from the low pressure accumulator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage. Liquid from the high pressure accumulator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, JR., Timothy P. Gushanas