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).
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Publication number: 20210302095Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, JR., Timothy P. Gushanas
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Publication number: 20210148632Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2020Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, JR., Brent A. Heyrman, Timothy P. Gushanas, Richard Hopewell
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Publication number: 20200340740Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2020Publication date: October 29, 2020Inventors: Peter J. Turner, Douglas A. Ducote, JR., Timothy P. Gushanas
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Publication number: 20200318872Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, JR., Timothy P. Gushanas, Peter J. Turner, Brent Heyrman
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Publication number: 20200248962Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2020Publication date: August 6, 2020Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, JR., James Podolski
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Publication number: 20200232703Abstract: A system for removing freezing components from a feed gas includes a heat exchanger, a scrub column and a return vapor expansion device. The heat exchanger includes a reflux cooling passage and a return vapor passage. Vapor from the scrub column is directed through the return vapor expansion device, where the temperature and pressure are lowered. The resulting cooled fluid then travels to the return vapor passage of the heat exchanger and is used to cool a vapor stream in the reflux cooling passage to create a reflux fluid stream that is directed to the scrub column.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, JR., Timothy P. Gushanas, Mark R. Glanville
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Patent number: 10663221Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 8, 2016Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., James Podolski
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Patent number: 10619918Abstract: A system for removing freezing components from a feed gas includes a heavy hydrocarbon removal heat exchanger and a scrub device. The scrub device includes a scrub column that receives a cooled feed gas stream from the heat exchanger and a reflux separation device. Vapor from the scrub column is directed to the heat exchanger and cooled to create a reflux stream that includes a liquid component. This reflux stream is directed to the reflux separation device and a resulting liquid component stream is used to reflux the column. Vapor from the reflux separation device is expanded and directed to the heat exchanger, where it provides refrigeration, and a processed feed gas line.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2019Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas, Mark R. Glanville
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Publication number: 20200109893Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, JR., Brent A. Heyrman, Timothy P. Gushanas, Richard Hopewell
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Publication number: 20200041179Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, JR., Timothy P. Gushanas, Peter J. Turner, Michael Malsam
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Patent number: 10502483Abstract: A system and method for cooling and liquefying a gas in a heat exchanger that includes compressing and cooling a mixed refrigerant using first and last compression and cooling cycles so that high pressure liquid and vapor streams are formed. The high pressure liquid and vapor streams are cooled in the heat exchanger and then expanded so that a primary refrigeration stream is provided in the heat exchanger. The mixed refrigerant is cooled and equilibrated between the first and last compression and cooling cycles so that a pre-cool liquid stream is formed and subcooled in the heat exchanger. The stream is then expanded and passed through the heat exchanger as a pre-cool refrigeration stream. A stream of gas is passed through the heat exchanger in countercurrent heat exchange with the primary refrigeration stream and the pre-cool refrigeration stream so that the gas is cooled.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2016Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Timothy P. Gushanas, Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., James Podolski
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Patent number: 10480851Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 18, 2014Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas
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Publication number: 20190323769Abstract: A system for cooling a gas includes a pre-cool heat exchanger and a liquefaction heat exchanger. The pre-cool heat exchanger uses a pre-cool refrigerant to pre-cool a feed gas stream prior to the stream being directed to a liquefaction heat exchanger. The liquefaction heat exchanger uses a mixed refrigerant to further cool the pre-cooled gas. The pre-cool heat exchanger also pre-cools the liquefaction mixed refrigerant used by the liquefaction heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, JR., Timothy P. Gushanas
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Patent number: 10345039Abstract: A system and method for cooling and liquefying a gas in a heat exchanger that includes compressing and cooling a mixed refrigerant using first and last compression and cooling cycles so that high pressure liquid and vapor streams are formed. The high pressure liquid and vapor streams are cooled in the heat exchanger and then expanded so that a primary refrigeration stream is provided in the heat exchanger. The mixed refrigerant is cooled and equilibrated between the first and last compression and cooling cycles so that a pre-cool liquid stream is formed and subcooled in the heat exchanger. The stream is then expanded and passed through the heat exchanger as a pre-cool refrigeration stream. A stream of gas is passed through the heat exchanger in countercurrent heat exchange with the primary refrigeration stream and the pre-cool refrigeration stream so that the gas is cooled.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2016Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Timothy P. Gushanas, Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., James Podolski
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Publication number: 20190204007Abstract: A system for removing freezing components from a feed gas includes a heavy hydrocarbon removal heat exchanger and a scrub device. The scrub device includes a scrub column that receives a cooled feed gas stream from the heat exchanger and a reflux separation device. Vapor from the scrub column is directed to the heat exchanger and cooled to create a reflux stream that includes a liquid component. This reflux stream is directed to the reflux separation device and a resulting liquid component stream is used to reflux the column. Vapor from the reflux separation device is expanded and directed to the heat exchanger, where it provides refrigeration, and a processed feed gas line.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2019Publication date: July 4, 2019Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, JR., Timothy P. Gushanas, Mark R. Glanville
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Patent number: 10267559Abstract: A system for liquefying a gas includes a liquefaction heat exchanger having a feed gas inlet adapted to receive a feed gas and a liquefied gas outlet through which the liquefied gas exits after the gas is liquefied in the liquefying passage of the heat exchanger by heat exchange with a primary refrigeration passage. A mixed refrigerant compressor system is configured to provide refrigerant to the primary refrigeration passage. An expander separator is in communication with the liquefied gas outlet of the liquefaction heat exchanger, and a cold gas line is in fluid communication with the expander separator. A cold recovery heat exchanger receives cold vapor from the cold gas line and liquid refrigerant from the mixed refrigerant compressor system so that the refrigerant is cooled using the cold vapor.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2017Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas, Mark R. Glanville
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Publication number: 20190086146Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas
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Patent number: 10060671Abstract: A system for liquefying a gas includes a liquefaction heat exchanger having a feed gas inlet adapted to receive a feed gas and a liquefied gas outlet through which the liquefied gas exits after the gas is liquefied in the liquefying passage of the heat exchanger by heat exchange with a primary refrigeration passage. A mixed refrigerant compressor system is configured to provide refrigerant to the primary refrigeration passage. An expander separator is in communication with the liquefied gas outlet of the liquefaction heat exchanger, and a cold gas line is in fluid communication with the expander separator. A cold recovery heat exchanger receives cold vapor from the cold gas line and liquid refrigerant from the mixed refrigerant compressor system so that the refrigerant is cooled using the cold vapor.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas, Mark R. Glanville
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Publication number: 20180003430Abstract: A system for liquefying a gas includes a liquefaction heat exchanger having a feed gas inlet adapted to receive a feed gas and a liquefied gas outlet through which the liquefied gas exits after the gas is liquefied in the liquefying passage of the heat exchanger by heat exchange with a primary refrigeration passage. A mixed refrigerant compressor system is configured to provide refrigerant to the primary refrigeration passage. An expander separator is in communication with the liquefied gas outlet of the liquefaction heat exchanger, and a cold gas line is in fluid communication with the expander separator. A cold recovery heat exchanger receives cold vapor from the cold gas line and liquid refrigerant from the mixed refrigerant compressor system so that the refrigerant is cooled using the cold vapor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, JR., Timothy P. Gushanas, Mark R. Glanville
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Publication number: 20170051968Abstract: A system and method for cooling and liquefying a gas in a heat exchanger that includes compressing and cooling a mixed refrigerant using first and last compression and cooling cycles so that high pressure liquid and vapor streams are formed. The high pressure liquid and vapor streams are cooled in the heat exchanger and then expanded so that a primary refrigeration stream is provided in the heat exchanger. The mixed refrigerant is cooled and equilibrated between the first and last compression and cooling cycles so that a pre-cool liquid stream is formed and subcooled in the heat exchanger. The stream is then expanded and passed through the heat exchanger as a pre-cool refrigeration stream. A stream of gas is passed through the heat exchanger in countercurrent heat exchange with the primary refrigeration stream and the pre-cool refrigeration stream so that the gas is cooled.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2016Publication date: February 23, 2017Inventors: Timothy P. Gushanas, Douglas A. Ducote, JR., James Podolski