Patents by Inventor Hans E. Kimmel

Hans E. Kimmel 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).

  • Liquefaction process for producing subcooled LNG
    Patent number: 9879904
    Abstract: A variable speed liquid LNG expander (X1) and a variable speed two-phase LNG expander (X2) in line, downstream from X1. The rotational speed of both expanders can be controlled and changed independent from each other. The speed of expander X1 and expander X2 is determined in such way that the amount of liquid LNG downstream from the PHS compared to the feed gas supply is maximized and the amount of vapor and boil-off downstream of X2 is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: EBARA International Corporation
    Inventor: Hans E. Kimmel
  • LIQUEFACTION PROCESS FOR PRODUCING SUBCOOLED LNG
    Publication number: 20170307290
    Abstract: A variable speed liquid LNG expander (X1) and a variable speed two-phase LNG expander (X2) in line, downstream from X1. The rotational speed of both expanders can be controlled and changed independent from each other. The speed of expander X1 and expander X2 is determined in such way that the amount of liquid LNG downstream from the PHS compared to the feed gas supply is maximized and the amount of vapor and boil-off downstream of X2 is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: EBARA INTERNATION CORPORATION
    Inventor: HANS E. KIMMEL
  • LIQUEFACTION PROCESS FOR PRODUCING SUBCOOLED LNG
    Publication number: 20160282041
    Abstract: A variable speed liquid LNG expander (X1) and a variable speed two-phase LNG expander (X2) in line, downstream from X1. The rotational speed of both expanders can be controlled and changed independent from each other. The speed of expander X1 and expander X2 is determined in such way that the amount of liquid LNG downstream from the PHS compared to the feed gas supply is maximized and the amount of vapor and boil-off downstream of X2 is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventor: HANS E. KIMMEL
  • Liquefaction process producing subcooled LNG
    Patent number: 8991208
    Abstract: A variable speed liquid LNG expander (X1) and a variable speed two-phase LNG expander (X2) in line, downstream from X1. The rotational speed of both expanders can be controlled and changed independent from each other. The speed of expander X1 and expander X2 is determined in such way that the amount of liquid LNG downstream from the PHS compared to the feed gas supply is maximized and the amount of vapor and boil-off downstream of X2 is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ebara International Corporation
    Inventor: Hans E. Kimmel
  • Natural Gas Liquefaction Process to Extend Lifetime of Gas Wells
    Publication number: 20130333415
    Abstract: A variable speed liquid LNG expander (X1) and a variable speed two-phase LNG expander (X2) in line, downstream from X1. The rotational speed of both expanders can be controlled and changed independent from each other. The speed of expander X1 and expander X2 is determined in such way that the amount of liquid LNG downstream from the PHS compared to the feed gas supply is maximized and the amount of vapor and boil-off downstream of X2 is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Ebara International Corporation
    Inventor: Hans E. Kimmel
  • Natural gas liquefaction process to extend lifetime of gas wells
    Publication number: 20090031755
    Abstract: A variable speed liquid LNG expander (X1) and a variable speed two-phase LNG expander (X2) in line, downstream from X1. The rotational speed of both expanders can be controlled and changed independent from each other. The speed of expander X1 and expander X2 is determined in such way that the amount of liquid LNG downstream from the PHS compared to the feed gas supply is maximized and the amount of vapor and boil-off downstream of X2 is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: Ebara International Corporation
    Inventors: Munir Amsyari, Muljono Sutedjo, Hans E. Kimmel
  • Method to optimize thermodynamic expansion in gas liquefaction processes
    Patent number: 6155076
    Abstract: For gas liquefaction processes, thermodynamic expansion is optimized by use of a hydraulic turbine expander for liquefied gases which can be adjusted to different flow rates and differential pressures by varying the rotational speed and/or guide vane position. The turbine expander is disposed in-line between an upstream system for gas liquefaction and a downstream system for liquefied gas handling including a terminal vessel for storage or phase separation. The invention further includes a device to measure the terminal pressure at an inlet pipe of and/or inside the terminal vessel, and a device to control the turbine expander in response to pressure measurements. The turbine controller sets the rotational speed and/or the guide vane position of the expander depending on changes in the terminal pressure such that the pressure inside the terminal vessel remains constant at a certain target value for different thermodynamic, hydraulic or chemical conditions of the gas liquefaction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventors: David M. Cullen, Hans E. Kimmel