Patents by Inventor James F. McGehee

James F. McGehee 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: 11248175
    Abstract: An improved contactor/separator process is presented where one or more stages of contact and separation is achieved by providing one or more shroud and disengagement device combinations within a vessel, where the disengagement device is connected to the top of the shroud that contains vertically hanging fibers. A liquid admixture of immiscible fluids is directed co-currently upward through the shroud at flooding velocity or greater, where all of the admixture exits the disengagement device through a coalescing material. Tray supports are used to stack additional shroud and disengagement combinations vertically within the vessel. Each tray allows less dense liquids exiting one disengagement device from a lower shroud and disengagement device combination to enter the bottom of a shroud of a shroud and disengagement device combination position vertically above the lower shroud and disengagement device combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, Jeffrey B. Gomach, Baisheng Zou
  • Publication number: 20210047572
    Abstract: An improved contactor/separator process is presented where one or more stages of contact and separation is achieved by providing one or more shroud and disengagement device combinations within a vessel, where the disengagement device is connected to the top of the shroud that contains vertically hanging fibers. A liquid admixture of immiscible fluids is directed co-currently upward through the shroud at flooding velocity or greater, where all of the admixture exits the disengagement device through a coalescing material. Tray supports are used to stack additional shroud and disengagement combinations vertically within the vessel. Each tray allows less dense liquids exiting one disengagement device from a lower shroud and disengagement device combination to enter the bottom of a shroud of a shroud and disengagement device combination position vertically above the lower shroud and disengagement device combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, Jeffrey B. Gomach, Baisheng Zou
  • Patent number: 10858597
    Abstract: An improved contactor/separator process is presented where one or more stages of contact and separation is achieved by providing one or more shroud and disengagement device combinations within a vessel, where the disengagement device is connected to the top of the shroud that contains vertically hanging fibers. A liquid admixture of immiscible fluids is directed co-currently upward through the shroud at flooding velocity or greater, where all of the admixture exits the disengagement device through a coalescing material. Tray supports are used to stack additional shroud and disengagement combinations vertically within the vessel. Each tray allows less dense liquids exiting one disengagement device from a lower shroud and disengagement device combination to enter the bottom of a shroud of a shroud and disengagement device combination position vertically above the lower shroud and disengagement device combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, Jeffrey B. Gomach, Baisheng Zou
  • Publication number: 20200216761
    Abstract: An improved contactor/separator process is presented where one or more stages of contact and separation is achieved by providing one or more shroud and disengagement device combinations within a vessel, where the disengagement device is connected to the top of the shroud that contains vertically hanging fibers. A liquid admixture of immiscible fluids is directed co-currently upward through the shroud at flooding velocity or greater, where all of the admixture exits the disengagement device through a coalescing material. Tray supports are used to stack additional shroud and disengagement combinations vertically within the vessel. Each tray allows less dense liquids exiting one disengagement device from a lower shroud and disengagement device combination to enter the bottom of a shroud of a shroud and disengagement device combination position vertically above the lower shroud and disengagement device combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, Jeffrey B. Gomach, Baisheng Zou
  • Patent number: 10633599
    Abstract: An improved contactor/separator process is presented where one or more stages of contact and separation is achieved by providing one or more shroud and disengagement device combinations within a vessel, where the disengagement device is connected to the top of the shroud that contains vertically hanging fibers. A liquid admixture of immiscible fluids is directed co-currently upward through the shroud at flooding velocity or greater, where all of the admixture exits the disengagement device through a coalescing material. Tray supports are used to stack additional shroud and disengagement combinations vertically within the vessel. Each tray allows less dense liquids exiting one disengagement device from a lower shroud and disengagement device combination to enter the bottom of a shroud of a shroud and disengagement device combination position vertically above the lower shroud and disengagement device combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, Jeffrey B. Gomach, Baisheng Zou
  • Patent number: 10518194
    Abstract: In an improved fiber-film type contactor/separator an enhanced coalescing zone is provided by the presence of a disengagement device connected to a shroud that contains a bundle of high surface area vertical hanging fibers, where the enhanced coalescing zone diverts a portion of an admixture of immiscible liquids to flow radially in a path not parallel to the vertical axis of the hanging fibers whereby the diverted portion of liquids contacts a coalescing surface to cause at least one of the liquids to coalesce into droplets. The immiscible liquids are allowed to settle into separate phase layers and first and second outlets selectively remove the higher density liquid from the lower density liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, Tiejun Zhang
  • Publication number: 20190218462
    Abstract: An improved contactor/separator process is presented where one or more stages of contact and separation is achieved by providing one or more shroud and disengagement device combinations within a vessel, where the disengagement device is connected to the top of the shroud that contains vertically hanging fibers. A liquid admixture of immiscible fluids is directed co-currently upward through the shroud at flooding velocity or greater, where all of the admixture exits the disengagement device through a coalescing material. Tray supports are used to stack additional shroud and disengagement combinations vertically within the vessel. Each tray allows less dense liquids exiting one disengagement device from a lower shroud and disengagement device combination to enter the bottom of a shroud of a shroud and disengagement device combination position vertically above the lower shroud and disengagement device combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, Jeffrey B. Gomach, Baisheng Zou
  • Publication number: 20190192995
    Abstract: In an improved fiber-film type contactor/separator an enhanced coalescing zone is provided by the presence of a disengagement device connected to a shroud that contains a bundle of high surface area vertical hanging fibers, where the enhanced coalescing zone diverts a portion of an admixture of immiscible liquids to flow radially in a path not parallel to the vertical axis of the hanging fibers whereby the diverted portion of liquids contacts a coalescing surface to cause at least one of the liquids to coalesce into droplets. The immiscible liquids are allowed to settle into separate phase layers and first and second outlets selectively remove the higher density liquid from the lower density liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, Tiejun Zhang
  • Patent number: 10300407
    Abstract: In an improved fiber-film type contactor/separator an enhanced coalescing zone is provided by the presence of a disengagement device connected to a shroud that contains a bundle of high surface area vertical hanging fibers, where the enhanced coalescing zone diverts a portion of an admixture of immiscible liquids to flow radially in a path not parallel to the vertical axis of the hanging fibers whereby the diverted portion of liquids contacts a coalescing surface to cause at least one of the liquids to coalesce into droplets. The immiscible liquids are allowed to settle into separate phase layers and first and second outlets selectively remove the higher density liquid from the lower density liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, Tiejun Zhang
  • Publication number: 20170216741
    Abstract: In an improved fiber-film type contactor/separator an enhanced coalescing zone is provided by the presence of a disengagement device connected to a shroud that contains a bundle of high surface area vertical hanging fibers, where the enhanced coalescing zone diverts a portion of an admixture of immiscible liquids to flow radially in a path not parallel to the vertical axis of the hanging fibers whereby the diverted portion of liquids contacts a coalescing surface to cause at least one of the liquids to coalesce into droplets. The immiscible liquids are allowed to settle into separate phase layers and first and second outlets selectively remove the higher density liquid from the lower density liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, Tiejun Zhang
  • Patent number: 9656185
    Abstract: In an improved fiber-film type contactor/separator an enhanced coalescing zone is provided by the presence of a disengagement device connected to a shroud that contains a bundle of high surface area vertical hanging fibers, where the enhanced coalescing zone diverts a portion of an admixture of immiscible liquids to flow radially in a path not parallel to the vertical axis of the hanging fibers whereby the diverted portion of liquids contacts a coalescing surface to cause at least one of the liquids to coalesce into droplets. The immiscible liquids are allowed to settle into separate phase layers and first and second outlets selectively remove the higher density liquid from the lower density liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, Tiejun Zhang
  • Patent number: 9284494
    Abstract: The recovery of solids, and particularly solid particulates used as catalysts in slurry hydroprocessing, from asphaltene containing hydrocarbons is improved by controlling asphaltene precipitation. The formation of agglomerates of the solid particulates, having an increased diameter, results in the presence of precipitated asphaltenes, possibly due to flocculation. Asphaltene precipitation is controlled by varying process parameters or introducing additional diluent or flush streams that change the polarity of an asphaltene containing liquid product recovered from an effluent of a slurry hydroprocessing reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lorenz J. Bauer, Tom N. Kalnes, James F. McGehee
  • Patent number: 9074143
    Abstract: Slurry hydrocracking a heavy hydrocarbon feed produces a HVGO stream and a pitch stream. At least a portion of the pitch stream is subjected to SDA to prepare a DAO stream low in metals. The DAO is blended with at least a portion of the HVGO stream to provide turbine or marine fuel with acceptable properties for combustion in gas turbines or for marine fuel grades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, Lorenz J. Bauer
  • Patent number: 8999879
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for making a catalyst including an effective amount of iron for catalyzing one or more reactions in a hydrocarbon conversion system. The process can include grinding and coating the particles. The ground particles can have an effective amount of iron, and substantially all the particles may have a maximum dimension no larger than about 130 microns. The coating can have an effective amount of one or more hydrocarbons to provide the catalyst with improved flowability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lorenz J. Bauer, James F. McGehee
  • Patent number: 8906230
    Abstract: An integrated unit operations for the treatment of a waste stream, such as spent caustic, is provided in a single vertical vessel having at least three separate zones: a mixing, a settling, and a mass transfer zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Merichem Company
    Inventors: Tom Varadi, Marie-Cecile Medine, Arturo Ramon Puigbo, Ramiro G. Vazquez, Tiejun Zhang, James F. McGehee
  • Patent number: 8888992
    Abstract: A process for improving flow properties of crude may include processing a first crude stream, which may in turn include cracking the first crude stream with fresh catalyst to form a cracked stream and spent catalyst, and then mixed with an unprocessed second stream. The spent catalyst may be regenerated to form fresh catalyst, which may then be recycled. At least part of the cracked stream may be mixed with a second crude stream. A ratio of the second crude stream to the first crude stream may be between about 0.5:1 and about 9:1. A ratio of part of the cracked stream to add to the second crude stream may be selected to achieve a API gravity of at least about 18. The first crude stream may be heated and stripped before being cracked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Brian W. Hedrick, James F. McGehee, Selman Z. Erisken, Jibreel A. Qafisheh
  • Publication number: 20140014593
    Abstract: In an improved fiber-film type contactor/separator an enhanced coalescing zone is provided by the presence of a disengagement device connected to a shroud that contains a bundle of high surface area vertical hanging fibers, where the enhanced coalescing zone diverts a portion of an admixture of immiscible liquids to flow radially in a path not parallel to the vertical axis of the hanging fibers whereby the diverted portion of liquids contacts a coalescing surface to cause at least one of the liquids to coalesce into droplets. The immiscible liquids are allowed to settle into separate phase layers and first and second outlets selectively remove the higher density liquid from the lower density liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Merichem Company
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, Tiejun Zhang
  • Patent number: 8540870
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products. The heavy hydrocarbon feed is slurried with a particulate solid material to form a heavy hydrocarbon slurry and hydrocracked in a slurry hydrocracking unit to produce vacuum gas oil (VGO) and pitch. A first vacuum column separates VGO from pitch, and a second vacuum column further separates VGO from pitch. As much as 15 wt-% of VGO can be recovered by the second vacuum column and recycled to the slurry hydrocracking unit. A pitch composition is obtained which can be made into particles and transported without sticking together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, David N. Myers, Mark Van Wees, Paul R. Zimmerman, Ruth Buskus Kleinworth
  • Patent number: 8470251
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products. The heavy hydrocarbon feed is slurried with a particulate solid material to form a heavy hydrocarbon slurry and hydrocracked in a slurry hydrocracking unit to produce vacuum gas oil (VGO) and pitch. A first vacuum column separates VGO from pitch, and a second vacuum column further separates VGO from pitch. As much as 15 wt-% of VGO can be recovered by the second vacuum column and recycled to the slurry hydrocracking unit. A pitch composition is obtained which can be made into particles and transported without sticking together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, David N. Myers, Mark Van Wees, Paul R. Zimmerman, Ruth Buskus Kleinworth
  • Patent number: 8372773
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for making a catalyst including an effective amount of iron for catalyzing one or more reactions in a hydrocarbon conversion system. The process can include grinding and coating the particles. The ground particles can have an effective amount of iron, and substantially all the particles may have a maximum dimension no larger than about 130 microns. The coating can have an effective amount of one or more hydrocarbons to provide the catalyst with improved flowability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lorenz J. Bauer, James F. McGehee