Patents by Inventor Jason Michael Ploeger

Jason Michael Ploeger 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: 10962283
    Abstract: A helium-containing stream is recovered from a natural gas feed using a membrane followed by multiple distillation steps. Refrigeration is provided by expanding a bottoms liquid with a higher nitrogen content than the feed, achieving a lower temperature in the process. The helium-enriched vapor is then purified and the helium-containing waste stream is recycled to maximize recovery and reduce the number of compressors needed. The helium-depleted natural gas stream can be returned at pressure for utilization or transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent White, Paul Higginbotham, Jason Michael Ploeger
  • Patent number: 10843121
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for producing helium, neon, or argon product gas using an adsorption separation unit having minimal dead end volumes. A purification unit receives a stream enriched in helium, neon, or argon, and a stream is recycled from the purification unit back to the adsorption separation unit in a controlled manner to maintain the concentration of the helium, neon, or argon in the feed to the separation unit within a targeted range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Cory E. Sanderson, Jason Michael Ploeger, Jin Cao, Roger Dean Whitley, Shubhra Jyoti Bhadra
  • Publication number: 20200088466
    Abstract: A helium-containing stream is recovered from a natural gas feed using a membrane followed by multiple distillation steps. Refrigeration is provided by expanding a bottoms liquid with a higher nitrogen content than the feed, achieving a lower temperature in the process. The helium-enriched vapor is then purified and the helium-containing waste stream is recycled to maximize recovery and reduce the number of compressors needed. The helium-depleted natural gas stream can be returned at pressure for utilization or transportation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent White, Paul Higginbotham, Jason Michael Ploeger
  • Patent number: 10478770
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for producing helium, neon, or argon product gas using an adsorption separation unit having minimal dead end volumes. A second separation unit receives a stream enriched in helium, neon, or argon, and a stream is recycled from the second separation unit back to the adsorption separation unit in a controlled manner to maintain the concentration of the helium, neon, or argon in the feed to the separation unit within a targeted range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Cory E. Sanderson, Jason Michael Ploeger, Jin Cao, Donald E. Henry, Edward Landis Weist, Jr., Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, Paul Anthony Novosat
  • Publication number: 20190201835
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for producing helium, neon, or argon product gas using an adsorption separation unit having minimal dead end volumes. A purification unit receives a stream enriched in helium, neon, or argon, and a stream is recycled from the purification unit back to the adsorption separation unit in a controlled manner to maintain the concentration of the helium, neon, or argon in the feed to the separation unit within a targeted range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Cory E. Sanderson, Jason Michael Ploeger, Jin Cao, Roger Dean Whitley, Shubhra Jyoti Bhadra
  • Publication number: 20190193018
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for producing helium, neon, or argon product gas using an adsorption separation unit having minimal dead end volumes. A second separation unit receives a stream enriched in helium, neon, or argon, and a stream is recycled from the second separation unit back to the adsorption separation unit in a controlled manner to maintain the concentration of the helium, neon, or argon in the feed to the separation unit within a targeted range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Cory E. Sanderson, Jason Michael Ploeger, Jin Cao, Donald E. Henry, Edward Landis Weist, JR., Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, Paul Anthony Novosat
  • Patent number: 10060348
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide is separated from natural gas using a single stage membrane separation system to produce a retentate gas that typically meets the specification for pipeline distribution of natural gas, and a permeate gas comprising methane that is combusted to generate power and/or heat, e.g. for use in providing the utility requirements of the process itself or for export to an integrated process. Advantages include an overall reduction in power consumption and improvement in process efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Michael Ploeger, John Eugene Palamara, Jack Theodore Kindt
  • Patent number: 10036590
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for recovering helium from a feed comprising helium, carbon dioxide, and at least one of nitrogen and methane. The feed is separated in a first separator to form helium-enriched stream and a CO2-enriched stream. The helium-enriched stream is separated in a pressure swing adsorption unit to form a helium-rich product stream and a helium-lean stream. At least a portion of the helium-lean stream is recycled to the first separator with the feed. In some embodiments, a membrane separation unit is used to enhance helium recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Michael Ploeger, Jin Cao, Paul Higginbotham
  • Patent number: 9945608
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for separating ethane and heavier hydrocarbons from a natural gas stream. In aspects of the invention, an adsorption unit is integrated with a cryogenic gas processing plant in order to overcome methane recovery limitations by sending the tail gas from the adsorption unit to the cryogenic gas processing plant to recover methane that would otherwise be lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Michael Ploeger, Timothy Christopher Golden, Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, John Eugene Palamara
  • Publication number: 20170045290
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for recovering helium from a feed comprising helium, carbon dioxide, and at least one of nitrogen and methane. The feed is separated in a first separator to form helium-enriched stream and a CO2-enriched stream. The helium-enriched stream is separated in a pressure swing adsorption unit to form a helium-rich product stream and a helium-lean stream. At least a portion of the helium-lean stream is recycled to the first separator with the feed. In some embodiments, a membrane separation unit is used to enhance helium recovery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Michael Ploeger, Jin Cao, Paul Higginbotham
  • Publication number: 20160090910
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide is separated from natural gas using a single stage membrane separation system to produce a retentate gas that typically meets the specification for pipeline distribution of natural gas, and a permeate gas comprising methane that is combusted to generate power and/or heat, e.g. for use in providing the utility requirements of the process itself or for export to an integrated process. Advantages include an overall reduction in power consumption and improvement in process efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Michael Ploeger, John Eugene Palamara, Jack Theodore Kindt
  • Publication number: 20130186133
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for separating ethane and heavier hydrocarbons from a natural gas stream. In aspects of the invention, an adsorption unit is integrated with a cryogenic gas processing plant in order to overcome methane recovery limitations by sending the tail gas from the adsorption unit to the cryogenic gas processing plant to recover methane that would otherwise be lost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Michael Ploeger, Timothy Christopher Golden, Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, John Eugene Palamara