Patents by Inventor John P. O'Connell

John P. O'Connell 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: 11760632
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method and system for sulfur recovery. A Claus tail gas stream is fed to a hydrogenation reactor to produce a hydrogenated gas stream. The hydrogenated gas stream is fed to a quench tower to produce a quenched gas stream. The quenched gas stream is fed to a first stage adsorption vessel of first stage adsorption unit to produce a first outlet gas stream. The first outlet gas stream is fed to a second stage adsorption vessel of a second stage adsorption unit to produce a second byproduct gas stream. The first stage adsorption vessel is regenerated to produce a first byproduct gas stream. The second stage adsorption vessel is regenerated to produce a second outlet gas stream including hydrogen sulfide. Optionally, a portion of the second byproduct gas stream or nitrogen can be fed to the first stage adsorption vessel or the second stage adsorption vessel for regeneration. Optionally, a sales gas can be fed to the second stage adsorption vessel for regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Georgios Lithoxoos, Yuguo Wang, Rashid M. Othman, Ismail A. Alami, John P. O'Connell, Sebastien A. Duval
  • Publication number: 20230025621
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method and system for sulfur recovery. A Claus tail gas stream is fed to a hydrogenation reactor to produce a hydrogenated gas stream. The hydrogenated gas stream is fed to a quench tower to produce a quenched gas stream. The quenched gas stream is fed to a first stage adsorption vessel of first stage adsorption unit to produce a first outlet gas stream. The first outlet gas stream is fed to a second stage adsorption vessel of a second stage adsorption unit to produce a second byproduct gas stream. The first stage adsorption vessel is regenerated to produce a first byproduct gas stream. The second stage adsorption vessel is regenerated to produce a second outlet gas stream including hydrogen sulfide. Optionally, a portion of the second byproduct gas stream or nitrogen can be fed to the first stage adsorption vessel or the second stage adsorption vessel for regeneration. Optionally, a sales gas can be fed to the second stage adsorption vessel for regeneration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2019
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Georgios Lithoxoos, Yuguo Wang, Rashid M. Othman, Ismail A. Alami, John P. O'Connell, Sebastien A. Duval
  • Patent number: 11453588
    Abstract: An elemental sulfur recovery unit comprising a thermal unit configured to combust an acid gas feed comprising hydrogen sulfide, an oxygen source, and a fuel gas to create a reaction furnace outlet stream, comprising elemental sulfur, a waste heat boiler configured to capture heat from the reaction furnace outlet stream to create a waste heat boiler effluent, a condenser configured to condense the waste heat boiler effluent to produce a non-condensed gases stream and a condensed stream comprising elemental sulfur, a process gas reheater configured to generate a hot gases stream, a hydrogenation reactor configured to convert the hot gases stream to create a hydrogenation effluent comprising hydrogen sulfide, a process desuperheater configured to cool the hydrogenation effluent to generate a cooled effluent, and an absorber unit configured to absorb the hydrogen sulfide from the cooled effluent to produce a hydrogen sulfide recycle stream and a waste gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: John P. O'Connell
  • Publication number: 20200277186
    Abstract: An elemental sulfur recovery unit comprising a thermal unit configured to combust an acid gas feed comprising hydrogen sulfide, an oxygen source, and a fuel gas to create a reaction furnace outlet stream, comprising elemental sulfur, a waste heat boiler configured to capture heat from the reaction furnace outlet stream to create a waste heat boiler effluent, a condenser configured to condense the waste heat boiler effluent to produce a non-condensed gases stream and a condensed stream comprising elemental sulfur, a process gas reheater configured to generate a hot gases stream, a hydrogenation reactor configured to convert the hot gases stream to create a hydrogenation effluent comprising hydrogen sulfide, a process desuperheater configured to cool the hydrogenation effluent to generate a cooled effluent, and an absorber unit configured to absorb the hydrogen sulfide from the cooled effluent to produce a hydrogen sulfide recycle stream and a waste gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: John P. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 10508034
    Abstract: A process for recovering sulfur in a sulfur recovery unit comprising the steps of reacting hydrogen sulfide and oxygen in the reaction furnace at a minimum reaction temperature to produce a reaction effluent; reducing the temperature of the reaction effluent from the minimum reaction temperature to a boiler section outlet temperature to produce a cooled effluent, the cooled effluent comprises hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and sulfur-containing contaminants; reacting the hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and sulfur-containing contaminants in the catalytic extension to produce a boiler catalytic effluent; reducing the boiler catalytic effluent temperature such that the elemental sulfur condenses to form liquid sulfur and a gases stream; reacting the hydrogen sulfide and sulfur-containing contaminants with the oxygen to produce an oxidizer outlet stream comprises sulfur dioxide; and separating the sulfur dioxide in the scrubbing unit to produce a recycle stream and an effluent gases, the recycle stream compr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: John P. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 10479684
    Abstract: A method for recovering sulfur from an acid gas feed is provided. The method comprising the steps of mixing the acid gas feed and an absorption process outlet stream to form a combined Claus feed, introducing the combined Claus feed and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed to a Claus process to produce a Claus outlet gas stream, introducing the Claus outlet gas stream to a thermal oxidizer, treating the thermal oxidizer outlet stream in a gas treatment unit to produce a dehydrated stream, introducing the dehydrated stream to a membrane sweeping unit to produce a sweep membrane residue stream and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed, introducing a sweep air stream to a permeate side of the membrane sweeping unit, and introducing the sweep membrane residue stream to a sulfur dioxide absorption process to produce the absorption process outlet stream and a stack feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Compnay
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre R. Ballaguet, Milind M. Vaidya, Iran D. Charry-Prada, Sebastien A. Duval, Feras Hamad, John P. O'Connell, Rashid M. Othman
  • Patent number: 10412935
    Abstract: A multifunction livestock measurement system provides automatic hip location for animal height (hip height) assessment using a side-looking optical system. An automatic implementation identifies the hip through an analysis of the underside of the hindquarters of the animal. A manual version identifies the hip manually in a similar image. Automatic ear tag reading, weight measurement and animal temperature measurement can be integrated into the station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: John P. O'Connell
  • Publication number: 20190152780
    Abstract: A process for recovering sulfur in a sulfur recovery unit comprising the steps of reacting hydrogen sulfide and oxygen in the reaction furnace at a minimum reaction temperature to produce a reaction effluent; reducing the temperature of the reaction effluent from the minimum reaction temperature to a boiler section outlet temperature to produce a cooled effluent, the cooled effluent comprises hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and sulfur-containing contaminants; reacting the hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and sulfur-containing contaminants in the catalytic extension to produce a boiler catalytic effluent; reducing the boiler catalytic effluent temperature such that the elemental sulfur condenses to form liquid sulfur and a gases stream; reacting the hydrogen sulfide and sulfur-containing contaminants with the oxygen to produce an oxidizer outlet stream comprises sulfur dioxide; and separating the sulfur dioxide in the scrubbing unit to produce a recycle stream and an effluent gases, the recycle stream compr
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: John P. O'CONNELL
  • Patent number: 10246329
    Abstract: A process for recovering sulfur in a sulfur recovery unit comprising the steps of reacting hydrogen sulfide and oxygen in the reaction furnace at a minimum reaction temperature to produce a reaction effluent; reducing the temperature of the reaction effluent from the minimum reaction temperature to a boiler section outlet temperature to produce a cooled effluent, the cooled effluent comprises hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and sulfur-containing contaminants; reacting the hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and sulfur-containing contaminants in the catalytic extension to produce a boiler catalytic effluent; reducing the boiler catalytic effluent temperature such that the elemental sulfur condenses to form liquid sulfur and a gases stream; reacting the hydrogen sulfide and sulfur-containing contaminants with the oxygen to produce an oxidizer outlet stream comprises sulfur dioxide; and separating the sulfur dioxide in the scrubbing unit to produce a recycle stream and an effluent gases, the recycle stream compr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: John P. O'Connell
  • Publication number: 20190016598
    Abstract: A method for recovering sulfur from an acid gas feed is provided. The method comprising the steps of mixing the acid gas feed and an absorption process outlet stream to form a combined Claus feed, introducing the combined Claus feed and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed to a Claus process to produce a Claus outlet gas stream, introducing the Claus outlet gas stream to a thermal oxidizer, treating the thermal oxidizer outlet stream in a gas treatment unit to produce a dehydrated stream, introducing the dehydrated stream to a membrane sweeping unit to produce a sweep membrane residue stream and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed, introducing a sweep air stream to a permeate side of the membrane sweeping unit, and introducing the sweep membrane residue stream to a sulfur dioxide absorption process to produce the absorption process outlet stream and a stack feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre R. BALLAGUET, Milind M. VAIDYA, Iran D. CHARRY-PRADA, Sebastien A. DUVAL, Feras HAMAD, John P. O'CONNELL, Rashid M. OTHMAN
  • Patent number: 10106411
    Abstract: A method for recovering sulfur from an acid gas feed is provided. The method comprising the steps of mixing the acid gas feed and an absorption process outlet stream to form a combined Claus feed, introducing the combined Claus feed and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed to a Claus process to produce a Claus outlet gas stream, introducing the Claus outlet gas stream to a thermal oxidizer, treating the thermal oxidizer outlet stream in a gas treatment unit to produce a dehydrated stream, introducing the dehydrated stream to a membrane sweeping unit to produce a sweep membrane residue stream and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed, introducing a sweep air stream to a permeate side of the membrane sweeping unit, and introducing the sweep membrane residue stream to a sulfur dioxide absorption process to produce the absorption process outlet stream and a stack feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre R. Ballaguet, Milind M. Vaidya, Iran D. Charry-Prada, Sebastien A. Duval, Feras Hamad, John P. O'Connell, Rashid M. Othman
  • Publication number: 20180257936
    Abstract: A method for recovering sulfur from an acid gas feed is provided. The method comprising the steps of mixing the acid gas feed and an absorption process outlet stream to form a combined Claus feed, introducing the combined Claus feed and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed to a Claus process to produce a Claus outlet gas stream, introducing the Claus outlet gas stream to a thermal oxidizer, treating the thermal oxidizer outlet stream in a gas treatment unit to produce a dehydrated stream, introducing the dehydrated stream to a membrane sweeping unit to produce a sweep membrane residue stream and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed, introducing a sweep air stream to a permeate side of the membrane sweeping unit, and introducing the sweep membrane residue stream to a sulfur dioxide absorption process to produce the absorption process outlet stream and a stack feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre R. BALLAGUET, Milind M. VAIDYA, Iran D. CHARRY-PRADA, Sebastien A. DUVAL, Feras HAMAD, John P. O'CONNELL, Rashid M. OTHMAN
  • Publication number: 20180242558
    Abstract: A multifunction livestock measurement system provides automatic hip location for animal height (hip height) assessment using a side-looking optical system. An automatic implementation identifies the hip through an analysis of the underside of the hindquarters of the animal. A manual version identifies the hip manually in a similar image. Automatic ear tag reading, weight measurement and animal temperature measurement can be integrated into the station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventor: John P. O'Connell
  • Publication number: 20170173527
    Abstract: An elemental sulfur recovery unit comprising a thermal unit configured to combust an acid gas feed comprising hydrogen sulfide, an oxygen source, and a fuel gas to create a reaction furnace outlet stream, comprising elemental sulfur, a waste heat boiler configured to capture heat from the reaction furnace outlet stream to create a waste heat boiler effluent, a condenser configured to condense the waste heat boiler effluent to produce a non-condensed gases stream and a condensed stream comprising elemental sulfur, a process gas reheater configured to generate a hot gases stream, a hydrogenation reactor configured to convert the hot gases stream to create a hydrogenation effluent comprising hydrogen sulfide, a process desuperheater configured to cool the hydrogenation effluent to generate a cooled effluent, and an absorber unit configured to absorb the hydrogen sulfide from the cooled effluent to produce a hydrogen sulfide recycle stream and a waste gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventor: John P. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 9556030
    Abstract: A sulfur recovery unit for processing an acid gas feed to recover elemental sulfur, the sulfur recovery unit comprising a reaction furnace configured to burn the acid gas feed, an oxygen source, and a fuel gas to create a furnace outlet stream, the acid gas feed comprises hydrogen sulfide which is converted to elemental sulfur, a waste heat boiler configured to capture heat from the furnace outlet stream to create a cooled stream, a condenser configured to condense the cooled stream to produce a waste gas stream and a condensed stream comprising elemental sulfur, a thermal oxidizer configured to burn the waste gas stream to create a sulfur dioxide rich stream, and a sulfur dioxide scrubbing unit configured to remove the amount of sulfur dioxide from the sulfur dioxide rich stream to create an effluent stream and a recycle stream recycled to the reaction furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: John P. O'Connell
  • Publication number: 20150132213
    Abstract: A sulfur recovery unit for processing an acid gas feed to recover elemental sulfur, the sulfur recovery unit comprising a reaction furnace configured to burn the acid gas feed, an oxygen source, and a fuel gas to create a furnace outlet stream, the acid gas feed comprises hydrogen sulfide which is converted to elemental sulfur, a waste heat boiler configured to capture heat from the furnace outlet stream to create a cooled stream, a condenser configured to condense the cooled stream to produce a waste gas stream and a condensed stream comprising elemental sulfur, a thermal oxidizer configured to burn the waste gas stream to create a sulfur dioxide rich stream, and a sulfur dioxide scrubbing unit configured to remove the amount of sulfur dioxide from the sulfur dioxide rich stream to create an effluent stream and a recycle stream recycled to the reaction furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: John P. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 4623448
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for removing halogenated polyphenyl materials from used or waste oil supplies. Waste or used lube stock is subjected to rerefining procedures in order to remove many of the impurities found in such waste or used stocks. The rerefined stock which is contaminated with halogenated polyphenyls is continuously pumped under pressure and mixed with highly pressurized hydrogen gas which is heated to a relatively low temperature and passed through a bed of catalyst in order to promote a reaction that forms a hydrogen halide and a polynuclear aromatic material that does not exhibit the environmental and health hazards of a halogenated polyphenyl material such as PCB's.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Moreco Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. O'Connell, John F. Wozniak
  • Patent number: D281402
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: Fisons plc
    Inventor: John P. O'Connell