Patents by Inventor Ka L. Lok
Ka L. Lok 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).
-
Publication number: 20240058804Abstract: The regeneration tower with a cylindrical section and a conical section has a tertiary screen covering an opening in the conical section which prevents any catalyst that escapes from the cylindrical catalyst bed or the catalyst bed in the conical section from entering the oxygen-rich chlorination zone. The regeneration tower may also have one or more additional changes. The length of the cylindrical section can be increased. The inner screen in the cylindrical section may comprise punch plate or slotted plate. A secondary screen can be added in front of the inner screen in the cylindrical section.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: Bryan J. Egolf, Jeffrey R. Grott, Ka L. Lok, Michael J. Vetter, Vikasbhai Gangarambhai Sankalia
-
Patent number: 11884616Abstract: Processes and apparatus for reforming hydrocarbons to reduce the impact of contaminants created by non-catalyst coking. The reaction zone receives sulfur to inhibit the impact, and a control index is used to control the determine conditions with generally lower pressures. Additionally, a compression zone, pressure control zone and combustion zone operation are provided for the operation of the reaction zone at the generally lower pressures.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Bryan J. Egolf, Christopher D. DiGiulio, William Yanez, Ka L. Lok, Elie J. Fayad, Haibo Yu, Kristen E. Allaire, Falaah Falih, Jeffrey R. Grott, Sujay R. Krishnamurthy, Hari S. Bajpai, Phillip F. Daly, Matthew R. Zuraski, Hosoo Lim, Joseph Peterson, Michael R. Van de Cotte, Steven A. Bradley
-
Patent number: 11802687Abstract: A method for improving the efficiency of a fired heater without an air preheat system is described. The method involves the use of an additional outboard convection section which is separate from the regular convection section of the fired heater. The outboard convection section uses the boiler feed water or an alternate cold sink to reduce the temperature of the flue gas, thereby improving the efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Nitin P. Chitgopekar, William Yanez, Ka L. Lok
-
Publication number: 20230211306Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for regenerating catalysts used in a hydrocarbon conversion process. The catalyst is separated into a bypass portion and an adsorption portion. The bypass portion is passed to a regeneration zone where coke may be removed. A vent gas from the regeneration zone may include an active additive from the catalyst, like a halogen. The vent gas is sent to an adsorption zone which also receives the adsorption portion. In the adsorption zone, the catalyst will contact and adsorb the active additive and then pass to the regeneration zone. The amount of active additive in the vent gas from the regeneration zone and the adsorption zone is reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2022Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: Ka L. Lok, Bryan J. Egolf, Matthew R. Zuraski, Vikas Jaggi, Jennifer J. Ozmen
-
Publication number: 20230212095Abstract: Processes and apparatus for reforming hydrocarbons to reduce the impact of contaminants created by non-catalyst coking. The reaction zone receives sulfur to inhibit the impact, and a control index is used to control the determine conditions with generally lower pressures. Additionally, a compression zone, pressure control zone and combustion zone operation are provided for the operation of the reaction zone at the generally lower pressures.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2022Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: Bryan J. Egolf, Christopher D. DiGiulio, William Yanez, Ka L. Lok, Elie J. Fayad, Haibo Yu, Kristen E. Allaire, Falaah Falih, Jeffrey R. Grott, Sujay R. Krishnamurthy, Hari S. Bajpai, Phillip F. Daly, Matthew R. Zuraski, Hosoo Lim, Joseph Peterson, Michael R. Van de Cotte, Steven A. Bradley
-
Publication number: 20220252254Abstract: A method for improving the efficiency of a fired heater without an air preheat system is described. The method involves the use of an additional outboard convection section which is separate from the regular convection section of the fired heater. The outboard convection section uses the boiler feed water or an alternate cold sink to reduce the temperature of the flue gas, thereby improving the efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2021Publication date: August 11, 2022Inventors: Nitin P. Chitgopekar, William Yanez, Ka L. Lok
-
Patent number: 11207648Abstract: An apparatus in a radial reactor is described. The apparatus comprises a vertically elongated conduit extending around a circumference of an outer wall of the radial reactor, a vertically oriented cylindrical center pipe in the radial reactor, and a catalyst bed. The conduit comprises an inner face and an outer face and a pair of opposing sides. The inner face has a plurality of slots. The pair of opposing sides have a plurality of slots. There is a riser at a top of the vertically elongated conduit. The catalyst bed is defined by the center pipe and the inner face.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2020Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: John Christian Maley, Jeffrey R. Grott, Megan Kubacki, Nicholas W. Bridge, Ka L. Lok, Kenneth D. Peters
-
Publication number: 20210237015Abstract: An apparatus in a radial reactor is described. The apparatus comprises a vertically elongated conduit extending around a circumference of an outer wall of the radial reactor, a vertically oriented cylindrical center pipe in the radial reactor, and a catalyst bed. The conduit comprises an inner face and an outer face and a pair of opposing sides. The inner face has a plurality of slots. The pair of opposing sides have a plurality of slots. There is a riser at a top of the vertically elongated conduit. The catalyst bed is defined by the center pipe and the inner face.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2020Publication date: August 5, 2021Inventors: John Christian Maley, Jeffrey R. Grott, Megan Kubacki, Nicholas W. Bridge, Ka L. Lok, Kenneth D. Peters
-
Patent number: 10557091Abstract: A reforming reactor and process of using same in which residence time of feed within a chamber of a reactor is shortened. Feed is injected into the reactor into a non-reactive zone. The non-reactive zone has two portions, a first portion receiving the feed, and a second portion receiving a purge gas. The purge gas will flow from the second portion to the first portion to prevent flow of the feed from the first portion to the second portion. The combined gas may be passed to a reaction zone for catalytic reforming. The first portion and the second portion may be separated by a baffle.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2017Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Ka L. Lok, Bryan K. Glover, Alexander V. Sabitov, Jeffrey R. Grott
-
Publication number: 20180029956Abstract: A reforming reactor and process of using same in which residence time of feed within a chamber of a reactor is shortened. Feed is injected into the reactor into a non-reactive zone. The non-reactive zone has two portions, a first portion receiving the feed, and a second portion receiving a purge gas. The purge gas will flow from the second portion to the first portion to prevent flow of the feed from the first portion to the second portion. The combined gas may be passed to a reaction zone for catalytic reforming. The first portion and the second portion may be separated by a baffle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2017Publication date: February 1, 2018Inventors: Ka L. Lok, Bryan K. Glover, Alexander V. Sabitov, Jeffrey R. Grott
-
Patent number: 9447901Abstract: A flow connector creates a fluid connection between a port in a wall of a reactor vessel and an axial flow path of the reactor vessel. The flow connector has a wall defining a flow path of the flow connector. The flow path terminates in a first end opening and a second end opening. The first end opening is configured to connect to the axial flow path of the reactor vessel, and the second end opening is configured to connect to the port in a wall of the reactor. The flow connector includes a passageway extending through the wall of the flow connector to provide access to the flow path of the flow connector. A cover is dimensioned for sealing the passageway. The passageway may be dimensioned such that a person may traverse the passageway to access the flow path of the flow connector.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2013Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Ka L. Lok, David A. Wegerer, Jeffrey Grott, William Yanez
-
Patent number: 9302261Abstract: A system for providing a blended cooling air stream to a cooling zone cooler in a continuous catalyst regeneration system. The continuous catalyst regeneration system includes a first effluent stream in fluid communication with a regeneration cooler, a cooler blower that provides a first air stream that is in fluid communication with the regeneration cooler to form a heated first air stream, a second air stream which is combined with the heated first air stream to form a blended cooling air stream, and a cooling zone cooler in fluid communication with the blended cooling air stream.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2013Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Ka L. Lok, Christopher Naunheimer, Matthew R. Zuraski
-
Publication number: 20150202583Abstract: The invention reduces the potential for catalyst fluidization in a reduction vessel of a continuous catalyst regeneration system. The gas exit area from the catalyst reduction zone is increased by ventilating the cylindrical baffle of the upper reduction zone. This provides an increased exit cross-sectional area for the upper reduction gas to escape and reduce the overall exit velocity of the combined upper and lower reduction gases and reduces the potential for catalyst fluidization.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2015Publication date: July 23, 2015Inventors: Ka L. Lok, Mary Jo Wier, Pengfei Chen, Alexander V. Sabitov
-
Publication number: 20150098862Abstract: A flow connector creates a fluid connection between a port in a wall of a reactor vessel and an axial flow path of the reactor vessel. The flow connector has a wall defining a flow path of the flow connector. The flow path terminates in a first end opening and a second end opening. The first end opening is configured to connect to the axial flow path of the reactor vessel, and the second end opening is configured to connect to the port in a wall of the reactor. The flow connector includes a passageway extending through the wall of the flow connector to provide access to the flow path of the flow connector. A cover is dimensioned for sealing the passageway. The passageway may be dimensioned such that a person may traverse the passageway to access the flow path of the flow connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2013Publication date: April 9, 2015Applicant: UOP LLCInventors: Ka L. Lok, David A. Wegerer, Jeffrey Grott, William Yanez
-
Patent number: 8877668Abstract: The invention involves a process that reduces the potential for catalyst fluidization in a reduction vessel of a continuous catalyst regeneration system. The gas exit area from the catalyst reduction zone is increased by ventilating the cylindrical baffle of the upper reduction zone. This provides an increased exit cross-sectional area for the upper reduction gas to escape and reduce the overall exit velocity of the combined upper and lower reduction gases and reduces the potential for catalyst fluidization.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Ka L. Lok, Mary Jo Wier, Pengfei Chen, Alexander V. Sabitov
-
Publication number: 20140004017Abstract: Systems and processes for providing a blended cooling air stream to a cooling zone cooler in a continuous catalyst regeneration system are provided that include removing a first effluent stream from a regeneration tower, providing the first effluent stream to a regeneration cooler; providing a first air stream to the regeneration cooler to form a heated first air stream, combining at least a portion of the heated first air stream with a second air stream to form a blended cooling air stream, and providing the blended cooling air stream to a cooling zone cooler.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: UOP LLCInventors: Ka L. Lok, Christopher Naunheimer, Matthew R. Zuraski
-
Publication number: 20130004377Abstract: The invention reduces the potential for catalyst fluidization in a reduction vessel of a continuous catalyst regeneration system. The gas exit area from the catalyst reduction zone is increased by ventilating the cylindrical baffle of the upper reduction zone. This provides an increased exit cross-sectional area for the upper reduction gas to escape and reduce the overall exit velocity of the combined upper and lower reduction gases and reduces the potential for catalyst fluidization.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: UOP LLCInventors: Ka L. Lok, Mary Jo Wier, Pengfei Chen, Alexander V. Sabitov
-
Publication number: 20130005562Abstract: The invention involves a process that reduces the potential for catalyst fluidization in a reduction vessel of a continuous catalyst regeneration system. The gas exit area from the catalyst reduction zone is increased by ventilating the cylindrical baffle of the upper reduction zone. This provides an increased exit cross-sectional area for the upper reduction gas to escape and reduce the overall exit velocity of the combined upper and lower reduction gases and reduces the potential for catalyst fluidization.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: UOP LLCInventors: Ka L. Lok, Mary Jo Wier, Pengfei Chen, Alexander V. Sabitov