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: 20240058804
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Bryan J. Egolf, Jeffrey R. Grott, Ka L. Lok, Michael J. Vetter, Vikasbhai Gangarambhai Sankalia
  • Patent number: 11884616
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: 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: 11802687
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Nitin P. Chitgopekar, William Yanez, Ka L. Lok
  • Publication number: 20230211306
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Ka L. Lok, Bryan J. Egolf, Matthew R. Zuraski, Vikas Jaggi, Jennifer J. Ozmen
  • Publication number: 20230212095
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: 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: 20220252254
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Nitin P. Chitgopekar, William Yanez, Ka L. Lok
  • Patent number: 11207648
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: John Christian Maley, Jeffrey R. Grott, Megan Kubacki, Nicholas W. Bridge, Ka L. Lok, Kenneth D. Peters
  • Publication number: 20210237015
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: John Christian Maley, Jeffrey R. Grott, Megan Kubacki, Nicholas W. Bridge, Ka L. Lok, Kenneth D. Peters
  • Patent number: 10557091
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Ka L. Lok, Bryan K. Glover, Alexander V. Sabitov, Jeffrey R. Grott
  • Publication number: 20180029956
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Ka L. Lok, Bryan K. Glover, Alexander V. Sabitov, Jeffrey R. Grott
  • Patent number: 9447901
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Ka L. Lok, David A. Wegerer, Jeffrey Grott, William Yanez
  • Patent number: 9302261
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Ka L. Lok, Christopher Naunheimer, Matthew R. Zuraski
  • Publication number: 20150202583
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Ka L. Lok, Mary Jo Wier, Pengfei Chen, Alexander V. Sabitov
  • Publication number: 20150098862
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Ka L. Lok, David A. Wegerer, Jeffrey Grott, William Yanez
  • Patent number: 8877668
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Ka L. Lok, Mary Jo Wier, Pengfei Chen, Alexander V. Sabitov
  • Publication number: 20140004017
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Ka L. Lok, Christopher Naunheimer, Matthew R. Zuraski
  • Publication number: 20130004377
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Ka L. Lok, Mary Jo Wier, Pengfei Chen, Alexander V. Sabitov
  • Publication number: 20130005562
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Ka L. Lok, Mary Jo Wier, Pengfei Chen, Alexander V. Sabitov