Patents by Inventor MacKenzie Millar

MacKenzie Millar 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: 11946355
    Abstract: A method to recover and process hydrocarbons from a gas flare system to produce natural gas liquids (NGL), cold compressed natural gas (CCNG), compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquid natural gas (LNG). The method process provides the energy required to recover and process the hydrocarbon gas stream through compression and expansion of the various streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Publication number: 20240092714
    Abstract: A method of producing petrochemicals using a hydrocarbon fuel cell includes the steps of operating the fuel cell to produce electricity, thermal energy, and one or more exhaust stream, the one or more exhaust stream comprising at least a carbon-containing gas and water, reacting at least a portion of the exhaust stream with the reactant stream of natural gas to produce one or more petrochemical streams in a reactor, and heating one or more reactants using at least a portion of at least one of the electricity and the thermal energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 11866395
    Abstract: A method of producing petrochemicals using a hydrocarbon fuel cell includes the steps of operating the fuel cell to produce electricity, thermal energy, and one or more exhaust stream, the one or more exhaust stream comprising at least a carbon-containing gas and water, reacting at least a portion of the exhaust stream with the reactant stream of natural gas to produce one or more petrochemical streams in a reactor, and heating one or more reactants using at least a portion of at least one of the electricity and the thermal energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 11692772
    Abstract: A method to recover hydrocarbonfractions from refineries gas streams involves a pre-cooled heat refinery fuel gas stream mixed with a pre-cooled and expanded supply of natural gas stream in an inline mixer to condense and recover at least C3+ fractions upstream of a fractionator. The temperature of the gas stream entering the fractionator may be monitored downstream of the in-line mixer. The pre-cooled stream of high pressure natural gas is sufficiently cooled by flowing through a gas expander that, when mixed with the pre-cooled refinery fuel gas, the resulting temperature causes condensation of heavier hydrocarbon fractions before entering the fractionator. A further cooled, pressure expanded natural gas reflux stream is temperature controlled to maintain fractionator overhead temperature. The fractionator bottoms temperature may be controlled by a circulating reboiler stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, Mackenzie Millar
  • Publication number: 20230064109
    Abstract: A method that combines a fuel cell with a Gas Recovery Unit (GRU) to a methanol plant to produce methanol at near zero GHG emissions. The fuel cell generates steam, carbon dioxide and electricity. A GRU unit condenses, separates, recovers, pressurizes and reheats the fuel cell anode exhaust stream. The GRU prepares a stream of natural gas and steam to feed the fuel cell anode and a stream of carbon dioxide and air to feed the fuel cell cathode. The GRU also prepares streams of carbon dioxide and steam as reactants for the stoichiometric mixture with natural gas to produce synthesis gas in an electric catalytic reformer at a methanol plant. The electric catalytic reformer uses electricity, steam and/or carbon dioxide reactants produced by the fuel cell to produce synthesis gas for conversion to methanol with low GHG emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Publication number: 20220370953
    Abstract: A method to dry a gas stream that includes methane and condensable components that have a lower boiling point than methane by: combining the gas stream with a cold liquid stream in a gas mixer to produce a mixed stream that is colder than the gas stream and to condense a first portion of the condensable components; passing the mixed stream through a first separator to remove the condensed first portion and obtain a second gas stream; lowering a pressure and temperature of the second gas stream in an expansion device to obtain a third gas stream and condense a second portion of the condensable components; passing the third gas stream through a second separator to remove the condensed second portion and obtain a dried gas stream; and recirculating at least a portion of the condensed second portion into the in-line gas mixer as the cold liquid stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 11486636
    Abstract: A method to recover olefins and C2+ fractions from refineries gas streams. The traditional recovery methods employed at refineries are absorption with solvents and cryogenic technology using compression and expansion aided by external refrigeration systems. In contrast to known methods, there is provided first a pre-cooling heat exchanger on a feed line feeding the gas stream to a in-line mixer, secondly by injecting and mixing a stream of LNG to condense the C2+ fractions upstream of the fractionator. The temperature of the gas stream entering the fractionator is monitored downstream of the in-line mixer. A LNG stream is temperature controlled to flow through the injection inlet and mix with the feed gas at a temperature which results in the condensation of the C2+ fractions before entering the fractionator. A LNG reflux stream is temperature controlled to maintain fractionator overhead temperature. The fractionator bottoms temperature is controlled by a circulating reboiler stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: 1304338 ALBERTA LTD, 1304342 ALBERTA LTD
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 11473021
    Abstract: A method of upgrading oil using supercritical fluids generated by a fuel cell. The process uses supercritical carbon dioxide to control the specific gravity of the oil and supercritical water, the amount of which is controlled to achieve a desired oil/water ratio in processing oils to be upgraded. The process recovers the GHG emission stream from a fuel cell anode exhaust to produce supercritical fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: 1304338 ALBERTA LTD., 1304342 ALBERTA LTD.
    Inventors: Mackenzie Millar, Jose Lourenco
  • Patent number: 11173445
    Abstract: A method to pre-treat an inlet natural gas stream at gas pressure reduction stations to produce LNG removes water and carbon dioxide from a natural gas stream. The energy required for the process is provided by recovering pressure energy in the inlet gas stream. The process eliminates the conventional gas pre-heating process at pressure reductions stations employing gas combustion heaters. The process provides a method to produce LNG at natural gas pressure reduction that meets product specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 11149531
    Abstract: A method of producing temperature and pressure conditioned fluids using a fuel cell. The fuel cell generates an anode exhaust stream of water vapour and carbon dioxide. The water in the exhaust stream is condensed and separated to produce a stream of water and a stream of carbon dioxide. A first portion of the stream of water is heated to produce a stream of steam, which is combined with the fuel to form the anode input stream. A stream of condensed carbon dioxide is obtained by condensing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide in the stream of carbon dioxide. At least one fluid is heated and compressed to a target temperature and pressure for each fluid, the at least one fluid comprising a second portion of the stream of water or at least a portion of the condensed carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: 1304342 Alberta Ltd., 1304338 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, Mackenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 11097220
    Abstract: A method of stripping carbon dioxide from a stream of natural gas to be used in the production of liquid natural gas (LNG) comprises the steps of: passing a stream of natural gas through a stripping column; injecting a stripping agent into the stripping column, the stripping agent stripping carbon dioxide from the stream of natural gas and exiting the stripping column as a liquid phase; passing the stripping agent exiting the stripping column through a regenerator column to generate a carbon dioxide gas stream and a recovered stripping agent stream; and cooling the recovered stripping agent stream using a cryogenic vapour generated in the production of LNG and injecting the cooled, recovered stripping agent stream into the stripping column as the stripping agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 10968725
    Abstract: A method to extract methane from a coal bed seam with carbon dioxide produced and recovered from a fuel cell anode exhaust stream while simultaneously sequestering the carbon dioxide on the coal. The process produces methane to supply a fuel cell to generate electricity while reducing or eliminating GHG emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, Mackenzie Millar
  • Publication number: 20200407298
    Abstract: A method of producing petrochemicals using a hydrocarbon fuel cell includes the steps of operating the fuel cell to produce electricity, thermal energy, and one or more exhaust stream, the one or more exhaust stream comprising at least a carbon-containing gas and water, reacting at least a portion of the exhaust stream with the reactant stream of natural gas to produce one or more petrochemical streams in a reactor, and heating one or more reactants using at least a portion of at least one of the electricity and the thermal energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Publication number: 20200386090
    Abstract: A method to recover and process hydrocarbons from a gas flare system to produce natural gas liquids (NGL), cold compressed natural gas (CCNG), compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquid natural gas (LNG). The method process provides the energy required to recover and process the hydrocarbon gas stream through compression and expansion of the various streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Publication number: 20200386475
    Abstract: A method to recover hydrocarbonfractions from refineries gas streams involves a pre-cooled heat refinery fuel gas stream mixed with a pre-cooled and expanded supply of natural gas stream in an inline mixer to condense and recover at least C3+ fractions upstream of a fractionator. The temperature of the gas stream entering the fractionator may be monitored downstream of the in-line mixer. The pre-cooled stream of high pressure natural gas is sufficiently cooled by flowing through a gas expander that, when mixed with the pre-cooled refinery fuel gas, the resulting temperature causes condensation of heavier hydrocarbon fractions before entering the fractionator. A further cooled, pressure expanded natural gas reflux stream is temperature controlled to maintain fractionator overhead temperature. The fractionator bottoms temperature may be controlled by a circulating reboiler stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicants: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose LOURENCO, Mackenzie MILLAR
  • Patent number: 10852058
    Abstract: There is described a method to produce LNG at gas pressure letdown stations. A high pressure gas stream is pre-cooled, dewatered, and then divided into two streams: a diverted LNG production stream (LNG stream) and a gas to end users stream (User stream). Carbon dioxide is removed from the LNG stream and the LNG stream is compressed. The LNG stream is then precooled by passing through one or more heat exchangers. Hydrocarbon condensate is removed from the LNG steam by passing the LNG stream through a first Knock Out drum. The LNG stream is then depressured by passing through a JT valve to depressurize the gas vapour exiting the first Knock Out drum and discharge it into a second Knock Out drum where the LNG is captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: MacKenzie Millar, Jose Lourenco
  • Patent number: 10787891
    Abstract: A method to enhance the production of oil from underground oil deposits recovers the anode exhaust stream components and thermal energy from a fuel cell for injection in a well pipeline to heat, displace and flow oil into a production well pipeline at optimal reservoir pressure and operating conditions. The process recovers and injects the GHG emission stream from a fuel cell anode exhaust stream into an oil reservoir to increase oil production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Mackenzie Millar, Jose Lourenco
  • Publication number: 20200165531
    Abstract: A method of upgrading oil using supercritical fluids generated by a fuel cell. The process uses supercritical carbon dioxide to control the specific gravity of the oil and supercritical water, the amount of which is controlled to achieve a desired oil/water ratio in processing oils to be upgraded. The process recovers the GHG emission stream from a fuel cell anode exhaust to produce supercritical fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Mackenzie Millar, Jose Lourenco
  • Patent number: 10634426
    Abstract: A method for production of liquid natural gas (LNG) at natural gas liquids (NGLs) recovery plants that maximizes NGLs recovery by producing LNG and using the produced LNG as an external cooling source to control the operation of a de-methanizer column at the NLG recovery facility. In at least one embodiment, LNG is added from an LNG overhead receiver by direct mixing to control the temperature profile in the NGL de-methanizer column. The temperature in an overhead product of the de-methanizer column is controlled by controlling addition of LNG as a reflux stream. The temperature in an expanded feed gas to the de-methanizer column is controlled by controlling addition of LNG as a tempering gas, while stripping of carbon dioxide from an NGL product stream is controlled by controlling the addition of LNG as stripping gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd, 1304342 Alberta Ltd
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 10571187
    Abstract: A method for liquefying gas involving pre-treating the gas stream in a pre-treater to remove impurities, and then passing the gas stream through a first flow path of a first heat exchanger to lower a temperature of the gas stream. The gas stream is then passed through the gas expansion turbine to lower a pressure of the gas stream and further decrease the temperature of the gas stream. The gas stream is then passed into a primary separator to separate the gas stream into a liquid stream and a cold gas stream. The liquid stream is collected. Selected quantities of the cold gas stream are passed through a second flow path of the first heat exchanger whereby a heat exchange takes place to cool the gas stream flowing through the first flow path to maintain the temperature of the gas stream entering the gas expansion turbine at a temperature which promotes the production of liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd, 1304342 Alberta Ltd
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar