Patents by Inventor Michael A. Turney
Michael A. Turney 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).
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Patent number: 12117240Abstract: A process for the production of a liquid oxygen stream by the cryogenic rectification of an inlet air stream, including dividing the inlet air stream into a first portion, and a second portion. Cooling the first portion, and the second portion against a cooled multicomponent refrigerant circuit, thereby producing a first cooled portion, and a second cooled portion. Condensing the first cooled portion, thereby producing a condensed first portion, then introducing the condensed first portion into one or more distillation columns. Expanding the second cooled portion in a turbo-expander, thereby producing an expanded second portion, then introducing the expanded second portion within the one or more distillation columns. Producing within the one or more distillation columns at least a waste nitrogen stream, a nitrogen enriched stream, and an oxygen enriched stream. Withdrawing the oxygen enriched stream from the one or more distillation columns as a liquid oxygen stream.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2022Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Michael A. Turney, Alain Guillard
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Patent number: 11976878Abstract: A system and method for cooling an oxygen stream by heat exchange with a warming supply nitrogen stream having of a heat exchanger having at least a Zone A and a Zone B, the system having indirect heat exchange between a gaseous oxygen stream, and a high-pressure liquid nitrogen stream split into at least a first portion which passes through a Zone A, and a second portion which passes through a Zone B during a first phase of operation. And a high-pressure liquid nitrogen stream passing through Zone A, thereby producing a high-pressure nitrogen vapor stream, which passes through an expansion turbine, thereby producing an expansion turbine outlet stream which then passes through Zone B, during a second phase of operation, thereby producing a liquid oxygen stream.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2022Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Michael A. Turney, Alain Guillard
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Patent number: 11913718Abstract: A method for producing power and argon is provided by providing a residual gas stream, purifying the residual gas stream in a front-end purification unit to remove carbon dioxide, thereby forming a purified residual gas stream, and introducing the purified residual gas stream to a cold box, wherein the purified residual gas stream is cooled and expanded within the cold box to produce power and then fed to a distillation column system for separation therein, thereby forming an argon-enriched stream and optionally a nitrogen-enriched stream and/or an oxygen-enriched stream, wherein the residual gas stream is sourced from a retentate stream of a cold membrane having oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and argon.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2019Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Alain Guillard, Michael A. Turney, Abigail Bonifacio
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Patent number: 11834333Abstract: A method of co-producing liquid hydrogen and ammonia, including a hydrogen generator, a nitrogen generator, and a HLU is presented. The method includes pressurizing a hydrogen stream from the hydrogen generator in a hydrogen compressor, dividing the pressurized hydrogen into at least a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion includes at least part of the flow of a first refrigeration cycle in the HLU, and the second part comprises at least part of the feed to an ammonia plant. The method also includes pressurizing a nitrogen stream from the nitrogen generator in a HP nitrogen compressor, dividing the pressurized nitrogen stream into at least a first part and a second part, wherein the first part comprises at least part of the flow of a second refrigeration cycle in the HLU, and the second part comprises at least part of the feed to the ammonia plant.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2021Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation Procédés Georges ClaudeInventors: Michael A. Turney, Alain Guillard, Joseph T. Stroffolino, IV
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Publication number: 20230103843Abstract: An air separation process having a first booster air compressor comprising a first outlet stream and a second booster air compressor comprising a second outlet stream. Wherein the first booster air compressor and the second booster air compressor are in parallel, and the second booster air compressor is driven by a nitrogen turboexpander. The first outlet stream and/or the second outlet stream may be at least partially condensed by heat exchange with a vaporizing low pressure oxygen stream, and the low-pressure gaseous oxygen pressure is in the range of 1.1 bara to 3 bara.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2021Publication date: April 6, 2023Inventors: Michael A. Turney, Lindsey Turney, Alain Guillard
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Publication number: 20230068126Abstract: A system and method for cooling an oxygen stream by heat exchange with a warming supply nitrogen stream having of a heat exchanger having at least a Zone A and a Zone B, the system having indirect heat exchange between a gaseous oxygen stream, and a high-pressure liquid nitrogen stream split into at least a first portion which passes through a Zone A, and a second portion which passes through a Zone B during a first phase of operation. And a high-pressure liquid nitrogen stream passing through Zone A, thereby producing a high-pressure nitrogen vapor stream, which passes through an expansion turbine, thereby producing an expansion turbine outlet stream which then passes through Zone B, during a second phase of operation, thereby producing a liquid oxygen stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Inventors: Michael A. Turney, Alain Guillard
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Patent number: 11585598Abstract: A method for improved operation of a natural gas liquids stabilizer column, particularly a small-scale, is provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Oriane Farges, Michael A. Turney, Pierre Costa De Beauregard
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Publication number: 20230032466Abstract: A thermally integrated separation method, including exchanging heat indirectly between an inlet stream and a liquid carbon dioxide/NGL containing stream in a heat exchanger, thereby producing a cold inlet stream and a vaporized carbon dioxide/NGL containing stream, introducing the cold inlet stream into a cryogenic separation unit, thereby producing the liquid carbon dioxide/NGL containing stream and a methane-rich stream, introducing the methane-rich stream into a membrane separation unit, thereby producing a methane rich product stream, and a permeate stream, and introducing the vaporized carbon dioxide/NGL containing stream into a carbon dioxide/NGL separation unit, thereby producing a carbon dioxide rich product stream and a NGL rich product stream. Wherein, at least a portion of the liquid carbon dioxide/NGL containing stream bypasses the heat exchanger and is introduced into the carbon dioxide/NGL separation unit in liquid phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2021Publication date: February 2, 2023Inventors: Michael A. Turney, Vincent Follaca, Abigail Bonifacio
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Patent number: 11566841Abstract: A method for producing liquid nitrogen using a residual gas stream derived from a flue gas of a power plant is provided. The residual gas stream is purified in a front-end purification unit to remove freezable components and then the purified stream is compressed. Following compression, the stream can be divided into a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is cooled and sent to a distillation column, wherein oxygen and argon are separated, thereby leaving an essentially pure gaseous nitrogen stream. The gaseous nitrogen stream can then be liquefied using refrigeration provided by expanding the second portion of the purified stream. In a preferred embodiment, the second portion is expanded in two turbines, and the gaseous nitrogen is compressed in a cold nitrogen booster, which is powered by one of the two turbines. In an additional embodiment, after warming, the expanded second portion of the purified stream can be used to regenerate the front-end purification unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2019Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventor: Michael A Turney
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Publication number: 20220196324Abstract: A method for improved operation of a natural gas liquids stabilizer column, particularly a small-scale, is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2020Publication date: June 23, 2022Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Oriane Farges, Michael A. Turney, Pierre Costa De Beauregard
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Patent number: 10634425Abstract: The method for producing liquid hydrogen can include the steps of: introducing pressurized natural gas from a high pressure natural gas pipeline to a gas processing unit under conditions effective for producing a purified hydrogen stream; and introducing the purified hydrogen stream to a hydrogen liquefaction unit under conditions effective to produce a liquid hydrogen stream, wherein the hydrogen liquefaction unit provides a warm temperature cooling and a cold temperature cooling to the purified hydrogen stream, wherein the warm temperature cooling is provided by utilizing letdown energy of a pressurized stream selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen stream sourced from a nitrogen pipeline, a natural gas stream sourced from the high pressure natural gas pipeline, an air gas sourced from an air separation unit, and combinations thereof, wherein the cold temperature is provided by utilizing letdown energy of the purified hydrogen stream.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Alain Guillard, Pierre-Etienne Franc, Michael A. Turney, Kirill Andreev, Alexander Roesch
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Patent number: 10612842Abstract: A method for the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) using a cold fluid provided from a cryogenic unit, such as an air separation unit or nitrogen liquefier, is provided. The method may include the steps of: withdrawing a nitrogen stream from a cryogenic unit, wherein the nitrogen stream is at a temperature between about ?155° C. to about ?193° C.; and liquefying a natural gas stream in a natural gas liquefaction unit using the nitrogen stream from the cryogenic unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Pierre-Philippe Guerif, Louis DeBesombes, Michael A. Turney, Oriane Farges, Alain Guillard
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Patent number: 10563914Abstract: A method includes receiving input corresponding to a proposed configuration of a liquefaction facility and identifying a plurality of components utilized to produce LNG and/or LIN at the facility. The method includes determining an alternative configuration that is different from the proposed configuration. Determining the alternative configuration may include identifying resources accessible to a proposed location for the liquefaction facility and whether at least one of the resources accessible to the proposed location corresponds to a resource generated by a component identified by the proposed configuration, and determining whether to omit at least one component of the plurality of components identified by the proposed configuration. The method includes omitting the at least one component from the alternative configuration, and generating a report based on the proposed configuration and the alternative configuration.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2016Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Alain Guillard, Michael A. Turney
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Patent number: 10393431Abstract: An integrated method for the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and syngas is provided. The method can include the steps of: utilizing letdown energy of a high pressure natural gas stream that is withdrawn from a natural gas pipeline to provide a warm temperature cooling; utilizing a refrigeration cycle to provide a cold temperature cooling, wherein the refrigeration cycle comprises a refrigerant recycle compressor that is powered utilizing a steam turbine; and cooling a second high pressure natural gas stream using the warm temperature cooling and the cold temperature cooling to produce an LNG product stream. The second high pressure natural gas stream is withdrawn from the natural gas pipeline, and the steam turbine is powered by high pressure steam that is produced from a syngas production facility.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Alexander Roesch, Alain Guillard, Michael A. Turney
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Patent number: 10288346Abstract: A method for the liquefaction of an industrial gas by integration of a methanol plant and an air separation unit (ASU) is provided. The method can include the steps of: (a) providing a pressurized natural gas stream, a pressurized purge gas stream originating from a methanol plant, and a pressurized air gas stream comprising an air gas originating from the ASU; (b) expanding three different pressurized gases to produce three cooled streams, wherein the three different pressurized gases are the pressurized natural gas stream, the pressurized purge gas stream, and the pressurized air gas stream; and (c) liquefying the industrial gas in a liquefaction unit against the three cooled streams to produce a liquefied industrial gas stream. The industrial gas to be liquefied is selected from the group consisting of a first portion of the pressurized natural gas stream, a nitrogen gas stream, hydrogen and combinations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2017Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Alain Guillard, Michael A. Turney, Alexander Roesch
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Patent number: 10281203Abstract: A method for the liquefaction of an industrial gas by integration of a methanol plant and an air separation unit (ASU) is provided. The method can include the steps of: (a) providing a pressurized natural gas stream, a pressurized purge gas stream composed predominately of hydrogen and originating from a methanol plant, and a pressurized air gas stream comprising an air gas from the ASU; (b) expanding three different pressurized gases to produce three cooled streams, wherein the three different pressurized gases consist of the pressurized natural gas stream, the pressurized purge gas stream, and the pressurized air gas stream; and (c) liquefying the industrial gas in a liquefaction unit against the three cooled streams to produce a liquefied industrial gas stream, wherein the industrial gas to be liquefied is selected from the group consisting of a first portion of the pressurized natural gas stream, a nitrogen gas stream, hydrogen and combinations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2017Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Alain Guillard, Michael A. Turney, Alexander Roesch
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Patent number: 10088228Abstract: The apparatus for liquefying a gaseous stream received from a pipeline that is comprised predominantly of ethane and a relatively small amount of other components by using a mixed refrigerant refrigeration cycle loop incorporating heavy hydrocarbons, as well as a distillation column to remove constituents lighter than ethane.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Michael A. Turney, Yasser Jebbari
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Patent number: 10012433Abstract: The process for liquefying a gaseous stream received from a pipeline that is comprised predominantly of ethane and a relatively small amount of other components by using a mixed refrigerant loop incorporating heavy hydrocarbons, as well as a distillation column to remove constituents lighter than ethane.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2015Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: L'AIR LIQUIDE SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDEInventors: Michael A. Turney, Yasser Jebbari
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Patent number: 9903645Abstract: The process for liquefying a gaseous stream received from a pipeline that is comprised predominantly of ethane and a relatively small amount of other components by using a mixed refrigerant loop incorporating heavy hydrocarbons (butane, and/or pentane), as well as a distillation column to remove constituents lighter than ethane. Prior to cooling in a main heat exchanger, the gaseous stream is split into two fractions. The first fraction is cooled in the main heat exchanger and introduced to the distillation column. The second fraction is expanded to produce a two phase fluid, with the liquid fraction being introduced to the distillation column below the first fraction, and the gas fraction being cooled and then introduced to the distillation column at a point above the first fraction.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2015Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: L'AIR LIQUIDE SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDEInventors: Michael A. Turney, Paul Terrien, Yasser Jebbari
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Patent number: 9903646Abstract: The apparatus for liquefying a gaseous stream received from a pipeline that is comprised predominantly of ethane and a relatively small amount of other components by using a mixed refrigerant refrigeration cycle loop incorporating heavy hydrocarbons, as well as a distillation column to remove constituents lighter than ethane. Prior to cooling in a main heat exchanger, the gaseous stream is split into two fractions. The main heat exchanger is configured to cool the first fraction before heading to the distillation column for separation therein. An expansion device expands the second fraction to produce a two phase fluid, which is separated in a gas/liquid separator, with the liquid fraction being introduced to the distillation column below the first fraction, and the gas fraction being cooled and then introduced to the distillation column at a point above the first fraction.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2015Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: L'AIR LIQUIDE SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDEInventors: Michael A. Turney, Paul Terrien, Yasser Jebbari