Patents by Inventor Michael J. Vetter

Michael J. Vetter 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: 11105500
    Abstract: A fired heater with a film temperature optimizer is presented. The fired heater is for heating a process fluid in process coils within the fired heater. The process coils experience high temperatures at the outlets. The film temperature optimizer includes baffles or means for changing the flow of the fired heating gas around the process coils near the coil outlets. The baffles are positioned near the process coil outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Quan Yuan, Rajeswar Gattupalli, Matthew Martin, Michael J. Vetter
  • Patent number: 10882037
    Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for distributing a gas stream into a downwardly flowing catalyst stream in a vessel by feeding the gas stream into a center of the vessel or the catalyst stream into a hollow cap. The gas stream enters the cap and exits the cap flowing upwardly to contact the catalyst stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Grott, Michael J. Vetter, Jennifer J. Ozmen, Quan Yuan
  • Patent number: 10753646
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating a process fluid is presented. The apparatus is for improving the foot-print of a fired heater and to reduce the fired heater volume. The apparatus includes a W-shaped process coil to provide for a smaller single-cell fired heater, and a fired heater with a lower profile, providing flexibility in positioning relative to downstream reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Rajeswar Gattupalli, Quan Yuan, Clayton C. Sadler, Michael J. Vetter, Bryan J. Egolf
  • Patent number: 10647637
    Abstract: Large pill dehydrogenation catalysts and large screens slot width are combined in dehydrogenation units to reduce the pressure drop across the catalyst bed and reactor screens compared to conventional screen and catalyst size combinations. The catalyst has an average pill diameter in the range of 1.6 mm to 3.0 mm, and the slot width of the screen is in the range of about 30% to about 60% of the pill diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventors: Manuela Serban, Michael J. Vetter, Gregory J. Nedohin, Clayton C. Sadler
  • Publication number: 20200141569
    Abstract: A fired heater with a film temperature optimizer is presented. The fired heater is for heating a process fluid in process coils within the fired heater. The process coils experience high temperatures at the outlets. The film temperature optimizer includes baffles or means for changing the flow of the fired heating gas around the process coils near the coil outlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Quan Yuan, Rajeswar Gattupalli, Matthew Martin, Michael J. Vetter
  • Publication number: 20200108366
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in radial flow reactors is presented. The apparatus includes a first partition and a second partition with supports coupled therebetween. The first partition includes a first opening and a second opening to allow the passage of fluid therethrough. A baffle extends into a flow channel formed by adjacent support members to completely obstruct the first opening to interrupt a portion of the fluid flow therethrough. The baffle extends upwardly from one of the supports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Michael J. Vetter, Sujay Krishnamurthy, Mohammad Reza Mostofi-Ashtiani
  • Patent number: 10583412
    Abstract: A reforming reactor and process of using same in which the process gas is effectively and efficiently distributed through the non-reactive zone. The non-reactive zone has two portions, a first portion receiving a purge gas and having an outlet for an effluent from a reactive zone disposed beneath the non-reactive zone and a second portion receiving the feed and having an inlet. The inlet is located between the reaction zone and the outlet. A flow distributor separates the non-reactive zone into the two portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jennifer Ozmen, Hadjira Iddir, Jeffrey Grott, Michael J. Vetter
  • Patent number: 10551053
    Abstract: A fired heater with a film temperature optimizer is presented. The fired heater is for heating a process fluid in process coils within the fired heater. The process coils experience high temperatures at the outlets. The film temperature optimizer includes baffles or means for changing the flow of the fired heating gas around the process coils near the coil outlets. The baffles are positioned near the process coil outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Quan Yuan, Rajeswar Gattupalli, Matthew Martin, Michael J. Vetter
  • Patent number: 10384181
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for directing a fluid in a radial reactor comprising: a vertically elongated conduit comprising a front face comprising a surface comprising apertures, two side faces, and a rear face and two ends, wherein an end of the front face and an end of the rear face are a distance D1 apart and wherein a second opposite end of the front face and a second corresponding end of the rear face are a distance D2 apart wherein D1 is greater than D2 and wherein a riser are connected to a top surface of said vertically elongated conduit to allow a gas stream to flow through the riser to the vertically elongated conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Grott, Michael J. Vetter
  • Publication number: 20190127298
    Abstract: Large pill dehydrogenation catalysts and large screens slot width are combined in dehydrogenation units to reduce the pressure drop across the catalyst bed and reactor screens compared to conventional screen and catalyst size combinations. The catalyst has an average pill diameter in the range of 1.6 mm to 3.0 mm, and the slot width of the screen is in the range of about 30% to about 60% of the pill diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Manuela Serban, Michael J. Vetter, Gregory J. Nedohin, Clayton C. Sadler
  • Patent number: 10272406
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating a process fluid is presented. The apparatus is for improving the foot-print of a fired heater and to reduce the fired heater volume. The apparatus includes a W-shaped process coil to provide for a smaller single-cell fired heater, and a fired heater with a lower profile, providing flexibility in positioning relative to downstream reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Rajeswar Gattupalli, Quan Yuan, Clayton C. Sadler, Michael J. Vetter, Bryan J. Egolf
  • Patent number: 10052603
    Abstract: A radial flow reactor is described. It includes a vertically extending vessel, an outer conduit, and a central conduit. At least a portion of the outer conduit and the central conduit comprises a screen. A particle retaining space is defined by at least one of the vessel, the central conduit, and the outer conduit, and it communicates with the screen of the outer conduit and the central conduit. An inlet distribution ring is positioned on the outer conduit. The inlet distribution ring comprises a ring having at least one opening and at least one vertically extending riser tube. One end of the riser tube is sealed to the ring, and the other end is positioned inside the outer conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bryan J. Egolf, Jeffrey Grott, Emadoddin Abbasi, Michael J. Vetter, Ka Lok
  • Publication number: 20180117580
    Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for distributing a gas stream into a downwardly flowing catalyst stream in a vessel by feeding the gas stream into a center of the vessel or the catalyst stream into a hollow cap. The gas stream enters the cap and exits the cap flowing upwardly to contact the catalyst stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Grott, Michael J. Vetter, Jennifer J. Ozmen, Quan Yuan
  • Publication number: 20180056264
    Abstract: An apparatus is presented for the transferring of catalyst from an upstream vessel to a downstream vessel. The apparatus includes a non-mechanical valve and a transfer line, wherein a lift gas provides for carrying catalyst through the transfer line. The non-mechanical valve has a catalyst inlet and a lift gas inlet to provide for a consistent flow to limit or reduce pipe erosion and catalyst attrition, as well as to provide catalyst and lift gas to the transfer lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Richard Gaicki, Rajeswar Gattupalli, Charles Brabson, Kyle P. Austin, Christopher Naunheimer, Michael J. Vetter
  • Publication number: 20180050314
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for directing a fluid in a radial reactor comprising: a vertically elongated conduit comprising a front face comprising a surface comprising apertures, two side faces, and a rear face and two ends, wherein an end of the front face and an end of the rear face are a distance D1 apart and wherein a second opposite end of the front face and a second corresponding end of the rear face are a distance D2 apart wherein D1 is greater than D2 and wherein a riser are connected to a top surface of said vertically elongated conduit to allow a gas stream to flow through the riser to the vertically elongated conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Grott, Michael J. Vetter
  • Publication number: 20180051912
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating a process fluid is presented. The apparatus is for improving the foot-print of a fired heater and to reduce the fired heater volume. The apparatus includes a W-shaped process coil to provide for a smaller single-cell fired heater, and a fired heater with a lower profile, providing flexibility in positioning relative to downstream reactors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Rajeswar Gattupalli, Quan Yuan, Clayton C. Sadler, Michael J. Vetter, Bryan J. Egolf
  • Publication number: 20180051873
    Abstract: A fired heater with a film temperature optimizer is presented. The fired heater is for heating a process fluid in process coils within the fired heater. The process coils experience high temperatures at the outlets. The film temperature optimizer includes baffles or means for changing the flow of the fired heating gas around the process coils near the coil outlets. The baffles are positioned near the process coil outlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Quan Yuan, Rajeswar Gattupalli, Matthew Martin, Michael J. Vetter
  • Publication number: 20180050315
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating a process fluid is presented. The apparatus is for improving the foot-print of a fired heater and to reduce the fired heater volume. The apparatus includes a W-shaped process coil to provide for a smaller single-cell fired heater, and a fired heater with a lower profile, providing flexibility in positioning relative to downstream reactors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Rajeswar Gattupalli, Quan Yuan, Clayton C. Sadler, Michael J. Vetter, Bryan J. Egolf
  • Publication number: 20180043326
    Abstract: An apparatus is presented for the transferring of catalyst from an upstream vessel to a downstream vessel. The apparatus includes a non-mechanical valve and a transfer line, wherein a lift gas provides for carrying catalyst through the transfer line. The non-mechanical valve has a catalyst inlet and a lift gas inlet to provide for a consistent flow of catalyst and lift gas to the transfer line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Charles Brabson, Rajeswar Gattupalli, Richard Gaicki, Kyle P. Austin, Christopher Naunheimer, Michael J. Vetter