Patents by Inventor Michael Malsam
Michael Malsam 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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Publication number: 20230375260Abstract: A system for cooling a gas with a mixed refrigerant includes a heat exchanger that receives and cools a feed of the gas so that a product is produced. The system includes a mixed refrigerant processing system having compression devices and aftercoolers as well as a low pressure accumulator and a high pressure accumulator. Liquid from the low pressure accumulator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage. Liquid from the high pressure accumulator is subcooled, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage. Vapor from the high pressure accumulator is liquefied, expanded and directed to the primary refrigeration passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Inventors: Peter J. Turner, Michael Malsam, Douglas A. Ducote, JR., Timothy P. Gushanas
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Patent number: 11781809Abstract: Provided are mixed refrigerant systems and methods and, more particularly, to a mixed refrigerant system and methods that provides greater efficiency and reduced power consumption via control of a liquid level in a cold vapor separator device.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas, Peter J. Turner, Michael Malsam
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Publication number: 20220373255Abstract: Provided are mixed refrigerant systems and methods and, more particularly, to a mixed refrigerant system and methods that provides greater efficiency and reduced power consumption via control of a liquid level in a cold vapor separator device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2022Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas, Peter J. Turner, Michael Malsam
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Patent number: 11428463Abstract: Provided are mixed refrigerant systems and methods and, more particularly, to a mixed refrigerant system and methods that provides greater efficiency and reduced power consumption via control of a liquid level in a cold vapor separator device.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2019Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Chart Energy & Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, Jr., Timothy P. Gushanas, Peter J. Turner, Michael Malsam
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Publication number: 20200041179Abstract: Provided are mixed refrigerant systems and methods and, more particularly, to a mixed refrigerant system and methods that provides greater efficiency and reduced power consumption via control of a liquid level in a cold vapor separator device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Inventors: Douglas A. Ducote, JR., Timothy P. Gushanas, Peter J. Turner, Michael Malsam
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Patent number: 9534837Abstract: A process for recovery of natural gas liquids is disclosed, the process including: fractionating a gas stream comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, and propane and other C3+ hydrocarbons into at least two fractions including a light fraction comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, and propane, and a heavy fraction comprising propane and other C3+ hydrocarbons; separating the light fraction into at least two fractions including a nitrogen-enriched fraction and a nitrogen-depleted fraction in a first separator; separating the nitrogen-depleted fraction into a propane-enriched fraction and a propane-depleted fraction in a second separator; feeding at least a portion of the propane-enriched fraction to the fractionating as a reflux; recycling at least a portion of the propane-depleted fraction to the first separator. In some embodiments, the nitrogen-enriched fraction may be separated in a nitrogen removal unit to produce a nitrogen-depleted natural gas stream and a nitrogen-enriched natural gas stream.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2015Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.Inventor: Michael Malsam
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Publication number: 20160258675Abstract: A process is disclosed herein for recovery of natural gas liquids from a feed gas stream, comprising forming a first portion of the feed gas stream and a second portion of the feed gas stream, wherein the mass ratio of the first portion to the second portion is in the range of 95:5 to 5:95, cooling the first portion in a heat exchanger and at least partially condensing the first portion, and feeding the second portion and the cooled and at least partially condensed first portion to a distillation column wherein lighter components are removed from the distillation column as an overhead vapor stream and heavier components are removed from the distillation column in the bottoms as a product stream, and wherein the second portion is fed into the distillation column at a point one or more vapor-liquid equilibrium stages below the first portion, thereby allowing mass transfer exchange between liquids of the cooled second portion and vapors of the second portion within the column.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2014Publication date: September 8, 2016Inventors: Ayyalasomayajula Kumar, Robert Huebel, Michael Malsam
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Patent number: 9291387Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for recovery of natural gas liquids from a natural gas feed stream. The process runs at a constant pressure with no intentional reduction in pressure. An open loop mixed refrigerant is used to provide process cooling and to provide a reflux stream for the distillation column used to recover the natural gas liquids. The processes may be used to recover C3+ hydrocarbons from natural gas, or to recover C2+ hydrocarbons from natural gas.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.Inventor: Michael Malsam
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Publication number: 20150300733Abstract: A process for recovery of natural gas liquids is disclosed, the process including: fractionating a gas stream comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, and propane and other C3+ hydrocarbons into at least two fractions including a light fraction comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, and propane, and a heavy fraction comprising propane and other C3+ hydrocarbons; separating the light fraction into at least two fractions including a nitrogen-enriched fraction and a nitrogen-depleted fraction in a first separator; separating the nitrogen-depleted fraction into a propane-enriched fraction and a propane-depleted fraction in a second separator; feeding at least a portion of the propane-enriched fraction to the fractionating as a reflux; recycling at least a portion of the propane-depleted fraction to the first separator. In some embodiments, the nitrogen-enriched fraction may be separated in a nitrogen removal unit to produce a nitrogen-depleted natural gas stream and a nitrogen-enriched natural gas stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2015Publication date: October 22, 2015Inventor: Michael Malsam
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Patent number: 9074815Abstract: A process for recovery of natural gas liquids is disclosed, the process including: fractionating a gas stream comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, and propane and other C3+ hydrocarbons into at least two fractions including a light fraction comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, and propane, and a heavy fraction comprising propane and other C3+ hydrocarbons; separating the light fraction into at least two fractions including a nitrogen-enriched fraction and a nitrogen-depleted fraction in a first separator; separating the nitrogen-depleted fraction into a propane-enriched fraction and a propane-depleted fraction in a second separator; feeding at least a portion of the propane-enriched fraction to the fractionating as a reflux; recycling at least a portion of the propane-depleted fraction to the first separator. In some embodiments, the nitrogen-enriched fraction may be separated in a nitrogen removal unit to produce a nitrogen-depleted natural gas stream and a nitrogen-enriched natural gas stream.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2013Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.Inventor: Michael Malsam
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Publication number: 20140130541Abstract: A process for recovery of natural gas liquids is disclosed, the process including: fractionating a gas stream comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, and propane and other C3+ hydrocarbons into at least two fractions including a light fraction comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, and propane, and a heavy fraction comprising propane and other C3+ hydrocarbons; separating the light fraction into at least two fractions including a nitrogen-enriched fraction and a nitrogen-depleted fraction in a first separator; separating the nitrogen-depleted fraction into a propane-enriched fraction and a propane-depleted fraction in a second separator; feeding at least a portion of the propane-enriched fraction to the fractionating as a reflux; recycling at least a portion of the propane-depleted fraction to the first separator. In some embodiments, the nitrogen-enriched fraction may be separated in a nitrogen removal unit to produce a nitrogen-depleted natural gas stream and a nitrogen-enriched natural gas stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2013Publication date: May 15, 2014Applicant: Lummus Technology Inc.Inventor: Michael Malsam
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Patent number: 8627681Abstract: A process for recovery of natural gas liquids is disclosed, the process including: fractionating a gas stream comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, and propane and other C3+ hydrocarbons into at least two fractions including a light fraction comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, and propane, and a heavy fraction comprising propane and other C3+ hydrocarbons; separating the light fraction into at least two fractions including a nitrogen-enriched fraction and a nitrogen-depleted fraction in a first separator; separating the nitrogen-depleted fraction into a propane-enriched fraction and a propane-depleted fraction in a second separator; feeding at least a portion of the propane-enriched fraction to the fractionating as a reflux; recycling at least a portion of the propane-depleted fraction to the first separator. In some embodiments, the nitrogen-enriched fraction may be separated in a nitrogen removal unit to produce a nitrogen-depleted natural gas stream and a nitrogen-enriched natural gas stream.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2009Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.Inventor: Michael Malsam
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Patent number: 8413463Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for recovery of natural gas liquids from a natural gas feed stream. The process runs at a constant pressure with no intentional reduction in pressure. An open loop mixed refrigerant is used to provide process cooling and to provide a reflux stream for the distillation column used to recover the natural gas liquids. The processes may be used to recover C3+ hydrocarbons from natural gas, or to recover C2+ hydrocarbons from natural gas.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2012Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Lummus Technology, Inc.Inventor: Michael Malsam
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Publication number: 20120304690Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for recovery of natural gas liquids from a natural gas feed stream. The process runs at a constant pressure with no intentional reduction in pressure. An open loop mixed refrigerant is used to provide process cooling and to provide a reflux stream for the distillation column used to recover the natural gas liquids. The processes may be used to recover C3+ hydrocarbons from natural gas, or to recover C2+ hydrocarbons from natural gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2012Publication date: December 6, 2012Inventor: Michael Malsam
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Patent number: 8209997Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for recovery of natural gas liquids from a natural gas feed stream. The process runs at a constant pressure with no intentional reduction in pressure. An open loop mixed refrigerant is used to provide process cooling and to provide a reflux stream for the distillation column used to recover the natural gas liquids. The processes may be used to recover C3+ hydrocarbons from natural gas, or to recover C2+ hydrocarbons from natural gas.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2008Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Lummus Technology, Inc.Inventor: Michael Malsam
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Publication number: 20100223950Abstract: A process for recovery of natural gas liquids is disclosed, the process including: fractionating a gas stream comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, and propane and other C3+ hydrocarbons into at least two fractions including a light fraction comprising nitrogen, methane, ethane, and propane, and a heavy fraction comprising propane and other C3+ hydrocarbons; separating the light fraction into at least two fractions including a nitrogen-enriched fraction and a nitrogen-depleted fraction in a first separator; separating the nitrogen-depleted fraction into a propane-enriched fraction and a propane-depleted fraction in a second separator; feeding at least a portion of the propane-enriched fraction to the fractionating as a reflux; recycling at least a portion of the propane-depleted fraction to the first separator. In some embodiments, the nitrogen-enriched fraction may be separated in a nitrogen removal unit to produce a nitrogen-depleted natural gas stream and a nitrogen-enriched natural gas stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2009Publication date: September 9, 2010Applicant: Lummus Technology Inc.Inventor: Michael Malsam
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Publication number: 20090282864Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for recovery of natural gas liquids from a natural gas feed stream. The process runs at a constant pressure with no intentional reduction in pressure. An open loop mixed refrigerant is used to provide process cooling and to provide a reflux stream for the distillation column used to recover the natural gas liquids. The processes may be used to recover C3+ hydrocarbons from natural gas, or to recover C2+ hydrocarbons from natural gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2008Publication date: November 19, 2009Inventor: Michael Malsam