Patents by Inventor Nicholas W. Bridge

Nicholas W. Bridge 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: 11298670
    Abstract: Hydroprocessing reactor internals height reduction is achieved by placing a mixing chamber above the collection tray. The mixing chamber has spillways on the top (top spillways) and the side of the mixing chamber (side spillways) for fluid entry. The design of the spillways has a significant impact on pressure drop. The pressure drop is reduced by having wide shallow spillways rather than narrow and deep spillways without impacting mixing performance. With both side and top spillways, the height of the mixing chamber can be reduced significantly with minimal impact on fluid mixing and pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Zhanping Xu, Pengfei Chen, John Christian Maley, Shree Prakash Pathak, Rebecca Mudrock, Nicholas W. Bridge
  • 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: 20210331132
    Abstract: Hydroprocessing reactor internals height reduction is achieved by placing a mixing chamber above the collection tray. The mixing chamber has spillways on the top (top spillways) and the side of the mixing chamber (side spillways) for fluid entry. The design of the spillways has a significant impact on pressure drop. The pressure drop is reduced by having wide shallow spillways rather than narrow and deep spillways without impacting mixing performance. With both side and top spillways, the height of the mixing chamber can be reduced significantly with minimal impact on fluid mixing and pressure drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Zhanping Xu, Pengfei Chen, John Christian Maley, Shree Prakash Pathak, Rebecca Mudrock, Nicholas W. Bridge
  • 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: 10301551
    Abstract: A crude distillation and refining process and apparatus enables modular supply of the crude distillation column. Crude oil may be heated and then separated into only two liquid products in the crude distillation column. The separation between the light and heavy products may be controlled by the overhead product flow rate. Heat is recovered from an overhead stream and a bottoms stream by pre-heating the incoming crude oil stream by heat exchange with overhead stream and the bottoms stream. In an embodiment, a diesel-range distillate fraction may be condensed from an overhead stream in a first heat exchanger and a naphtha-range fraction may be condensed from the gas stream uncondensed by the first heat exchanger in a second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. Carter, Saadet Ulas Acikgoz, Nicholas W. Bridge, Christopher D. Gosling, Gavin P. Towler
  • Publication number: 20180002611
    Abstract: A crude distillation and refining process and apparatus enables modular supply of the crude distillation column. Crude oil may be heated and then separated into only two liquid products in the crude distillation column. The separation between the light and heavy products may be controlled by the overhead product flow rate. Heat is recovered from an overhead stream and a bottoms stream by pre-heating the incoming crude oil stream by heat exchange with overhead stream and the bottoms stream. In an embodiment, a diesel-range distillate fraction may be condensed from an overhead stream in a first heat exchanger and a naphtha-range fraction may be condensed from the gas stream uncondensed by the first heat exchanger in a second heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. Carter, Saadet Ulas Acikgoz, Nicholas W. Bridge, Christopher D. Gosling, Gavin P. Towler
  • Publication number: 20150060331
    Abstract: Methods for processing a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock flows are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing two or more hydroprocessing stages disposed in sequence, each hydroprocessing stage having a hydroprocessing reaction zone with a hydrogen requirement and each stage in fluid communication with the preceding stage. The hydrocarbonaceous feedstock flow may be separated into portions of fresh feed for each hydroprocessing stage, and the first portion of fresh feed to the first hydroprocessing stage is heated. The heated first portion of fresh feed may be supplied with hydrogen from the hydrogen source in an amount satisfying substantially all of the hydrogen requirements of the hydroprocessing stages to a first hydroprocessing zone. The unheated second portion of fresh feed is injected counter current to the process flow as quench at one or more locations in one or more of the reaction zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Paul A. Sechrist, Robert L. Bunting, Nicholas W. Bridge, RIchard K. Hoehn
  • Patent number: 8921627
    Abstract: A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils and animal oils, fats, and greases. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel or aviation boiling range fuel or fuel blending component. If desired, the hydrocarbon fraction can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A portion of the hydrogenated and deoxygenated feedstock is used as a non-flashing liquid quench stream to control the temperature of the hydrogenation and deoxygenation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paul A. Sechrist, Robert L. Bunting, Jr., Nicholas W. Bridge
  • Patent number: 8900443
    Abstract: Methods for processing a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock flows are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing two or more hydroprocessing stages disposed in sequence, each hydroprocessing stage having a hydroprocessing reaction zone with a hydrogen requirement and each stage in fluid communication with the preceding stage. The hydrocarbonaceous feedstock flow may be separated into portions of fresh feed for each hydroprocessing stage, and the first portion of fresh feed to the first hydroprocessing stage is heated. The heated first portion of fresh feed may be supplied with hydrogen from the hydrogen source in an amount satisfying substantially all of the hydrogen requirements of the hydroprocessing stages to a first hydroprocessing zone. The unheated second portion of fresh feed is injected counter current to the process flow as quench at one or more locations in one or more of the reaction zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paul A. Sechrist, Robert L. Bunting, Nicholas W. Bridge
  • Publication number: 20120255885
    Abstract: Methods for processing a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock flows are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing two or more hydroprocessing stages disposed in sequence, each hydroprocessing stage having a hydroprocessing reaction zone with a hydrogen requirement and each stage in fluid communication with the preceding stage. The hydrocarbonaceous feedstock flow may be separated into portions of fresh feed for each hydroprocessing stage, and the first portion of fresh feed to the first hydroprocessing stage is heated. The heated first portion of fresh feed may be supplied with hydrogen from the hydrogen source in an amount satisfying substantially all of the hydrogen requirements of the hydroprocessing stages to a first hydroprocessing zone. The unheated second portion of fresh feed is injected counter current to the process flow as quench at one or more locations in one or more of the reaction zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paul A. Sechrist, Robert L. Bunting, Nicholas W. Bridge
  • Publication number: 20100137662
    Abstract: A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils and animal oils, fats, and greases. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel or aviation boiling range fuel or fuel blending component. If desired, the hydrocarbon fraction can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A portion of the hydrogenated and deoxygenated feedstock is used as a non-flashing liquid quench stream to control the temperature of the hydrogenation and deoxygenation reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Paul A. Sechrist, Robert L. Bunting, JR., Nicholas W. Bridge
  • Publication number: 20100018012
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a clamp for securing a tray in a vessel. The clamp may include a jaw. Generally, the jaw has a first offset position with the tray unsecured, and a second aligned position with the tray secured in the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Chad Allen Perrott, Nicholas W. Bridge