Patents by Inventor Nick J. Degenstein

Nick J. Degenstein 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: 11402151
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a stream of pressurized natural gas which involves a combination of mechanical refrigeration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Nick J Degenstein, James R Handley, Mohammad Abdul-Aziz Rashad
  • Publication number: 20200080773
    Abstract: A cryogenic air separation unit that provides flexibility in the production of liquid products is disclosed. The present cryogenic air separation unit and associated operating methods involves the use of a dual nozzle arrangement for the main heat exchanger that allows a turbine air stream draw from the main heat exchanger at different temperatures to provide refrigeration to the cryogenic air separation unit which, in turn, enables different production modes for the various liquid products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Zhengrong Xu, Maulik R. Shelat, Nick J. Degenstein, Hanfei Tuo
  • Patent number: 10533565
    Abstract: A method for compression of an incoming feed air stream using at least two variable speed compressor drive assemblies controlled in tandem is provided. The first variable speed drive assembly drives at least one compression stage in the lower pressure compressor unit driven while the second variable speed drive assembly drives higher pressure compression stage disposed either in the common air compression train or the split functional compression train of the air separation plant. The first and second variable speed drive assemblies are preferably high speed, variable speed electric motor assemblies each having a motor body, a motor housing, and a motor shaft with one or more impellers directly and rigidly coupled to the motor shaft via a sacrificial rigid shaft coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Henry E. Howard, Carl L. Schwarz, Ahmed F. Abdelwahab, Lee J. Rosen, Nick J. Degenstein, Reh-Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 10533564
    Abstract: A method for compression of an incoming feed air stream using at least two variable speed compressor drive assemblies controlled in tandem is provided. The first variable speed drive assembly drives at least one compression stage in the lower pressure compressor unit driven while the second variable speed drive assembly drives higher pressure compression stage disposed either in the common air compression train or the split functional compression train of the air separation plant. The first and second variable speed drive assemblies are preferably high speed, variable speed electric motor assemblies each having a motor body, a motor housing, and a motor shaft with one or more impellers directly and rigidly coupled to the motor shaft via a sacrificial rigid shaft coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Henry E. Howard, Carl L. Schwarz, Ahmed F. Abdelwahab, Lee J. Rosen, Nick J. Degenstein, Reh-Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 10519962
    Abstract: A method for compression of an incoming feed air stream using at least two variable speed compressor drive assemblies controlled in tandem is provided. The first variable speed drive assembly drives at least one compression stage in the lower pressure compressor unit driven while the second variable speed drive assembly drives higher pressure compression stage disposed either in the common air compression train or the split functional compression train of the air separation plant. The first and second variable speed drive assemblies are preferably high speed, variable speed electric motor assemblies each having a motor body, a motor housing, and a motor shaft with one or more impellers directly and rigidly coupled to the motor shaft via a sacrificial rigid shaft coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Henry E. Howard, Carl L. Schwarz, Ahmed F. Abdelwahab, Lee J. Rosen, Nick J. Degenstein, Reh-Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 10443603
    Abstract: A method for compression of an incoming feed air stream using at least two variable speed compressor drive assemblies controlled in tandem is provided. The first variable speed drive assembly drives at least one compression stage in the lower pressure compressor unit driven while the second variable speed drive assembly drives higher pressure compression stage disposed either in the common air compression train or the split functional compression train of the air separation plant. The first and second variable speed drive assemblies are preferably high speed, variable speed electric motor assemblies each having a motor body, a motor housing, and a motor shaft with one or more impellers directly and rigidly coupled to the motor shaft via a sacrificial rigid shaft coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Henry E. Howard, Carl L. Schwarz, Ahmed F. Abdelwahab, Lee J. Rosen, Nick J. Degenstein, Reh-Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 10408536
    Abstract: A system and method for neon recovery in a double column or triple column air separation unit is provided. The neon recovery system comprises a non-condensable stripping column configured to produce a liquid nitrogen-rich liquid column bottoms and a non-condensable gas containing overhead and one or more condensing units arranged to produce a crude neon vapor stream that contains greater than about 50% mole fraction of neon with the overall neon recovery exceeding 95%. In addition, there is minimal liquid nitrogen consumption and since much of the liquid nitrogen is recycled back to the lower pressure column of the air separation unit, there is minimal impact on the recovery of other products from the air separation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Maulik R. Shelat, Hanfei Tuo, Nick J. Degenstein, James R. Dray
  • Patent number: 10385861
    Abstract: A method for compression of an incoming feed air stream using at least two variable speed compressor drive assemblies controlled in tandem is provided. The first variable speed drive assembly drives at least one compression stage in the lower pressure compressor unit driven while the second variable speed drive assembly drives higher pressure compression stage disposed either in the common air compression train or the split functional compression train of the air separation plant. The first and second variable speed drive assemblies are preferably high speed, variable speed electric motor assemblies each having a motor body, a motor housing, and a motor shaft with one or more impellers directly and rigidly coupled to the motor shaft via a sacrificial rigid shaft coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Nick J. Degenstein, Lee J. Rosen, Ahmed F. Abdelwahab, Carl L. Schwarz, Reh-Lin Chen, Henry E. Howard
  • Publication number: 20190234413
    Abstract: A method for compression of an incoming feed air stream using at least two variable speed compressor drive assemblies controlled in tandem is provided. The first variable speed drive assembly drives at least one compression stage in the lower pressure compressor unit driven while the second variable speed drive assembly drives higher pressure compression stage disposed either in the common air compression train or the split functional compression train of the air separation plant. The first and second variable speed drive assemblies are preferably high speed, variable speed electric motor assemblies each having a motor body, a motor housing, and a motor shaft with one or more impellers directly and rigidly coupled to the motor shaft via a sacrificial rigid shaft coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Henry E. Howard, Carl L. Schwarz, Ahmed F. Abdelwahab, Lee J. Rosen, Nick J. Degenstein, Reh-Lin Chen
  • Publication number: 20190234414
    Abstract: A method for compression of an incoming feed air stream using at least two variable speed compressor drive assemblies controlled in tandem is provided. The first variable speed drive assembly drives at least one compression stage in the lower pressure compressor unit driven while the second variable speed drive assembly drives higher pressure compression stage disposed either in the common air compression train or the split functional compression train of the air separation plant. The first and second variable speed drive assemblies are preferably high speed, variable speed electric motor assemblies each having a motor body, a motor housing, and a motor shaft with one or more impellers directly and rigidly coupled to the motor shaft via a sacrificial rigid shaft coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Henry E. Howard, Carl L. Schwarz, Ahmed F. Abdelwahab, Lee J. Rosen, Nick J. Degenstein, Reh-Lin Chen
  • Publication number: 20190234415
    Abstract: A method for compression of an incoming feed air stream using at least two variable speed compressor drive assemblies controlled in tandem is provided. The first variable speed drive assembly drives at least one compression stage in the lower pressure compressor unit driven while the second variable speed drive assembly drives higher pressure compression stage disposed either in the common air compression train or the split functional compression train of the air separation plant. The first and second variable speed drive assemblies are preferably high speed, variable speed electric motor assemblies each having a motor body, a motor housing, and a motor shaft with one or more impellers directly and rigidly coupled to the motor shaft via a sacrificial rigid shaft coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Henry E. Howard, Carl L. Schwarz, Ahmed F. Abdelwahab, Lee J. Rosen, Nick J. Degenstein, Reh-Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 10359231
    Abstract: A method for controlling production of high pressure gaseous oxygen in a cryogenic air separation unit that uses a high pressure gaseous oxygen bypass together with adjustments to the split of the incoming compressed and purified air between the boiler air circuit and the turbine air circuit such that the volumetric ratio of the boiler air stream to the turbine air stream is reduced to between about 0.15:1 and 0.35:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Nick J. Degenstein
  • Patent number: 10295254
    Abstract: A system and method for recovery of rare gases such as neon, helium, xenon, and krypton in an air separation unit is provided. The rare gas recovery system comprises a non-condensable stripping column linked in a heat transfer relationship with a xenon-krypton column via an auxiliary condenser-reboiler. The non-condensable stripping column produces a rare gas containing overhead that is directed to the auxiliary condenser-reboiler where most of the neon is captured in a non-condensable vent stream that is further processed to produce a crude neon vapor stream that contains greater than about 50% mole fraction of neon with the overall neon recovery exceeding 95%. The xenon-krypton column further receives two streams of liquid oxygen from the lower pressure column and the rare gas containing overhead from the non-condensable stripping column and produces a crude xenon and krypton liquid stream and an oxygen-rich overhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Vijayaraghavan S. Chakravarthy, Hanfei Tuo, Maulik R. Shelat, James R. Dray, Nick J. Degenstein
  • Publication number: 20190072326
    Abstract: A system and method for recovery of rare gases such as neon, helium, xenon, and krypton in an air separation unit is provided. The rare gas recovery system comprises a non-condensable stripping column linked in a heat transfer relationship with a xenon-krypton column via an auxiliary condenser-reboiler. The non-condensable stripping column produces a rare gas containing overhead that is directed to the auxiliary condenser-reboiler where most of the neon is captured in a non-condensable vent stream that is further processed to produce a crude neon vapor stream that contains greater than about 50% mole fraction of neon with the overall neon recovery exceeding 95%. The xenon-krypton column further receives two streams of liquid oxygen from the lower pressure column and the rare gas containing overhead from the non-condensable stripping column and produces a crude xenon and krypton liquid stream and an oxygen-rich overhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Vijayaraghavan S. Chakravarthy, Hanfei Tuo, Maulik R. Shelat, James R. Dray, Nick J. Degenstein
  • Publication number: 20190072325
    Abstract: A system and method for neon recovery in a double column or triple column air separation unit is provided. The neon recovery system comprises a non-condensable stripping column configured to produce a liquid nitrogen-rich liquid column bottoms and a non-condensable gas containing overhead and one or more condensing units arranged to produce a crude neon vapor stream that contains greater than about 50% mole fraction of neon with the overall neon recovery exceeding 95%. In addition, there is minimal liquid nitrogen consumption and since much of the liquid nitrogen is recycled back to the lower pressure column of the air separation unit, there is minimal impact on the recovery of other products from the air separation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Maulik R. Shelat, Hanfei Tuo, Nick J. Degenstein, James R. Dray
  • Publication number: 20180299195
    Abstract: A method for controlling production of high pressure gaseous oxygen in a cryogenic air separation unit that uses a high pressure gaseous oxygen bypass together with adjustments to the split of the incoming compressed and purified air between the boiler air circuit and the turbine air circuit such that the volumetric ratio of the boiler air stream to the turbine air stream is reduced to between about 0.15:1 and 0.35:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Nick J. Degenstein
  • Publication number: 20180292128
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a stream of pressurized natural gas which involves a combination of mechanical refrigeration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Nick J. Degenstein, James R. Handley, Mohammad Abdul-Aziz Rashad
  • Publication number: 20180209727
    Abstract: A pre-fabricated or shop-built structural support assembly cold box structures containing distillation columns or other cold box equipment in an air separation unit is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin J. Saboda, Karl K. Kibler, Nick J. Degenstein
  • Publication number: 20160053764
    Abstract: A method for controlling the compression of an incoming feed air stream to a cryogenic air separation plant using at least two variable speed compressor drive assemblies controlled in tandem is provided. The first variable speed driver assembly drives at least one compression stage in the lower pressure compressor unit driven while the second variable speed driver assembly drives higher pressure compression stage disposed either in the common air compression train or the split functional compression train of the air separation plant. The first and second variable speed driver assemblies are preferably high speed, variable speed electric motor assemblies each having a motor body, a motor housing, and a motor shaft with one or more impellers directly and rigidly coupled to the motor shaft via a sacrificial rigid shaft coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Ahmed F. Abdelwahab, Nick J. Degenstein, Carl L. Schwarz, Reh-Lin Chen
  • Publication number: 20160033196
    Abstract: A method for compression of an incoming feed air stream using at least two variable speed compressor drive assemblies controlled in tandem is provided. The first variable speed driver assembly drives at least one compression stage in the lower pressure compressor unit driven while the second variable speed driver assembly drives higher pressure compression stage disposed either in the common air compression train or the split functional compression train of the air separation plant. The first and second variable speed driver assemblies are preferably high speed, variable speed electric motor assemblies each having a motor body, a motor housing, and a motor shaft with one or more impellers directly and rigidly coupled to the motor shaft via a sacrificial rigid shaft coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Henry E. Howard, Carl L. Schwarz, Ahmed F. Abdelwahab, Lee J. Rosen, Nick J. Degenstein, Reh-Lin Chen