Patents by Inventor Norman K. Yeh
Norman K. Yeh 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: 11260342Abstract: A fractionation system for removing heavy hydrocarbons in a gas stream. A stripping section receives a predominantly liquid phase of the feed gas stream. A co-current contacting system receives a predominantly vapor phase of the feed gas stream. The co-current contacting system includes a compact contacting bundle disposed within a vessel and including a plurality of substantially parallel contacting units, each of the plurality of contacting units having a droplet generator, a mass transfer section, and a separation system. Each droplet generator generates droplets from a liquid disperses the droplets into a gas stream. Each mass transfer section provides a mixed, two-phase flow having a vapor phase and a liquid phase. Each separation system separates the vapor phase from the liquid phase such that the concentration of heavy hydrocarbons in the vapor phase is lower than in the liquid phase.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2018Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Norman K. Yeh, Edward J. Grave, Shwetha Ramkumar, Juan C. Juarez
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Patent number: 11000795Abstract: A fractionation system for removing heavy hydrocarbons in a gas stream. A stripping section receives a predominantly liquid phase of a feed gas stream. First and second co-current contacting systems are located in-line within a pipe. The first co-current contacting system receives a predominantly vapor phase of the feed gas stream. Each co-current contacting system includes a co-current contactor and a separation system. Each co-current contactor includes a droplet generator and a mass transfer section. The droplet generator generates droplets from a liquid and disperses the droplets into a gas stream. The mass transfer section provides a mixed, two-phase flow having a vapor phase and a liquid phase. The separation system separates the vapor phase from the liquid phase.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Norman K. Yeh, Edward J. Grave, Shwetha Ramkumar, Juan C. Juarez
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Patent number: 10717039Abstract: A co-current contactor for separating components in a fluid stream, the co-current contactor comprising a first inlet configured to receive the fluid stream proximate to a first end of the co-current contactor, a second inlet configured to receive a solvent proximate the first end of the co-current contactor, and a mass transfer section configured to receive the fluid stream and the solvent and to provide a mixed, two-phase flow, wherein the mass transfer section comprises a surface feature along an inner surface of the mass transfer section configured to reduce film flow along an inner wall of the mass transfer section, and wherein the surface feature comprises at least one of a hydrophobic surface, a superhydrophobic surface, a porous wall surface, and a nonlinear surface irregularity extending radially inward or radially outward along the inner surface of the mass transfer section.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2016Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: P. Scott Northrop, Stephanie A. Freeman, J. Tim Cullinane, Edward J. Grave, Norman K. Yeh
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Patent number: 10486100Abstract: The disclosure includes a method, comprising passing a fluid into a co-current contactor, passing a solvent into the co-current contactor, dividing the solvent into solvent droplets having a first average droplet size, placing the fluid in contact with the solvent droplets to create a combined stream, coalescing at least a portion of the solvent droplets to create solvent droplets having a second average droplet size, wherein the second average droplet size is greater than the first average droplet size, and separating the fluid and the solvent.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2019Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Stephanie A. Freeman, Edward J. Grave, J. Tim Cullinane, P. Scott Northrop, Norman K. Yeh
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Publication number: 20190336908Abstract: The disclosure includes a method, comprising passing a fluid into a co-current contactor, passing a solvent into the co-current contactor, dividing the solvent into solvent droplets having a first average droplet size, placing the fluid in contact with the solvent droplets to create a combined stream, coalescing at least a portion of the solvent droplets to create solvent droplets having a second average droplet size, wherein the second average droplet size is greater than the first average droplet size, and separating the fluid and the solvent.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2019Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventors: Stephanie A. Freeman, Edward J. Grave, J. Tim Cullinane, P. Scott Northrop, Norman K. Yeh
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Patent number: 10391442Abstract: The disclosure includes a method, comprising passing a fluid into a co-current contactor, passing a solvent into the co-current contactor, dividing the solvent into solvent droplets having a first average droplet size, placing the fluid in contact with the solvent droplets to create a combined stream, coalescing at least a portion of the solvent droplets to create solvent droplets having a second average droplet size, wherein the second average droplet size is greater than the first average droplet size, and separating the fluid and the solvent.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Stephanie A. Freeman, Edward J. Grave, J. Tim Cullinane, P. Scott Northdrop, Norman K. Yeh
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Patent number: 10300429Abstract: A method for decontaminating a contaminated fluid stream, comprising receiving the contaminated fluid stream, distributing the contaminated fluid stream substantially equally across a plurality of separation units sharing a unitary pressure boundary, receiving a solvent stream, and co-currently contacting the contaminated fluid stream with the solvent stream in the plurality of separation units.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2015Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Edward J. Grave, Norman K. Yeh, Stephanie A. Freeman
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Publication number: 20180361309Abstract: A fractionation system for removing heavy hydrocarbons in a gas stream. A stripping section receives a predominantly liquid phase of the feed gas stream. A co-current contacting system receives a predominantly vapor phase of the feed gas stream. The co-current contacting system includes a compact contacting bundle disposed within a vessel and including a plurality of substantially parallel contacting units, each of the plurality of contacting units having a droplet generator, a mass transfer section, and a separation system. Each droplet generator generates droplets from a liquid disperses the droplets into a gas stream. Each mass transfer section provides a mixed, two-phase flow having a vapor phase and a liquid phase. Each separation system separates the vapor phase from the liquid phase such that the concentration of heavy hydrocarbons in the vapor phase is lower than in the liquid phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2018Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Norman K. Yeh, Edward J. Grave, Shwetha Ramkumar, Juan C. Juarez
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Publication number: 20180361307Abstract: A fractionation system for removing heavy hydrocarbons in a gas stream. A stripping section receives a predominantly liquid phase of a feed gas stream. First and second co-current contacting systems are located in-line within a pipe. The first co-current contacting system receives a predominantly vapor phase of the feed gas stream. Each co-current contacting system includes a co-current contactor and a separation system. Each co-current contactor includes a droplet generator and a mass transfer section. The droplet generator generates droplets from a liquid and disperses the droplets into a gas stream. The mass transfer section provides a mixed, two-phase flow having a vapor phase and a liquid phase. The separation system separates the vapor phase from the liquid phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2018Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Norman K. Yeh, Edward J. Grave, Shwetha Ramkumar, Juan C. Juarez
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Publication number: 20180071674Abstract: Systems and methods for separating CO2 and H2S from a gaseous stream are provided herein. The system includes a selective solvent that is utilized with a compact contacting technology unit to remove H2S from a gaseous stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Stephanie A. Freeman, Edward J. Grave, J. Tim Cullinane, P. Scott Northrop, Norman K. Yeh
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Publication number: 20170145803Abstract: Systems and methods for dehydrating a natural gas stream are provided herein. The system includes a lean solvent feed system, including a line from a topsides facility, wherein the line is configured to divide a lean solvent stream to feed lean solvent to each of a number of co-current contacting systems in parallel. The co-current contacting systems are placed in series along a wet natural gas stream, wherein each of the co-current contacting systems is configured to contact the lean solvent stream with the wet natural gas stream to adsorb at least a portion of the water from the wet natural gas stream to form a dry natural gas stream. A rich solvent return system includes a line to combine rich solvent from each of the plurality of co-current contacting systems and return a rich solvent stream to the topsides facility.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2016Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventors: Norman K. Yeh, J. Tim Cullinane, Tracy A. Fowler, Shwetha Ramkumar, Donald P. Shatto
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Publication number: 20160263516Abstract: The disclosure includes a method, comprising passing a fluid into a co-current contactor, passing a solvent into the co-current contactor, dividing the solvent into solvent droplets having a first average droplet size, placing the fluid in contact with the solvent droplets to create a combined stream, coalescing at least a portion of the solvent droplets to create solvent droplets having a second average droplet size, wherein the second average droplet size is greater than the first average droplet size, and separating the fluid and the solvent.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2016Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Stephanie A. Freeman, Edward J. Grave, J. Tim Cullinane, P. Scott Northrop, Norman K. Yeh
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Publication number: 20160236140Abstract: A co-current contactor for separating components in a fluid stream, the co-current contactor comprising a first inlet configured to receive the fluid stream proximate to a first end of the co-current contactor, a second inlet configured to receive a solvent proximate the first end of the co-current contactor, and a mass transfer section configured to receive the fluid stream and the solvent and to provide a mixed, two-phase flow, wherein the mass transfer section comprises a surface feature along an inner surface of the mass transfer section configured to reduce film flow along an inner wall of the mass transfer section, and wherein the surface feature comprises at least one of a hydrophobic surface, a superhydrophobic surface, a porous wall surface, and a nonlinear surface irregularity extending radially inward or radially outward along the inner surface of the mass transfer section.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2016Publication date: August 18, 2016Inventors: P. Scott Northrop, Stephanie A. Freeman, J. Tim Cullinane, Edward J. Grave, Norman K. Yeh
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Publication number: 20160199774Abstract: A method for decontaminating a contaminated fluid stream, comprising receiving the contaminated fluid stream, distributing the contaminated fluid stream substantially equally across a plurality of separation units sharing a unitary pressure boundary, receiving a solvent stream, and co-currently contacting the contaminated fluid stream with the solvent stream in the plurality of separation units.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2015Publication date: July 14, 2016Inventors: Edward J. Grave, Norman K. Yeh, Stephanie A. Freeman
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Publication number: 20100018248Abstract: A cryogenic distillation tower is provided for the separation of a fluid stream containing at least methane and carbon dioxide. The cryogenic distillation tower has a lower stripping section, an upper rectification section, and an intermediate spray section. The intermediate spray section includes a plurality of spray nozzles that inject a liquid freeze zone stream. The nozzles are configured such that substantial liquid coverage is provided across the inner diameter of the intermediate spray section. The liquid freeze zone stream generally includes methane at a temperature and pressure whereby both solid carbon dioxide particles and a methane-enriched vapor stream are formed. The tower may further include one or more baffles below the nozzles to create frictional resistance to the gravitational flow of the liquid freeze zone stream. This aids in the breakout and recovery of methane gas. Additional internal components are provided to improve heat transfer and to facilitate the breakout of methane gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2007Publication date: January 28, 2010Inventors: Eleanor R Fieler, Edward J. Grave, Paul Scott Northrop, Norman K. Yeh