Patents by Inventor Paolo Palmas

Paolo Palmas 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: 10041667
    Abstract: A rapid thermal processing system includes an inorganic heat carrier particles reheater coupled to an inorganic particle cooler. For example. inorganic heat carrier particles may be cooled in a shell and tube inorganic particle cooler by indirect heat exchange with a cooling medium. The cooled inorganic heat carrier particles may then be supplied to a reactor to transfer heat to carbonaceous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Sathit Kulprathipanja, Daniel N. Myers, Vincenza Myers, Paolo Palmas
  • Patent number: 10016753
    Abstract: A baffle is installed on the wall of a regenerator vessel to push catalyst away from the wall to ensure adequate exposure to regeneration gas and complete combustion of coke from the catalyst. We have found that in deep beds, catalyst can flow down the walls and escape sufficient exposure to regeneration gas and undergo too little regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Johnson, II, Paolo Palmas, Mohammad-Reza Mostofi-Ashtiani, Quan Yuan, James W. Althoff
  • Patent number: 10011791
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for regenerating catalysts and methods of inhibiting corrosion in catalyst regenerating apparatuses are provided. An exemplary apparatus includes: a metal vessel configured to receive a spent catalyst stream and contact at least a portion of the spent catalyst stream with an oxygen containing environment at a sufficiently high temperature to burn coke present in the spent catalyst stream; a refractory material overlying at least a portion of an inner surface of the metal vessel; and a corrosion inhibiting material in contact with at least a portion of the inner surface of the metal vessel and disposed between the inner surface and at least a portion of the refractory material, wherein the corrosion inhibiting material is heat stable at a temperature of at least up to about 400° F. (about 204° C.) and inhibits contact of an acid environment with the inner surface of the metal vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, James W. Althoff, Sanford Allan Victor
  • Publication number: 20180178179
    Abstract: A counter-current catalyst regenerator with at least two stages of counter-current contact along with a regenerator riser is proposed. Each stage may comprise a permeable barrier that allows upward passage of oxygen-containing gas and downward passage of coked catalyst into each stage, but inhibits upward movement of catalyst to mitigate back mixing and approximate true counter-current contact and efficient combustion of coke from catalyst. The regenerator riser may provide a passage to transport the catalyst and may serve as a secondary stage for coke combustion to provide the regenerated catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Lev Davydov, Michael S. Sandacz, Paolo Palmas, Zhihao Fei, Matthew Lippmann
  • Publication number: 20180178208
    Abstract: A counter-current catalyst regenerator with at least two stages of counter-current contact along with a regenerator riser is proposed. Each stage may comprise a permeable barrier that allows upward passage of oxygen-containing gas and downward passage of coked catalyst into each stage, but inhibits upward movement of catalyst to mitigate back mixing and approximate true counter-current contact and efficient combustion of coke from catalyst. The regenerator riser may provide a passage to transport the catalyst and may serve as a secondary stage for coke combustion to provide the regenerated catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Lev Davydov, Michael S. Sandacz, Paolo Palmas, Zhihao Fei, Matthew Lippmann
  • Patent number: 9981261
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for combusting coke from catalyst two stages is disclosed. Catalyst and flue gas from a lower chamber ascends to an upper chamber to be roughly separated by swirl ducts extending from a combustion conduit. The swirl ducts may discharge into a container in the upper chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Mehlberg, Paolo Palmas, Michael A. Stine, Lev Davydov
  • Patent number: 9873641
    Abstract: A process and device for the flow of catalyst in a reactor is presented. The device includes a series of grids within a reactor vessel, where each grid includes small openings for the passage of gas and some catalyst particles, and larger openings for the more continuous passage of catalyst. The grids span horizontally across the vessel, and are spaced vertically apart to provide for the flow of catalyst down through the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Johnson, II, Paolo Palmas, John J. Senetar, Daniel A. Kauff, Michael Stine
  • Patent number: 9816036
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for fluid catalytic cracking. The process can include sending a first catalyst from a first riser reactor and a second catalyst from a second riser reactor to a regeneration vessel having a first stage and a second stage. The first catalyst may be sent to the first stage and the second catalyst may be sent to the second stage of the regeneration vessel. Generally, the first stage is positioned above the second stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Paolo Palmas
  • Patent number: 9670421
    Abstract: An apparatus and process is disclosed for mitigating coking in an FCC reactor plenum. The apparatus and process utilize a baffle to create a inner volume for the product vapors to prevent contact with a relatively cool plenum. The baffle also limits the amount of the time the product vapors spend in the plenum minimizing time for coke formation and limit product vapors from entering low fluidization zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Syed Basheer Umar, Raul Zavala, Paolo Palmas, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Patent number: 9663722
    Abstract: Methods and FCC apparatuses are provided for cracking hydrocarbons. An FCC apparatus includes a riser with a riser outlet positioned within a reactor catalyst collection area. A stripper is coupled to the reactor catalyst collection area, where the riser extends through the stripper, and where the stripper includes a stripper exterior wall. A sleeve is positioned within the stripper between the riser and the stripper exterior wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Sathit Kulprathipanja, Paolo Palmas
  • Patent number: 9663729
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for upgrading a pyrolysis oil stream and a hydrocarbon stream are provided herein. In an embodiment, a method for upgrading a pyrolysis oil stream and a hydrocarbon stream includes separately introducing the pyrolysis oil stream and the hydrocarbon stream into a reaction zone to form a mixture of the pyrolysis oil stream and the hydrocarbon stream in the reaction zone. The mixture of the pyrolysis oil stream and the hydrocarbon stream is catalytically cracked in the presence of a particulate cracking catalyst in the reaction zone. The pyrolysis oil stream is maintained at a temperature of less than or equal to about 100° C. substantially up to introduction into the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lance Awender Baird, Paolo Palmas, Sathit Kulprathipanja
  • Patent number: 9649642
    Abstract: An apparatus and process is disclosed for mitigating coking in an FCC reactor plenum. The apparatus and process utilize a baffle to create a inner volume for the product vapors to prevent contact with a relatively cool plenum. The baffle also limits the amount of the time the product vapors spend in the plenum minimizing time for coke formation and limit product vapors from entering low fluidization zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Syed Basheer Umar, Raul Zavala, Paolo Palmas, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Publication number: 20170097153
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for co-processing pyrolysis effluent and a hydrocarbon stream in which a char produced by the catalytic cracking of the pyrolysis effluent is recovered and utilized to provide energy, such as heat to the catalytic cracking zone. The char can be burned in various combustion zones associated with the catalytic cracking zone. The char is produced from a renewable resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Lance A. Baird, Sathit Kulprathipanja, Paolo Palmas
  • Patent number: 9610556
    Abstract: Embodiments of a hydrocarbon conversion apparatus are provided, as are embodiments of a hydroprocessing conversion process. In one embodiment, the hydrocarbon conversion apparatus includes a reaction vessel having a reaction chamber and a feed distribution chamber. A riser fluidly couples the feed distribution chamber to the reaction chamber, and a catalyst recirculation standpipe fluidly couples the reaction chamber to the feed distribution chamber. The catalyst recirculation standpipe forms a catalyst recirculation circuit with the reaction chamber, the feed distribution chamber, and the riser. A catalyst is circulated through the catalyst recirculation circuit during operation of the hydrocarbon conversion apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Daniel R. Johnson, Clayton C. Sadler
  • Publication number: 20170080413
    Abstract: A baffle is installed on the wall of a regenerator vessel to push catalyst away from the wall to ensure adequate exposure to regeneration gas and complete combustion of coke from the catalyst. We have found that in deep beds, catalyst can flow down the walls and escape sufficient exposure to regeneration gas and undergo too little regeneration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Richard A. Johnson, II, Paolo Palmas, Mohammad-Reza Mostofi-Ashtiani, Quan Yuan, James W. Althoff
  • Patent number: 9587824
    Abstract: A catalyst cooler for cooling regenerated catalyst in a regenerator associated with a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The catalyst cooler includes a first passage for transporting hot regenerated catalyst away from the regenerator and a second passage for returning cooled regenerated catalyst to the regenerator. The catalyst cooler also includes at least one heat exchanger. The second passage may be disposed within the first passage, or the first and second passage may each occupy a portion of a horizontal cross section of the catalyst cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Daniel N. Myers
  • Publication number: 20170056799
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating solid particles from a stream of a mixture of gaseous fluids and solid particles has a separation vessel. A mixture conduit extends vertically into a central section of the separation vessel and defines a discharge opening located within the vessel and tangentially oriented for discharging the stream into an open interior of the vessel and imparting a tangential velocity to the stream. A gas recovery conduit within the separation vessel has an inlet for withdrawing gaseous fluids from within the open interior of the separation vessel at a location below the discharge opening and radially offset from the mixture conduit. An intermediate portion of the gas recovery conduit is located above the inlet within the separation vessel and has a diameter greater than a diameter of the inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Michael S. Sandacz
  • Patent number: 9523042
    Abstract: Methods and fuel processing apparatuses for upgrading a pyrolysis oil stream and a hydrocarbon stream are provided herein. In an embodiment, a method for upgrading a pyrolysis oil stream and a hydrocarbon stream includes providing a pyrolysis oil stream and providing a hydrocarbon stream separate from the pyrolysis oil stream. The pyrolysis oil stream and the hydrocarbon stream are mixed in a mixing zone and in the absence of a particulate cracking catalyst. The pyrolysis oil stream and the hydrocarbon stream are introduced in a substantially common direction into the mixing zone to form a mixture of the pyrolysis oil stream and the hydrocarbon stream. The mixture of the pyrolysis oil stream and the hydrocarbon stream are catalytically cracked in the presence of the particulate cracking catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lance Awender Baird, Paolo Palmas
  • Publication number: 20160348005
    Abstract: Pyrolysis methods and apparatuses that allow effective heat removal, for example when necessary to achieve a desired throughput or process a desired type of biomass, are disclosed. According to representative methods, the use of a quench medium (e.g., water), either as a primary or a secondary type of heat removal, allows greater control of process temperatures, particularly in the reheater where char, as a solid byproduct of pyrolysis, is combusted. Quench medium may be distributed to one or more locations within the reheater vessel, such as above and/or within a dense phase bed of fluidized particles of a solid heat carrier (e.g., sand) to better control heat removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Sathit Kulprathipanja, Paolo Palma, Daniel N. Myers
  • Patent number: 9446398
    Abstract: A stripping vessel for removing hydrocarbons from a catalyst and a process for removing hydrocarbons from a catalyst. In an FCC unit, the stripping vessel includes first and second stripping sections. The first stripping section includes at least one grid having a plurality of interesting members and openings therebetween. The second stripping section includes structured packing such as a plurality of ribbons. The one or more grids are spaced from the structured packing, and from each other, so as to minimize the accumulation of catalyst within the stripping vessel, preferably between about 0.91 m (3 ft) to about 1.5 m (5 ft).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Andrew Jonathan Craig