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).

  • Publication number: 20160046883
    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: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Syed Basheer Umar, Raul Zavala, Paolo Palmas, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Publication number: 20160030906
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for separating regenerated catalyst are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for separating regenerated catalyst includes a regeneration vessel including a catalyst bed section. The apparatus includes a catalyst settler physically separated from the catalyst bed section by a wall extending within the regeneration vessel. The catalyst overflowing the catalyst bed section flows over the wall and enters the catalyst settler. The apparatus further includes a pipe in fluid communication with the catalyst settler and configured to deliver regenerated catalyst from the regeneration vessel to another vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Miladin Crnkovic, Paolo Palmas, Richard A. Johnson, II, Thomas William Lorsbach
  • Patent number: 9238600
    Abstract: A process for improving the yield of ethylene and propylene from a light naphtha feedstock includes obtaining light naphtha feedstock from a primary cracking zone having a cracking catalyst. The light naphtha feedstock is contacted with an olefin catalyst in an olefin producing zone to produce an ethylene- and propylene-rich stream. After reacting with the olefin catalyst, the ethylene- and propylene-rich stream is separated from the olefin catalyst from in a separator zone. At least a portion of the olefin catalyst is regenerated by combusting coke deposited on a surface of the olefin catalyst in an oxygen-containing environment, and at least a portion of the olefin catalyst is heated. These portions could be the same one or they could be different. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the olefin catalyst could be neither regenerated nor heated. The olefin catalyst is returned to the olefin producing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David A. Wegerer, Brian W. Hedrick, Zhihao Fei, Daniel N. Myers, Vincenza Myers, Paolo Palmas, Laura E. Leonard
  • Patent number: 9227167
    Abstract: An embodiment can be a process for catalytically cracking a hydrocarbon feed. The process can include providing the hydrocarbon feed including an effective amount of one or more C4-C6 olefins for producing at least one light olefin to a riser. Typically, at least about 99%, by mole, of the hydrocarbon feed is a gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Robert L. Mehlberg, Keith A. Couch, Paul S. Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20150360217
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for recycling flue gas from a regenerator back to the regenerator to provide fluidization gas needs. Catalyst may be separated from the flue gas before recycle and the flue gas may be compressed before recycle to the regenerator. The process and apparatus reduces the size capacity of downstream product recovery equipment by reducing gases derived by oxidation in the process and reduces the potential for after burn in the regenerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Publication number: 20150360216
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for recycling flue gas from a regenerator back to the regenerator to provide fluidization gas needs. Catalyst may be separated from the flue gas before recycle and the flue gas may be compressed before recycle to the regenerator. The process and apparatus reduces the size capacity of downstream product recovery equipment by reducing gases derived by oxidation in the process and reduces the potential for after burn in the regenerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Patent number: 9205394
    Abstract: A process and apparatus described is for distributing fluidizing gas to a riser. Fluidizing gas is delivered to a plenum below the riser. A first stream of fluidizing gas is distributed from the plenum into a chamber in a riser and a second stream of fluidizing gas is distributed from the plenum into the riser outside of the chamber. First nozzles in the plenum have a first outlet in the chamber and second nozzles in the plenum have a second outlet outside of the chamber. Streams of regenerated catalyst and carbonized catalyst may be passed to the riser and mixed around the chamber in a lower section of a riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Michael S. Sandacz, Michael A. Stine, Daniel R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9205393
    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: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Johnson, II, Paolo Palmas, John J. Senetar, Daniel A. Kauff, Michael Stine
  • Patent number: 9181496
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for modifying a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The process can include adding a carbon monoxide boiler to the fluid catalytic cracking unit to receive a bypassed flue gas stream from a power recovery expander for increasing capacity of the fluid catalytic cracking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Richard A. Johnson, II, Ronald Gatan
  • Patent number: 9150466
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for the dehydrogenation of paraffins is presented. The process utilizes a reactor that includes a slower flow of catalyst through the reactor, with a counter current flow of gas through the catalyst bed. The catalyst is regenerated and distributed over the top of the catalyst bed, and travels through the bed with the aid of reactor internals to limit backmixing of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lev Davydov, Wolfgang A. Spieker, Paolo Palmas
  • Publication number: 20150273424
    Abstract: A process and apparatus described is for distributing fluidizing gas to a riser. Fluidizing gas is delivered to a plenum below the riser. A first stream of fluidizing gas is distributed from the plenum into a chamber in a riser and a second stream of fluidizing gas is distributed from the plenum into the riser outside of the chamber. First nozzles in the plenum have a first outlet in the chamber and second nozzles in the plenum have a second outlet outside of the chamber. Streams of regenerated catalyst and carbonized catalyst may be passed to the riser and mixed around the chamber in a lower section of a riser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Michael S. Sandacz, Michael A. Stine, Daniel R. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20150275101
    Abstract: A process and apparatus described is for distributing fluidizing gas to a riser. Fluidizing gas is delivered to a plenum below the riser. A first stream of fluidizing gas is distributed from the plenum into a chamber in a riser and a second stream of fluidizing gas is distributed from the plenum into the riser outside of the chamber. First nozzles in the plenum have a first outlet in the chamber and second nozzles in the plenum have a second outlet outside of the chamber. Streams of regenerated catalyst and carbonized catalyst may be passed to the riser and mixed around the chamber in a lower section of a riser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Michael S. Sandacz, Michael A. Stine, Daniel R. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20150252725
    Abstract: A power generation process for use in a processing unit that includes the steps of: using a regenerator to produce a flue gas stream; removing catalyst particles from the flue gas stream; routing the flue gas stream to a combustor/expander unit after performing the step of removing catalyst particles; and using rotation of the turbine of the combustor/expander unit as a source of rotary power. Preferably, the combustor/expander unit includes a combustion chamber and a power recovery turbine housed within a single casing. In certain embodiments, the flue gas stream is routed between the regenerator and the combustor/expander without passing through a compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Xin X. Zhu, Joao Jorge da Silva Ferreira Alves, Paolo Palmas, Richard A. Johnson II, Michael R. Van de Cotte
  • Publication number: 20150240167
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for co-processing a hydrocarbon feedstock and a renewable biomass feedstock are described. Solid particles of biomass are introduced into the riser reactor zone and mixed with catalyst. The hydrocarbon feed stock is also introduced into the riser reactor zone. The solid particles of biomass react in the presence of the catalyst and are converted into oxygenated hydrocarbons, while the hydrocarbon reacts in the presence of the catalyst to form hydrocarbon products having a lower boiling point than the feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Sathit Kulprathipanja, Paolo Palmas, Lance A. Baird
  • Patent number: 9044727
    Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for controlling heat for rapid thermal processing of carbonaceous material are provided herein. The apparatus comprises a reheater for containing a fluidized bubbling bed comprising an oxygen-containing gas, inorganic heat carrier particles, and char and for burning the char into ash to form heated inorganic particles. An inorganic particle cooler is in fluid communication with the reheater to receive a first portion of the heated inorganic particles. The inorganic particle cooler is configured to receive a cooling medium for indirect heat exchange with the first portion of the heated inorganic particles to form first partially-cooled heated inorganic particles that are fluidly communicated to the reheater and combined with a second portion of the heated inorganic particles to form second partially-cooled heated inorganic particles. A reactor is in fluid communication with the reheater to receive the second partially-cooled heated inorganic particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Sathit Kulprathipanja, Paolo Palmas
  • Publication number: 20150148214
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for regenerating catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking unit. Generally, the process includes providing a feed to a riser of a reaction vessel, and providing a stream to a distributor positioned within a void proximate to an inlet receiving unregenerated catalyst in a regenerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel N. Myers, Paolo Palmas, David N. Myers
  • Patent number: 9023285
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for the dehydrogenation of paraffins is presented. The process utilizes a reactor that includes a slower flow of catalyst through the reactor, with a counter current flow of gas through the catalyst bed. The catalyst is regenerated and distributed over the top of the catalyst bed, and travels through the bed with the aid of reactor internals to limit backmixing of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lev Davydov, Wolfgang A. Spieker, Paolo Palmas
  • Patent number: 9023286
    Abstract: A process and device for the regeneration of catalyst is presented. The device includes a series of grids within a regeneration vessel, where each grid includes small openings for the passage of gas, and larger openings for the passage of catalyst. The grids span horizontally across the vessel, and are spaced vertically apart to create a flow of catalyst down through the regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Johnson, II, Paolo Palmas
  • Patent number: 9005431
    Abstract: A process and apparatus described is for distributing hydrocarbon feed to catalyst in a riser. Hydrocarbon feed is delivered to a plenum in the riser. Nozzles from the plenum inject feed into the riser to contact the catalyst. Streams of regenerated catalyst and carbonized catalyst may be passed to the riser and mixed around an insert in a lower section of a riser. The plenum may be located in the riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Roger L. Throndson, Paolo Palmas, Lev Davydov, Mohammad-Reza Mostofi-Ashtiani
  • Patent number: 8999248
    Abstract: A fluid catalytic cracking reactor including a vessel, a chamber housed within the vessel, and a plurality of cyclones housed within the vessel, but externally of the chamber. The plurality of cyclones are arranged in a plurality of cyclone clusters, where each of the cyclone clusters includes a grouping of at least two cyclones that share common outlet piping for communication with the chamber. Alternatively, a fluid catalytic cracking reactor including a vessel, a chamber housed within the vessel, and a plurality of catalytic separation devices housed within the vessel, but externally of the chamber. The catalytic separation devices are in communication with the chamber via outlet piping. Preferably, the catalytic separation devices of the reactor are also in communication with a plenum via separator gas outlet piping, and optionally at least one of the catalytic separation devices feeds an outlet vapor stream into at least two different separator gas outlet piping members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael S. Sandacz, Michael A. Stine, Paolo Palmas, Sathit Kulprathipanja