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: 8282885
    Abstract: An FCC apparatus may include a distributor disposed in a recess in a wall of the riser for distributing gaseous hydrocarbon feed to a riser. The distributor may be shielded from upwardly flowing catalyst by a shield. An array of nozzles from the distributor may extend through openings in the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Paul S. Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20120234725
    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: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Daniel Robert Johnson, Clayton C. Sadler
  • Publication number: 20120219467
    Abstract: The apparatus herein provide a catalyst cooler with a vent that communicates fluidizing gas to a lower chamber of a regenerator. Air that is used as fluidizing gas can then be consumed in the regenerator without promoting after burn in the upper chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Daniel N. Myers
  • Publication number: 20120220449
    Abstract: The process herein provide a catalyst cooler with a vent that communicates fluidizing gas to a lower chamber of a regenerator. Air that is used as fluidizing gas can then be consumed in the regenerator without promoting after burn in the upper chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Daniel N. Myers
  • Publication number: 20120214113
    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: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Sathit KULPRATHIPANJA, Paolo PALMAS, Daniel N. MYERS
  • Publication number: 20120192714
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for separating particulate solids from a gas stream. The process can include regenerating a catalyst in a regenerator, separating particulate solids in first and second cyclone stages, passing the gas stream from the second cyclone stage to an external third stage separator, and passing the gas stream from the external third stage separator to a cyclone recirculator to obtain a clean gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: UOP, LLC
    Inventors: Sathit Kulprathipanja, Paolo Palmas, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Publication number: 20120136187
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The fluid catalytic cracking unit can include a first riser, a second riser, and a disengagement zone. The first riser can be adapted to receive a first feed terminating at a first reaction vessel having a first volume. The second riser may be adapted to receive a second feed terminating at a second reaction vessel having a second volume. Generally, the first volume is greater than the second volume. What is more, the disengagement zone can be for receiving a first mixture including at least one catalyst and one or more products from the first reaction vessel, and a second mixture including at least one catalyst and one or more products from the second reaction vessel. Typically, the first mixture is isolated from the second mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Robert Mehlberg
  • Patent number: 8173567
    Abstract: Disclosed is a catalyst distributor and process for spreading catalyst over a regenerator vessel. Nozzles disposed angular to a header of the distributor spread catalyst throughout a full cross section of the catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Lawrence A. Lacijan, Sujay R. Krishnamurthy, Mohammad-Reza Mostofi-Ashtiani, Paul S. Nishimura, Lisa M. Wolschlag
  • Publication number: 20120083404
    Abstract: Disclosed is a catalyst distributor and process for mixing spent catalyst and recycled regenerated catalyst in a regenerator vessel. Mixing is conducted in a confined space to which catalyst is delivered from catalyst conduits protruding through the wall of the regenerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Paolo Palmas
  • Publication number: 20120082591
    Abstract: Disclosed is a catalyst distributor and process for mixing spent catalyst and recycled regenerated catalyst in a regenerator vessel. Mixing is conducted in a confined space to which catalyst is delivered from catalyst conduits protruding through the wall of the regenerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Paolo Palmas
  • Patent number: 8137631
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The fluid catalytic cracking unit can include a first riser, a second riser, and a disengagement zone. The first riser can be adapted to receive a first feed terminating at a first reaction vessel having a first volume. The second riser may be adapted to receive a second feed terminating at a second reaction vessel having a second volume. Generally, the first volume is greater than the second volume. What is more, the disengagement zone can be for receiving a first mixture including at least one catalyst and one or more products from the first reaction vessel, and a second mixture including at least one catalyst and one or more products from the second reaction vessel. Typically, the first mixture is isolated from the second mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Robert L. Mehlberg
  • Publication number: 20120053047
    Abstract: An apparatus and process are presented for drying a catalyst in a reactor-regenerator system. The process includes a continuous operating system with catalyst circulating between a reactor and regenerator, and the catalyst is dried before returning the catalyst to the reactor. The process uses air that is split between the drying stage and the combustion stage without adding equipment outside of the regenerator, minimizing energy, capital cost, and space requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David N. Myers, Daniel N. Myers, Paolo Palmas, Laura E. Leonard, Wolfgang A. Spieker
  • Publication number: 20120051981
    Abstract: An apparatus and process are presented for drying a catalyst in a reactor-regenerator system. The process includes a continuous operating system with catalyst circulating between a reactor and regenerator, and the catalyst is dried before returning the catalyst to the reactor. The process uses air that is split between the drying stage and the combustion stage without adding equipment outside of the regenerator, minimizing energy, capital cost, and space requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David N. Myers, Daniel N. Myers, Paolo Palmas, Laura E. Leonard, Wolfgang A. Spieker
  • Publication number: 20120012039
    Abstract: Char-handling processes for controlling overall heat balance, ash accumulation, and afterburn in a reheater are provided. Carbonaceous biomass feedstock is pyrolyzed using a heat transfer medium forming pyrolysis products and a spent heat transfer medium. The spent heat transfer medium is separated into segregated char and char-depleted spent heat transfer medium. The char-depleted spent heat transfer medium is introduced into a dense bed of heat transfer medium fluidized by a stream of oxygen-containing regeneration gas. All or a portion of the segregated char is combusted in the dense bed using the stream of oxygen-containing regeneration gas. A portion of the segregated char may be exported out of the pyrolysis system to control the overall heat balance and ash accumulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Paul Alvin Sechrist, Daniel N. Myers, Sid Kulprathipanja, Stanley Joseph Frey, Barry Freel
  • Publication number: 20110318235
    Abstract: An FCC apparatus may include a distributor disposed in a recess in a wall of the riser for distributing gaseous hydrocarbon feed to a riser. The distributor may be shielded from upwardly flowing catalyst by a shield. An array of nozzles from the distributor may extend through openings in the shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Paul S. Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20110315602
    Abstract: An FCC process may include a distributor disposed in a recess in a wall of the riser for distributing gaseous hydrocarbon feed to a riser. The distributor may be shielded from upwardly flowing catalyst by a shield. An array of nozzles from the distributor may extend through openings in the shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: UOP LLC.
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Paul S. Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20110297583
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for fluid catalytic cracking. The process may include providing a torch oil to a stripping section of a first reaction zone, which in turn can communicate at least a partially spent catalyst to a regeneration zone for providing additional heat duty to the regeneration zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: UOP, LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Robert L. Mehlberg, Laura E. Leonard
  • Patent number: 8062506
    Abstract: An FCC process comprising an enlarged riser section and a distributor in an elevated position and with an opening in its tip away from riser walls may reduce coke build-up along the interior walls of a riser. Catalytic mixing may be improved, which could reduce riser coking by increasing hydrocarbon contact with catalyst before contacting the riser wall. Increasing the distance between the introduction of the hydrocarbon and the riser wall may increase this likelihood for hydrocarbon-catalyst contact. Highly contaminated hydrocarbons cause greater coking than do normal hydrocarbons and this FCC process may be effective in decreasing riser coking on such heavy hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Brian W. Hedrick, Paolo Palmas
  • Patent number: 8062507
    Abstract: A process for stripping gases from catalyst material in which catalyst travels down baffles at a first acute angle and then at a second acute angle on the same baffle. Traveling down the baffle at the second angle assures the catalyst will cross a downcomer channel and land on an adjacent baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jason P. Lambin, Keith A. Couch, Paolo Palmas, Giovanni Spinelli
  • Publication number: 20110282124
    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: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Robert Mehlberg, Keith Allen Couch, Paul Nishimura