Patents by Inventor Patrick Alan Houghton
Patrick Alan Houghton 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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Publication number: 20230147084Abstract: Described herein are coil wound heat exchangers (CWHEs), and methods of cooling and/or liquefying streams of fluid using said CWHEs, in which one or more tube layers of the tube bundle are provided with a non-uniform tube winding angle and tube pitch in order to facilitate the equalization of radial pressure imbalances on the shell side of the CWHE, thereby reducing radial maldistribution of fluid on the shell side and improving the heat transfer efficiency of the CWHE.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2021Publication date: May 11, 2023Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Bo Jin, Justin David Bukowski, Patrick Alan Houghton, Christopher Michael Ott, Mark Julian Roberts, Mark Robert Pillarella
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Publication number: 20180087834Abstract: An exchange column having at least a first layer of structured packing and a second layer of structured packing, each layer formed from corrugated plates, the corrugated plates of the second layer having an orientation that is rotated at an angle relative to the corrugated plates of the first layer from 20° to 90°, wherein the vertical height of the first layer and/or the vertical height of the second layer is greater than 350 mm or greater than 400 mm.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Swaminathan Sunder, Jonathan Wilson, Patrick Alan Houghton, George Amir Meski
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Publication number: 20180087835Abstract: An exchange column having at least a first layer of structured packing and a second layer of structured packing, each layer formed from corrugated plates, the corrugated plates of the second layer having an orientation that is rotated at an angle relative to the corrugated plates of the first layer from 20° to 90°, wherein the vertical height of the first layer and/or the vertical height of the second layer is greater than 350 mm or greater than 400 mm.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Swaminathan Sunder, Jonathan Wilson, Patrick Alan Houghton, George Amir Meski
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Patent number: 9630123Abstract: An apparatus for distributing a flow of a liquid descending in an inner space of a packed column includes: a collector to collect the flow of the liquid; a mixer below and vertically spaced apart from the collector to receive and mix the liquid collected; a first conduit to receive and transmit at least part of the liquid from a first sector of the collector to a first zone of the mixer; and a second conduit to receive and transmit at least part of the liquid from a second sector of the collector to a second zone of the mixer. A geometric center of the first sector of the collector is positioned circumferentially away from a geometric center of the first zone of the mixer and/or a geometric center of the collector's second sector is positioned circumferentially away from a geometric center of the mixer's second zone.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2011Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Swaminathan Sunder, Donn Michael Herron, Patrick Alan Houghton
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Patent number: 9346010Abstract: A liquid distributor and method for distribution of a liquid in a mass transfer column, the distributor includes at least one riser comprising at least one riser wall, the at least one riser wall extends from a first surface of the distributor in a first direction of the mass transfer column; at least one shield, the at least one shield extends from a second surface of the distributor opposite the first surface and extending in a second direction opposite the first direction; and at least one liquid distribution aperture extending from the first surface of the distributor through the second surface of the distributor, the at least one shield has a length extending in the second direction such that a gap is created between the at least one shield and a packing, the height of the gap between the shield and the packing is about 10 mm to 75 mm.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Vladimir Yliy Gershtein, Patrick Alan Houghton, Kenneth William Kovak, Andrew Weaver, Jonathan Wilson
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Publication number: 20160084589Abstract: A plate fin heat exchanger comprises a folded fin sheet comprising fins wherein the fin sheet comprises a plurality of perforations, such plurality of perforations are positioned on the fin sheet in parallel rows when such fin sheet is in an unfolded state, such parallel rows of perforations on the fin sheet comprise a first spacing between the parallel rows of perforations (S1), a second spacing between sequential perforations within the parallel row of perforations (S2), a third spacing (or offset) between the perforations in adjacent parallel rows of perforations (S3), and a perforation diameter (D), wherein the ratio of the first spacing between the parallel rows of perforations to the perforation diameter (S1/D) is in the range of 0.75 to 2.0, and wherein the angle between the fins and the parallel rows of perforations is less than or equal to five degrees (?5°).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.Inventors: Swaminathan Sunder, Vladimir Yliy Gershtein, George Amir Meski, Patrick Alan Houghton
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Publication number: 20150352485Abstract: A distributor for distribution of a liquid in a mass transfer column and method for distribution, including a first riser, a first plurality of liquid distribution apertures positioned adjacent to and at a first distance from a first edge of the first riser; a second plurality of liquid distribution apertures positioned adjacent to and at a second distance from a second edge of the first riser; a second riser; a third plurality of liquid distribution apertures positioned adjacent to and at a third distance from a first edge of the second riser; and a fourth plurality of liquid distribution apertures positioned adjacent to and at a fourth distance from a second edge of the second one riser; wherein the second plurality of liquid distribution apertures are adjacent to and at a fifth distance from third plurality of liquid distribution apertures.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2015Publication date: December 10, 2015Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.Inventors: Vladimir Yliy Gershtein, Patrick Alan Houghton, Jonathan Wilson
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Publication number: 20140013946Abstract: A liquid distributor and method for distribution of a liquid in a mass transfer column, the distributor includes at least one riser comprising at least one riser wall, the at least one riser wall extends from a first surface of the distributor in a first direction of the mass transfer column; at least one shield, the at least one shield extends from a second surface of the distributor opposite the first surface and extending in a second direction opposite the first direction; and at least one liquid distribution aperture extending from the first surface of the distributor through the second surface of the distributor, the at least one shield has a length extending in the second direction such that a gap is created between the at least one shield and a packing, the height of the gap between the shield and the packing is about 10 mm to 75 mm.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2011Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.Inventors: Vladimir Yliy Gershtein, Patrick Alan Houghton, Kenneth William Kovak, Andrew Weaver, Jonathan Wilson
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Publication number: 20130233016Abstract: An apparatus for a heat transfer or mass transfer process, comprising a column or divided column having at least one pair of converging walls or wall portions and, within at least a region of the column or divided column bounded by at least one pair of converging walls or wall portions, a structured packing having a corrugation angle of at least about 50°; a method of heat and/or mass transfer applicable to the apparatus; and a method of installation of structured packing into a relevant apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2012Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.Inventors: Jonathan Wilson, Swaminathan Sunder, Patrick Alan Houghton
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Publication number: 20130167584Abstract: A plate fin heat exchanger comprises a folded fin sheet comprising fins wherein the fin sheet comprises a plurality of perforations, such plurality of perforations are positioned on the fin sheet in parallel rows when such fin sheet is in an unfolded state, such parallel rows of perforations on the fin sheet comprise a first spacing between the parallel rows of perforations (S1), a second spacing between sequential perforations within the parallel row of perforations (S2), a third spacing (or offset) between the perforations in adjacent parallel rows of perforations (S3), and a perforation diameter (D), wherein the ratio of the first spacing between the parallel rows of perforations to the perforation diameter (S1/D) is in the range of 0.75 to 2.0, and wherein the angle between the fins and the parallel rows of perforations is less than or equal to five degrees (?5°).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2010Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.Inventors: Swaminathan Sunder, Vladimir Yliy Gershtein, George Amir Meski, Patrick Alan Houghton
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Publication number: 20130153037Abstract: An apparatus for distributing a flow of a liquid descending in an inner space of a packed column includes: a collector to collect the flow of the liquid; a mixer below and vertically spaced apart from the collector to receive and mix the liquid collected; a first conduit to receive and transmit at least part of the liquid from a first sector of the collector to a first zone of the mixer; and a second conduit to receive and transmit at least part of the liquid from a second sector of the collector to a second zone of the mixer. A geometric center of the first sector of the collector is positioned circumferentially away from a geometric center of the first zone of the mixer and/or a geometric center of the collector's second sector is positioned circumferentially away from a geometric center of the mixer's second zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2011Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Swaminathan Sunder, Donn Michael Herron, Patrick Alan Houghton
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Patent number: 7007932Abstract: An apparatus for collecting and redistributing a flow of a liquid descending in an exchange column containing a layer of structured packing and having a longitudinal axis, a cross-sectional area, and an inner wall having an inner perimeter, includes: a wall-flow collector located above the layer of structured packing, the wall-flow collector having an outer perimeter adjacent the inner perimeter of the inner wall and being adapted to collect at least a portion of the liquid descending on or near the inner wall of the exchange column; a transmission means for transmitting at least a portion of the collected liquid collected by the wall-flow collector toward the longitudinal axis a substantial distance across the cross-sectional area of the exchange column; and a dispensing means for dispensing at least a portion of the portion of the collected liquid from the transmission means to the layer of structured packing.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2003Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Phillip Andrew Armstrong, Patrick Alan Houghton, James William Meehan, George Amir Meski
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Patent number: 6834515Abstract: In a plate-fin exchanger having a plurality of fins disposed between neighboring parting sheets, at least a portion of at least one of the fins has a textured surface. The textured surface is in the form of grooves or fluting formed on or applied to the surface of the fin material used in the plate-fin exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2002Date of Patent: December 28, 2004Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Swaminathan Sunder, Patrick Alan Houghton, Vladimir Vasilievich Kuznetsov
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Publication number: 20040050538Abstract: In a plate-fin exchanger having a plurality of fins disposed between neighboring parting sheets, at least a portion of at least one of the fins has a textured surface. The textured surface is in the form of grooves or fluting formed on or applied to the surface of the fin material used in the plate-fin exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2002Publication date: March 18, 2004Inventors: Swaminathan Sunder, Patrick Alan Houghton, Vladimir Vasilievich Kuznetsov
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Patent number: 6637240Abstract: A process for producing a nitrogen-enriched vapor product from a supply of a nitrogen-rich liquid uses a purifying device and a distillation column having a distillation zone. The process includes the steps of: feeding at least a portion of the supply of the nitrogen-rich liquid to the distillation zone at a first location; feeding a stream of a gas containing nitrogen and at least one contaminant to the purifying device, wherein the gas is cooled by a cryogenic liquid whereby at least a portion of the at least one contaminant condenses, solidifies, or dissolves; eventually feeding at least a portion of the cool gas from the purifying device to the distillation zone at a second location below the first location; withdrawing a stream of the nitrogen-enriched vapor product from the distillation zone; and withdrawing a stream of an oxygen-enriched liquid from the distillation zone.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2002Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: John Louis Griffiths, Adam Adrian Brostow, Declan Patrick O'Connor, Swaminathan Sunder, Patrick Alan Houghton
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Patent number: 6487877Abstract: A process for producing a nitrogen-enriched vapor product from a supply of a nitrogen-rich liquid uses a purifying device and a distillation column having a distillation zone. The process includes the steps of: feeding at least a portion of the supply of the nitrogen-rich liquid to the distillation zone at a first location; feeding a stream of a gas containing nitrogen and at least one contaminant to the purifying device, wherein the gas is cooled by a cryogenic liquid whereby at least a portion of the at least one contaminant condenses, solidifies, or dissolves; eventually feeding at least a portion of the cool gas from the purifying device to the distillation zone at a second location below the first location; withdrawing a stream of the nitrogen-enriched vapor product from the distillation zone; and withdrawing a stream of an oxygen-enriched liquid from the distillation zone.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2002Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: John Louis Griffiths, Adam Adrian Brostow, Declan Patrick O'Connor, Swaninathan Sunder, Patrick Alan Houghton
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Patent number: 5730209Abstract: Method and apparatus for moving a conditioning fluid, e.g. defrost gas, through a plate fin type heat exchanger having open-ended passages containing easyway or hardway finning. Each group of open-ended passages is provided with means to introduce the fluid into the passages at a location to achieve maximum contact of the fluid with each open-ended passage. A downflow reboiler according to the invention can be readily conditioned (e.g. defrosted).Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1995Date of Patent: March 24, 1998Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Swaminathan Sunder, Patrick Alan Houghton, Frank Jude Riska, William Robert Licht, Melvyn Roy Collyer