Patents by Inventor Randy J. Zinke

Randy J. Zinke 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: 5589139
    Abstract: An FCC arrangement uses two stages upflow conduit combustion and a regenerator cyclone separator to supply catalyst particles from a dip leg directly into a downflow reaction conduit. The downflow reaction conduit provides an immediate stage of initial catalyst and gas separation at its outlet end. The arrangement and method offers an improved method of operating an FCC reactor and regeneration zone without the use of large reactor or regeneration vessels. One form of the invention also uses enlarged dip pipe conduits to provide discrete zones of catalyst stripping thereby eliminating all relatively large pressure vessels from FCC method and arrangement of this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Randy J. Zinke, William J. Koves
  • Patent number: 5582712
    Abstract: An FCC arrangement uses two stages upflow conduit combustion and a regenerator cyclone separator to supply catalyst particles from a dip leg directly into a downflow reaction conduit. The downflow reaction conduit provides an immediate stage of initial catalyst and gas separation at its outlet end. The arrangement and method offers an improved method of operating an FCC reactor and regeneration zone without the use of large reactor or regeneration vessels. One form of the invention also uses enlarged dip pipe conduits to provide discrete zones of catalyst stripping thereby eliminating all relatively large pressure vessels from FCC method and arrangement of this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Randy J. Zinke, William J. Koves
  • Patent number: 5549814
    Abstract: An FCC stripper uses a grid arrangement that provides increased contacting of stripping fluid and catalyst through multiple levels of stripping grids while using a configuration that permits access through the stripper vessel for maintenance and inspection. The invention is particularly suited for large diameter stripping vessels where the typical frusto-conical configuration of baffles greatly increases the length of the stripper. The stripper grids also have orifice openings to redistribute stripping fluid at each level of stripping grid and increase contact between catalyst and stripping fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: Randy J. Zinke
  • Patent number: 5435973
    Abstract: A fluidized catalyst contacting apparatus improves the recovery of entrained hydrocarbon gases by providing a de-gassing zone upstream of a conventional stripping zone. The de-gassing zone has a downwardly increasing catalyst density gradient that reduces the void volume of the fluidized catalyst thereby de-gassing hydrocarbon vapors from the catalyst prior to entering a stripping zone. The de-gassing zone is particularly useful in a vented riser arrangement for an FCC reactor where catalyst concentrates along the wall of the reactor vessel as it flows downwardly into the stripping zone. By providing a de-gassing zone to collect the downwardly descending catalyst and remove hydrocarbon vapors, efficiency of a sub-adjacent stripping zone is significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: Randy J. Zinke
  • Patent number: 5316657
    Abstract: A fluidized catalyst contacting apparatus improves the recovery of entrained hydrocarbon gases by providing a de-gassing zone upstream of a conventional stripping zone. The de-gassing zone has a downwardly increasing catalyst density gradient that reduces the void volume of the fluidized catalyst thereby de-gassing hydrocarbon vapors from the catalyst prior to entering a stripping zone. The de-gassing zone is particularly useful in a vented riser arrangement for an FCC reactor where catalyst concentrates along the wall of the reactor vessle as it flows downwardly into the stripping zone. By providing a de-gassing zone to collect the downwardly descending catalyst and remove hydrocarbon vapors, efficiency of a sub-adjacent stripping zone is significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: Randy J. Zinke
  • Patent number: 5273720
    Abstract: This invention provides an improved apparatus for stripping hydrocarbons from spent catalyst which offers ready access to stripper baffles for inspection and maintenance. The inner baffles move upwardly or downwardly on a conduit that slides over the central riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: Randy J. Zinke