Patents by Inventor Richard A. Johnson, II

Richard A. Johnson, II 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: 11926800
    Abstract: A fluidized catalytic reactor system cycles from 0.05-5% of catalyst at a time through a rejuvenation unit to be heated in the presence of oxygen to maintain catalyst activity. The use of the rejuvenation unit that may be 2% of the size of the main catalyst regeneration unit allows for reduction in equipment size and in catalyst inventory. The catalyst that is sent to the rejuvenation unit may be spent catalyst but may be partially or fully regenerated catalyst. The rejuvenation unit may be heated by combusting fuel or by hot flue gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Avram M. Buchbinder, John J. Senetar, Wei Pan, Wolfgang A Spieker, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Patent number: 11845072
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for indirect heating of catalyst in the regeneration zone is disclosed. A hot flue gas flows within a heating tube and the catalyst to be heated flows outside the heating tube. The hot flue gas is generated by igniting a fuel stream. The hot flue gas is generated directly in the heating tube or is generated in a separate burner outside the heating tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Johnson, II, John Senetar
  • Patent number: 11794159
    Abstract: A process and reactor for contacting a feed stream with a catalyst stream comprises a reaction chamber comprising two spent catalyst inlets for delivering two spent catalyst streams to the reaction chamber and at least one regenerated catalyst inlet for delivering a regenerated catalyst stream to the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber may also include a second regenerated catalyst inlet for delivering a second regenerated catalyst stream to the reaction chamber. The second spent catalyst inlet enables thorough mixing of catalyst streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Johnson, II, Wolfgang A. Spieker, Mohammad-Reza Mostofi-Ashtiani
  • Patent number: 11725153
    Abstract: A process for recovering catalyst from a fluidized catalytic reactor effluent is disclosed comprising reacting a reactant stream by contact with a stream of fluidized catalyst to provide a vaporous reactor effluent stream comprising catalyst and products. The vaporous reactor effluent stream is contacted with a liquid coolant stream to cool it and transfer the catalyst into the liquid coolant stream. A catalyst lean vaporous reactor effluent stream is separated from a catalyst rich liquid coolant stream. A return catalyst stream is separated from the catalyst rich liquid coolant stream to provide a catalyst lean liquid coolant stream, and the return catalyst stream is transported back to said reacting step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Joseph A. Montalbano, John J. Senetar, Nasim Ghazinoor, Richard A. Johnson, II, Lev Davydov
  • Publication number: 20230211332
    Abstract: A process for preventing hazardous conditions at startup and shutdown of a reactor by sending an inert gas such as nitrogen to strip entrained oxygen from the catalyst when reactor temperatures are below about 240° C. During normal operation the entrained oxygen reacts with hydrocarbons to produce oxides but at the lower temperatures that are present at startup or shutdown these reactions do not occur sufficiently leaving oxygen that can cause hazardous conditions as temperatures increase upon startup. When the temperature is in the safe operating zone above 240° C., the nitrogen gas is stripped by air or other oxygen containing gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: John J. Senetar, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Publication number: 20230211331
    Abstract: A fluidized catalytic reactor connected to a start-up heater is provided. The start-up heater provides sufficient heat to a catalyst containing stream to gradually increase the feed temperature. This allows for a critical volumetric flow rate to be achieved so that catalyst can be recovered from product instead of being entrained in product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Richard A. Johnson, II, John J. Senetar, Sathit Kulprathipanja, Adam J. Kanyuh
  • Publication number: 20230191350
    Abstract: A process and reactor for contacting a feed stream with a catalyst stream comprises a reaction chamber comprising two spent catalyst inlets for delivering two spent catalyst streams to the reaction chamber and at least one regenerated catalyst inlet for delivering a regenerated catalyst stream to the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber may also include a second regenerated catalyst inlet for delivering a second regenerated catalyst stream to the reaction chamber. The second spent catalyst inlet enables thorough mixing of catalyst streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Richard A. Johnson, II, Wolfgang A. Spieker, Mohammad-Reza Mostofi-Ashtiani
  • Publication number: 20230191354
    Abstract: A process and apparatus comprise a reaction chamber that includes an aspect ratio between about 0.7 and 1.3 for establishing a dense catalyst bed in the reaction chamber while minimizing hot residence time of the product gas in a range that will not deteriorate product selectivity. We have found the dense catalyst bed is necessary to ensure sufficient contact between catalyst and feed gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Wolfgang A. Spieker, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Patent number: 11674090
    Abstract: Processes involving the use of a dry sorbent injection (DSI) unit or slurry reagent injection (SRI) unit to remove sulfur compounds form flue gas are described. Flue gas from an FCC regenerator, for example, is used to make superheated steam and saturated steam. The flue gas is then sent to a DSI unit to remove the sulfur compounds, and then to an economizer (or heat exchanger) to heat boiler feed water or combustion air. Because the temperature is not reduced as much as with a wet scrubber process, additional energy can be recovered in the economizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jan De Ren, William J. Whyman, Richard A. Johnson, II, Jeffrey M. Knight, Anil Nivrutti Pachpande, Andrew J. Craig
  • Publication number: 20230167369
    Abstract: Processes involving the use of a dry sorbent injection (DSI) unit or slurry reagent injection (SRI) unit to remove sulfur compounds form flue gas are described. Flue gas from an FCC regenerator, for example, is used to make superheated steam and saturated steam. The flue gas is then sent to a DSI unit to remove the sulfur compounds, and then to an economizer (or heat exchanger) to heat boiler feed water or combustion air. Because the temperature is not reduced as much as with a wet scrubber process, additional energy can be recovered in the economizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Jan De Ren, William J. Whyman, Richard A. Johnson, II, Jeffrey M. Knight, Anil Nivrutti Pachpande, Andrew J. Craig
  • Publication number: 20230133426
    Abstract: A fluidized catalytic reactor decouples the catalyst regenerator temperature from the catalyst reactor residence time. Regenerated catalyst is cooled before it contacts reactant feed. The regenerated catalyst may be cooled by heat exchange with oxygen supply gas, spent catalyst or other materials. The process and apparatus are especially useful for fluidized endothermic catalytic reactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: John J. Senetar, Avram M. Buchbinder, Wei Pan, Wolfgang A. Spieker, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Publication number: 20220347670
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for indirect heating of catalyst in the regeneration zone is disclosed. A hot flue gas flows within a heating tube and the catalyst to be heated flows outside the heating tube. The hot flue gas is generated by igniting a fuel stream. The hot flue gas is generated directly in the heating tube or is generated in a separate burner outside the heating tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Richard A. Johnson, II, John Senetar
  • Publication number: 20220315845
    Abstract: A process for recovering catalyst from a fluidized catalytic reactor effluent is disclosed comprising reacting a reactant stream by contact with a stream of fluidized catalyst to provide a vaporous reactor effluent stream comprising catalyst and products. The vaporous reactor effluent stream is contacted with a liquid coolant stream to cool it and transfer the catalyst into the liquid coolant stream. A catalyst lean vaporous reactor effluent stream is separated from a catalyst rich liquid coolant stream. A return catalyst stream is separated from the catalyst rich liquid coolant stream to provide a catalyst lean liquid coolant stream, and the return catalyst stream is transported back to said reacting step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Joseph A. Montalbano, John J. Senetar, Nasim Ghazinoor, Richard A. Johnson, II, Lev Davydov
  • Publication number: 20220193654
    Abstract: Vent gases from a catalyst cooler are directed downstream or outside of the catalyst regenerator to avoid sending air to a location where after burn may occur. Vent gases contain oxygen that when contacted with carbon monoxide in regenerator flue gas can cause after burn to occur at a location which lacks sufficient catalyst density to serve as a heat sink. Locating the cooling media supply in the top of the catalyst cooler enables cooled catalyst to drain from the bottom of the catalyst cooler and fitting more cooler tubes in the catalyst cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Minaz Makhania, Dharmesh Chunilal Panchal, Sakthivelan Maadasamy Durai, Lev Davydov, Richard A. Johnson, II, Sathit A. Kulprathipanja
  • Publication number: 20220135887
    Abstract: A fluidized catalytic reactor system cycles from 0.05-5% of catalyst at a time through a rejuvenation unit to be heated in the presence of oxygen to maintain catalyst activity. The use of the rejuvenation unit that may be 2% of the size of the main catalyst regeneration unit allows for reduction in equipment size and in catalyst inventory. The catalyst that is sent to the rejuvenation unit may be spent catalyst but may be partially or fully regenerated catalyst. The rejuvenation unit may be heated by combusting fuel or by hot flue gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Avram M. Buchbinder, John J. Senetar, Wei Pan, Wolfgang A. Spieker, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Publication number: 20220126281
    Abstract: A process for regenerating spent catalyst by combusting coke and fuel gas together in the presence of enriched oxygen restores activity to the catalyst to bring back to adequate activity level while reducing or obviating the need for the oxygen treatment step. The oxygen concentration in the oxygen supply gas should be greater than 21 vol %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Avram M. Buchbinder, John J. Senetar, Richard A. Johnson, II, Sathit Kulprathipanja, Wei Pan
  • Patent number: 11286217
    Abstract: A dehydrogenation process and apparatus contact a paraffinic stream with dehydrogenation catalyst to product olefinic product gases. The olefinic product gases are separated from spent dehydrogenation catalyst and contained in a confined space that has a smaller volume than the reactor particularly at the same elevation. The containment of the olefinic product gases facilitates quenching the olefinic product gases to terminate reaction and improve selectivity to propylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lev Davydov, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Publication number: 20220033326
    Abstract: A dehydrogenation process and apparatus contact a paraffinic stream with dehydrogenation catalyst to product olefinic product gases. The olefinic product gases are separated from spent dehydrogenation catalyst and contained in a confined space that has a smaller volume than the reactor particularly at the same elevation. The containment of the olefinic product gases facilitates quenching the olefinic product gases to terminate reaction and improve selectivity to propylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Lev Davydov, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Patent number: 11127283
    Abstract: Disclosed systems and methods prevent collisions in a carwash property. Disclosed systems and methods include software that brings together computer vision and machine learning algorithms to track the interaction of vehicles and equipment within the environment of a carwash to improve safety and optimize production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: DRB Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Pete Ness, Richard A. Johnson, II, Robert W. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 11078133
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for alkylating aromatic hydrocarbons with an alkylating reagent to produce an alkylated aromatic product are described. The processes and apparatuses use a riser reactor operated at a superficial velocity of 10 m/s to 25 m/s to produce the alkylated aromatic product. In some embodiments, a combination of steam and aromatic hydrocarbon is used to lift the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gregory B. Kuzmanich, Richard A. Johnson, II, Joseph A. Montalbano, Feng Xu, Robert E. Tsai