Patents by Inventor Ronald D. Key

Ronald D. Key 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: 20170336138
    Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated process and apparatus for liquefaction of natural gas and recovery of natural gas liquids. In particular, the improved process and apparatus reduces the energy consumption of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) unit by using a portion of the already cooled overhead vapor from a fractionation column from an NGL (natural gas liquefaction) unit to, depending upon composition, provide, for example, reflux for fractionation in the NGL unit and/or a cold feed for the LNG unit, or by cooling, within the NGL unit, a residue gas originating from a fractionation column of the NGL unit and using the resultant cooled residue gas to, depending upon composition, provide, for example, reflux/feed for fractionation in the NGL and/or a cold feed for the LNG unit, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the LNG unit and rendering the process more energy-efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: LINDE ENGINEERING NORTH AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Stephan BURMBERGER, Danielle R. GOLDBECK, Christoph HERTEL, Aleisha MARTY, Heinz BAUER, Ronald D. KEY
  • Patent number: 9803917
    Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated process and apparatus for liquefaction of natural gas and recovery of natural gas liquids. In particular, the improved process and apparatus reduces the energy consumption of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) unit by using a portion of the already cooled overhead vapor from a fractionation column from an NGL (natural gas liquefaction) unit to, depending upon composition, provide, for example, reflux for fractionation in the NGL unit and/or a cold feed for the LNG unit, or by cooling, within the NGL unit, a residue gas originating from a fractionation column of the NGL unit and using the resultant cooled residue gas to, depending upon composition, provide, for example, reflux/feed for fractionation in the NGL and/or a cold feed for the LNG unit, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the LNG unit and rendering the process more energy-efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: LINDE ENGINEERING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Stephan Burmberger, Danielle R. Goldbeck, Christoph Hertel, Aleisha Marty, Heinz Bauer, Ronald D. Key
  • Publication number: 20140182331
    Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated process and apparatus for liquefaction of natural gas and recovery of natural gas liquids. In particular, the improved process and apparatus reduces the energy consumption of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) unit by using a portion of the already cooled overhead vapor from a fractionation column from an NGL (natural gas liquefaction) unit to, depending upon composition, provide, for example, reflux for fractionation in the NGL unit and/or a cold feed for the LNG unit, or by cooling, within the NGL unit, a residue gas originating from a fractionation column of the NGL unit and using the resultant cooled residue gas to, depending upon composition, provide, for example, reflux/feed for fractionation in the NGL and/or a cold feed for the LNG unit, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the LNG unit and rendering the process more energy-efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: LINDE PROCESS PLANTS, INC.
    Inventors: Stephan BURMBERGER, Danielle R. GOLDBECK, Christoph HERTEL, Aleisha MARTY, Heinz BAUER, Ronald D. KEY
  • Publication number: 20140013796
    Abstract: A process for separating a hydrocarbon gas into a fraction containing a predominant portion of the methane or ethane and lighter components and a fraction containing a predominant portion of the C2 or C3 and heavier components in which the feed gas is treated in one or more heat exchange and expansion steps; partly condensed feed gas is directed into a separator wherein a first residue vapor is separated from a C2 or C3-containing liquid; and C2 or C3-containing liquids at substantially the pressure of separation are directed into a distillation column wherein the liquid is separated into a second residue to recover a C2 or C3-containing product. A portion of the vapor and/or a portion of the liquid from the first hydrocarbon vapor/liquid separation is further cooled and introduced into a fractionation column to increase the C2 or C3 and heavier hydrocarbons recovery from the natural gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Zaheer I. Malik, Ronald D. Key
  • Patent number: 8093440
    Abstract: An improved process for separating a hydrocarbon bearing feed gas containing methane and lighter, C2 (ethylene and/or ethane), and heavier components into a fraction containing predominantly methane and lighter components and a fraction containing predominantly C2 and heavier hydrocarbon components including the steps of cooling and partially condensing and delivering the feed stream to a separator to provide a first residue vapor and a first liquid containing C2, directing a first part of the first liquid containing C2 into a heavy-ends fractionation column wherein the liquid is separated into a second hydrocarbon bearing vapor residue and a second liquid product containing C2; further cooling the second part of the first liquid containing C2 and partially condensing the second hydrocarbon bearing vapor residue; combining the cooled second part of the first liquid and partially condensed second hydrocarbon-bearing vapor residue and directing them to a second separator effecting a third residue and a third li
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Linde Process Plants, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Key, William G. Brown
  • Publication number: 20110118524
    Abstract: An improved process for separating a hydrocarbon bearing feed gas containing methane and lighter, C2 (ethylene and/or ethane), and heavier components into a fraction containing predominantly methane and lighter components and a fraction containing predominantly C2 and heavier hydrocarbon components including the steps of cooling and partially condensing and delivering the feed stream to a separator to provide a first residue vapor and a first liquid containing C2, directing a first part of the first liquid containing C2 into a heavy-ends fractionation column wherein the liquid is separated into a second hydrocarbon bearing vapor residue and a second liquid product containing C2; further cooling the second part of the first liquid containing C2 and partially condensing the second hydrocarbon bearing vapor residue; combining the cooled second part of the first liquid and partially condensed second hydrocarbon-bearing vapor residue and directing them to a second separator effecting a third residue and a third li
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Ronald D. KEY, William G. Brown
  • Publication number: 20100087696
    Abstract: An improved process for separating a hydrocarbon bearing feed gas containing methane and lighter, C2 (ethylene and/or ethane), and heavier components into a fraction containing predominantly methane and lighter components and a fraction containing predominantly C2 and heavier hydrocarbon components including the steps of cooling and partially condensing and delivering the feed stream to a separator to provide a first residue vapor and a first liquid containing C2, directing a first part of the first liquid containing C2 into a heavy-ends fractionation column wherein the liquid is separated into a second hydrocarbon bearing vapor residue and a second liquid product containing C2; further cooling the second part of the first liquid containing C2 and partially condensing the second hydrocarbon bearing vapor residue; combining the cooled second part of the first liquid and partially condensed second hydrocarbon-bearing vapor residue and directing them to a second separator effecting a third residue and a third li
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Ronald D. KEY, William G. Brown
  • Patent number: 7544272
    Abstract: An improved process for separating a hydrocarbon bearing feed gas containing methane and lighter, C2 (ethylene and/or ethane), and heavier components into a fraction containing predominantly methane and lighter components and a fraction containing predominantly C2 and heavier hydrocarbon components including the steps of cooling and partially condensing and delivering the feed stream to a separator to provide a first residue vapor and a first liquid containing C2, directing a first part of the first liquid containing C2 into a heavy-ends fractionation column wherein the liquid is separated into a second hydrocarbon bearing vapor residue and a second liquid product containing C2; further cooling the second part of the first liquid containing C2 and partially condensing the second hydrocarbon bearing vapor residue; combining the cooled second part of the first liquid and partially condensed second hydrocarbon-bearing vapor residue and directing them to a second separator effecting a third residue and a third li
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Linde Process Plants, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Key, William G. Brown
  • Publication number: 20020042551
    Abstract: An improved process for separating a hydrocarbon bearing feed gas containing methane and lighter, C2 (ethylene and/or ethane), and heavier components into a fraction containing predominantly methane and lighter components and a fraction containing predominantly C2 and heavier hydrocarbon components including the steps of cooling and partially condensing and delivering the feed stream to a separator to provide a first residue vapor and a first liquid containing C2, directing a first part of the first liquid containing C2 into a heavy-ends fractionation column wherein the liquid is separated into a second hydrocarbon bearing vapor residue and a second liquid product containing C2; further cooling the second part of the first liquid containing C2 and partially condensing the second hydrocarbon bearing vapor residue; combining the cooled second part of the first liquid and partially condensed second hydrocarbon-bearing vapor residue and directing them to a second separator effecting a third residue and a third li
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Applicant: PRO-QUIP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald D. Key, William G. Brown
  • Patent number: 6311516
    Abstract: An improved process for separating a hydrocarbon bearing feed gas containing methane and lighter, C2 (ethylene and/or ethane), C3 (propylene and/or propane) and heavier components into a fraction containing predominantly C2 and lighter components and a fraction containing predominantly C3 and heavier hydrocarbon components including the steps of cooling and partially condensing and delivering the feed stream to a separator to provide a first residue vapor and a C3 containing liquid, directing a portion of the C3 containing liquid into a heavy-ends fractionation column wherein the liquid is separated into a second hydrocarbon bearing vapor residue, a second C2 containing liquid stream, and a C3 containing product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Inventors: Ronald D. Key, Steven C. Brantingham
  • Patent number: 6278035
    Abstract: An improved process for separating a hydrocarbon bearing feed gas containing methane and lighter, C2 (ethylene and/or ethane), and heavier components into a fraction containing predominantly methane and lighter components and a fraction containing predominantly C2 and heavier hydrocarbon components including the steps of cooling and partially condensing and delivering the feed stream to a separator to provide a first residue vapor and a first liquid containing C2, directing a first part of the first liquid containing C2 into a heavy-ends fractionation column wherein the liquid is separated into a second hydrocarbon bearing vapor residue and a second liquid product containing C2; further cooling the second part of the first liquid containing C2 and partially condensing the second hydrocarbon bearing vapor residue; combining the cooled second part of the first liquid and partially condensed second hydrocarbon-bearing vapor residue and directing them to a second separator effecting a third residue and a third li
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Inventors: Ronald D. Key, William G. Brown
  • Patent number: 4895584
    Abstract: An improved process for separating a hydrocarbon bearing feed gas containing methane and lighter, C.sub.2 (ethylene and ethane) and heavier components into a fraction containing predominantly methane and lighter components and a fraction containing predominantly C.sub.2 and heavier hydrocarbon components including the steps of cooling and partially condensing and delivering the feed stream to a separator to provide a first residue vapor and a C.sub.2 containing liquid, directing a portion of the C.sub.2 containing liquid into a heavy ends fractionation column wherein the liquid is separated into a second hydrocarbon bearing vapor residue and a C.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: Pro-Quip Corporation
    Inventors: Loren L. Buck, Ronald D. Key