Patents by Inventor Sara A. WILLIAMS

Sara A. WILLIAMS 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: 9126880
    Abstract: A process for separating para-xylene from aromatic compounds is presented. The process introduces throughout a first step-time interval a first mixed xylene stream into a first feed input on a first adsorptive separation unit comprising multiple bed lines. The process further introduces throughout the first step-time interval a second mixed xylene stream into a second feed input on the first adsorptive separation unit. During a first portion of the first step-time interval, the process introduces material from a feed stream used during the first step-time interval into a bed line not used to deliver a stream into, or withdraw a stream from, the first adsorptive separation unit during the first step time interval. During a second portion of the first step-time interval, the process introduces material from a purification zone into the feed stream used during the first step-time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jason T. Corradi, Sara A. Williams, Stanley J. Frey
  • Patent number: 9017558
    Abstract: A process according to various approaches includes flushing an intermediate transfer line at first flow rate during a first portion of the step-time interval. The process also includes flushing the intermediate transfer line at as second different flow rate during a second portion of the step-time interval so that a greater volume of fluid is flushed from the intermediate transfer line during one of the first portion and the second portion of the step-time interval than during the other of the first portion and the second portion of the step-time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jason T. Corradi, Stanley J. Frey, Sara A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20140037513
    Abstract: A process for separating para-xylene from aromatic compounds is presented. The process introduces throughout a first step-time interval a first mixed xylene stream into a first feed input on a first adsorptive separation unit comprising multiple bed lines. The process further introduces throughout the first step-time interval a second mixed xylene stream into a second feed input on the first adsorptive separation unit. During a first portion of the first step-time interval, the process introduces material from a feed stream used during the first step-time interval into a bed line not used to deliver a stream into, or withdraw a stream from, the first adsorptive separation unit during the first step time interval. During a second portion of the first step-time interval, the process introduces material from a purification zone into the feed stream used during the first step-time interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Jason T. Corradi, Sara A. Williams, Stanley J. Frey
  • Publication number: 20140012058
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling the pressure of distillation columns, for example those operating under vacuum pressure and conventionally equipped with a steam ejector system, are described. Representative distillation columns are used in the separation of thermally unstable components, such as the physical solvent sulfolane, having relatively low volatility. Such columns are employed in aromatic hydrocarbon extraction processes for the recovery of purified C6-C8 aromatic hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon feed stream (e.g., obtained from the catalytic reforming of naphtha).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Uop LLC
    Inventors: Bruce R. Beadle, Jason L. Noe, Sara A. Williams
  • Patent number: 8558049
    Abstract: A process for separating para-xylene from aromatic compounds is presented. The process introduces throughout a first step-time interval a first mixed xylene stream into a first feed input on a first adsorptive separation unit comprising multiple bed lines. The process further introduces throughout the first step-time interval a second mixed xylene stream into a second feed input on the first adsorptive separation unit. During a first portion of the first step-time interval, the process introduces material from a feed stream used during the first step-time interval into a bed line not used to deliver a stream into, or withdraw a stream from, the first adsorptive separation unit during the first step time interval. During a second portion of the first step-time interval, the process introduces material from a purification zone into the feed stream used during the first step-time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jason T. Corradi, Sara A. Williams, Stanley J. Frey
  • Patent number: 8524046
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling the pressure of distillation columns, for example those operating under vacuum pressure and conventionally equipped with a steam ejector system, are described. Representative distillation columns are used in the separation of thermally unstable components, such as the physical solvent sulfolane, having relatively low volatility. Such columns are employed in aromatic hydrocarbon extraction processes for the recovery of purified C6-C8 aromatic hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon feed stream (e.g., obtained from the catalytic reforming of naphtha).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bruce R. Beadle, Jason L. Noe, Sara A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20130158331
    Abstract: A process for separating para-xylene from aromatic compounds is presented. The process introduces throughout a first step-time interval a first mixed xylem stream into a first feed input on a first adsorptive separation unit comprising multiple bed lines. The process further introduces throughout the first step-time interval a second mixed xylene stream into a second feed input on the first adsorptive separation unit. During a first portion of the first step-time interval, the process introduces material from a feed stream used during the first step-time interval into a bed line not used to deliver a stream into, or withdraw a stream from, the first adsorptive separation unit during the first step time interval. During a second portion of the first step-time interval, the process introduces material from a purification zone into the feed stream used during the first step-time interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jason T. Corradi, Sara A. Williams, Stanley J. Frey
  • Publication number: 20110240525
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling the pressure of distillation columns, for example those operating under vacuum pressure and conventionally equipped with a steam ejector system, are described. Representative distillation columns are used in the separation of thermally unstable components, such as the physical solvent sulfolane, having relatively low volatility. Such columns are employed in aromatic hydrocarbon extraction processes for the recovery of purified C6-C8 aromatic hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon feed stream (e.g., obtained from the catalytic reforming of naphtha).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bruce R. BEADLE, Jason L. NOE, Sara A. WILLIAMS
  • Patent number: 5715844
    Abstract: The process of the present invention involves extracting components from a tobacco material or other plant material using a solvent having an aqueous character to provide separately an aqueous tobacco extract and a water insoluble tobacco portion. The insoluble tobacco portion is refined and a slurry is produced. The slurry is formed into a predetermined shape, e.g., a formed web. The formed web can be pressed to reduce the moisture content. The tobacco material preferably has a moisture content of at least about 50 percent by weight. The material is contacted with an aqueous mixture of an aerosol precursor material. The ratio of liquid having an aqueous character to aerosol precursor material is typically from about 25 to 75 percent by weight. Immediately after the introduction of the aerosol precursor material, the web is dried at a preselected temperature so that the aerosol precursor material is dispersed evenly throughout the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Harvey James Young, Thomas Wayne Brown, Sara Williams Devine, Thomas Albert Perfetti