Patents by Inventor Steven P. Lankton

Steven P. Lankton 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: 20170307300
    Abstract: Vapor flow-diverting devices that re-direct upwardly flowing vapor, for example, in a downward direction across condenser tubes disposed in the upper or top section of a vapor-liquid contacting apparatus, are described. These devices are particularly beneficial in tubular condensers within distillation columns and may be used in combination with other associated equipment (e.g., a deflector plate and divider plate) as well as in combination with the tube surface enhancements to improve the heat transfer coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Phillip F. Daly, Steven P. Lankton, Raymond E. Tucker
  • Patent number: 9671173
    Abstract: Vapor flow-diverting devices that re-direct upwardly flowing vapor, for example, in a downward direction across condenser tubes disposed in the upper or top section of a vapor-liquid contacting apparatus, are described. These devices are particularly beneficial in tubular condensers within distillation columns and may be used in combination with other associated equipment (e.g., a deflector plate and divider plate) as well as in combination with the tube surface enhancements to improve the heat transfer coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Phillip F. Daly, Steven P. Lankton, Raymond E. Tucker
  • Patent number: 9297580
    Abstract: Improvements in tubes, which increase the heat exchange capacity of tubular heat exchangers using the tubes, are described. These improvements involve the use of one or more external surface enhancements, optionally combined with an internal enhancement and/or differing tube geometries. These improvements apply, for example, to internal condensers, including those in which the tube bundles are oriented vertically, in vapor-liquid contacting apparatuses such as distillation columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Phillip F Daly, Steven P Lankton, Raymond E Tucker
  • Patent number: 9150469
    Abstract: Byproduct formation in aromatic alkylation processes is reduced when different polyalkylated aromatic compounds are first fractionated into separate streams enriched in these respective polyalkylated aromatic compounds, and the separate streams are sent to different transalkylation reaction zones, which may or may not be in the same reactor. The different transalkylation reaction zones allow for greater control of the transalkylation of the respective polyalkylated aromatic compounds, such as diisopropylbenzene (DIPB) and triisopropylbenzene (TIPB) that accompany the alkylation of benzene with propylene in a process for cumene production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Patrick J. Bullen, Steven P. Lankton, Robert J. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20150007964
    Abstract: Vapor flow-diverting devices that re-direct upwardly flowing vapor, for example, in a downward direction across condenser tubes disposed in the upper or top section of a vapor-liquid contacting apparatus, are described. These devices are particularly beneficial in tubular condensers within distillation columns and may be used in combination with other associated equipment (e.g., a deflector plate and divider plate) as well as in combination with the tube surface enhancements to improve the heat transfer coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Phillip F. Daly, Steven P. Lankton, Raymond E. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20150007966
    Abstract: Vapor flow-diverting devices that re-direct upwardly flowing vapor, for example, in a downward direction across condenser tubes disposed in the upper or top section of a vapor-liquid contacting apparatus, are described. These devices are particularly beneficial in tubular condensers within distillation columns and may be used in combination with other associated equipment (e.g., a deflector plate and divider plate) as well as in combination with the tube surface enhancements to improve the heat transfer coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Phillip F. Daly, Steven P. Lankton, Raymond E. Tucker
  • Patent number: 8910702
    Abstract: Vapor flow-diverting devices that re-direct upwardly flowing vapor, for example, in a downward direction across condenser tubes disposed in the upper or top section of a vapor-liquid contacting apparatus, are described. These devices are particularly beneficial in tubular condensers within distillation columns and may be used in combination with other associated equipment (e.g., a deflector plate and divider plate) as well as in combination with the tube surface enhancements to improve the heat transfer coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Phillip F. Daly, Steven P. Lankton, Raymond E. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20140102134
    Abstract: Improvements in tubes, which increase the heat exchange capacity of tubular heat exchangers using the tubes, are described. These improvements involve the use of one or more external surface enhancements, optionally combined with an internal enhancement and/or differing tube geometries. These improvements apply, for example, to internal condensers, including those in which the tube bundles are oriented vertically, in vapor-liquid contacting apparatuses such as distillation columns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Phillip F. Daly, Steven P. Lankton, Raymond E. Tucker
  • Patent number: 8684337
    Abstract: Improvements in tubes, which increase the heat exchange capacity of tubular heat exchangers using the tubes, are described. These improvements involve the use of one or more external surface enhancements, optionally combined with an internal enhancement and/or differing tube geometries. These improvements apply, for example, to internal condensers, including those in which the tube bundles are oriented vertically, in vapor-liquid contacting apparatuses such as distillation columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Phillip F. Daly, Steven P. Lankton, Raymond E. Tucker
  • Patent number: 8404916
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide, for an adsorption separation system for separating normal paraffins from a hydrocarbon feed stream, a process for switching the adsorption separation from a triple split desorbent system to a dual split desorbent system, and vice versa. Switching occurs by separating and/or introducing a second flush material in the adsorption separation system. This switching can occur during normal operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Pieper, Cynthia K. Zimmerman, Stephen W. Sohn, Steven P. Lankton
  • Patent number: 8388740
    Abstract: A process is presented for the removal of dissolved oxygen from hydrocarbon streams. The hydrocarbons streams include kerosene and jet fuels. The process includes mixing the hydrocarbons streams with an oxygen free gas to form a gas-liquid mixture. The mixture is allowed to disengage into a gas stream and a liquid stream, thereby removing dissolved oxygen from the hydrocarbon stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Sohn, Steven P. Lankton, Debarshi Majumder, Brian J. Schiavone
  • Patent number: 8388830
    Abstract: A process is presented for the removal of oxygen from a hydrocarbon stream. The oxygen can react and cause polymerization of the hydrocarbons when the hydrocarbon stream is heated. Controlling the removal of the oxygen from the hydrocarbon stream produces a hydrocarbon stream that is substantially free of oxygen and has a reduced activity for generating undesired compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Sohn, Steven P. Lankton, Joao Jorge da Silva Ferreira Alves
  • Publication number: 20120222447
    Abstract: Improvements in tubes, which increase the heat exchange capacity of tubular heat exchangers using the tubes, are described. These improvements involve the use of one or more external surface enhancements, optionally combined with an internal enhancement and/or differing tube geometries. These improvements apply, for example, to internal condensers, including those in which the tube bundles are oriented vertically, in vapor-liquid contacting apparatuses such as distillation columns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Phillip F. Daly, Steven P. Lankton, Raymond E. Tucker
  • Patent number: 8196909
    Abstract: Improvements in tubes, which increase the heat exchange capacity of tubular heat exchangers using the tubes, are described. These improvements involve the use of one or more external surface enhancements, optionally combined with an internal enhancement and/or differing tube geometries. These improvements apply, for example, to internal condensers, including those in which the tube bundles are oriented vertically, in vapor-liquid contacting apparatuses such as distillation columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Phillip F. Daly, Steven P. Lankton, Raymond E. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20120103194
    Abstract: A process is presented for the removal of dissolved oxygen from hydrocarbon streams. The hydrocarbons streams include kerosene and jet fuels. The process includes mixing the hydrocarbons streams with an oxygen free gas to form a gas-liquid mixture. The mixture is allowed to disengage into a gas stream and a liquid stream, thereby removing dissolved oxygen from the hydrocarbon stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Sohn, Steven P. Lankton, Debarshi Majumder, Brian J. Schiavone
  • Publication number: 20110319698
    Abstract: A process is presented for the removal of oxygen from a hydrocarbon stream. The oxygen can react and cause polymerization of the hydrocarbons when the hydrocarbon stream is heated. Controlling the removal of the oxygen from the hydrocarbon stream produces a hydrocarbon stream that is substantially free of oxygen and has a reduced activity for generating undesired compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Sohn, Steven P. Lankton, Joao Jorge da Silva Ferreira Alves
  • Publication number: 20100292519
    Abstract: Byproduct formation in aromatic alkylation processes is reduced when different polyalkylated aromatic compounds are first fractionated into separate streams enriched in these respective polyalkylated aromatic compounds, and the separate streams are sent to different transalkylation reaction zones, which may or may not be in the same reactor. The different transalkylation reaction zones allow for greater control of the transalkylation of the respective polyalkylated aromatic compounds, such as diisopropylbenzene (DIPB) and triisopropylbenzene (TIPB) that accompany the alkylation of benzene with propylene in a process for cumene production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Patrick J. Bullen, Steven P. Lankton, Robert J. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20100276123
    Abstract: Improvements in tubes, which increase the heat exchange capacity of tubular heat exchangers using the tubes, are described. These improvements involve the use of one or more external surface enhancements, optionally combined with an internal enhancement and/or differing tube geometries. These improvements apply, for example, to internal condensers, including those in which the tube bundles are oriented vertically, in vapor-liquid contacting apparatuses such as distillation columns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Phillip F. DALY, Steven P. Lankton, Raymond E. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20100276122
    Abstract: Vapor flow-diverting devices that re-direct upwardly flowing vapor, for example, in a downward direction across condenser tubes disposed in the upper or top section of a vapor-liquid contacting apparatus, are described. These devices are particularly beneficial in tubular condensers within distillation columns and may be used in combination with other associated equipment (e.g., a deflector plate and divider plate) as well as in combination with the tube surface enhancements to improve the heat transfer coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Phillip F. Daly, Steven P. Lankton, Raymond E. Tucker
  • Patent number: 7713386
    Abstract: The apparatus includes an alkylation unit connected to a first benzene recycle conduit, a feed conduit and an alkylation effluent conduit; a transalkylation unit connected to an polyalkylbenzene recycle conduit, a second benzene recycle conduit, and a transalkylation effluent conduit. A dividing wall distillation column is in fluid communication with the transalkylation effluent conduit, the alkylation effluent conduit, a product stream, a bottoms stream conduit and first and second benzene recycle conduits. A polyalkylbenzene fractionation column is connected to the bottoms stream conduit, the polyalkylbenzene recycle conduit and a heavy component conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Schultz, Steven P. Lankton, Constante P. Tagamolila