Patents by Inventor Sylvie Thomas-Droz

Sylvie Thomas-Droz 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: 10017434
    Abstract: Gas separation processes are provided for separating dehydrogenation reaction products from a raw gas stream to recover hydrocarbons, specifically olefins, such as propylene and iso-butene, as well as unreacted feedstock. The processes employ a sequence of partial condensation steps, interspersed with membrane separation steps to raise the hydrocarbon dewpoint of the uncondensed gas, thereby avoiding the use of low-temperature or cryogenic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas P Wynn, Alvin Ng, Douglas Gottschlich, Paul Su, Meijuan Zhou, Sylvie Thomas-Droz
  • Publication number: 20170008822
    Abstract: Gas separation processes are provided for separating dehydrogenation reaction products from a raw gas stream to recover hydrocarbons, specifically olefins, such as propylene and iso-butene, as well as unreacted feedstock. The processes employ a sequence of partial condensation steps, interspersed with membrane separation steps to raise the hydrocarbon dewpoint of the uncondensed gas, thereby avoiding the use of low-temperature or cryogenic conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Wynn, Alvin Ng, Douglas Gottschlich, Paul Su, Meijuan Zhou, Sylvie Thomas-Droz
  • Patent number: 9517981
    Abstract: Gas separation processes are provided for separating dehydrogenation reaction products from a raw gas stream to recover hydrocarbons, specifically olefins, such as propylene and iso-butene, as well as unreacted feedstock. The processes employ a sequence of partial condensation steps, interspersed with membrane separation steps to raise the hydrocarbon dewpoint of the uncondensed gas, thereby avoiding the use of low-temperature or cryogenic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Wynn, Alvin Ng, Douglas Gottschlich, Paul Su, Meijuan Zhou, Sylvie Thomas-Droz
  • Patent number: 9073808
    Abstract: A process for recovering unreacted olefin in a polyolefin manufacturing process comprising the treatment of a purge bin vent gas. The process involves cooling and condensing the vent gas (purge stream), which contains at least an olefin, a paraffin, and nitrogen, to produce a liquid condensate and an uncondensed (residual) gas stream. Both streams are then passed through membrane separation steps. The membrane separation of the uncondensed gas stream results in a residue stream containing mostly nitrogen and/or paraffin and a permeate stream enriched in either C2+ hydrocarbons or olefin, depending on the type of separation. The permeate from this step is recirculated within the process prior to the condensation step. The membrane separation of the condensate results in a residue stream containing paraffin and a permeate stream enriched in olefin, which may be recycled to the polymerization reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Su, Nicholas P Wynn, Marc Jacobs, Xiaotong Wei, Sylvie Thomas-Droz, Xuezhen Wang
  • Publication number: 20150158795
    Abstract: Gas separation processes are provided for separating dehydrogenation reaction products from a raw gas stream to recover hydrocarbons, specifically olefins, such as propylene and iso-butene, as well as unreacted feedstock. The processes employ a sequence of partial condensation steps, interspersed with membrane separation steps to raise the hydrocarbon dewpoint of the uncondensed gas, thereby avoiding the use of low-temperature or cryogenic conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Wynn, Alvin Ng, Douglas Gottschlich, Paul Su, Meijuan Zhou, Sylvie Thomas-Droz
  • Patent number: 8623926
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a methanol production process that includes at least two membrane separation steps. Using the process of the invention, the efficiency of methanol production from syngas is increased by reducing the compression requirements of the process and/or improving the methanol product yield. As an additional advantage, the first membrane separation step generates a hydrogen-rich stream which can be sent for other uses. An additional benefit is that the process of the invention may debottleneck existing methanol plants if more syngas or carbon dioxide is available, allowing for feed of imported carbon dioxide into the synthesis loop. This is a way of sequestering carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas P Wynn, Sylvie Thomas-Droz, Meijuan Zhou, Zhenjie He, Haiqing Lin
  • Publication number: 20130005840
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a methanol production process that includes at least two membrane separation steps. Using the process of the invention, the efficiency of methanol production from syngas is increased by reducing the compression requirements of the process and/or improving the methanol product yield. As an additional advantage, the first membrane separation step generates a hydrogen-rich stream which can be sent for other uses. An additional benefit is that the process of the invention may debottleneck existing methanol plants if more syngas or carbon dioxide is available, allowing for feed of imported carbon dioxide into the synthesis loop. This is a way of sequestering carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Nicolas P. Wynn, Sylvie Thomas-Droz, Meijuan Zhou, Zhenjie He, Haiqing Lin