Patents by Inventor William J. Lechnick

William J. Lechnick 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: 20150367276
    Abstract: The invention provides a process and system for regenerating a solvent used to remove carbon dioxide from feed gases, such as natural gas and synthesis gas. The invention employs one or more hydraulic turbochargers to transfer energy from a higher energy solvent stream to a lower energy solvent stream. This energy is converted to electricity for use in powering parts of the process and system. This provides for a significant reduction in operating expenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Lubo Zhou, William J. Lechnick, Michael R. Van de Cotte, Nagaraju Palla
  • Publication number: 20140171716
    Abstract: A process includes contacting a feed stream of light hydrocarbons and an acid gas with a first solvent stream to produce a first methane-enriched overhead gas stream and a first stage solvent effluent bottoms stream including absorbed methane and absorbed acid gas. The process further includes flash separating the first stage solvent effluent bottoms stream to produce a vapor fraction including the acid gas and methane a gas-depleted liquid fraction of the first stage solvent effluent bottoms stream. The process further includes contacting the first methane-enriched overhead gas stream with a second solvent stream to produce a second methane-enriched overhead gas stream and a second stage solvent effluent bottoms stream including absorbed methane CO2. Still further, the process includes regenerating the second stage solvent effluent bottoms stream to produce a vapor fraction comprising the acid gas and a regenerated liquid fraction of the second stage solvent effluent bottoms stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanislav Milidovich, Ernest James Boehm, William J. Lechnick
  • Patent number: 8211213
    Abstract: The invention involves a process for maintaining a low level of carbon monoxide in a carbon dioxide product stream and also for keeping the carbon monoxide out of the fully shifted synthesis gas. The overall process is a process for treating both fully shifted and partially shifted or unshifted synthesis gas. The carbon monoxide is separately removed by a carbon monoxide stripping column and returned to the partially shifted or unshifted synthesis gas which can then undergo a shift reaction to convert the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: William J. Lechnick, Leonid Bresler, Nagaraju Palla
  • Patent number: 7973209
    Abstract: Processing schemes and arrangements for the catalytic cracking of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock and obtaining light olefins substantially free of carbon dioxide via amine treatment and employing fractionation processing are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gavin P. Towler, John P. Brady, William J. Lechnick, Michael A. Schultz
  • Patent number: 7967896
    Abstract: The invention provides a process and system for regenerating a solvent used to remove carbon dioxide from feed gases, such as natural gas and synthesis gas. The invention employs one or more hydraulic turbochargers to transfer energy from a higher energy solvent stream to a lower energy solvent stream. This provides for a significant reduction in operating expenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: William J. Lechnick, Nagaraju Palla, Paul A. Sechrist, Lamar A. Davis, Michael R. Van de Cotte
  • Publication number: 20110142738
    Abstract: The invention covers a method for treating spent regeneration gas from one or more molecular sieve treaters, first in an amine solvent unit and then in a caustic unit. The amine solvent unit removes hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide and the caustic unit removes mercaptans. Optionally, there are additional treatments before the treated gas has met specifications for burning as a fuel or used for other purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Keyur Y. Pandya, Ernest J. Boehm, JR., William J. Lechnick, Jessy E. Trucko, Douglas E. Kuper, Lamar A. Davis, David L. Holbrook, Luk G.J. Verhulst, Jonathan A. Tertel
  • Publication number: 20110132193
    Abstract: The invention involves a process for maintaining a low level of carbon monoxide in a carbon dioxide product stream and also for keeping the carbon monoxide out of the fully shifted synthesis gas. The overall process is a process for treating both fully shifted and partially shifted or unshifted synthesis gas. The carbon monoxide is separately removed by a carbon monoxide stripping column and returned to the partially shifted or unshifted synthesis gas which can then undergo a shift reaction to convert the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: William J. Lechnick, Leonid Bresler, Nagaraju Palla
  • Patent number: 7935178
    Abstract: The invention provides a process and system for regenerating a solvent used to remove carbon dioxide from feed gases, such as natural gas and synthesis gas. The process and system employ a biphasic turbine to recover energy following pressure let down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: William J. Lechnick, Paul A. Sechrist, Douglas E. Kuper, Lamar A. Davis
  • Publication number: 20110072969
    Abstract: A process for maintaining a low carbon monoxide content in a carbon dioxide product that is made in a synthesis gas purification process is disclosed. More particularly, the invention involves an improved process in which a portion of a loaded solvent is sent through a carbon dioxide absorber instead of to a series of carbon dioxide flash drums.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: William J. Lechnick, Leonid Bresler, Lamar A. Davis
  • Patent number: 7811361
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for increasing an efficiency of an acid gas removal zone. The process can include sending a sour gas stream including at least one gas to a first absorber providing an overhead stream absorbing the at least one gas; withdrawing a side-stream from the first absorber and passing the side-stream through a holding tank, a side-stream fluid transfer device, and a side-stream chiller before returning the side-stream to the absorber; and passing the first absorber overhead stream to a pump-around circuit for a second absorber. Usually, the pump-around circuit may include a flash drum, a pump-around fluid transfer device and a pump-around chiller before providing a slipstream to the first absorber and another portion to the second absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: William J. Lechnick, Lamar A. Davis, David Alden Bahr, Carla F. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7789945
    Abstract: A process for maintaining a low carbon monoxide content in a carbon dioxide product that is made in a synthesis gas purification process is disclosed. More particularly, the invention involves an improved process in which a portion of a loaded solvent is sent through a carbon dioxide absorber instead of to a series of carbon dioxide flash drums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: William J. Lechnick, Leonid Bresler, Lamar A. Davis
  • Patent number: 7785399
    Abstract: Systems and processes utilize one or more methods of providing overhead waste process heat to increase the feed temperature of the hot solvent stripping regeneration loop in an acid gas removal process. A heated rich solvent stream can be the primary feed for the hot solvent stripping regeneration loop, and one or more slip streams can be heated and then combined with the heated rich solvent stream to form a combined rich solvent stream prior to further processing in downstream units to remove acid gas from the solvent. A first slip stream can be heated in a stripper gas heat exchanger by heat exchange with a stripped gas stream. A second slip stream can be heated in a regenerator exchanger by heat exchange with an acid gas stream. A third slip stream can be heated in a recycle gas exchanger by heat exchange with a compressed recycle gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard Huang, Lamar A. Davis, William J. Lechnick, Xin Zhu
  • Publication number: 20100132554
    Abstract: Systems and processes utilize one or more methods of providing overhead waste process heat to increase the feed temperature of the hot solvent stripping regeneration loop in an acid gas removal process. A heated rich solvent stream can be the primary feed for the hot solvent stripping regeneration loop, and one or more slip streams can be heated and then combined with the heated rich solvent stream to form a combined rich solvent stream prior to further processing in downstream units to remove acid gas from the solvent. A first slip stream can be heated in a stripper gas heat exchanger by heat exchange with a stripped gas stream. A second slip stream can be heated in a regenerator exchanger by heat exchange with an acid gas stream. A third slip stream can be heated in a recycle gas exchanger by heat exchange with a compressed recycle gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Richard Huang, Lamar A. Davis, William J. Lechnick, Xin Zhu
  • Publication number: 20100132555
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for increasing an efficiency of an acid gas removal zone. The process can include sending a sour gas stream including at least one gas to a first absorber providing an overhead stream absorbing the at least one gas; withdrawing a side-stream from the first absorber and passing the side-stream through a holding tank, a side-stream fluid transfer device, and a side-stream chiller before returning the side-stream to the absorber; and passing the first absorber overhead stream to a pump-around circuit for a second absorber. Usually, the pump-around circuit may include a flash drum, a pump-around fluid transfer device and a pump-around chiller before providing a slipstream to the first absorber and another portion to the second absorber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: William J. Lechnick, Lamar A. Davis, David Alden Bahr, Clara F. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20100132553
    Abstract: A process for maintaining a low carbon monoxide content in a carbon dioxide product that is made in a synthesis gas purification process is disclosed. More particularly, the invention involves an improved process in which a portion of a loaded solvent is sent through a carbon dioxide absorber instead of to a series of carbon dioxide flash drums.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: William J. Lechnick, Leonid Bresler, Lamar A. Davis
  • Publication number: 20100132552
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for increasing an efficiency of an acid gas removal zone. The process may include passing an absorber-solvent cooling stream through a heat exchanger. Usually, the heat exchanger warms the absorber-solvent cooling stream with a lean solvent stream before removing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide remaining in the absorber-solvent cooling stream and returning a partially-lean solvent stream to an absorber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: William J. Lechnick, Edward P. Zbacnik
  • Patent number: 7687048
    Abstract: Processing schemes and arrangements for the amine treatment of high olefin content (e.g., ethylene-rich) carbon dioxide-containing streams such as for the effective separation and removal of carbon dioxide therefrom are provided. Corresponding or associated processing schemes and arrangements for the catalytic cracking of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock and obtaining light olefins substantially free of carbon dioxide via absorption-based product recovery are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Schultz, Gavin P. Towler, John P. Brady, William J. Lechnick
  • Publication number: 20090241778
    Abstract: The invention provides a process and system for regenerating a solvent used to remove carbon dioxide from feed gases, such as natural gas and synthesis gas. The process and system employs an eductor or ejector as an alternative to the prior art's vacuum compressor that is placed on the vapor stream from a vapor flash. This process and system saves substantial capital and operating costs over the prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: William J. Lechnick, Lamar A. Davis, Michael R. Van de Cotte, John P. Brady
  • Publication number: 20090241779
    Abstract: The invention provides a process and system for regenerating a solvent used to remove carbon dioxide from feed gases, such as natural gas and synthesis gas. The process and system employ a biphasic turbine to recover energy following pressure let down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: William J. Lechnick, Paul A. Sechrist, Douglas E. Kuper, Lamar A. Davis
  • Publication number: 20090241773
    Abstract: The invention provides a process and system for regenerating a solvent used to remove carbon dioxide from feed gases, such as natural gas and synthesis gas. The invention employs one or more hydraulic turbochargers to transfer energy from a higher energy solvent stream to a lower energy solvent stream. This provides for a significant reduction in operating expenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: William J. Lechnick, Nagaraju Palla, Paul A. Sechrist, Lamar A. Davis, Michael R. Van de Cotte