Patents by Inventor Zak Alzein
Zak Alzein 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).
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Patent number: 11022963Abstract: A petrochemical plant or refinery may include equipment such as pumps, compressors, valves, exchangers, columns, adsorbers, or the like. Some petrochemical plants or refineries may include one or more sensors configured to collect operation information of the equipment in the plant or refinery. A faulty condition of a process of the petrochemical plant may be diagnosed based on the operation of the plant equipment. A diagnostic system, which may receive operation information from the one or more sensors, may include a detection platform, an analysis platform, a visualization platform, and/or an alert platform.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Christophe Romatier, Ian G. Horn, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein, David Rondeau
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Patent number: 10839115Abstract: A cleansing system for improving operation of a petrochemical plant or refinery. The petrochemical plant or refinery may include a fractionation column, a condenser, and a pump. Equipment, such as condensers, receivers, reboilers, feed exchangers, and pumps may be divided into subsections. Temperatures, pressures, flows, and other plant operations may be used for optimizing plant performance. A cleansing unit performs an enhanced cleansing process, which may allow early detection and diagnosis of the plant operating conditions based on one or more environmental factors.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Ian G. Horn, Christophe Romatier, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein
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Patent number: 10545487Abstract: A diagnostic system is provided for diagnosing a process of a plant, using a computing device. A detection unit automatically detects a faulty condition of the process based on a plurality of readings of parameters or measurements associated with the faulty condition for alerting an operator. An analysis unit determines an operating status of the plant based on the plurality of readings of parameters or measurements. A display device graphically links the faulty condition with the plurality of readings of parameters or measurements. A visualization unit displays the operating status of the plant with the readings of parameters or measurements using an alert dashboard grouping related data based on a source of the data for meaningfully illustrating relationships of the displayed data. An alert unit automatically generates a warning message based on the plurality of readings of parameters or measurements to inform the operator of the faulty condition.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Ian G. Horn, Zak Alzein, Paul Kowalczyk, Christophe Romatier, David Rondeau
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Patent number: 10534329Abstract: A refinery or petrochemical plant may include a fractionation column and related equipment, such as one or more condensers, receivers, reboilers, feed exchangers, and pumps. The equipment may have boundaries or thresholds of operating parameters based on existing limits and/or operating conditions. Illustrative existing limits may include mechanical pressures, temperature limits, hydraulic pressure limits, and operating lives of various components. There may also be relationships between operational parameters related to particular processes. For example, the boundaries on a naphtha reforming reactor inlet temperature may be dependent on a regenerator capacity and hydrogen-to-hydrocarbon ratio, which in turn may be dependent on a recycle compressor capacity. Operational parameters of a final product may be determined based on actual current or historical operation, and implemented in one or more models to determine adjustments for enhanced operational efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2018Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Ian G. Horn, Christophe Romatier, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein
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Publication number: 20190155259Abstract: A petrochemical plant or refinery may include equipment such as pumps, compressors, valves, exchangers, columns, adsorbers, or the like. Some petrochemical plants or refineries may include one or more sensors configured to collect operation information of the equipment in the plant or refinery. A faulty condition of a process of the petrochemical plant may be diagnosed based on the operation of the plant equipment. A diagnostic system, which may receive operation information from the one or more sensors, may include a detection platform, an analysis platform, a visualization platform, and/or an alert platform.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Christophe Romatier, Ian G. Horn, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein, David Rondeau
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Patent number: 10222787Abstract: A petrochemical plant or refinery may include equipment such as pumps, compressors, valves, exchangers, columns, adsorbers, or the like. Some petrochemical plants or refineries may include one or more sensors configured to collect operation information of the equipment in the plant or refinery. A faulty condition of a process of the petrochemical plant may be diagnosed based on the operation of the plant equipment. A diagnostic system, which may receive operation information from the one or more sensors, may include a detection platform, an analysis platform, a visualization platform, and/or an alert platform.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Christophe Romatier, Ian G. Horn, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein, David Rondeau
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Publication number: 20190041813Abstract: A refinery or petrochemical plant may include a fractionation column and related equipment, such as one or more condensers, receivers, reboilers, feed exchangers, and pumps. The equipment may have boundaries or thresholds of operating parameters based on existing limits and/or operating conditions. Illustrative existing limits may include mechanical pressures, temperature limits, hydraulic pressure limits, and operating lives of various components. There may also be relationships between operational parameters related to particular processes. For example, the boundaries on a naphtha reforming reactor inlet temperature may be dependent on a regenerator capacity and hydrogen-to-hydrocarbon ratio, which in turn may be dependent on a recycle compressor capacity. Operational parameters of a final product may be determined based on actual current or historical operation, and implemented in one or more models to determine adjustments for enhanced operational efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2018Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: Ian G. Horn, Christophe Romatier, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein
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Patent number: 10180680Abstract: A tuning system for improving operation of a plant. A server is coupled to the tuning system for communicating with the plant via a communication network. A computer system has a web-based platform for receiving and sending plant data related to the operation of the plant over the network. A display device interactively displays the plant data. A reconciliation unit is configured for reconciling actual measured data from the plant in comparison with a performance process model result from a simulation engine based on a set of predetermined reference or set points. The reconciliation unit performs a heuristic analysis against the actual measured data and the performance process model result using a set of predetermined threshold values.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Ian G. Horn, Christophe Romatier, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein
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Patent number: 10095200Abstract: A refinery or petrochemical plant may include a fractionation column and related equipment, such as one or more condensers, receivers, reboilers, feed exchangers, and pumps. The equipment may have boundaries or thresholds of operating parameters based on existing limits and/or operating conditions. Illustrative existing limits may include mechanical pressures, temperature limits, hydraulic pressure limits, and operating lives of various components. There may also be relationships between operational parameters related to particular processes. For example, the boundaries on a naphtha reforming reactor inlet temperature may be dependent on a regenerator capacity and hydrogen-to-hydrocarbon ratio, which in turn may be dependent on a recycle compressor capacity. Operational parameters of a final product may be determined based on actual current or historical operation, and implemented in one or more models to determine adjustments for enhanced operational efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2017Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Ian G. Horn, Christophe Romatier, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein
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Publication number: 20180122021Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for toluene methylation in an aromatics complex for producing paraxylene. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to processes and apparatuses wherein a toluene methylation zone is integrated within an aromatics complex for producing paraxylene thus allowing no benzene byproduct to be produced. This may be accomplished by incorporating a toluene methylation process into the aromatics complex and recycling the benzene to the transalkylation unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2017Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Ian G. Horn, Christophe Romatier, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein
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Publication number: 20180121581Abstract: A cleansing system for improving operation of a petrochemical plant or refinery. The petrochemical plant or refinery may include a fractionation column, a condenser, and a pump. Equipment, such as condensers, receivers, reboilers, feed exchangers, and pumps may be divided into subsections. Temperatures, pressures, flows, and other plant operations may be used for optimizing plant performance. A cleansing unit performs an enhanced cleansing process, which may allow early detection and diagnosis of the plant operating conditions based on one or more environmental factors.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2017Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Ian G. Horn, Christophe Romatier, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein
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Publication number: 20180082569Abstract: A diagnostic system is provided for diagnosing a process of a plant, using a computing device. A detection unit automatically detects a faulty condition of the process based on a plurality of readings of parameters or measurements associated with the faulty condition for alerting an operator. An analysis unit determines an operating status of the plant based on the plurality of readings of parameters or measurements. A display device graphically links the faulty condition with the plurality of readings of parameters or measurements. A visualization unit displays the operating status of the plant with the readings of parameters or measurements using an alert dashboard grouping related data based on a source of the data for meaningfully illustrating relationships of the displayed data. An alert unit automatically generates a warning message based on the plurality of readings of parameters or measurements to inform the operator of the faulty condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2017Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: Ian G. Horn, Zak Alzein, Paul Kowalczyk, Christophe Romatier, David Rondeau
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Publication number: 20180081344Abstract: A petrochemical plant or refinery may include equipment such as pumps, compressors, valves, exchangers, columns, adsorbers, or the like. Some petrochemical plants or refineries may include one or more sensors configured to collect operation information of the equipment in the plant or refinery. A faulty condition of a process of the petrochemical plant may be diagnosed based on the operation of the plant equipment. A diagnostic system, which may receive operation information from the one or more sensors, may include a detection platform, an analysis platform, a visualization platform, and/or an alert platform.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2017Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: Christophe Romatier, Ian G. Horn, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein, David Rondeau
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Publication number: 20180046155Abstract: A refinery or petrochemical plant may include a fractionation column and related equipment, such as one or more condensers, receivers, reboilers, feed exchangers, and pumps. The equipment may have boundaries or thresholds of operating parameters based on existing limits and/or operating conditions. Illustrative existing limits may include mechanical pressures, temperature limits, hydraulic pressure limits, and operating lives of various components. There may also be relationships between operational parameters related to particular processes. For example, the boundaries on a naphtha reforming reactor inlet temperature may be dependent on a regenerator capacity and hydrogen-to-hydrocarbon ratio, which in turn may be dependent on a recycle compressor capacity. Operational parameters of a final product may be determined based on actual current or historical operation, and implemented in one or more models to determine adjustments for enhanced operational efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2017Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Ian G. Horn, Christophe Romatier, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein
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Patent number: 9864823Abstract: A cleansing system for improving operation of a petrochemical plant or refinery. The petrochemical plant or refinery may include a fractionation column, a condenser, and a pump. Equipment, such as condensers, receivers, reboilers, feed exchangerss, and pumps may be divided into subsections. Temperatures, pressures, flows, and other plant operations may be used for optimizing plant performance. A cleansing unit performs an enhanced cleansing process, which may allow early detection and diagnosis of the plant operating conditions based on one or more environmental factors.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2017Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: Ian G. Horn, Christophe Romatier, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein
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Publication number: 20170323038Abstract: A cleansing system for improving operation of a petrochemical plant or refinery. The petrochemical plant or refinery may include a fractionation column, a condenser, and a pump. Equipment, such as condensers, receivers, reboilers, feed exchangerss, and pumps may be divided into subsections. Temperatures, pressures, flows, and other plant operations may be used for optimizing plant performance. A cleansing unit performs an enhanced cleansing process, which may allow early detection and diagnosis of the plant operating conditions based on one or more environmental factors.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2017Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventors: Ian G. Horn, Christophe Romatier, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein
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Publication number: 20170315543Abstract: A chemical plant or refinery may include process equipment, such as, for example, pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, fired heaters, control valves, fractionation columns, and reactors. Performance monitoring equipment may monitor the process equipment for one or more factors, such as temperature, pressure, feed flow, product flow, density, and specific composition. Monitoring to detect and diagnose operational errors or inefficiencies may allow for optimizing product output from a refinery or petrochemical facility.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Inventors: Ian G. Horn, Christophe Romatier, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein
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Publication number: 20160292188Abstract: A cleansing system for improving operation of a plant. A server is coupled to the cleansing system via a network. A computer system has a web-based platform for receiving and sending plant data related to the plant operation over the network. A display device interactively displays the plant data. A data cleansing unit performs an enhanced data cleansing process for allowing an early detection and diagnosis of the plant operation based on at least one environmental factor, and calculates and evaluates an offset amount representing a difference between feed and product information for detecting an error of equipment during the plant operation based on the plant data. A feed estimation unit estimates a feed composition associated with the equipment based on the calculated offset amount, and evaluates the calculated offset amount based on the at least one environmental factor for detecting the error.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Ian G. Horn, Christophe Romatier, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein
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Publication number: 20160291584Abstract: A tuning system for improving operation of a plant. A server is coupled to the tuning system for communicating with the plant via a communication network. A computer system has a web-based platform for receiving and sending plant data related to the operation of the plant over the network. A display device interactively displays the plant data. A reconciliation unit is configured for reconciling actual measured data from the plant in comparison with a performance process model result from a simulation engine based on a set of predetermined reference or set points. The reconciliation unit performs a heuristic analysis against the actual measured data and the performance process model result using a set of predetermined threshold values.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Ian G. Horn, Christophe Romatier, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein
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Publication number: 20160292325Abstract: A cleansing system for improving operation of a plant. A server is coupled to the cleansing system for communicating with the plant via a communication network. A computer system has a web-based platform for receiving and sending plant data related to the operation of the plant over the network. A display device interactively displays the plant data. A data cleansing unit is configured for performing an enhanced data cleansing process for allowing an early detection and diagnosis of the operation of the plant based on at least one environmental factor. The data cleansing unit calculates and evaluates an offset amount representing a difference between a measurement and a simulation for detecting an error of measurement during the operation of the plant based on the plant data.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Ian G. Horn, Christophe Romatier, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein