Patents by Inventor Zhanping Xu

Zhanping Xu 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).

  • HEAT EXCHANGERS FOR LOW TEMPERATURE CARBON DIOXIDE SEPARATION FROM NATURAL GAS
    Publication number: 20180106535
    Abstract: A reboiler in fluid communication with a fractionator column in an offshore low temperature process removing carbon dioxide from natural gas has a vessel volume. A carbon steel tubing bundle is disposed within the vessel volume. Each tube in the bundle has an outer surface with a porous granular metal layer deposited thereon. The granular metal layer comprises a pore size distribution which promotes bubble nucleation during vaporization of a nearly pure liquid carbon dioxide stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Lubo Zhou, Thomas J. Godry, Zhanping Xu
  • Selectivity of ionic liquid alkylation
    Patent number: 9815049
    Abstract: A method of controlling a hydrocarbon conversion process is described. The method involves introducing a reactant into a reaction zone containing an ionic liquid catalyst. The reaction zone has at least two zones. The mass transfer resistance in the second zone is greater than the mass transfer resistance in the first zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David S. Lafyatis, Sean G. Mueller, Zhanping Xu, Douglas A. Nafis, Robert Mehlberg, Kurt Detrick, Avram M. Buchbinder
  • Time of flight camera
    Patent number: 9702976
    Abstract: A CW-TOF camera that uses a piecewise constant or linear discretized indicator function of first and second modulation frequencies of light that the camera transmits to illuminate a scene and a round trip time tR for light from and back to the camera for features in the scene to disambiguate wrapped phase shifts that the camera acquires for the features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Zhanping Xu, Travis Perry
  • REACTOR FOR USE WITH AN IONIC LIQUID CATALYST
    Publication number: 20170189884
    Abstract: A combined heat exchanger and reactor for use with an ionic liquid catalyst reaction. The reactor includes an outer shell configured to receive a cooling fluid which may remove heat from reactions occurring within hollow members disposed inside of the outer shell. The hollow members preferably include one or more static mixers for mixing fluids and dispersing ionic liquid into droplets. A separation zone may be disposed beneath the hollow members which will separate the effluent and provide a hydrocarbon stream and an ionic liquid stream. Multiple combined heat exchanger and reactor may be arranged in series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventor: Zhanping Xu
  • Ionic liquid reactor with heat exchanger
    Patent number: 9669377
    Abstract: An ionic liquid reactor unit and a process for controlling heat generation from an ionic liquid reactor unit. The ionic liquid reactor unit may include an external heat exchanger. The effluent from the reactor is separated in a separation zone allowing the hydrocarbon phase to transfer heat to a cooling fluid. The heat exchanger may be a tube-in-shell, a spiral plate heat exchanger, a hair pin heat exchanger. The heat exchanger accommodates the separation of the ionic liquid from the hydrocarbon phase, and may allow for the ion liquid to be drained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Zhanping Xu, James Hagen, Sanford A. Victor, Phillip F. Daly, Kurt Detrick
  • IMAGING SENSOR WITH SHARED PIXEL READOUT CIRCUITRY
    Publication number: 20170146657
    Abstract: Imaging sensors that detect infrared and visible light are provided herein. In one example, an imaging sensor is presented that includes a semiconductor substrate comprising an array of pixel structures for concurrently sensing infrared light and visible light. Each of the pixel structures include a first pixel element configured to detect the infrared light and a second pixel element configured to detect the visible light. Each of the pixel structures further include a shared output circuit that couples the first pixel element and the second pixel element such that a first output state presents a first signal corresponding to detected infrared light of the first pixel element and a second output state presents a second signal corresponding to detected visible light of the second pixel element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventor: Zhanping Xu
  • SELECTIVITY OF IONIC LIQUID ALKYLATION
    Publication number: 20170144141
    Abstract: A method of controlling a hydrocarbon conversion process is described. The method involves introducing a reactant into a reaction zone containing an ionic liquid catalyst. The reaction zone has at least two zones. The mass transfer resistance in the second zone is greater than the mass transfer resistance in the first zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: David S. Lafyatis, Sean G. Mueller, Zhanping Xu, Douglas A. Nafis, Robert Mehlberg, Kurt Detrick, Avram M. Buchbinder
  • Fluid distribution device and method for multibed reactors
    Patent number: 9566559
    Abstract: A fluid distribution device is presented for the collection and distribution of fluid between reactor beds. According to various aspects, the device includes a collection tray, a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the collection tray, a rough distribution tray in fluid communication with the mixing chamber, and a fine distribution tray in fluid communication with the rough distribution tray. The rough distribution tray includes a vapor chimney.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Zhanping Xu, Pengfei Chen
  • SEPARATION COLUMN HAVING AN INTERNAL HEAT EXCHANGER
    Publication number: 20160367908
    Abstract: A separation column and a process for using same to separate a hydrocarbon or chemical mixture into at least a vapor stream and a liquid stream. The separation column includes an internal heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has a plurality of fins which allow for heat and mass transfer by including apertures. The fins may include louvers or perforations associated with the apertures to increase radial flow and permit fluids to flow through the fins. The heat exchanger may be used to supply heat to the column, remove heat from the column, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventor: Zhanping Xu
  • Burst-mode time-of-flight imaging
    Patent number: 9497440
    Abstract: An imager includes an emitter, an array of pixel elements, and driver logic. The emitter releases bursts of light pulses with pauses between bursts. Each element of the array has a finger gate biasable to attract charge to the surface, a reading node to collect the charge, and a transfer gate to admit such charge to the reading node and to deter such charge from being absorbed into the finger gate. The driver logic biases the finger gates with the modulated light pulses such that the finger gates of adjacent first and second elements cycle with unequal phase into and out of a charge-attracting state. To reduce the effects of ambient light on the imager, the driver logic is configured to bias the transfer gates so that the charge is admitted to the reading node only during the bursts and is prevented from reaching the reading node during the pauses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Cyrus Bamji, Tamer Elkhatib, Swati Mehta, Zhanping Xu
  • ACTIVE COALESCER TO REMOVE FINE LIQUID DROPLETS
    Publication number: 20160317960
    Abstract: Separation processes and separation apparatus are described. The process includes introducing a stream of liquid containing dispersed droplets of another liquid into a separation apparatus comprising a vessel having at least one mesh screen covering substantially all of the cross-section of the vessel. The mesh screen is periodically slightly moved so that the wires of the mesh screen contact the dispersed droplets and some of the dispersed droplets coalesce on the wires. The coalesced droplets rise or fall from the wires through the stream of the second liquid. The coalesced droplets are collected in a portion of the vessel. A stream of the second liquid having a reduced level of dispersed droplets is recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Pengfei Chen, Zhanping Xu, Xiaoming Wen
  • Interference reduction for TOF systems
    Patent number: 9442186
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to time-of-flight (TOF) systems, and methods for use therewith, that substantially reduce interference that the TOF system may cause to at least one other system that is configured to wirelessly receive and respond to IR light signals. Some such embodiments involve emitting IR light having a low frequency (LF) power envelope that is shaped to substantially reduce frequency content within at least one frequency range known to be used by at least one other system that may be in close proximity to the TOF system. Such embodiments can also involve detecting at least a portion of the emitted RF modulated IR light that has reflected off one or more objects. A TOF system can produce depth images in dependence on results of the detecting, as well as update an application in dependence on the depth images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Payne, Cyrus Bamji, Dawson Yee, Barry Thompson, Zhanping Xu, Brock Roland, Larry Prather, Travis Perry, Mike Fenton, Sunil Acharya, Algird Gudaitis, Matthew Morris
  • IONIC LIQUID REACTOR WITH HEAT EXCHANGER
    Publication number: 20160167012
    Abstract: An ionic liquid reactor unit and a process for controlling heat generation from an ionic liquid reactor unit. The ionic liquid reactor unit may include an external heat exchanger. The effluent from the reactor is separated in a separation zone allowing the hydrocarbon phase to transfer heat to a cooling fluid. The heat exchanger may be a tube-in-shell, a spiral plate heat exchanger, a hair pin heat exchanger. The heat exchanger accommodates the separation of the ionic liquid from the hydrocarbon phase, and may allow for the ion liquid to be drained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Zhanping Xu, James Hagen, Sanford A. Victor, Phillip F. Daly, Kurt Detrick
  • IONIC LIQUID REACTOR WITH HEAT EXCHANGER
    Publication number: 20160168046
    Abstract: An ionic liquid reactor and a process for controlling heat generation from an ionic liquid reactor unit. The ionic liquid reactor includes an internal heat exchanger Impellers break the ionic liquid into small droplets to ensure reactions and mix the fluids to ensure reactions and enhance heat exchanger. Baffles may be used to direct the flow of the fluids within the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Zhanping Xu
  • Method for recovering entrained ionic liquid from an ionic liquid immiscible phase
    Patent number: 9328296
    Abstract: A method for recovering entrained ionic liquid from an immiscible phase containing droplets of ionic liquid is described. The method includes contacting the immiscible phase containing the droplets of ionic liquid with a scrubbing ionic liquid phase in a scrubbing zone. The immiscible phase containing the droplets of ionic liquid has a first level of droplets of ionic liquid. At least a portion of the droplets of ionic liquid are transferred to the scrubbing ionic liquid phase to form a recovered ionic liquid phase comprising the scrubbing ionic liquid and the transferred portion of the droplets of ionic liquid and a second immiscible phase having a second level of droplets of ionic liquid lower than the first level. The second immiscible phase is separated from the recovered ionic liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Avram M. Buchbinder, Susie C. Martins, Sean Glennon Thomas Mueller, Kurt Detrick, Zhanping Xu
  • TIME OF FLIGHT CAMERA
    Publication number: 20160116594
    Abstract: A CW-TOF camera that uses a piecewise constant or linear discretized indicator function of first and second modulation frequencies of light that the camera transmits to illuminate a scene and a round trip time tR for light from and back to the camera for features in the scene to disambiguate wrapped phase shifts that the camera acquires for the features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Zhanping Xu, Travis Perry
  • Fluid mixing and distribution device and method for multibed reactors
    Patent number: 9321022
    Abstract: A device and method are presented for the collection, mixing and distribution of fluid between reactor beds. According to various aspects, the device includes a collection tray, a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the collection tray, a rough distribution tray in fluid communication with the mixing chamber, and a distribution tray in fluid communication with the rough distribution tray. The mixing chamber includes at least one chimney positioned about mixing chamber central outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Zhanping Xu
  • Fluid mixing and distribution device and method for multibed reactors
    Patent number: 9321023
    Abstract: A device is presented for the collection, mixing and distribution of fluid between reactor catalyst beds. According to various aspects, the device includes a collection tray, a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the collection tray, a rough distribution tray in fluid communication with the mixing chamber, and a fine distribution tray in fluid communication with the rough distribution tray. The mixing chamber includes at least one vapor chimney positioned about the mixing chamber central outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Zhanping Xu
  • Fluid distribution device and method for multibed reactors
    Patent number: 9295959
    Abstract: A fluid distribution device and method is presented for the collection and distribution of fluid between reactor beds. According to various aspects, the method includes a collection tray, a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the collection tray, a rough distribution tray in fluid communication with the mixing chamber, and a fine distribution tray in fluid communication with the rough distribution tray. The rough distribution tray includes a vapor chimney.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Zhanping Xu, Pengfei Chen
  • METHOD FOR RECOVERING ENTRAINED IONIC LIQUID FROM AN IONIC LIQUID IMMISCIBLE PHASE
    Publication number: 20150274614
    Abstract: A method for recovering entrained ionic liquid from an immiscible phase containing droplets of ionic liquid is described. The method includes contacting the immiscible phase containing the droplets of ionic liquid with a scrubbing ionic liquid phase in a scrubbing zone. The immiscible phase containing the droplets of ionic liquid has a first level of droplets of ionic liquid. At least a portion of the droplets of ionic liquid are transferred to the scrubbing ionic liquid phase to form a recovered ionic liquid phase comprising the scrubbing ionic liquid and the transferred portion of the droplets of ionic liquid and a second immiscible phase having a second level of droplets of ionic liquid lower than the first level. The second immiscible phase is separated from the recovered ionic liquid phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Avram M. Buchbinder, Susie C. Martins, Sean Glennon Thomas Mueller, Kurt Detrick, Zhanping Xu