Jeffrey C Hopkins

US Patent:

48677736, Sep 19, 1989

Filed:

Oct 6, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/254527

Inventors:

Robert M. Thorogood - Macungie PA
Thomas M. Roden - Macungie PA
Jeffrey A. Hopkins - Whitehall PA

Assignee:

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. - Allentown PA

International Classification:

F25J 300

US Classification:

62 39

Abstract:

A process is set forth for recovery of nitrogen from a feed gas stream, containing nitrogen and oxygen, using a cryogenic separation wherein a recycle stream having an oxygen content above that of the feed gas stream is recycled separately and independent of the feed gas stream to the cryogenic separation zone without any intervening process step that would decrease the oxygen content of the recycle stream.

US Patent:

59341041, Aug 10, 1999

Filed:

Jun 2, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/088993

Inventors:

Zbigniew Tadeusz Fidkowski - Macungie PA
Donn Michael Herron - Fogelsville PA
Jeffrey Alan Hopkins - Whitehall PA

Assignee:

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. - Allentown PA

International Classification:

F25J 304

US Classification:

62643

Abstract:

The present invention is an improvement to a nitrogen generator enabling the process to efficiently coproduce oxygen with low recovery, typically less than 70% and preferably less than 55%, in addition to the primary product, nitrogen. In the nitrogen generator process, air is distilled in a distillation column system having a higher pressure column and a lower pressure column. The feed air is compressed, treated to remove water and carbon dioxide, cooled to near its dew point and fed to the higher pressure column of the distillation column system. The nitrogen product is produced by removing an overhead vapor stream from at least one of the columns of the distillation column system. At least one oxygen-enriched stream is removed from the lower pressure column. The improvement is characterized in that: (a) the oxygen-enriched stream is removed from the lower pressure column at a location that is at or below the feed to the lower pressure column; (b) feeding the removed oxygen-enriched stream to a supplemental distillation column for separation into an oxygen bottoms and a waste overhead; (c) providing boilup to the supplemental distillation column and (d) removing an oxygen stream (vapor or liquid) from the bottom of the supplemental distillation column as an oxygen product.

US Patent:

53556828, Oct 18, 1994

Filed:

Sep 15, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/123026

Inventors:

Rakesh Agrawal - Emmaus PA
Bruce K. Dawson - Bethlehem PA
Jeffrey A. Hopkins - Whitehall PA
Jianguo Xu - Fogelsville PA

Assignee:

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. - Allentown PA

International Classification:

F25J 300

US Classification:

62 41

Abstract:

The process of the present invention is a cryogenic air separation process with three important features: (1) at least a portion of a nitrogen-rich liquid from the column system is boosted in pressure before being vaporized and delivered as a product; (2) at least a portion of the feed air is at least partially condensed in indirect heat exchange with the boosted pressure, nitrogen-rich stream; and (3) a portion of the liquid nitrogen condensed from the vapor nitrogen from the top of the higher pressure column is returned to the higher pressure column as reflux with the remaining portion being removed from the column system.

US Patent:

47493933, Jun 7, 1988

Filed:

Sep 18, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/099354

Inventors:

Howard C. Rowles - Center Valley PA
Jeffrey A. Hopkins - Whitehall PA

Assignee:

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. - Allentown PA

International Classification:

F25J 302

US Classification:

62 24

Abstract:

The process of this invention is a hybrid gas separation process which recovers both heavy hydrocarbon and high purity hydrogen products from a gas stream containing a relatively low concentration of hydrogen. The heavy hydrocarbon product may consist of C. sub. 2 +, C. sub. 3 + and/or C. sub. 4 + hydrocarbons. The light hydrocarbons and other light components, such as N. sub. 2 and CO, are removed as a light fuel gas stream. After convertional removal of any components which might freeze at low temperatures, the feed gas is combined with recycle gas from the hydrogen purifier and fed to the cryogenic unit.