John R Ricotta

US Patent:

59504552, Sep 14, 1999

Filed:

Apr 1, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/052969

Inventors:

John Fredric Billingham - Getzville NY
Walter Joseph Olszewski - Amherst NY
John Peter Ricotta - Buffalo NY

Assignee:

Praxair Technology, Inc. - Danbury CT

International Classification:

F25J 100

US Classification:

62643

Abstract:

A cryogenic air separation system wherein separation inefficiencies resulting from feed air flow disturbances due to discontinuous prepurifier operation are reduced or eliminated by inhibiting column liquid drainage during such disturbances using mesh packing having interspacial regions which hold up the liquid during the disturbances using surface tension.

US Patent:

58785973, Mar 9, 1999

Filed:

Apr 14, 1998

Appl. No.:

/059263

Inventors:

Eric Owen Mueller - Buffalo NY
Dante Patrick Bonaquist - Grand Island NY
Cheryl Ann Engels - Grand Island NY
David Ross Parsnick - Lancaster NY
John Peter Ricotta - Buffalo NY

Assignee:

Praxair Technology, Inc. - Danbury CT

International Classification:

F25J 304

US Classification:

62646

Abstract:

A cryogenic rectification system for the separation of feed air wherein at least some of the feed air is liquefied upstream of the separation columns, all of the liquefied feed air is introduced into a higher pressure column, and then a portion of this liquefied feed air is withdrawn from the higher pressure column and in serial fashion introduced into a lower pressure column.

US Patent:

20200290011, Sep 17, 2020

Filed:

Mar 14, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/352905

Inventors:

Paul William Belanger - Clarence Center NY, US
Kirk F. Larson - Amherst NY, US
Mark A. Salay - Tonawanda NY, US
John P. Ricotta - Kenmore NY, US
Jeremy D. Faust - Amherst NY, US
Richard D. Lenz - Tonawanda NY, US

International Classification:

B01J 19/32

Abstract:

A wiper band assembly suitable for use in packed distillation columns used in an air separation unit is provided. The wiper band assembly includes specially designed metal or metal alloy wiper tabs that are longer and thinner than conventional wiper tabs. The longer and thinner wiper tabs preferably have a thickness between about 0.05 mm and 0.25 mm and a length greater than about 50.0 mm. The physical dimensions and characteristics of the wiper tabs are selected to avoid permanent deformation during the installation process and provides continuous engagement with the interior surface of the packed column wall when the wiper tabs are exposed to pressure differentials typically seen in such packed distillation columns.

US Patent:

20200256616, Aug 13, 2020

Filed:

Apr 24, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/857831

Inventors:

Kirk F. Larson - Amherst NY, US
Paul W. Belanger - Clarence Center NY, US
Steven C. Brown - Williamsville NY, US
John P. Ricotta - Kenmore NY, US
Guang X. Chen - Williamsville NY, US
Richard D. Lenz - Tonawanda NY, US

International Classification:

F25J 3/04
B01J 19/30
B01D 3/14
B01J 19/32

Abstract:

An annular divided wall column is provided. The annular divided wall column includes a first annular column wall and a second annular column wall disposed within the first annular column wall and radially spaced therefrom to define an annulus column region as the space between the first annular column wall and the second annular column wall. An interior core column region is also defined by the interior space of the second annular column wall. The present annular divided wall column further includes a plurality of packing elements, disposed within the interior core column region within the annulus column region having different surface area densities and optionally, also have different geometries.

US Patent:

20200011597, Jan 9, 2020

Filed:

Sep 20, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/577205

Inventors:

Steven C. Brown - Amherst NY, US
John P. Ricotta - Comer GA, US

International Classification:

F25J 3/04
B01D 3/22
B01D 3/14
B01D 3/16

Abstract:

A multiple pass, parallel flow downcomer tray for a mass transfer column and method for liquid-vapor contacting in a mass transfer column is provided. The multiple pass, parallel flow downcomer tray has at least four mass transfer decks configured to provide contact between an ascending vapor passing upward through apertures on the tray surface and a traversing liquid on the tray surface. The tray further includes a central downcomers disposed near a central axis of the tray and two or more peripheral downcomers disposed near the edge of the tray and spaced apart from the central axis, wherein at least two of the four mass transfer decks are configured to discharge the traversing liquid into the peripheral downcomers and two of the four mass transfer decks are configured to discharge the traversing liquid into the central downcomer.

US Patent:

20190063827, Feb 28, 2019

Filed:

Jul 23, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/042154

Inventors:

Kirk F. Larson - Amherst NY, US
Paul W. Belanger - Clarence Center NY, US
Steven C. Brown - Williamsville NY, US
John P. Ricotta - Kenmore NY, US
Guang X. Chen - Williamsville NY, US
Richard D. Lenz - Tonawanda NY, US

International Classification:

F25J 3/04

Abstract:

An annular divided wall column for the cryogenic rectification of air or constituents of air is provided. The annular divided wall column includes a first annular column wall and a second annular column wall disposed within the first annular column wall and radially spaced therefrom to define an annulus column region as the space between the first annular column wall and the second annular column wall. An interior core column region is also defined by the interior space of the second annular column wall. The present annular divided wall column further includes a plurality of packing elements, plurality of trays or a heat exchange device disposed within the interior core column region; and a plurality of packing elements disposed within the annulus column region.

US Patent:

20190063828, Feb 28, 2019

Filed:

Jul 23, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/042189

Inventors:

Kirk F. Larson - Amherst NY, US
Paul W. Belanger - Clarence Center NY, US
Steven C. Brown - Williamsville NY, US
John P. Ricotta - Kenmore NY, US
Guang X. Chen - Williamsville NY, US
Richard D. Lenz - Tonawanda NY, US

International Classification:

F25J 3/04

Abstract:

An annular divided wall column for the cryogenic rectification of air or constituents of air is provided. The annular divided wall column includes a first annular column wall and a second annular column wall disposed within the first annular column wall and radially spaced therefrom to define an annulus column region as the space between the first annular column wall and the second annular column wall. An interior core column region is also defined by the interior space of the second annular column wall. The present annular divided wall column further includes a plurality of packing elements, plurality of trays or a heat exchange device disposed within the interior core column region; and a plurality of packing elements disposed within the annulus column region.

US Patent:

20190063829, Feb 28, 2019

Filed:

Jul 23, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/042262

Inventors:

Kevin J. Saboda - Long Bech CA, US
Paul W. Belanger - Clarence Center NY, US
Richard D. Lenz - Tonawanda NY, US
Kirk F. Larson - Amherst NY, US
Steven C. Brown - Williamsville NY, US
John P. Ricotta - Kenmore NY, US
Guang X. Chen - Williamsville NY, US
Jeremy D. Faust - Amherst NY, US

International Classification:

F25J 3/04

Abstract:

An annular divided wall column for the cryogenic rectification of air or constituents of air is provided. The annular divided wall column includes a first annular column wall and a second annular column wall disposed within the first annular column wall to define an annulus column region and an interior core column region. The present annular divided wall column further includes structured packing elements disposed within at least the annulus column region as well as a ring-shaped cantilevered collector; and a ring-shaped distributor disposed in the annulus column region above or below the plurality of structured packing elements. The thermal expansion and contraction of the second annular column wall in a radial direction and in an axial direction is independent of the thermal expansion and contraction of the first annular column wall in the radial and axial directions.