Patrick A Houghton

US Patent:

6487877, Dec 3, 2002

Filed:

May 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/136999

Inventors:

John Louis Griffiths - Pittsburgh PA
Adam Adrian Brostow - Emmaus PA
Declan Patrick OConnor - Chessington, GB
Swaninathan Sunder - Allentown PA
Patrick Alan Houghton - Emmaus PA

Assignee:

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. - Allentown PA

International Classification:

F25J 300

US Classification:

62643, 62637, 62908, 62913

Abstract:

A process for producing a nitrogen-enriched vapor product from a supply of a nitrogen-rich liquid uses a purifying device and a distillation column having a distillation zone. The process includes the steps of: feeding at least a portion of the supply of the nitrogen-rich liquid to the distillation zone at a first location; feeding a stream of a gas containing nitrogen and at least one contaminant to the purifying device, wherein the gas is cooled by a cryogenic liquid whereby at least a portion of the at least one contaminant condenses, solidifies, or dissolves; eventually feeding at least a portion of the cool gas from the purifying device to the distillation zone at a second location below the first location; withdrawing a stream of the nitrogen-enriched vapor product from the distillation zone; and withdrawing a stream of an oxygen-enriched liquid from the distillation zone.

US Patent:

6637240, Oct 28, 2003

Filed:

Nov 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/290561

Inventors:

John Louis Griffiths - Pittsburgh PA
Adam Adrian Brostow - Emmaus PA
Declan Patrick OConnor - Chessington, GB
Swaminathan Sunder - Allentown PA
Patrick Alan Houghton - Emmaus PA

Assignee:

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. - Allentown PA

International Classification:

F25J 300

US Classification:

62643, 62637, 62908, 62913

Abstract:

A process for producing a nitrogen-enriched vapor product from a supply of a nitrogen-rich liquid uses a purifying device and a distillation column having a distillation zone. The process includes the steps of: feeding at least a portion of the supply of the nitrogen-rich liquid to the distillation zone at a first location; feeding a stream of a gas containing nitrogen and at least one contaminant to the purifying device, wherein the gas is cooled by a cryogenic liquid whereby at least a portion of the at least one contaminant condenses, solidifies, or dissolves; eventually feeding at least a portion of the cool gas from the purifying device to the distillation zone at a second location below the first location; withdrawing a stream of the nitrogen-enriched vapor product from the distillation zone; and withdrawing a stream of an oxygen-enriched liquid from the distillation zone.

US Patent:

6834515, Dec 28, 2004

Filed:

Sep 13, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/243149

Inventors:

Swaminathan Sunder - Allentown PA
Patrick Alan Houghton - Emmaus PA
Vladimir Vasilievich Kuznetsov - Novosibirsk, RU

Assignee:

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. - Allentown PA

International Classification:

F25J 300

US Classification:

62643, 62903, 165133

Abstract:

In a plate-fin exchanger having a plurality of fins disposed between neighboring parting sheets, at least a portion of at least one of the fins has a textured surface. The textured surface is in the form of grooves or fluting formed on or applied to the surface of the fin material used in the plate-fin exchanger.

US Patent:

7007932, Mar 7, 2006

Filed:

Jul 25, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/627044

Inventors:

Phillip Andrew Armstrong - Orefield PA, US
Patrick Alan Houghton - Emmaus PA, US
James William Meehan - Dallas PA, US
George Amir Meski - Allentown PA, US

Assignee:

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. - Allentown PA

International Classification:

B01F 3/04

US Classification:

261 97, 261110

Abstract:

An apparatus for collecting and redistributing a flow of a liquid descending in an exchange column containing a layer of structured packing and having a longitudinal axis, a cross-sectional area, and an inner wall having an inner perimeter, includes: a wall-flow collector located above the layer of structured packing, the wall-flow collector having an outer perimeter adjacent the inner perimeter of the inner wall and being adapted to collect at least a portion of the liquid descending on or near the inner wall of the exchange column; a transmission means for transmitting at least a portion of the collected liquid collected by the wall-flow collector toward the longitudinal axis a substantial distance across the cross-sectional area of the exchange column; and a dispensing means for dispensing at least a portion of the portion of the collected liquid from the transmission means to the layer of structured packing.

US Patent:

20130153037, Jun 20, 2013

Filed:

Dec 16, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/328009

Inventors:

Swaminathan Sunder - Allentown PA, US
Donn Michael Herron - Fogelsville PA, US
Patrick Alan Houghton - Emmaus PA, US

Assignee:

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. - Allentown PA

International Classification:

B01F 3/04
B23P 11/00

US Classification:

137 1, 261 74, 29428

Abstract:

An apparatus for distributing a flow of a liquid descending in an inner space of a packed column includes: a collector to collect the flow of the liquid; a mixer below and vertically spaced apart from the collector to receive and mix the liquid collected; a first conduit to receive and transmit at least part of the liquid from a first sector of the collector to a first zone of the mixer; and a second conduit to receive and transmit at least part of the liquid from a second sector of the collector to a second zone of the mixer. A geometric center of the first sector of the collector is positioned circumferentially away from a geometric center of the first zone of the mixer and/or a geometric center of the collector's second sector is positioned circumferentially away from a geometric center of the mixer's second zone.

US Patent:

20130167584, Jul 4, 2013

Filed:

Sep 29, 2010

Appl. No.:

13/823147

Inventors:

Swaminathan Sunder - Allentown PA, US
Vladimir Yliy Gershtein - Allentown PA, US
George Amir Meski - Allentown PA, US
Patrick Alan Houghton - Emmaus PA, US

Assignee:

AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC. - Allentown PA

International Classification:

F28F 3/08
F25J 5/00
B21D 53/04
F28F 13/18
B21D 53/02

US Classification:

62643, 165133, 165166, 29890039

Abstract:

A plate fin heat exchanger comprises a folded fin sheet comprising fins wherein the fin sheet comprises a plurality of perforations, such plurality of perforations are positioned on the fin sheet in parallel rows when such fin sheet is in an unfolded state, such parallel rows of perforations on the fin sheet comprise a first spacing between the parallel rows of perforations (S), a second spacing between sequential perforations within the parallel row of perforations (S), a third spacing (or offset) between the perforations in adjacent parallel rows of perforations (S), and a perforation diameter (D), wherein the ratio of the first spacing between the parallel rows of perforations to the perforation diameter (S/D) is in the range of 0.75 to 2.0, and wherein the angle between the fins and the parallel rows of perforations is less than or equal to five degrees (≦5).

US Patent:

20130233016, Sep 12, 2013

Filed:

Mar 6, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/412723

Inventors:

Jonathan Wilson - Sale, GB
Swaminathan Sunder - Allentown PA, US
Patrick Alan Houghton - Emmaus PA, US

Assignee:

AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC. - Allentown PA

International Classification:

F25J 3/00
F28C 3/06
B21D 53/02

US Classification:

62643, 2989003, 261158

Abstract:

An apparatus for a heat transfer or mass transfer process, comprising a column or divided column having at least one pair of converging walls or wall portions and, within at least a region of the column or divided column bounded by at least one pair of converging walls or wall portions, a structured packing having a corrugation angle of at least about 50; a method of heat and/or mass transfer applicable to the apparatus; and a method of installation of structured packing into a relevant apparatus.

US Patent:

20140013946, Jan 16, 2014

Filed:

Mar 31, 2011

Appl. No.:

14/007869

Inventors:

Vladimir Yliy Gershtein - Allentown PA, US
Patrick Alan Houghton - Emmaus PA, US
Kenneth William Kovak - Macungie PA, US
Andrew Weaver - Surrey, GB
Jonathan Wilson - Chesire, GB

Assignee:

AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC. - Allentown PA

International Classification:

B01D 53/18

US Classification:

95211, 261 97

Abstract:

A liquid distributor and method for distribution of a liquid in a mass transfer column, the distributor includes at least one riser comprising at least one riser wall, the at least one riser wall extends from a first surface of the distributor in a first direction of the mass transfer column; at least one shield, the at least one shield extends from a second surface of the distributor opposite the first surface and extending in a second direction opposite the first direction; and at least one liquid distribution aperture extending from the first surface of the distributor through the second surface of the distributor, the at least one shield has a length extending in the second direction such that a gap is created between the at least one shield and a packing, the height of the gap between the shield and the packing is about 10 mm to 75 mm.