Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090056759 | Method and system to remove coke from a coker drum - The present invention is a method to remove coke from a coker drum. The invention includes the steps of impinging fluid from a fluid jet on the inside surface of the coker and then determining the vibration signal of the coker drum. The signal is then transformed to determine the amplitude versus frequency by a Fourier Transform of the vibration signal. The amplitude change of the vibration signal as it goes through a maximum, determines when the coke layer has been cut. The fluid jet is lowered into a new layer of coke. | 03-05-2009 |
20090090613 | Crude oil pre-heat train with improved heat transfer and method of improving heat transfer - Targeted application of anti-fouling mechanisms in a heat exchange system produces higher rates of energy recovery. The anti-fouling mechanisms with high mitigation rates can be deployed at only the hottest portions of a pre-heat train that experience the highest rates of fouling and heat loss. In application, bundles of corrosion resistant smoothed tubes are deployed in the late pre-heat train to significantly reduce the formation of harder deposits. Vibration can be used as an adjunct approach in conjunction with the corrosion resistant, smooth tubes, or deployed alone on existing bundles. The use of high performing, more durable exchangers in select locations justifies the increased cost of these components. | 04-09-2009 |
20090282910 | Method for measuring reactor bed level from active acoustic measurement and analysis - The present invention is a non-intrusive method to determine the fluid level in a vessel. In a preferred embodiment, the vessel is a delayed coker drum in a refinery. Waves are generated in the vessel from an outside source. For wall vibration generated in the frequency range of 1-20,000 Hz, accelerometers on the exterior wall of the vessel measures the frequency of the vibration modes of the vessel. The fluid level can be related to the frequency of the vibration mode. | 11-19-2009 |
20090314080 | Method for measuring reactor bed level from active acoustic measurement and analysis - The present invention is a non-intrusive method to determine the fluid level in a vessel. In a preferred embodiment, the vessel is a delayed coker drum in a refinery. Waves are generated in the vessel from an outside source. For wall vibration generated in the frequency range of 1-20,000 Hz, accelerometers on the exterior wall of the vessel measures the attenuation of the vibration modes of the vessel. The fluid level can related to the attenuation of the vibration mode. For wall vibration generated in the ultrasonic range, the wave traveling in the vessel wall are guided waves. The guided wave will leak energy into the fluid inside the vessel and will attenuate depending on the fluid level. Ultrasonic receivers on the outside of the vessel measure the attenuation. The fluid level can be related attenuation of the ultrasonic waves. | 12-24-2009 |
20100193159 | VIBRATION ACTUATION SYSTEM WITH INDEPENDENT CONTROL OF FREQUENCY AND AMPLITUDE - Vibrational energy generated with a pneumatic vibrator is controlled to independently adjust the amplitude and the frequency. A mechanical resonator is used to adjust the frequency. The controlled vibrational energy can be applied to equipment, such as a heat exchanger to mitigate fouling. | 08-05-2010 |
20100198638 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE PROPERTIES OF HYDROCARBON RESERVOIRS FROM GEOPHYSICAL DATA - A hydrocarbon exploration method is disclosed for developing a model of at least one effective material property of a subsurface reservoir as a function of the composition and structure of the reservoir rock. In one embodiment, the method comprises: obtaining a 3D image ( | 08-05-2010 |
20100243535 | Reducing Foulant Carry-Over or Build Up In A Paraffinic Froth Treatment Process - A use of a foulant collector in a vessel or conduit in a paraffinic froth treatment (PFT) process. The foulant comprises asphaltenes. The foulant collectors are purposed to reduce build-up in the vessel or conduit and/or to reduce downstream foulant carry-over in the process. The surface of the foulant collectors may have an average water contact angle of less than 90 degrees. Additionally, together with such foulant collectors, a fluorocarbon polymer may be used as a surface of a vessel or conduit in the PFT process, for reducing fouling. | 09-30-2010 |
20110066390 | Systems and Methods For Determining Geologic Properties Using Acoustic Analysis - Systems and methods which determine geologic properties using acoustic analysis are shown. Acoustic signals are collected during processing (e.g., crushing, shearing, striking, compressing, etc.) of geologic media, such as rock samples, for determining geologic properties according to embodiments. The acoustic signals collected may include frequency information, amplitude information, time information, etc. which may be utilized in determining geologic properties, such as geologic media properties (e.g., mineralogy, porosity, permeability, sealing capacity, fracability, compressive strength, compressibility, Poisson's Ratio, Youngs Modulus, Bulk Modulus, Shear Modulus), geologic structure properties (e.g., lithology, seal quality, reservoir quality), geologic acoustic properties (e.g., acoustic logging effectiveness, acoustic response, natural or harmonic frequencies, etc.). Embodiments may be used to provide determination of geologic properties from a variety of geologic media samples, such as cuttings, core samples, etc. | 03-17-2011 |
20120122230 | METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING HIGH FOULING HYDROCARBON AND FOR MITIGATING FOULING OF PROCESS EQUIPMENT - Methods for determining the fouling propensity of a hydrocarbon stream and for reducing fouling are provided. In one method, the fouling propensity of a hydrocarbon stream is determined by obtaining a parameter value indicative of the fouling propensity at no less than two different temperatures, and an activation energy of fouling by the hydrocarbon stream is derived therefrom. In another method, the thus obtained parameter value at no less than two different temperatures and the activation energy are used to select proper heating fluids and operating temperature and to determine whether to add an antifoulant to the hydrocarbon stream to reduce fouling at a given temperature. | 05-17-2012 |
20120130026 | MITIGATION OF ELASTOMER REACTOR FOULING USING MECHANICAL VIBRATION - Method of reducing fouling in an elastomer polymerization process that includes providing a reactor capable of housing an industrial-scale elastomer polymerization reaction, and applying a mechanical force to the reactor so as to create a vibration in at least one wall of the reactor, in which fouling is reduced in the reactor. In one embodiment the reaction is an industrial scale butyl polymerization reaction and the reactor is a butyl polymerization reactor. | 05-24-2012 |
20130110485 | Determining Interwell Communication | 05-02-2013 |
20130204922 | Asset Control and Management System - An embodiment provides a method for managing a hydrocarbon asset. The method includes creating an interactive community of agents, wherein each agent comprises code and functional data structures configured to direct a processor to access resource on a network. At least one of the agents is configured to be a workflow agent, wherein the work-flow agent is configured to pursue a plan to accomplish a goal. The work-flow agent is provided with sensors to determine environmental conditions. The workflow agent is provided with the ability to communicate with other intelligent agents. The workflow agent is configured to select the plan based, at least in part, on information obtained from the sensors. | 08-08-2013 |
20140107964 | SENSOR NETWORK DESIGN AND INVERSE MODELING FOR REACTOR CONDITION MONITORING - Methods and systems for detecting a condition within a component of a process plant, including obtaining a first and second set of parameter measurements from a first and second plurality of sensor locations along a first dimension of an outside surface of a component, processing the first and second set of parameter measurements to develop a continuous surface condition profile of the component using a predetermined model. The predetermined model includes a forward solution to an equation describing the condition and is linearly separable in at least two dimensions corresponding to the first and second dimension. The model includes an inverse solution to the equation to provide a set of coefficients corresponding to a set of basis functions of the forward solution based on the first and second set of parameter measurements. | 04-17-2014 |
20140170574 | FLAME INSTABILITY DETECTOR - Systems and methods for detecting an instability associated with at least one burner are disclosed. A detector measures a signal associated with a characteristic of the at least one burner. The signal is converted to a time-varying signal spectrum using at least one processor. An instability is detected based at least in part on the time-varying signal spectrum. The instability can be detected based on an instability indicator calculated based at least in part on the time-varying signal spectrum. A threshold can be associated with the instability indicator such that an instability is detected when the instability indicator is greater than the threshold. | 06-19-2014 |
20140172368 | FLAME INSTABILITY DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION IN INDUSTRIAL FURNACES - Systems and methods for multi-channel detection of an instability in a furnace comprising a plurality of detectors are disclosed. Each of a plurality of detectors provides a first measurement related to the plurality of burners when the furnace is operating in a stable condition. A stable signal component representation is determined based on the first measurement from each of the plurality of detectors. Each of a plurality of detectors provides a second measurement related to the plurality of burners when the furnace is operating in an unknown state. An unstable signal component representation is determined based on the stable signal component representation and a second measurement from each of the plurality of detectors. An instability is detected based on the unstable signal component representation and an instability threshold. | 06-19-2014 |
20140172370 | FLAME INSTABILITY DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF UNSTABLE BURNERS IN INDUSTRIAL FURNACES - Systems and method for identifying an unstable subset of burners from among a plurality of burners in a furnace are also disclosed. At least one measurement is obtained from each of the plurality of burners. An instability associated with the furnace is detected. An unstable signal matrix associated with the instability is computed based on the at least one measurement from each of the plurality of burners. An unstable subset of burners is identified based at least in part on the unstable signal matrix. | 06-19-2014 |
20140283609 | Systems and Methods For Determining Geologic Properties Using Acoustic Analysis - Systems and methods which determine geologic properties using acoustic analysis are shown. Acoustic signals are collected during processing (e.g., crushing, shearing, striking, compressing, etc.) of geologic media, such as rock samples, for determining geologic properties according to embodiments. The acoustic signals collected may include frequency information, amplitude information, time information, etc. which may be utilized in determining geologic properties, such as geologic media properties (e.g., mineralogy, porosity, permeability, sealing capacity, fracability, compressive strength, compressibility, Poisson's Ratio, Youngs Modulus, Bulk Modulus, Shear Modulus), geologic structure properties (e.g., lithology, seal quality, reservoir quality), geologic acoustic properties (e.g., acoustic logging effectiveness, acoustic response, natural or harmonic frequencies, etc.). Embodiments may be used to provide determination of geologic properties from a variety of geologic media samples, such as cuttings, core samples, etc. | 09-25-2014 |
20140290357 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING LEVELS OR INTERFACES OF MEDIA IN A VESSEL - Systems and methods for identifying the level of media in a vessel with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element disposed in the vessel. An excitation source is configured to propagate at least one heat pulse through the heating element along at least a portion of the sensing cable to affect an exchange of thermal energy between the heating element and the one or more media exposed to the sensing cable. An optical signal interrogator is adapted to receive a signal from each of a plurality of sensor locations and measure a temperature profile corresponding to the heat pulse at the sensor locations. A control unit is configured to identify a level of each of media by determining properties of the media exposed to the sensing cable at each of the sensor locations based on the temperature profile corresponding thereto. | 10-02-2014 |
20140294040 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING DEPOSITS IN A VESSEL - Systems and methods for detecting a deposit in a vessel with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element disposed in the vessel. An excitation source is configured to propagate at least one heat pulse through the heating element along at least a portion of the sensing cable to affect an exchange of thermal energy between the heating element and media exposed to the sensing cable. An optical signal interrogator is adapted to receive a signal from a plurality of sensor locations and configured to measure, a temperature profile corresponding to the heat pulse at the sensor locations. A control unit is configured to detect a deposit by determining one or more properties of the one or more media exposed to the sensing cable at each of the plurality of sensor locations based on the temperature profile corresponding thereto. | 10-02-2014 |
20140294041 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING FLOW DISTRIBUTION THROUGH A COMPONENT - Systems and methods for determining the flow distribution of a fluid through a component with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element disposed in the component. An excitation source is configured to propagate at least one heat pulse through the heating element along at least a portion of the sensing cable to affect an exchange of thermal energy between the heating element and the fluid exposed to the sensing cable. An optical signal is adapted to receive a signal from each of a plurality of sensor locations and measure a temperature profile corresponding to the heat pulse at the sensor locations. A control unit is configured to determine a flow of the fluid by determining one or more properties of the fluid exposed to the sensing cable at each of the plurality of sensor locations based on the temperature profile corresponding thereto. The present invention can be effective in accurate and high spatial resolution of flow distributions through vessel components, such as a particulate bed (such as a reactor catalyst bed), a wash bed including packing material, an absorbent bed, a structured bed, a filter, or the like. | 10-02-2014 |