Neil Yeoman
Engineering at Alexis Rd, North Merrick, NY

5480595, Jan 2, 1996

Apr 28, 1994

8/234188

Neil Yeoman - Merrick NY
Verne E. Griffith - Wichita KS
Chang-Li Hsieh - Carlisle MA

Koch Engineering Chemical, Inc. - Wichita KS

B01F 304

2611141

A vapor-liquid contact tray and downcomer assembly is provided with louvres which serve to impart a horizontal directional flow to the liquid exiting the downcomer and/or the vapor passing through the tray. The downcomer includes a bottom plate which closes the outlet region of the downcomer and includes a plurality of louvres presenting generally vertical openings in the direction of liquid flow across the underlying tray. The downcomer receiving area in the underlying tray can include similar louvres. The louvres redirect the vertical momentum of the liquid and vapor streams to a generally horizontal momentum as the liquid exits the downcomer and as the vapor rises through the tray. In other embodiments, the louvres in either the bottom plate or the downcomer receiving area of the tray are replaced with apertures which do not block the vertical momentum of the stream passing through the apertures. An enhanced vapor-liquid active area on the tray results from the use of the louvres.

5645770, Jul 8, 1997

Apr 18, 1996

8/634656

Kenneth J. McNulty - Atkinson NH
Neil Yeoman - Merrick NY

Koch Engineering Company, Inc. - Wichita KS

B01F 304

261 97

An integral collector-distributor device including chimney hats and adapted for use in a gas-liquid exchange column to promote radial mixing of a liquid on a distributor tray surface. The collector-distributor device includes a tray having a tray surface adapted to extend generally horizontally across the cross-sectional area of the column to collect downwardly flowing liquid. A plurality of gas risers on the tray permit the upward movement of an upwardly flowing gas through the tray, and a plurality of liquid distributors permit the generally uniform distribution of the collected downwardly flowing liquid to a lower section of the column. A plurality of chimney hats, each having an upper surface and a one and other end, extend over and above at least a portion of the gas risers, are angularly inclined from the horizontal, or are horizontal, collect downwardly flowing liquid on the upper surface and permit the collected liquid on the upper surface to flow away from the point of liquid collection to another section of the tray to promote improved liquid mixing across the tray surface and to reduce liquid concentration gradients on the tray surface. The chimney hats are of a selected width, wider that the width of the gas risers, to provide for minimal space between each adjacent chimney hat. The wide chimney hats, particularly where horizontal, may also be of different selected vertical heights to permit the upward flow of gas.

5788894, Aug 4, 1998

Mar 26, 1997

8/824681

Neil Yeoman - Merrick NY
Chang-Li Hsieh - Carlisle MA
Vui Van Le - Malden MA
O. Jeffrey Berven - Wichita KS

Koch Engineering Company, Inc. - Wichita KS

B01F 304

2611143

A vapor-liquid contact tray is provided which includes a plurality of openings and associated fixed roof structures which redirect vapor flowing vertically upward through the openings to horizontal flow paths. Each fixed roof structure includes a generally planar deflector which overlies and is spaced above the associated opening in the tray. The deflector is joined to the tray by end plates connected at one end to the tray and at the other end to the deflector. In one embodiment the deflector is generally parallel to the tray and divides the vertically flowing vapor stream into roughly equal oppositely flowing vapor streams. In other embodiments, the deflector is inclined in relation to the tray to preferentially direct the vapor stream in one direction or to split the vapor stream into equal portions which are directed in the same general direction. The openings and deflectors are arranged to more uniformly push the vapor and hence the liquid into and through those areas of the tray where liquid stagnation and gradients are a problem. The fixed roof structures in the row of apertures closest to liquid receiving area at the inlet end of the tray are oriented so that the end plates shield the openings against entry of liquid leaving the receiving area.

5593548, Jan 14, 1997

Nov 7, 1994

8/335216

Neil Yeoman - Merrick NY
Ronald Pinaire - Wichita KS
Michael A. Ulowetz - Wichita KS
Timothy P. Nace - Wichita KS
David A. Furse - Wichita KS

Koch Engineering Company, Inc. - Wichita KS

B01D 300

203 29

A column having a region for reaction with distillation of fluid streams is provided with structures which include distillation trays that allow for the accumulation of liquid from a liquid stream and the passage of a vapor stream through the liquid for interaction therewith. The structures include catalyst beds which extend downwardly from the trays and are housed within at least partially perforate containers. A portion of the liquid on the tray is catalytically reacted as it is driven through the catalyst bed by the liquid head created by the accumulated liquid. Another portion of the liquid may be directed through a bypass which also extends downwardly from the tray and allows the liquid to bypass the catalyst bed so that higher volumetric flow rates can be achieved. A still further portion of the liquid can be directed to a zone between adjacent catalyst beds or within a catalyst bed for developing a liquid head to force the liquid laterally through the catalyst bed.

5755569, May 26, 1998

Feb 6, 1997

8/796422

Lawrence D. Berg - Tulsa OK
Christopher R. Harmon - Owasso OK
Richard L. Shilling - Cat Springs TX
Neil Yeoman - Merrick NY

Koch Engineering Company, Inc. - Wichita KS

F27D 1700

432181

A regenerative thermal oxidizer is provided with a combustion chamber and a plurality of heat transfer columns. Heat transfer media within the columns include solid surfaces which define vapor flow passages. To permit higher volumetric vapor flow rates nearer the combustion chamber, the passages are larger in cross-sectional area and the solid surfaces have less total surface area in those portions of the heat transfer media nearer the combustion chamber than in those portions away from the combustion chamber. The larger cross-sectional area of the passages and reduced area of the solid surfaces decreases the resistance to vapor flow and allows the passages to accommodate the higher volumetric flow rate of the vapor stream passing through the hotter portions of the heat transfer media. The relatively smaller cross-sectional area of the passages and increased area of the solid surfaces in that portion of the heat transfer media located away from the combustion chamber allows for more efficient heat transfer between the media and the vapor stream in those cooler portions of the heat transfer media.

5454913, Oct 3, 1995

Oct 16, 1992

7/962254

Neil Yeoman - Merrick NY
Ronald Pinaire - Wichita KS
Michael A. Ulowetz - Wichita KS
Timothy P. Nace - Wichita KS
David A. Furse - Wichita KS

Koch Engineering Company, Inc. - Wichita KS

B01D 300

203 29

A reaction with distillation structure utilizes a plurality of distillation trays and catalyst containers which provide a catalytic reaction zone and a primary flow path for descending liquid streams. Catalytic reaction of the liquid streams within the catalyst reaction zone formed in the containers occurs concurrently with fractionation of the reaction products on the distillation trays. The containers may extend continuously through the reaction zone of the distillation reactor to allow for dump loading and removal of the solid particulate catalyst. Alternatively, the catalyst containers may extend from one tray toward a lower tray without passing through the latter. Structure may also be provided within the containers to influence system hydraulics through the accumulation of liquid within the catalyst bed. This is done by providing an open area interiorly of the catalyst bed into which liquid on the distillation tray is driven. This open area communicates with a liquid accumulation zone wherein liquid accumulates until a sufficient liquid head drives the liquid generally horizontally outward, through the catalyst bed.

5914011, Jun 22, 1999

May 15, 1995

8/440820

Neil Yeoman - Merrick NY
Ronald Pinaire - Wichita KS
Michael A. Ulowetz - Wichita KS
O. Jeffrey Berven - Wichita KS
Timothy P. Nace - Wichita KS
David A. Furse - Wichita KS

Koch-Glitsch, Inc. - Wichita KS

B01D 300, B01J 804

202158

A reaction with distillation column is provided with a plurality of discrete catalytic reaction containers. The containers contain a plurality of solid catalyst particles which form a catalytic reaction zone. The containers also include a liquid collection tray cover which defines a liquid accumulation zone immediately overlying the catalytic reaction zone. Overflow weirs are provided on the tray cover to allow for overflow of liquid on the tray cover. A member may be provided within the containers to create an open area within the catalytic reaction zone to facilitate entry of the liquid into the catalytic reaction zone. The containers can be individually positioned within the reactor to suit particular process requirements.

5948211, Sep 7, 1999

Oct 19, 1995

8/545559

Neil Yeoman - Merrick NY
Ronald Pinaire - Wichita KS
Michael A. Ulowetz - Vincennes IN

Koch-Glitsch, Inc. - Wichita KS

B01D 332

202158

A downcomer having a screened or otherwise liquid permeable wall is provided for use in a mass transfer or distillation column. The liquid permeable wall provides another avenue for liquid to be removed from the downcomer to increase the liquid handling capacity of the downcomer. When wetted, the liquid permeable wall provides a barrier against vapor entry into the downcomer through the wall.

5447609, Sep 5, 1995

Oct 16, 1992

7/962498

Neil Yeoman - Merrick NY
Ronald Pinaire - Wichita KS
Michael A. Ulowetz - Wichita KS
O. Jeffrey Berven - Wichita KS
Timothy P. Nace - Wichita KS
David A. Furse - Wichita KS

Koch Engineering Company, Inc. - Wichita KS

B01D 300

203099

A reaction with distillation column is provided with a plurality of discrete catalytic reaction containers. The containers contain a plurality of solid catalyst particles which form a catalytic reaction zone. The containers also comprise a liquid collection tray cover which defines a liquid accumulation zone immediately overlying the catalytic reaction zone. Overflow weirs are provided on the tray cover to allow for overflow of liquid on the tray cover. A member may be provided within the containers to create an open area within the catalytic reaction zone to facilitate entry of the liquid into the catalytic reaction zone. The containers can be individually positioned within the reactor to suit particular process requirements.

5139544, Aug 18, 1992

Oct 22, 1990

7/601909

Bernardo Y. Lucero - Hudson OH
Neil Yeoman - Merrick NY

Koch Engineering Company, Inc. - Wichita KS

B01F 304

552572

A gas-liquid column and method having improved mist elimination particularly for the treatment of corrosive fluids which comprises directly introducing a liquid from a liquid distributor resting on a top structured packing layer into the upright flow passage of the structured packing to provide the initial gas-liquid contact within the top structured packing layer, thereby reducing mist and spray and particularly useful where corrosive fluids are used.