Patents by Inventor Benjamin Patrick Gracey

Benjamin Patrick Gracey has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9199845
    Abstract: Process for producing alkene(s) from an oxygenate feedstock in a reactor by dehydration in the presence of a supported heteropolyacid catalyst. The pore volume of the supported heteropolyacid catalyst satisfies the following formula: PV>0.6?0.3[HPAloading/Surface Area of Dried Catalyst]where; PV is the Pore Volume of the dried supported heteropolyacid catalyst (measured in ml/g catalyst); HPA loading is the amount of heteropolyacid present in the dried supported heteropolyacid catalyst (measure in micro moles/g); and Surface Area of Dried Catalyst is the surface area of the dried supported heteropolyacid catalyst (measured in m2/g).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: BP CHEMICALS LIMITED
    Inventors: Benjamin Patrick Gracey, Gordon John Haining, Stephen Roy Partington
  • Patent number: 8921433
    Abstract: Process for the conversion of carbon oxide(s) and hydrogen containing feedstocks into alcohols in the presence of a particulate catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Peter Simpson Bell, Leslie William Bolton, Benjamin Patrick Gracey, Michael Keith Lee
  • Patent number: 8907140
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for the production of ethanol from a carbonaceous feedstock; wherein the carbonaceous feedstock is first converted to synthesis gas which is then converted to ethanoic acid, which is then esterified and which is then hydrogenated to produce ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: BP P.L.C.
    Inventors: Berian John Daniel, Jon Michael Stewart Deeley, Benjamin Patrick Gracey, Cong Rong Li
  • Patent number: 8822748
    Abstract: Process for the production of ethene by the vapor phased chemical dehydration of a feed containing ethanol, water and ethoxyethane in a reactor at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a bed of catalyst comprising a supported heteropolytungstic acid, by maintaining or configuring the reactor so that it operates in a regime which satisfies the following parameters: 0.05<(Pwater/Pethanol+Pethoxyethane))/(8×10?5×GHSV+0.75)??(1) and ?20<Treaction?Tdew point?40×Ptotal feed+40×Pinerts<+80??(2) wherein Pwater, Pethanol and Pethoxyethane, GHSV, Treaction, Tdew point, Ptotal feed and Pinerts are as defined in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: BP P.L.C.
    Inventors: Benjamin Patrick Gracey, Stephen Roy Partington
  • Patent number: 8704009
    Abstract: Process for the preparation of alcohol(s) from alkyl ester(s) by bringing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and at least one alkyl ester into contact with a hydrogenation catalyst including copper and manganese in a reaction zone to produce at least one alcohol. The molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide in the reaction zone is in the range of from 100:1 to 1:10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: BP P.L.C.
    Inventors: Berian John Daniel, Jon Michael Stewart Deeley, Benjamin Patrick Gracey, John Glenn Sunley
  • Patent number: 8686212
    Abstract: Process for removing water from an ethylene stream containing water, by introducing an ethylene stream containing water into, and circulating the ethylene stream through, a separation vessel. A liquid diethyl ether stream is introduced into, and circulated through, the separation vessel so that the liquid diethyl ether stream and the ethylene stream containing water are brought into contact, and an ethylene stream having a reduced water content is recovered from the separation vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: BP P.L.C.
    Inventors: Leslie William Bolton, Benjamin Patrick Gracey, Michael Keith Lee
  • Patent number: 8552240
    Abstract: Process for producing propylene from a propanol feedstock A2 by reacting the propanol feedstock A2 in a vapor phase dehydration reactor wherein the propanol is convened at a temperature comprised between 160 and 270° C. and at a pressure of above 0.1 MPa but less than 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Craig Bailey, Leslie William Bolton, Benjamin Patrick Gracey, Michael Keith Lee, Stephen Roy Partington
  • Patent number: 8502001
    Abstract: Process for the conversion of ethanoic acid into ethanol by (a) introducing ethanoic acid and H2 into a primary hydrogenation unit in the presence of a precious metal-based catalyst to produce ethanol and ethyl ethanoate and (b) introducing ethyl ethanoate, from step (a), together with H2 into a secondary hydrogenation unit in the presence of a copper-based catalyst to produce ethanol. Ethanol from step (b) is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: BP P.L.C.
    Inventors: Berian John Daniel, Benjamin Patrick Gracey
  • Patent number: 8440873
    Abstract: Process for producing mono-olefins(s) from a feedstock A containing ethanol and propanol, wherein ethanol and propanol are dehydrated into the corresponding same carbon number olefins. The process is performed by 1. reacting feedstock A in a vapor phase dehydration reactor wherein the ethanol and propanol alcohols are converted into a product stream B comprising ethylene, propylene, ethers, water and unconverted alcohols, 2. cooling the product stream B, 3. disengaging the cooled product stream B in a separation unit to give a first stream C containing ethylene, propylene and ethers, and a second product stream D containing water, ethers and unconverted alcohols, 4. feeding the product stream D to a dewatering column wherein the water stream F is separated from the ethers and unconverted alcohols stream E, 5. recycling the stream E into the dehydration reactor of step 1, and 6. cooling the product stream C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Craig Bailey, Leslie William Bolton, Benjamin Patrick Gracey, Michael Keith Lee, Stephen Roy Partington
  • Patent number: 8426664
    Abstract: Process for producing ethylene from an ethanol feedstock A by (1) reacting the ethanol feedstock A in a vapor phase reactor wherein the ethanol is converted at a temperature between 160 and 270° C. and at a pressure of above 0.1 MPa but less than 4.5 MPa, into a product stream B containing ethylene, diethyl ethers, water and unconverted ethanol, (2) cooling the product stream B, (3) disengaging the cooled product stream B in a separation unit to give a first stream C containing ethylene and diethyl ethers, and a second product stream D containing water, diethyl ethers and unconverted ethanol, (4) feeding the product stream D to a dewatering unit wherein the water stream F is separated from the diethyl ethers and unconverted ethanol stream E, (5) recycling the stream E into the dehydration reactor of step 1, (6) cooling the product stream C, and (7) feeding the cooled product stream C to a purification unit wherein the diethyl ethers stream G is separated from the ethylene stream H.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Craig Bailey, Leslie William Bolton, Benjamin Patrick Gracey, Michael Keith Lee, Stephen Roy Partington
  • Patent number: 8378156
    Abstract: Process for homologation of alcohol(s), by 1 introducing alcohol(s) into an etherification unit to produce alkyl ether(s), 2, introducing at least a part of the alkyl ether(s) from step 1, together with CO and optionally H2, into a carbonylation unit, in the presence of an acidic homogeneous or heterogeneous carbonylation catalyst, to produce alkyl ester(s), and 3, introducing at least a part of the alkyl ester(s) from step 2, together with H2, into a hydrogenation unit, to produce homologated alcohol(s). Optionally, at least a part of the homologated alcohol(s) from step 3 is recycled into the etherification unit of step 1. Alcohol(s) from the hydrogenation unit of step 3 are recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: BP P.L.C.
    Inventors: Berian John Daniel, Benjamin Patrick Gracey, John Glenn Sunley
  • Patent number: 8378153
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for the production of ethanol from a carbonaceous feedstock; wherein the carbonaceous feedstock is first converted to synthesis gas which is then converted to ethanoic acid, which is then esterified and which is then hydrogenated to produce ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: BP P.L.C.
    Inventors: Berian John Daniel, Jon Michael Stewart Deeley, Benjamin Patrick Gracey, Cong Rong Li
  • Patent number: 8367886
    Abstract: Process for producing alkene(s) from a feedstock containing at least one monohydric aliphatic paraffinic alcohol having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms. The process is carried out by 1 converting the monohydric aliphatic paraffinic alcohol(s) containing 2 to 5 carbon atoms in a reactive distillation column at elevated pressure and temperature into a heads stream having the corresponding same carbon number alkene(s) and ether(s), 2 separating the heads stream from step 1 into an ether(s) enriched stream and an alkene(s) enriched stream, 3 recycling at least part of the ether(s) enriched stream from step 2 as a reflux return to the reactive distillation column, 4 simultaneously separating the alkene(s) enriched stream from step 2 into alkene(s) and ether(s), and 5 recycling at least part of the separated ether(s) from step 4 into the reactive distillation column. An alkene(s) stream from step 4 is then recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Patrick Gracey, Leslie William Bolton
  • Patent number: 8329960
    Abstract: Process for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock into alcohol(s), wherein the hydrocarbons are first converted into syngas, which is subsequently converted into alcohols. The process comprises the consecutive steps of 1) converting a hydrocarbon feedstock, in a syngas reactor, into a stream A, comprising essentially of a mixture of carbon oxide(s) and hydrogen, 2) converting at least part of stream A, in the presence of a catalyst in a oxygenate synthesis reactor under a temperature comprised between 150 and 400° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Patrick Gracey, Michael Keith Lee
  • Patent number: 8299133
    Abstract: Process for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock into alcohol(s) wherein the hydrocarbons are first converted into syngas, which is converted into alcohols, by converting hydrocarbon feedstock in a steam reformer into stream A? of carbon oxide(s), hydrogen and water, feeding stream A? with hydrocarbon and oxygen feedstocks into an auto-thermal reformer to produce stream A, converting stream A in an oxygenate synthesis reactor into stream B containing methanol, ethanol, propanol(s), H2, C1-C3 alkanes, CO, CO2 and water, separating stream B, into stream C containing CO, C1-C3 alkanes, H2 and methanol, stream D containing CO2, recovering stream B containing the ethanol, propanol(s) and water, treating stream C to separate into a stream comprising CO and a stream comprising H2 and C1-C3 alkanes, reintroducing part of stream C with the stream comprising CO into the oxygenate synthesis reactor. At least part of stream D is reintroduced into the steam reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Patrick Gracey, Michael Keith Lee
  • Patent number: 8299132
    Abstract: Process for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock into alcohol(s), wherein the hydrocarbons are first converted into syngas, which is subsequently converted into alcohols. The process is carried out by performing the steps of (1) converting a hydrocarbon feedstock, together with an oxygen feedstock, in a auto-thermal reactor (ATR), into a stream A, containing a mixture of carbon oxide(s) and hydrogen, (2) converting at least part of stream A, in the presence of a catalyst in a oxygenate synthesis reactor under a temperature between 150 and 400° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Patrick Gracey, Michael Keith Lee
  • Publication number: 20120136192
    Abstract: A process for removing water from an ethylene stream comprising water, said process comprising: introducing an ethylene stream comprising water into, and circulating said ethylene stream through, a separation vessel; introducing a liquid diethyl ether stream into, and circulating said liquid diethyl ether stream through, the separation vessel, so that said liquid diethyl ether stream and said ethylene stream comprising water are brought into contact; recovering an ethylene stream having a reduced water content from the separation vessel; and optionally recovering a liquid diethyl ether stream having an increased water content from the separation vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Leslie William Bolton, Benjamin Patrick Gracey, Michael Keith Lee
  • Patent number: 8148589
    Abstract: Process for producing alkene(s) from a feedstock containing at least one monohydric aliphatic paraffinic primary (or secondary) alcohol(s), consisting of ethanol or propanol(s) or a mixture thereof. The process includes the steps of converting the monohydric aliphatic paraffinic primary (or secondary) alcohol(s) into the corresponding same carbon number alkene(s) in a reactive distillation column at elevated pressure and temperature so that the heads stream extracted from the top of the reactive distillation column comprises essentially the alkene(s), cooling the heads stream from the first step to a temperature sufficient to condense at least part of the alkene(s) with the highest boiling point, recycling at least part of the condensed alkene(s) from the second step back into the reactive distillation column, as a reflux return, and simultaneously recovering the remaining alkene(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Patrick Gracey, Leslie William Bolton
  • Publication number: 20110306805
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of alcohol(s) from alkyl ester(s) wherein hydrogen, carbon monoxide and at least one alkyl ester are brought into contact with a hydrogenation catalyst comprising copper and manganese in a reaction zone to produce at least one alcohol, wherein the molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide in the reaction zone is in the range of from 100:1 to 1:10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Berian John Daniel, Jon Michael Stewart Deeley, Benjamin Patrick Gracey, John Glenn Sunley
  • Publication number: 20110281961
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for the conversion of carbon oxide(s) et hydrogen containing feedstocks to oxygen containing hydrocarbon compounds in the presence of a particulate catalyst. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved process for the conversion of carbon oxide(s) (CO et CO2) et hydrogen containing feedstocks, e.g. Synthesis gas or syngas, to alcohols in the presence of a particulate modified molybdenum sulphide based catalyst and/or a modified methanol based catalyst and/or a modified Fischer-Tropsch catalyst and/or a precious metal based catalyst (e.g. rhodium).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Leslie William Bolton, Benjamin Patrick Gracey