Patents by Inventor Clay R. Sutton
Clay R. Sutton 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).
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Publication number: 20240047725Abstract: A module assembly is provided including a fuel cell stack assembly, a heat exchanger, and a housing enclosing the fuel cell stack assembly and the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is configured to receive process gas from an external source and output said process gas to the fuel cell stack assembly, and configured to receive process gas from the fuel cell stack assembly and output said process gas. A fuel cell power plant is provided including a module assembly with a first end, a racking structure configured to hold the module assembly, balance of plant equipment, and ducting configured to provide fluid communication between the balance of plant equipment and the first end of the module assembly. The module assembly and the racking structure are configured such that the module assembly may be removed from the racking structure in a direction away from the first end of the module assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Inventors: Keith E. Davis, Frank Hershkowitz, Lu Han, Clay R. Sutton, Paul J. Rubas
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Patent number: 11664519Abstract: A module assembly is provided including a fuel cell stack assembly, a heat exchanger, and a housing enclosing the fuel cell stack assembly and the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is configured to receive process gas from an external source and output said process gas to the fuel cell stack assembly, and configured to receive process gas from the fuel cell stack assembly and output said process gas. A fuel cell power plant is provided including a module assembly with a first end, a racking structure configured to hold the module assembly, balance of plant equipment, and ducting configured to provide fluid communication between the balance of plant equipment and the first end of the module assembly. The module assembly and the racking structure are configured such that the module assembly may be removed from the racking structure in a direction away from the first end of the module assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignees: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Keith E. Davis, Frank Hershkowitz, Lu Han, Clay R. Sutton, Paul J. Rubas
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Publication number: 20210159534Abstract: A module assembly is provided including a fuel cell stack assembly, a heat exchanger, and a housing enclosing the fuel cell stack assembly and the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is configured to receive process gas from an external source and output said process gas to the fuel cell stack assembly, and configured to receive process gas from the fuel cell stack assembly and output said process gas. A fuel cell power plant is provided including a module assembly with a first end, a racking structure configured to hold the module assembly, balance of plant equipment, and ducting configured to provide fluid communication between the balance of plant equipment and the first end of the module assembly. The module assembly and the racking structure are configured such that the module assembly may be removed from the racking structure in a direction away from the first end of the module assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Keith E. Davis, Frank Hershkowitz, Lu Han, Clay R. Sutton, Paul J. Rubas
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Patent number: 10173946Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for converting an oxygenate feedstock, such as methanol and/or dimethyl ether, in a fluidized bed containing a catalyst to hydrocarbons, such as gasoline boiling components, olefins and aromatics are provided herein.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2015Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Bing Du, Samuel A. Tabak, Mitch L. Hindman, Eric B. Shen, David L. Johnson, Mohsen N. Harandi, Clay R. Sutton, Lu Han, Michael F. Raterman, Zhongcheng Wang, Samia Ilias, Brett Loveless, Stephen J. McCarthy
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Patent number: 9938205Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for converting an oxygenate feedstock, such as methanol and dimethyl ether, in a fluidized bed containing a catalyst to hydrocarbons, such as gasoline boiling components, olefins and aromatics are provided herein.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2015Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Bing Du, Samuel A. Tabak, Mitch L. Hindman, Eric B. Shen, David L. Johnson, Mohsen N. Harandi, Clay R. Sutton, Lu Han, Michael F. Raterman, Zhongcheng Wang, Rohit Vijay, Stephen J. McCarthy
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Publication number: 20160102032Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for converting an oxygenate feedstock, such as methanol and/or dimethyl ether, in a fluidized bed containing a catalyst to hydrocarbons, such as gasoline boiling components, olefins and aromatics are provided herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2015Publication date: April 14, 2016Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Bing Du, Samuel A. Tabak, Mitch L. Hindman, Eric B. Shen, David L. Johnson, Mohsen N. Harandi, Clay R. Sutton, Lu Han, Michael F. Raterman, Zhongcheng Wang, Samia Ilias, Brett Loveless, Stephen J. McCarthy
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Publication number: 20160102031Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for converting an oxygenate feedstock, such as methanol and dimethyl ether, in a fluidized bed containing a catalyst to hydrocarbons, such as gasoline boiling components, olefins and aromatics are provided herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2015Publication date: April 14, 2016Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Bing Du, Samuel A. Tabak, Mitch L. Hindman, Eric B. Shen, David L. Johnson, Mohsen N. Harandi, Clay R. Sutton, Lu Han, Michael F. Raterman, Zhongcheng Wang, Rohit Vijay, Stephen J. McCarthy
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Publication number: 20150329441Abstract: An HF alkylation process for producing gasoline boiling range alkylate product by the alkylation in an HF alkylation unit of a light olefin reactant with an isoparaffin reactant in the presence of a hydrogen fluoride/sulfolane alkylation catalyst mixture in which fresh sulfolane feed having a Total Acid Number (TAN, ASTM D974) not more than 2 mq./L and optimally not more than 1 meq./L. is added to the hydrogen fluoride/sulfolane alkylation catalyst circulating in the unit. Control over the acidic components of the sulfolane feed is appropriately maintained by monitoring and pretreatment with an ion exchange resin to remove acidic components from the feed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2014Publication date: November 19, 2015Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Jeffrey M. Fitt, Stacey E. Johnson, Clay R. Sutton, John J. Monson
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Patent number: 9089797Abstract: A method of delivering feed, for example a paraffinic solvent treated bitumen froth, to a separation vessel, for example a froth separation unit (FSU). The feed is delivered from one or more side inlets that may be substantially normal to, and flush with, the wall of the vessel. In contrast to certain conventional feed systems used in gravity separators which use a distributor plate to widely distribute the feed with a vessel, the feed is delivered such that it flows down the inside wall of the vessel. This feed delivery is characterized by a Richardson number of greater than 1.0. Such feed delivery is particularly useful where the feed has particles with a bi-modal size distribution to be separated from an overflow stream. The gentle flow serves to mitigate the upward flux of the smaller particles, for example mineral solids, by being trapped below the larger particles, for example precipitated asphaltene aggregates.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2013Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Clay R. Sutton, Ken N. Sury, Darwin Edward Kiel, John Khai-Quang Diep
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Publication number: 20140041740Abstract: A method of delivering feed, for example a paraffinic solvent treated bitumen froth, to a separation vessel, for example a froth separation unit (FSU). The feed is delivered from one or more side inlets that may be substantially normal to, and flush with, the wall of the vessel. In contrast to certain conventional feed systems used in gravity separators which use a distributor plate to widely distribute the feed with a vessel, the feed is delivered such that it flows down the inside wall of the vessel. This feed delivery is characterized by a Richardson number of greater than 1.0. Such feed delivery is particularly useful where the feed has particles with a bi-modal size distribution to be separated from an overflow stream. The gentle flow serves to mitigate the upward flux of the smaller particles, for example mineral solids, by being trapped below the larger particles, for example precipitated asphaltene aggregates.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2013Publication date: February 13, 2014Inventors: Clay R. Sutton, Ken N. Sury, Darwin Edward Kiel, John Khai-Quang Diep
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Patent number: 8591724Abstract: A method of delivering feed, for example a paraffinic solvent treated bitumen froth, to a separation vessel, for example a froth separation unit (FSU). The feed is delivered from one or more side inlets that may be substantially normal to, and flush with, the wall of the vessel. In contrast to certain conventional feed systems used in gravity separators which use a distributor plate to widely distribute the feed with a vessel, the feed is delivered such that it flows down the inside wall of the vessel. This feed delivery is characterized by a Richardson number of greater than 1.0. Such feed delivery is particularly useful where the feed has particles with a bi-modal size distribution to be separated from an overflow stream. The gentle flow serves to mitigate the upward flux of the smaller particles, for example mineral solids, by being trapped below the larger particles, for example precipitated asphaltene aggregates.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Clay R. Sutton, Ken N. Sury, Darwin Edward Kiel, John Khai-Quang Diep
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Patent number: 8435452Abstract: A circulating fluid bed reactor such as that used in fluid coking processes has a circular dense bed reaction section above the reactor base where the fluidizing gas is injected and a plurality of frusto-conical baffles in the dense bed reaction section, each of which depends downwardly and radially inwards from the reactor wall to a lower, inner edge defining a central aperture. The baffles are preferably provided with downcomers which permit downward flow of solids and upward flow of gas through the baffles.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2011Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: John T. Wyatt, Jr., E. Nicholas Jones, Alvin U. Chen, Clay R. Sutton, Timothy M. Healy, Ronald Suryo, Len Lampert, Jonathan Miller
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Patent number: 8357291Abstract: The invention relates to an improved bitumen recovery process. The process includes adding water to a bitumen-froth/solvent system containing asphaltenes and mineral solids. The addition of water in droplets increases the settling rate of asphaltenes and mineral solids to more effectively treat the bitumen for pipeline transport, further enhancement, refining, or any other application of reduced-solids bitumen.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2008Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Ken N. Sury, Joseph L. Feimer, Clay R. Sutton
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Publication number: 20110206563Abstract: A circulating fluid bed reactor such as that used in fluid coking processes has a circular dense bed reaction section above the reactor base where the fluidizing gas is injected and a plurality of frusto-conical baffles in the dense bed reaction section, each of which depends downwardly and radially inwards from the reactor wall to a lower, inner edge defining a central aperture. The baffles are preferably provided with downcomers which permit downward flow of solids and upward flow of gas through the baffles.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2011Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: John T. WYATT, JR., E. Nicholas JONES, Alvin U. CHEN, Clay R. SUTTON, Timothy M. HEALY, Ronald SURYO, Len LAMPERT, Jonathan MILLER
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Publication number: 20110114468Abstract: An improved, fouling-resistant configuration for the stripper sheds of fluid coking units comprises an inverted, open-bottomed channel with apertures spaced along the length of the channel and spaced from the apex of the channel. Preferably, the channels are of an inverted-V configuration with a downwardly extending lip provided on each side of the channel, extending from the bottom edge of each side of the channel. The stripper sheds may be positioned parallel to one another in the stripper section of the reactor vessel or, alternatively, the sheds in different tiers in the stripper section may be disposed so that the longitudinal axes of the sheds are rotated angularly relative to the sheds in other rows.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2010Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Rathna P. DAVULURI, James R. BIELENBERG, Clay R. SUTTON, Brenda A. RAICH
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Publication number: 20110011769Abstract: A method of delivering feed, for example a paraffinic solvent treated bitumen froth, to a separation vessel, for example a froth separation unit (FSU). The feed is delivered from one or more side inlets that may be substantially normal to, and flush with, the wall of the vessel. In contrast to certain conventional feed systems used in gravity separators which use a distributor plate to widely distribute the feed with a vessel, the feed is delivered such that it flows down the inside wall of the vessel. This feed delivery is characterized by a Richardson number of greater than 1.0. Such feed delivery is particularly useful where the feed has particles with a bi-modal size distribution to be separated from an overflow stream. The gentle flow serves to mitigate the upward flux of the smaller particles, for example mineral solids, by being trapped below the larger particles, for example precipitated asphaltene aggregates.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2010Publication date: January 20, 2011Inventors: Clay R. Sutton, Ken N. Sury, Darwin Edward Kiel, John Khai-Quang Diep
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Publication number: 20090200209Abstract: The invention relates to an improved bitumen recovery process. The process includes adding water to a bitumen-froth/solvent system containing asphaltenes and mineral solids. The addition of water in droplets increases the settling rate of asphaltenes and mineral solids to more effectively treat the bitumen for pipeline transport, further enhancement, refining, or any other application of reduced-solids bitumen.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2008Publication date: August 13, 2009Inventors: Ken N. Sury, Joseph L. Feimer, Clay R. Sutton