Patents by Inventor Federico Barrai

Federico Barrai 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: 11951463
    Abstract: Catalyst compositions comprising a zeolite and a mesoporous support or binder are disclosed. The mesoporous support or binder comprises a mesoporous metal oxide having a particle diameter of greater than or equal to 20 ?m at 50% of the cumulative pore size distribution (d50). Also disclosed are processes for producing a mono-alkylated aromatic compound (e.g., ethylbenzene or cumene) which exhibit improved yield of the mono-alkylated aromatic compound using alkylation catalysts comprising one or more of these catalyst compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Engineering & Technology Company
    Inventors: Matthew S. Ide, Brett T. Loveless, Doron Levin, William W. Lonergan, Matthew J. Vincent, Wei-Ping Tai, Federico Barrai
  • Publication number: 20220401924
    Abstract: An active material useful in an oxidative dehydrogenation reactor system has an active phase, a support phase, and an intermediate composite phase. The active phase includes a transition metal oxide such as manganese oxide, which is reversibly oxidizable and/or reducible between oxidized and reduced states. The support phase includes an oxide of a IUPAC Group 2-14 element. The composite phase is a mixed metal oxide of the transition metal and the Group 2-14 element. The active phase can also include a promoter such as Na-W04 and/or a selectivity modifier such as A1 or ceria. Also, a reactor including the active material in a reactor, a method of making the active material, and a method of using the active material in a regenerative reaction process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Brian M. P. Weiss, Changmin Chun, Sophie Liu, Federico Barrai, Paul F. Keusenkothen, Zachary D. Young
  • Publication number: 20220274085
    Abstract: A reverse flow reactor (RFR) and process having a forward reaction feed cycle, a reverse reaction feed cycle, and a reverse regeneration cycle. The heat convected in the forward feed cycle matches the heat convected in the reverse flow cycles. Compared to an RFR without the reverse feed cycle, the three-cycle RPR substantially reduces the regeneration air flow rate, associated compression requirements, and the overall reactor volume, that are required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Brian M. Weiss, Changmin Chun, Sophie Liu, Federico Barrai, Paul F. Keusenkothen, Zachary D. Young
  • Patent number: 11292977
    Abstract: Methods are provided for processing deasphalted gas oils derived from thermally cracked resid fractions to form Group I, Group II, and/or Group III lubricant base oils. The yield of lubricant base oils (optionally also referred to as base stocks) can be increased by thermally cracking a resid fraction at an intermediate level of single pass severity relative to conventional methods. By performing thermal cracking to a partial level of conversion, compounds within a resid fraction that are beneficial for increasing both the viscosity and the viscosity index of a lubricant base oil can be retained, thus allowing for an improved yield of higher viscosity lubricant base oils from a thermally cracked resid fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Stephen H. Brown, Brenda A. Raich, Beatrice M. Gooding, Stephen M. Davis, Federico Barrai, Warren B. Ames, Keith K. Aldous
  • Patent number: 11292973
    Abstract: Processes and systems for upgrading a hydrocarbon feed. The process can include feeding a hydrocarbon feed, catalyst particles, and molecular hydrogen (H2) into a separation zone. The hydrocarbon feed and H2 can be contacted in the presence of the catalyst particles under hydrotreating conditions in the separation zone that can include contacting under a total pressure of less than 3,500 kilopascals-gauge. The H2 can be fed into the separation zone at a rate of no greater than 270 cubic meters of H2 per cubic meter of the hydrocarbon feed, where the volume of H2 and hydrocarbon feed are based on a temperature of 25 C and a pressure of 101 kilopascals-absolute. A vapor phase hydrocarbon stream and a liquid phase hydrocarbon stream can be obtained from the separation zone. At least a portion of the vapor phase hydrocarbon stream can be fed into a pyrolysis reaction zone to produce a pyrolysis effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Ramanathan Sundararaman, James R. Lattner, Michael W. Weber, David T. Ferrughelli, Saurabh S. Maduskar, Federico Barrai, Jeevan S. Abichandani
  • Patent number: 11286427
    Abstract: Reverse flow reactor (RFR) apparatuses exhibiting asymmetric feed profiles and improved purge mode efficiency, and methods of using same to transform a hydrocarbon feed into a pyrolysed hydrocarbon product are disclosed. The RFR apparatus includes an RFR body with a reaction zone having at least one bed. The RFR body has a central vertical axis and flanked by first and second void spaces. The method utilizes at least two oxygen-containing feeds, a combustion fuel feed, a purge feed, and a hydrocarbon pyrolysis feed. The RFR apparatus can cycle between an exothermic heating mode (heated to ?700° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Daly, Federico Barrai
  • Patent number: 11279884
    Abstract: Reverse flow reactor (RFR) apparatuses exhibiting asymmetric feed profiles and improved flow distribution during heating mode and/or pyrolysis mode operation, and methods of using same to transform a hydrocarbon feed into a pyrolysed hydrocarbon product are disclosed. The RFR apparatus includes an RFR body with a reaction zone having at least one bed. The RFR body has a central vertical axis and is flanked by first and second void spaces. The method utilizes at least two oxygen-containing feeds, a combustion fuel feed, a purge feed, and a hydrocarbon pyrolysis feed. The RFR apparatus can cycle between an exothermic heating mode (heated to ?700° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Daly, Federico Barrai
  • Patent number: 11130916
    Abstract: The invention relates to approach temperatures and approach temperature ranges that are beneficial in operating a pyrolysis reactor, to pyrolysis reactors exhibiting a beneficial approach temperature, to processes for carrying out hydrocarbon pyrolysis in a pyrolysis reactor having a beneficial approach temperature. The pyrolysis reactor can be, e.g., a reverse-flow pyrolysis reactor, such as a regenerative reverse-flow pyrolysis reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Federico Barrai, Elizabeth G. Mahoney, James R. Lattner, Thomas W. Pavia, John S. Coleman
  • Patent number: 11078130
    Abstract: The invention relates to hydrocarbon conversion, to equipment and materials useful for hydrocarbon conversion, and to processes for carrying out hydrocarbon conversion, e.g., hydrocarbon pyrolysis processes. The hydrocarbon conversion is carried out in a reactor which includes at least one channeled member that comprises refractory and has an open frontal area?55%. The refractory can include non-oxide ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Changmin Chun, Dhaval A. Bhandari, Federico Barrai
  • Publication number: 20210139788
    Abstract: Reverse flow reactor (RFR) apparatuses exhibiting asymmetric feed profiles and improved flow distribution during heating mode and/or pyrolysis mode operation, and methods of using same to transform a hydrocarbon feed into a pyrolysed hydrocarbon product are disclosed. The RFR apparatus includes an RFR body with a reaction zone having at least one bed. The RFR body has a central vertical axis and is flanked by first and second void spaces. The method utilizes at least two oxygen-containing feeds, a combustion fuel feed, a purge feed, and a hydrocarbon pyrolysis feed. The RFR apparatus can cycle between an exothermic heating mode (heated to ?700° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin B. Daly, Federico Barrai
  • Publication number: 20210139789
    Abstract: Reverse flow reactor (RFR) apparatuses exhibiting asymmetric feed profiles and improved purge mode efficiency, and methods of using same to transform a hydrocarbon feed into a pyrolysed hydrocarbon product are disclosed. The RFR apparatus includes an RFR body with a reaction zone having at least one bed. The RFR body has a central vertical axis and flanked by first and second void spaces. The method utilizes at least two oxygen-containing feeds, a combustion fuel feed, a purge feed, and a hydrocarbon pyrolysis feed. The RFR apparatus can cycle between an exothermic heating mode (heated to ?700° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin B. Daly, Federico Barrai
  • Publication number: 20210130711
    Abstract: Processes and systems for upgrading a hydrocarbon feed. The process can include feeding a hydrocarbon feed, catalyst particles, and molecular hydrogen (H2) into a separation zone. The hydrocarbon feed and H2 can be contacted in the presence of the catalyst particles under hydrotreating conditions in the separation zone that can include contacting under a total pressure of less than 3,500 kilopascals-gauge. The H2 can be fed into the separation zone at a rate of no greater than 270 cubic meters of H2 per cubic meter of the hydrocarbon feed, where the volume of H2 and hydrocarbon feed are based on a temperature of 25 C and a pressure of 101 kilopascals-absolute. A vapor phase hydrocarbon stream and a liquid phase hydrocarbon stream can be obtained from the separation zone. At least a portion of the vapor phase hydrocarbon stream can be fed into a pyrolysis reaction zone to produce a pyrolysis effluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Ramanathan Sundararaman, James R. Lattner, Michael W. Weber, David T. Ferrughelli, Saurabh S. Maduskar, Federico Barrai, Jeevan S. Abichandani
  • Publication number: 20210024846
    Abstract: Methods are provided for processing deasphalted gas oils derived from thermally cracked resid fractions to form Group I, Group II, and/or Group III lubricant base oils. The yield of lubricant base oils (optionally also referred to as base stocks) can be increased by thermally cracking a resid fraction at an intermediate level of single pass severity relative to conventional methods. By performing thermal cracking to a partial level of conversion, compounds within a resid fraction that are beneficial for increasing both the viscosity and the viscosity index of a lubricant base oil can be retained, thus allowing for an improved yield of higher viscosity lubricant base oils from a thermally cracked resid fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen H. Brown, Brenda A. Raich, Beatrice M. Gooding, Stephen M. Davis, Federico Barrai, Warren B. Ames, Keith K. Aldous
  • Patent number: 10899970
    Abstract: The invention relates to the compression of a pyrolysis product to facilitate light olefin separation. The pyrolysis product is produced in a pyrolysis reaction. A power generator produces a first shaft power and a second shaft power. The pyrolysis product is compressed using at least part of the first shaft power and at least part of the second shaft power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Pavia, Federico Barrai, Frank Hershkowitz, Gregory E. Yeo
  • Publication number: 20200376471
    Abstract: Catalyst compositions comprising a zeolite and a mesoporous support or binder are disclosed. The mesoporous support or binder comprises a mesoporous metal oxide having a particle diameter of greater than or equal to 20 ?m at 50% of the cumulative pore size distribution (d50). Also disclosed are processes for producing a mono-alkylated aromatic compound (e.g., ethylbenzene or cumene) which exhibit improved yield of the mono-alkylated aromatic compound using alkylation catalysts comprising one or more of these catalyst compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew S. Ide, Brett T. Loveless, Doron Levin, William W. Lonergan, Matthew J. Vincent, Wei-Ping Tai, Federico Barrai
  • Patent number: 10836965
    Abstract: Methods of transforming a hydrocarbon feedstream into an aromatization product in a multi-stage reverse flow reactor (RFR) apparatus are disclosed. The methods include at least two reaction stages in series, at least one being a pyrolysis stage and at least another being a catalytic aromatization stage. Using a highly saturated hydrocarbon feedstream the pyrolysis stage focuses on desaturation, while the catalytic aromatization stage focuses on aromatization. The catalytic aromatization stage contains a aromatization catalyst that can include substantially no magnesium, scandium, yttrium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, rhenium, iron, ruthenium, cobalt, rhodium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper, silver, gold, gallium, indium, tin, lanthanides, or actinides, or, in some cases, substantially no added active metals at all.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Mayank Shekhar, James R. Lattner, Federico Barrai, Brian M. Weiss, Dhaval A. Bhandari, Joshua W. Allen
  • Patent number: 10711203
    Abstract: The invention relates to hydrocarbon pyrolysis, to equipment and materials useful for hydrocarbon pyrolysis, to processes for carrying out hydrocarbon pyrolysis, and to the use of hydrocarbon pyrolysis for, e.g., hydrocarbon gas upgrading. The pyrolysis is carried out in a reactor which includes at least one thermal mass having an open frontal area ?55%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Federico Barrai, Elizabeth G. Mahoney, John S. Coleman, Dhaval A. Bhandari, Brian M. Weiss, Changmin Chun, Frank Hershkowitz
  • Publication number: 20200181497
    Abstract: A method for producing pitch can include: hydroprocessing a challenged feed from a refinery operation to produce a hydroprocessed product; distilling the hydroprocessed product to yield one or more upgraded fractions and a resid fraction; and solvent deasphalting the resid fraction to yield a deasphalted oil stream and a hydroprocessed pitch stream. The resultant pitch can have a micro carbon residue (MCR) of 50 wt % or greater, a solubility in toluene of 95 wt % or greater, and a softening point of 200° C. or less. The pitch can optionally be fluxed with a fluxing solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen H. Brown, G. Alan Vaughan, Patrick L. Hanks, Keith K. Aldous, Warren B. Ames, Federico Barrai, Samia Ilias, Randolph J. Smiley, David C. Boyer
  • Patent number: 10669488
    Abstract: The invention relates to hydrocarbon pyrolysis, to equipment and materials useful for hydrocarbon pyrolysis, to processes for carrying out hydrocarbon pyrolysis, and to the use of hydrocarbon pyrolysis for, e.g., hydrocarbon upgrading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Federico Barrai, James R. Lattner, Frank Hershkowitz, Elizabeth G. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 10662130
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to processes, compositions, and systems useful for the oxydehydrogenation of alkanes to form olefins (e.g., for the conversion of ethane to ethylene). The processes use an oxygen transfer agent and may be carried out in any suitable reactor, including a reverse flow reactor, a circulating fluid bed reactor, or a cyclic co-flow reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian M. Weiss, ChangMin Chun, Dhaval A. Bhandari, Federico Barrai, Sophie Liu