Patents by Inventor Lawrence L. Upson

Lawrence L. Upson 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: 9284495
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for fluid catalytic cracking. The process can include withdrawing a catalyst from a reaction vessel to replace a catalyst inventory over a period of about 10- about 35 days for maximizing propylene yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence L. Upson, Brian W. Hedrick, Keith Allen Couch
  • Publication number: 20150065774
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a fluid catalytic cracking system. Generally, the fluid catalytic cracking system includes a first reaction vessel and a second reaction vessel. The first reaction vessel may contain a first catalyst having pores with openings greater than about 0.7 nm and a second catalyst having pores with smaller openings than the first catalyst. What is more, the second reaction vessel may contain the second catalyst. Generally, at least a portion of the second catalyst is directly communicated with the first reaction vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Robert L. Mehlberg, Lawrence L. Upson, James P. Glavin
  • Patent number: 8889076
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a fluid catalytic cracking system. Generally, the fluid catalytic cracking system includes a first reaction vessel and a second reaction vessel. The first reaction vessel may contain a first catalyst having pores with openings greater than about 0.7 nm and a second catalyst having pores with smaller openings than the first catalyst. What is more, the second reaction vessel may contain the second catalyst. Generally, at least a portion of the second catalyst is directly communicated with the first reaction vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Mehlberg, Lawrence L. Upson, James P. Glavin
  • Patent number: 8614160
    Abstract: Catalyst compositions comprising a siliceous zeolite component, either in separately formed catalyst particles or dispersed in the same binder or matrix as other zeolites of the compositions, are described. The catalyst compositions, for example as blends of three different bound zeolite catalysts, are particularly useful in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) processes due to the reductions in coke and dry gas yields that allow FCC throughput, which is normally constrained by gas handling and/or catalyst regeneration capacity, to be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence L. Upson, Laszlo T. Nemeth
  • Publication number: 20120149550
    Abstract: Catalyst compositions comprising a siliceous zeolite component, either in separately formed catalyst particles or dispersed in the same binder or matrix as other zeolites of the compositions, are described. The catalyst compositions, for example as blends of three different bound zeolite catalysts, are particularly useful in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) processes due to the reductions in coke and dry gas yields that allow FCC throughput, which is normally constrained by gas handling and/or catalyst regeneration capacity, to be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence L. UPSON, Laszlo T. NEMETH
  • Patent number: 8137534
    Abstract: Catalyst compositions comprising a siliceous zeolite component, either in separately formed catalyst particles or dispersed in the same binder or matrix as other zeolites of the compositions, are described. The catalyst compositions, for example as blends of three different bound zeolite catalysts, are particularly useful in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) processes due to the reductions in coke and dry gas yields that allow FCC throughput, which is normally constrained by gas handling and/or catalyst regeneration capacity, to be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence L. Upson, Lazlo T. Nemeth
  • Publication number: 20100274066
    Abstract: Catalyst compositions comprising a siliceous zeolite component, either in separately formed catalyst particles or dispersed in the same binder or matrix as other zeolites of the compositions, are described. The catalyst compositions, for example as blends of three different bound zeolite catalysts, are particularly useful in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) processes due to the reductions in coke and dry gas yields that allow FCC throughput, which is normally constrained by gas handling and/or catalyst regeneration capacity, to be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Lawrence L. Upson, Laszlo T. Nemeth
  • Publication number: 20100236980
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for fluid catalytic cracking. The process can include withdrawing a catalyst from a reaction vessel to replace a catalyst inventory over a period of about 10- about 35 days for maximizing propylene yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Lawrence L. Upson, Brian W. Hedrick, Keith Allen Couch
  • Publication number: 20100168488
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a fluid catalytic cracking system. Generally, the fluid catalytic cracking system includes a first reaction vessel and a second reaction vessel. The first reaction vessel may contain a first catalyst having pores with openings greater than about 0.7 nm and a second catalyst having pores with smaller openings than the first catalyst. What is more, the second reaction vessel may contain the second catalyst. Generally, at least a portion of the second catalyst is directly communicated with the first reaction vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Robert L. Mehlberg, Lawrence L. Upson, James P. Glavin
  • Publication number: 20090124842
    Abstract: An improved cracking catalyst is disclosed for the production of propylene from a hydrocarbon feedstock. The process uses a catalyst blend comprising a large pore catalyst and a medium or small pore catalyst, where the medium or small pore catalyst includes a metal deposited on the medium or small pore catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: William J. Reagan, Lawrence L. Upson
  • Patent number: 7312370
    Abstract: An FCC process for obtaining light olefins comprises contacting a hydrocarbon feed stream with blended catalyst comprising regenerated catalyst and coked catalyst. The catalyst has a composition including a first component and a second component. The second component comprises a zeolite with no greater than medium pore size wherein the zeolite comprises at least 1 wt-% of the catalyst composition. The contacting occurs in a riser to crack hydrocarbons in the feed stream and obtain a cracked stream containing hydrocarbon products including light olefins and coked catalyst. The cracked stream is passed out of an end of the riser such that the hydrocarbon feed stream is in contact with the blended catalyst in the riser for less than or equal to 2 seconds on average. The hydrocarbon products including light olefins are separated from the coked catalyst. The first portion of the coked catalyst is passed to a regeneration zone in which coke is combusted from the catalyst to produce a regenerated catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Rusty M. Pittman, Lawrence L. Upson
  • Patent number: 6616899
    Abstract: A high efficiency FCC process obtains the necessary regenerated catalyst temperature for a principally thermal cracking stage by cracking a light feedstock such as naphtha or a middle distillate in a first riser that principally performs thermal cracking and then cracks a heavy FCC feed in a second riser with a blend of catalyst from the principally thermal cracking step and recycle catalyst from the heavy feed to provide the necessary coke content on the catalyst that will produce high regenerated catalyst temperatures. The high temperature of the regenerated catalyst in the first riser provides a convenient means of cracking naphtha under high severity conditions and then using the remaining activity of the contacted catalyst for the principally catalytic reaction of the heavier feed. A separate thermal cracked product may be recovered from an intermediate blending vessel downstream of the first riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence L. Upson
  • Publication number: 20030121825
    Abstract: An FCC process for obtaining light olefins comprises contacting a hydrocarbon feed stream with blended catalyst comprising regenerated catalyst and coked catalyst. The catalyst has a composition including a first component and a second component. The second component comprises a zeolite with no greater than medium pore size wherein the zeolite comprises at least 1 wt-% of the catalyst composition. The contacting occurs in a riser to crack hydrocarbons in the feed stream and obtain a cracked stream containing hydrocarbon products including light olefins and coked catalyst. The cracked stream is passed out of an end of the riser such that the hydrocarbon feed stream is in contact with the blended catalyst in the riser for less than or equal to 2 seconds on average. The hydrocarbon products including light olefins are separated from the coked catalyst. The first portion of the coked catalyst is passed to a regeneration zone in which coke is combusted from the catalyst to produce a regenerated catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Rusty M. Pittman, Lawrence L. Upson
  • Patent number: 6538169
    Abstract: An FCC process for obtaining light olefins comprises contacting a hydrocarbon feed stream with blended catalyst comprising regenerated catalyst and coked catalyst. The catalyst has a composition including a first component and a second component. The second component comprises a zeolite with no greater than medium pore size wherein the zeolite comprises at least 1 wt-% of the catalyst composition. The contacting occurs in a riser to crack hydrocarbons in the feed stream and obtain a cracked stream containing hydrocarbon products including light olefins and coked catalyst. The cracked stream is passed out of an end of the riser such that the hydrocarbon feed stream is in contact with the blended catalyst in the riser for less than or equal to 2 seconds on average.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Rusty M. Pittman, Lawrence L. Upson
  • Patent number: 6238548
    Abstract: An FCC process converts a secondary feed comprising a heart cut of a gasoline product stream with spent catalyst at mild conditions to obtain a surprising increase in the octane number of the resulting gasoline product. More surprisingly, the increase in gasoline stream octane number occurs with very low production of dry gas. Limiting the presence of heavy gasoline components was found to significantly raise the octane number produced by the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence L. Upson, Julie E. Wesling
  • Patent number: 6113776
    Abstract: A high efficiency FCC process obtains the necessary regenerated catalyst temperature for a principally thermal cracking stage by cracking a light feedstock such as naphtha or a middle distillate in a first riser that principally performs thermal cracking and then cracks a heavy FCC feed in a second riser with a blend of catalyst from the principally thermal cracking step and recycle catalyst from the heavy feed to provide the necessary coke content on the catalyst that will produce high regenerated catalyst temperatures. The high temperature of the regenerated catalyst in the first riser provides a convenient means of cracking naphtha under high severity conditions and then using the remaining activity of the contacted catalyst for the principally catalytic reaction of the heavier feed. A separate thermal cracked product may be recovered from an intermediate blending vessel downstream of the first riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence L. Upson
  • Patent number: 5371055
    Abstract: An FCC catalyst system and a process using the catalyst system are disclosed. The catalyst system comprises a metal trap component, such as bastnaesite or barium titanate, and a sulfur oxide acceptor such as a magnesium spinel in addition to a zeolite. The metal trap and sulfur oxide components are preferably in separate particles. The catalyst formulation results in improved activity believed to result from the sulfur oxide acceptor protecting the metal trap component from the harmful effects of sulfur oxides such as the formation of stable metal oxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: William E. Cormier, Gerald M. Woltermann, John S. Magee, Fred J. Baars, Lawrence L. Upson
  • Patent number: 5324416
    Abstract: An FCC catalyst system and a process using the catalyst system are disclosed. The catalyst system comprises a metal trap component, such as bastnaesite or barium titanate, and a sulfur oxide acceptor such as a magnesium spinel in addition to a zeolite. The metal trap and sulfur oxide components are preferably in separate particles. The catalyst formulation results in improved activity believed to result from the sulfur oxide acceptor protecting the metal trap component from the harmful effects of sulfur oxides such as the formation of stable metal oxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: W. R. Grace Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: William E. Cormier, Gerald M. Woltermann, John S. Magee, Fred J. Baars, Lawrence L. Upson
  • Patent number: 5173174
    Abstract: A metals-tolerant FCC catalyst and a process using the catalyst are disclosed. The catalyst matrix comprises bastnaesite and a limited quantity of a large pore boehmite alumina having an average pore diameter greater than 90 Angstroms. The catalyst preferably also contains a molecular sieve component, a siliceous binder and a clay component. The catalyst formulation reduces the harmful effects of accumulated nickel and vanadium on catalyst activity and selectivity. Hydrogen and coke production are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Lawrence L. Upson, Pieter J. Van De Gender, Wim Van Dijk
  • Patent number: 4515903
    Abstract: A cracking catalyst having good resistance to metal poisoning has at least two particle fractions of different particle sizes, the cracking catalyzing zeolite material being concentrated to the coarser particle size fractions, and the finer particle size fractions being formed from material having relatively lower or no or insignificant cracking catalyzing activity. The particles of the finer particle size fractions have a matrix of kaolin and amorphous alumina-silica and may contain for example, an SO.sub.x eliminating additive such as Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, CaO and/or MgO. The coarser particle size fractions having cracking catalyzing effect have a mean particle size of from 80 to 125 .mu.m and the finer particle size fractions a mean particle size of from 30 to 75 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Assignee: Katalistiks B.V.
    Inventors: Jan-Erik A. Otterstedt, Sven G. Jaras, Roland Pudas, Lawrence L. Upson