Patents by Inventor Nathan Kirk Powell

Nathan Kirk Powell 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: 9150478
    Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid using a low energy process. The crude ethanol product is separated in a column to produce a distillate stream comprising acetaldehyde and a residue stream comprising ethanol, acetic acid, ethyl acetate and water. The ethanol product is recovered from the residue stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: David Lee, Fred Ronald Olsson, Adam Orosco, Nathan Kirk Powell, Manuel Salado, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Radmila Wollrab, Victor J. Johnston
  • Patent number: 9102581
    Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of crude ethanol product are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In addition, the process involves separating the crude ethanol product using an extractive distillation column that employs an extraction agent, such as a recycled stream comprising water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Radmila Wollrab, Wael Amleh, Gerald Grusendorf, Trinity Horton Hale, Victor J. Johnston, Fred Ronaold Olsson, Nathan Kirk Powell, Manuel Salado, Lincoln Sarager
  • Patent number: 9073814
    Abstract: Ethanol production from the hydrogenation of acetic acid requires energy to drive the hydrogenation reaction and the purification of the crude ethanol product. Heat integration process to recover heat from one part of the production process to be used within the process improves efficiencies and reduces costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Kirk Powell, Samuel Roundy, Lincoln Sarager, Murray Viard, R. Jay Warner, Gerald Grusendorf, Radmila Wollrab, Victor J. Johnston, Fred Ronald Olsson
  • Publication number: 20150099904
    Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid using a low energy process. The crude ethanol product is separated in a column to produce a distillate stream comprising acetaldehyde and a residue stream comprising ethanol, acetic acid, ethyl acetate and water. The ethanol product is recovered from the residue stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: David Lee, Fred Ronald Olsson, Adam Orosco, Nathan Kirk Powell, Manuel Salado, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Radmila Wollrab, Victor J. Johnston
  • Patent number: 9000237
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing and recovering ethanol using an intermediate reboiler. An intermediate stream may be withdrawn from a removal zone of a distillation column and recirculated through the intermediate reboiler to the distillation column. The distillation column may also comprise a bottoms reboiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventor: Nathan Kirk Powell
  • Patent number: 8927784
    Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid using a low energy process. The crude ethanol product is separated in a column to produce a distillate stream comprising acetaldehyde and a residue stream comprising ethanol, acetic acid, ethyl acetate and water. The ethanol product is recovered from the residue stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: David Lee, Fred Ronald Olsson, Adam Orosco, Nathan Kirk Powell, Manuel Salado, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston
  • Publication number: 20140179957
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing and recovering ethanol using an intermediate reboiler. An intermediate stream may be withdrawn from a removal zone of a distillation column and recirculated through the intermediate reboiler to the distillation column. The distillation column may also comprise a bottoms reboiler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nathan Kirk Powell
  • Patent number: 8759576
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for purifying acetic anhydride. The process includes the steps of feeding a liquid crude acetic anhydride stream directly to a distillation column and separating the liquid crude acetic anhydride stream to produce a light ends stream, a sidedraw and a residue stream. The sidedraw comprises substantially pure acetic anhydride product. The distillation column is operated at a pressure less than 101 kPa. The substantially pure acetic anhydride product comprises greater than 98 wt. % acetic anhydride, has a permanganate time of greater than 10 minutes, and has an APHA color of less than 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Melchoir Meilchen, Nathan Kirk Powell
  • Publication number: 20140066653
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for purifying acetic anhydride. The process includes the steps of feeding a liquid crude acetic anhydride stream directly to a distillation column and separating the liquid crude acetic anhydride stream to produce a light ends stream, a sidedraw and a residue stream. The sidedraw comprises substantially pure acetic anhydride product. The distillation column is operated at a pressure less than 101 kPa. The substantially pure acetic anhydride product comprises greater than 98 wt. % acetic anhydride, has a permanganate time of greater than 10 minutes, and has an APHA color of less than 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Melchoir Meilchen, Nathan Kirk Powell
  • Publication number: 20140058139
    Abstract: Ethanol production from the hydrogenation of acetic acid requires energy to drive the hydrogenation reaction and the purification of the crude ethanol product. Heat integration process to recover heat from one part of the production process to be used within the process improves efficiencies and reduces costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Kirk Powell, Samuel Roundy, Lincoln Sarager, Murray Viard, R. Jay Warner, Gerald Grusendorf, Radmila Wollrab, Victor J. Johnston, Fred Ronald Olsson
  • Patent number: 8552226
    Abstract: Ethanol production from the hydrogenation of acetic acid requires energy to drive the hydrogenation reaction and the purification of the crude ethanol product. Heat integration process to recover heat from one part of the production process to be used within the process improves efficiencies and reduces costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Kirk Powell, Samuel Roundy, Lincoln Sarager, Murray Viard, R. Jay Warner, Gerald Gruesendorf, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Fred Ronald Olsson
  • Patent number: 8304587
    Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of crude ethanol product are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In addition, the process involves separating the crude ethanol product using an extractive distillation column that employs an extraction agent, such as a recycled stream comprising water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Wael Amleh, Gerald Grusendorf, Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Fred Ronald Olsson, Nathan Kirk Powell, Manuel Salado, Lincoln Sarager
  • Publication number: 20120277483
    Abstract: Recovery of alcohol, in particular ethanol, from a crude product obtained from the hydrogenation of a feed stream comprising a carbonylation stock selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, and acetic acid and an ester thereof. The hydrogenation reaction produces a reactor product that is dehydrated to produce a dried product stream that comprises less water than the feed stream. This controls the additional water fed to the hydrogenation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Trinity Horton, Victor J. Johnston, Adam Orosco, Lincoln Sarager, Mark O. Scates, Manuel Salado, Nathan Kirk Powell, Fred Ronald Olsson
  • Publication number: 20120277490
    Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid using a low energy process. The crude ethanol product is separated in a column to produce a distillate stream comprising acetaldehyde and a residue stream comprising ethanol, acetic acid, ethyl acetate and water. The ethanol product is recovered from the residue stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: David Lee, Fred Ronald Olsson, Adam Orosco, Nathan Kirk Powell, Manuel Salado, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston
  • Patent number: 8173076
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method of producing acetic acid includes condensing overhead vapor to provide reflux to the light ends column as well as condensing vapor from a central portion of the light ends column to increase capacity. Throughput or load on the light ends column is substantially reduced without compromising product quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Kirk Powell, Nathan Jeremy Nagel, Fred Ronald Olsson, Wayne David Picard, Ronald David Shaver, Ismael Torres Tejeda
  • Publication number: 20110275864
    Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of crude ethanol product are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In addition, the process involves separating the crude ethanol product using an extractive distillation column that employs an extraction agent, such as a recycled stream comprising water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Wael Amleh, Gerald Grusendorf, Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Fred Ronald Olsson, Nathan Kirk Powell, Manuel Salado, Lincoln Sarager
  • Publication number: 20110250101
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method of producing acetic acid includes condensing overhead vapor to provide reflux to the light ends column as well as condensing vapor from a central portion of the light ends column to increase capacity. Throughput or load on the light ends column is substantially reduced without compromising product quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Kirk Powell, Nathan Jeremy Nagel, Fred Ronald Olsson, Wayne David Picard, Ronald David Shaver, Ismael Torres Tejeda
  • Publication number: 20110190552
    Abstract: Ethanol production from the hydrogenation of acetic acid requires energy to drive the hydrogenation reaction and the purification of the crude ethanol product. Heat integration process to recover heat from one part of the production process to be used within the process improves efficiencies and reduces costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathan Kirk Powell, Samuel Roundy, Lincoln Sarager, Murray Viard, R. Jay Warner, Gerald Gruesendorf, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Fred Ronald Olsson
  • Patent number: 7989659
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method of producing acetic acid includes condensing overhead vapor to provide reflux to the light ends column as well as condensing vapor from a central portion of the light ends column to increase capacity. Throughput or load on the light ends column is substantially reduced without compromising product quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Kirk Powell, Nathan Jeremy Nagel, Fred Ronald Olsson, Wayne David Picard, Ronald David Shaver, Ismael Torres Tejeda
  • Patent number: 7619113
    Abstract: An improved method of producing acetic acid includes condensing overhead vapor from a light ends column and decanting the condensed vapor to a light phase and a heavy phase. The heavy phase consists predominantly of methyl iodide and at least a portion of the decanted heavy phase is refluxed to the light ends column. Acetic acid content of the light ends column overhead stream and water content of the light ends column product (sidedraw) stream are both decreased, improving purification efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventor: Nathan Kirk Powell