Patents by Inventor Patrick Whitchurch

Patrick Whitchurch 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: 9950972
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for forming C8 aromatic streams with selected amounts of C9 aromatics. In one embodiment, a method for forming a C8 aromatic stream with a selected amount of C9 aromatics includes fractionating a hydrocarbon stream including C8 and C9 aromatics into a sidedraw fraction and a bottom fraction. The sidedraw fraction includes a portion of the C8 aromatics and a portion of the C9 aromatics. The bottom fraction includes remaining C8 aromatics and C8+ hydrocarbons. The method further includes fractioning the bottom fraction and forming a heavy overhead fraction including the remaining C8 aromatics. Also, the method includes combining the sidedraw fraction and the heavy overhead fraction to form a combined stream having a C9 aromatics composition of from about 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt % about 2 wt % of a total weight of the combined stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Rajeswar Gattupalli, Jason T. Corradi, Gregory Werba, Patrick Whitchurch
  • Publication number: 20150307412
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for producing xylene. A method includes combining a propylbenzene containing feed with a xylene raffinate stream, where the xylene raffinate stream is provided from a xylene recovery unit. The xylene raffinate stream and the propylbenzene containing feed are isomerized in an isomerization unit to produce an xylene isomerization effluent stream, where the xylene isomerization effluent stream includes aromatic compounds having 8, 9, or 10 carbons atoms. The aromatic compounds having 8 carbon atoms are separated from the aromatic compounds having 9 or 10 carbons, and the aromatic compounds having 8 carbons are fed to the xylene recovery unit. The aromatic compounds having 9 or 10 carbons are transalkylated with toluene to produce xylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Whitchurch, Stanley Joseph Frey
  • Publication number: 20150094507
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for isolating C8 aromatics from hydrocarbon streams. In one embodiment, a method for separating C8 aromatics from a hydrocarbon stream includes introducing the hydrocarbon stream to a fractionation column at a feed point. Further, the method includes fractionating the hydrocarbon stream in the fractionation column. Also, the method includes withdrawing a sidedraw fraction from the fractionation column at a draw point located above the feed point, wherein the sidedraw fraction includes C8 aromatics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Rajeswar Gattupalli, Jason T. Corradi, Patrick Whitchurch, Gregory Werba
  • Publication number: 20150094512
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for forming C8 aromatic streams with selected amounts of C9 aromatics. In one embodiment, a method for forming a C8 aromatic stream with a selected amount of C9 aromatics includes fractionating a hydrocarbon stream including C8 and C9 aromatics into a sidedraw fraction and a bottom fraction. The sidedraw fraction includes a portion of the C8 aromatics and a portion of the C9 aromatics. The bottom fraction includes remaining C8 aromatics and C8+ hydrocarbons. The method further includes fractioning the bottom fraction and forming a heavy overhead fraction including the remaining C8 aromatics. Also, the method includes combining the sidedraw fraction and the heavy overhead fraction to form a combined stream having a C9 aromatics composition of from about 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt % about 2 wt % of a total weight of the combined stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Rajeswar Gattupalli, Jason T. Corradi, Gregory Werba, Patrick Whitchurch
  • Publication number: 20140296601
    Abstract: An extruded C8 alkylaromatic isomerization catalyst is described. The catalyst has an average pore diameter in a range of about 110 ? to about 155 ? measured by BJH adsorption method and a pore volume less than about 0.62 cc/g measured by N2 porosimetry. A process for isomerizing a non-equilibrium C8 aromatic feed to provide an isomerized product is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Neelesh Rane, Paula Bogdan, Veronica G. Deak, Patrick Whitchurch, Karl Z. Steigleder, Marlyn A. Hamborg, Wharton Sinkler, Steven A. Bradley
  • Publication number: 20140296602
    Abstract: An extruded C8 alkylaromatic isomerization catalyst is described. The catalyst has an average pore diameter in a range of about 110 ? to about 155 ? measured by BJH adsorption method and a pore volume less than about 0.62 cc/g measured by N2 porosimetry. A process for isomerizing a non-equilibrium C8 aromatic feed to provide an isomerized product is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Neelesh J. Rane, Paula Bogdan, Veronica G. Deak, Patrick Whitchurch, Karl Z. Steigleder, Marlyn A. Hamborg, Wharton Sinkler, Steven A. Bradley
  • Publication number: 20080041765
    Abstract: Xylene isomerization processes, especially those processes in which ethylbenzene is also converted, are beneficially affected by adding benzene to the feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Larson, James Rekoske, Patrick Silady, Patrick Whitchurch, Freddie Sandifer
  • Publication number: 20070270624
    Abstract: Catalysts comprise a combination of molecular sieve having a pore diameter of from about 4 to 8 angstroms and a catalytically-effective amount of molybdenum hydrogenation component and a sufficient amount of at least one platinum group metal hydrogenation component to enhance the isomerization activity of the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Paula Bogdan, Patrick Whitchurch, Robert Larson, James Rekoske
  • Publication number: 20070259780
    Abstract: Catalysts comprising a combination of molecular sieve having a pore diameter of from about 4 to 8 angstroms and a catalytically-effective amount of molybdenum hydrogenation component in an amorphous aluminum phosphate binder provide processes for isomerizing xylene and dealkylating ethylbenzene in feed streams that exhibit stability, selectivity and low ring loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventors: Paula Bogdan, Patrick Whitchurch, Robert Larson, James Rekoske, Dimitri Trufanov, Victor Patton, Suheil Abdo
  • Publication number: 20070249881
    Abstract: Catalysts comprising a combination of molecular sieve having a pore diameter of from about 4 to 8 angstroms and a catalytically-effective amount of molybdenum hydrogenation component in an amorphous aluminum phosphate binder provide processes for isomerizing xylene and dealkylating ethylbenzene in feed streams that exhibit stability, selectivity and low ring loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Larson, James Rekoske, Patrick Whitchurch, Paula Bogdan
  • Publication number: 20070060778
    Abstract: Reduced co-production of toluene and C9 and higher aromatics such as trimethylbenzene, methylethylbenzene, and diethylbenzene is achieved in processes for the isomerization of xylenes to close to equilibrium using a layered catalyst having a thin outer layer of molecular sieve and hydrogenation metal component on a core, wherein at least about 75 mass-% of the hydrogenation metal component is in the outer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Paula Bogdan, James Rekoske, Robert Larson, Patrick Whitchurch, John Bauer, Michael Quick
  • Publication number: 20070060470
    Abstract: Catalysts of certain combinations of platinum, tin, acidic molecular sieve and aluminum phosphate binder achieve the isomerization and dealkylation activities characteristic of platinum-containing catalysts yet enjoy the low net C6 naphthenes make properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Paula Bogdan, Patrick Whitchurch, Robert Larson, James Rekoske, Dimitri Trufanov
  • Publication number: 20070060469
    Abstract: Catalysts of certain combinations of platinum, tin, acidic molecular sieve and aluminum phosphate binder achieve the isomerization and dealkylation activities characteristic of platinum-containing catalysts yet enjoy the low net C6 naphthenes make properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Paula Bogdan, Patrick Whitchurch, Robert Larson, James Rekoske, Dimitri Trufanov
  • Publication number: 20070060779
    Abstract: Catalysts of certain combinations of platinum, tin, acidic molecular sieve and aluminum phosphate binder achieve the isomerization and dealkylation activities characteristic of platinum-containing catalysts yet enjoy the low net C6 naphthenes make properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Paula Bogdan, Patrick Whitchurch, Robert Larson, James Rekoske, Dimitri Trufanov