Patents by Inventor Richard Dale Swain

Richard Dale Swain 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: 8017822
    Abstract: An integrated process for producing aromatic hydrocarbons and ethylene and/or propylene and optionally other lower olefins from low molecular weight hydrocarbons, preferably methane, which comprises: (a) contacting at least one low molecular weight alkane, preferably methane, with a halogen, preferably bromine, under process conditions sufficient to produce a monohaloalkane, preferably monobromomethane, (b) reacting the monohaloalkane in the presence of a coupling catalyst to produce aromatic hydrocarbons and C2+ alkanes, (c) separating the aromatic hydrocarbons from the product mixture of step (b) to produce aromatic hydrocarbons, and (d) cracking at least part of the C2+ alkanes in an alkane cracking system to produce ethylene and/or propylene and optionally other lower olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Howard Lam Ho Fong, Richard Dale Swain
  • Publication number: 20100234637
    Abstract: An integrated process for producing aromatic hydrocarbons and ethylene and/or propylene and optionally other lower olefins from low molecular weight hydrocarbons, preferably methane, which comprises: (a) contacting one or more low molecular weight alkanes, preferably methane, with a halogen, preferably bromine, under process conditions sufficient to produce a monohaloalkane, preferably monobromomethane, (b) reacting a first portion of the monohaloalkane in the presence of a coupling catalyst under process conditions sufficient to produce aromatic hydrocarbons and C2-5 alkanes, (c) separating the aromatic hydrocarbons from the product mixture of step (b) to produce aromatic hydrocarbons, (d) reacting a second portion of the monohaloalkane in the presence of a coupling catalyst under process conditions sufficient to produce ethylene and/or propylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Howard Lam Ho FONG, Richard Dale Swain
  • Publication number: 20100087686
    Abstract: An integrated process for producing aromatic hydrocarbons and ethylene and/or propylene and optionally other lower olefins from low molecular weight hydrocarbons, preferably methane, which comprises: (a) contacting at least one low molecular weight alkane, preferably methane, with a halogen, preferably bromine. under process conditions sufficient to produce a monohaloalkane, preferably monobromomethane, (b) reacting the monohaloalkane in the presence of a coupling catalyst to produce aromatic hydrocarbons and C2+ alkanes, (c) separating the aromatic hydrocarbons from the product mixture of step (b) to produce aromatic hydrocarbons, and (d) cracking at least part of the C2+ alkanes in an alkane cracking system to produce ethylene and/or propylene and optionally other lower olefins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Howard Lam Ho FONG, Richard Dale SWAIN