Patents by Inventor Robert W. Sylvester
Robert W. Sylvester 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).
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Patent number: 9962623Abstract: The present invention relates to processes to remove butanol and other product alcohols from a fermentation broth employing vacuum vaporization.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2012Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Joseph J. Zaher, Steven Christopher Barr, Robert W. Sylvester, Aidan Hurley
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Publication number: 20170298393Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for recovering butanol produced in a fermentative process using, for example, an ethanol production plant which has been reversibly-retrofitted for butanol production, that is, the ethanol production plant may be converted for butanol production, but can also revert to an ethanol production. The present invention also relates to processes for recovering butanol produced in a fermentative process in a butanol production plant that may be converted to ethanol production plant.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Steven Christopher Barr, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
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Patent number: 9732362Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for recovering butanol produced in a fermentative process using, for example, an ethanol production plant which has been reversibly-retrofitted for butanol production, that is, the ethanol production plant may be converted for butanol production, but can also revert to an ethanol production. The present invention also relates to processes for recovering butanol produced in a fermentative process in a butanol production plant that may be converted to ethanol production plant.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2013Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Steven Christopher Barr, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
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Publication number: 20140311889Abstract: The present invention relates to processes to remove butanol and other product alcohols from a fermentation broth employing vacuum vaporization.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2012Publication date: October 23, 2014Inventors: Joseph J. Zaher, Steven Christopher Barr, Robert W. Sylvester, Aidan Hurley
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Publication number: 20140234929Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for recovering butanol produced in a fermentative process using, for example, an ethanol production plant which has been reversibly-retrofitted for butanol production, that is, the ethanol production plant may be converted for butanol production, but can also revert to an ethanol production. The present invention also relates to processes for recovering butanol produced in a fermentative process in a butanol production plant that may be converted to ethanol production plant.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2014Publication date: August 21, 2014Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLCInventors: Steven Christopher BARR, Robert W. SYLVESTER, Joseph J. ZAHER
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Publication number: 20140099688Abstract: A fermentation liquid feed including water and a product alcohol and optionally CO2 is at least partially vaporized such that a vapor stream is produced. The vapor stream is contacted with an absorption liquid under suitable conditions wherein an amount of the product alcohol is absorbed. The portion of the vapor stream that is absorbed can include an amount of each of the water, the product alcohol and optionally the CO2. The temperature at the onset of the absorption of the vapor stream into the absorption liquid can be greater than the temperature at the onset of condensation of the vapor stream in the absence of the absorption liquid. The product alcohol can be separated from the absorption liquid whereby the absorption liquid is regenerated. The absorption liquid can include a water soluble organic molecule such as an amine.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLCInventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
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Publication number: 20140018581Abstract: A fermentation liquid feed including water and a product alcohol and optionally CO2 is at least partially vaporized such that a vapor stream is produced. The vapor stream is contacted with an absorption liquid under suitable conditions wherein an amount of the product alcohol is absorbed. The portion of the vapor stream that is absorbed can include an amount of each of the water, the product alcohol and optionally the CO2. The temperature at the onset of the absorption of the vapor stream into the absorption liquid can be greater than the temperature at the onset of condensation of the vapor stream in the absence of the absorption liquid. The product alcohol can be separated from the absorption liquid whereby the absorption liquid is regenerated. The absorption liquid can include a water soluble organic molecule such as an amine.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLCInventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
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Patent number: 8628643Abstract: A fermentation liquid feed including water and a product alcohol and optionally CO2 is at least partially vaporized such that a vapor stream is produced. The vapor stream is contacted with an absorption liquid under suitable conditions wherein an amount of the product alcohol is absorbed. The portion of the vapor stream that is absorbed can include an amount of each of the water, the product alcohol and optionally the CO2. The temperature at the onset of the absorption of the vapor stream into the absorption liquid can be greater than the temperature at the onset of condensation of the vapor stream in the absence of the absorption liquid. The product alcohol can be separated from the absorption liquid whereby the absorption liquid is regenerated. The absorption liquid can include a water soluble organic molecule such as an amine.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2011Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
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Patent number: 8574406Abstract: A fermentation liquid feed including water and a product alcohol and optionally CO2 is at least partially vaporized such that a vapor stream is produced. The vapor stream is contacted with an absorption liquid under suitable conditions wherein an amount of the product alcohol is absorbed. The portion of the vapor stream that is absorbed can include an amount of each of the water, the product alcohol and optionally the CO2. The temperature at the onset of the absorption of the vapor stream into the absorption liquid can be greater than the temperature at the onset of condensation of the vapor stream in the absence of the absorption liquid. The product alcohol can be separated from the absorption liquid whereby the absorption liquid is regenerated. The absorption liquid can include a water soluble organic molecule such as an amine.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2011Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
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Publication number: 20120211348Abstract: A fermentation liquid feed including water and a product alcohol and optionally CO2 is at least partially vaporized such that a vapor stream is produced. The vapor stream is contacted with an absorption liquid under suitable conditions wherein an amount of the product alcohol is absorbed. The portion of the vapor stream that is absorbed can include an amount of each of the water, the product alcohol and optionally the CO2. The temperature at the onset of the absorption of the vapor stream into the absorption liquid can be greater than the temperature at the onset of condensation of the vapor stream in the absence of the absorption liquid. The product alcohol can be separated from the absorption liquid whereby the absorption liquid is regenerated. The absorption liquid can include a water soluble organic molecule such as an amine.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2011Publication date: August 23, 2012Inventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
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Publication number: 20120035398Abstract: A fermentation liquid feed including water and a product alcohol and optionally CO2 is at least partially vaporized such that a vapor stream is produced. The vapor stream is contacted with an absorption liquid under suitable conditions wherein an amount of the product alcohol is absorbed. The portion of the vapor stream that is absorbed can include an amount of each of the water, the product alcohol and optionally the CO2. The temperature at the onset of the absorption of the vapor stream into the absorption liquid can be greater than the temperature at the onset of condensation of the vapor stream in the absence of the absorption liquid. The product alcohol can be separated from the absorption liquid whereby the absorption liquid is regenerated. The absorption liquid can include a water soluble organic molecule such as an amine.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2011Publication date: February 9, 2012Applicant: BUTAMAX(TM) ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLCInventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
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Patent number: 4282185Abstract: An improved industrial multistage recirculating-fluidized-bed reactor for producing chlorine and iron oxide having an initial "dense" zone and a downstream "dilute" zone. In the dense zone, a fuel is burned, reactants and recirculated iron oxide particles are heated, ferric chloride is vaporized and at least 50% of the ferric chloride is converted to chlorine and iron oxide. In the downstream dilute zone, a solids fraction from 0.005-0.05 is maintained, along with a superficial gas velocity from 1.5-6 meters/second which is from 5-25 times the superficial gas velocity in the dense zone, and the conversion of ferric chloride is continued to greater than 95% completion.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1979Date of Patent: August 4, 1981Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventors: James W. Reeves, Robert W. Sylvester, David F. Wells
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Patent number: 4174381Abstract: An improved industrial process and apparatus are provided for producing chlorine and iron oxide in a multi-stage recirculating-fluidized-bed reactor wherein ferric chloride in the vapor phase is reacted with an excess of oxygen at temperatures from 550.degree. to 800.degree. C. The improvement comprises utilizing a reactor that includes an initial "dense" zone and a downstream "dilute" zone. In the dense zone, a fuel is burned, reactants and recirculated iron oxide particles are heated, ferric chloride is vaporized and at least 50% of the ferric chloride is converted to chlorine and iron oxide. A solids volume fraction from 0.3 to 0.6 and a superficial gas velocity from 0.15 to 0.6 meters/second are maintained in the dense zone. In the downstream dilute zone, a solids fraction from 0.005 to 0.05 is maintained, along with a superficial gas velocity from 1.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1978Date of Patent: November 13, 1979Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co.Inventors: James W. Reeves, Robert W. Sylvester, David F. Wells