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).

  • Patent number: 9962623
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes to remove butanol and other product alcohols from a fermentation broth employing vacuum vaporization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Joseph J. Zaher, Steven Christopher Barr, Robert W. Sylvester, Aidan Hurley
  • Publication number: 20170298393
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Christopher Barr, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
  • Patent number: 9732362
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Steven Christopher Barr, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
  • Publication number: 20140311889
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes to remove butanol and other product alcohols from a fermentation broth employing vacuum vaporization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Joseph J. Zaher, Steven Christopher Barr, Robert W. Sylvester, Aidan Hurley
  • Publication number: 20140234929
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLC
    Inventors: Steven Christopher BARR, Robert W. SYLVESTER, Joseph J. ZAHER
  • Publication number: 20140099688
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
  • Publication number: 20140018581
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
  • Patent number: 8628643
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
  • Patent number: 8574406
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
  • Publication number: 20120211348
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
  • Publication number: 20120035398
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: BUTAMAX(TM) ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
  • Patent number: 4282185
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1981
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: James W. Reeves, Robert W. Sylvester, David F. Wells
  • Patent number: 4174381
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1979
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co.
    Inventors: James W. Reeves, Robert W. Sylvester, David F. Wells