Patents by Inventor Stephen Joseph Miller

Stephen Joseph Miller 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: 7838272
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to systems and methods for integrating gas-to-liquids (GTL) processing with biofuels production. In some embodiments of the present invention, carbon dioxide (CO2) generated by GTL processing is used to support grovel (via photosynthesis) of microalgae. In some such embodiments, the microalgae can be further processed to yield a diesel fuel that can be used either by itself, or mixed with fuel produced by the GTL processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Joseph Miller
  • Patent number: 7834226
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to methods and systems for producing biofuels via biomass, waste plastic, and/or Fischer-Tropsch product feeds. Such methods and systems are an improvement over the existing art at least in that they are feed-tolerant (i.e., allow for variability) and provide an economy of scale, while typically retaining the environmental benefits associated with such processing of such feeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Joseph Miller
  • Patent number: 7815694
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and systems for processing triglyceride-containing, biologically-derived oils, wherein such processing comprises conversion of triglycerides to free fatty acids and the separation of these fatty acids by saturation type. Such separation by type enables the efficient preparation of both lubricants and transportation fuels from a common source using a single integrated method and/or system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Joseph Miller
  • Publication number: 20100261627
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to diester-based lubricant compositions. The present invention is also directed to methods of making these and other similar lubricant compositions. In some embodiments, the methods for making such diester-based lubricants utilize a biomass precursor and/or low value Fischer-Tropsch (FT) olefins and/or alcohols so as to produce high value diester-based lubricants. In some embodiments, such diester-based lubricants are derived from FT olefins and fatty acids. The fatty acids can be from a bio-based source (i.e., biomass, renewable source) or can be derived from FT alcohols via oxidation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Joseph Miller, Saleh A. Elomari
  • Publication number: 20100120642
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to methods of making diester-based lubricant compositions, wherein formation of diester species proceeds via esterification of epoxide intermediates, and wherein the epoxide intermediates are generated via an enzymatically-driven mechanism. In some embodiments, the methods for making such diester-based lubricants utilize a biomass precursor and/or low value (e.g., Fischer-Tropsch (FT) olefins and/or alcohols) so as to produce high value diester-based lubricants. In some embodiments, such diester-based lubricants are derived from FT olefins and fatty acids. The fatty acids can be from a bio-based source (i.e., biomass, renewable source) or can be derived from FT alcohols via oxidation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicants: Chevron U.S.A. Inc., NOVOZYMES A/S
    Inventors: Stephen Joseph Miller, Saleh A. Elomari, Zhen Zhou, Jesper Brask, Kim Borch
  • Publication number: 20100083563
    Abstract: The foregoing describes methods and systems for co-processing vegetable oil and petroleum diesel to yield a hybrid diesel biofuel composition. As previously stated, in some embodiments the present invention is directed to methods/systems by/with which a mixture of vegetable oil and petroleum diesel is co-processed in two stages: the mixture is first hydrotreated to yield a reduced-sulfur hybrid intermediate, and then the hybrid intermediate is processed in an isomerization unit to yield a low cloud point hybrid diesel product that is partially derived from biomass. A notable benefit of at least some such methods/systems is that interstage removal of H2S and NH3 is not required between the stages of hydrotreating and isomerizing, wherein such benefit is afforded by sulfur- and nitrogen-tolerant isomerization catalysts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Joseph Miller
  • Publication number: 20090301933
    Abstract: The present invention is a multistage reforming process to produce high octane product from naphtha boiling range feed. In the process, a effluent product from a penultimate reforming stage is separated into at least a first stream and a second stream by boiling point. The lower boiling of the two streams is further reformed in a final reforming stage over a medium pore molecular sieve catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Stephen Joseph Miller, Cong-Yan Chen, Brian C. Adams, James N. Ziemer
  • Publication number: 20090301934
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multistage reforming process to produce a high octane product. A naphtha boiling range feedstock is processed in a multi-stage reforming process, in which said process involves at least 1) a penultimate stage for reforming the naphtha feedstock to produce a penultimate effluent 2) a separation step for separating the penultimate effluent into at least an intermediate stream and a heavy stream based on boiling point and 3) a final stage for further reforming the intermediate stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Stephen Joseph Miller, Cong-Yan Chen, Brian C. Adams, James N. Ziemer
  • Publication number: 20090285728
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to the synthesis and/or manufacture of ester-based lubricant compositions. The present invention is also directed to methods of making these and other similar lubricant compositions, and to systems for implementing such methods (processes). In some embodiments, the methods for making such ester-based lubricants utilize a biomass precursor (e.g., triglyceride-bearing vegetable oils) such that the lubricant compositions generated by the methods and systems of the present invention can be properly deemed biolubricants. In these or other embodiments, lubricant precursor species can also be sourced or derived from Fischer-Tropsch (FT) and/or long-chain paraffin pyrolysis reaction products. The ester component of the lubricant compositions, produced in accordance with the methods and systems of the present invention, comprises largely diester species.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Joseph Miller
  • Publication number: 20090198075
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to methods of making diester-based lubricant compositions, wherein formation of diester species proceeds via direct esterification of epoxide intermediates. In some embodiments, the methods for making such diester-based lubricants utilize a biomass precursor and/or low value (e.g., Fischer-Tropsch (FT) olefins and/or alcohols) so as to produce high value diester-based lubricants. In some embodiments, such diester-based lubricants are derived from FT olefins and tatty acids. The fatty acids can be from a bio-based source (i.e., biomass, renewable source) or can be derived from FT alcohols via oxidation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Joseph Miller, Zhen Zhou, Saleh A. Elomari
  • Patent number: 7544645
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to triester-based lubricant compositions. The present invention is also directed to methods of making these and other similar lubricant compositions. In some embodiments, the methods for making such triester-based lubricants utilize a biomass precursor and/or low value Fischer-Tropsch (FT) products (e.g., alcohols) so as to produce high value triester-based lubricants. In some embodiments, such triester-based lubricants are derived, at least in part, from FT alcohols and fatty acids. The fatty acids can be from a bio-based source (i.e., biomass, renewable source) or can be derived from FT alcohols via oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Joseph Miller, Saleh A. Elomari
  • Publication number: 20090029427
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to systems and methods for integrating gas-to-liquids (GTL) processing with biofuels production. In some embodiments of the present invention, carbon dioxide (CO2) generated by GTL processing is used to support grovel (via photosynthesis) of microalgae. In some such embodiments, the microalgae can be further processed to yield a diesel fuel that can be used either by itself, or mixed with fuel produced by the GTL processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Joseph Miller
  • Publication number: 20080248982
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to triester-based lubricant compositions. The present invention is also directed to methods of making these and other similar lubricant compositions. In some embodiments, the methods for making such triester-based lubricants utilize a biomass precursor and/or low value Fischer-Tropsch (FT) products (e.g., alcohols) so as to produce high value triester-based lubricants. In some embodiments, such triester-based lubricants are derived, at least in part, from FT alcohols and fatty acids. The fatty acids can be from a bio-based source (i.e., biomass, renewable source) or can be derived from FT alcohols via oxidation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Joseph Miller, Saleh A. Elomari
  • Publication number: 20080194444
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to diester-based lubricant compositions. The present invention is also directed to methods of making these and other similar lubricant compositions. In some embodiments, the methods for making such diester-based lubricants utilize a biomass precursor and/or low value Fischer-Tropsch (FT) olefins and/or alcohols so as to produce high value diester-based lubricants. In some embodiments, such diester-based lubricants are derived from FT olefins and fatty acids. The fatty acids can be from a bio-based source (i.e., biomass, renewable source) or can be derived from FT alcohols via oxidation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Joseph Miller, Saleh A. Elomari
  • Patent number: 6632415
    Abstract: An in-extrudate reaction mixture to be effectively crystallized is effectively crystallized to produce zeolitic or non-zeolitic molecular sieves. The reaction mixture is heated within a slowly rotating, double-walled reactor vessel wherein a heated medium is conducted within a space formed between the double walls of the vessel. Thus, the reaction mixture is contacted by a uniformly heated wall while being gently tumbled at low speed. The tumbling action serves to uniformly distribute the heat within the reaction mixture without subjecting the mixture to such shearing that could damage shaped particles. A relatively high quantity of reaction mixture can be handled in that way to maximize the production volumes and reduce production costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Joseph Miller, Seymour Cherney
  • Publication number: 20020146367
    Abstract: An in-extrudate reaction mixture to be effectively crystallized is effectively crystallized to produce zeolitic or non-zeolitic molecular sieves. The reaction mixture is heated within a slowly rotating, double-walled reactor vessel wherein a heated medium is conducted within a space formed between the double walls of the vessel. Thus, the reaction mixture is contacted by a uniformly heated wall while being gently tumbled at low speed. The tumbling action serves to uniformly distribute the heat within the reaction mixture without subjecting the mixture to such shearing that could damage shaped particles. A relatively high quantity of reaction mixture can be handled in that way to maximize the production volumes and reduce production costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Stephen Joseph Miller, Seymour Cherney