Patents by Inventor Todd M. Kruse

Todd M. Kruse 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).

  • Process for oligomerizing gasoline without further upgrading
    Patent number: 10508064
    Abstract: Oligomerizing C4 and C5 olefins over a SPA catalyst provides an oligomerate product stream comprising C6+ olefins that meets a gasoline T-90 specification of 380° F. The oligomerate product stream can be taken to the gasoline pool without further upgrading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Nicholas, Christian D. Freet, Steven L. Krupa, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Todd M. Kruse
  • Process for oligomerizing light olefins
    Patent number: 9914673
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for switching oligomerization feed between a first oligomerization zone that includes a uni-dimensional small pore zeolite to make more diesel and a second oligomerization zone that includes SPA catalyst for making more gasoline. The diesel can be recycled to make more propylene. The process and apparatus will provide refiners with flexibility to produce the most valuable product commensurate with fluctuating market conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Nicholas, Christian D. Freet, Steven L. Krupa, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Todd M. Kruse
  • Process for fluid catalytic cracking oligomerate
    Patent number: 9834492
    Abstract: Distillate cracks to propylene more readily than VGO. Additionally, less branched hydrocarbons crack to propylene more readily than more branched hydrocarbons. Oligomerization to diesel range oligomers followed by catalytic cracking with less branched oligomers can provide more propylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Nicholas, Christian D. Freet, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Todd M. Kruse
  • Process for oligomerization of gasoline to make diesel
    Patent number: 9732285
    Abstract: A first oligomerization stream is oligomerized over a first catalyst in a first oligomerization reactor zone to make oligomerate. An oligomerate stream is separated to provide a heavy oligomerate boiling in the diesel range and a second oligomerization feed stream. The latter is fed to a second oligomerization reactor zone with a second different catalyst to produce the heavy oligomerate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Steven L. Krupa, Christopher P. Nicholas, Todd M. Kruse, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche
  • Process for oligomerizing and cracking to make propylene and aromatics
    Patent number: 9670425
    Abstract: A process sends at least a portion of an oligomerization feed to a first oligomerization reactor zone that includes a zeolite or a SPA catalyst and another portion of the same feed to a second oligomerization reactor zone that includes an amorphous silica alumina catalyst. The first oligomerization reactor zone makes aliphatic olefins that can be cracked to propylene and the second oligomerization reactor zone makes cyclic molecules that can be converted to aromatics in an FCC unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Christopher P. Nicholas, Todd M. Kruse
  • Process for making diesel by oligomerization of gasoline
    Patent number: 9663415
    Abstract: Recycle of a stream comprising C8 oligomers to an oligomerization zone to be oligomerized with C4 olefins can produce diesel range oligomers. A diesel stream can be separated from a gasoline stream which can be recycled to the oligomerization zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Nicholas, Steven L. Krupa, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Todd M. Kruse
  • Composition of oligomerate
    Patent number: 9644159
    Abstract: An olefinic composition has a moderate concentration of Type 2 C8 olefins. The oligomerate composition has hydrocarbon molecules with minimal branching which make excellent diesel and can also be readily cracked to propylene. Consequently, oligomerate product can be sent to the diesel pool or fed or recycled to an FCC unit to increase production of propylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Nicholas, Wayne E. Rathbun, Todd M. Kruse, Hung A. Pham
  • Process for oligomerizing light olefins including pentenes
    Patent number: 9567267
    Abstract: A process provides oligomerization feed stream comprising C5 hydrocarbons and olefins along with C4 olefins to an oligomerization zone. The oligomerization feed stream may be obtained from cracked FCC products. Unreacted C5 hydrocarbons can be recycled to the oligomerization zone to maintain the liquid phase therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Nicholas, Christian D. Freet, Steven L. Krupa, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Todd M. Kruse
  • Apparatus for fluid catalytic cracking oligomerate
    Patent number: 9522375
    Abstract: Distillate cracks to propylene more readily than VGO. Additionally, less branched hydrocarbons crack to propylene more readily than more branched hydrocarbons. Oligomerization to diesel range oligomers followed by catalytic cracking with less branched oligomers can provide more propylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Nicholas, Christian D. Freet, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Todd M. Kruse
  • Apparatus for oligomerizing light olefins
    Patent number: 9522373
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for switching oligomerization feed between a first oligomerization zone that includes a uni-dimensional small pore zeolite to make more diesel and a second oligomerization zone that includes SPA catalyst for making more gasoline. The diesel can be recycled to make more propylene. The process and apparatus will provide refiners with flexibility to produce the most valuable product commensurate with fluctuating market conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Nicholas, Christian D. Freet, Steven L. Krupa, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Todd M. Kruse
  • Process for making diesel by oligomerization
    Patent number: 9441173
    Abstract: Disclosed is that by oligomerizing C4 olefins over a uni-dimensional 10-ring pore structured zeolite catalyst, at least 70 wt % oligomers having at least 9 carbons can be produced in a single pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Nicholas, Steven L. Krupa, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Todd M. Kruse
  • Process for making gasoline by oligomerization
    Patent number: 9278893
    Abstract: Disclosed is the addition of C5 olefins to oligomerization feed stream has the counterintuitive effect of reducing the production of heavier oligomers over a uni-dimensional, ten-ring pore zeolite. Consequently, C5 olefins can be added to C4 olefins in an oligomerization feed stream to produce more gasoline and less distillate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Nicholas, Todd M. Kruse
  • PROCESS FOR OLIGOMERIZATION OF GASOLINE
    Publication number: 20150166432
    Abstract: A first oligomerization stream is oligomerized over a zeolitic catalyst in a first oligomerization reactor zone to make oligomerate. A heavy oligomerate stream is recovered from the oligomerate and fed to a second reactor zone with zeolitic catalyst operated at a higher temperature than the first oligomerization zone to crack heavy oligomerate down to gasoline range oligomerate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Steven L. Krupa, Todd M. Kruse, Christopher P. Nicholas, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche
  • PROCESS FOR OLIGOMERIZATION OF GASOLINE TO MAKE DIESEL
    Publication number: 20150166428
    Abstract: A first oligomerization stream is oligomerized over a first catalyst in a first oligomerization reactor zone to make oligomerate. An oligomerate stream is separated to provide a heavy oligomerate boiling in the diesel range and a second oligomerization feed stream. The latter is fed to a second oligomerization reactor zone with a second different catalyst to produce the heavy oligomerate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Steven L. Krupa, Christopher P. Nicholas, Todd M. Kruse, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche
  • PROCESS FOR OLIGOMERIZING GASOLINE WITH HIGH YIELD
    Publication number: 20150166425
    Abstract: An olefinic feed stream comprising butenes is oligomerized over a zeolitic catalyst to make gasoline. Conversion of normal butenes is kept low to maximize gasoline production. Recycle of unconverted butenes provides for sufficient overall conversion to gasoline product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Steven L. Krupa, Todd M. Kruse, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Christopher P. Nicholas
  • PROCESS FOR OLIGOMERIZING TO MAXIMIZE NONENES FOR CRACKING TO PROPYLENE
    Publication number: 20150166426
    Abstract: To bias an oligomerization reaction toward C9 olefin production, C5 olefins are split and fed to a C4 olefin feed stream at a downstream location, so the C4 olefins are in stoichiometric excess over the C5 olefins. The result is greater oligomerization to C9 olefins. C9 olefins fed to an FCC unit have a carbon number divisible by three and thus produces a greater proportion of propylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David A. Wegerer, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Todd M. Kruse
  • PROCESS FOR OLIGOMERIZING AND CRACKING TO MAKE PROPYLENE AND AROMATICS
    Publication number: 20150166424
    Abstract: A process sends at least a portion of an oligomerization feed to a first oligomerization reactor zone that includes a zeolite or a SPA catalyst and another portion of the same feed to a second oligomerization reactor zone that includes an amorphous silica alumina catalyst. The first oligomerization reactor zone makes aliphatic olefins that can be cracked to propylene and the second oligomerization reactor zone makes cyclic molecules that can be converted to aromatics in an FCC unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Christopher P. Nicholas, Todd M. Kruse
  • PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING PRODUCT
    Publication number: 20140170028
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for recovering a product stream by fractionation perhaps with compression of a C5? hydrocarbon stream. The C5? hydrocarbon stream may be taken from an overhead of a fractionation column. Fractionation includes a depentanizer column followed by a depropanizer column for producing a C4 and C5 stream. The recovered product stream may be oligomerized to produce larger oligomers. Oligomers may be delivered to a cracking reactor which may produce the C5? hydrocarbon stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christian D. Freet, Todd M. Kruse, Christopher P. Nicholas
  • PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING PRODUCT
    Publication number: 20140171705
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for recovering a product stream by fractionation perhaps with compression of a C5? hydrocarbon stream. The C5? hydrocarbon stream may be taken from an overhead of a fractionation column. Fractionation includes a depentanizer column followed by a depropanizer column for producing a C4 and C5 stream. The recovered product stream may be oligomerized to produce larger oligomers. Oligomers may be delivered to a cracking reactor which may produce the C5? hydrocarbon stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christian D. Freet, Todd M. Kruse, Christopher P. Nicholas
  • APPARATUS FOR FLUID CATALYTIC CRACKING OLIGOMERATE
    Publication number: 20140134058
    Abstract: Distillate cracks to propylene more readily than VGO. Additionally, less branched hydrocarbons crack to propylene more readily than more branched hydrocarbons. Oligomerization to diesel range oligomers followed by catalytic cracking with less branched oligomers can provide more propylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Nicholas, Christian D. Freet, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Todd M. Kruse