Patents by Inventor Wolfgang A. Spieker

Wolfgang A. Spieker 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: 11926800
    Abstract: A fluidized catalytic reactor system cycles from 0.05-5% of catalyst at a time through a rejuvenation unit to be heated in the presence of oxygen to maintain catalyst activity. The use of the rejuvenation unit that may be 2% of the size of the main catalyst regeneration unit allows for reduction in equipment size and in catalyst inventory. The catalyst that is sent to the rejuvenation unit may be spent catalyst but may be partially or fully regenerated catalyst. The rejuvenation unit may be heated by combusting fuel or by hot flue gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Avram M. Buchbinder, John J. Senetar, Wei Pan, Wolfgang A Spieker, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Patent number: 11794159
    Abstract: A process and reactor for contacting a feed stream with a catalyst stream comprises a reaction chamber comprising two spent catalyst inlets for delivering two spent catalyst streams to the reaction chamber and at least one regenerated catalyst inlet for delivering a regenerated catalyst stream to the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber may also include a second regenerated catalyst inlet for delivering a second regenerated catalyst stream to the reaction chamber. The second spent catalyst inlet enables thorough mixing of catalyst streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Johnson, II, Wolfgang A. Spieker, Mohammad-Reza Mostofi-Ashtiani
  • Publication number: 20230191350
    Abstract: A process and reactor for contacting a feed stream with a catalyst stream comprises a reaction chamber comprising two spent catalyst inlets for delivering two spent catalyst streams to the reaction chamber and at least one regenerated catalyst inlet for delivering a regenerated catalyst stream to the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber may also include a second regenerated catalyst inlet for delivering a second regenerated catalyst stream to the reaction chamber. The second spent catalyst inlet enables thorough mixing of catalyst streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Richard A. Johnson, II, Wolfgang A. Spieker, Mohammad-Reza Mostofi-Ashtiani
  • Publication number: 20230191354
    Abstract: A process and apparatus comprise a reaction chamber that includes an aspect ratio between about 0.7 and 1.3 for establishing a dense catalyst bed in the reaction chamber while minimizing hot residence time of the product gas in a range that will not deteriorate product selectivity. We have found the dense catalyst bed is necessary to ensure sufficient contact between catalyst and feed gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Wolfgang A. Spieker, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Publication number: 20230133426
    Abstract: A fluidized catalytic reactor decouples the catalyst regenerator temperature from the catalyst reactor residence time. Regenerated catalyst is cooled before it contacts reactant feed. The regenerated catalyst may be cooled by heat exchange with oxygen supply gas, spent catalyst or other materials. The process and apparatus are especially useful for fluidized endothermic catalytic reactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: John J. Senetar, Avram M. Buchbinder, Wei Pan, Wolfgang A. Spieker, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Patent number: 11491453
    Abstract: A fluidized catalytic reactor utilizes an ascending temperature profile. The apparatus and process deliver cooler spent catalyst to a first catalyst distributor and a hotter regenerated catalyst to a second catalyst distributor that are spaced apart from each other. The reactant stream first encounters the first stream of catalyst and then encounters the second stream of catalyst. The process and apparatus stage the addition of hot catalyst to the reactant stream. The process and apparatus may be particularly advantageous in an endothermic reaction because the hotter catalyst will encounter reactants that have cooled due to the progression of endothermic reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: John J. Senetar, Wolfgang A. Spieker
  • Publication number: 20220135887
    Abstract: A fluidized catalytic reactor system cycles from 0.05-5% of catalyst at a time through a rejuvenation unit to be heated in the presence of oxygen to maintain catalyst activity. The use of the rejuvenation unit that may be 2% of the size of the main catalyst regeneration unit allows for reduction in equipment size and in catalyst inventory. The catalyst that is sent to the rejuvenation unit may be spent catalyst but may be partially or fully regenerated catalyst. The rejuvenation unit may be heated by combusting fuel or by hot flue gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Avram M. Buchbinder, John J. Senetar, Wei Pan, Wolfgang A. Spieker, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Publication number: 20220032250
    Abstract: A fluidized catalytic reactor utilizes an ascending temperature profile. The apparatus and process deliver cooler spent catalyst to a first catalyst distributor and a hotter regenerated catalyst to a second catalyst distributor that are spaced apart from each other. The reactant stream first encounters the first stream of catalyst and then encounters the second stream of catalyst. The process and apparatus stage the addition of hot catalyst to the reactant stream. The process and apparatus may be particularly advantageous in an endothermic reaction because the hotter catalyst will encounter reactants that have cooled due to the progression of endothermic reactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: John J. Senetar, Wolfgang A. Spieker
  • Patent number: 10814315
    Abstract: A process is presented for the management of sulfur on a catalyst. The catalyst is a dehydrogenation catalyst, and sulfur accumulates during the dehydrogenation process. Sulfur compounds are stripped from the spent catalyst and the catalyst is cooled before the regeneration process. The process includes controlling the amount of sulfur that needs to be removed from the catalyst before regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Wolfgang A. Spieker, Adam D. Ballard, Gregory J. Gajda, J. W. Adriaan Sachtler
  • Patent number: 10807075
    Abstract: A process is presented for the management of sulfur on a catalyst. The catalyst is a dehydrogenation catalyst, and sulfur accumulates during the dehydrogenation process. Sulfur compounds are stripped from the spent catalyst and the catalyst is cooled before the regeneration process. The process includes controlling the amount of sulfur that needs to be removed from the catalyst before regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Wolfgang A. Spieker, Adam D. Ballard, Gregory J. Gajda, J. W. Adriaan Sachtler
  • Patent number: 10799858
    Abstract: A process is presented for the treatment of spent catalyst to manage sulfur-containing compounds on the catalyst. The catalyst may be a dehydrogenation catalyst, where sulfur accumulates during a dehydrogenation process. Sulfur compounds are stripped from the spent catalyst and the catalyst may be cooled before a regeneration step. The process includes controlling removal of sulfur compounds from the spent catalyst before regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Wolfgang A. Spieker, Gregory J. Gajda, J. W. Adriaan Sachtler, Kristoffer E. Popp
  • Publication number: 20190275508
    Abstract: A process is presented for the treatment of spent catalyst to manage sulfur-containing compounds on the catalyst. The catalyst may be a dehydrogenation catalyst, where sulfur accumulates during a dehydrogenation process. Sulfur compounds are stripped from the spent catalyst and the catalyst may be cooled before a regeneration step. The process includes controlling removal of sulfur compounds from the spent catalyst before regeneration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Wolfgang A. Spieker, Gregory J. Gajda, J. W. Adriaan Sachtler, Kristoffer E. Popp
  • Patent number: 10384986
    Abstract: A process is presented for the production of light olefins. The process utilizes a SAPO-18 catalyst and is operated at an elevated pressure. The process generates higher concentrations of heavier olefins which can then be processed to generate light olefins. The processing of the heavier olefins can include metathesis reactions and olefin cracking processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Thulasidas Chellppannair, Nicholas J. Schoenfeldt, Andrea G. Bozzano, Wolfgang A. Spieker, Christopher D. DiGiulio, Gregory A. Funk, Jaime G. Moscoso
  • Patent number: 10358394
    Abstract: A process is presented for the production of light olefins. The process utilizes a SAPO-18 catalyst and is operated at an elevated pressure. The process generates higher concentrations of heavier olefins which can then be processed to generate light olefins. The processing of the heavier olefins can include metathesis reactions and olefin cracking processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Thulasidas Chellppannair, Nicholas J. Schoenfeldt, Andrea G. Bozzano, Wolfgang A. Spieker, Christopher D. DiGiulio, Gregory A. Funk, Jaime G. Moscoso
  • Patent number: 10093593
    Abstract: A process is presented for generating light olefins with the methanol to olefins process from a combination of catalysts. The process controls the product distribution for ethylene, propylene and butylenes, to enable shifting of the product distribution. The process includes passing a second catalyst to a reactor while the process is on-going.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gregory A. Funk, Andrea G. Bozzano, Nicholas J. Schoenfeldt, Thulasidas Chellppannair, Wolfgang A. Spieker, Bipin V. Vora
  • Publication number: 20180169630
    Abstract: A process is presented for the management of sulfur on a catalyst. The catalyst is a dehydrogenation catalyst, and sulfur accumulates during the dehydrogenation process. Sulfur compounds are stripped from the spent catalyst and the catalyst is cooled before the regeneration process. The process includes controlling the amount of sulfur that needs to be removed from the catalyst before regeneration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Wolfgang A. Spieker, Adam D. Ballard, Gregory J. Gajda, J. W. Adriaan Sachtler
  • Publication number: 20180169631
    Abstract: A process is presented for the management of sulfur on a catalyst. The catalyst is a dehydrogenation catalyst, and sulfur accumulates during the dehydrogenation process. Sulfur compounds are stripped from the spent catalyst and the catalyst is cooled before the regeneration process. The process includes controlling the amount of sulfur that needs to be removed from the catalyst before regeneration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Wolfgang A. Spieker, Adam D. Ballard, Gregory J. Gajda, J. W. Adriaan Sachtler
  • Publication number: 20180169643
    Abstract: A process is presented for the management of sulfur on a catalyst. The catalyst is a dehydrogenation catalyst, and sulfur accumulates during the dehydrogenation process. Sulfur compounds are stripped from the spent catalyst and the catalyst is cooled before the regeneration process. The process includes controlling the amount of sulfur that needs to be removed from the catalyst before regeneration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Wolfgang A. Spieker, Adam D. Ballard
  • Publication number: 20170297973
    Abstract: A process is presented for generating light olefins with the methanol to olefins process from a combination of catalysts. The process controls the product distribution for ethylene, propylene and butylenes, to enable shifting of the product distribution. The process includes passing a second catalyst to a reactor while the process is on-going.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Gregory A. Funk, Andrea G. Bozzano, Nicholas J. Schoenfeldt, Thulasidas Chellppannair, Wolfgang A. Spieker, Bipin V. Vora
  • Publication number: 20170297972
    Abstract: A process is presented for the production of light olefins. The process utilizes a SAPO-18 catalyst and is operated at an elevated pressure. The process generates higher concentrations of heavier olefins which can then be processed to generate light olefins. The processing of the heavier olefins can include metathesis reactions and olefin cracking processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Thulasidas Chellppannair, Nicholas J. Schoenfeldt, Andrea G. Bozzano, Wolfgang A. Spieker, Christopher D. DiGiulio, Gregory A. Funk, Jaime G. Moscoso