Hydrogenation (saturation) Patents (Class 208/142)
  • Patent number: 10866183
    Abstract: The present application concerns in-situ intrusive probe systems and methods. The probe systems described herein can be installed flush to a hydrocarbon containing structure, such as a pipeline, vessel, or other piping system carrying crude, gas or sour products. The probe systems include hydrogen induced cracking (HIC)-resistant microstructure such that as atomic hydrogen permeates the probe surface, the probe captures recombined hydrogen gas. The pressure of the resultant hydrogen gas buildup is measured and predictions as to the HIC activity of that area can be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdelmounam Sherik, Abderrazak Traidia
  • Patent number: 9834494
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for producing hydrocarbons. A method for producing hydrocarbons may include two or more reactors having a distributed aromatic rich feed and hydrogen system. Using this configuration, the aromatic rich feed and hydrogen streams are split equally to all reactors wherein each reactor contains a catalyst. The outlet from the last reactor may include a recycle that may be injected into the inlet of the first reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Charles P. Luebke, Bart Dziabala, Belma Demirel
  • Patent number: 9567265
    Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst including a mesoporous silica nanoparticle and a catalytic material comprising iron. In various embodiments, the present invention provides methods of using and making the catalyst. In some examples, the catalyst can be used to hydrotreat fatty acids or to selectively remove fatty acids from feedstocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Ivan Slowing, Kapil Kandel
  • Patent number: 9371495
    Abstract: A method for producing naphthenic process oils that have a high content of naphthenic carbon atoms of 20-60 wt % and a low content of polycyclic aromatics of less than 3 wt %, determined in accordance with IP 346, by the hydrogenation of a process oil educt that has a high content of polycyclic aromatics, are provided. The method enables secondary extracts, such as are formed in the production of label-free process oils, even in a mixture with primary extracts, to be utilized in an economically meaningful way. The resulting process oils are likewise label-free, so that the use of PCA-containing process oils can be reduced and less of these substances will get into the environment. By avoiding heating oil, CO2 emissions are also reduced. Also, through the direct hydrogenation of DAE, high value naphthenic process oils are obtained. The process oils that are obtained contain surprisingly high amounts of naphthenic hydrocarbon compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Klaus Dahleke KG
    Inventor: Nils Hansen
  • Patent number: 9365776
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the hydrotreatment of a vegetal biomass. Specifically, the present invention relates to a process for the hydrotreatment of a vegetal biomass comprising: a) subjecting said vegetal biomass to a hydrotreatment in a first reactor, said hydrotreatment comprises contacting said vegetal biomass in an aqueous medium and a metal oxide, a mixed metal oxide, or a metal-metalloid oxide catalyst comprising at least 35% by weight of metal oxide, mixed metal oxide, or metal-metalloid oxide relative to the total weight of the catalyst, with hydrogen at a pressure in the range of 10 to 400 bar and at a temperature in the range of 50° C. to 300° C. until a predetermined level of the hydrotreatment of said biomass is obtained and wherein the metal oxide, a mixed metal oxide, or a metal-metalloid oxide catalyst comprises nickel. Further, the present invention relates to a metal oxide, mixed metal oxide or metal-metalloid oxide catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: BTG BIOMASS TECHNOLOGY GROUP B.V.
    Inventors: Robertus Hendrikus Venderbosch, Agnes Retno Ardiyanti, Hero Jan Heeres, Vadim Yakovlev, Dmitry Ermakov, Sofia Khromova, Valentin Parmon
  • Patent number: 9178460
    Abstract: A motor controller according to the invention includes a driving IC and a magnetic sensor. The driving IC receives a driving signal for driving a motor and controls the rotation speed of the motor using the driving signal. The magnetic sensor detects the rotation speed of the motor. The driving IC includes a sensor signal output terminal and a driving signal input terminal. The sensor signal output terminal outputs a sensor signal generated by the driving IC based on a pulse signal from the magnetic sensor. The driving signal input terminal receives the driving signal. The sensor signal output terminal and the driving signal input terminal are connected by a connecting portion. The driving IC rotates the motor at a first rotation speed different from the rotation speed of the motor driven according to the driving signal using the sensor signal input to the driving signal input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: SANYO DENKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Nakamura, Yo Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 9023298
    Abstract: An apparatus for reforming a hydrocarbon stream is presented. The apparatus involves changing the design of reformers and associated equipment to allow for increasing the processing temperatures in the reformers and heaters. The reformers are operated under different conditions to utilize advantages in the equilibriums, but require modifications to prevent increasing thermal cracking and to prevent increases in coking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Moser, Clayton C. Sadler, Mark P. Lapinski, Kurt M. VandenBussche
  • Patent number: 8975460
    Abstract: A process is proposed for preparing acetylene by the Sachsse-Bartholomé process by combustion of a natural gas/oxygen mixture in one or more burners to obtain a cracking gas which is cooled in two or more stages in burner columns, each burner having one or more burner columns assigned thereto, and said cracking gas being quenched with pyrolysis oil in the first cooling stage, to obtain a low boiler fraction comprising benzene, toluene and xylene from the one or more burner columns, which is cooled with direct cooling water and separated in a phase separator into an aqueous phase and an organic phase which comprises benzene, toluene and xylene and is fully or partly introduced to the top of the one or more burner columns as a return stream, wherein the organic phase comprising benzene, toluene and xylene from the phase separator, prior to full or partial recycling to the top of the one or more burner columns, is supplied to a selective hydrogenation over a catalyst which comprises at least one platinum group m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Lucia Königsmann, Maximilian Vicari, Thomas Heidemann, Dirk Groβschmidt, Jürgen Michel
  • Patent number: 8951408
    Abstract: A method for starting-up a naphtha fraction hydrotreating reactor which subjects a naphtha fraction obtained in a fractionator by fractional distillation of hydrocarbon compounds produced by a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction to hydrotreating, the method comprising: charging in advance an inactive hydrocarbon compound corresponding to the naphtha fraction into a vapor-liquid separator to which hydrogenated naphtha, which has been subjected to hydrotreating in the naphtha fraction hydrotreating reactor, is transferred; mixing the inactive hydrocarbon compound drawn from the vapor-liquid separator and the naphtha fractions being transferred from the fractionator to the naphtha fraction hydrotreating reactor, and supplying a mixture of the naphtha fractions and the inactive hydrocarbon compound to the naphtha fraction hydrotreating reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignees: JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, Inpex Corporation, Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd., Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd., Nippon Steel Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Tanaka, Hidekatsu Honda
  • Patent number: 8940154
    Abstract: A system and process for the preparation of high quality gasoline through recombination of catalytic hydrocarbon includes fractionator and extractor. The upper part of the fractionator is equipped with light petrol pipeline, the lower part of the fractionator is equipped with heavy petrol pipeline, the middle part of the fractionator is equipped with medium petrol pipeline. The medium petrol pipeline is connected with a medium petrol extractor, the upper part of the medium petrol extractor is connected with the medium petrol raffinate oil hydrogenation unit through the pipeline, the lower part of the medium petrol extractor is connected with the medium petrol aromatic hydrocarbon hydrogenation unit through the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventor: Ranfeng Ding
  • Patent number: 8940254
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for recovering hydroprocessing effluent from a hydroprocessing unit utilizing a hot stripper and a cold stripper. Only the hot hydroprocessing effluent is heated in a fired heater prior to product fractionation, resulting in substantial operating and capital savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard K. Hoehn, David M. Bowman, Xin X. Zhu
  • Publication number: 20140364650
    Abstract: The present invention describes a distributor plate provided with distribution elements having low sensitivity to a lack of horizontality, a distribution element being constituted by two substantially co-axial cylinders termed the inner cylinder (1) and the outer cylinder, the lower horizontal surface (5) separating the two cylinders being closed. The distributor plate is suitable for co-current downflows of gas and liquid, more particularly in “trickle bed” mode. The invention also concerns the application of the distributor plate to processes for the hydrotreatment or hydrogenation of various oil cuts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: IFP Energies nouvelles
    Inventors: Yacine Haroun, Frederic Bazer-Bachi, Frederic Augier, Charly Rogeon, Christophe Boyer
  • Patent number: 8906319
    Abstract: A plate that allows the distribution of a polyphase mixture in a reactor that operates in the trickle mode and that consists of at least one gaseous phase and at least one liquid phase, with the plate (10) being located above a catalytic particle bed, comprising a number of shafts (3), and a portion of the shafts of the plate, located close to the wall of the reactor chamber, called peripheral shafts, are truncated. The plate is used in a reactor for the purpose of carrying out hydrotreatment, hydrogenation, or oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Frederic Bazer-Bachi, Frederic Augier, Yacine Haroun, Christophe Boyer
  • Patent number: 8828218
    Abstract: This invention provides methods for multi-stage hydroprocessing treatment of FCC naphthas for improving the overall production quantity of naphtha boiling-range materials during naphtha production for low sulfur gasolines. Of particular benefit of the present processes is the selective treating of cat naphthas to remove gums instead of undercutting the overall naphtha pool by lowering the end cutpoints of the cat naphtha fraction. This maximizes the amount of refinery cat naphtha that can be directed to the gasoline blending pool while eliminating existing processing problems in hydrodesulfurization units. The processes disclosed herein have the additional benefit of minimizing octane losses in the increased naphtha pool volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: John Peter Greeley, Timothy Lee Hilbert, William Joseph Novak, Rohit Garg
  • Publication number: 20140231309
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a plate for distributing a polyphase mixture in a reactor operating in trickle bed mode constituted by at least one gas phase and at least one liquid phase, the plate (10) being located above a bed of catalytic particles, comprising a plurality of chimneys (3), characterized in that a portion of the chimneys of the plate located near to the wall of the chamber of the reactor, those termed the peripheral chimneys, have an upper portion which is inclined at an angle with respect to the vertical. The invention also concerns the use of the plate in a reactor with a view to carrying out hydrotreatment, hydrogenation or oxidation reactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Frederic Bazer-Bachi, Frederic Augier, Yacine Haroun, Christophe Boyer
  • Patent number: 8809604
    Abstract: A method of hydrotreating liquefied biomass feedstock with diesel feedstock to produce alkanes is demonstrated that prevents damage to the reactor catalyst, reduces coke production, and converts nearly all of the polyols to alkanes. In order to mitigate the potential coking issue and to moderate the temperature of the catalyst bed while maintaining high conversion for sugar alcohol to hydrocarbon via a hydrotreating process, a diesel feedstock is fed over the reactor catalyst with multiple injections of polyol feedstock along the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Jianhua Yao, Edward L. Sughrue, II, Ronald E. Brown
  • Patent number: 8784647
    Abstract: In a process for producing a hydroprocessing catalyst, a particulate metal oxide composition comprising an oxide of at least one first metal selected from Group 6 of the Periodic Table of the Elements can be mixed with particles of a sulfide of at least one second metal selected from Groups 8 to 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements to produce a particulate catalyst precursor. The particulate catalyst precursor can then be sulfided under conditions sufficient to at least partially convert the particulate catalyst precursor into a layered metal sulfide having defect sites associated with the second metal sulfide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Egineering Company
    Inventors: Chris E. Kliewer, Stuart L. Soled, Sabato Miseo, Jeffrey S. Beck
  • Patent number: 8785701
    Abstract: Processes are provided for producing a diesel fuel product having a sulfur content of 10 ppm by weight or less from feed sources that include up to 50% by weight of a biocomponent feedstock. The biocomponent feedstock is co-processed with a heavy oil feed in a severe hydrotreating stage. The product from the severe hydrotreatment stage is fractionated to separate out a diesel boiling range fraction, which is then separately hydrotreated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Kathryn Y. Cole, William E. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8721994
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for recovering hydroprocessing effluent from a hydroprocessing unit utilizing a hot stripper and a cold stripper. The cold stripper and the hot stripper utilize a common overhead recovery apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard K. Hoehn, David M. Bowman, Xin X. Zhu, Vedula K. Murty
  • Patent number: 8715595
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for recovering hydroprocessing effluent from a hydroprocessing unit utilizing a hot stripper and a cold stripper. A net overhead stream from the hot stripper is forwarded to the cold stripper for further stripping. The invention is particularly suitable for hydrotreating residue feed streams. The hot stripped stream may be subjected to fluid catalytic cracking. The apparatus and process eliminates the need for a fired heater in the product recovery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard K. Hoehn, Vedula K. Murty
  • Patent number: 8715596
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for recovering hydroprocessing effluent from a hydroprocessing unit utilizing a hot stripper and a cold stripper. The cold stripper and the hot stripper are contained in the same vessel. A barrier prevents material from the hot stripper from entering into the cold stripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard K. Hoehn, David M. Bowman, Xin X. Zhu
  • Patent number: 8691084
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for extracting and upgrading heavy hydrocarbons from substrates such as oil sands, oil shales, and tar sands in a unitary operation. The substrate bearing the hydrocarbon is brought into contact with a supercritical or near-supercritical fluid, a source of hydrogen such as hydrogen gas, and a catalyst. The materials are mixed and heated under elevated pressure. As a consequence of the elevated temperature and pressure, upgraded hydrocarbon-containing material is provided in a single or unitary operation. In some embodiments, sonication can be used to improve the upgrading process. Fluids suitable for use in the process include carbon dioxide, hexane, and water. It has been observed that upgrading can occur within periods of time of a few hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: University of New Brunswick
    Inventors: Gerard Sean McGrady, Sarah Ann Brough, Christopher Willson
  • Publication number: 20140076776
    Abstract: Methods are provided for qualifying jet fuel fractions that are derived at least in part from pre-refined crude oil sources. The methods allow for determination of the stability of a jet fuel product over time by using an accelerated aging test. The methods are beneficial for verifying the stability of a jet fuel fraction that includes a portion derived from a pre-refined crude oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Roger G. GAUGHAN, Robert T. PETERS, Timothy D. SUTER, Bryan M. KNICKERBOCKER
  • Patent number: 8658026
    Abstract: According to the present invention, organic material is converted to a combustible fluid feedstock comprising methane. A fuel production facility utilizes or arranges to utilize combustible fluid feedstock to generate renewable hydrogen that is used to hydrogenate crude oil derived hydrocarbons in a process to make liquid transportation or heating fuel. The renewable hydrogen is combined with crude oil derived hydrocarbons under conditions to hydrogenate the hydrocarbons with the renewable hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Iogen Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Foody, Patrick J. Foody
  • Patent number: 8563460
    Abstract: A catalyst unit is described comprising a cylinder with a length C and a diameter D, wherein said unit has five holes arranged in a pentagonal pattern extending longitudinally therethrough, with five flutes running along the length of the unit, said flutes positioned equidistant adjacent holes of said pentagonal pattern. The catalyst may be used particularly in steam reforming reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey PLC
    Inventors: David James Birdsall, Mileta Babovic, Mikael Per Uno Carlsson, Samuel Arthur French, Michiel Nijemeisland, William Maurice Sengelow, Edmund Hugh Stitt
  • Patent number: 8557728
    Abstract: A catalyst unit is described in the form of a cylinder having a length C and diameter D, which has one or more holes extending therethrough, wherein said cylinder has domed ends of lengths A and B, such that (A+B+C)/D is in the range 0.50 to 2.00, and (A+B)/C is in the range 0.40 to 5.00. The catalyst or catalyst unit preferably has one or more flutes miming along its length. The catalyst may be used particularly in steam reforming reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey PLC
    Inventors: David James Birdsall, Mileta Babovic, Mikael Per Uno Carlsson, Samuel Arthur French, Michiel Nijemeisland, William Maurice Sengelow, Edmund Hugh Stitt
  • Patent number: 8507738
    Abstract: A co-processing combining a first selective catalytic bed consisting of only one metal element selected from group VIB metals and of at least one conventional hydrotreating bimetallic catalytic bed. The co-processing provides control of the hydroconversion reactions of the triglycerides and/or fatty acids of biomass oil diluted in a refinery stream of petroleum hydrocarbons and minimizes the generation of gaseous products that are undesirable to the process, while maintaining the levels of unsaturated hydrocarbons hydrogenation and of heteroatomic contaminants removal from the refinery stream of petroleum hydrocarbons. The co-processing selectively providing n-paraffins of even number of carbon atoms, generated from the biomass oil, which are incorporated in a hydrotreated liquid product in petroleum refining HDT units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras
    Inventors: Jefferson Roberto Gomes, José Luiz Zotin, Marcelo Edral Pacheco, Raissa Maria Cotta Ferreira Da Silva
  • Patent number: 8487150
    Abstract: In the process for hydrogenating butadiyne over a catalyst which comprises at least one platinum group metal on an inorganic metal oxide as a support, the hydrogenation is performed at a pressure in the range from 1 to 40 bar and a temperature in the range from 0 to 100° C., and from 0.05 to 5% by weight, based on the overall catalyst, of platinum group metal is present on the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Lucia Koenigsmann, Ekkehard Schwab, Piotr Makarczyk, Kai Rainer Ehrhardt, Maximilian Vicari, Thomas Heidemann, Dirk Grossschmidt, Gerrit Waters
  • Patent number: 8425762
    Abstract: An MCM-41 catalyst having a crystalline framework containing SiO2 and a Group IV metal oxide, such as TiO2 or ZrO2 is provided. The catalyst is low in acidity and is suitable for use in processes involving aromatic saturation of hydrocarbon feedstocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Stephen J. McCarthy, Wenyih Frank Lai, Michel A. Daage
  • Publication number: 20130092601
    Abstract: This invention relates to a plate that allows the distribution of a polyphase mixture in a reactor that operates in the trickle mode and that consists of at least one gaseous phase and at least one liquid phase, with the plate (10) being located above a catalytic particle bed, comprising a number of shafts (3), characterized in that a portion of the shafts of the plate, located close to the wall of the reactor chamber, called peripheral shafts, are truncated. The invention also relates to the use of the plate in a reactor for the purpose of carrying out reactions of hydrotreatment, hydrogenation, or oxidation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventor: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
  • Patent number: 8389781
    Abstract: The catalyst comprises at least a metal component and at least a non-metallic conducting component as supplement component. The metal component generally contains one or more metals of the groups VIb, VIIb or VIIIb of the periodic table. The supplement component is e.g. a conducting carbon material like graphite, a conducting polymer or a conducting metal oxide. Preferably it is hydrophobic or made hydrophobic. The catalyst is used for hydroprocessing of bio-feedstock like vegetable oils to produce fuels, which are aliphatic hydrocarbons comparable to conventional fuel from mineral oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Aggregate Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Gerd Sandstede, Thomas Lehmann
  • Patent number: 8367883
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing naphtha, wherein, in hydrogenation of a naphtha fraction which is fractionated from synthetic oil (FT synthetic oil) obtained by Fisher-Tropsch synthesis, the hydrogenised component is recycled and the recycled amount thereof is adjusted to reduce a olefin content in a hydro-refining apparatus whereby heat generation is suppressed and unstable operation of the hydro-refining apparatus can be stabilized. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing naphtha, wherein a cut point for fractionating a naphtha fraction from FT synthetic oil is adjusted to reduce the amount of olefin in a hydro-refining apparatus whereby unstable operation of the hydro-refining apparatus can be stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignees: Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, Inpex Corporation, Nippon Oil Corporation, Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd., Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd., Nippon Steel Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8309777
    Abstract: An aromatics hydrogenation catalyst composition which comprises a noble metal component and a support comprising zirconia, silica, and, optionally, alumina. The catalyst composition is manufactured by co-mulling silica, a zirconium compound, and, optionally, alumina to form a mixture that is formed into a shape, such as by extrusion to form an extrudate, with the shape being calcined and noble metal being incorporated into the shape. The catalyst composition may be used in the saturation of aromatic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: John Anthony Smegal, Johannes Anthonius Robert Van Veen
  • Patent number: 8308949
    Abstract: Methods for selective extraction and fractionation of algal lipids and algal products are disclosed. A method of selective removal of products from an algal biomass provides for single and multistep extraction processes which enable efficient separation of algal components. Among these components are neutral lipids synthesized by algae, which are extracted by the methods disclosed herein for the production of renewable fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Patent number: 8308951
    Abstract: A method for separating proteins from plant material, in particular, intact algal cells, using an amphipathic solvent set and a hydrophobic solvent set. Some embodiments include dewatering intact algal cells and then extracting proteins from the algal cells. The methods provide for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal proteins from a wet algal biomass. These proteins are high value products which can be used as renewable sources of food and food additives. Neutral lipids remaining in the algal biomass after extraction of proteins can be used to generate renewable fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Patent number: 8293108
    Abstract: A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids from the algal biomass, and esterifying the neutral lipids with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Heliae Developmet, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Patent number: 8288600
    Abstract: A process for producing fuel from biomass is disclosed herein. The process includes torrefying biomass material at a temperature between 80° C. to 400° C. to form particulated biomass having a mean average particle size between 1 ?m and 1000 ?m. The particulated biomass is mixed with a liquid hydrocarbon to form a suspension, wherein the suspension includes from 1 weight percent to 40 weight percent particulated biomass. The suspension is fed into a unit selected from the group consisting of a pyrolysis reactor, a fluid catalytic cracking unit, a delayed coker, a fluid coker, a hydroprocessing unit, and a hydrocracking unit, and then at least a portion of the particulated biomass of the suspension is converted into fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: KiOR Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bartek, Michael Brady, Dennis Stamires, Steve Yanik, Paul O'Connor, Jacobus Cornelius Rasser
  • Patent number: 8287722
    Abstract: A method of hydrogenation of heavy oil. A first step involves providing a continuous pipe reactor defining a serpentine flow path. A second step involves heating heavy oil to lower the viscosity of the heavy oil. A third step involves pumping a turbulent flow of heavy oil and hydrogen through the continuous pipe reactor to promote addition of hydrogen into the heavy oil. The method has improved mass transfer due to the continuous turbulent flow through the continuous pipe reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventors: José Lourenco, Hannu Salokangas
  • Patent number: 8273248
    Abstract: A method for separating neutral lipids from plant material, in particular, intact algal cells, using an amphipathic solvent set and a hydrophobic solvent set. Some embodiments include dewatering intact algal cells and then extracting neutral lipids from the algal cells. The methods provide for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal neutral lipids from a wet algal biomass while avoiding emulsification of extraction mixtures. The neutral lipids are removed after first removing a polar lipid fraction and a protein fraction. These neutral lipids can be used to generate renewable fuels as well as food products and supplements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Publication number: 20120211401
    Abstract: A process for hydrotreating a naphtha fraction that includes a step of estimating the difference between the naphtha fraction hydrotreating reactor outlet temperature and inlet temperature, based on the reaction temperature of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction and the ratio of the flow rate of the treated naphtha fraction returned to the naphtha fraction hydrotreating step relative to the flow rate of the treated naphtha fraction discharged from the naphtha fraction hydrotreating step, a step of measuring the difference between the naphtha fraction hydrotreating reactor outlet temperature and inlet temperature, and a step of adjusting the reaction temperature of the naphtha fraction hydrotreating step so that the measured difference between the naphtha fraction hydrotreating reactor outlet temperature and inlet temperature becomes substantially equal to the estimated difference between the naphtha fraction hydrotreating reactor outlet temperature and inlet temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Tasaka, Yuichi Tanaka, Marie Iwama
  • Patent number: 8197559
    Abstract: Process for the continuous hydrogenation of triglyceride containing raw materials in a fixed bed reactor system having several catalyst beds arranged in series and comprising hydrogenation catalyst. The raw material feed, hydrogen containing gas and diluting agent are passed together through the catalyst beds at hydrogenation conditions. The raw material feed stream as well as the stream of hydrogen containing gas are divided into an equal number of different partial streams. These are each passed to one catalyst bed in such a manner that the weight ratio of diluting agent to raw material feed is essentially the same at the entrance of all catalyst beds and does not exceed 4:1. The claimed process is preferably conducted at low temperatures and allows the utilization of existing units due to the low recycle ratio. Further, a sufficient excess of hydrogen is used so that no valuable product is lost through decarb-reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: IFP Energies nouvelles
    Inventors: Detlef Abe, Frank Eschenroder, David Laban, Hartmut Schutter, Laurent Bournay, Thierry Chapus, Nathalie Dupassieux
  • Patent number: 8182556
    Abstract: A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, sequentially adding solvent sets to the algal biomass, and sequentially separating solid biomass fractions from liquid fractions to arrive at a liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids. The method also includes esterifying the neutral lipids, separating a water miscible fraction comprising glycerin from a water immiscible fraction comprising fuel esters, carotenoids, and omega-3 fatty acids. The method also includes obtaining a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Haliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Patent number: 8173009
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for improving a hydrotreated stream for lubricating a machine. The hydrotreated stream can include an effective amount of one or more saturated hydrocarbons. Generally, the process includes hydrogenating the hydrotreated stream having no more than about 300 ppm, by weight, sulfur based on the weight of the stream in a hydrogenation reaction zone to produce a product stream having no more than about 5 ppm, by weight, sulfur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Tom N. Kalnes
  • Patent number: 8152870
    Abstract: A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, sequentially adding solvent sets to the algal biomass, and sequentially separating solid biomass fractions from liquid fractions to arrive at a liquid fraction comprising neutral lipids. The method also includes esterifying the neutral lipids, separating a water miscible fraction comprising glycerin from a water immiscible fraction comprising fuel esters, carotenoids, and omega-3 fatty acids. The method also includes obtaining a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Patent number: 8143469
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing saturated C5-C28 hydrocarbons, suitable as diesel fuels, kerosenes and gasolines, comprising the steps where feedstock derived from starting material of biological origin, is subjected to a condensation step and subsequently subjected to a combined hydrodefunctionalization and isomerization step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Neste Oil Oyj
    Inventors: Eija Koivusalmi, Rami Piilola, Pekka Aalto
  • Patent number: 8137556
    Abstract: A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids from the algal biomass, and esterifying the neutral lipids with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Patent number: 8137555
    Abstract: A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids from the algal biomass, and esterifying the neutral lipids with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Patent number: 8137558
    Abstract: A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids from the algal biomass, and esterifying the neutral lipids with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Patent number: 8063258
    Abstract: A process for producing fuel from biomass is disclosed herein. The process includes torrefying biomass material at a temperature between 80° C. and 300° C. to form particulated biomass having a mean average particle size from about 1 ?m to about 1000 ?m. The particulated biomass is mixed with a liquid to form a suspension, wherein the liquid comprises bio-oil, wherein the suspension includes between 1 weight percent to 40 weight percent particulated biomass. The suspension is fed into a hydropyrolysis reactor; and at least a portion of the particulated biomass of the suspension is converted into fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Kior Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bartek, Michael Brady, Dennis Stamires
  • Patent number: 8038869
    Abstract: Processes and systems are provided for removing contaminants from a vapor stream containing hydrocarbon and hydrogen, and can include: providing a feed stream to a first pressurized vapor liquid separator that produces a liquid stream and a vapor stream containing hydrocarbon and hydrogen, passing the vapor stream to an inlet of a particulate trap containing a plurality of treatment zones that remove contaminants from the vapor stream to produce a particulate trap effluent, and passing the particulate trap effluent directly to a catalytic hydrogenation zone. The processes and systems can also include: passing the liquid stream from the first pressurized vapor liquid separator to a second vapor liquid separator that produces an overhead vapor stream and a liquid bottoms stream, condensing the overhead vapor stream from the second vapor liquid separator to form a liquid overhead stream, routing the liquid overhead stream to the inlet of the particulate trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Tom N. Kalnes