By Distillation Patents (Class 208/41)
  • Patent number: 10184721
    Abstract: An auxiliary heat exchanger that is used in conjunction with thermoplastic melter kettles. The auxiliary heat exchanger receives molten thermoplastic material from the bottom of a melter kettle, transports the molten thermoplastic material though the auxiliary heat exchanger and feeds the molten thermoplastic material into the top of the melter kettle thereby mixing hotter molten thermoplastic material from the bottom of the melter kettle into cooler thermoplastic material near the top of the melter kettle. The auxiliary heat exchanger includes an oil bath chamber and parallel heat transfer tubes that are arranged in a serpentine configuration and include motor drive augers to transport molten thermoplastic material through the auxiliary heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Inventor: James P. Shea
  • Publication number: 20150076031
    Abstract: A process for producing mesophase pitch from high-temperature coal tar comprises: removing salts and quinoline insoluble fraction from a high-temperature coal tar to obtain a decant oil; using the decant oil as a hydrogenation feedstock, or pre-distilling the decant oil to obtain a residue with a boiling point higher than 230 and formulating the residue into a hydrogenation feedstock; catalytic hydrorefining the hydrogenation feedstock to obtain a hydrofined oil; distilling the hydrofined oil to obtain hydrogenated pitch; and subjecting the hydrogenated pitch to the thermal polymerization to obtain the mesophase pitch. The process has features such as an easily controllable degree of hydrogenation, complete removal of impurities, good raw material flowability, not tending to form the carbon deposition and the coking during the process, and not tending to jam the reactor. The product has a high content of mesophase pitch, a low softening point and a low impurity content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: DALIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hongmei Zhao, Jieshan Qiu, Kam Shing Philip Siu, Baoming Li, Junde Steve Lu, Nan Xiao
  • Patent number: 8968551
    Abstract: Methods are provided for forming an asphalt fraction corresponding to a blend of asphalts, the asphalt fraction having at least one property that is unexpectedly better than the expected property value based on the individual asphalts used in the blend. The unexpectedly beneficial blends of asphalts are formed in part by including an effective amount of a Napo crude oil or crude fraction in the feed used to form the asphalt fraction. For some asphalt blends, including an effective amount of a Napo crude in the feed can allow for production of an asphalt with a low temperature performance grade that is lower than the predicted value by at least 0.5° C., such as at least 0.75° C. or at least 1.0° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Lyle Edwin Moran, Mary Josephine Gale
  • Publication number: 20140174981
    Abstract: Methods are provided for forming an asphalt fraction corresponding to a blend of asphalts, the asphalt fraction having at least one property that is unexpectedly better than the expected property value based on the individual asphalts used in the blend. The unexpectedly beneficial blends of asphalts are formed in part by including an effective amount of a Napo crude oil or crude fraction in the feed used to form the asphalt fraction. For some asphalt blends, including an effective amount of a Napo crude in the feed can allow for production of an asphalt with a low temperature performance grade that is lower than the predicted value by at least 0.5° C., such as at least 0.75° C. or at least 1.0° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Lyle Edwin Moran, Mary Josephine Gale
  • Patent number: 8758597
    Abstract: A saturated elastomeric mixture is disclosed having a cured or vulcanized elastomer crumb rubber and atmospheric distillations bottoms residue is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Inventor: John D. Osborn
  • Patent number: 8747651
    Abstract: A high coking value pitch prepared from coal tar distillate and has a low softening point and a high carbon value while containing substantially no quinoline insolubles is disclosed. The pitch can be used as an impregnant or binder for producing carbon and graphite articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: GrafTech International Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Miller, Ching-Feng Chang, Irwin C. Lewis, Richard T. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8728300
    Abstract: Systems and methods for deasphalting a hydrocarbon are provided. A hydrocarbon can be heated to a first temperature and pressurized to a first pressure. The pressurized hydrocarbon can be depressurized to separate at least a portion of the hydrocarbon to provide a vaporized hydrocarbon mixture and a residual hydrocarbon that can include asphaltenes. The residual hydrocarbon can be mixed with a solvent to provide a first mixture. The first mixture can be heated to a second temperature. The asphaltenes can be separated from the first mixture to provide a first product and a second product. The first product can include a deasphalted oil and at least a portion of the solvent. The second product can include the asphaltenes and the remaining portion of the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventors: Rashid Iqbal, Odette Eng
  • Publication number: 20140021093
    Abstract: Pitch is obtained, in a reactor configured for the atmospheric process, from a feedstock of oil hydrocarbons consisting of a feedstock_of decanted oil. In the process, the feedstock is subjected to heating stages in reflux and distillation conditions with removal of volatile products generated, wherein the gaseous products are eliminated at each stage and the successively generated residual products comprise a final residue recovered as a predominantly isotropic pitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: PETROLEO BRASILEIRO S.A. - PETROBRAS
    Inventors: Luiz Depine De Castro, Carlos Henrique Monteiro De Castro Dutra, Wladmir Ferraz De Souza
  • Patent number: 8580105
    Abstract: The invention presented here deals with getting one of the raw materials of a new refractory binder system, the modified coal-tar pitch starting with heating the coal-tar, according to the specific distillation curve, later reaching a final distillation temperature of around 470° C., resulting in getting a final compound with a concentration of benzo(a)pyrene in the order of 600 ppm, together with the mixture of other raw materials for the composition of the binder system, such as anthracene oil (AO), soybean oil, linseed oil, castor oil, diesel oil, rapeseed oil, biodiesel, biopitch (Vegetable tar), paraffin, dextrin (corn starch), stearine, paraffin, vegetable waxes (cupuassu seed, shea nut, murumuru palm waxes), phenolic resins, furane resins, urethanes, epoxy, vinyl chloride, polyethylene and ethyl polyterephthalate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain do Brasil Produtos Industriais e para Construção Ltda.
    Inventor: Sérgio Murilo Justus
  • Patent number: 8540870
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products. The heavy hydrocarbon feed is slurried with a particulate solid material to form a heavy hydrocarbon slurry and hydrocracked in a slurry hydrocracking unit to produce vacuum gas oil (VGO) and pitch. A first vacuum column separates VGO from pitch, and a second vacuum column further separates VGO from pitch. As much as 15 wt-% of VGO can be recovered by the second vacuum column and recycled to the slurry hydrocracking unit. A pitch composition is obtained which can be made into particles and transported without sticking together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, David N. Myers, Mark Van Wees, Paul R. Zimmerman, Ruth Buskus Kleinworth
  • Publication number: 20130036714
    Abstract: A continuous process for fractioning, combination, and recombination of asphalt sources into asphalt components for pelletization of asphalt and asphalt-containing products such that the pellets formed are generally uniform in dimension, freely flowing, free from agglomeration, and the pelletized asphalt is packaged, and preferably compatibly packaged, for additional processing and applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: GALA INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: John Bolton, Roger B. Wright
  • Patent number: 8372777
    Abstract: Method of contacting a hydrocarbon feed with a catalyst that includes one or more metals from Column 6 of the Periodic Table and/or one or more compounds of one or more metals from Column 6 of the Periodic Table and a support. The support comprises from 0.01 grams to 0.2 gram of silica and from 0.80 grams to 0.99 grams of alumina per gram of support. The catalyst has a surface area of at least 340 m2/g, a pore size distribution with a median pore diameter of at most 100 ?, and at least 80% of its pore volume in pores having a pore diameter of at most 300 ? or the catalyst exhibits one or more peaks between 35 degrees and 70 degrees, and at least one of the peaks has a base width of at least 10 degrees, as determined by x-ray diffraction at 2-theta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Opinder Kishan Bhan, Scott Lee Wellington
  • Patent number: 8202403
    Abstract: A distillation tower for use in a petrochemical or petroleum operation effects liquid and vapor separation by using centrifugal force applied to the feed introduced into a ring from a tangential inlet. The feed is separated into a liquid component that flows into the bottoms section of the tower and a vapor component that flows upwardly through the core of the ring to a wash zone in the tower. De-entrainment devices are provided in the core so that the vapor swirling upwardly impacts the devices and any remaining entrained liquid is separated from the vapor. As a result, overflash with decreased resid can be collected from the wash zone and used as feed suitable for a fluid catalytic cracking operation, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Theodore Sideropoulos, Arun K. Sharma
  • Publication number: 20120091032
    Abstract: Systems and methods for deasphalting a hydrocarbon are provided. A hydrocarbon can be heated to a first temperature and pressurized to a first pressure. The pressurized hydrocarbon can be depressurized to separate at least a portion of the hydrocarbon to provide a vaporized hydrocarbon mixture and a residual hydrocarbon that can include asphaltenes. The residual hydrocarbon can be mixed with a solvent to provide a first mixture. The first mixture can be heated to a second temperature. The asphaltenes can be separated from the first mixture to provide a first product and a second product. The first product can include a deasphalted oil and at least a portion of the solvent. The second product can include the asphaltenes and the remaining portion of the solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: KELLOGG BROWN & ROOT LLC
    Inventors: Rashid Iqbal, Odette Eng
  • Publication number: 20110284424
    Abstract: A process for producing a caking additive for coke production, the process including a step of extracting a solvent deasphalted pitch that can be used as a caking additive for coke production from a residue containing at least one of an atmospheric residue obtained by atmospheric distillation of a crude oil and a vacuum residue obtained by atmospheric distillation and vacuum distillation of a crude oil, wherein the extraction is performed using, as a solvent, a light reformate obtained by catalytic reforming a naphtha fraction that is fractionated from a crude oil by atmospheric distillation of the crude oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Nakamura, Takushi Nagashima, Kenjiro Matsuoka, Kouichi Inoue, Daisuke Anraku
  • Patent number: 8021537
    Abstract: The present invention provides for steam generation replacing natural gas with a selected refined product of a feedstock of bitumen, asphaltenes or heavy oil using locally produced surplus bitumen, asphaltene or heavy oil, separating the asphaltenes and other components of the feedstock for use in providing a liquid fuel for steam generation. The lighter products from the separation equipment not used for liquid fuel may be blended into the produced bitumen, asphaltenes or heavy oil, to increase its API gravity and reduce the diluent required for transportation. This technology may be employed in open pit mining operations for the generation of steam and power. The refined components of the feedstock used to provide liquid fuel are selected to optimize energy output balancing planned energy demand against the value of the components of the feedstock used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: ACS Engineering Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sujit K. Sarkar, David J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8017000
    Abstract: Process for the conversion of heavy feedstocks selected from heavy crude oils, distillation residues, heavy oils coming from catalytic treatment, thermal tars, oil sand bitumens, various kinds of coals and other high-boiling feedstocks of a hydrocarbon origin known as black oils, by the combined use of the following three process units: hydroconversion with catalysts in slurry phase (HT), distillation or flash (D), and deasphalting (SDA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: ENI S.p.A., SNAMPROGETTI S.p.A., ENITECNOLOGIE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Romolo Montanari, Mario Marchionna, Nicoletta Panariti, Alberto Delbianco, Sergio Rosi
  • Publication number: 20110094937
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing one or more hydrocarbons are provided. A hydrocarbon can be selectively separated to provide one or more finished products and an asphaltenic hydrocarbon using a pretreatment process. The asphaltenic hydrocarbon can be selectively separated to provide a deasphalted oil and one or more asphaltenes. At least a portion of the deasphalted oil can be converted to one or more first products using a first post-treatment process. At least a portion of the one or more asphaltenes can be converted to one or more second products using a second post-treatment process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: KELLOGG BROWN & ROOT LLC
    Inventors: Anand Subramanian, Raymond Floyd
  • Publication number: 20110036751
    Abstract: A contactor/separator is formed from a vessel; an inlet for receiving a vapor/liquid mixture; an inlet for receiving a superheated vapor; a hub located within the vessel, the hub including a plurality of vanes for imparting a centrifugal motion to the vapor/liquid mixture or the superheated vapor; an outlet in a bottom of the vessel for removing liquid; and an outlet for removing vapor from the vessel. A method is also provided for heating and separating liquid and vapor from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising introducing a hydrocarbon feedstock into a contactor/separator: introducing a superheated vapor into the contactor/separator such that it contacts and vaporizes a portion of the feedstock within the contactor/separator; separating unvaporized feedstock from vaporized feedstock in the contactor/separator; removing the vaporized feedstock and the superheated vapor through a first outlet; and removing the unvaporized feedstock through a second outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Louis Edward STEIN, Danny Yuk Kwan Ngan, Arthur James Baumgartner, Karl Gregory Anderson, Raul Jasso Garcia, SR., Richard Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 7811444
    Abstract: A method for processing asphaltenes is disclosed. The method can include separating asphaltenes from an asphaltene-containing composition and oxidizing the separated asphaltenes to form oxidation products. Alternatively, the method can include oxidizing asphaltenes within an asphaltene-containing composition without first separating the asphaltenes. Once formed, the oxidation products can be combined with other hydrocarbons. The amount of oxidation can be limited to an amount sufficient to produce a mixture suitable for the desired application. This method can be used to upgrade asphaltenes from a variety of sources, including oil sands. The oxidation step can be performed, for example, by introducing an oxidizing agent and, in some cases, a catalyst into the asphaltenes. A solvent or miscibility agent also can be introduced to improve mixing between the oxidizing agent and the asphaltenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Willem P. C. Duyvesteyn, Raymond L. Morley
  • Patent number: 7772145
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing carbon-bonded refractory products from refractory granulations and organic binder agents, wherein a powdery, graphitable coal-tar pitch with a benzo[a]pyrene content less than 500 mg/kg and a coking value of at least about 80% by weight according to DIN 51905 and a graphitable binder agent liquid at room temperature, with a coking value of at least about 15% by weight and a benzo[a]pyrene content less than 500 ppm according to DIN 51905, are used as organic binder agent, mixed with the remaining constituents, transferred to a mould body, then heat treated at a temperature of 150 to about 400° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Rütgers Chemicals AG
    Inventors: Christos Aneziris, Winfried Lothar Boenigk, Dmitry Borzov, Christoph Jacob, Jens Stiegert, Dirk Schnitzler, Joachim Ulbricht
  • Patent number: 7736490
    Abstract: Systems and methods for contacting a crude feed with one or more catalysts produces a total product that include a crude product are described. The crude product is a liquid mixture at 25° C. and 0.101 MPa. The one or more catalysts may include one or more vanadium catalysts. Methods and compositions of the one or more vanadium catalysts are described. One or more properties of the crude product may be changed by at least 10% relative to the respective properties of the crude feed. In some embodiments, hydrogen is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Opinder Kishan Bhan, Scott Lee Wellington
  • Publication number: 20100078356
    Abstract: This invention describes a process for the distillation of decanted oil to improve the efficiency of the production of pitches having excellent physical and chemical properties through the development of a distillation process which basically comprises the introduction of a stage of condensation of light volatile compounds derived from distillation of the decanted oil, causing these light compounds to be recycled to the hot zone of the still and react with the raw material acting as a solvent phase which has a lower viscosity than the reaction system, within a particular temperature range and for a particular time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: PETROLEO BRASILEIRO S.A. - PETROBRAS
    Inventors: Luiz Depine de Castro, Carlos Henrique Monteiro de Castro Dutra, Luiz Clovis de Freitas
  • Publication number: 20100059411
    Abstract: A method to upgrade virgin and partially hydrogenated asphaltic residual oils by utilizing hot, high velocity combustion gas jets to rapidly atomize and heat the residual oil, maintaining the reactant temperature required to achieve the desired residual oil conversion with the minimum practical residence time, rapidly separating vapor and liquid reactants, and rapidly cooling the vapor and liquid products. The minimum required temperature and practical residence time are used for the production of deasphalted oil and asphaltene products with minimum degradation due to thermal cracking. The maximum conversion of residual oil may be substantially increased by combining a portion of the heavy oil product with the residual oil feed and partially hydrogenating this mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventor: Donald Prentice Satchell, JR.
  • Patent number: 7662275
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method of providing water management and utilization during the process of dewatering and retorting of oil shale. More specifically, the process described relates to co-producing potable and non-potable water, for various uses, during the extraction of petroleum from shale oil deposits. Generally, the process allows the production of multiple streams of waters or varying salinity and pressures at least one of which is of high enough pressure for reinsertion into geological formations or reservoirs, and another which may supply a potable water source. In one embodiment, the high pressure required for reinserting the non-potable water into geological formation or reservoirs may be utilized for producing the potable water supply. In another embodiment, the non-potable water supply may also be used for entraining and sequestering undesired emissions, such as CO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Colorado School of Mines
    Inventor: John R. Dorgan
  • Patent number: 7648625
    Abstract: Methods and systems for contacting a crude feed with one or more catalysts produces a total product that include a crude product are described. The crude product is a liquid mixture at 25° C. and 0.101 MPa. One or more properties of the crude product may be changed by at least 10% relative to the respective properties of the crude feed. The produced crude product may include sulfur, residue, Micro-Carbon Residue, C5 asphaltenes, or mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Opinder Kishan Bhan, Scott Lee Wellington
  • Patent number: 7625479
    Abstract: A binder pitch material includes a petroleum pitch and asphalt fraction obtained from petroleum crude oil and has a significantly lower polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon composition than a coal tar pitch having a like softening point. The pitch material is useful as a binder material for various applications such as clay pigeons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC
    Inventors: Melvin D. Kiser, David C. Boyer
  • Patent number: 7465387
    Abstract: A method of making a carbon/graphite product using a coal tar pitch having a softening point in the range of about 150° C. to 250° C. Also, a carbon/graphite product having a softening point in the range of about 150° C. to 250° C. A method of making mesophase pitch is formed from quinoline insoluble free coal tar pitch distillate from a high efficiency evaporative distillation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Koppers Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Golubic, Kenneth C. Krupinski, William E. Saver, David R. Snyder, Robert H. Wombles
  • Publication number: 20080210597
    Abstract: A high quality asphalt containing pitch is generated as a by-product in a solvent deasphalting process and a method of preparing the same. The pitch is obtained by subjecting a mixture comprising a first vacuum residue and a first petroleum distillate, which is lighter than the vacuum residue and has high amounts of aromatic and resin, to solvent deasphalting. The operation conditions of the solvent deasphalting process are appropriately controlled, such that aromatic and resin components contained in the atmospheric residue and vacuum residue can be distributed to the pitch, and as well, a saturate can be removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: SK Energy Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ik Sang Yoo, Myung Jun Kim, Soon Man Cha, Gyoo Tae Kim, Cheol Joong Kim, Ki Byung Kim, Sung Bum Park, Yoon Mang Hwang
  • Patent number: 7393449
    Abstract: A binder pitch material includes a petroleum pitch and asphalt fraction obtained from petroleum crude oil and has a significantly lower polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon composition than a coal tar pitch having a like softening point. The pitch material is useful as a binder material for various applications such as clay pigeons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC
    Inventors: Melvin D. Kiser, David C. Boyer
  • Patent number: 7341656
    Abstract: The present invention provides a way to process heavier hydrocarbons in a relatively low cost and low pressure process using a combination of superheated steam and at least one reaction gas to i) promote oxidation and thermal reaction of heavier hydrocarbons, while simultaneously ii) removing volatile components with a steam stripping process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Marathon Ashland Petroleum Co. LLC
    Inventors: Donald P. Malone, Patricia K. Doolin, Howard F. Moore
  • Patent number: 7318890
    Abstract: A process for fractionating crude pitch by direct contact heating with molten metal is disclosed. The crude pitch, which may contain water, contaminants and/or distillables is heated by direct contact heat exchange with molten metal, preferably maintained as a metal continuous bath, operating at a temperature of 100 to 600° C. The molten metal heating zone is maintained at a temperature and pressure sufficient to vaporize a desired amount of contaminants or volatile material from crude pitch to produce pitch product having a desired softening point. New pitch materials, having a softening point above those achievable by conventional techniques, are also produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: DTX Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Donald P. Malone
  • Patent number: 7318891
    Abstract: A process for producing pitch from pitch precursors, such as wood tar, coal tar or petroleum fractions is disclosed. Direct contact heat exchange of the pitch precursor with molten metal, preferably maintained as a metal continuous bath, heats the pitch precursor to a temperature sufficient to induce thermal polymerization reactions and produce a pitch product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: DTX Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Donald P. Malone
  • Patent number: 7220348
    Abstract: The present invention provides a way to increase the softening point of heavier hydrocarbons in a relatively low cost and low pressure process using superheated steam to i) increase the carbon yield of the heavier hydrocarbons, while simultaneously ii) removing volatile components with a steam stripping process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC
    Inventors: Donald P. Malone, Howard F. Moore, Melvin D. Kiser
  • Patent number: 7208570
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of refining crude tall oil. According to the method, the crude tall oil is fed into a column distiller, where it is separated into desired fractions. The conditions of the column distiller are adjusted on the basis of the composition of the feed and the product flow. According to the present invention, the densities of the crude tall oil fed into the column distiller and of at least one product flow are measured accurately as a function of the temperature. The density values are compared with correlation coefficients derived from the chemical compositions of the flows, coefficients which are obtained on the basis of laboratory analyses made earlier from corresponding flows, by using temperature compensation to specify the correlations, and by taking account of the regular variation in the wood composition of fresh wood according to the annual cycle and, as a result, the compositions of the flows are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Forchem Oy
    Inventor: Juhani Saviainen
  • Patent number: 7066997
    Abstract: A method of making the saturated aircraft brake preform using a coal tar pitch having a softening point in the range of about 160° C. to 240° C. Also, a product having natural rubber in the formulation and the method of making the product using a coal tar pitch having a softening point in the range of about 140° C. to 200° C. A mesophase pitch is formed from quinoline insoluble free coal tar pitch distillate from a high efficiency evaporative distillation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Koppers Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Golubic, Kenneth C. Krupinski, William E. Saver, David R. Snyder, Robert H. Wombles
  • Patent number: 7033485
    Abstract: Described are methods that utilize high efficiency evaporative distillation to make a high softening point coal tar pitch, a quinoline insoluble-free and ash-free coal tar pitch having a desired softening point, and a mesophase coal tar pitch. Each of the methods uses a feed coal tar pitch having a softening point in the range of 70° C. to 160° C. The methods may be carried out using appropriate conventional distillation equipment, a wiped film evaporator, or a thin film evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Koppers Industries of Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Saver, E. Ronald McHenry
  • Patent number: 6878263
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rubber process oil in which the content of polycyclic aromatics (PCAs) as determined by the IP 346 method is less than 3% by mass and which is rich in aromatic hydrocarbons, and a method for producing the same. The aniline point of the rubber process oil is 80° C. or less, and the % CA value as determined by ring analysis according to the Kurtz method is from 20 to 50%. The rubber process oil is produced by using extraction of lube oil fraction with a solvent having a selective affinity for aromatics. The extraction conditions are determined so that the extraction yield is regulated to a predetermined requirement defined by the PCAs content of the lube oil fraction. Alternatively, the extract is cooled to further separate into the extract and the raffinate, and the second raffinate is used for the rubber process oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Japan Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kaimai, Kazumitsu Fujihara, Yoshiyuki Morishima
  • Patent number: 6605208
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed that relate generally to a process for reducing harmful or unwanted emissions during the production of asphalt, such as blue smoke. The process includes the introduction of a pump around of the wax oil fraction for re-introduction into the vacuum tower. Additional desirable features include stripping trays below the wax oil collection tray and the feed zone. The result is to produce an asphalt product that creates less blue smoke in the hot mix plant. Another desirable feature is that a product can be created that meets Performance Grade specifications with the addition of polymers or other additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventors: Kenneth Hucker, Sanford P. Brass
  • Publication number: 20020185411
    Abstract: Described are methods that utilize high efficiency evaporative distillation to make a high softening point coal tar pitch, a quinoline insoluble-free and ash-free coal tar pitch having a desired softening point, and a mesophase coal tar pitch. Each of the methods uses a feed coal tar pitch having a softening point in the range of 70° C. to 160° C. The methods may be carried out using appropriate conventional distillation equipment, a wiped film evaporator, or a thin film evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: William E. Saver, E. Ronald McHenry
  • Patent number: 6352637
    Abstract: A high coking value pitch with a relatively low softening point is disclosed. A pitch is distilled or thermally processed to produce an intermediate pitch with an increased coking value and relatively high softening point, then blended with a cutter solvent of a liquid hydrocarbon stream to form a product pitch. The process may be used to increase the coking value of either petroleum or coal tar pitch. Preferably the cutter solvent is methylnaphthalene, or a highly aromatic, low viscosity oil or similar aromatic rich stream having a substantially lower boiling point than the intermediate pitch product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Marathon Ashland Petroleum, LLC
    Inventors: Patricia K. Doolin, Melvin D. Kiser, Robert H. Wombles
  • Publication number: 20010045377
    Abstract: A novel process for the production of an extract useful as a process oil and a raffinate useful as a high-viscosity base oil by solvent refining is provided, characterized in that reduced pressure distillation is effected under the condition that the end point of distillate is 580° C. or higher as calculated in terms of atmospheric pressure or the initial boiling point of the residue is 450° C. or higher as calculated in terms of atmospheric pressure, the resulting residual oil is deasphalted under the condition that the carbon residue content in the deasphalted oil reached 1.6% or less, and the resulting deasphalted oil is subjected to solvent refining under the condition that the yield of extract is from 35% to 60%. It is a novel and economically excellent process for the preparation of a rubber process oil having a high safety, a high penetrating power with respect to rubber polymer and the content of PCA extract of less than 3%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Morishima, Kenji Fujino
  • Patent number: 6319392
    Abstract: The invention concerns a coal tar extract with reduced polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and benzo(a)pyrene content and a method for obtaining same using two sequentially linked distillation systems. The invention also concerns cosmetic and dermatological preparations containing said resulting coal tar extract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmetique
    Inventor: Roger Navarro
  • Patent number: 6194344
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of a high-softening-point pitch rich in mesopores having a softening point measured by temperature gradient method of 150° C. or higher, a weight loss by heating up to 300° C. of 5 wt. % or less and mesopores of 100 mm3/g or greater, in terms of minute pore volume calculated by the Dollimore-Heal method, and a process for making carbonaceous materials carrying metal thereon are disclosed. The high-softening-point pitch rich in mesopores can easily provide carbonaceous material carrying metal thereon by using no oxidizing agent such as nitric acid, and, therefore, the high-softening-point pitch rich in mesopores is especially suitable for the production of carbonaceous materials carrying metal thereon or highly crystalline graphitized carbonaceous materials in a short heating time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Maruzen Petrochemical Co., LTD
    Inventors: Masatoshi Tsuchitani, Ryoichi Nakajima, Kiyotaka Suzuki, Hitoshi Shigematsu, Katsutoshi Nishitani
  • Patent number: 6048447
    Abstract: An asphalt composition is provided which contains i) an asphalt component containing solvent-deasphalted bottoms, ii) a rerefined lube bottoms fraction, iii) an optional fluxing component, and iv) an optional vacuum bottoms component. The invention further relates to a method of preparing the asphalt composition and a paving composition containing same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC
    Inventors: Roger E. Hayner, Patricia K. Doolin, Howard F. Moore, Donald P. Malone
  • Patent number: 5958365
    Abstract: Heavy crude oil is recovered and processed at a refinery through (a) a distillation zone(s), (b) a solvent deasphalting unit (c ) a high pressure air partial oxidation gasifier to produce a CO-rich gas mixture including hydrogen, (d) a shift reactor and (e) a purification step to produce 99.9% pure hydrogen. The hydrogen is used to treat a deasphalted oil fraction and distillate hydrocarbon fractions obtained from the crude oil. The process is considered integrated in the sense that the purified hydrogen recovered from the heavy crude oil is used to treat hydrocarbons recovered from the same crude oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventor: Stephen K. Liu
  • Patent number: 5746906
    Abstract: A coal tar pitch/petroleum pitch blend is disclosed together with a method of making the same. In accordance with the invention, a crude coal tar material is selected according to specific properties including QI, specific gravity, water and ash content. A petroleum pitch material is also selected according to its softening point, QI, coking value and sulfur content. The coal tar pitch is distilled to a uncharacteristically high softening point which is then mixed with the petroleum pitch to a desired softening end point. The material retains significant QI and coking value characteristics of pure coal tar pitch particularly for use in Soderberg-type anodes for aluminum smelting as well as electric arc furnace electrodes. PAH emissions, and more specifically B(a)P equivalent emissions, are all reduced by approximately 40%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Koppers Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: E. Ronald McHenry, William E. Saver
  • Patent number: 5728291
    Abstract: In this combination process, solvent deasphalting (SDA) concentrates metals in the bottoms product which can be blended to asphalt as a product or for sending to the Calderon or similar process and outputs a high carbon (4+ concarbon) feed which is readily cracked to valuable transportation fuels by an RCC.RTM. cracking unit (or a conventional FCC with catalyst cooler and oxygen to the regenerator so that it acts as an RCC). The Rose process can be used instead of SDA to save utilities. By this invention, heavy crude can be converted to valuable transportation fuels and asphalt product, and catalyst make-up can be sharply reduced in the RCC or FCC unit because metals (asphaltenes and porphyrins) are removed before cracking. Novel asphalt compositions and blending are also disclosed. Asphalt from the SDA can preferably be blended with lube plant extract (or other aromatic extract) to produce specific asphalts meeting new SHRP specifications for paving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Ashland Inc.
    Inventors: Charles B. Miller, Howard F. Moore, David P. Wesley, Robert H. Wombles, Carlton H. Jewitt, Roger E. Hayner, Willian H. Gilkerson, Sr., Charles R. Gannon
  • Patent number: 5605618
    Abstract: A process for preparing nitrogen-containing isotropic pitch, comprising the steps of mixing a petroleum heavy oil, a nitrating reagent and water to prepare a homogeneous dispersion, thereby contacting the petroleum heavy oil with the nitrating reagent in the homogeneous dispersion state to prepare a crude nitrated heavy oil, and subjecting the crude nitrated heavy oil to refining, thermal polymerization and vacuum distillation. According to the process of the invention, a petroleum heavy oil containing a large amount of light oil components and being liquid at ordinary temperature, from which pitch has been hardly prepared conventionally, is used as a starting material for preparing pitch, and there can be obtained nitrogen-containing isotropic pitch of homogeneity and high quality having a desired softening point of from a low softening point to a high softening point, though such pitch was unable to be obtained so far.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Petoca, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Maeda, Tomiji Hosotsubo
  • Patent number: 5601697
    Abstract: In this combination process, solvent deasphalting (SDA) concentrates metals in the bottoms product which can be blended to asphalt as a product or for sending to the Calderon or similar process and outputs a high carbon (4+ concarbon) feed which is readily cracked to valuable transportation fuels by an RCC.RTM. cracking unit (or a conventional FCC with catalyst cooler and oxygen to the regenerator so that it acts as an RCC). The Rose process can be used instead of SDA to save utilities. By this invention, heavy crude can be converted to valuable transportation fuels and asphalt product, and catalyst make-up can be sharply reduced in the RCC or FCC unit because metals (asphalteries and porphyrins) are removed before cracking. Novel asphalt compositions and blending are also disclosed. Asphalt from the SDA can preferably be blended with lube plant extract (or other aromatic extract) to produce specific asphalts meeting new SHRP specifications for paving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Ashland Inc.
    Inventors: Charles B. Miller, Howard F. Moore, David P. Wesley, Robert H. Wombles, Carlton H. Jewitt, Roger E. Hayner, Willian H. Gilkerson, Sr., Charles R. Gannon