Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm James C. Paschall
  • Patent number: 8329603
    Abstract: A composition comprising a base component and a polymer, and a method of making said composition, are disclosed. The composition thereby obtained is then used as a catalyst for isoparaffin-olefin alkylation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bruce B. Randolph, Marvin M. Johnson, Glenn W. Dodwell
  • Patent number: 8323477
    Abstract: A process for mixing regenerated and carbonized catalyst involves obstructing upward flow of catalyst by one or more baffles between a catalyst inlet and a feed distributor. Each catalyst stream may be passed to opposite sides of a riser. Baffles obstruct upward flow to effect mixing of regenerated and carbonized catalyst to obtain a more uniform temperature and catalyst mixture before contacting the feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Keith A. Couch, Kelly D. Seibert, Robert L. Mehlberg, Daniel R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8323591
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a method of fabricating a mixing chamber in a hydroprocessing reactor. The method can include providing a first section forming an opening and coupling a second section including a sidewall to the first section. The second section forms a flange for coupling the mixing chamber and facilitating the mixing of one or more fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Sailesh B. Kumar, Robert L. Bunting
  • Patent number: 8313705
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a system for reacting a first feed can include a petroleum fraction having at least about 90%, by volume, with a boiling point of at least about 300° C. The system can include a bubble column reactor. The bubble column reactor, in turn, can include a first inlet for the first feed and a second inlet for a second feed including a gas rich in hydrogen. In addition, the petroleum fraction may be in counter-current flow with respect to the gas rich in hydrogen inside the bubble column reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Paul R. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8314276
    Abstract: A method of hydroprocessing hydrocarbons is provided using a substantially liquid-phase reactor having first and second catalyst beds with a heat transfer section positioned therebetween. The first and second catalyst beds and the heat transfer section are combined within the same reactor vessel. Each catalyst bed having an inlet temperature and an exit temperature and having a hydroprocessing catalyst therein with a maximum operating temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: John A. Petri, Peter Kokayeff
  • Patent number: 8282885
    Abstract: An FCC apparatus may include a distributor disposed in a recess in a wall of the riser for distributing gaseous hydrocarbon feed to a riser. The distributor may be shielded from upwardly flowing catalyst by a shield. An array of nozzles from the distributor may extend through openings in the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Paul S. Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8277638
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products. The heavy hydrocarbon feed is slurried with a catalyst comprising iron oxide and alumina to form a heavy hydrocarbon slurry and hydrocracked to produce lighter hydrocarbons. The iron oxide in the catalyst converts to catalytically active iron sulfide in the presence of hydrogen and sulfur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Alakananda Bhattacharyya, Beckay J. Mezza
  • Patent number: 8277641
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a stack for a separation vessel adapted to receive a fluid having one or more phases. The stack may include one or more walls surrounding a void, a packed bed positioned within the void, and a distributor positioned above the packed bed. Generally, the stack has a height greater than its width. Usually, the separation vessel further includes a base having a length greater than its height, and the height of the stack is orientated substantially perpendicular to the length of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Tertel, July S. Maglente, David A. Bahr
  • Patent number: 8263008
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for improving flow properties of crude may include processing a first crude stream, which may in turn include cracking the first crude stream with catalyst to form a cracked stream and spent catalyst, hydrotreating a portion of the cracked stream and then mixing the hydrotreated stream with an unprocessed second crude stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Brian W. Hedrick, Daniel B. Gillis
  • Patent number: 8246914
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a fluid catalytic cracking system. The system can include a reaction zone operating at conditions to facilitate olefin production and including at least one riser. The at least one riser can receive a first feed having a boiling point of about 180-about 800° C., and a second feed having more than about 70%, by weight, of one or more C4+ olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Mehlberg, Keith Allen Couch, Brian W. Hedrick, Zhihao Fei
  • Patent number: 8246921
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be an alkylation unit. The alkylation unit can include at least one alkylation reaction zone having an alkylation catalyst, at least one cooler communicating with the at least one alkylation reaction zone, a settler communicating with the at least one alkylation reaction zone and the at least one cooler, a fractionation zone receiving an effluent from the settler passing through a line, and a boot coupled to a substantially horizontal portion of the line. Generally, the boot receives an effluent portion rich in the alkylation catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Clark, Jason J. Gislason
  • Patent number: 8231775
    Abstract: A process and apparatus 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 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, Ronald S. Smyczynski
  • Patent number: 8230921
    Abstract: Enhanced recovery of crude oil from an oil well is provided by in-situ cracking of an oxygenated organic compound to form hydrogen. The crude oil is then hydrogenated and hydrogenation reaction products and crude oil are recovered from the oil well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Laurence O. Stine, Paul T. Barger
  • Patent number: 8231847
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for recovering product from catalytically converted product streams. Gaseous unstabilized naphtha from an overhead receiver from a main fractionation column is compressed in a compressor. Liquid unstabilized naphtha from the overhead receiver and liquid naphtha fraction from the compressor are sent to a naphtha splitter column upstream of a primary absorber. Consequently, less naphtha is circulated in the gas recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Joao Jorge da Silva Ferreira Alves, Saadet Ulas Acikgoz, Xin X. Zhu, Laura E. Leonard
  • Patent number: 8231778
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for hydrocracking processes that convert a significant portion of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock such as vacuum gas oil (VGO) to lower molecular weight, lower boiling hydrocarbons. In addition to molecular weight reduction, the processes also substantially reduce the pour point of a recovered higher boiling fraction or unconverted oil, all or a portion of which may be used as a lube base stock, optionally after one or more further treatment steps such as hydrofinishing. The ability to reduce the pour point, through hydroisomerization, of the higher boiling fraction greatly improves the quality of this fraction, or unconverted oil, for use in lube base stock preparation. Advantageously, separate, conventional hydroisomerization and/or dewaxing steps, often requiring a noble metal catalyst, may be avoided in particular embodiments disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Hemant B. Gala
  • Patent number: 8226818
    Abstract: Disclosed is an FCC apparatus and process in which coked catalyst is recycled to the base of the riser to contact fresh feed through a passage disposed within the riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Michael S. Sandacz
  • Patent number: 8227366
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be an alkylation system including a catalyst regeneration zone. Generally, the catalyst regeneration zone includes first and second columns. The first column can provide an overhead stream having a catalyst and a first hydrocarbon, a side-stream having the catalyst and water, and a bottom stream having a second hydrocarbon. Typically, the second column receives the side-stream as a feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Robert L. Mehlberg
  • Patent number: 8221706
    Abstract: Apparatuses for processing a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock flows are provided. In one aspect, the method includes providing two or more hydroprocessing stages disposed in sequence, each hydroprocessing stage having a hydroprocessing reaction zone with a hydrogen requirement and each stage in fluid communication with the preceding stage. A hydrogen source is provided substantially free of hydrogen from a hydrogen recycle compressor. The hydrocarbonaceous feedstock flow is separated into an portions of fresh feed for each hydroprocessing stage, and the first portion of fresh feed to the first hydroprocessing stage is heated. The heated first portion of fresh feed is supplied with hydrogen from the hydrogen source in an amount satisfying substantially all of the hydrogen requirements of the hydroprocessing stages to a first hydroprocessing zone. The unheated second portion of fresh feed is admixed with effluent from previous stage to quench the hot reactor effluent before entering a second stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: John A. Petri, Vedula K. Murty, Peter Kokayeff
  • Patent number: 8202480
    Abstract: An apparatus 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: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, David N. Myers, Mark Van Wees, Paul R. Zimmerman, Ruth Buskus Kleinworth
  • Patent number: 8197677
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a system for separating a plurality of naphtha components. The system can include a column, an overhead condenser, and a side condenser. Generally, the column includes a dividing imperforate wall with one surface facing a feed and another surface facing at least one side stream. Typically, the wall extends a significant portion of the column height to divide the portion into at least two substantially vertical, parallel contacting sections. Typically, the overhead condenser receives an overhead stream including a light naphtha from the column. Usually, a side condenser receives a process stream from the column and returns the stream to the column to facilitate separation. A cooling stream may pass through the overhead condenser and then the side condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Schultz, Xin X. Zhu, Jibreel A. Qafisheh