Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm James C. Paschall
  • Patent number: 7947860
    Abstract: Processing schemes and arrangements for application of a dividing wall separation column in the processing of an effluent resulting from FCC processing modified for increased light olefin production. The dividing wall separation column desirably splits a naphtha feedstock produced or resulting from such modified FCC processing to produce or form a light fraction containing C5-C6 compounds, an intermediate fraction containing C7-C8 compounds and a heavy fraction containing C9+ compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Schultz, Keith A. Couch
  • Patent number: 7946442
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a clasp for securing a man-way cover in a vessel. The clasp can include a hinged member. Generally, the hinged member has a first position for securing the man-way cover and a second position for unsecuring the man-way cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Chad A. Perrott
  • Patent number: 7947230
    Abstract: Disclosed is a catalyst distributor and process for spreading catalyst over a regenerator vessel. Nozzles disposed angular to a header of the distributor spread catalyst throughout a full cross section of the catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Lawrence A. Lacijan, Sujay R. Krishnamurthy, Mohammad-Reza Mostofi-Ashtiani, Paul S. Nishimura, Lisa M. Wolschlag
  • Patent number: 7935314
    Abstract: An apparatus 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: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Keith A. Couch, Kelly D. Seibert, Robert L. Mehlberg, Daniel R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7935320
    Abstract: A system and/or process for decreasing the level of at least one organic fluoride present in a hydrocarbon phase contained in an alkylation settler by contacting the hydrocarbon phase with an HF containing stream, containing greater than about 80 wt. % and less than about 94 wt. % HF, in the intermediate portion of the settler which contains at least one tray system, with each tray system comprising a perforated tray defining a plurality of perforations and a layer of packing below the perforated tray, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Keith W. Hovis, Bruce B. Randolph
  • Patent number: 7915191
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a method and apparatus for regenerating a catalyst used in an FCC unit, including providing a spent catalyst into an upper portion of a regenerator, maintaining a calcination phase, a gasification phase, and a combustion phase of fluidized catalyst in the regenerator, combusting carbon in the combustion phase and producing a combustion flue gas, reacting carbon in the gasification phase with the combustion flue gas to form a carbon monoxide rich flue gas, and calcining the spent catalyst with the carbon monoxide rich flue gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Brian W. Hedrick
  • Patent number: 7914610
    Abstract: In an FCC process in which swirl arms are used to discharge gas and catalyst from a riser, a baffle is used to direct descending catalyst away from a wall of a disengaging vessel proximate a stripping section comprising elongated strips of metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Robert L. Mehlberg
  • Patent number: 7914666
    Abstract: An FCC process producing lower NOx emissions during regeneration by using excess oxygen levels at less than or equal to about 0.5 mol-% and a plenum temperature above about 730° C. (about 1350° F.). The process may further include limiting the Pt content in the catalyst to less than or equal to about 0.5 ppm. NOx emissions, NO to NO2, produced through this process may be equal to or less than 25 ppmv. The process may also include adjusting the metal content of the feedstock for such metals as antimony, nickel, or vanadium. Additional variables for reducing NOx emissions that may be used in conjunction with this process may include increasing the flue gas residence time, injecting NH3 into the flue gas, adding or using NOx-reducing catalysts, increasing stripping of the catalyst, and increasing the catalyst zeolite to matrix ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Robert Mehlberg, Frank Rosser, Jr., Zhihao Fei, Carl Stevens
  • Patent number: 7906013
    Abstract: A process is provided to produce an ultra low sulfur diesel with less than about 10 ppm sulfur using a two-phase or liquid-phase continuous reaction zone to convert a diesel boiling range distillate preferably obtained from a mild hydrocracking unit. In one aspect, the diesel boiling range distillate is introduced once-through to the liquid-phase continuous reaction zone over-saturated with hydrogen in an amount effective so that the liquid phase remains substantially saturated with hydrogen throughout the reaction zone as the reactions proceed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Peter Kokayeff, Laura E. Leonard, Michael R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7906077
    Abstract: Disclosed is an FCC apparatus and process in which spent catalyst is recycled to the base of the riser to contact fresh feed through a passage disposed within the riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Michael S. Sandacz
  • Patent number: 7906700
    Abstract: A process for alkylating isobutene by introducing a feed containing isobutene and an isoparaffin, in the form of droplets, into an acid catalyst to produce an alkylation product, wherein the Sauter mean diameter of the droplets is greater than or equal to about 150 ?m and is less than or equal to about 500 ?m, is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bruce B. Randolph, Keith W. Hovis, Kenneth C. Hoover
  • Patent number: 7902101
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for disengaging regenerated catalyst from flue gas in a catalyst regenerator so as to avoid re-entrainment of catalyst that has settled into a bed in the catalyst regenerator using a disengaging device. A disengaging arm of the disengaging device has an outer shell that encloses the arm, an inner shell with a slot for allowing catalyst and flue gas to exit the arm and an outer baffle having a lower edge located below the opening in the outer wall. The baffle directs the catalyst and flue gas downwardly and limits radial flow. Catalyst and flue gas enter the disengaging arm through an opening in an outer wall of a riser section at a first superficial velocity and exits through a slot in a bottom of the disengaging arm at no more than 1.33 the first superficial velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Brian W. Hedrick, Robert L. Mehlberg, Daniel R. Johnson, Mohammad Reza Mostofi-Ashtiani
  • Patent number: 7842180
    Abstract: A hydrocracking process wherein a liquid phase stream comprising a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and a liquid phase effluent from a hydrocracking zone and a sufficiently low hydrogen concentration to maintain a liquid phase continuous system into a hydrotreating zone. A portion of the effluent from the hydrotreating zone comprising unconverted hydrocarbons is introduced into the hydrocracking zone with a sufficiently low hydrogen concentration to maintain a liquid phase continuous system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Laura E. Leonard, Peter Kokayeff
  • Patent number: 7841304
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and process for recovering heat from multiple hot process streams without multiplying instrumentation. Each hot process stream is indirectly heat exchanged with a water circuit which leaves and feeds a steam drum. Heat is added to the steam drum through the addition of water heated outside of the steam drum. The heated liquid and vapor water is heated in heat exchangers decoupled from the steam drum. The water circuits are arranged in parallel with each other and feed a single steam drum to provide a steam product of a desired pressure for which only one set of instrumentation is needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Mark Van Wees, Jason L. Stahlman
  • Patent number: 7842253
    Abstract: A system for increasing the isobutane to olefin ratio in an alkylation process/system is disclosed. The system includes provisions for charging a portion of the settler effluent as a feed to at least one reaction zone downflow from the first reaction zone of a multi-zone alkylation reactor along with a portion of the olefin feed to the multi-zone alkylation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Robert M. Gray, Keith W. Hovis
  • Patent number: 7837860
    Abstract: A process for the production of low sulfur diesel and high octane naphtha. Separate high pressure vapor liquid separators serve to maintain and isolate the high octane naphtha produced in the hydrocracking zone thereby maximizing the value of the hydrocarbon streams produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard K. Hoehn, Srinivasa G. Varadarajan, Douglas W. Kocher-Cowan
  • Patent number: 7837857
    Abstract: A method for obtaining jet fuel from diesel fuel is provided, the method comprising subjecting the diesel fuel to hydrocracking to convert at least a portion of the diesel fuel into a mixture of light hydrocarbons, kerosene, naphtha and a liquefied petroleum gas, isolating the kerosene, recovering jet fuel from the kerosene, subjecting at least a portion of the mixture of kerosene, naphtha and a liquefied petroleum gas to steam forming to obtain a synthesis gas containing hydrogen, and recycling hydrogen contained in the synthesis gas to the hydrocracking step. A modular system for performing the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Rajeev Gautam, William H. Keesom, Gavin P. Towler
  • Patent number: 7820135
    Abstract: A process and apparatus 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 sulfide crystallites have diameters in the nanometer range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Alakananda Bhattacharyya, Beckay J. Mezza
  • Patent number: 7815792
    Abstract: A process and catalyst for the selective hydrodesulfurization of a naphtha containing olefins. The process produces a naphtha stream having a reduced concentration of sulfur while maintaining the maximum concentration of olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lorenz J. Bauer, Suheil F. Abdo, Laura E. Leonard, Peter Kokayeff
  • Patent number: 7803334
    Abstract: A hydrocracking process and apparatus wherein the feedstock is hydrotreated and the liquid and gaseous effluent from the hydrotreater is directly introduced into the upper end of a hydrocracking vessel which provides a liquid seal to prevent the passage of the gaseous stream containing hydrogen sulfide and ammonia from the hydrotreater to enter the hydrocracking zone containing hydrocracking catalyst. Fresh hydrogen is then introduced into the hydrocracking zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard K. Hoehn, Vasant P. Thakkar, Vedula K. Murty, Douglas W. Kocher-Cowan, Jennifer L. Anderson