Patents Represented by Attorney Ronald R. Reper
  • Patent number: 5076926
    Abstract: A process is provided for modifying a ceramic ultrafiltration membrane system consisting of a sub-microporous top layer and a microporous inorganic carrier whereby said top layer after modification has reduced pore size and/or is made catalytically active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Anthonie J. Burggraaf, Klaas Keizer, Robert J. R. Uhlhorn
  • Patent number: 5073661
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of hydrocarbons, wherein a feed comprising methanol is contacted at reaction conditions with a catalyst comprising:(i) a porous carrier material selected from the group comprising silica, alumina, and mixtures thereof;(ii) cobalt as a metal component deposited on the porous carrier material; and(iii) a promoter selected from the group comprising zirconium, titanium, chromium, ruthenium, iron, magnesium, zinc, thorium and uranium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Bob Scheffer, Andras G. T. G. Kortbeek
  • Patent number: 5068254
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of hydrocarbons by a catalytic reaction of a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, comprising the steps of:(i) providing a gas mixture comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen;(ii) washing the mixture with an aqueous solution for the removal of impurities from the mixture;(iii) removing the washing solution containing the impurities from the mixture;(iv) contacting the washed mixture with a catalyst whereby hydrocarbons and reaction water are formed;(v) separating the reaction water from the hydrocarbons; and(vi) using reaction water as aqueous solution in washing step (ii)and to hydrocarbons obtained therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Sytze A. Posthuma, Johannes D. de Graaf, Jan Boelen
  • Patent number: 5057629
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for selectively sorbing contaminating amounts of isopropyl alcohol from diisopropyl ether by contacting with a high surface area strong acid type cation exchange resin in the hydrogen form, preferably having a mean pore diameter in the range from about 40 to about 259 Angstroms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Zaida Diaz, David I. Saletan
  • Patent number: 5053243
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of adsorbent layer upon a non-permeable substrate comprisinga) generating plasma by introducing a non-polymerizable fluid into a plasma generation zone using a direct current arc;b) introducing hydrocarbonaceous monomers into said plasma generation zone thereby forming polymerizable hydrocarbonaceous compounds, setting a ratio of flow rates of the hydrocarbonaceous monomers and the non-polymerizable fluid in the range from >0-0.001; andc) contacting the substrate with the glowing zone of said plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Hubertus J. A. Schuurmans, Paulus C. N. Crouzen, Gerard Hoekstein
  • Patent number: 5049240
    Abstract: Vacuum distillation system which has a vacuum distillation column (1) having a column inlet (6), a bottom outlet (8) and a top outlet (10), a furnace (2) provided with a heat-exchange tube (27) having a tube inlet (28) and a tube outlet (29), and a connecting conduit (3) extending between the tube outlet (29) and the column inlet (6), wherein the inner diameter of the heat-exchange tube (27) increases along the length of the heat-exchange tube (27) to between 2.4 and three times the inner diameter of the tube inlet (28), and wherein the inner diameter of the connecting conduit (3) gradually increases along the length of the connecting conduit (3) to between 2.5 and 5.4 times the inner diameter of the tube outlet (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Johannes A. Hamer, Cornelis J. Van Der Burg, Dirk Kanbier, Pieter Van Der Heijden
  • Patent number: 5023389
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing normally liquid hydrocarbon products such as middle distillates and methyl-t-butylether from a hydrocarbon feed containing linear and branched olefins (e.g. propane and butenes in light ends) comprising at least the following steps:i) selectively converting branched olefins in the feed in the presence of a catalyst into a normally liquid hydrocarbonaceous product (e.g. MTBE);ii) separating linear olefins from product obtained in step (i), andiii) catalytically oligomerizing linear olefins obtained from step (ii) into liquid hydrocarbons such as middle distillates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Pierre Grandvallet, Andras G. T. G. Kortbeek, Johannes P. Van Den Berg, Karl-Heinz Robschlager
  • Patent number: 5020368
    Abstract: Method and system for measuring vertical density profile of fluid by pressurizing an array of pipes, determining level and pressure signals on each pipe and deriving profile therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Peter G. Evans, John B. Cole
  • Patent number: 5019218
    Abstract: Improved hydrocarbon vacuum distillation process wherein the process steps include introducing a feed which contains liquid hydrocarbons and vaporous hydrocarbons into an inlet section (3) of a distillation column (1) operating at a subatmospheric pressure, removing liquid from a bottom section (6) of the distillation column (1), allowing vapor to pass through three condensation sections (13b, 13a and 13) arranged above each other in the distillation column (1) between the inlet section (3) and a top section (8), removing vapor from the top section (8), spraying into each condensation section (13, 13a and 13b) cooled liquid, and removing liquid from each condensation section (13, 13a and 13b), wherein the cooled liquid which is sprayed into each condensation section (13, 13a and 13b) includes liquid removed from that condensation section (13, 13a and 13b), and wherein the cooled liquid which is sprayed in the uppermost condensation section (13) further includes liquid removed from the condensation sections (1
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Johannes A. Hamer, Pieter van der Heijden
  • Patent number: 4987273
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the separation of a phenol from a mixture obtained by the carboxylation of the phenol and containing phenol, phenolate and the carboxylation products thereof, which process comprises separation carried out by selectively absorbing the phenol into the wall of a membrane, solubilizing the phenol in the membrane matrix, diffusing the phenol through the membrane and desorbing the phenol from the other wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Johan G. A. Bitter, Johannes L. W. C. den Boestert, Wilhelmus J. M. Weeres
  • Patent number: 4975404
    Abstract: A process for the production of methanol comprising contacting a gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen with a catalytic system, obtainable by combination of:component (a): a substantially dry nickel formate,component (b): water in a predetermined amount in relation to the nickel formate amount and,component (c): an alcoholate derived from an alkali metal or from an alkaline earth metal, and activation the combined components,and a catalyst system to be used in this process.Preferably the molar ratio between nickel formate and water is in the rate from 1:3.5 to 1:1 and more preferably from 1:3.0 to 1:1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eit Drent, Willem W. Jager, Swan T. Sie
  • Patent number: 4958680
    Abstract: An apparatus for particulate solids (e.g. FCC catalyst) regeneration comprising a regenerator housing containing fluidization means arranged below spent-solids inlet means and regenerated-solids outlet means and having fluid in- and outlet means, and further comprising at least one external heat exchanger housing containing heat exchanger means and communicating with the regenerator housing via solids in- and outlet means in which apparatus at least one solids outlet means directly connect a lower section of the heat exchanger housing(s) with a section of the regeneration housing above the fluidization means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Peter H. Barnes, Johannes L. Nooyen
  • Patent number: 4956091
    Abstract: Apparatus for separating solid particles from a fluid, comprising a swirl chamber (3) provided with a curved wall, a tangential inlet (9) and a solids outlet (13), both arranged perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis (5) of the swirl chamber (3). A swirl tube (16) extends coaxially into the swirl chamber (3) and has an open end (20) arranged in the swirl chamber (3) and a solids outlet opening (22) arranged outside the swirl chamber (3). A fluid outlet tube (28) has an outlet part (34) extending coaxially into the swirl chamber (3) in a direction opposite to the direction in which the swirl tube (16) extends and an inlet part (32) arranged in the swirl tube (16). Swirl imparting means (46) are arranged between the swirl tube (16) and the fluid outlet tube (28), so as to impart a swirl in the swirl tube (16), which swirl has the same direction of rotation as in the swirl chamber (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Hendrikus E. A. Van Den Akker
  • Patent number: 4954294
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for sealing vapor/liquid contacting trays on startup of a downcomer-equipped vapor/liquid contactor comprising a series of gas/liquid contacting trays, at least some of said trays having a weir to maintain a liquid level thereon, a downcomer whereby liquid may flow down to the next lower tray and a seal area positioned underneath said downcomer for providing a liquid seal between successive trays in said series which comprises, prior to full liquid loading of a tray, collecting a portion of the first liquid on said tray, and passing it directly to said seal area positioned underneath said downcomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Robert P. Bannon
  • Patent number: 4945343
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting malfunctioning of a steam trap is disclosed employing malfunction detecting means, signal generating means and signal indicating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Richard Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 4938862
    Abstract: Process for thermal cracking of residual hydrocarbon oils by(1) feeding the oil and a synthesis gas to a thermal cracking zone, the gas having a temperature sufficiently high to maintain the temperature in the cracking zone by direct heat exchange at 420.degree.-645.degree. C.;(2) separating the cracked products into (a) a gas, (b) at least one distillate fraction and (c) a cracked residue;(3) separating the cracked residue into a heavy hydrocarbon oil poor in asphaltenes and a heavy hydrocarbon oil rich in asphaltenes;(4) gasifying the oil rich in asphaltenes in the presence of oxygen and steam to produce synthesis gas; and(5) recycling synthesis gas from step 4 as feed to step 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Diederik Visser, Mathijs M. G. Senden, Jean J. H. E. Dell Amico
  • Patent number: 4925995
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing liquid hydrocarbons (e.g., middle distillates or gasoline) comprising at least the following steps:(i) catalytically oligomerizing an olefins-containing feed,(ii) separating effluent from step (i) into at least two fractions of which at least one (e.g., a gasoline fraction) has a boiling range above that of the feed olefins, and(iii) recycling at least part of a higher boiling fraction obtained from step (ii) to step (i).Optionally, in a further step (iv), a higher boiling fraction is hydrocracked, e.g., to prepare additional gasoline and/or middle distillates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Karl H. Robschlager
  • Patent number: 4925569
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for reducing the level of sulfides in aqueous solutiuons which comprises contacting a sulfide-containing solution having a pH value in the range from about 8.5 to 12 with oxygen in the presence of a flocculent manganese-containing catalyst having been prepared by aerating an aqueous solution of a divalent manganese salt, said salt solution having a pH value in the range from about 8.5 to about 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Charles C. Chou, Donald C. Olson
  • Patent number: 4921539
    Abstract: The invention concerns a modified pitch composition specially adapted to bind coal particles with the purpose of transforming it into briquettes; the pitch is modified by reaction with an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid or anhydride thereof, and at least on crosslinking agents selected from hydroxide of a Group I metal, and certain polyamines, polyalcohols and alcoholamines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Harlin, Jean-Pierre Giorgetti, Bernard Ruquier, Robert Herment
  • Patent number: 4900849
    Abstract: A process for the continuous production of di- and/or epichlorohydrin is disclosed wherein impurities, e.g., chloroaliphatic alkanes and chloroaliphatic ethers are removed by energy efficient solvent extraction and are obtained in relatively concentrated form for further processing or disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: David I. Saletan