Patents Represented by Attorney Steven R. Ellinwood
  • Patent number: 7955497
    Abstract: A method for separating and recovering ultrafine particulate solid material from a suspension or slurry of the solid material and a hydrocarbon liquid by precipitation or flocculation of a heavy fraction of the hydrocarbon liquid with an effective amount of a precipitation or flocculation agent such that the precipitated heavy fraction encapsulates the particulate solid material. The method further comprises coking the precipitated heavy fraction and grinding the coked product to an ultrafine size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Baha E. Abulnaga, Jose Guitian, Sara Ouzts Lindsay
  • Patent number: 7846404
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for separating and recovering base metals from a used hydroprocessing catalyst originating from Group VIB and Group VIII metals and containing at least a Group VB metal. In one embodiment, the used catalyst is contacted with an ammonia leaching solution to dissolve and separate the Group VIB and VIII metals from the Group VB metal complex and coke associated with the used catalyst. The resulting Group VIB and VIII metal containing solution is processed through at least two additional precipitation and liquid/solid separation steps to produce, in separate processing streams, a Group VIB metal product solution (such as ammonium molybdate) and a Group VIII metal product solution (such as nickel sulfate). Additionally, two separate filtrate streams are generated from liquid-solid separation steps, which filtrate streams are combined and subjected to hydrolysis and oxidation (oxydrolysis) to generate a purified ammonium sulfate solution for further processing, such as for fertilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul S. Bhaduri, John Stiksma, Roman Berezowsky
  • Patent number: 7837960
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for separating and recovering base metals from a used hydroprocessing catalyst originating from Group VIB and Group VIII metals and containing at least a Group VB metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul S. Bhaduri, John Stiksma, Roman Berezowsky
  • Patent number: 7674369
    Abstract: A method for separating and recovering ultrafine particulate solid material from a suspension or slurry of the solid material and a hydrocarbon liquid by precipitation or flocculation of a heavy fraction of the hydrocarbon liquid with an effective amount of a precipitation or flocculation agent such that the precipitated heavy fraction encapsulates the particulate solid material. The method further comprises coking the precipitated heavy fraction and grinding the coked product to an ultrafine size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Baha E. Abulnaga, Jose Guitian, Sara Ouzts Lindsay
  • Patent number: 7387748
    Abstract: The present invention comprises an improved antifreeze coolant composition with certain additives that serve to increase the thermal stability of the glycol component of a glycol/water coolant composition and to reduce the tendency of the glycol component to degrade under elevated thermal conditions. These additives comprise organic compounds with a carboxylic acid moiety and a hydroxyl moiety, and also tricarballylic acid. Another aspect of this invention concerns a method for improving the stability of the glycol component of a glycol/water coolant composition in engine cooling/heating systems by formulating a glycol/water coolant composition with the thermal stability additive to form an improved coolant composition, and contacting the engine cooling/heating system with the improved coolant composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Regis Joseph Pellet, Paul Otto Fritz, Leonard Sherman Bartley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7306750
    Abstract: The application of carboxylate salts for storing thermal energy is disclosed. The invention is directed to methods for the storage and use of thermal energy comprising contacting mixtures of alkali metal salts or alkali earth metal salts of carboxylic acids, storing the thermal energy in the mixture, containing the mixture in a suitable heat exchange system and using the stored thermal energy in the heat exchange system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Maes, Serge Lievens, Peter Roose
  • Patent number: 7267747
    Abstract: A vacuum distillation system and method utilizing a low capacity vacuum producing ejector operated in parallel with a primary ejector during the Winter months enables significant reduction in the absolute pressure of a vacuum distillation column. Operation of a vacuum distillation tower at lower absolute pressures results in increased yield of desirable vacuum distillation products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Hugh Musial
  • Patent number: 7201982
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cooling an electrical system comprising circulating in a cooling system of the electrical system a mixture comprising a heat transfer fluid and one or more carboxylic acid salts thereof, wherein the electrical conductivity of the mixture is less than 100 ?S/cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignees: Texaco, Inc., Texaco Development Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Maes, Serge Lievens
  • Patent number: 7037408
    Abstract: A safe, efficient and repetitively operable coke vessel decoking system is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the closed system comprises a coker vessel pressure-tightly sealed to a top head system, which includes a closure housing with a laterally moveable horizontal closure member therein and a cutting head enclosure, which further comprises a drill stem guide, an access door, and a cutting assembly mounted therein. A novel feature of the invention is a steam purge/blocking system whereby steam pressure is maintained in the closure housing during the coking cycle to maintain seal integrity. Personnel safety during decoking operations is greatly enhanced by eliminating dangerous manual tasks associated with the prior art such as unbolting and removing top head devices. The system can be remotely and repetitively operated through numerous coking/decoking cycles without removal of any system element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Dale W. Wilborn, Christopher I. Fitzgerald, Ronald R. DiPadua, Gary D. Stewart
  • Patent number: 6926807
    Abstract: An insulated transition spool apparatus for mounting unheading devices to pressure vessels, such as coker vessels, and enabling repetitive operation thereof is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an outer housing, an inner housing that encloses an insulating space between the inner and outer housing, a side feed entry aperture in each housing and a spool adapter flange to facilitate attachment of the spool to the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Bosi, David W. Reeves
  • Patent number: 6689289
    Abstract: An aqueous fluid composition having a C1-C2 carboxylic acid salt and a C3-C5 carboxylic acid salt is used as a heat transfer fluid that provides improved heat transfer properties and improved corrosion protection. Such properties are desired for fluids used as an antifreeze coolant in automotive engines. The addition of a C6-C2 carboxylic acid further improves corrosion protection. The addition of hydrocarbyl triazoles or thiazoles also further improves corrosion protection. One specific embodiment of the present invention includes a solution of potassium formate, sodium propanoate, and sodium heptanoate in a weight ratio of 20:20:5, respectively, where the pH of the solution is between 8 and 9.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignees: Texaco Inc., Texaco Development Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Maes, Peter Roose
  • Patent number: 6676848
    Abstract: Corrosion protection of magnesium and aluminum alloys in engine coolants and heat-exchange fluids is achieved by the use of a select group of aliphatic and aromatic carboxylate acids or the alkaline metal, ammonium or amine salts thereof in combination with a fluoride and/or a fluorocarboxylic acid or salt thereof. These compositions have been found to significantly improve the high temperature magnesium corrosion protection properties of coolants, and are of use in automobile engine coolant systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignees: Texaco Inc., Texaco Development Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Leopold Maes, Serge Stefan Lievens
  • Patent number: 6566568
    Abstract: A process for preparing a paraffinic product stream in the gasoline, middle distillate fuel and lube ranges from a C2-5-containing feedstock and a C20+ paraffinic feedstock is described. The combined feedstocks are subjected to molecular averaging via dehydrogenation to form olefins, metathesis of the olefins, and rehydrogenation of the olefins to form paraffins. The product stream includes a fraction rich in paraffins the molecular weights of which are between those of the light and heavy paraffin feedstocks, plus some unconverted feeds. The product of the molecular averaging reaction can optionally be isomerized to improve the octane value, in the case of gasoline, or pour point, in the case of middle distillate fuels and lubes. The unconverted feedstocks can be recycled to extinction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Cong-Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 6495372
    Abstract: A test method and apparatus for determining the content of carboxylic acid-based corrosion inhibitors in a coolant or heat exchange fluid. The amount of acidic reagent added to the coolant or fluid between two pH equilibrium points is measured to determine the amount of inhibitors. The refractive index can be measured to determine the amount of freezing point depressant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Maes, Peter Roose, Filip Van Kenhove
  • Patent number: 6475438
    Abstract: A test method and apparatus for determining the content of carboxylic acid-based corrosion inhibitors in a coolant or heat exchange fluid. The amount of acidic reagent added to the coolant or fluid between two pH equilibrium points is measured to determine the amount of inhibitors. The refractive index can be measured to determine the amount of freezing point depressant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Maes, Peter Roose, Filip Van Kenhove
  • Patent number: 6464857
    Abstract: Molecular sieves comprising (1) phosphorus oxide; (2) a first oxide comprising an oxide of silicon, germanium or mixtures thereof; and (3) a second oxide comprising an oxide of aluminum, boron or mixtures thereof, said molecular sieve having a mole ratio of the first oxide to the second oxide of greater than 1, containing at least about 10 weight percent phosphorus oxide in the crystal framework, and having pores greater than 5 Å in diameter are useful as catalysts in hydrocarbon conversion reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Miller
  • Patent number: 6379646
    Abstract: Molecular sieves comprising (1) phosphorus oxide; (2) a first oxide comprising an oxide of silicon, germanium or mixtures thereof; and (3) a second oxide comprising an oxide of aluminum, boron or mixtures thereof, said molecular sieve having a mole ratio of the first oxide to the second oxide of greater than 1, containing at least about 10 weight percent phosphorus oxide in the crystal framework, and having pores greater than 5 Å in diameter are useful as catalysts in hydrocarbon conversion reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Miller
  • Patent number: 6355839
    Abstract: A process for preparation of alkylated diphenylamine antioxidant which comprises alkylating diphenylamine with a polyisobutylene in the presence of a clay catalyst, wherein the polyisobutylene has an average molecular weight in the range of 120 to 600 and wherein the polyisobutylene contains at least 25% methylvinylidene isomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Anatoli Onopchenko