Patents Assigned to ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
  • Patent number: 11299444
    Abstract: Processes are provided for the removal of hydrogen from a mixture. The process can be performed by contacting a mixture comprising hydrogen, oxygen, and one or more organic compounds with a synthetic zeolite to produce water or steam. The synthetic zeolite can include Si and Al and has a SiO2:Al2O3 molar ratio of greater than 4:1, an 8-membered ring zeolite having a framework type of AEI, AFT, AFX, CHA, CDO, DDR, EDI, ERI, IHW, ITE, ITW, KFI, MER, MTF, MWF, LEV, LTA, PAU, PWN, RHO, SFW or UFI, a degree of crystallinity of at least 80% as measured by ASTM D535-197, and at least 0.01 wt % of at least one catalytic metal, based on a weight of the synthetic zeolite, where the at least one catalytic metal can include Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Mo, W, Re, Co, Ni, Zn, Cr, Mn, Ce, Ga, alloys thereof, or mixtures thereof. At least 95% of the catalytic metal can be disposed within a plurality of pores of the synthetic zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Aaron Sattler, Michele L. Paccagnini, Pedro M. Serna Merino, Henry K. Klutse
  • Patent number: 11299684
    Abstract: Marine diesel fuel/fuel blending component compositions and fuel oil/fuel blending component compositions are provided that are derived from crude oils having high naphthenes to aromatics volume and/or weight ratios and a low sulfur content. In addition to having a high naphthenes to aromatics ratio, a low sulfur content, and a low but substantial content of aromatics, such fuels and/or fuel blending components can have a reduced or minimized carbon intensity relative to fuels derived from conventional sources. The unexpected ratio of naphthenes to aromatics contributes to the fuels and/or fuel blending components further having additional unexpected properties, including low density, low kinematic viscosity, and/or high energy density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Kenneth C. H. Kar, Sheryl B. Rubin-Pitel, Lisa M. Guay, Timothy J. Anderson, Shifang Luo, Marcia E. Dierolf
  • Patent number: 11298672
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing the initial heating phase for a thick wall reactor, such as a hydroprocessing reactor, by using heat tracing to heat the exterior walls of the reactor. Instead of attempting to initially heat the reactor by passing a low pressure heat transfer gas through the interior of the reactor, external heater(s) placed under the reactor insulation can be used to heat the exterior of the reactor. An example of a suitable external heater is a heat tracing blanket, where heat is provided by passing steam through pipes in contact with the external surface or by electrical heaters in contact with the external surface. This can allow for more rapid heating of the reactor, so that a target temperature can be achieved in a time of 5.0 hours or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Kiliany, Jr., Suriyanarayanan Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 11299443
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for oligomerization of olefins to distillate boiling range products while also recycling naphtha boiling range olefins as part of the feed. By performing the olefin oligomerization while also recycling naphtha boiling range olefins, it has been discovered that the resulting distillate boiling range products can have an unexpected improvement in diesel combustion quality, such as an unexpected improvement in cetane rating. In order to manage coke formation and maintain consistent activity profile for the oligomerization catalyst, the reaction can be performed in a moving bed reactor. Additional temperature control can be maintained by the recycling of the naphtha boiling range portions of the oligomerization product back to the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Arsam Behkish, Lei Zhang, Brandon J. O'Neill, Mark A. Deimund, Alice Lin
  • Patent number: 11292756
    Abstract: Provided herein are novel extended branched alcohols having a lower branching number and improved biodegradability when compared to other branched alcohols. Also provided are novel extended branched ethoxylates having surfactant properties which can be more efficient in reducing surface tension when compared to the ethoxylated form of other branched alcohols. Further provided are novel syntheses of making extended branched alcohols and extended branched ethoxylates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Ross Mabon, Shane Deighton, Arben Jusufi, Kanmi Mao
  • Patent number: 11292977
    Abstract: Methods are provided for processing deasphalted gas oils derived from thermally cracked resid fractions to form Group I, Group II, and/or Group III lubricant base oils. The yield of lubricant base oils (optionally also referred to as base stocks) can be increased by thermally cracking a resid fraction at an intermediate level of single pass severity relative to conventional methods. By performing thermal cracking to a partial level of conversion, compounds within a resid fraction that are beneficial for increasing both the viscosity and the viscosity index of a lubricant base oil can be retained, thus allowing for an improved yield of higher viscosity lubricant base oils from a thermally cracked resid fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Stephen H. Brown, Brenda A. Raich, Beatrice M. Gooding, Stephen M. Davis, Federico Barrai, Warren B. Ames, Keith K. Aldous
  • Patent number: 11291984
    Abstract: Provided herein are transition metal complexes that are useful in the acceptorless dehydrogenation of various substrates, including alkanes. Also provided are methods of dehydrogenating substrates to provide unsaturated products such as olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignees: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Alan S. Goldman, Santanu Malakar, Xiaoguang Zhou, Kun Wang, David O. Marler
  • Patent number: 11292730
    Abstract: A method for desalinating a liquid, including: contacting, within a hydrate former reactor, a feed gas stream including iso-butane in an amount ranging from above zero mol % to about 3 mol % and liquid seawater or liquid wastewater including a dissolved salt, wherein a temperature and pressure within the hydrate former reactor is controlled so that the feed gas stream and the liquid seawater or liquid wastewater form a hydrate slurry; separating hydrate particles from the hydrate slurry; and decomposing the hydrate particles into its constituents of water and gas or gas mixture containing iso-butane, wherein the water has a concentration of the dissolved salt that is less than that of the liquid seawater or liquid wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Ashish B. Mhadeshwar, Brian K. Peterson, Matthew S. Mettler, Rustom M. Billimoria
  • Patent number: 11275040
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining the congealing point of a wax-containing sample, the sample placed within a sample flask. The apparatus includes a motor having a rotatable shaft extending horizontally therefrom; clamp for mounting the sample flask thereto, the clamp operatively connected to the rotatable shaft; and a temperature sensor for determining sample temperature over time. A method for determining the congealing point of a wax-containing sample is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Joseph Chan, Elizabeth Turner
  • Patent number: 11253845
    Abstract: Processes for transforming an inert metal component into an active metal catalyst are provided. Apparatus and methods using active metal catalyst prepared according the process described herein are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Matthew S. Ide, Anastasios I. Skoulidas, Joseph A. Camisa, Jianxin J. Wu
  • Patent number: 11241652
    Abstract: An absorbent for the selective removal of hydrogen sulfide from a fluid stream comprising carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, wherein the absorbent contains an aqueous solution, comprising: a) an amine or a mixture of amines of the general formula (I) wherein R1 is C1-C5-alkyl; R2 is C1-C5-alkyl; R3 is selected from hydrogen and C1-C5-alkyl; x is an integer from 2 to 10; and b) an ether or a mixture of ethers of the general formula (II): R4—[O—CH2—CH2]y—OH; wherein R4 is C1-C5-alkyl; and y is an integer from 2 to 10; wherein R1 and R4 are identical; wherein the mass ratio of b) to a) is from 0.08 to 0.5. The absorbent is suitable for the selective removal of hydrogen sulfide from a fluid stream comprising carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. The absorbent has a reduced tendency for phase separation at temperatures falling within the usual range of regeneration temperatures for the aqueous amine mixtures and is easily obtainable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignees: BASF SE (REITSTÖTTER, KINZEBACH & PARTNER), ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Martin Ernst, Gerald Vorberg, Georg Sieder, Thomas Ingram, Virginia Reiner, Carla Pereira, Michael Siskin
  • Patent number: 11225609
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for co-processing of plastic waste with biomass to generate gas phase product streams with improved properties. The systems and methods can include having a high temperature swing adsorption process integrated with a pyrolysis process, gasification process, or other thermal conversion process, so that CO2 can be removed from at least a portion of the effluent. This can facilitate capture of CO2 when using pyrolysis, gasification, or other thermal conversion to generate a hydrogen-containing stream. Additionally, the integrated system and/or method can allow for production of multiple product streams having desirable ratios of hydrogen to carbon oxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Narasimhan Sundaram
  • Patent number: 11225611
    Abstract: Disclose is an online analyzer to monitor conversion of a biofeedstock in a first hydrotreating stage to avoid catalyst poisoning in a subsequent stage. An example method of processing a biofeedstock may comprise hydrotreating the biofeedstock by reaction with hydrogen to form a hydrotreated biofeedstock. The method may further comprise monitoring conversion of the biofeedstock in the hydrotreating with an online analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Chengrong Wang, Anding Zhang, Xiaochun Xu, Samuel J. Cady, Shifang Luo, Michael H. Ring, Maria Vanessa C. Aguinaldo, John Della Mora, Kegun L. Ream
  • Patent number: 11220429
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving thermal management and/or efficiency of reaction systems including a reverse flow reactor for performance of at least one endothermic reaction and at least one supplemental exothermic reaction. The supplemental exothermic reaction can be performed in the recuperation zone of the reverse flow reactor system. By integrating the supplemental exothermic reaction into the recuperation zone, the heat generated from the supplemental exothermic reaction can be absorbed by heat transfer surfaces in the recuperation zone. The adsorbed heat can then be used to heat at least one of the fuel and the oxidant for the combustion reaction performed during regeneration, thus reducing the amount of combustion that is needed to achieve a desired temperature profile at the end of the regeneration step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Anastasios I. Skoulidas, Everett J. O'Neal, Joseph E. Gatt, Anjaneya S. Kovvali
  • Patent number: 11220648
    Abstract: Naphtha boiling range compositions are provided that can have improved combustion properties (relative to the research octane number of the composition) in spark ignition engines and/or compression ignition engines. The improved combustion properties can be achieved by controlling the total combined amounts of n-paraffins and isoparaffins that include a straight-chain propyl group (R1—CH2—CH2—CH2—R2). For such a straight-chain propyl group, R2 can correspond to any convenient CxHy group that can appear in a paraffin or isoparaffin. R1 can correspond to a hydrogen atom, making the straight-chain propyl group a terminal n-propyl group; or R1 can correspond to any convenient CxHy group that can appear in a paraffin or isoparaffin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Eugine Choi, Matthew W. Boland, Zhisheng Gao, Luca Salvi, Shamel Merchant, Bruce W. Crawley
  • Patent number: 11213796
    Abstract: A feed distribution apparatus and method of using such an apparatus are provided for introducing a three-phase flow into a moving bed reactor that is operated under co-current flow conditions. The feed distribution apparatus can allow for separate introduction of liquid and solids in a manner that allows for even distribution of liquid within the solids. The gas portion of the flow can be introduced in any of a variety of convenient manners for distributing gas into a liquid or solid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Arsam Behkish, Anjaneya S. Kovvali, Adam C. Madlinger, Thomas M. Smith
  • Patent number: 11214742
    Abstract: Apparatus, processes, and systems for removal of solids from a hydrocarbon stream. The present disclosure utilizes a surfactant to reduce interfacial tension between a hydrocarbon phase and a water (or aqueous) phase to promote solids to be pulled by gravity out of the hydrocarbon phase and into the water phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert P. Lucchesi, Mohsen S. Yeganeh, Geoffrey M. Keiser, Jessica L. Vreeland, Thomas Bruno
  • Patent number: 11215148
    Abstract: A power system comprises an engine configured to combust an air/fuel mixture and produce a flow of exhaust gas; an exhaust passageway fluidly connected to the engine to receive the flow of exhaust gas; an exhaust gas recirculation loop fluidly connecting the exhaust passageway to a fuel intake for the engine; a first conversion zone containing a fuel reforming catalyst located within the exhaust gas recirculation loop; and a second conversion zone located within the exhaust gas recirculation loop separate from and downstream of the first conversion zone stream, the second conversion zone containing a fuel cracking catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Shamel Merchant, Eugine Choi, Walter Weissman, Tilman W. Beutel, John F. Brody, Gerardo Majano, Karl G. Strohmaier, Brian Weiss, Robert J. Colby, Makoto Koike, Hiroshi Miyagawa, Seiji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11207651
    Abstract: A moving bed reactor is provided that can allow facilitate performing a reaction involving a three-phase flow under co-axial flow conditions for the solid and liquid portions of the three phase flow, while the gas portion of the three-phase flow is exposed to the solids under radial flow conditions. Methods for using such a moving bed reactor to perform a reaction, such as upgrading of a feed to distillate products, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Anjaneya S. Kovvali, Michael F. Raterman, Arsam Behkish
  • Patent number: 11211621
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating molten carbonate fuel cells to allow for periodic regeneration of the fuel cells while performing elevated CO2 capture. In some aspects, periodic regeneration can be achieved by shifting the location within the fuel cells where the highest density of alternative ion transport is occurring. Such a shift can result in a new location having a highest density of alternative ion transport, while the previous location can primarily transport carbonate ions. Additionally or alternately, periodic regeneration can be performed by modifying the input flows to the fuel cell and/or relaxing the operating conditions of the fuel cell to reduce or minimize the amount of alternative ion transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignees: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Barckholtz, Jonathan Rosen, Carla S. Pereira, Rodrigo F. Blanco Gutierrez, Frank Hershkowitz, Carl A. Willman, Timothy C. Geary