Patents Assigned to Flint Hills Resources, LP
  • Patent number: 11578210
    Abstract: Asphalt binders and methods for making and using same. In at least one specific embodiment, the asphalt binder can include a bitumen and a glyceride and fatty acid mixture. The glyceride and fatty acid mixture can include one or more triglycerides, at least 1 wt % of one or more diglycerides, and at least 5 wt % of one or more fatty acids, based on the combined weight of the one or more triglycerides, the one or more diglycerides, and the one or more fatty acids. The asphalt binder can be made by combining a bitumen and a glyceride and fatty acid mixture. A paving composition can be made by combining a plurality of solids and the asphalt binder. A road can include a plurality of solids mixed with the asphalt binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: FLINT HILL RESOURCES, LP
    Inventor: Brian Russell Cox
  • Publication number: 20210017547
    Abstract: Processes and systems for recovering products from a fermentation mash. In some examples, a process for recovering products from a fermentation mash can include processing a ground corn product to produce a fermentation mash that can include ethanol. At least a portion of the ethanol can be separated from the fermentation mash to produce a whole stillage. The whole stillage can be separated to produce a fiber rich product and a filtrate. The fiber rich product can be hydrolyzed to produce a saccharification mash. The saccharification mash can be processed to produce additional ethanol and a stillage protein product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: FLINT HILLS RESOURCES, LP
    Inventor: Jason BOOTSMA
  • Patent number: 10837029
    Abstract: Processes for grinding corn, ground corn products, and processes for making ethanol from the ground corn products. In some examples, a process for making ethanol can include introducing a plurality of corn pieces into a mill. The process can also include milling the corn pieces in the mill to produce a ground corn product. Greater than 25 wt % of the ground corn product can have a particle size of greater than 105 ?m, as measured according to AOAC 965.22-1966. Greater than 80 wt % of the ground corn product can have a particle size of 425 ?m or less, as measured according to AOAC 965.22-1966. The process can also include processing the ground corn product to produce a fermentation mash that can include ethanol and separating at least a portion of the ethanol from the fermentation mash to produce a stillage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Flint Hills Resources, LP
    Inventors: Jason Bootsma, James Richard Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20200338514
    Abstract: A method for producing a dehydrogenated product and a coked catalyst, then introducing an oxygen-containing fluid, combusting at least a portion of the coke disposed on the catalyst in the presence of the oxygen-containing fluid to produce a decoked catalyst. An apparatus for introducing fluid into a reactor, comprising a first inlet conduit configured to convey a first gas, a second inlet conduit configured to convey a second gas, and an outlet conduit configured to convey the first gas and the second gas into a reactor, wherein there is an acute angle between a longitudinal axes of the first inlet conduit and a longitudinal axis of the second inlet conduit and an obtuse angle between a longitudinal axis of the outlet conduit and the longitudinal axis of the second inlet conduit and a pre-distributor disposed, in one embodiment on the inner surface, within the first inlet conduit is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: FLINT HILLS RESOURCES, LP
    Inventors: Demian Mauro de Feo, Brian Clancy-Jundt
  • Publication number: 20200140899
    Abstract: Improved processes and systems for recovering products from a corn fermentation mash. In some examples, a process recovers an oil product, a protein meal product, and a fiber product from a slurry. A process includes the following steps: introducing the slurry into a device with a flexible screen and mechanical agitation to produce a filtrate and a fibrous solid stream; and introducing the filtrate into a three-phase centrifuge to produce an oil stream, a high protein solids stream, and a water with solubles stream. The flexible screen includes a washing nozzle. The slurry is whole stillage from an ethanol process. The three-phase centrifuge is a three-phase decanter. The filtrate is heated before introducing into the three-phase centrifuge. The filtrate is optionally evaporated before introducing into the three-phase centrifuge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: FLINT HILLS RESOURCES, LP
    Inventor: Jason BOOTSMA
  • Publication number: 20200024523
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward processes for the hydroliquefaction and hydrodesulfurization of petroleum coke using alkali metal catalysts and/or tin co-catalysts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: Flint Hills Resources, LP
    Inventors: William M. Cross, Jr., Clive Hamilton, Stephen Sanders
  • Patent number: 10526564
    Abstract: Processes and system for producing biofuels and coproducts are described herein. The system includes a heterogeneous acid catalyst and reactors for reacting a) an alcohol and b) a mixture of a fatty acid glyceride and a fatty acid. The system may further include a pretreatment system and a purification system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: FLINT HILLS RESOURCES, LP
    Inventors: Matthew Wesley Phillips, Megan Christina Fry Nitz, Erich Charles Pfalzgraf, Rebecca Williams, William A. Summers
  • Publication number: 20190153355
    Abstract: Processes and system for producing biofuels and coproducts are described herein. The system includes a heterogeneous acid catalyst and reactors for reacting a) an alcohol and b) a mixture of a fatty acid glyceride and a fatty acid. The system may further include a pretreatment system and a purification system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Flint Hills Resources, LP
    Inventors: Matthew Wesley Phillips, Megan Christina Fry Nitz, Erich Charles Pfalzgraf, Rebecca Williams, William A. Summers
  • Publication number: 20190127585
    Abstract: Asphalt binders and methods for making and using same. In at least one specific embodiment, the asphalt binder can include a bitumen and a glyceride and fatty acid mixture. The glyceride and fatty acid mixture can include one or more triglycerides, at least 1 wt % of one or more diglycerides, and at least 5 wt % of one or more fatty acids, based on the combined weight of the one or more triglycerides, the one or more diglycerides, and the one or more fatty acids. The asphalt binder can be made by combining a bitumen and a glyceride and fatty acid mixture. A paving composition can be made by combining a plurality of solids and the asphalt binder. A road can include a plurality of solids mixed with the asphalt binder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: FLINT HILLS RESOURCES, LP
    Inventor: Brian Russell Cox
  • Publication number: 20190017080
    Abstract: Processes and systems for recovering products from a fermentation mash. In some examples, a process for recovering products from a fermentation mash can include processing a ground corn product to produce a fermentation mash that can include ethanol. At least a portion of the ethanol can be separated from the fermentation mash to produce a whole stillage. The whole stillage can be separated to produce a fiber rich product and a filtrate. The fiber rich product can be hydrolyzed to produce a saccharification mash. The saccharification mash can be processed to produce additional ethanol and a stillage protein product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: FLINT HILLS RESOURCES, LP
    Inventor: Jason Bootsma
  • Patent number: 10167390
    Abstract: Asphalt binders and methods for making and using same. In at least one specific embodiment, the asphalt binder can include a bitumen and a glyceride and fatty acid mixture. The glyceride and fatty acid mixture can include one or more triglycerides, at least 1 wt % of one or more diglycerides, and at least 5 wt % of one or more fatty acids, based on the combined weight of the one or more triglycerides, the one or more diglycerides, and the one or more fatty acids. The asphalt binder can be made by combining a bitumen and a glyceride and fatty acid mixture. A paving composition can be made by combining a plurality of solids and the asphalt binder. A road can include a plurality of solids mixed with the asphalt binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: FLINT HILLS RESOURCES, LP
    Inventor: Brian Russell Cox
  • Patent number: 10150858
    Abstract: Blended compositions that can include one or more thermoplastic polymers and one or more organic fillers and methods for making and using same. The blended composition can have a Notched Izod Impact Strength of at least 20 J/m to about 600 J/m, measured according to ASTM D256-10, and a melt index of about 1 g/10 min to about 100 g/10 min, measured according to ASTM D1238-13, procedure B. The thermoplastic copolymer can include a blend of a polypropylene homopolymer and a copolymer of propylene and a comonomer. The comonomer can include ethylene, a C4 to C20 olefin, or any mixture thereof. The copolymer of propylene and the comonomer can include about 0.5 wt % to about 40 wt % of the comonomer. The blended composition can include about 5 wt % to about 30 wt % of the organic filler based on the combined weight of the thermoplastic copolymer and the organic filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Flint Hills Resources, LP
    Inventors: Thoi H. Ho, Pierre Donaldson, Billy R. Bodiford, Steve Hooker, Mark Wolverton
  • Publication number: 20180339280
    Abstract: A method for producing a dehydrogenated product and a coked catalyst, then introducing an oxygen-containing fluid, combusting at least a portion of the coke disposed on the catalyst in the presence of the oxygen-containing fluid to produce a decoked catalyst. An apparatus for introducing fluid into a reactor, comprising a first inlet conduit configured to convey a first gas, a second inlet conduit configured to convey a second gas, and an outlet conduit configured to convey the first gas and the second gas into a reactor, wherein there is an acute angle between a longitudinal axes of the first inlet conduit and a longitudinal axis of the second inlet conduit and an obtuse angle between a longitudinal axis of the outlet conduit and the longitudinal axis of the second inlet conduit and a pre-distributor disposed, in one embodiment on the inner surface, within the first inlet conduit is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Applicant: Flint Hills Resources, LP
    Inventors: Demian Mauro de Feo, Brian Clancy-Jundt
  • Patent number: 10087397
    Abstract: Processes and system for producing biofuels and coproducts are described herein. The processes include pretreating a feedstock comprising fatty acid glycerides and free fatty acids to remove contaminants, contacting the feedstock with alcohols and a solid acidic catalyst to produce a biofuel comprising fatty acid alkyl esters, and purifying the biofuel and coproducts from the resulting reaction mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: FLINT HILLS RESOURCES, LP
    Inventors: Matthew Wesley Phillips, Megan Christina Fry Nitz, Erich Charles Pfalzgraf, Rebecca Williams, William A. Summers
  • Patent number: 10059966
    Abstract: Processes and systems for recovering products from a fermentation mash. In some examples, a process for recovering products from a fermentation mash can include processing a ground corn product to produce a fermentation mash that can include ethanol. At least a portion of the ethanol can be separated from the fermentation mash to produce a whole stillage. The whole stillage can be separated to produce a fiber rich product and a filtrate. The fiber rich product can be hydrolyzed to produce a saccharification mash. The saccharification mash can be processed to produce additional ethanol and a stillage protein product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Flint Hills Resources, LP
    Inventor: Jason Bootsma
  • Publication number: 20180044620
    Abstract: Processes and systems for recovering products from a corn fermentation mash. In one example, a process for recovering products from a corn fermentation mash can include separating ethanol from a fermentation mash to produce a whole stillage. The fermentation mash can be derived from a ground corn product milled from a plurality of corn pieces. The plurality of corn pieces can include whole corn kernels, fragmented corn kernels, size-reduced corn kernels, milled corn kernels, or a mixture thereof. Greater than 25 wt % of the ground corn product can have a particle size of greater than 105 ?m and greater than 80 wt % of the ground corn product can have a particle size of 425 ?m or less, as measured according to AOAC 965.22-1966. The process can also include separating the whole stillage to produce a fiber rich portion and a filtrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: FLINT HILLS RESOURCES, LP
    Inventor: Jason Bootsma
  • Publication number: 20170333889
    Abstract: Methods for dehydrogenating one or more alkanes. A catalyst can be contacted with an alkane under a pressure of less than 101 kPa to produce a coked catalyst and a dehydrogenated product. The dehydrogenated product can be separated from the coked catalyst and the coked catalyst can be contacted with a purge fluid to remove at least a portion of any residual alkane, any residual alkene, or a combination thereof from the coked catalyst. The coked catalyst can be contacted with an oxygen-containing fluid and at least a portion of the coke disposed on the catalyst can be combusted in the presence of the oxygen-containing fluid to produce a decoked catalyst. The decoked catalyst can be contacted with a reducing gas to produce a regenerated catalyst and an off-gas. Additional alkane can be contacted with the regenerated catalyst to produce additional dehydrogenated product and additional coked catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: Flint Hills Resources, LP
    Inventors: Brian Clancy-Jundt, Jan Peeters
  • Publication number: 20170268024
    Abstract: Processes for grinding corn, ground corn products, and processes for making ethanol from the ground corn products. In some examples, a process for making ethanol can include introducing a plurality of corn pieces into a mill. The process can also include milling the corn pieces in the mill to produce a ground corn product. Greater than 25 wt % of the ground corn product can have a particle size of greater than 105 ?m, as measured according to AOAC 965.22-1966. Greater than 80 wt % of the ground corn product can have a particle size of 425 ?m or less, as measured according to AOAC 965.22-1966. The process can also include processing the ground corn product to produce a fermentation mash that can include ethanol and separating at least a portion of the ethanol from the fermentation mash to produce a stillage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: FLINT HILLS RESOURCES, LP
    Inventors: Jason Bootsma, James Richard Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20170253892
    Abstract: Processes and systems for recovering products from a fermentation mash. In some examples, a process for recovering products from a fermentation mash can include processing a ground corn product to produce a fermentation mash that can include ethanol. At least a portion of the ethanol can be separated from the fermentation mash to produce a whole stillage. The whole stillage can be separated to produce a fiber rich product and a filtrate. The fiber rich product can be hydrolyzed to produce a saccharification mash. The saccharification mash can be processed to produce additional ethanol and a stillage protein product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: FLINT HILLS RESOURCES, LP
    Inventor: Jason Bootsma
  • Patent number: 9605622
    Abstract: A system for providing heated, pressurized air to a device in an industrial process, the system including at least one engine arranged and designed to heat and pressurize air, and at least one pipe attached to the at least one engine to provide a flow path for air from the at least one engine to the device in the industrial process. The system may also include an expansion joint positioned between the at least one engine and the pipe, the expansion joint arranged and designed to allow relative axial movement between the at least one engine and the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Flint Hills Resources, LP
    Inventor: Randy Miller