Patents Assigned to UOP LLC
  • Fail-safe delivery valve for pressurized tanks
    Patent number: 5937895
    Abstract: The present invention uses a regulator in the form of dispensing check valve and a flow restriction arrangement to provide a virtually fail safe system for preventing hazardous discharge of fluid from a pressurized cylinder or tank. A diaphragm controls the movement of a check valve element to prevent discharge of gas from a tank unless a predetermined vacuum condition exists downstream of the check valve. A capillary tube or other structure that provides capillary size opening minimizes any discharge of gas in the unlikely event of a failure of the regulator. This system is particularly useful in the delivery of arsine gas and provides multiple safeguards against accidental discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David A. Le Febre, Thomas B. Martin, Jr.
  • Crystalline intergrowth molecular sieves
    Patent number: 5935552
    Abstract: A novel molecular sieve is disclosed which has a crystal structure which is an intergrowth of the pharmacosiderite and sitinakite structures. The molecular sieve has an empirical formula of:A.sub.((4-4x)/n) (M.sub.x Ti.sub.1-z Ge.sub.y).sub.4 (Ge.sub.1-p Si.sub.p).sub.q O.sub.rwhere A is a cation such as sodium or potassium and M is a metal such as niobium or tantalum. A process for preparing the molecular sieve is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Robert L. Bedard
  • Removal of organic sulfur compounds from FCC gasoline using regenerable adsorbents
    Patent number: 5935422
    Abstract: Removal of aromatic sulfur compounds from an FCC feedstock with minimal adsorption of aromatic hydrocarbons is achieved using a zeolite Y exchanged with alkali or alkaline earth cations. KY is an especially effective adsorbent. Where the KY is impregnated with a group VIII metal, particular palladium or platinum, the adsorbent is effectively regenerated by treatment with hydrogen at elevated temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Herman A. Zinnen
  • Continuous catalytic reforming process with dual zones
    Patent number: 5935415
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon feedstock is catalytically reformed in a sequence comprising a continuous-reforming zone, consisting essentially of a moving-bed catalytic reforming zone and continuous regeneration of catalyst particles, and a zeolitic-reforming zone containing a catalyst comprising a platinum-group metal and a nonacidic zeolite. The process combination permits higher severity, higher aromatics yields and/or increased throughput in the continuous-reforming zone, thus showing surprising benefits over prior-art processes, and is particularly useful in upgrading existing moving-bed reforming facilities with continuous catalyst regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Haizmann, John Y. G. Park, Michael B. Russ
  • Adsorptive separation of 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran enantiomers
    Patent number: 5928515
    Abstract: The chiral isomers of 3-hydroxytetrahyrofuran are separated by means of liquid chromatography using a stationary phase comprising a substituted polysaccharide carbamate. The separation may be performed using a simulated moving bed adsorbent system. Suitable mobile phase materials comprise a mixture of a light paraffin and a low molecular weight aliphatic alcohol such as a mixture of n-hexane and ethanol. Amylose is the preferred polysaccharide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Beth McCulloch, Peter K. Nickl
  • Falling film reactor with corrugated plates
    Patent number: 5922903
    Abstract: An arrangement for a falling film type reactor uses corrugated plates to improve the distribution and dispersion of the gaseous reactant into the liquid. Corrugated plates introduce increased turbulence for promoting better distribution and dispersion of the gas. Corrugation angles can be varied to suit the fluid flow properties of the liquid reactant. The reactor arrangement can also include heat transfer channels defined by the corrugated plates in an alternate arrangement of heat transfer channels and gas liquid contacting channels. The corrugations may also be varied to suit the particular heat transfer requirements of the reactions. The corrugated plates are spaced apart in the contacting channels to prevent localized film contact and placed in contact in the heat exchange portion to stabilize the plate elements defining the corrugations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Peter R. Pujado
  • Zeolitic reforming with selective feed-species adjustment
    Patent number: 5922923
    Abstract: The feedstock to an aromatization process is processed by a selective adsorption step to remove hydrocarbon species, particularly indan, which have a severe adverse effect on aromatization catalyst stability. The feedstock preferably is a paraffinic raffinate from aromatics extraction. The intermediate from the adsorption step is particularly suitable for the selective conversion of paraffins to aromatics using a high-activity dehydrocyclization catalyst with high aromatics yields and long catalyst life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: John Y. G. Park, Santi Kulprathipanja, Robert S. Haizmann
  • Spectroscopic helical separator and fluid sample interface
    Patent number: 5923431
    Abstract: A spectroscopic fluid sample apparatus for the transmission and detection of radiation with the key components being a housing; a helical bore formed by the housing and extending through the housing for conducting the sample fluid through the bore to induce centripetal acceleration on the sample fluid and establish a radial composition gradient across the sample fluid in the bore; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet each in fluid communication with the helical bore; and a spectroscopic sample interface in fluid communication with the fluid outlet has been developed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Brian K. Masterson, Terry R. Todd
  • Spring-loaded hydraulically active liquid chromatography column
    Patent number: 5919361
    Abstract: The adsorbent bed (25) retained in an HPLC column (1) is maintained in a constant state of compression by a spring loaded hydraulically active second column (13). A relatively small spring (14) loaded piston (15) in the second column maintains a constant hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic chamber (3) of the larger diameter HPLC column (1). Multiple small diameter columns (13) can be employed if necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Michael G. Moran
  • High efficiency desulfurization process
    Patent number: 5914029
    Abstract: Economies in capital cost and operation of a hydrocarbon refining unit for desulfurization of diesel fuel are provided by a heat exchange sequence which eliminates the need for a fired heater on the product fractionation zone. The feed to the fractionation zone is heat exchanged twice against both the effluent bottoms stream of the fractionation zone and the reaction zone effluent stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Verachtert, II
  • Raffinate line flush in simulated continuous moving bed adsorptive separation process
    Patent number: 5912395
    Abstract: The capacity of a simulated moving bed adsorptive separation process is increased by flushing the contents of the transfer line just previously used to remove the raffinate stream from the adsorbent chamber back into the adsorbent chamber. This step is performed immediately upstream of the point of raffinate withdrawal. Preferably the feed stream to the process is used as the flushing liquid. This flush step eliminates the passage of a quantity of the raffinate material into the adsorbent chamber when the process conduit is subsequently used to charge the feed stream to the adsorbent chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Robert J.L. Noe
  • Metallo aluminophosphate molecular sieve with novel crystal morphology and methanol to olefin process using the sieve
    Patent number: 5912393
    Abstract: A catalyst for converting methanol to light olefins along with the process itself are disclosed and claimed. The catalyst is a metalloaluminophosphate molecular sieve having the empirical formula (EL.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 where EL is a metal such as silicon or magnesium and x, y and z are the mole fractions of EL, Al and P respectively. The molecular sieve has a crystal morphology in which the average smallest crystal dimension is at least 0.1 microns. Use of this catalyst gives a product with a larger amount of ethylene versus propylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paul T. Barger, Stephen T. Wilson, Thomas M. Reynolds
  • Process for the simultaneous conversion of waste lubricating oil and pyrolysis oil derived from organic waste to produce a synthetic crude oil
    Patent number: 5904838
    Abstract: A process for the simultaneous conversion of waste lubricating oil and pyrolysis oil derived from organic waste to produce a synthetic crude oil by means of contacting the combined feed with a hot hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to increase the temperature of the combined feed to vaporize at least a portion of the distillable organic compounds contained therein which is immediately hydrogenated in a hydrogenation reaction zone. The resulting effluent from the hydrogenation reaction zone is then introduced into a hydroprocessing zone to produce higher hydrogen-content hydrocarbons and to remove heterogeneous components such as sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen and halide, for example. The resulting effluent is cooled and partially condensed to produce a gaseous stream containing hydrogen and gaseous water-soluble inorganic compounds and a liquid stream containing hydrocarbon compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Tom N. Kalnes, Robert B. James, Jr.
  • Dual feed reactor hydrocracking process
    Patent number: 5904835
    Abstract: A large hydrocracking feed stream is processed without resorting to full dual reaction trains by passing a portion of the feed stream into each of two reaction zones, with the effluents of the two reaction zones being charged into a common separation and product recovery facility. Unconverted hydrocarbons recovered in the product recovery facility are passed into only one of the reaction zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Vasant P. Thakkar
  • Process for the isomerization of paraffins
    Patent number: 5905181
    Abstract: A paraffin isomerization process is described and claimed. The process involves contacting the paraffins with an isomerization catalyst at isomerization conditions. Additionally, the process requires the injection of a nitrogen containing compound such as an amine, e.g., t-butylamine, and raising the operating temperature by about 20.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. The effect of these modifications is to provide improved selectivity and sulfur resistance to the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Leonid B. Galperin
  • Drying agents for non-foamed polyurethanes
    Patent number: 5900226
    Abstract: Mild acid treatment of zeolite 3A molecular sieve to modify the pH of the surface of the molecular sieve to a pH ranging between 9.5 and 11 was found to significantly minimize the effect of the zeolite 3A on the pot life of non-foamed polyurethanes. Increases in pot life over untreated zeolite 3A molecular sieve were dramatic (about 400%) with less than 5% reduction in water adsorption capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: David W. House
  • Process for adsorptive separation of metaxylene from xylene mixtures
    Patent number: 5900523
    Abstract: Metaxylene is recovered from admixture with other C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbons including orthoxylene by liquid phase adsorptive separation using a sodium exchanged Y zeolite as the adsorbent. Performance is improved by maintaining the adsorbent in a narrow range of temperature and hydration. These conditions allow the metaxylene to be recovered in a single raffinate process without costly prefractionation for orthoxylene removal. A novel desorbent, indane, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Santi Kulprathipanja
  • Aromatic isomerization using a modified silicoaluminophosphate
    Patent number: 5898090
    Abstract: This invention is drawn to a process for isomerizing a non-equilibrium mixture of xylenes and ethylbenzene using a silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve which is enriched in framework silicon at the surface, resulting in a greater yield of para-xylene compared to prior-art processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: John Ivor Hammerman, Edith Marie Flanigen, Gregory J. Gajda, Jennifer S. Holmgren, David A. Lesch, Robert Lyle Patton, Thomas Matthew Reynolds, Cara Moy Roeseler
  • Unimodal, large-pore silicas by hydrothermal treatment of silicia powders
    Patent number: 5897849
    Abstract: The need for silicas with large pore sizes can be met by hydrothermal treatment of a silica powder with a mineralizing agent. Pore sizes in the range 300-25,000 angstroms, and more particularly in the range up to 10,000 angstroms, are readily obtained using mineralizing agents such as hydroxide, carbonate, and fluoride at temperatures in the range 85-300.degree. C. A narrow, unimodal distribution of pores is typical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Alcaraz, Jennifer S. Holmgren
  • Solid catalyst alkylation process
    Patent number: 5895831
    Abstract: A process for the production of motor fuel alkylate by reacting an alkene hydrocarbon, an alkane hydrocarbon and a hydrogen halide with a solid alkylation catalyst disposed in swing beds. The spent solid alkylation catalyst is regenerated in a highly integrated flow scheme associated with the alkylate recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Brasier, Paul A. Sechrist, Dale J. Shields