Patents Assigned to UOP
  • Delta temperature control of catalytic dehydrogenation process reactors
    Patent number: 10953377
    Abstract: A chemical plant or a petrochemical plant or a refinery may include one or more pieces of equipment that process one or more input chemicals to create one or more products. For example, catalytic dehydrogenation can be used to convert paraffins to the corresponding olefin. A delta temperature controller may determine and control differential temperature across the reactor, and use a delta temperature to control a set point for a heater temperature controller. By doing so, the plant may ramp up a catalytic dehydrogenation unit faster and ensure it does not coke up the catalyst and/or foul a screens too quickly. Catalyst activity may be taken into account and allow the plant to have better control over production and run length of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Louis A. Lattanzio, Christopher Schindlbeck
  • Clip for supporting vessel internals, assembly and method of assembly
    Patent number: 10953342
    Abstract: An assembly for supporting a member in a vessel comprises a clip comprising an arm with a first end attached to a panel and a second end opposed to the panel. The panel is secured in the vessel. The assembly also comprises a plate slidably disposed between the second end of the arm and the panel. The subject matter also pertains to the clip itself and the method of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Behm, Derek H. Shih, Peter J. Wantuck, John R. Ulmer
  • Cloud based control for remote engineering
    Patent number: 10955833
    Abstract: A method in an industrial process control and remote engineering system comprises receiving, by a remote control system, a control configuration, interfacing, by the remote control system, via a network, with at least one process equipment, and remotely controlling, by the remote control system, the at least one process equipment according to the control configuration. In some embodiments of the method, the remote control system is a twin of a local control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Raj Bandekar, Michael James Waynick, Gary Drayton
  • Catalyst staging in catalytic reaction process
    Patent number: 10947462
    Abstract: A reforming process is described. The reforming process includes introducing a hydrocarbon stream comprising hydrocarbons having 5 to 12 carbon atoms into a reforming zone containing reforming catalyst, the reforming zone comprising at least two reformers, each reformer having a set of reforming operating conditions, to produce a reformate effluent, wherein the last reformer contains less catalyst than the next to the last reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bryan J. Egolf, Ian G. Horn, David A. Wegerer, Gregory R. Werba
  • Processes for increasing an octane value of a gasoline component
    Patent number: 10941352
    Abstract: Processes for producing a gasoline blend in which C7 hydrocarbons are separated from a naphtha feed. The C7 hydrocarbons are isomerized and dehydrogenated to increase the octane value of the components therein. In order to avoid conversion of methylcyclohexane to toluene in the dehydrogenation reactor, the various processes provide flow schemes in which the methylcyclohexane bypasses the C7 dehydrogenation reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Mark P. Lapinski, Michael W. Penninger, Rajeswar Gattupalli, Christopher D. DiGiulio, Bryan J. Egolf, Louis A. Lattanzio
  • Method and apparatus for crystallizing and increasing molecular weight of polymer particles
    Patent number: 10940613
    Abstract: The present subject matter claims a process and apparatus for forming, crystallizing and increasing the molecular weight of polymer particles which does not require re-heating the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pellets after they are cut and crystallized in the under water cutting (UWC) section. In the existing solid state polycondensation (SSP) technologies where an UWC is used, high crystallinity of the PET pellets can occur, by cooling and re-heating the PET pellets, which results in reduced removal efficiency of by-products, such as acetaldehyde (AA) and furthermore also a reduction of the reaction rates of molecular weight increasing reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jan De Ren, Stephan Dietmer Wilhelmi, Roel Julia Julien Bauters
  • Vapor-liquid contacting apparatus and process with offset contacting modules
    Patent number: 10933344
    Abstract: A high capacity and high efficiency co-current and cross-flow vapor-liquid contacting apparatus and process is useful in distillation columns and other vapor-liquid contacting processes. The apparatus is characterized by an arrangement of offset contacting modules in horizontal stages. The modules define a co-current contacting volume and in an exemplary configuration the modules include a liquid distributor and a demister. Half modules comprise downcomers against the shell of the vessel for transporting liquid to the subjacent stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Zhanping Xu
  • Ammonia-free synthesis for Al or Si based multimetallic materials
    Patent number: 10933407
    Abstract: A highly active quaternary mixed transition metal oxide material has been developed. The material may be sulfided to generate metal sulfides which are used as a catalyst in a conversion process such as hydroprocessing. The hydroprocessing may include hydrodenitrification, hydrodesulfurization, hydrodemetallation, hydrodesilication, hydrodearomatization, hydroisomerization, hydrotreating, hydrofining, and hydrocracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Zara Osman, Wei Pan
  • Apparatus for catalytic reforming hydrocarbons having flow distributor and process for reforming hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 10933395
    Abstract: A reforming reactor and process of using same in which a flow distributor distributes the process gas circumferentially to the reactive zone. Feed is injected into the reactor into a non-reactive zone. The non-reactive zone has two portions, a first portion receiving the feed, and a second portion receiving a purge gas. The purge gas will flow from the second portion to the first portion to prevent flow of the feed from the first portion to the second portion. The combined gas may be passed to a reaction zone for catalytic reforming. The first portion and the second portion may be separated by a flow distributor having two horizontal portions connected to opposite ends of a vertical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: John C. Maley, Ka Leung Lok, Jeffrey Grott, Amresh Kumar Tiwari
  • Two bed liquid phase isomerization process
    Patent number: 10927057
    Abstract: A process for ethylbenzene conversion and xylene isomerization of an alkylaromatic feed mixture is described. A C8 alkylaromatic feed mixture can be contacted with two catalyst beds successively in the liquid phase in a C8 aromatic hydrocarbon isomerization zone. The first catalyst comprises a passivated zeolite containing a ten-membered ring channel framework for the conversion of ethylbenzene. The second catalyst comprises UZM-54 zeolite for selective isomerization of the xylenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gregory B. Kuzmanich, Veronica G. Deak, Deng-Yang Jan
  • Process to convert aliphatics and alkylaromatics to light olefins with acidic catalyst
    Patent number: 10920156
    Abstract: The process for producing light olefins comprises the steps of contacting a feed stream comprising C4 to C11 hydrocarbons having at least 10 wt % paraffins and at least 15 wt % alkylaromatics with an acidic catalyst to form a cracked product comprising light olefins and aromatics. The catalyst comprises about 30 to about 80 wt-% of a crystalline zeolite and a low-acidic binder and may be regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Avram M. Buchbinder, Stanley J. Frey, Karl Z. Steigleder
  • Processes for producing a burner fuel from a biomass feed
    Patent number: 10920151
    Abstract: Processes for partially deoxygenating a biomass-derived pyrolysis oil to produce a fuel for a burner are disclosed. A biomass-derived pyrolysis oil stream is combined with a low recycle stream that is a portion of a deoxygenated effluent to form a heated diluted py-oil feed stream, which is contacted with a first deoxygenating catalyst in the presence of hydrogen at first hydroprocessing conditions effective to form the effluent stream. The effluent may be separated and used to provide a product fuel stream for a burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. Brandvold, Lance A. Baird
  • Process for the conversion of synthesis gas to isobutanol
    Patent number: 10919826
    Abstract: An improved isobutanol synthesis process is provided which proceeds through the formation of mixed alcohols from syngas. The two-step process avoids the slowest ?-carbon addition reaction in the conventional one-step, direct isobutanol synthesis process. Once ethanol and propanol are produced in the first reaction zone, they can react with methanol and/or syngas in a second reaction zone to produce isobutanol through the fast ?-carbon addition reaction in the presence of catalysts, resulting on significantly improved isobutanol productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignees: China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard Long, Tian Ruan, Lubo Zhou, Jinbiao Guo
  • Energy-recovery turbines for gas streams
    Patent number: 10920624
    Abstract: Processes for recovering electrical power from a process unit waste heat steam generation system are described. A power-recovery turbine reduces the pressure of a stream of superheated steam to a pressure lower than that needed by the steam reboiler for use in other process units or equipment in the plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jason Lee Stahlman, Donald A. Eizenga, William M. Hartman
  • Catalyst cycle length prediction using eigen analysis
    Patent number: 10913905
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for managing the operation of a plant, such as a chemical plant or a petrochemical plant or a refinery, and more particularly for enhancing system performance of a catalyzed reaction system by, among other features, detecting catalyst deactivation and cycle length. Plants may include those that provide hydrocarbon cracking or other process units. A plant may include a reactor, a heater, a catalyst bed, a separator, and other equipment. The equipment may use catalyst to treat feed products to remove compounds and produce different products. Catalysts used in the various reactors in these processes become deactivated over time. Systems and methods are disclosed for extending catalyst life and thereby improving efficiency of the plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Mahesh Kumar Gellaboina, Michael Terry, Seth Huber, Danielle Schindlbeck
  • Apparatuses for mixing of staged methanol injection
    Patent number: 10913043
    Abstract: This present disclosure relates to apparatuses for methylation of aromatics in an aromatics complex for producing a xylene isomer product. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to the use of riser slip reduction technology to improve the methanol feed and catalyst contacting which will improve the product yield rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Lev Davydov
  • Integrated process for maximizing recovery of hydrogen
    Patent number: 10899975
    Abstract: An integrated process for maximizing recovery of hydrogen is provided. The process comprises: providing a hydrocarbonaceous feed comprising naphtha, and a hydrogen stream to a reforming zone, wherein the hydrogen stream is obtained from at least one of a hydrocracking zone, a transalkylation zone, and an isomerization zone. The hydrocarbonaceous feed is reformed in the reforming zone in the presence of the hydrogen stream and a reforming catalyst to provide a reformate effluent stream. At least a portion of the reformate effluent stream is passed to a debutanizer column of the reforming zone to provide a net hydrogen stream and a fraction comprising liquid petroleum gas (LPG). At least a portion of the net hydrogen stream is recycled to the reforming zone as the hydrogen stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gautam Madhusadan Pandey, Krishna Mani, Deepak Bisht, Priyesh Jayendrakumar Jani, Vikrant Vilasrao Dalal, Ram Ganesh Rokkam
  • Developing linear process models using reactor kinetic equations
    Patent number: 10901403
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for developing linear process models to improve performance of components that make up operations in a plant are described herein. In some arrangements, a system may leverage one or more sensors and/or measurement devices to identify rates and compositions of feed and yield. The system may use one or more stoichiometric matrices and/or differential equations to identify molar and mass solutions for each feed component and predict the yield for reaction rates on a component-by-component basis. The system may further adjust the reaction rate coefficients to minimize the deviation between the yield results and the yield identified by system sensors and/or measuring devices. The resulting linear process models may be utilized to optimize plant processes in order to minimize reaction waste and maximize reaction yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Joel Joshua Kaye
  • Process and apparatus for hydrocracking with light fractionation column with three products
    Patent number: 10899977
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon stream that strips a liquid hydrocracked stream in a stripping column to provide a stripping overhead stream and a stripped stream. The stripping overhead stream fractionated to provide a light fractionated overhead stream, a light fractionated intermediate stream and a light fractionated bottoms stream in a single light fractionation column omitting the need for a separate deethanizer column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Hari S. Bajpai, Donald A. Eizenga
  • Integrated process for maximizing recovery of liquid petroleum gas
    Patent number: 10899976
    Abstract: An integrated process for maximizing recovery of LPG is provided. The process comprises providing a hydrocarbonaceous feed comprising naphtha, and a hydrogen stream to a reforming zone. The hydrocarbonaceous feed is reformed in the reforming zone in the presence of the hydrogen stream and a reforming catalyst to provide a reformate effluent stream. At least a portion of the reformate effluent stream and at least one stream comprising C6? hydrocarbons from one or more of a hydrocracking zone, an isomerization zone, and a transalkylation zone is passed to a debutanizer column of the reforming zone to provide a fraction comprising liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and a debutanizer column bottoms stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gautam Madhusadan Pandey, Krishna Mani, Deepak Bisht, Priyesh Jayendrakumar Jani, Vikrant Vilasrao Dalal, Ram Ganesh Rokkam