Patents Assigned to UOP
  • Highly active quaternary metallic materials using short-chain alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds
    Patent number: 10843176
    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: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Zara Osman, Wei Pan
  • Rotating equipment in a petrochemical plant or refinery
    Patent number: 10844290
    Abstract: A plant or refinery may include equipment such as condensers, regenerators, distillation columns, rotating equipment, compressors, pumps, turbines, or the like. Different operating methods may impact deterioration in equipment condition, thereby prolonging equipment life, extending production operating time, or providing other benefits. Mechanical or digital sensors may be used for monitoring equipment to determine whether problems are developing. For example, sensors may be used in conjunction with one or more system components to perform invariant mapping, monitor system operating characteristics, and/or predict pressure, volume, surges, reactor loop fouling, gas quality, or the like. An operating condition (e.g., of one or more pieces of equipment in the plant or refinery) may be adjusted to prolong equipment life or avoid equipment failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael Van de Cotte, Ian G. Horn
  • Dehydrogenation process at reduced hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratios
    Patent number: 10843984
    Abstract: Processes for dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon feedstock are described. The process can be run at lower H2/HC ratios and lower RITs while maintaining coke production at the same level as operation at higher H2/HC ratios and higher RITs without decreasing the yield per pass. Acceptable levels of coke were achieved when operating the process at low hydrogen to hydrocarbon molar ratio in the range of 0.01 to 0.40 and reactor inlet temperatures in the range of 500°-645° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher DiGiulio, Clayton C. Sadler
  • Cleansing system for a feed composition based on environmental factors
    Patent number: 10839115
    Abstract: A cleansing system for improving operation of a petrochemical plant or refinery. The petrochemical plant or refinery may include a fractionation column, a condenser, and a pump. Equipment, such as condensers, receivers, reboilers, feed exchangers, and pumps may be divided into subsections. Temperatures, pressures, flows, and other plant operations may be used for optimizing plant performance. A cleansing unit performs an enhanced cleansing process, which may allow early detection and diagnosis of the plant operating conditions based on one or more environmental factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Ian G. Horn, Christophe Romatier, Paul Kowalczyk, Zak Alzein
  • Dehydrogenation process for gasoline production
    Patent number: 10829702
    Abstract: A process for production of gasoline comprising separating a naphtha feed in a naphtha splitter into a stream comprising i-C5, a stream comprising C6 and lighter boiling hydrocarbons, a C7 stream comprising C7 hydrocarbons, and a heavy stream comprising C8 and heavier hydrocarbons; isomerizing at least a portion of the stream comprising C6 and lighter boiling hydrocarbons in a C5-C6 isomerization zone at isomerization conditions to form a C5-C6 isomerization effluent; dehydrogenating at least a portion of the stream comprising C7 hydrocarbons to form a C7 dehydrogenation effluent comprising C7 olefins; reforming the heavy stream in a reforming zone under reforming conditions forming a reformate stream; and blending one or more of the stream comprising i-C5, the C5-C6 isomerization effluent, the C7 dehydrogenation effluent and the reformate stream to form a gasoline blend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Rajeswar Gattupalli, Mohamed Shakur, Mark P. Lapinski
  • Process and apparatus for hydrocracking with prefractionator for stripped streams
    Patent number: 10829704
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon stream that feeds a cold stripped stream and a hot stripped stream to a prefractionator from which a prefractionated overhead stream and a prefractionated bottoms stream are passed to a product fractionation column. The product fractionation column may produce three products, light naphtha, heavy naphtha and distillate omitting the need for a naphtha splitter column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Hari S. Bajpai, Donald A. Eizenga
  • Methods and apparatus for fluid contacting in a downflow vessel
    Patent number: 10828616
    Abstract: A contacting device and method are presented for the collection, contacting, and distribution of fluids between particulate beds of a downflow vessel, which may operate in co-current flow. By one approach, the contacting device includes a liquid collection tray, a mixing channel in fluid communication with the liquid collection tray, and a liquid distribution zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Zhanping Xu, Christopher Naunheimer, Pengfei Chen, Steven J. Lesniak
  • Process and apparatus for hydrocracking with stripping gas sponge absorber
    Patent number: 10829705
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon stream strips a liquid hydrocracked stream in a reboiled stripping column to provide a stripping overhead stream and a stripped stream and a vaporized stripping overhead stream has LPG hydrocarbons absorbed from it with an absorbent stream comprising the stripped stream. No equipment is needed to remove water from the absorbent stream due to the lack of steam added during stripping with a reboil column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Hari S. Bajpai, Donald A. Eizenga
  • Processes for producing a fuel from a renewable feedstock
    Patent number: 10829697
    Abstract: An apparatus and a process for providing a green diesel with improved flow properties. A renewable feed comprising an oil is deoxygenated to provide an effluent. The effluent may be isomerized to improve the qualities of the effluent for use as a diesel fuel. Additionally, the effluent may be filtered to increase the fuel flow properties. As filtration zone can be used, which includes a filter and which may be flushed with a portion of the feed stream to the filtration zone or a portion of filtration zone effluent. The wash stream may be heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. Brandvold, Daniel L. Ellig, James M. Andersen
  • Power recovery from quench and dilution vapor streams
    Patent number: 10829698
    Abstract: A process for reducing pressure of a vapor stream used for reducing a temperature or pressure in a reactor. A pressure of a vapor stream is reduced with a turbine to provide a lower pressure vapor stream. The vapor stream rotates a turbine wheel within the turbine. The turbine wheel is configured to transmit rotational movement to an electrical generator. Thus, electricity is generated with the turbine. The lower pressure vapor stream is injected into a reactor and reduces a temperature in the reactor or reduces a partial pressure of a hydrocarbon vapor in the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanley Joseph Frey, Keith Allen Couch, Donald A. Eizenga, James W. Harris
  • Processes and apparatuses for naphthene recycle in the production of aromatic products
    Patent number: 10822291
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing a C8 aromatic isomer product are provided. The processes comprise introducing a raffinate product stream comprising C8 aromatic isomers to an isomerization unit to provide an isomerized stream. The isomerized stream is separated to provide a first stream comprising C8 naphthenes and C7 aromatic hydrocarbons and a second stream comprising C8 aromatic isomers. The first stream is passed to an extractive distillation column to provide a recycle feedstream comprising the C8 naphthenes and an extract stream comprising the C7 aromatic hydrocarbons. The recycle feedstream is passed to the isomerization unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jason T. Corradi, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Abhishek M. Pednekar, Leonid Bresler, Anton N. Mlinar
  • Process and apparatus for hydrocracking with heavy fractionation column
    Patent number: 10822556
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon stream that feeds a cold stripped stream and a hot stripped stream to a product fractionation column which may be reboiled. The product fractionation bottoms stream is passed to a heavy fractionation column that may be steam stripped and may be under vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Donald A. Eizenga, Hari S. Bajpai, Richard K. Hoehn
  • Process for the production of high purity para-xylene and high purity toluene
    Patent number: 10815171
    Abstract: A process for the production of high purity toluene and para-xylene is described. More specifically, the process involves the production of high purity toluene produced via a light-desorbent selective adsorption process for para-xylene production, such as light desorbent para-xylene extraction, without the need for dedicated solvent extraction or olefin removal from the toluene stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jason T. Corradi, Ryan D. Miller
  • Integration of an organic chloride decomposition reactor on the isomerization/deisobutanizer C5 drag stream
    Patent number: 10815166
    Abstract: A process for producing an isomerized product comprises sending a feed stream comprising butanes, hydrogen and an organic chloride to a butane isomerization reactor containing an isomerization catalyst to convert a portion of normal butanes in said feed stream to iso-butanes in an isomerized stream. The isomerized stream to a stabilizer column to produce a butane stream containing normal, iso-butanes and C5 hydrocarbons; the butane stream is sent to a column to produce an isomerized upper stream and a bottoms stream comprising a mixture of butanes, C5 hydrocarbons and organic chloride. The bottoms stream is sent to an organic chloride decomposition reactor to produce a mixture of HCl, hydrogen and hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Steven L. Krupa, David J. Shecterle
  • Early surge detection of rotating equipment in a petrochemical plant or refinery
    Patent number: 10816947
    Abstract: A plant or refinery may include equipment such as condensers, regenerators, distillation columns, rotating equipment, compressors, pumps, turbines, or the like. Different operating methods may impact deterioration in equipment condition, thereby prolonging equipment life, extending production operating time, or providing other benefits. Mechanical or digital sensors may be used for monitoring equipment to determine whether problems are developing. For example, sensors may be used in conjunction with one or more system components to perform invariant mapping, monitor system operating characteristics, and/or predict pressure, volume, surges, reactor loop fouling, gas quality, or the like. An operating condition (e.g., of one or more pieces of equipment in the plant or refinery) may be adjusted to prolong equipment life or avoid equipment failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael Van de Cotte, Ian G. Horn
  • Process for managing sulfur on catalyst in a light paraffin dehydrogenation process
    Patent number: 10814315
    Abstract: A process is presented for the management of sulfur on a catalyst. The catalyst is a dehydrogenation catalyst, and sulfur accumulates during the dehydrogenation process. Sulfur compounds are stripped from the spent catalyst and the catalyst is cooled before the regeneration process. The process includes controlling the amount of sulfur that needs to be removed from the catalyst before regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Wolfgang A. Spieker, Adam D. Ballard, Gregory J. Gajda, J. W. Adriaan Sachtler
  • Hydrocarbon processes using halometallate ionic liquid micro-emulsions
    Patent number: 10814317
    Abstract: A process utilizing a micro-emulsion is described. The micro-emulsion formed by contacting an ionic liquid, a co-solvent, a hydrocarbon, an optional surfactant, and an optional catalyst promoter to form the micro-emulsion. The micro-emulsion comprises a hydrocarbon component comprising the hydrocarbon and an ionic liquid component comprising the ionic liquid. The ionic liquid comprises a halometallate anion and a cation. The co-solvent has a polarity greater than a polarity of the hydrocarbon. The ionic liquid is present in an amount of 0.05 wt % to 40 wt % of the micro-emulsion. A product mixture comprising a product is produced in a process zone containing the micro-emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Avram M. Buchbinder, Hayim Abrevaya, Gavin P. Towler
  • Processes and systems for controlling cooling fluid in an ionic liquid reactor system with a heat exchanger
    Patent number: 10809022
    Abstract: Processes for controlling the rate and temperature of cooling fluid through a heat exchange zone in, for example, an alkylation reactor using an ionic liquid catalyst. A cooling fluid system may be used to provide the cooling fluid which includes a chiller and a reservoir. The cooling fluid may pass from the reservoir through the heat exchange zone. A bypass line may be used to pass a portion of the cooling fluid around the heat exchange zone. The amount of cooling fluid may be adjusted, with a valve, based upon the temperature of the cooled process fluid flowing out of the heat exchange zone. Some of the cooling fluid from the chiller may be circulated back to the chiller in a chiller loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gregory J. Schrad, James G. Hagen, Sean G. Mueller, Trung Pham, Zhanping Xu
  • Consolidation and use of power recovered from a turbine in a process unit
    Patent number: 10811884
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for recovering energy in a petroleum, petrochemical, or chemical plant as described. The apparatus includes a fluid process stream flowing through a petroleum, petrochemical, or chemical process zone. There are at least one variable-resistance power-recovery turbine, a portion of the first process stream flowing through the first power-recovery turbine to generate electric power as direct current therefrom. There is a single DC to AC inverter electrically connected to at least one power-recovery turbine, and the output of the DC to AC inverter electrically connected to a first substation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanley Joseph Frey, Gregory A. Schwarzkopf
  • Metallophosphate molecular sieves and method of preparation and use
    Patent number: 10807083
    Abstract: A new family of a microporous crystalline metallophosphate-based materials designated AlPO-75 has been synthesized. These metallophosphate-based materials are represented by the empirical formula Rp+rMw2+ExPSiyOz where R is a quaternary ammonium cation such as N,N,N?,N?-tetramethyl-N,N?-p-xyleno-1,6-hexanediammonium, M is a divalent framework metal such as magnesium or zinc, E is a framework element such as aluminum or gallium and the framework may optionally contain silicon. The microporous AlPO-75 compositions are characterized by having the SAO topology and have catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes and separating properties for separating at least one component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gregory J. Lewis, Lisa M. Knight