Abstract: A separation system including a pressure vessel containing a plurality of membrane cartridge assemblies is provided for the separation of a fluid feed. The separation system typically includes an elongated pressure vessel having a feed stream inlet, a residual stream and at least one permeate stream outlet. Disposed within the pressure vessel are a first tube sheet assembly defining a first permeate reservoir, a first fluid reservoir, and a plurality of membrane cartridge assemblies. The first tube sheet assembly includes a first pair of tube sheets, which define the first permeate reservoir therebetween, and a plurality of first sleeves disposed between the first pair of tube sheets. The first permeate reservoir is in fluid communication with the at least one permeate stream outlet. The at least one membrane cartridge assembly includes a membrane cartridge and a first permeate adapter joined to a first end of the membrane cartridge.
Abstract: A fired heater has two types of burners. The first burner is located in a duct which provides oxygen-containing gas to the heater to be combusted with the fuel provided by the burner. The second burner is located in the heater and provides both air and fuel for combustion. The heater may be located downstream of a gas turbine engine that cogenerates electricity and provides the oxygen-containing gas.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 14, 2006
Date of Patent:
September 7, 2010
Assignee:
UOP LLC
Inventors:
Gavin P. Towler, Randy S. Stier, Christopher Naunheimer
Abstract: A process for maintaining a low carbon monoxide content in a carbon dioxide product that is made in a synthesis gas purification process is disclosed. More particularly, the invention involves an improved process in which a portion of a loaded solvent is sent through a carbon dioxide absorber instead of to a series of carbon dioxide flash drums.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 25, 2009
Date of Patent:
September 7, 2010
Assignee:
UOP LLC
Inventors:
William J. Lechnick, Leonid Bresler, Lamar A. Davis
Abstract: An improved method for desulfurizing a fuel stream such as a diesel stream is disclosed which includes generation of a sulfone oil, the desulfurization of the sulfone oil and the recycling of the resulting biphenyl-rich stream and ultra-low sulfur diesel streams. The method includes combining a thiophene-rich diesel stream with an oxidant to oxidize the thiophenes to sulfones to provide a sulfone-rich diesel stream. Sulfone oil is extracted from the sulfone-rich diesel stream to provide sulfone oil and a first low-sulfur diesel stream The low-sulfur diesel stream is recycled. The sulfone-rich oil stream is combined with an aqueous oxidant-containing stream, such as caustic stream, which oxidizes the sulfones to biphenyls and forms sulfite to provide a second low-sulfur diesel stream.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 7, 2007
Date of Patent:
September 7, 2010
Assignee:
UOP LLC
Inventors:
Joseph A. Kocal, Jeffrey C. Bricker, Gavin P. Towler
Abstract: Wide mesoporous alumina composites are produced by an “in situ reaction” route comprising agglomeration of an alumina powder that is capable of rehydration together with a second reactive powder such as carbonate. In one method of production, the powders are fed to a rotating forming device that is continuously sprayed with liquid under conditions to form particulates. The discharging beads are then subjected to curing and thermal activation to produce the final catalyst or adsorbent. The alumina participates in a pore altering process involving the carbonate component upon formation of hydroxycarbonate intermediates such as Dawsonite. Large fraction of the pore volume of the final product consists of wide mesopores in the 15-50 nanometers range. The alumina composites exhibit a characteristic trimodal pore structure that includes also small micro-meso pores and macropores larger than 200 nanometers.
Abstract: A process is provided for producing low sulfur diesel having a high cetane number where the temperature and pressure requirements for obtaining low levels of sulfur is separated from the temperature and pressure requirements for improving cetane. In one aspect, a low pressure hydrodesulfurization zone and a high pressure aromatic saturation zone are employed to sequentially achieve the desired sulfur and cetane levels. In another aspect, the process first converts a diesel boiling range hydrocarbonaceous stream in a hydrotreating zone at conditions effective to produce a hydrotreating zone effluent having a reduced concentration of sulfur with minimal saturation of aromatics. Hydrogen is then admixed with the hydrotreating zone effluent, which is then reacted in a substantially liquid-phase continuous reaction zone substantially undiluted with other streams to effect saturation of aromatics to provide a liquid-phase continuous reaction zone effluent having an improved cetane number.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 15, 2007
Date of Patent:
September 7, 2010
Assignee:
UOP LLC
Inventors:
Peter Kokayeff, Laura Elise Leonard, Michael Roy Smith
Abstract: The present invention provides compositions of crystalline coordination copolymers wherein multiple organic molecules are assembled to produce porous framework materials with layered or core-shell structures. These materials are synthesized by sequential growth techniques such as the seed growth technique. In addition, the invention provides a simple procedure for controlling functionality.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 4, 2009
Publication date:
September 2, 2010
Applicants:
UOP LLC, The Regents of the University of Michigan
Inventors:
Kyoung Moo Koh, Antek G. Wong-Foy, Adam J. Matzger, Annabelle I. Benin, Richard R. Willis
Abstract: A composite sorbent is formed which is the reaction product of a solid alkali metal carbonate, rehydratable alumina and water or an aqueous solution of a metal salt. The reaction between the components occurs while forming particulates followed by curing and activation at high temperatures. The alkali metal in the sorbent exhibits a highly reactive and accessible state that is very favorable for various sorption applications. The sorbent is especially useful for removal of HCl and other acid contaminants from gas and liquid hydrocarbon streams at high temperatures.
Abstract: The present invention provides compositions of crystalline coordination copolymers wherein multiple organic molecules are assembled to produce porous framework materials with layered or core-shell structures. These materials are synthesized by sequential growth techniques such as the seed growth technique. In addition, the invention provides a simple procedure for controlling functionality.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 4, 2009
Publication date:
September 2, 2010
Applicants:
UOP LLC, The Regents of the University of Michigan
Inventors:
Kyoung Moo Koh, Antek G. Wong-Foy, Adam J. Matzger, Annabelle I. Benin, Richard R. Willis
Abstract: The present invention provides compositions of crystalline coordination copolymers wherein multiple organic molecules are assembled to produce porous framework materials with layered or core-shell structures. These materials are synthesized by sequential growth techniques such as the seed growth technique. In addition, the invention provides a simple procedure for controlling functionality.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 4, 2009
Publication date:
September 2, 2010
Applicants:
UOP LLC, The Regents of the University of Michigan
Inventors:
Kyoung Moo Koh, Antek G. Wong-Foy, Adam J. Matzger, Annabelle I. Benin, Richard R. Willis
Abstract: Systems and processes utilize one or more methods of providing overhead waste process heat to increase the feed temperature of the hot solvent stripping regeneration loop in an acid gas removal process. A heated rich solvent stream can be the primary feed for the hot solvent stripping regeneration loop, and one or more slip streams can be heated and then combined with the heated rich solvent stream to form a combined rich solvent stream prior to further processing in downstream units to remove acid gas from the solvent. A first slip stream can be heated in a stripper gas heat exchanger by heat exchange with a stripped gas stream. A second slip stream can be heated in a regenerator exchanger by heat exchange with an acid gas stream. A third slip stream can be heated in a recycle gas exchanger by heat exchange with a compressed recycle gas stream.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 16, 2009
Date of Patent:
August 31, 2010
Assignee:
UOP LLC
Inventors:
Richard Huang, Lamar A. Davis, William J. Lechnick, Xin Zhu
Abstract: Integrated processes for making detergent range alkylbenzenes from C5-C6-containing feeds involve feed pretreatment and/or selective hydrogenation to enable acceptable quality alkylbenzene production at attractive capital and operating costs.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 29, 2009
Date of Patent:
August 24, 2010
Assignee:
UOP LLC
Inventors:
Bryan K. Glover, Stephen W. Sohn, Mark G. Riley, Dean E. Rende
Abstract: Integrated processes for making detergent range alkylbenzenes from C5-C6-containing feeds involve feed pretreatment and/or selective hydrogenation to enable acceptable quality alkylbenzene production at attractive capital and operating costs.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 29, 2009
Date of Patent:
August 24, 2010
Assignee:
UOP LLC
Inventors:
Bryan K. Glover, Stephen W. Sohn, Mark G. Riley, Dean E. Rende
Abstract: Integrated processes for making detergent range alkylbenzenes from C5-C6-containing feeds involve feed pretreatment and/or selective hydrogenation to enable acceptable quality alkylbenzene production at attractive capital and operating costs.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 29, 2009
Date of Patent:
August 24, 2010
Assignee:
UOP LLC
Inventors:
Bryan K. Glover, Stephen W. Sohn, Mark G. Riley, Dean E. Rende
Abstract: An apparatus for producing a xylene isomer, which integrates the removal of olefins into a reaction zone of the apparatus is disclosed. Apparatus of this invention enable the use of aromatic feedstocks containing olefins and reduce or eliminate the need for feed pretreatment by olefin removal assemblies or zones such as hydrotreating, hydrogenation, and clay and/or molecular sieve treating, thereby reducing capital and operating costs.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 30, 2007
Date of Patent:
August 17, 2010
Assignee:
UOP LLC
Inventors:
Antoine Negiz, Edwin P. Boldingh, James E. Rekoske
Abstract: The present invention provides a reactor system for converting an oxygenate-containing feed stream to an olefin-containing product stream. The system includes: (1) a first fluidized catalytic reactor for converting methanol to propylene, the first reactor having a fluidized catalyst system comprising a first catalyst and a second catalyst; (2) a second fluidized catalytic reactor communicating with the first fluidized catalytic reactor for cracking heavy olefins having four carbon atoms or greater into propylene, the second reactor having the fluidized catalyst system; (3) wherein the first catalyst is a non-zeolite molecular sieve catalyst; and (4) wherein the second catalyst is a zeolite molecular sieve catalyst.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 7, 2010
Publication date:
August 12, 2010
Applicant:
UOP LLC
Inventors:
Andrea G. Bozzano, Bryan K. Glover, Peter R. Pujado
Abstract: Systems and methods of reducing refinery carbon dioxide emissions by increasing synthesis gas production in a fluid catalytic cracking unit having a reactor and a regenerator are disclosed. In one example, a method comprises separating spent catalyst from a hydrocarbon product in the reactor, the spent catalyst having trapped hydrocarbon thereon. The method further comprises reacting an additional feed with the spent catalyst in the reactor to deposit additional coke on the spent catalyst, defining a gas product. The method further separating the gas product and the trapped hydrocarbon from the spent catalyst with a stripping gas. The method further comprises removing coke from the spent catalyst in the regenerator, thereby increasing the amount of synthesis gas production.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 21, 2007
Date of Patent:
August 3, 2010
Assignees:
UOP LLC, BP Corporation North America Inc.
Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for fluid catalytic cracking, including, fluidizing a hydrocarbon stream in a riser, cracking the hydrocarbon stream with catalyst in the riser to produce a cracked stream and spent catalyst, separating the cracked stream and the spent catalyst in a primary separator to obtain a cracked stream with a first concentration of spent catalyst, and transporting the cracked stream with the first concentration of spent catalyst through a conduit to a multi-cyclone separator comprising multiple cyclones extending through a tube sheet to obtain a cracked stream with a second concentration of spent catalyst. The invention is also directed to an apparatus for catalytic cracking including a riser, a primary separator, a disengagement vessel surrounding the primary separator to collect the catalyst, a gas conduit having a first end in fluid connection with the disengagement vessel, and a multi-cyclone separator comprising a plurality of cyclones.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 31, 2010
Publication date:
July 29, 2010
Applicant:
UOP LLC
Inventors:
Kelly D. Seibert, Todd P. Mitchell, Mindy B. Kuhn
Abstract: A fired heater has two types of burners. The first burner is located in a duct which provides oxygen-containing gas to the heater to be combusted with the fuel provided by the burner. The second burner is located in the heater and provides both air and fuel for combustion. The heater may be located downstream of a gas turbine engine that cogenerates electricity and provides the oxygen-containing gas.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 31, 2010
Publication date:
July 29, 2010
Applicant:
UOP LLC
Inventors:
Gavin P. Towler, Randy S. Stier, Christopher Naunheimer
Abstract: Processing schemes and arrangements are provided for the processing a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock via hydrocarbon cracking processing with selected hydrocarbon fractions being obtained via fractionation-based product recovery.