Patents Assigned to UOP
  • Patent number: 11299442
    Abstract: A process for producing acetylene, ethylene, or both is disclosed. The process includes combusting a fuel stream to produce a combustion gas effluent stream and pyrolyzing a feed stream in a pyrolysis zone in the presence of the combustion gas effluent stream to produce a pyrolysis zone effluent stream which is further quenched and compressed. The compressed quenched stream is separated in a solvent separation column to produce a net gas stream comprising hydrogen, methane, and at least one carbon oxide and a product stream. A portion of the carbon oxide of the net gas stream is converted into methane in a methanation reactor and a reactor effluent stream is sent to an amine scrubber where carbon dioxide is removed and a methane containing stream is generated as an effluent. The methane containing stream is then recycled to the pyrolysis zone of the supersonic reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Siedler, Charles Luebke, David Wegerer, Parag Jain
  • Patent number: 11298853
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing polymer particles with a solid state polycondensation reactor and an underwater pelletization unit. The apparatuses use a pre-conditioning zone to adjust a temperature, crystallization in addition to dust, acetaldehyde and water content of the particles from a crystallization bin. Various inert gas streams can be provided from a purification unit to remove dust, acetaldehyde, water and adjust temperature and crystallinity of the particles, as also move the particles. The precondition zones have stages that allow for the particles to accurately achieve the desired SSP reactor inlet conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Raymond Shih, Jan De Ren
  • Patent number: 11298669
    Abstract: The invention involves a scale collection device that is located within downflow reactor head for removing solids from feed streams to increase reactor operating cycle time without impact on effective reactor space for catalyst loading. More particularly, a filtering zone is located in an upper portion of a reactor vessel above a rough liquid distribution tray and a distribution tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Zhanping Xu, Steven J. Lesniak, Robert L. Bunting, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11286217
    Abstract: A dehydrogenation process and apparatus contact a paraffinic stream with dehydrogenation catalyst to product olefinic product gases. The olefinic product gases are separated from spent dehydrogenation catalyst and contained in a confined space that has a smaller volume than the reactor particularly at the same elevation. The containment of the olefinic product gases facilitates quenching the olefinic product gases to terminate reaction and improve selectivity to propylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lev Davydov, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Patent number: 11285417
    Abstract: In an FCC apparatus and process gas and catalyst exit from a riser, are disengaged from each other and the catalyst is stripped. Product gases are evacuated from catalyst that can over crack the product gases to other undesired products. A baffle in or above the stripping section can direct product gases into a passage that evacuates the product gases to product recovery in isolation from the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lev Davydov, Robert Mehlberg, Matthew R. Wojtowicz, Michael A. Stine
  • Patent number: 11266966
    Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for gradually starting fluidization in a bed of particulate from the top down so as to avoid thrusting the entire mass of particulates upwardly in the bed at the same time which may damage internals in the bed. The particulate bed may comprise a catalyst cooler for an FCC unit containing internals such as cooling, fluidization and support equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Dharmesh C. Panchal
  • Patent number: 11261143
    Abstract: In an FCC apparatus in which swirl arms are used to discharge gas and catalyst from a riser, the swirling movement of the catalyst particles is inhibited while impeding the catalyst particles and gaseous products from exiting the disengaging chamber and entering a reactor annulus. The catalyst particles and gaseous products pass through a tunnel comprising a vertical wall to enter the reactor annulus. The vertical wall presents a face that is opposed to the angular direction in which the catalyst particles and gaseous products swirl. A baffle may be located at the intersection between the reactor annulus and the disengaging chamber to deflect catalyst laterally in a stripping section after exiting the reactor annulus. The baffle may be equipped with openings to fluidize the large proportion of catalyst passing over this region to effectively pre-strip this catalyst before it enters a stripping section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Reza Mostofi-Ashtiani, Lev Davydov, Robert Mehlberg
  • Patent number: 11260357
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for fluidizing a catalyst cooler with fluidization gas fed to the cooler below the catalyst bed is disclosed. Fluidization headers extend through an outlet manifold and deliver fluidization gas through distributors protruding through an outlet tube sheet defining said outlet manifold. The outlet manifold collects heated water vapor from the catalyst cooler and discharges it from the catalyst cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Kevin J. Brandner
  • Patent number: 11260337
    Abstract: The invention provides a process to purify a gas stream by using an adsorbent bed and a secondary device to remove heavy hydrocarbons with a recycle stream then sent first to a vessel containing an amine solvent to remove acid gases including carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide and then in most embodiments of the invention sending the treated gas stream to a dehydration unit such as an adsorbent bed or to a triethylene glycol absorbent to remove water. The invention further provides improved integration of the process streams to allow for smaller amine solvent and dehydration units as compared to the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: John Louis Griffiths, Shain-Jer Doong, James Robert Gaspar
  • Patent number: 11249058
    Abstract: Processes and apparatus for analyzing fluid properties of a stream are described. The processes utilize a simulated moving bed system and a rotary valve. The processes involve sending a portion of the pump-around stream to a side chamber where the moisture content of the adsorbent in the side chamber or one or more fluid properties of the stream or both are measured using an analyzer specific to each fluid property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James W. Harris, Heather A. Fleitz, Gregory A. Ernst, Chad A. Williams
  • Patent number: 11224849
    Abstract: The invention involves a scale collection device that is located within downflow reactor head for removing solids from feed streams to increase reactor operating cycle time without impact on effective reactor space for catalyst loading and reactor pressure drop. More particularly, a scale collection device is in an upper portion of a reactor vessel above a rough liquid distribution tray and a vapor-liquid distribution tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Zhanping Xu, Pengfei Chen
  • Patent number: 11214741
    Abstract: A fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process for cracking multiple feedstocks in a FCC apparatus comprising a first set of feed distributors having first distributor tips and a second set of feed distributors having second distributor tips is provided. A first feed is injected into the riser from first distributor tips. A second feed is injected into the riser from second distributor tips. The first distributor tips and the second distributor tips are positioned at different radii in the riser. The first feed and the second feed are cracked in the riser in the presence of an FCC catalyst to provide a cracked effluent stream. The first distributor tips and the second distributor tips are located into a region of lower catalyst density and a region of higher catalyst density respectively in the riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lev Davydov, Robert Mehlberg, Matthew R. Wojtowicz, Patrick D. Walker, Sakthivelan Maadasamy Durai, Sathit Kulprathipanja
  • Patent number: 11213803
    Abstract: A highly active 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: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Zara Osman, Wei Pan, Jaime G. Moscoso
  • Patent number: 11207636
    Abstract: A system that is used for the treatment of a net gas stream is disclosed. The system includes a compressor to produce a compressed gas stream from a net gas stream. The compressor is connected to a pressure swing adsorption unit where the net gas stream is separated to produce a hydrogen product stream and a tail gas stream. Tail gas stream from the pressure swing adsorption unit is sent to a first membrane unit to produce a first permeate stream and a first non-permeate stream. A portion of the tail gas stream is sent to a second membrane unit to produce a second permeate stream and a second non-permeate stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bradley P. Russell, Gautam Pandey, David A. Wegerer, Wim Elseviers
  • Patent number: 11207650
    Abstract: The hydroprocessing reactor quench zone internals comprise a collection tray, a mixing chamber, a ring quench distributer, a rough liquid distribution tray, and a vapor-liquid distribution tray. The rough liquid distribution tray has a central pan for receiving vapor and liquid out of the mixing chamber and multiple fluid distribution troughs attached to the central pan that extended radially outwards with the outer end close to the reactor shell. The fluid distribution troughs can include at least one longitudinal baffle, or at least one cross baffle, or both, and optionally an end baffle. The baffles improve the liquid and/or vapor flow in the rough liquid distribution tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Rebecca Mudrock, Pengfei Chen, Zhanping Xu
  • Patent number: 11208365
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for benzene and/or toluene methylation under conditions of low temperatures in one of a vapor phase, a liquid phase or a mixed vapor-liquid phase, in an aromatics complex for producing para-xylene are described. More specifically, a process for producing a xylene isomer comprising reacting oxygenates with an aromatic feedstock comprising toluene and/or benzene in a methylation zone operating under alkylation conditions including one of a vapor, a liquid phase or a mixed vapor-liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst to provide a product stream comprising the xylene isomer is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Deng-Yang Jan, Timur V. Voskoboynikov, Mark B. Koch
  • Patent number: 11207648
    Abstract: An apparatus in a radial reactor is described. The apparatus comprises a vertically elongated conduit extending around a circumference of an outer wall of the radial reactor, a vertically oriented cylindrical center pipe in the radial reactor, and a catalyst bed. The conduit comprises an inner face and an outer face and a pair of opposing sides. The inner face has a plurality of slots. The pair of opposing sides have a plurality of slots. There is a riser at a top of the vertically elongated conduit. The catalyst bed is defined by the center pipe and the inner face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: John Christian Maley, Jeffrey R. Grott, Megan Kubacki, Nicholas W. Bridge, Ka L. Lok, Kenneth D. Peters
  • Patent number: 11194301
    Abstract: A process for reducing pressure of a vapor stream wherein the vapor stream rotates a turbine wheel within the turbine to transmit rotational movement to an electrical generator and generate electricity. The resulting lower pressure vapor stream reduces a partial pressure of a hydrocarbon vapor or is injected into a reactor to reduce a temperature in the reactor. A recovered electric power measuring system comprises at least one processor; at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions; and at least one receiver configured to receive data from a sensor on an electrical powerline connected to a generator of a turbine, the turbine in fluid communication with a vapor stream wherein the turbine reduces the pressure of the vapor stream and the resulting lower pressure vapor stream is injected into a reactor to reduce a temperature in the reactor or to reduce a partial pressure of hydrocarbon vapor in the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanley J. Frey, Keith A. Couch, Donald A. Eizenga, James W. Harris, Thomas A. Ebner
  • Patent number: 11194317
    Abstract: Catalysts used for catalytic reforming are treated with organic chloride to condition the catalysts. Chloride treaters may be located in the product streams to remove the chloride contaminants. The continuous catalyst reforming process, including the catalyst reformer unit and chloride treaters, may be monitored in order to predict when adsorbent replacement or regeneration is needed. For example, one or more sensors and measurement devices may be used to monitor certain conditions or parameters. A system may be configured to take one or more actions in response to certain conditions or parameters being met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jorge Charr, Dean E. Rende, Bryan James Egolf, Yue Zhu, Mary Wier, Guy Woodle
  • Patent number: 11192833
    Abstract: This present disclosure relates to processes and apparatuses for toluene and benzene methylation in an aromatics complex for producing paraxylene. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to processes and apparatuses for toluene and benzene methylation within an aromatics complex for producing paraxylene wherein an embodiment uses a reactor having a refractory comprising a low iron content refractory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Guanghui Zhu, Steven A. Bradley, Mitchell J. Kowalczyk, Gregory B. Kuzmanich, Joseph A. Montalbano