Patents Examined by Bekir L. Yildirim
  • Patent number: 5972202
    Abstract: A process is described for controlling the size of additive or catalyst particles mixed with heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock containing asphaltenes and metals and being subjected to hydrotreating. A slurry feed of a mixture of the heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock and coke-inhibiting additive particles or catalyst particles is passed upwardly through a confined vertical hydrotreating zone in the presence of hydrogen gas, while removing from the top of the hydrotreating zone a mixed effluent containing a gaseous phase comprising hydrogen and vaporous hydrocarbon and a liquid phase comprising heavy hydrocarbon. The mixed effluent is passed through a separation vessel, while withdrawing from the top of the separator a gaseous stream comprising hydrogen and vaporous hydrocarbons and withdrawing from the bottom of the separator a liquid stream comprising heavy hydrocarbons and particles of coke-inhibiting additive or catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Petro--Canada
    Inventors: N. Kelly Benham, Barry B. Pruden
  • Patent number: 5968341
    Abstract: The invention provides an activated silica enriched mazzite having a chemical formula in the anhydrous state, expressed in molar ratios of:a M.sub.2/n O; Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; b SiO.sub.2 ;with a variation from 0 to 0.5, M being an alkaline cation of valency n and b being greater than 7, and which has an acid strength corresponding to an amount of heat measured by ammonia absorption microcalorimetry, greater than 190 KJ/mol, and a pore volume, measured by cyclohexane adsorption, greater than 0.09 ml/g. The activated mazzites are useful in the conversion of hydrocarbons, in particular, the isomerization of C.sub.4 to C.sub.8 paraffin, and as molecular sieves in processes for the separation of hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Elf Aquitaine
    Inventors: Francesco Di Renzo, Francois Fajula, Fredj Fitoussi, Philippe Schulz
  • Patent number: 5968349
    Abstract: A process for the extraction of bitumen from bitumen froth generated from tar sands is disclosed. In this process, bitumen froth is extracted from tar sands using a water process without requiring the use of caustic soda. The froth is treated in a counter-current decantation circuit with a paraffinic solvent to remove precipitated asphaltenes, water, and solids from the bitumen froth. A dilute bitumen product is produced having final water and solids contents of about 0.01 to about 1% by weight. This renders the dilute bitumen product amenable to direct hydrocracking. The process provides an alternative route to the conventional process of utilizing centrifuges to separate bitumen from precipitated asphaltenes, water, and solids and thus avoids the high capital and operating costs associated with the conventional bitumen froth treatment by centrifugation. The invention utilizes bitumen froth produced from a water process in which the use of caustic soda is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: BHP Minerals International Inc.
    Inventors: Willem P. C. Duyvesteyn, Julia Rose Budden, Merijn Amilcare Picavet
  • Patent number: 5969201
    Abstract: A process for the conversion of plastic to produce a synthetic crude oil by means of contacting the plastic with a hydrocarbonaceous recycle stream in a liquefying zone operated at liquefying conditions to produce a liquefied stream of plastic containing non-distillable particulate matter and at least a portion thereof is filtered. The filtered stream having a reduced concentration of finely divided particulate matter and the balance, if any, of the original liquefied stream together with hydrogen is contacted with a hydro-demetallization catalyst in a hydro-demetallization zone at hydro-demetallization conditions to produce gaseous, water-soluble inorganic compounds. The effluent from the hydro-demetallization zone is contacted with a hydrocracking catalyst in a hydrocracking zone to produce lower boiling hydrocarbons suitable for use as a synthetic crude oil. A recovered hydrogen-rich gaseous stream is preferably recycled to the hydro-demetallization zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Tom N. Kalnes, Robert B. James, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5965011
    Abstract: Method for reducing deposition of cokes in heat-refining process of petroleum high-molecular hydrocarbons, characterized in that heat-treatment in a heating unit is effected in the presence of at least one compound (I) having at least one mercaprtoalkylthio group:HS--C.sub.m H.sub.2m --S--in which "m" is an integer of 2 to 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignees: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd., Elf Atochem, S.A.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Hatanaka, Kazuya Hata, Tetsushi Kawamura, Hirokazu Itoh, Yoshiro Arita
  • Patent number: 5964985
    Abstract: A method of forming liquid hydrocarbons from solid coal. The coal is pulverized to provide a particulate coal feed, which is then extruded to provide a hollow tube of compressed coal supported inside of a support tube. A clay feed is extruded to provide a hollow tube of compressed clay supported inside of the coal tube and a combustible fuel is burned inside of the clay tube. The temperature of combustion is sufficient to fire the extruded clay and pyrolyze the extruded coal to produce hydrocarbon gases and coal char. The support tube has holes for releasing the hydrocarbon gases, which contain suspended particles formed during combustion. The suspended particles are removed from the hydrocarbon gases to provide clean gases, which are passed through an ionizing chamber to ionize at least a portion thereof. The ionized gases are then passed through a magnetic field to separate them from each other according to their molecular weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Inventor: William A. Wootten
  • Patent number: 5961817
    Abstract: A FCC catalyst having improved coke selectivity and greater catalyst strength, and a FCC process for converting hydrocarbon feedstocks to lower boiling products. The catalyst comprises a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite, gibbsite, and a silica matrix prepared from at least one of a silica sol made by an ion-exchange process and an acidic silica sol prepared by mixing sodium silicate, an acid and an aluminum salt of an acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: William A. Wachter, Stuart L. Soled, Nikos J. Maris, Mark P. Lapinski, Carol P. Fitzpatrick
  • Patent number: 5958222
    Abstract: An arrangement for the controlled production of an essentially linear array of hydrocarbon feed injection jets reduces required clearances and elevation while facilitating modification of the contacting locating a feed distributor containing a linear array of jets at a standpipe junction point to provide choke point for particle flow control. The flow properties of the extended particle layer are controlled by adjusting the density of the particles above the choke point created by the upper part of the standpipe inside diameter and the top of the distributor. Steam or another fluidization medium may be added to the particles directly above the distributor for this purpose. This invention can also modify the particle or feed injection characteristics by changing the projection of the distributor into the standpipe to adjust the flow area over the choke point and by the use of bottom slides or baffles to change the flow area size and configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: William H. Radcliffe, Ismail B. Cetinkaya
  • Patent number: 5959167
    Abstract: A process for converting lignin into high-quality reformulated hydrocarbon gasoline compositions in high yields is disclosed. The process is a two-stage, catalytic reaction process that produces a reformulated hydrocarbon gasoline product with a controlled amount of aromatics. In the first stage, a lignin material is subjected to a base-catalyzed depolymerization reaction in the presence of a supercritical alcohol as a reaction medium, to thereby produce a depolymerized lignin product. In the second stage, the depolymerized lignin product is subjected to a sequential two-step hydroprocessing reaction to produce a reformulated hydrocarbon gasoline product. In the first hydroprocessing step, the depolymerized lignin is contacted with a hydrodeoxygenation catalyst to produce a hydrodeoxygenated intermediate product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: The University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Joseph S. Shabtai, Wlodzimierz W. Zmierczak, Esteban Chornet
  • Patent number: 5958350
    Abstract: A process for the removal of corrosive compounds from a fluid stream, comprising the steps of: in an extraction column with an outer steel tube and an inner tube of corrosion resistant material having an open inlet end and an open outlet end and being arranged coaxially with and spaced apart within at least top portion of the outer tube, introducing at elevated temperature at the inlet end of the inner tube the fluid stream and an extraction agent and effecting in the mixed stream of the fluid and extraction agent extraction of the corrosive compounds; introducing into an annular space between the walls of the outer and the inner tube a shell stream of a non-corrosive fluid, thereby absorbing in the shell stream amounts of the corrosive compounds diffusing through the wall of the inner tube; passing the shell stream to the bottom portion of the outer tube; cooling the mixed stream at the outlet end of the inner tube by introducing into the stream a cooling stream; passing the cooled stream to the bottom porti
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventor: Sven Ivar Hommeltoft
  • Patent number: 5954943
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing coke deposition in a pyrolysis furnace which comprises treating the pyrolysis furnace with a combination of sulfur- and phosphorus-containing compounds having a total sulfur to phosphorus atomic ratio of at least 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Nalco/Exxon Energy Chemicals, L.P.
    Inventors: Youdong Tong, Michael K. Poindexter
  • Patent number: 5954946
    Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst comprising a very ultrastable zeolite Y (VUSY) in which less than 15% of the total amount of aluminum (Al) present is octahedrally coordinated; a process for preparing the zeolite; and a hydrocarbon conversion process using the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Aan Hendrik Klazinga, Theodorus Ludovicus Michael Maesen, Johannes Anthonius Robert Van Veen, Ingrid Maria Van Vegchel
  • Patent number: 5955640
    Abstract: Integrated process for the production of butene-1 which comprises feeding a C.sub.4 hydrocarbon stream to a separation unit of butene-1 and recycling the remaining stream to the same unit after treatment in a bond isomerization section to convert the remaining butenes-2 into butene-1, a molecular sieve separation unit is inserted in the cycle operating with the hydrocarbons in a vapour phase, for the purge of the paraffins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignees: Enichem S.p.A., Snamprogetti S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Paludetto, Alfredo Orsi, Roberto Trotta, Gianni Donati
  • Patent number: 5954941
    Abstract: The invention concerns a jet engine fuel having the following characteristics:i) distilling range from 140 to 300.degree. C.;ii) cis-decalin/trans-decalin ratio greater than 0.2;iii) aromatics content less than 22% by volume;iv) sulfur content less than 100 ppm, andv) lower heating value per unit volume greater than 34.65 Mj/liter.Also process for making the same wherein for example a cut from catalytic cracking distilling between 140 and 300.degree.0 C. is subjected to a hydrotreatment step and then to a dearomatization step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Total Raffinage Distribution S.A.
    Inventors: Sophie Mercier, Michel Laborde, Fran.cedilla.ois-Xavier Cormerais, Michel Thebault
  • Patent number: 5951848
    Abstract: This application discloses a process for catalytically dewaxing a feedstock whereby the aging of the dewaxing catalyst is minimized. A variety of feedstocks which possess moderate levels of nitrogen and sulfur may be dewaxed in this invention. The feed is treated by a catalyst system comprising two catalysts acting in synergistic combination, a hydrotreating catalyst and a dewaxing catalyst. The hydrotreating catalyst is preferably loaded with noble metals and is capable of operating at higher than usual space velocities. The dewaxing catalyst is downstream of the hydrotreating catalyst. The dewaxing catalyst further comprises a constrained intermediate pore crystalline material which is loaded with a noble metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Charles L. Baker, Jr., Richard C. Dougherty
  • Patent number: 5951826
    Abstract: A recycling apparatus for obtaining oil from waste plastic by thermal decomposition has a thermal decomposition tank 2 comprising a tank proper 3. The inside of the tank proper 3 is divided by a partition 7 into a thermal decomposition chamber at its front and a melting chamber at its rear, with a communicating space to connect the thermal decomposition and melting chambers and provided below the partition. Heating pipes are disposed in the tank proper so that hot air travels from the thermal decomposition chamber through the communicating spaces to the melting chamber. This arrangement permits keeping the thermal decomposition chamber, communicating spaces and melting chamber at temperatures suited for thermal decomposition and melting, thereby realizing design simplification and size reduction, permitting substantial cost savings and ease of maintenance, and increasing productivity and economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignees: MCC Co., Ltd., Miwagumi Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeki Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 5948376
    Abstract: A catalyst for purifying exhaust gases includes a porous support, an NO.sub.x storage component including at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkaline-earth metals, rare-earth elements and alkali metals, and loaded on the porous support, a noble metal catalyst ingredient loaded on the porous support, and disposed adjacent to the NO.sub.x storage component, and ceria (CeO.sub.2) disposed away from the noble metal catalyst ingredient. By disposing the noble metal catalyst ingredient adjacent to the NO.sub.x storage component, the reduction reactions of NO.sub.x can be facilitated in fuel-rich (i.e., oxygen-lean) atmospheres without being interfered by the ceria. By disposing the ceria away from the noble metal catalyst ingredient, oxygen, which has been stored thereon in fuel-lean (i.e., oxygen-rich) atmospheres, can be released from the ceria at a controlled rate in a controlled amount in fuel-rich (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Cataler Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Miyoshi, Tuneyuki Tanizawa, Kazunobu Ishibashi, Koichi Kasahara, Syuji Tateishi
  • Patent number: 5948869
    Abstract: Catalytic composition effective in the selective hydrogenation of olefinic double bonds prepared by the reaction between:(A) at least one bis(cyclopentadienyl)Titanium derivative having the general formula (I) (C.sub.5 H.sub.5).sub.2 Ti(R) (R.sub.1) wherein R and R.sub.1, the same or different, are halogens; the above compound (I) being solid or dispersed in one or more non-solvent diluents;(B) at least one organo derivative having general formula (II) M(R.sub.2) (R.sub.3) wherein M is selected from Zinc and Magnesium, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, the same or different, are selected from C.sub.1 -C.sub.16 alkyls;(C) at least one modifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Enichem S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Vallieri, Claudio Cavallo, Gian Tommaso Viola
  • Patent number: 5944961
    Abstract: Apparatus for injecting antifoulant solution into a hot gaseous process stream in a thermal cracking furnace tube to inhibit coke deposition includes an inner antifoulant supply tube having one end connected to a pressurized supply of antifoulant solution and an access port along the furnace tube and the other end connected to an inlet of a centrifugal, atomizing nozzle having an outlet for discharging the antifoulant solution as a spray of small drops. An outer tube extends in concentric, insulating relation along the antifoulant supply tube between the access port and the nozzle, A flow deflector has an apertured peripheral wall with a portion defining a tubular mixing and vaporizing chamber extends coaxially along the furnace tube and an axial inlet end mounted in registration with the nozzle outlet to receive all spray therefrom. An axial outlet end is radially enlarged so as to deflect the gaseous process stream through wall apertures into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Zalman Gandman
  • Patent number: 5945458
    Abstract: The surface area of a zinc oxide composition is increased, and stabilized to heating, by incorporation of a tri or tetra valent metal, especially aluminium or gallium, e.g. in the form of a spinel with the zinc oxide. The composition is preferably made by coprecipitation of zinc and a compound of said metal and then calcination. The zinc oxide composition may also incorporate a Group VIII metal and be used as a catalyst for a Fischer Tropsch process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company p.l.c.
    Inventor: Nay Barry