Patents Examined by Chantel Graham
  • External steam reduction method in a fluidized catalytic cracker
    Patent number: 9127224
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods to reduce the external steam supplied to a fluidized catalytic cracker by injecting a stream comprising a water-containing renewable fuel oil into a riser of a fluidized catalytic cracker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry A. Freel, Robert G. Graham
  • Process for clarifying biofuels
    Patent number: 9127226
    Abstract: Haze may be removed from a biofuel or biofuel intermediate by using a clarifier. The clarifier includes copolymer prepared using a formulation comprising an alpha olefin and maleic anhydride. The clarifier may also be used with admixtures of biofuels, biofuel intermediates, or biofuel feedstocks with conventional hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Timothy J. O'Brien, Waynn C. Morgan, John A. Schield
  • Systems and methods for renewable fuel
    Patent number: 9127223
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to the introduction of a renewable fuel oil as a feedstock into refinery systems or field upgrading equipment. For example, the present application is directed to methods of introducing a liquid thermally produced from biomass into a petroleum conversion unit; for example, a refinery fluid catalytic cracker (FCC), a coker, a field upgrader system, a hydrocracker, and/or hydrotreating unit; for co-processing with petroleum fractions, petroleum fraction reactants, and/or petroleum fraction feedstocks and the products, e.g., fuels, and uses and value of the products resulting therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry A. Freel, Robert G. Graham
  • Generating cellulosic-renewable identification numbers in a refinery
    Patent number: 9120989
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to methods of generating cellulosic-renewable identification numbers by thermally processing a cellulosic biomass to form a renewable fuel oil, and then co-processing the renewable fuel oil with a petroleum fraction in a refinery to form a cellulosic-renewable identification number-compliant fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry A. Freel, Robert G. Graham
  • Systems for fuels from biomass
    Patent number: 9120990
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to a system to prepare a fuel from a biomass and a petroleum fraction wherein a renewable fuel oil is obtained via pyrolysis, delivered to the injection point of a refinery system, and then co-processed with a petroleum fraction in the presence of a catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry A. Freel, Robert G. Graham
  • Methods to increase gasoline yield
    Patent number: 9120988
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to methods to increase the gasoline and/or light cycle oil yield of a fluidized catalytic cracker processing a petroleum fraction by injecting a stream comprising a renewable fuel oil into a riser of a fluidized catalytic cracker, and the resulting fuels therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry A. Freel, Robert G. Graham
  • Systems and methods for utilizing alcohol fuels
    Patent number: 9115325
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for producing, storing and using alcohol fuels. In one aspect of the disclosed technology, a method to provide a fuel for an engine includes mixing an alcohol with water to produce a wet alcohol, adding a fuel constituent in the wet alcohol to form a liquid fuel, the fuel constituent being soluble in the wet alcohol, and converting, in a container having an interior formed of an armored material, the liquid fuel into a gaseous fuel substance using at least one of heat energy or electrical energy to pressurize the liquid fuel, the gaseous fuel substance exhibiting a higher pressure and lower density than that of the liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: MCALISTER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Method for making marine bunker fuels
    Patent number: 9109176
    Abstract: This invention relates to low sulfur marine/bunker fuel compositions and methods of making same. Contrary to conventional marine/bunker fuel compositions/methods, the inventive lower sulfur compositions/methods focus on use of mostly uncracked components, such as (cat feed) hydrotreated gasoils, and/or can also have reduced contents of residual components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: David L. Stern, Salvatore R. Di Mauro, Aldo Roccaro, Paul W. Bessonette
  • Lignin dewatering process
    Patent number: 9109329
    Abstract: A lignin plastics solids mass containing lignin solids and liquids with up to 85% liquids can be partially dewatered by heating the lignin plastics solids mass to above a critical temperature at which time the lignin plastics solids agglomerate into lower moisture granular solids with between about 45% to 55% liquids releasing excess liquid which can be easily removed from the solids. The process is particularly useful for lignin plastics solids removed from black liquor from paper mills, or for similar lignin plastics solids masses, which can contain up to 85% liquids and which need to be dried to form useful lignin solids, which can be used for example for fuel. The dewatering process can be combined with the process for separating the lignin from the black liquor to separate the dewatered lignin directly from the black liquor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Inventor: Harrison R. Cooper
  • Systems and methods for renewable fuel
    Patent number: 9109177
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to the introduction of a renewable fuel oil as a feedstock into refinery systems or field upgrading equipment. For example, the present application is directed to methods of introducing a liquid thermally produced from biomass into a petroleum conversion unit; for example, a refinery fluid catalytic cracker (FCC), a coker, a field upgrader system, a hydrocracker, and/or hydrotreating unit; for co-processing with petroleum fractions, petroleum fraction reactants, and/or petroleum fraction feedstocks and the products, e.g., fuels, and uses and value of the products resulting therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry A. Freel, Robert G. Graham
  • Fluidized catalytic cracking apparatus
    Patent number: 9102890
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to a fluidized catalytic cracking apparatus having one or more ports for injecting a renewable fuel oil for co-processing the renewable fuel oil and a petroleum fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry A. Freel, Robert G. Graham
  • Fluidized catalytic cracker riser quench system
    Patent number: 9102889
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to a riser quench system comprising a quench line and one or more quench injecting ports for injecting a renewable fuel oil into the riser of a fluidized catalytic cracker co-processing a renewable fuel oil and a petroleum fraction as reactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry A. Freel, Robert G. Graham
  • Methods for renewable fuels with reduced waste streams
    Patent number: 9102888
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to the introduction of a reduced volatility renewable fuel oil as a feedstock and processing it with a petroleum stream in the presence of a catalyst to reduce the generation of waste streams in refinery systems or field upgrading equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry A. Freel, Robert G. Graham
  • Supertorrefaction of biomass into biocoal
    Patent number: 9096800
    Abstract: A torrefaction system includes at least one pool containing a liquid heat transfer agent and a conveyor system. The heat transfer agent provides thermal contact with biomass fragments to heat the biomass fragments into biocoal. The conveyor system transports the biomass through the at least one pool in a first direction and transporting the biocoal in a second direction opposite to the first direction in the at least one pool. The heat transfer agent may be oil, paraffin, or molten salt. The conveyor system transports a continuous stream of the biomass fragments into the pools. The torrefaction apparatus further includes a gas collecting system that collects and separates condensable volatile organic compounds during the torrefaction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignees: Academia Sinica
    Inventors: Frank H. Shu, Michael J. Cai, Fen-Tair Luo
  • Synthesis of high caloric fuels and chemicals including pentanol from coal, natural gas, and biomass
    Patent number: 9080119
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present application discloses methods to selectively synthesize higher alcohols and hydrocarbons useful as fuels and industrial chemicals from syngas and biomass. Ketene and ketonization chemistry along with hydrogenation reactions are used to synthesize fuels and chemicals. In another embodiment, ketene used to form fuels and chemicals may be manufactured from acetic acid which in turn can be synthesized from synthesis gas which is produced from coal, biomass, natural gas, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: PIONEER ENERGY
    Inventors: John Henri, Jan Zygmunt, Mark Berggren, Robert Zubrin
  • Two-stage reactor and process for conversion of solid biomass material
    Patent number: 9017428
    Abstract: A two-stage reactor is disclosed for the conversion of solid particulate biomass material. The reactor is designed to maximize conversion of the solid biomass material, while limiting excess cracking of primary reaction products. The two-stage reactor comprises a first stage reactor, in which solid biomass material is thermally pyrolyzed to primary reaction products. The primary reaction products are catalytically converted in a second stage reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: KiOR, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Brady, Ronald Lee Cordle, Peter Loezos, Dennis Stamires
  • Lubricating oil composition
    Patent number: 9012382
    Abstract: An internal-combustion engine lubricating oil composition has a P content of not greater than 0.09 mass %; a S content of not greater than 0.3 mass %; and a sulphated ash content of not greater than 1 mass %. It contains the following additives: as sole ashless, nitrogen-containing dispersant, and providing from 0.03 to 0.07 mass % of nitrogen in the lubricating oil composition, at least one ashless, nitrogen-containing derivative of a polyalkenyl-substituted mono- or dicarboxylic acid, anhydride or ester, the polyalkenyl-substituted mono- or dicarboxylic acid, anhydride or ester being made from a polyalkene exclusively by the thermal “ene” reaction; as sole overbased metal detergent, at least one overbased alkaline earth metal sulfonate; and at least one viscosity modifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Infineum International Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Gray, Robert William Shaw, Doyle Harold Boese
  • Fuel composition containing a hydrocarbyl-substituted succinimide
    Patent number: 9011556
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a middle distillate fuel composition comprising a friction modifying effective amount of a hydrocarbyl-substituted succinimide derived from maleic anhydride, polyisobutylene and ammonia; and a middle distillate fuel. A method for modifying friction in a compression engine comprising providing to the engine the disclosed fuel composition is also disclosed. Moreover, there is disclosed a method for improving fuel mileage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Afton Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Scott D. Schwab
  • Method for producing solid fuel and solid fuel produced by the method
    Patent number: 9005317
    Abstract: Modified solid fuel manufacturing method and modified solid fuels manufactured using the manufacturing method. When solid fuels are manufactured by crushing low grade coal, mixing the crushed low grade coal with solvent oil to prepare a slurry, heating the slurry to at least the boiling point of water to evaporate moisture included in the slurry, separating the solvent oil from the slurry to produce charcoal dust and compression compacting said charcoal dust, by heating the slurry to at least the boiling point of water, the non-volatile components included in the low grade coal are extracted with the solvent oil, the outer surface of the low grade coal and the internal surfaces of the pores are coated with the extracted non-volatile components, and the content of heavy oil added from the outside will be less than 0.5 mass % relative to the solid fuel after drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd
    Inventors: Seiichi Yamamoto, Takuo Shigehisa, Yutaka Mitou, Shigeru Kinoshita, Yuko Sugita
  • Low pour point renewable fuel blend
    Patent number: 9006501
    Abstract: A renewable fuel blend and a process for producing a renewable fuel blend are described. The blend includes biologically derived C13 to C18 normal paraffins, which are provided to the blend in quantities such that blend does not require a pour point reducing treatment to achieve a low pour point. In embodiments, the normal paraffins are produced in an upgrading process, such as a hydrotreating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Rebecca Brafman, Stephen Roby, Guangci Zhou