Patents Examined by Derek Mueller
  • Patent number: 8778171
    Abstract: This invention relates to hydrocracking catalysts utilizing stabilized aggregates of small primary crystallites of zeolite Y that are clustered into larger secondary particles. At least 80% of the secondary particles may comprise at least 5 primary crystallites. The size of the primary crystallites may be at most about 0.5 micron, or at most about 0.3 micron, and the size of the secondary particles may be at least about 0.8 micron, or at least about 1.0 ?m. The silica to alumina ratio of the resulting stabilized aggregated Y zeolite may be 4:1 or more. This invention also relates to the use of such catalysts in hydrocracking processes for the conversion of heavy oils into lighter fuel products. The invention is particularly suited for the selective production of diesel range products from gas oil range feedstock materials under hydrocracking conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Christopher G. Oliveri, Wenyih Frank Lai, Ajit B. Dandekar, Scott J. Weigel, Jason Wu, Robert E. Kay
  • Patent number: 8758599
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a catalyst for catalytic reforming of naphtha. The catalyst can have a noble metal including one or more of platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium, and iridium, a lanthanide-series metal including one or more elements of atomic numbers 57-71 of the periodic table, and a support. Generally, an average bulk density of the catalyst is about 0.300-about 0.620 gram per cubic centimeter, and an atomic ratio of the lanthanide-series metal:noble metal is less than about 1.3:1. Moreover, the lanthanide-series metal can be distributed at a concentration of the lanthanide-series metal in a 100 micron surface layer of the catalyst less than about two times a concentration of the lanthanide-series metal at a central core of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Mark Paul Lapinski, Paul Barger
  • Patent number: 8753501
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for hydrocracking hydrocarbon feed in a hydrocracking unit and hydrotreating a diesel product from the hydrocracking unit in a hydrotreating unit. The hydrocracking unit and the hydrotreating unit share the same recycle gas compressor. A make-up hydrogen stream may also be compressed in the recycle gas compressor. A warm separator separates recycle gas and hydrocarbons from diesel in the hydrotreating effluent, so fraction of the diesel is relatively simple. The warm separator also keeps the diesel product separate from the more sulfurous diesel in the hydrocracking effluent, and still retains heat needed for fractionation of lighter components from the low sulfur diesel product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paul R. Zimmerman, Andrew P. Wieber
  • Patent number: 8747653
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for hydroprocessing two hydrocarbon streams at two different pressures. A hydrogen stream is compressed and split. A first split compressed stream is further compressed to feed a first hydroprocessing unit that requires higher pressure for operation. A second split compressed stream is fed to a second hydroprocessing unit that requires lower pressure. Recycle hydrogen from the second hydroprocessing unit is recycled back to the compression section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Andrew P. Wieber
  • Patent number: 8747659
    Abstract: A process for hydrotreating a first aromatics- and sulfur-containing hydrocarbon feed using a fresh supported CoMo catalyst, includes treating the fresh catalyst under first hydrotreating conditions with a second hydrocarbon feed having a lower aromatics content than the first feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Gabor Kiss, Lulian Nistor, John Zengel
  • Patent number: 8728301
    Abstract: Integrated isomerization and ionic liquid catalyzed alkylation processes may comprise integrating ionic liquid alkylation and n-butane isomerization using a common distillation unit for separating an n-butane containing fraction from at least one of an alkylation hydrocarbon phase from an ionic liquid alkylation reactor and an isomerization hydrocarbon stream from an isomerization unit. The n-butane containing fraction may undergo isomerization to provide an isomerization reactor effluent comprising the isomerization hydrocarbon stream. An isobutane containing fraction, separated from at least one of the alkylation hydrocarbon phase and the isomerization hydrocarbon stream, may be recycled from the distillation unit to the ionic liquid alkylation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Hye Kyung Cho Timken
  • Patent number: 8715487
    Abstract: This invention relates to the composition, method of making and use of a fluidized catalytic cracking (“FCC”) catalyst that is comprised of a new Y zeolite which exhibits an exceptionally low small mesoporous peak around the 40 ? (angstrom) range as determined by nitrogen adsorption measurements. FCC catalysts made from this new zeolite exhibit improved rates of heavy oil cracking heavy oil bottoms conversions and gasoline conversions. The fluidized catalytic cracking catalysts herein are particularly useful in fluidized catalytic cracking (“FCC”) processes for conversion of heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks such as gas oils and vacuum tower bottoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Jianxin Jason Wu, William A. Wachter, Colin L. Beswick, Edward Thomas Habib, Jr., Terry G. Roberie, Ruizhong Hu
  • Patent number: 8709236
    Abstract: A process for removing a nitrogen compound from a fuel feed, such as vacuum gas oil or diesel fuel, wherein the process includes contacting the fuel feed comprising the nitrogen compound with a fuel-immiscible caprolactamium ionic liquid to produce a fuel and fuel-immiscible caprolactamium ionic liquid mixture, and separating the mixture to produce a vacuum gas oil or a diesel effluent having a reduced nitrogen content relative to the vacuum gas oil or diesel feed. The invention provides an alternate use for caprolactamium ionic liquid that is produced in large quantities for the manufacture of caprolactam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Manuela Serban, Alan B. Levy, Lihao Tang, Alakananda Bhattacharyya
  • Patent number: 8709238
    Abstract: Crude tall oil is subjected to a distillation process that substantially removes impurities. The process produces a combined pitch and a distillate of free fatty acids and rosin acids from two vacuum columns. The distillate stream is amenable to further downstream hydroprocessing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: John A. Petri
  • Patent number: 8702973
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for upgrading one or more hydrocarbons boiling in a naphtha range including less than about 5%, by weight, one or more alkenes and about 2,000-about 5,000 wppm, S, comprised in one or more sulfur-containing compounds, based on the weight of the one or more hydrocarbons. The process can include contacting the one or more hydrocarbons with a catalyst. The catalyst may include about 0.1-about 10%, by weight, NiO, about 5-about 50%, by weight, MoO3, and about 0.1-about 10%, by weight, P, with the balance of the catalyst comprising Al2O3. The process can obtain an upgraded one or more hydrocarbons having a thiol concentration of no more than about 20 wppm, S, based on the sulfur comprised in one or more thiol compounds divided by the weight of the upgraded one or more hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Colleen Costello, Suheil F. Abdo, Keith Adrian Holder, Ashley James Austin, Willie J. Morrissette, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8696885
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for hydrocracking hydrocarbon feed in a hydrocracking unit and hydrotreating a diesel product from the hydrocracking unit in a hydrotreating unit. The hydrocracking unit and the hydrotreating unit shares the same recycle gas compressor. A warm separator separates recycle gas and hydrocarbons from diesel in the hydrotreating effluent, so fraction of the diesel is relatively simple. The warm separator also keeps the diesel product separate from the more sulfurous diesel in the hydrocracking effluent, and still retains heat needed for fractionation of lighter components from the low sulfur diesel product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Andrew P. Wieber, Paul R. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8696889
    Abstract: The present invention is a process for desulfurizing hydrocarbon feedstreams with alkali metal compounds and regenerating the alkali metal compounds via the use of a transition metal oxide. The present invention employs the use of a transition metal oxide, preferably copper oxide, in order to convert spent alkali metal hydrosulfides in the regeneration of the alkali hydroxide compounds for reutilization in the desulfurization process for the hydrocarbon feedstreams. Additionally, in preferred embodiments of the processes disclosed herein, carbonates which may be detrimental to the overall desulfurization process and related equipment are removed from the regenerated alkali metal stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: James R. Bielenberg, Jonathan M. McConnachie, Daniel P. Leta, Chris A. Wright, Leo D. Brown
  • Patent number: 8696890
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon feedstreams are desulfurized using an alkali metal reagent, optionally in the presence of hydrogen. Improved control over reaction conditions can be achieved in part by controlling the particle size of the alkali metal salt and by using multiple desulfurization reactors. After separation of the spent alkali metal reagent, the resulting product can have suitable characteristics for pipeline transport and/or further refinery processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Jorge L. Soto, Michael Raterman, Daniel P. Leta, Walter D. Vann, Lu Han, Jonathan M. McConnachie, James R. Bielenberg, William C. Baird, Jr., Roby Bearden, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8691077
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for converting a hydrocarbon stream. The process can include passing the hydrocarbon stream having one or more C40+ hydrocarbons to a slurry hydrocracking zone to obtain a distillate hydrocarbon stream having one or more C9-C22 hydrocarbons, and passing the distillate hydrocarbon stream to a hydrocracking zone for selectively hydrocracking aromatic compounds including at least two rings obtaining a processed distillate product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Clayton C. Sadler, Christopher D. Gosling
  • Patent number: 8691082
    Abstract: Two-stage hydroprocessing uses a common dividing wall fractionator. Hydroprocessed effluents from both stages of hydroprocessing are fed to opposite sides of the dividing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: John A. Petri, Vedula K. Murty, Peter Kokayeff
  • Patent number: 8691078
    Abstract: An apparatus and process is disclosed for hydroprocessing hydrocarbon feed in a hydroprocessing unit and hydrotreating a second hydrocarbon. A warm separator sends vaporous hydrotreating effluent to be flashed with liquid hydroprocessing effluent to produce a vapor flash overhead that can be recycled to the hydrotreating unit to provide hydrogen requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Andrew P. Wieber, Joao J. da Silva Ferreira Alves
  • Patent number: 8685232
    Abstract: Manufacture of propylene and ethylene in a FCC unit. Each FCC riser comprises an acceleration zone, a lift stream feed nozzle, a main hydrocarbon stock feed nozzle, and an olefinic naphtha feed nozzle. Mixed FCC catalyst comprising at least 2 percent by weight pentasil zeolite and at least 10 percent by weight Y-zeolite is injected at the bottom of each FCC riser. Olefinic naptha is injected through the olefinic feed nozzle, main hydrocarbon stock is injected through the main hydrocarbon stock feed nozzle and lift stream is injected through the lift stream feed nozzle. Lift stream comprises olefinic C4 hydrocarbon stream and optionally steam and/or a fuel gas. Olefinic C4 hydrocarbon steam is cracked in the acceleration zone at 600 to 800° C., 0.8 to 5 kg/cm2 (gauge) pressure, WHSV 0.2 to 100 hr up 1 and vapour residence time 0.2 to 5 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Reliance Industries Limited
    Inventors: Sukumar Mandal, Asit Kumar Das, Ashwani Yadav, Manoj Yadav, Akhilesh Bhatnagar, Rajeshwar Dongara, Veera Venkata Satya Bhaskara Sita Rama Murthy Katravulapalli
  • Patent number: 8673132
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for regeneration of alkali metal salt reagent used in desulfurization of heavy oil feedstreams. In particular, the present invention relates to a process utilizing potassium hydroxide as an external supply reagent to a heavy oil conversion process and in-situ conversion of the spent reactants utilized in such process into a potassium sulfide reagent for reintroduction into the heavy oil conversion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Daniel P. Leta, Jonathan M. McConnachie, William C. Baird, Jr., Walter D. Vann, Jorge L. Soto
  • Patent number: 8647499
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method for hydrocracking and/or hydrotreating hydrocarbon-containing feeds using a catalyst comprising at least one hydro-dehydrogenizing metal selected from the group made up of group VIB and non-noble group VIII metals of the periodic table and a support comprising at least one zeolite having at least pore openings containing 12 oxygen atoms, modified by a) at least a stage of introducing at least one alkaline cation belonging to groups IA or IIA of the periodic table, b) a stage of treating said zeolite in the presence of at least one molecular compound containing at least one silicon atom, c) at least one stage of partial exchange of said alkaline cations by NH4+ cations in such a way that the proportion of alkaline cations remaining in the modified zeolite at the end of stage c) is such that the alkaline cation/aluminum molar ratio ranges between 0.2:1 and 0.01:1, and d) at least one thermal treatment stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventor: Laurent Simon
  • Patent number: 8617385
    Abstract: A quenching medium is delivered directly to selected regions or locations within a catalyst bed in a hydroprocessing reactor vessel in order to control the reactivity of a hydroprocess occurring in the selected regions or locations separately from other regions or locations. Temperature sensors for providing temperature indications and conduits for delivering the quench medium are distributed throughout the catalyst bed. One or more conduits can be selected for delivery of the quenching medium to selected regions or locations so that separate control of the level of reactivity in each of various regions or locations throughout the bed can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventor: Jeffrey N. Daily