Patents Examined by Nhat Phan
  • Patent number: 5162165
    Abstract: Low capacity and high power density electric battery which electrolyzes water in the charging phase to produce hydrogen and oxygen used as reactants in the discharging phase, which battery comprises an ion-exchange membrane, separating two compartments, said compartments containing gas evolving positive and negative electrodes respectively for the evolution of oxygen and hydrogen during the charging phase and for recombination of the same to produce water during the discharging phase, as well as means for the circulation of said water in a spray form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: S.E.R.E. S.r.l.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Bianchi
  • Patent number: 5160424
    Abstract: A method for upgrading paraffinic naphtha to high octane fuel by contacting a feedstock, such as C7-C22 fresh virgin naphtha, with porous acid cracking catalyst under low pressure selective cracking conditions effective to produce C4 -C5 isoalkenes and C4-C5 isoalkanes. The preferred feedstock is straight run naphtha containing C7+ alkanes, at least 15 wt % C7+ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons and less than 20% aromatics, which can be converted with a fluidized zeolite catalyst in a vertical riser reactor during a short contact period.The isoalkane products of cracking are dehydrogenated and etherified to provide high octane fuel components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Q. N. Le, H. Owen, P. H. Schipper
  • Patent number: 5159131
    Abstract: A chromatographic process able to separate para-xylene from C.sub.8 isomers and C.sub.9 aromatics. In the process, the para-xylene-containing feed mixture is contacted with an X zeolite adsorbent having barium or barium and potassium ions, at exchangeable cationic sites. The para-xylene components are selectively adsorbed onto the adsorbent. The non-adsorbed feed is then removed from the adsorbent and the para-xylene recovered by desorption with indan or an alkyl derivative of indan. Any C.sub.9 aromatic hydrocarbons and the other xylene isomers in the raffinate can be separated from these heavy desorbents by fractionation of the raffinate and the desorbent can be recycled to the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: Hermann A. Zinnen
  • Patent number: 5158670
    Abstract: A catalytic cracking process is provided in which a zeolitic cracking catalyst having the structure of faujasite is first regenerated, then coked at a high catalyst to hydrocarbon weight ratio, and, subsequently utilized to crack a hydrocarbon feed boiling from about 430.degree.F. to 1050.degree. F. at a lower catalyst to hydrocarbon feed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ian A. Cody, Gordon F. Stuntz, William G. McKnight
  • Patent number: 5159129
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for the addition of H.sub.2 O in acid catalyzed processing of hydrocarbons are disclosed. The H.sub.2 O is added to the hydrocarbons in the form of steam, increasing the quantity of H.sub.2 O dissolved in the acid catalyst after contact of the acid catalyst with the steam-added hydrocarbon feed. Entrained water present in the steam-added hydrocarbon feed can be decanted prior to contacting the acid with the feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Gary W. Elmer, William D. Meyer, Cedric A. Pereira, Robert W. Puschinsky
  • Patent number: 5159130
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method for separating mixtures of aromatics and non-aromatics into aromatic-enriched and non-aromatic-enriched streams by contacting the mixture with one side of a polysulfone membrane and selectively permeating the aromatic components through the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Guido Satori, W. S. Winston Ho, Robert E. Noone
  • Patent number: 5157202
    Abstract: For recovery of low-boiling hydrocarbons by scrubbing, the crude gas mixture which contains low-boiling and high-boiling hydrocarbons, is treated with a scrubbing agent, by which the high-boiling components are scrubbed-out of the gas mixture. The loaded scrubbing agent, with the addition of liquid medium miscible with the scrubbing agent and which reduces the solubility for the scrubbed-out hydrocarbons, is regenerated and the completely regenerated scrubbing agent is recycled to the scrubbing. The regeneration is preferably divided into the following individual steps:(a) stripping of the loaded scrubbing agent, optionally with addition of medium,(b) addition of the liquid medium to partially regenerate scrubbing agent, decanting of the split phases,(c) stripping of the resultant decanted scrubbing agent/medium mixture, and(d) rectifying the scrubbing agent/medium mixture to separate the scrubbing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heinz Bauer, Hans Becker, Horst Weiss
  • Patent number: 5157203
    Abstract: Organic sulfides are separated from olefins (in particular monoolefins) by absorption with Cu(I) salt(s) of a hydrocarbonsulfonic acid, preferably a solution of Cu(I) dodecylbenzene sulfonate(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Ronald E. Brown, Ted H. Cymbaluk
  • Patent number: 5157200
    Abstract: A process for the fractionation of a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen, light aliphatic hydrocarbons and light aromatic hydrocarbons wherein following compression of the mixture and separation of one or more light fractions, a gas is contacted with light aliphatic hydrocarbons and then hydrogen is separated by permeation. A series of distillation steps makes it possible to isolate the aliphatic hydrocarbons and the aromatic hydrocarbons subsequent to the separations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole
    Inventors: Ari Mikkinen, Serge Mouratoff, Larry Mank
  • Patent number: 5157204
    Abstract: A process for removing carbon monoxide and free oxygen from hydrocarbon-containing fluids comprises contacting the fluid feed with at least one of several supported platinum-containing catalyst compositions so as to convert carbon monoxide and free oxygen to carbon dioxide, essentially without oxidizing the hydrocarbon(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Scott H. Brown, John H. Kolts
  • Patent number: 5157196
    Abstract: Paraffin alkylation using solid, particulate catalyst is carried out by preparing an alkane-catalyst mixture in a wash zone, passing the alkane-catalyst mixture to a plug flow reactor where a minor amount of olefin is introduced to contact the alkane-catalyst mixture and react to form alkylate and the alkane-catalyst-alkylate mixture is passed through the reactor with a minimum of back mixing to restrict the reaction of alkylate with olefin, thus substantially preventing polymerization. The alkane-catalyst-alkylate mixture, substantially free of olefin is passed to a disengaging zone where the liquid is removed and the solid particulate catalyst is recovered and returned to the wash zone for recycle. The alkane is present in the reactor in sufficient molar excess to react substantially all of the olefin. Any unreacted isoalkane is recycled to the reactor with make-up isoalkane added to maintain the molar excess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Chemical Research & Licensing Company
    Inventors: Clifford S. Crossland, Alan Johnson, John Woods, Elliot G. Pitt
  • Patent number: 5157187
    Abstract: There is provided a method for reducing the pour point of an alkyl aromatic lube base stock by hydroisomerizing alkyl side groups on alkyl aromatic compounds. The alkyl aromatic, compounds may be alkylated naphthalenes. The hydroisomerization reaction may take place over a catalyst comprising zeolite beta and platinum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp.
    Inventors: Quang N. Le, Stephen S. Wong
  • Patent number: 5157195
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for recovering propane product from HF alkylation process that is substantially free of HF acid. The invention allows for the improvement in the operation of an HF alkylation propane stripper by utilizing a bottoms recycle stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Keith W. Hovis, Henry K. Hachmuth, Michael L. Gray
  • Patent number: 5154992
    Abstract: An improved electrolyte for electrochemical cells including as a cosolvent for the cell electrolyte salt an amount of diglyme; ethyl diglyme; ethyl glyme; triglyme, tetraglyme and higher glymes; dimethoxymethane; 1,2-dimethoxypropane; dimethoxy THF or mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Berberick, John W. Cretzmeyer, Donald R. Merritt, Paul M. Skarstad, Douglas J. Weiss
  • Patent number: 5154818
    Abstract: Methods for the fluidized catalytic cracking of plural hydrocarbon feedstocks in a riser reactor are disclosed. The processes generally comprises contacting a relatively light hydrocarbon feedstock in a first reaction zone with a first catalyst stream comprising spent catalyst, contacting a relatively heavy hydrocarbon feedstock in a second reaction zone with a second catalyst stream comprising freshly regenerated catalyst, and introducing at least a portion of the effluent from the first reaction zone into the second reaction zone. The first reaction zone and the second reaction zone preferably comprise first and second riser reaction zones, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Mohsen N. Harandi, Hartley Owen
  • Patent number: 5151334
    Abstract: A cell unit structure for stacking to form a fuel cell is described, composed of a porous substrate, a hydrogen electrode film formed of fine particles of nickel powder stacked on the porous substrate to form fine voids of homogeneous diameter, a film of solidous electrolyte stacked on the hydrogen electrode film, and an oxygen electrode film stacked on the electrolyte film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha
    Inventors: Kazuo Fushimi, Kaoru Kitakizaki, Kazuhiko Kawakami
  • Patent number: 5146036
    Abstract: An improved system for performing an alkylation process and a method for handling liquid catalyst in an alkylation process. This improvement involves method and apparatus by which liquid alkylation catalyst contained in the alkylation process equipment can be transferred into a catalyst storage vessel without the need for venting excess pressure from the storage vessel to atmosphere. Through a combination of the physical arrangement of the process equipment and the storage vessel along with the addition of a pressure equalization line, apparatus is provided whereby certain process steps can be followed which allow the transfer of catalyst from the process equipment to the storage vessel without venting the storage vessel. The improvement comprises physically locating the catalyst storage vessel at a relative elevation below the alkylation proces equipment and providing a line to connect the vapor space of the storage vessel with that of a catalyst settling vessel in the process equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Keith W. Hovis
  • Patent number: 5146040
    Abstract: Zeolite L in very small crystalline form is prepared by a process in which an alkaline reaction mixture comprising water, a source of silicon (SiO.sub.2), a source of alkali metal (M) (KOH) and a source of aluminium (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.3H.sub.2 O) or gallium is heated to a temperature of at least 80.degree. C. for a period of time long enough to form zeolite L, the composition of the reaction mixture having the following molar ratios (expressed as oxides):______________________________________ M.sub.2 O/SiO.sub.2 0.4 to 0.5 H.sub.2 O/M.sub.2 O 15 to 30 and SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 or Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3 5 to 11 ______________________________________where M is potassium or a mixture of potassium and one or more other alkali metals. Zeolite L made by this process can be used for separating isomers of dimethylnaphthalene from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Exxon Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes P. Verduijn, Mechilium J. G. Janssen, Cornelis B. De Gruijter, Wicher T. Koetsier, Cornelis W. M. Van Oorschot
  • Patent number: 5146041
    Abstract: Disclosed is a two-step method for separating isobutylene from a C-4 hydrocarbon fraction comprising:a) Reacting the C-4 fraction with a glycol in the presence of an acidic montmorillonite catalyst at a temperature of about 60.degree. to 160.degree. C. to yield the corresponding glycol mono-t-butyl ether, and subsequentlyb) reacting the intermediate glycol ether product over the same class of catalyst at a temperature of about 100.degree. to 220.degree. C. to regenerate the isolatable isobutylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventor: John F. Knifton
  • Patent number: 5146042
    Abstract: This invention provides a simple process for the removal of organo sulfide contaminants from lower C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 olefin feedstocks comprising washing the lower olefin containing the sulfide contaminant with a liquid C.sub.6 or higher olefin which is a solvent for the sulfur contaminant. The washing process tends to extract a substantial quantity of the sulfur contaminant from the lower olefin. The lower olefin is then separated from the higher olefin solution by evaporation or fractional distillation. The process provides for removal of greater than 90% by weight of organic sulfides present in lower olefin feedstocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Exxon Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Nur R. Gurak, Jacques M. Hamard