Patents Examined by Renee E Robinson
  • Patent number: 9476000
    Abstract: A process for hydrotreating full range naphtha is disclosed including the steps of passing a vapor stream composed of naphtha hydrocarbons to a first catalyst bed of a hydrotreating reactor, passing a liquid stream composed of naphtha hydrocarbons to a second catalyst bed of the hydrotreating reactor, and recovering a hydrotreated product stream from the hydrotreating reactor. The first and second catalyst beds are arranged in series within the hydrotreating reactor, and the second catalyst bed is downstream of the first catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Deepak Bisht, Soumendra Banerjee
  • Patent number: 9463396
    Abstract: A system for transferring heat from an ethanol and water vapor stream is disclosed as having a first heat exchanger, a valve system coupled to first heat exchanger and a first tank, a second tank coupled to the valve system, a second heat exchanger coupled to first tank and second tank, and a pipe line connecting the second tank to the first heat exchanger. A method for transferring heat is provided and involves intermittently cooling a first media, transferring heat from the first media to a second media, and directing the second media to a valve system. The valve system directs a flow of the second media to the first tank when a temperature of second media is above a temperature set point and directs the flow of the second media to the second tank when the temperature of second media is below the temperature set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: POET Research, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Geraets, William C. Miller, Rodney Duane Pierson, Christopher Michael Bieber, James M. Schwarz, Rachel L. Kloos
  • Patent number: 9464241
    Abstract: A system and process for desulfurizing a hydrocarbon feed stream containing organosulfur compounds is provided. In general, the system includes a conventional hydrotreating unit through the high pressure cold or hot separator. Aqueous oxidant and an oxidative catalyst are mixed with the hydrotreated hydrocarbon effluent from the high pressure cold or hot separator, and oxidative desulfurization reactions occur in the low pressure separation zone, thereby minimizing or eliminating the requirement of additional oxidative desulfurization reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Omer Refa Koseoglu, Abdennour Bourane
  • Patent number: 9463980
    Abstract: Coke is manufactured by blending two or more kinds of coal to form a coal blend and by carbonizing the coal blend. Interfacial tension among coal kinds is used as a control index for determining the blending ratio of each coal when forming the coal blend. It is possible to increase the strength of coke without increasing the material cost of a coal blend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Fukada, Hiroyuki Sumi, Izumi Shimoyama, Takashi Anyashiki, Hidekazu Fujimoto, Tetsuya Yamamoto, Yusuke Dohi
  • Patent number: 9464235
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for extracting bitumen from an oil sand stream, the method comprising at least the steps of, a) providing an oil sand stream; b) contacting the oil sand stream with a liquid comprising a solvent to obtain a solvent-diluted oil sand slurry; c) separating the oil sand slurry to obtain a first solids-depleted stream and a first solids-enriched stream; d) filtering the first solids-enriched stream obtained in step c) to obtain bitumen-depleted sand and at least a first filtrate; e) separating at least a part of the first filtrate to obtain a second solids-depleted stream and a second solids-enriched stream; and f) contacting at least a part of the second solids-enriched stream from step e) with solvent to obtain a solvent-diluted second solids-enriched stream; and g) separating the solvent-diluted second solids-enriched stream to obtain a third solids-enriched stream and a third solids-depleted stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Ingmar Hubertus Josephina Ploemen, Gerhardus Willem Colenbrander, Anjana Kalpesh Bhalodi
  • Patent number: 9458385
    Abstract: A method that combines the oil retorting process (or other process needed to obtain/extract heavy oil or bitumen) with the process for upgrading these materials using sodium or other alkali metals. Specifically, the shale gas or other gases that are obtained from the retorting/extraction process may be introduced into the upgrading reactor and used to upgrade the oil feedstock. Also, the solid materials obtained from the reactor may be used as a fuel source, thereby providing the heat necessary for the retorting/extraction process. Other forms of integration are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: FIELD UPGRADING LIMITED
    Inventor: John Howard Gordon
  • Patent number: 9458395
    Abstract: Phosphoranimide-metal catalysts and their role in hydrodesulfurization and hydrogenation are disclosed. The catalysts comprise of first row transition metals such as nickel, cobalt and iron. The catalysts have a metal to anionic phosphoranimide ratio of 1:1 and have no inactive bulk phase and no dative ancillary ligands. In one embodiment, the catalysts comprise discrete mixed-valent precatalyst clusters, the electronic state of which can be adjusted to optimize catalytic activity. The catalysts catalyze the hydrodesulfurization of a range of sulfur-containing organic compounds under lower temperature and pressure conditions than those conditions commonly used in industrial hydrodesulfurization. The catalysts also catalyze the hydrogenation of substrates comprising at least one carbon-carbon double bond which is not present in an aromatic moiety, although the substrate itself may include an aromatic moiety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Houston J. S. Brown, Jeffrey Mark Stryker, Dominque M. Hebert
  • Patent number: 9458393
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to compositions and methods for scavenging hydrogen sulfide and/or mercaptans from fluids. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of hydantoin compounds as a hydrogen sulfide or a mercaptan scavenger for hydrocarbon fluids, particularly for natural gas, crude oil, field oil, fuel oil, naphtha, gasoline, kerosene, diesel, slurry oil, gas oil, resid, refinery gas, coal gas, tar, asphalt, coke gas, ammonia synthesis gas, gas from a sulfurization plant, or industrial gas streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventor: Juan M. Garcia, III
  • Patent number: 9447331
    Abstract: Methods, systems and units for liquefaction of combustible material are provided. After separating the combustible material from waste rock gravitationally in an aqueous salt solution selected to have a density which is intermediate between a density of the combustible material and a density of the waste rock and after heating and grinding the separated combustible material to yield a paste of purified combustible material, the paste is fluidizing and hydrogenated underground in a hydrogenation chamber including a Segner turbine. The described processes significantly reduce the energy consumption of the process, remove environmental hazards and result in more efficient liquefaction with respect to existing technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: S.G.B.D. TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventor: Alexander Brodt
  • Patent number: 9447335
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the removal of mercury from a mercury-containing hydrocarbon fluid feed using specifically selected ionic liquids comprising, contacting the mercury-containing hydrocarbon fluid feed with an ionic liquid having the formula [Cat+][M+][X?] and separating from the ionic liquid a hydrocarbon fluid product having a reduced mercury content compared to the mercury-containing fluid feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: The Queen's University of Belfast
    Inventors: Mahpuzah Abai, Martin P. Atkins, Kuah Y. Cheun, John Holbrey, Peter Nockemann, Ken Seddon, Geetha Srinivasan, Yiran Zou
  • Patent number: 9446975
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating carbon-containing waste materials include a gasifying system, a drier system for pre-drying the material, and an energy-recovery system for recovering waste heat and/or producer gas from the gasifying system/method for use in pre-drying the material. The energy-recovery system can include a recirculation system for recovering the waste heat and/or a thermal oxidizer or other combustion device for burning the producer gas, along with a heat-transfer-loop for transferring the recovered heat energy to the drier for pre-drying the material. In another aspect of the invention, the gasifying systems and methods use a thermal-screw conveyor with a product chamber and rotary thermal screws, and an oxygen-delivery system configured for delivering oxygen into the product chamber for immediate absorption into the material, with or without the dryer system and/or the energy-recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: THERMA-FLITE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Nickerson, Mike Potter, John Whitney
  • Patent number: 9440862
    Abstract: A device and method of accelerating the evaporation of wastewater and concentration of solids wherein an evaporative material contacts wastewater allowing the wastewater to migrate onto the surface of the evaporative material where the sun and wind evaporates the wastewater in an accelerated manner due to the configuration of the evaporative material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Inventor: Shafiq Ur Rahman
  • Patent number: 9441172
    Abstract: The mercury in crude oils is managed during the refining process to reduce its occurrence in refined petroleum products as well as in refinery emissions and wastes by converting the mercury, which may typically be present in the crude in elemental, ionic or combined organic (organomercury) forms, by operating the refinery on a blend of crudes comprising a mercury-containing crude of low sulfur content and a high sulfur crude. For optimal mercury control, the refinery should be operated in a high conversion regime, preferably with hydroprocessing (severe hydrotreating, hydrocracking) suitable for converting refractory, non-reactive sulfur compounds in the high sulfur crudes to more reactive forms including, for example, hydrogen sulfide, which will combine with the mercury present from the mercury-containing crude to form solid mercury sulfides which may be removed as solid waste by-products and disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Bryan M. Knickerbocker, Robert James Falkiner
  • Patent number: 9433875
    Abstract: A system and process for removing divalent cations from a rich MEG feed stream is presented. An ion exchange bed containing a cation exchange resin adsorbs the divalent cations in the rich MEG feed stream as it flows through the ion exchange bed. After the divalent ions have been removed, the feed stream flows through a flash separator and a distillation column to reclaim MEG. Alternatively, the feed stream flows through a distillation column to regenerate MEG. The spent cation exchange resin may be regenerated in place using a regeneration brine comprised of sodium chloride and water. After use, the regeneration brine may be disposed as waste or recycled to the brine storage tank and re-used to regenerate the cation exchange resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel W. Phelps, Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
  • Patent number: 9434890
    Abstract: It has been discovered that metals and/or amines can be removed or transferred from a hydrocarbon phase to a water phase in an emulsion breaking process by using a composition that contains water-soluble hydroxyacids. Suitable water-soluble hydroxyacids include, but are not necessarily limited to glycolic acid, gluconic acid, C2-C4 alpha-hydroxy acids, poly-hydroxy carboxylic acids, thioglycolic acid, chloroacetic acid, polymeric forms of the above hydroxyacids, poly-glycolic esters, glycolate ethers, and ammonium salt and alkali metal salts of these hydroxyacids, and mixtures thereof. The composition may also include at least one mineral acid to reduce the pH of the desalter wash water. A solvent may be optionally included in the composition. The invention permits transfer of metals and/or amines into the aqueous phase with little or no hydrocarbon phase undercarry into the aqueous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Tran M. Nguyen, Lawrence N. Kremer, Jerry J. Weers
  • Patent number: 9434887
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, at least comprising: a housing containing a first section, a second section and a third section; the first section having a first inlet for oil sand, a second inlet for solvent and an outlet for solvent-diluted oil sand slurry; the second section having an inlet for the solvent-diluted oil sand slurry, a screen allowing undersized material to pass and an outlet for oversized material; and the third section having an inlet for oversized material and an outlet for solvent-depleted oversized material; wherein the first section, the second section and the third section can rotate during use around a common rotation axis (A-A?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Julian Robert Kift, Whip Clinton Galen Thompson, Ingmar Hubertus Josephina Ploemen
  • Patent number: 9434893
    Abstract: The invention describes a process for start-up of a hydrotreatment or hydroconversion unit carried out in the presence of hydrogen, in at least 2 catalytic beds, process in which At least one bed contains at least one presulfurized and preactivated catalyst and at least one catalytic bed that contains a catalyst whose catalytic metals are in oxidized form, A so-called starting feedstock, which is a hydrocarbon fraction that contains at least 0.5% by weight of sulfur, lacking olefinic compounds and not containing an added sulfur-containing compound, passes through a first catalytic bed that contains said presulfurized and preactivated catalyst and then passes through at least one catalytic bed that contains a catalyst whose catalytic metals are in oxidized form, And the first presulfurized and preactivated catalyst bed reaches a temperature of at least 220° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: EURECAT S.A.
    Inventor: Pierre Dufresne
  • Patent number: 9434889
    Abstract: There is provided an additive and method for removal of calcium from crude oil or its blends containing calcium naphthenate at low pH as well as at high pH. Particularly, there is also provided an additive and method for removal of calcium from crude oil or its blends containing calcium naphthenate under basic or alkaline conditions and at low pH as well as at high pH varying from about 5 to 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Dorf Ketal Chemicals (India) Private Limited
    Inventor: Mahesh Subramaniyam
  • Patent number: 9429317
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for evaporating a liquid and incinerating pollutants present in the resulting vapor. The system includes a chamber for containing a liquid, a floatable pan in the chamber with at least one opening to allow a portion of the liquid to enter into a basin of the pan, a heating element at least partially sumergeable in the liquid in the basin of the pan for evaporating the liquid, and a blowing burner to incinerate pollutants present in the evaporated liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventors: Edward Stock, James Stock
  • Patent number: 9428403
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the distillation of ocean and brackish water that includes insulation for preventing heat from escaping to the atmosphere is disclosed. The insulation comprises a second wall surrounding the basic assemblies of a desalination system in which the space between the second wall and basic assemblies is under low partial vacuum and is partially or totally filled with an insulation material for structural support. The system allows for flash evaporation of heated input water and condensing the resultant vapors into pure distilled water. The heat of condensation as well as heat from the salt byproduct may be recaptured and used to preheat the input contaminated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: H2O GLOBAL LLC
    Inventor: Joel Haynes