Patents by Inventor Andrew J. Towarnicky

Andrew J. Towarnicky has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10472581
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for quenching a hydrocracked stream to prepare it for hydroisomerization. A fractionated hydroisomerized stream is recycled to quench a hot hydrocracked stream prior to hydroisomerization. Sufficient quenching can inactivate the hydroisomerization catalyst bed. The hydroisomerization catalyst bed can be heated back to hydroisomerization temperature and can actively hydroisomerize again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Sailesh B. Kumar, Andrew J. Towarnicky, Vasant P. Thakkar, Massimo Sangalli, John A. Petri
  • Patent number: 10041004
    Abstract: A process for de-ashing pitch. The pitch from a slurry hydrocracking process is mixed with a solvent. The mixture is separated into solvent and soluble materials and insoluble materials. The insoluble materials can be dried to recover solvent which may be recycled. The solvent and soluble materials are separated. The solvent may be recovered and recycled. Hi-Sol 15 may be the solvent. Additionally, CSO may be the solvent and a portion thereof may be used with the de-ashed pitch to make an asphalt binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jagannathan Govindhakannan, Grant H. Yokomizo, Robert Haizmann, Hans G. Lefebvre, Trung Pham, Andrew J. Towarnicky
  • Patent number: 9914881
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vacuum separation are described. The method includes heating a feed comprising a mixture of light and heavy hydrocarbons in a first heating zone. The heated feed is flashed in a flash drum to form a liquid stream and a vapor stream. The liquid stream is heated in a second heating zone. The heated liquid stream is introduced into a vacuum distillation column through a first inlet. The vapor stream from the flash drum is introduced into the vacuum distillation column through a second inlet located above the first inlet, the vapor stream of the flash drum being in fluid communication with the vacuum distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Towarnicky, Grant H. Yokomizo
  • Publication number: 20180002616
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for quenching a hydrocracked stream to prepare it for hydroisomerization. A fractionated hydroisomerized stream is recycled to quench a hot hydrocracked stream prior to hydroisomerization. Sufficient quenching can inactivate the hydroisomerization catalyst bed. The hydroisomerization catalyst bed can be heated back to hydroisomerization temperature and can actively hydroisomerize again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Sailesh B. Kumar, Andrew J. Towarnicky, Vasant P. Thakkar, Massimo Sangalli, John A. Petri
  • Publication number: 20170022425
    Abstract: A method for deoxygenating a biomass-derived pyrolysis oil is described. The method includes combining a biomass-derived pyrolysis oil stream with a heated low-oxygen-py-oil diluent recycle stream to form a heated diluted py-oil feed stream that has a temperature of about 150° C. or greater. The heated diluted py-oil feed stream is contacted with a first deoxygenating catalyst in a first bed of a reactor to form a low-oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oil. The low-oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oil is contacted with a hydrocracking catalyst in a second bed of the reactor to form a hydrocracked low-oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oil effluent. A portion of the hydrocracked low-oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oil effluent comprises the heated low-oxygen biomass-derived py-oil diluent recycle stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Lance A. Baird, Andrew J. Towarnicky
  • Publication number: 20160160135
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vacuum separation are described. The method includes heating a feed comprising a mixture of light and heavy hydrocarbons in a first heating zone. The heated feed is flashed in a flash drum to form a liquid stream and a vapor stream. The liquid stream is heated in a second heating zone. The heated liquid stream is introduced into a vacuum distillation column through a first inlet. The vapor stream from the flash drum is introduced into the vacuum distillation column through a second inlet located above the first inlet, the vapor stream of the flash drum being in fluid communication with the vacuum distillation column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew J. Towarnicky, Grant H. Yokomizo
  • Publication number: 20160130506
    Abstract: A process for de-ashing pitch. The pitch from a slurry hydrocracking process is mixed with a solvent. The mixture is separated into solvent and soluble materials and insoluble materials. The insoluble materials can be dried to recover solvent which may be recycled. The solvent and soluble materials are separated. The solvent may be recovered and recycled. Hi-Sol 15 may be the solvent. Additionally, CSO may be the solvent and a portion thereof may be used with the de-ashed pitch to make an asphalt binder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Jagannathan Govindhakannan, Grant H. Yokomizo, Robert Haizmann, Hans G. Lefebvre, Trung Pham, Andrew J. Towarnicky
  • Patent number: 9084945
    Abstract: A process for recovering hydrogen during hydroprocessing, where the process includes providing a pressure increasing device to a hydroprocessing unit, wherein the pressure increasing device utilizes a high pressure stream from a separator for increasing pressure; introducing a hydrogen containing stream to the pressure increasing device, thereby increasing the pressure of the hydrogen containing stream; and routing the hydrogen containing stream from the pressure increasing device to a vapor-liquid separator. The process also includes separating the hydrogen from the hydrogen containing stream in a hydrogen purification unit to produce a recovered hydrogen stream; and then preferably using the recovered hydrogen stream from the hydrogen purification unit within the hydroprocessing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard K. Hoehn, Soumendra M. Banerjee, Kiran Ladkat, Andrew J. Towarnicky, Brent M. Lemberg
  • Publication number: 20150047503
    Abstract: A process for recovering hydrogen during hydroprocessing, where the process includes providing a pressure increasing device to a hydroprocessing unit, wherein the pressure increasing device utilizes a high pressure stream from a separator for increasing pressure; introducing a hydrogen containing stream to the pressure increasing device, thereby increasing the pressure of the hydrogen containing stream; and routing the hydrogen containing stream from the pressure increasing device to a vapor-liquid separator. The process also includes separating the hydrogen from the hydrogen containing stream in a hydrogen purification unit to produce a recovered hydrogen stream; and then preferably using the recovered hydrogen stream from the hydrogen purification unit within the hydroprocessing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard K. Hoehn, Soumendra M. Banerjee, Kiran Ladkat, Andrew J. Towarnicky, Brent M. Lemberg