Patents by Inventor Ashok Uppal
Ashok Uppal 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).
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Patent number: 11046896Abstract: A process for cleansing a liquid of volatile contaminants can be accomplished by cross flowing a liquid through a contactor vessel. As the liquid cross flows through the horizontal contactor vessel, a radial flow pattern is induced in the liquid and the liquid is contacted with a cleansing gas. As the liquid moves through the contactor vessel, contaminants enter the cleansing cross current gas percolating through the liquid. The cross current gas may then be collected and cleansed of the contaminants it collected. The cleaned cleansing gas may then be recycled back into the contactor vessel.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering CompanyInventors: Robert J. Falkiner, Ashok Uppal, Luke J. Kariparampil, Vincent A. Brunet, Alain D. Fomo
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Publication number: 20190211273Abstract: Improved separation of oil and water as well as suspended solids from the emulsion layer formed in a petroleum desalter is achieved by injection of demulsifier into the desalter vessel to achieve a higher localized concentration of demulsifier in the emulsion layer so as to promote improved oil/water separation from the emulsion layer. The demulsifier may be injected into the water layer or the oil layer in the region of the emulsion layer or directly into the stabilized emulsion layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2019Publication date: July 11, 2019Inventors: Magaly C. Barroeta, Gregory M. Mason, Ashok Uppal, Mohsen S. Yeganeh, Jose X. Simonetty
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Publication number: 20190184330Abstract: A low-cost process for cleansing a liquid of volatile contaminants can be accomplished by cross flowing a liquid through a contactor vessel. As the liquid to be cleansed of contaminates cross flows through the horizontal contactor vessel, a radial flow pattern is induced in the liquid and the liquid is contacted with a cleansing gas introduced cross current to the flow of the liquid through the contactor vessel. As the liquid moves through the contactor vessel, contaminants enter the cleansing cross current gas percolating through the liquid. The cross current gas may then be collected and cleansed of the contaminates it collected. The cleaned cleansing gas may then be recycled back into the contactor vessel. The liquid to be cleansed may by any liquid or liquefied hydrocarbon, such as liquefied petroleum gas, gasoline, diesel, refinery component streams, distillates, gas oils, crude oils and/or emulsions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2018Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: Robert J. Falkiner, Ashok Uppal, Luke J. Kariparampil, Vincent A. Brunet, Alain D. Fomo
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Patent number: 10260007Abstract: Improved separation of oil and water as well as suspended solids from the emulsion layer formed in a petroleum desalter is achieved by injection of demulsifier into the desalter vessel to achieve a higher localized concentration of demulsifier in the emulsion layer so as to promote improved oil/water separation from the emulsion layer. The demulsifier may be injected into the water layer or the oil layer in the region of the emulsion layer or directly into the stabilized emulsion layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2016Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Magaly C. Barroeta, Gregory Mason Goodman, Ashok Uppal, Mohsen Shahmirzadi Yeganeh, Jose X. Simonetty
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Publication number: 20170321131Abstract: An electro-kinetic agglomerator for resolving crude oil and water emulsions containing charged particles by the application of a direct current voltage potential. The electro-kinetic agglomerator comprises a shaftless auger with a charged conductive rod positioned in the center of the shaftless auger and a charged porous drum surrounding wherein the electro-kinetic agglomerator has a DC voltage gradient such that the charged particles are attracted to the conductive rod.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2017Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventors: Ashok Uppal, Babak A. Jajuee, Tarek A. Elsolh, Jason M. McMullan
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Publication number: 20160312136Abstract: Basic components, including nitrogenous compounds, which lead to fouling in the overhead of petroleum refinery processing units, especially the crude unit, are removed by adsorbing the basic compounds on an adsorbent with acidic functionality. Suitable adsorbents include acidic functioning zeolites, ion-exchange resins and acidic amorphous solids such as alumina and solid acids such as solid phosphoric acid, tungstic acid and similarly functioning materials. The removal is typically affected by contacting a reflux stream from the distillation or other unit with a bed of the adsorbent.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2016Publication date: October 27, 2016Inventors: Ashok UPPAL, Gordon Bryce McGARVEY, Francis LEPINE
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Publication number: 20160208176Abstract: Improved separation of oil and water as well as suspended solids from the emulsion layer formed in a petroleum desalter is achieved by injection of demulsifier into the desalter vessel to achieve a higher localized concentration of demulsifier in the emulsion layer so as to promote improved oil/water separation from the emulsion layer. The demulsifier may be injected into the water layer or the oil layer in the region of the emulsion layer or directly into the stabilized emulsion layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Magaly C. BARROETA, Gregory Mason GOODMAN, Ashok UPPAL, Mohsen Shahmirzadi YEGANEH, Jose X. SIMONETTY
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Method for increasing thermal stability of a fuel composition using a solid phosphoric acid catalyst
Patent number: 9028675Abstract: This invention relates to a method for increasing thermal stability of fuel, as well as in reducing nitrogen content and/or enhancing color quality of the fuel. According to the method, a fuel feedstock can be treated with a solid phosphoric acid catalyst under appropriate catalyst conditions, e.g., to increase the thermal stability of the fuel feedstock. Preferably, the fuel feedstock can be treated with the solid phosphoric acid catalyst at a ratio of catalyst mass within a contact zone to a mass flow rate of feedstock through the zone of at least about 18 minutes to increase the thermal stability of the fuel feedstock, along with reducing nitrogen content and/or enhancing color quality.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2012Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Sebastien Bergeron, Ashok Uppal, Robert J. Falkiner, Marc-André Poirier -
Patent number: 8822742Abstract: This invention relates to process for increasing color quality and thermal stability of fuel. Fuel that is provided as a feedstock is contacted or treated with an acidic, ion-exchange resin to increase the color quality and stability of the fuel. The process provides the benefit of substantially increasing the long term quality of both color and oxidation (JFTOT) stability.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2010Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Marc-Andre Poirier, Ashok Uppal
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Patent number: 8658028Abstract: A process for removing elemental sulfur from liquid hydrocarbon steams such as transportation fuel streams, e.g. gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and jet, by contacting such streams with an immiscible aqueous solution under static mixing conditions. The aqueous solution contains a caustic and an effective amount of a Group I or Group II metal sulfide or polysulfide. The elemental sulfur in the stream is converted to a polysulfide that is not soluble in the hydrocarbon stream but is soluble in the aqueous solution, thus resulting in a hydrocarbon product stream having a substantially lower level of elemental sulfur.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2008Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Ashok Uppal, Ramesh R. Hemrajani, Robert J. Falkiner, Lawrence J. Lawlor, Joseph L. Feimer
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METHOD FOR INCREASING THERMAL STABILITY OF A FUEL COMPOSITION USING A SOLID PHOSPHORIC ACID CATALYST
Publication number: 20130068660Abstract: This invention relates to a method for increasing thermal stability of fuel, as well as in reducing nitrogen content and/or enhancing color quality of the fuel. According to the method, a fuel feedstock can be treated with a solid phosphoric acid catalyst under appropriate catalyst conditions, e.g., to increase the thermal stability of the fuel feedstock. Preferably, the fuel feedstock can be treated with the solid phosphoric acid catalyst at a ratio of catalyst mass within a contact zone to a mass flow rate of feedstock through the zone of at least about 18 minutes to increase the thermal stability of the fuel feedstock, along with reducing nitrogen content and/or enhancing color quality.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2012Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Sebastien Bergeron, Ashok Uppal, Robert J. Falkiner, Marc-André Poirier -
Publication number: 20110131870Abstract: This invention relates to process for increasing color quality and thermal stability of fuel. Fuel that is provided as a feedstock is contacted or treated with an acidic, ion-exchange resin to increase the color quality and stability of the fuel. The process provides the benefit of substantially increasing the long term quality of both color and oxidation (JFTOT) stability.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2010Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Marc-André Poirier, Ashok Uppal
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Publication number: 20100072109Abstract: A process for removing elemental sulfur from liquid hydrocarbon steams such as transportation fuel streams, e.g. gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and jet, by contacting such streams with an immiscible aqueous solution under static mixing conditions. The aqueous solution contains a caustic and an effective amount of a Group I or Group II metal sulfide or polysulfide. The elemental sulfur in the stream is converted to a polysulfide that is not soluble in the hydrocarbon stream but is soluble in the aqueous solution, thus resulting in a hydrocarbon product stream having a substantially lower level of elemental sulfur.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2008Publication date: March 25, 2010Inventors: Ashok Uppal, Ramesh R. Hemrajani, Robert J. Falkiner, Lawrence J. Lawlor, Joseph L. Feimer
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Patent number: 6648988Abstract: Furnace run length extension by fouling control utilizing a pigging-passivation process.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2001Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Trikur Anantharaman Ramanarayanan, Ashok Uppal, Changmin Chun
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Publication number: 20030035889Abstract: Furnace run length extension by fouling control utilizing a pigging-passivation process.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2001Publication date: February 20, 2003Inventors: Trikur Anantharaman Ramanarayanan, Ashok Uppal, Changmin Chun
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Patent number: 5365009Abstract: An alkylation process which utilizes a solid alkylation catalyst is disclosed. The catalyst, which has carbonaceous material adsorbed thereto, is regenerated by reacting the adsorbed carbonaceous material. The reaction step is accomplished by heating the catalyst in the presence of ozone to form an ozonated hydrocarbon, wherein the ozonated hydrocarbon includes carbonyl carbons. The ozonated hydrocarbon is removed by desorbing the carbonyl carbons from the solid alkylation catalyst. The carbonaceous material is preferably reacted at a temperature ranging from about 20.degree. C. to 200.degree. C. The ozone is preferably in a gaseous stream at a concentration ranging from about 1 to 50 volume percent. The carbonyl components are preferably desorbed from the heated alkylation catalyst by sweeping the catalyst with a desorption fluid.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1993Date of Patent: November 15, 1994Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Ashok Uppal, William J. Murphy, Joseph P. Boyle