Patents by Inventor Bala Ramachandran

Bala Ramachandran 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).

  • Publication number: 20230167040
    Abstract: Systems and processes herein improve the conversion of propylene to ethylene via metathesis. On a mass basis, embodiments herein may be used to convert greater than 40% propylene, on a mass basis, to ethylene, such as 43% to 75%, on a mass basis. In one aspect, processes for the conversion of propylene to ethylene herein may include introducing a propylene feed stream to a metathesis reactor, and contacting the propylene with a metathesis catalyst in the metathesis reactor to convert the propylene to ethylene and 2-butene. An effluent from the metathesis reactor may be recovered, the effluent including ethylene, 2-butene, and unconverted propylene. The effluent may then be separated in a fractionation system to recover an ethylene fraction, a propylene fraction, a c4 fraction, and a C5+ fraction. The propylene fraction and the C4 fraction may then be fed to the metathesis reactor to produce additional ethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventor: Bala Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 11565985
    Abstract: Systems and processes herein improve the conversion of propylene to ethylene via metathesis. On a mass basis, embodiments herein may be used to convert greater than 40% propylene, on a mass basis, to ethylene, such as 43% to 75%, on a mass basis. In one aspect, processes for the conversion of propylene to ethylene herein may include introducing a propylene feed stream to a metathesis reactor, and contacting the propylene with a metathesis catalyst in the metathesis reactor to convert the propylene to ethylene and 2-butene. An effluent from the metathesis reactor may be recovered, the effluent including ethylene, 2-butene, and unconverted propylene. The effluent may then be separated in a fractionation system to recover an ethylene fraction, a propylene fraction, a c4 fraction, and a C5+ fraction. The propylene fraction and the C4 fraction may then be fed to the metathesis reactor to produce additional ethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventor: Bala Ramachandran
  • Publication number: 20210147318
    Abstract: Systems and processes herein improve the conversion of propylene to ethylene via metathesis. On a mass basis, embodiments herein may be used to convert greater than 40% propylene, on a mass basis, to ethylene, such as 43% to 75%, on a mass basis. In one aspect, processes for the conversion of propylene to ethylene herein may include introducing a propylene feed stream to a metathesis reactor, and contacting the propylene with a metathesis catalyst in the metathesis reactor to convert the propylene to ethylene and 2-butene. An effluent from the metathesis reactor may be recovered, the effluent including ethylene, 2-butene, and unconverted propylene. The effluent may then be separated in a fractionation system to recover an ethylene fraction, a propylene fraction, a c4 fraction, and a C5+ fraction. The propylene fraction and the C4 fraction may then be fed to the metathesis reactor to produce additional ethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventor: Bala Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 10815167
    Abstract: A process for the double-bond isomerization of olefins is disclosed. The process may include contacting a hydrocarbon stream including olefins with a ?-alumina-titania isomerization catalyst to convert at least a portion of the olefin to its positional isomer. The ?-alumina-titanic isomerization catalysts disclosed herein may also have the activity to convert alcohol into additional olefins, while having increased resistance to oxygenate poisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Bala Ramachandran, Sukwon Choi, Robert J. Gartside
  • Patent number: 10676411
    Abstract: Processes for the production of olefins are disclosed, which may include: contacting a hydrocarbon mixture comprising linear butenes with an isomerization catalyst to form an isomerization product comprising 2-butenes and 1-butenes; contacting the isomerization product with a first metathesis catalyst to form a first metathesis product comprising 2-pentene and propylene, as well as any unreacted C4 olefins, and byproducts ethylene and 3-hexene; and fractionating the first metathesis product to form a C3-fraction and a C5 fraction comprising 2-pentene. The 2-pentene may then be advantageously used to produce high purity 1-butene, 3-hexene, 1-hexene, propylene, or other desired products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Sukwon Choi, Bala Ramachandran
  • Publication number: 20180273443
    Abstract: A process for the double-bond isomerization of olefins is disclosed. The process may include contacting a hydrocarbon stream including olefins with a ?-alumina-titania isomerization catalyst to convert at least a portion of the olefin to its positional isomer. The ?-alumina-titanic isomerization catalysts disclosed herein may also have the activity to convert alcohol into additional olefins, while having increased resistance to oxygenate poisons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Bala Ramachandran, Sukwon Choi, Robert J. Gartside
  • Patent number: 9975819
    Abstract: A process for the double-bond isomerization of olefins is disclosed. The process may include contacting a hydrocarbon stream including olefins with a ?-alumina-titania isomerization catalyst to convert at least a portion of the olefin to its positional isomer. The ?-alumina-titania isomerization catalysts disclosed herein may also have the activity to convert alcohol into additional olefins, while having increased resistance to oxygenate poisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Bala Ramachandran, Sukwon Choi, Robert J. Gartside
  • Publication number: 20180057424
    Abstract: Processes for the production of olefins are disclosed, which may include: contacting a hydrocarbon mixture comprising linear butenes with an isomerization catalyst to form an isomerization product comprising 2-butenes and 1-butenes; contacting the isomerization product with a first metathesis catalyst to form a first metathesis product comprising 2-pentene and propylene, as well as any unreacted C4 olefins, and byproducts ethylene and 3-hexene; and fractionating the first metathesis product to form a C3-fraction and a C5 fraction comprising 2-pentene. The 2-pentene may then be advantageously used to produce high purity 1-butene, 3-hexene, 1-hexene, propylene, or other desired products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Sukwon Choi, Bala Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 9809513
    Abstract: Processes for the production of olefins are disclosed, which may include: contacting a hydrocarbon mixture comprising linear butenes with an isomerization catalyst to form an isomerization product comprising 2-butenes and 1-butenes; contacting the isomerization product with a first metathesis catalyst to form a first metathesis product comprising 2-pentene and propylene, as well as any unreacted C4 olefins, and byproducts ethylene and 3-hexene; and fractionating the first metathesis product to form a C3? fraction and a C5 fraction comprising 2-pentene. The 2-pentene may then be advantageously used to produce high purity 1-butene, 3-hexene, 1-hexene, propylene, or other desired products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Sukwon Choi, Bala Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 9790146
    Abstract: Mixed pentenes may be converted to propylene by feeding an alcohol, linear pentenes, and isopentenes to an etherification reactor. The alcohol and isopentenes may be reacted in the etherification reactor to convert isopentenes to tertiary amyl alkyl ether, which may be separated from the linear pentenes, recovered as a linear pentene fraction. The tertiary amyl alkyl ether may be fed to a decomposition reactor to convert at least a portion of the tertiary amyl alkyl ether to alcohol and isopentenes. The alcohol and isopentenes may then be separated to recover an isopentene fraction and an alcohol fraction. The isopentene fraction is then fed to a skeletal isomerization reactor to convert at least a portion of the isopentenes to linear pentenes, the effluent from which may be recycled to the etherification reactor. Ethylene and the linear pentene fraction may then be fed to a metathesis reactor to produce propylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Bala Ramachandran, Sukwon Choi
  • Patent number: 9611193
    Abstract: A process for the production of C4 olefins, which may include: contacting a hydrocarbon mixture comprising alpha-pentenes with an isomerization catalyst to form an isomerization product comprising beta-pentenes; contacting ethylene and the beta-pentenes with a first metathesis catalyst to form a first metathesis product comprising butenes and propylene, as well as any unreacted ethylene and C5 olefins; and fractionating the first metathesis product to for an ethylene fraction, a propylene fraction, a butene fraction, and a C5 fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Sukwon Choi, Bala Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 9598331
    Abstract: Processes for the production of high purity alpha olefins from a mixture of olefins are disclosed. The processes may include: contacting propylene and a hydrocarbon mixture comprising a mixture of olefins having a carbon number n with a first metathesis catalyst to form a metathesis product comprising a beta-olefin having a carbon number n+1, an alpha-olefin having a carbon number n?1, as well as any unreacted propylene and olefins having a carbon number n. The metathesis product may be fractionated to recover a fraction comprising the beta-olefin having a carbon number n+1. Ethylene and the fraction comprising the beta-olefin having a carbon number n+1 may then be contacted with a second metathesis catalyst to form a second metathesis product comprising an alpha-olefin having a carbon number n and propylene, which may be fractionated to form a propylene fraction and a fraction comprising the alpha olefin having a carbon number n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Bala Ramachandran, Sukwon Choi
  • Publication number: 20160340274
    Abstract: Mixed pentenes may be converted to propylene by feeding an alcohol, linear pentenes, and isopentenes to an etherification reactor. The alcohol and isopentenes may be reacted in the etherification reactor to convert isopentenes to tertiary amyl alkyl ether, which may be separated from the linear pentenes, recovered as a linear pentene fraction. The tertiary amyl alkyl ether may be fed to a decomposition reactor to convert at least a portion of the tertiary amyl alkyl ether to alcohol and isopentenes. The alcohol and isopentenes may then be separated to recover an isopentene fraction and an alcohol fraction. The isopentene fraction is then fed to a skeletal isomerization reactor to convert at least a portion of the isopentenes to linear pentenes, the effluent from which may be recycled to the etherification reactor. Ethylene and the linear pentene fraction may then be to a metathesis reactor to produce propylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Bala Ramachandran, Sukwon Choi
  • Patent number: 9499458
    Abstract: Mixed pentenes may be converted to propylene by feeding an alcohol, linear pentenes, and isopentenes to an etherification reactor. The alcohol and isopentenes may be reacted in the etherification reactor to convert isopentenes to tertiary amyl alkyl ether, which may be separated from the linear pentenes, recovered as a linear pentene fraction. The tertiary amyl alkyl ether may be fed to a decomposition reactor to convert at least a portion of the tertiary amyl alkyl ether to alcohol and isopentenes. The alcohol and isopentenes may then be separated to recover an isopentene fraction and an alcohol fraction. The isopentene fraction is then fed to a skeletal isomerization reactor to convert at least a portion of the isopentenes to linear pentenes, the effluent from which may be recycled to the etherification reactor. Ethylene and the linear pentene fraction may then be to a metathesis reactor to produce propylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Bala Ramachandran, Sukwon Choi
  • Publication number: 20160023964
    Abstract: A process for the production of C4 olefins, which may include: contacting a hydrocarbon mixture comprising alpha-pentenes with an isomerization catalyst to form an isomerization product comprising beta-pentenes; contacting ethylene and the beta-pentenes with a first metathesis catalyst to form a first metathesis product comprising butenes and propylene, as well as any unreacted ethylene and C5 olefins; and fractionating the first metathesis product to for an ethylene fraction, a propylene fraction, a butene fraction, and a C5 fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Sukwon Choi, Bala Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 9242908
    Abstract: A process for the production of C4 olefins, which may include: contacting a hydrocarbon mixture comprising alpha-pentenes with an isomerization catalyst to form an isomerization product comprising beta-pentenes; contacting ethylene and the beta-pentenes with a first metathesis catalyst to form a first metathesis product comprising butenes and propylene, as well as any unreacted ethylene and C5 olefins; and fractionating the first metathesis product to for an ethylene fraction, a propylene fraction, a butene fraction, and a C5 fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Sukwon Choi, Bala Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 9040764
    Abstract: A process for the double-bond isomerization of olefins is disclosed. The process may include contacting a fluid stream comprising olefins with a fixed bed comprising an activated basic metal oxide isomerization catalyst to convert at least a portion of the olefin to its isomer. The isomerization catalysts disclosed herein may have a reduced cycle to cycle deactivation as compared to conventional catalysts, thus maintaining higher activity over the complete catalyst life cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Bala Ramachandran, Sukwon Choi, Robert J. Gartside, Marvin I. Greene
  • Publication number: 20150141721
    Abstract: Processes for the production of olefins are disclosed, which may include: contacting a hydrocarbon mixture comprising linear butenes with an isomerization catalyst to form an isomerization product comprising 2-butenes and 1-butenes; contacting the isomerization product with a first metathesis catalyst to form a first metathesis product comprising 2-pentene and propylene, as well as any unreacted C4 olefins, and byproducts ethylene and 3-hexene; and fractionating the first metathesis product to form a C3? fraction and a C5 fraction comprising 2-pentene. The 2-pentene may then be advantageously used to produce high purity 1-butene, 3-hexene, 1-hexene, propylene, or other desired products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Sukwon Choi, Bala Ramachandran
  • Publication number: 20150141706
    Abstract: A process for the production of C4 olefins, which may include: contacting a hydrocarbon mixture comprising alpha-pentenes with an isomerization catalyst to form an isomerization product comprising beta-pentenes; contacting ethylene and the beta-pentenes with a first metathesis catalyst to form a first metathesis product comprising butenes and propylene, as well as any unreacted ethylene and C5 olefins; and fractionating the first metathesis product to for an ethylene fraction, a propylene fraction, a butene fraction, and a C5 fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Sukwon Choi, Bala Ramachandran
  • Publication number: 20150141722
    Abstract: Processes for the production of high purity alpha olefins from a mixture of olefins are disclosed. The processes may include: contacting propylene and a hydrocarbon mixture comprising a mixture of olefins having a carbon number n with a first metathesis catalyst to form a metathesis product comprising a beta-olefin having a carbon number n+1, an alpha-olefin having a carbon number n?1, as well as any unreacted propylene and olefins having a carbon number n. The metathesis product may be fractionated to recover a fraction comprising the beta-olefin having a carbon number n+1. Ethylene and the fraction comprising the beta-olefin having a carbon number n+1 may then be contacted with a second metathesis catalyst to form a second metathesis product comprising an alpha-olefin having a carbon number n and propylene, which may be fractionated to form a propylene fraction and a fraction comprising the alpha olefin having a carbon number n.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Bala Ramachandran, Sukwon Choi