Patents by Inventor Brian Knapper
Brian Knapper 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: 11098254Abstract: A method for processing bitumen froth comprised of bitumen, water and solids to produce a final diluted bitumen product having a reduced water content is provided whereby demulsifier is added to the bitumen froth after a first separation stage and prior to a second separation stage to produce the final diluted bitumen product having reduced water content.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2020Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: SYNCRUDE CANADA LTD. IN TRUST FOR THE OWNERS OF THE SYNCRUDE PROJECT AS SUCH OWNERS EXIST NOW AND IN THE FUTUREInventors: Brian Knapper, Gary Anthieren, Sujit Bhattacharya, Tam Tran
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Publication number: 20210040394Abstract: A method for processing bitumen froth comprised of bitumen, water containing chlorides and solids is provided for producing a final diluted bitumen product having reduced chlorides. In particular, fine water droplets containing chlorides that are present in raw diluted bitumen are captured by washing the raw diluted bitumen with low salinity water to produce the final diluted bitumen product having reduced chlorides.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: BRIAN KNAPPER, DENA ROSSITER, SUJIT BHATTACHARYA
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Publication number: 20210017453Abstract: A method for processing bitumen froth comprised of bitumen, water and solids to produce a final diluted bitumen product having a reduced water content is provided whereby demulsifier is added to the bitumen froth after a first separation stage and prior to a second separation stage to produce the final diluted bitumen product having reduced water content.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2020Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: BRIAN KNAPPER, GARY ANTHIEREN, SUJIT BHATTACHARYA, TAM TRAN
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Publication number: 20190161684Abstract: A process for converting a heavy hydrocarbonaceous feedstock to liquid products is provided comprising introducing the hydrocarbonaceous feedstock into a fluid coker comprised in part of a fluidized bed of heated coke particles, the fluidized bed having a high velocity core region of heated coke particles and a low velocity annular region of unreacted hydrocarbon and coke particles using a plurality of high thrust nozzles and reacting the hydrocarbonaceous feedstock with the heated coke particles in the fluid coker to produce the liquid products.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2018Publication date: May 30, 2019Inventors: JENNIFER McMILLAN, CRAIG McKNIGHT, MICHAEL WORMSBECKER, JASON WIENS, BRIAN KNAPPER
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Publication number: 20160312126Abstract: A fluid coking process is operated in a fluidized bed coking reactor in which a plurality of heavy oil inlet nozzles are arranged in a number of rings around the periphery of the dense bed reaction section at vertically spaced elevations. A heavy oil feed is injected with atomization steam through the nozzles into the fluidized. bed, operating at a lower steam-to-oil ratio for the upper ring or rings of nozzles than for the lower ring or rings.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2016Publication date: October 27, 2016Inventors: Michael Wormsbecker, Jason S. Wiens, Jennifer McMillan, Craig A. McKnight, Brian A. Knapper
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Publication number: 20150315477Abstract: A method of improving the quality of diluted bitumen product in a bitumen froth treatment process is provided comprising: adding a demulsifier to bitumen froth to produce a mixture of bitumen froth and demulsifier, wherein the demulsifier is added at a dosage sufficient to reduce bitumen water content in the diluted bitumen product; subjecting the mixture of bitumen froth and demulsifier to a mixing energy input of greater than about 100 J/kg; adding a hydrocarbon diluent to the mixed mixture of bitumen froth and demulsifier to produce a diluent diluted bitumen froth; and subjecting the diluent diluted bitumen froth to a separation process to produce the diluted bitumen product. In one embodiment, demulsifier is first added to naphtha to form a demulsifier-diluent mixture which is then added to bitumen froth to form a diluted bitumen froth prior to subjecting the diluted bitumen froth to a mixing energy input of greater than about 100 J/kg.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2014Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: SYNCRUDE CANADA LTD. in trust for the owners of the syncrude Project, as such owners exist now andInventors: YIN MING SAMSON NG, BRIAN KNAPPER, SUJIT BHATTACHARYA, YONG GU
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Patent number: 8999246Abstract: The liquid feed nozzle assemblies for a circulating fluid bed reactor comprise (i) a throttle body premixer to combine liquid feed with atomization steam upstream of a nozzle body to form a liquid feed/steam mixture comprising liquid feed droplets; (ii) a conduit connected to the venturi premixer and to a discharge nozzle body to convey a flow of the liquid/steam mixture created by the premixer to the nozzle body; (iii) a discharge nozzle connected to the flow conduit to shear the liquid feed/steam mixture to create liquid feed droplets of reduced size and (iv) a disperser at the outlet of the discharge nozzle to provide a spray jet of liquid feed having an increased surface area relative to a cylindrical jet. The nozzle assembles are particularly useful in fluid coking units using heavy oil feeds such a tar sands bitumen.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2011Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Edward Chan, Brian Knapper, Eberhard Mueller, Jennifer McMillan, Jonathan Tyler, Darwin Edward Kiel, Rathna P. Davuluri
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Publication number: 20150008161Abstract: A method for reducing rag layer volume in a stationary bitumen froth treatment process is provided, comprising subjecting dilfroth having a naphtha diluent to bitumen ratio of about 0.7 to gravity settling in a splitter vessel to produce an overflow stream of raw dilbit and an underflow stream of splitter tails; mixing the splitter tails with a naphtha diluent to give a mixture having a naphtha diluent to bitumen ratio of less than about 6:1 in a scrubber feed tank; and subjecting the mixture to gravity settling and agitation in a scrubber vessel to produce an overhead stream of scrubber hydrocarbons and an underflow stream of scrubber tails.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2013Publication date: January 8, 2015Applicant: SYNCRUDE CANADA LTD. in trust for the owners of the Syncrude ProjectInventors: YIN MING SAMSON NG, BRIAN KNAPPER, GEORGE CYMERMAN, TAM TRAN, ALLAN YEUNG
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Patent number: 8864983Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for cleaning bitumen froth by mixing a sufficient amount of naphtha with the bitumen froth to provide a naphtha-to-bitumen ratio within the range of about 4.0 (w/w) to about 10.0 (w/w) and separating substantially dry diluted bitumen from the water and solids. Also provided is a process for cleaning diluted bitumen by mixing a sufficient amount of naphtha with the diluted bitumen to provide a naphtha-to-bitumen ratio equal to or greater than about 1.8 (w/w) and separating marketable fungible raw bitumen from the water and solids.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2012Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Syncrude Canada Ltd.Inventors: Yin Ming Samson Ng, Brian Knapper, Jim Kresta
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Publication number: 20130240412Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for cleaning bitumen froth by mixing a sufficient amount of naphtha with the bitumen froth to provide a naphtha-to-bitumen ratio within the range of about 4.0 (w/w) to about 10.0 (w/w) and separating substantially dry diluted bitumen from the water and solids. Also provided is a process for cleaning diluted bitumen by mixing a sufficient amount of naphtha with the diluted bitumen to provide a naphtha-to-bitumen ratio equal to or greater than about 1.8 (w/w) and separating marketable fungible raw bitumen from the water and solids.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2012Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: SYNCRUDE CANADA LTD. in trust for the owners of the Syncrude ProjectInventors: YIN MING SAMSON NG, BRIAN KNAPPER, JIM KRESTA
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Publication number: 20120063961Abstract: The liquid feed nozzle assemblies for a circulating fluid bed reactor comprise (i) a throttle body premixer to combine liquid feed with atomization steam upstream of a nozzle body to form a liquid feed/steam mixture comprising liquid feed droplets; (ii) a conduit connected to the venturi premixer and to a discharge nozzle body to convey a flow of the liquid/steam mixture created by the premixer to the nozzle body; (iii) a discharge nozzle connected to the flow conduit to shear the liquid feed/steam mixture to create liquid feed droplets of reduced size and (iv) a disperser at the outlet of the discharge nozzle to provide a spray jet of liquid feed having an increased surface area relative to a cylindrical jet. The nozzle assembles are particularly useful in fluid coking units using heavy oil feeds such a tar sands bitumen.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Edward CHAN, Brian KNAPPER, Eberhard MUELLER, Jennifer MCMILLAN, Jonathan TYLER, Darwin KIEL, Rathna P. DAVULURI
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Patent number: 8066949Abstract: Fouling in the scrubber section of a fluid coker unit is reduced by providing perforated baffles to improve the uniformity of the gas flow profile in the scrubber by reducing the gas velocity of the cyclone outlet gases in the scrubber section of the unit. These baffles are located with the objective of reducing the rotational component of the gas flow in the scrubber created by the alignment of the gas outlets of the cyclones. The baffles are preferably located in the shed section of the scrubber and comprise upstanding perforated plates located at the periphery of the scrubber section to disrupt high velocity gas jets in the region of the interior wall of the scrubber.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2008Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering CompanyInventors: Craig A. McKnight, Larry P. Hackman, Brian A. Knapper, Daniel Bulbuc, George B. Jones, Jonathan Tyler, Darwin E. Kiel
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Publication number: 20100078305Abstract: Fouling in the scrubber section of a fluid coker unit is reduced by providing baffles to improve the uniformity of the gas flow profile in the scrubber by reducing the gas velocity of the cyclone outlet gases in the scrubber section of the unit. These baffles are located with the objective of reducing the rotational component of the gas flow in the scrubber created by the alignment of the gas outlets of the cyclones. The baffles are preferably located in the shed section of the scrubber and comprise upstanding perforated plates located at the periphery of the scrubber section to disrupt high velocity gas jets in the region of the interior wall of the scrubber.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2008Publication date: April 1, 2010Applicant: ExxonMobile Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Craig A. McKnight, Larry P. Hackman, Brian A. Knapper, Daniel Bulbuc, George B. Jones, Jonathan Tyler, Darwin Kiel
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Patent number: 7025874Abstract: A bitumen/steam pre-mixer and atomizing nozzle combine to produce a jet of minute liquid droplets (bitumen) in carrier gas (steam). The jet is injected into a draft tube mixer positioned in a fluid bed of hot coke particles suspended in steam and contained within a fluid coking reactor. The movement of the jet through the draft tube passageway induces a stream of coke particles in steam to be drawn into the passageway, where the jet and stream mix vigorously and bitumen droplets have an enhanced probability of contacting coke particles.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2002Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignees: Ace oil Sands, L.P., Canadian Oil Sands Commerical Trust, Canadian Oil Sands Limited, ConocoPhillips Oilsands Partnership II, Imperial Oil Resources, Mocal Energy Limited, Murphy Oil Company Ltd.,, Nexen Inc.,, Petro-Canada Oil and GasInventors: Edward W. Chan, Steven McDougall, Brian Knapper
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Publication number: 20040065590Abstract: A bitumen/steam pre-mixer and atomizing nozzle combine to produce a jet of minute liquid droplets (bitumen) in carrier gas (steam). The jet is injected into a draft tube mixer positioned in a fluid bed of hot coke particles suspended in steam and contained within a fluid coking reactor. The movement of the jet through the draft tube passageway induces a stream of coke particles in steam to be drawn into the passageway, where the jet and stream mix vigorously and bitumen droplets have an enhanced probability of contacting coke particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2002Publication date: April 8, 2004Inventors: Edward W. Chan, Steven McDougall, Brian Knapper