Patents by Inventor Bruce E. Stangeland

Bruce E. Stangeland 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: 6086749
    Abstract: A method and catalyst mixture for hydroprocessing a hydrocarbon feed stream through a moving catalyst bed having a catalyst mixture and contained within a single onstream reactor vessel. The reactor vessel contains the catalyst mixture which includes two or more different and distinct catalyst for any hydroprocessing application. The different and distinct catalyst have different catalyst density and are designed for a different function, such as HDM and HDN. The different and distinct catalysts can also have different average residence times if their densities and physical properties are properly selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Kramer, Bruce E. Stangeland
  • Patent number: 5958220
    Abstract: A distributor assembly for hydroprocessing a hydrocarbon mixture of hydrogen-containing gas and liquid hydrocarbon is presented. The distributor assembly has a circular plate with a plurality of hollow risers bound thereto for distributing hydrogen-containing gas and liquid hydrocarbon through openings in the circular plate member. Each of the hollow risers has a tubular opening In its associated side. The distributor assembly is connected to an internal wall of a reactor. A method is also presented for hydroprocessing a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising flowing a mixture of hydrogen-containing gas and liquid hydrocarbon into a reactor zone to produce evolved hydrogen-containing gas; and flowing the mixture of hydrogen-containing gas and liquid hydrocarbon through a plurality of tubular zones while admixing simultaneously therewith the evolved hydrogen-containing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce E. Reynolds, Bruce E. Stangeland, Krishniah Parimi, Robert W. Bachtel
  • Patent number: 5885534
    Abstract: A distributor assembly for hydroprocessing a hydrocarbon mixture of hydrogen-containing gas and liquid hydrocarbon is presented. The distributor assembly has a circular plate with a plurality of hollow risers bound thereto for distributing hydrogen-containing gas and liquid hydrocarbon through openings in the circular plate member. Each of the hollow risers has a tubular opening in its associated side. The distributor assembly is connected to an internal wall of a reactor. A method is also presented for hydroprocessing a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising flowing a mixture of hydrogen-containing gas and liquid hydrocarbon into a reactor zone to produce evolved hydrogen-containing gas; and flowing the mixture of hydrogen-containing gas and liquid hydrocarbon through a plurality of tubular zones while admixing simultaneously therewith the evolved hydrogen-containing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce E. Reynolds, Bruce E. Stangeland, Krishniah Parimi, Robert W. Bachtel
  • Patent number: 5733440
    Abstract: This invention makes possible substantially continuous flow of uniformly distributed hydrogen and hydrocarbon liquid across a densely packed catalyst bed to fill substantially the entire volume of a reactor vessel by introducing the fluids as alternate annular rings of gas and liquid (i.e. a mixture of liquid hydrocarbon and a hydrogen-containing gas) at a rate insufficient to levitate or ebullate the catalyst bed. Catalyst are selected by density, shape and size at a design feed rate of liquids and gas to prevent ebullation of the packed bed at the design feed rates. Catalysts are selected by measuring bed expansion, such as in a large pilot plant run, with hydrocarbon, hydrogen, and catalyst at the design pressures and flow velocities. The liquid and gas components of the feed flow into the bed in alternate annular rings across the full area of the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce E. Stangeland, David C. Kramer, David S. Smith, James T. McCall, Georgieanna L. Scheuerman, Robert W. Bachtel, David R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5690896
    Abstract: A multi-bed, down-flow reactor includes several distributor assemblies, each having a centrally located mixing chamber and an annular collecting and mixing trough surrounding the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has an inlet at one side thereof, an outlet in its bottom wall, and a quench gas inlet in its top wall above the outlet. A divider wall traverses the annular trough adjacent to the inlet to cause the pool of liquid collected in the trough to flow in a circular pattern around the mixing chamber to the inlet. This ensures that the liquid circulating through the trough is well mixed with the liquid raining down from the catalyst bed. Turbulent and spiraling flow patterns generated within the chamber further mix the liquid and gas and entrain quench gas in the liquid and gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce E. Stangeland, Krishniah Parimi, Dennis R. Cash
  • Patent number: 5599440
    Abstract: This invention makes possible substantially continuous flow of uniformly distributed hydrogen and hydrocarbon liquid across a densely packed catalyst bed to fill substantially the entire volume of a reactor vessel by introducing the fluids as alternate annular rings of gas and liquid (i.e. a mixture of liquid hydrocarbon and a hydrogen-containing gas) at a rate insufficient to levitate or ebullate the catalyst bed. Catalyst are selected by density, shape and size at a design feed rate of liquids and gas to prevent ebullation of the packed bed at the design feed rates. Catalysts are selected by measuring bed expansion, such as in a large pilot plant run, with hydrocarbon, hydrogen, and catalyst at the design pressures and flow velocities. The liquid and gas components of the feed flow into the bed in alternate annular rings across the full area of the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce E. Stangeland, David C. Kramer, David S. Smith, James T. McCall, Georgieanna L. Scheuerman, Robert W. Bachtel, David R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5498327
    Abstract: This invention makes possible substantially continuous flow of uniformly distributed hydrogen and hydrocarbon liquid across a densely packed catalyst bed to fill substantially the entire volume of a reactor vessel by introducing the fluids as alternate annular rings of gas and liquid (i.e. a mixture of liquid hydrocarbon and a hydrogen-containing gas) at a rate insufficient to levitate or ebullate the catalyst bed. Catalyst are selected by density, shape and size at a design feed rate of liquids and gas to prevent ebullation of the packed bed at the design feed rates. Catalysts are selected by measuring bed expansion, such as in a large pilot plant run, with hydrocarbon, hydrogen, and catalyst at the design pressures and flow velocities. The liquid and gas components of the feed flow into the bed in alternate annular rings across the full area of the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventors: Bruce E. Stangeland, David C. Kramer, David S. Smith, James T. McCall, Georgieanne L. Scheuerman, Robert W. Bachtel, David R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5409598
    Abstract: On-stream catalyst replacement hydroprocessing method wherein an upstream mixture of hydrogen and hydrocarbon liquid counter flows through a downwardly moving bed of hydroprocessing catalyst in a reactor vessel. The mixed feed stream of hydrogen and liquid hydrocarbon components enters a surge zone between the lower end of the reactor and a plenum zone to form a common pool under a conical support for the lower end of the downflowing catalyst bed. The mixed feed enters the plenum chamber through a plurality of passageways extending downwardly from the plenum zone to the same depth adjacent the lower end of the surge zone so that the liquid component normally prevents hydrogen from establishing independent paths before entering the plenum zone. Separation of the hydrogen and hydrocarbon liquid components from the mixed feed is thus assured to occur in the plenum zone directly below the pervious conical support to form a plurality of stepped concentric local reservoir rings under the conical support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: David C. Kramer, Bruce E. Stangeland, David S. Smith, James T. McCall, Georgieanna Scheuerman, Robert W. Bachtel
  • Patent number: 5391289
    Abstract: A method of fluid catalytic cracking of hydrocarbon feed which for rapid separation of the fluid catalytic cracking catalyst from the mixture of gases and products, utilizes a U-turn inertial separator directly coupled to cyclone separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Chevron Research and Technology Company
    Inventors: Ralph M. Forde, Bruce E. Stangeland
  • Patent number: 5302357
    Abstract: On-stream catalyst replacement apparatus for countercurrent upstream flow of a gas and hydrocarbon liquid through a downward moving catalyst bed in a reactor vessel. A mixed feed stream of gas and liquid hydrocarbon components enters a reservoir formed between the lower end of the reactor and a conical screen supporting the lower end of a catalyst bed. A wall across the vessel divides the reservoir into a lower surge chamber for receiving the mixed feed and an upper plenum chamber for separating the components into alternate feed rings of gas and hydrocarbon liquid under the conical screen. The mixed feed enters the plenum chamber through a plurality of tubes extending downwardly from the wall to the same depth in the surge chamber that prevents establishing preferential paths for gas to independently enter the plenum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Chevron Research and Technology Co.
    Inventors: David C. Kramer, Bruce E. Stangeland, David S. Smith, James T. McCall, Georgieanna L. Scheuerman, Robert W. Bachtel
  • Patent number: 5076908
    Abstract: This invention makes possible substantially continuous flow of uniformly distributed hydrogen and hydrocarbon liquid across a densely packed catalyst bed to fill substantially the entire volume of a reactor vessel by introducing the fluids as alternate annular rings of gas and liquid at a rate insufficient to levitate the bed and with catalyst selected by a density, shape and size at a design feed rate of liquids and gas to prevent ebulation of the packed bed at the design feed rates. Catalysts are selected by measuring bed expansion in a large pilot plant run with hydrocarbon, hydrogen, and catalyst at the design pressures and flow velocities. The liquid and gas components of the feed flow into the bed in alternate annular rings across the full area of the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Chevron Research & Technology Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Stangeland, David C. Kramer, David S. Smith, James T. McCall, Georgieanna L. Scheuerman, Robert W. Bachtel
  • Patent number: 4674322
    Abstract: An instrument for simultaneously measuring the viscosity, density, and surface tension of a fluid comprising a gas dissolved in a liquid, at the operating conditions of the fluid, employing an instrument based on the principle of a damped, one-dimensional harmonic oscillator; the instrument being adapted to receive the fluid on-line without altering its operating environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Bruce E. Stangeland
  • Patent number: 4615789
    Abstract: A multiple bed downflow hydrocarbon hydroprocessing reactor is modified by the addition of a phase separator above at least one of the catalyst beds. This enables the lighter fraction of the hydrocarbon, which has passed through the upper bed(s) in the vapor phase and thus not been heavily hydroprocessed, to be hydroprocessed in the absence of the liquid heavier fraction in the same reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: Alan G. Bridge, Bruce E. Stangeland
  • Patent number: 4162962
    Abstract: UV-unstable hydrocrackate lube oil stock is improved by hydrogenating the stock at a temperature in the 200.degree. to 300.degree. C. range using a hydrogenating component disposed upon an alumina carrier having a substantial pore volume of which a major portion is in pores having diameters in the 80- to 150-Angstrom range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1979
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Bruce E. Stangeland
  • Patent number: 4011154
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a lubricating oil base stock by: (1) fractionating a hydrocarbon feedstock boiling above 650.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1977
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Stangeland, Harold F. Mason
  • Patent number: 3974065
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for obtaining an early detection and warning of a dangerous temperature excursion in a process using one or more hydrocarbon hydroprocessing reactors operating under otherwise ordinary hydroprocessing conditions. The warning is obtained by monitoring the specific gravity and/or methane content of the light gas fraction of the reactor effluent product stream. Pursuant to the warning, one or more suitable quenching means are employed to control the excursion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Powell, Bruce E. Stangeland