Patents by Inventor Charles P. Luebke

Charles P. Luebke 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: 20100316536
    Abstract: In an oligomerization process comprising at least two oligomerization reactors, at least portions of product streams from two reactors are separated in the same separator vessel. In an embodiment, a liquid product stream from the first oligomerization reactor is fed to a fractionation column and a side cut from the fractionation column feeds the second oligomerization reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bipin V. Vora, Charles P. Luebke, Jill M. Meister, Michael A. Schultz, Dale J. Shields
  • Patent number: 7803978
    Abstract: In an oligomerization process comprising at least two oligomerization reactors, at least portions of product streams from two reactors are separated in the same separator vessel. In an embodiment, a liquid product stream from the first oligomerization reactor is fed to a fractionation column and a side cut from the fractionation column feeds the second oligomerization reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bipin V. Vora, Charles P. Luebke, Jill M. Meister, Michael A. Schultz, Dale J. Shields
  • Publication number: 20090321319
    Abstract: Methods and systems of processing a hydrocarbonaceous feed stock flows are provided. In one aspect, the method includes providing two or more hydroprocessing stages disposed in sequence, each hydroprocessing stage having a hydroprocessing reaction zone with a hydrogen requirement and each stage in fluid communication with the preceding stage. A hydrogen source is provided substantially free of hydrogen from a hydrogen recycle compressor. The hydrocarbonaceous feed stock flow is separated into an portions of fresh feed for each hydroprocessing stage, and then supplying the first portion of fresh feed with hydrogen from the hydrogen source in an amount satisfying substantially all of the hydrogen requirements of the hydroprocessing stages to a first hydroprocessing zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Peter Kokayeff, Charles P. Luebke, John Anthony Petri
  • Publication number: 20090318737
    Abstract: A process has been developed for producing fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant and animal oils and greases. The process involves treating a first portion of a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating in a first reaction zone and a second portion of a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating in a second reaction zone to provide a diesel boiling point range fuel hydrocarbon product. If desired, the hydrocarbon product can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A portion of the hydrocarbon product is recycled to the first reaction zone to increase the hydrogen solubility of the reaction mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventor: Charles P. Luebke
  • Publication number: 20090291031
    Abstract: Processing scheme and arrangement for increasing the relative yield of light olefins involves integration of the cracking a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock to produce an effluent comprising a range of hydrocarbon products including C4-C7 olefins and the subsequent cracking at least a portion of the C4-C7 olefins to produce additional light olefins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Joseph E. Zimmermann, Charles P. Luebke, John B. Baker
  • Patent number: 7244873
    Abstract: It has now been disclosed that by directing the effluent from an oligomerization reactor to a water wash column to remove alcohol modifier from the hydrocarbon stream before sending it to a fractionation column offers flexibility in providing a bottoms product of a desired vapor pressure without increasing the concentration of alcohol modifier in the overhead stream beyond alcohol concentration limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Ruth Buskus Kleinworth, Charles P. Luebke
  • Patent number: 6069284
    Abstract: A process to separate diisopropyl ether from a mixture of diisopropyl ether, isopropyl alcohol, and water has been developed. The process begins with distilling, in a distillation column, the mixture into a bottoms stream containing water and isopropyl alcohol and an overhead stream containing an azeotrope of diisopropyl ether, isopropyl alcohol, and water. The overhead stream is condensed and allowed to form an aqueous phase enriched in isopropyl alcohol and water and an organic phase enriched in diisopropyl ether with some water and isopropyl alcohol in an overhead receiver. The aqueous phase is recycled to the distillation column. The organic phase is passed to a drier to form a bottoms product stream containing at least 99 mole percent diisopropyl ether and a drier overhead stream containing an azeotrope of diisopropyl ether, isopropyl alcohol, and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Charles P. Luebke, William A. Leet
  • Patent number: 6046124
    Abstract: A process for regenerating solid treating particles contained in at least two vessels of a swing bed regeneration operation where the effluent of the regeneration operation is maintained regeneration fluid-free and at a substantially constant flowrate has been developed. The swing bed regeneration operation involves an on-line vessel treating process fluid and an off-line vessel for regeneration. At least a portion of the process fluid effluent from the vessel on-line is conducted to a displacement surge drum. The flowrate of the process fluid effluent from the displacement surge drum is controlled so that downstream units receive a substantially constant flowrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Charles P. Luebke, William A. Leet, Joseph E. Zimmermann, Ronald J. Vangelisti, Terry L. Marker
  • Patent number: 5851944
    Abstract: A process for regenerating solid treating particles contained in at least two vessels of a swing bed regeneration operation where the effluent of the regeneration operation is maintained regeneration fluid-free and at a substantially constant flowrate has been developed. The swing bed regeneration operation involves at least two vessels, one of which is on-line treating process fluid, and the other is off-line for regeneration. At least a portion of the process fluid effluent from the vessel on-line is conducted to a displacement surge drum. The flowrate of the process fluid effluent from the displacement surge drum is controlled so that downstream units receive a substantially constant flowrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Charles P. Luebke, William A. Leet, Joseph E. Zimmermann, Ronald J. Vangelisti, Terry L. Marker
  • Patent number: 5600046
    Abstract: This invention deals with a process for converting aliphatic C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 hydrocarbons into C.sub.6.sup.+ aromatics and C.sub.3.sup.= /C.sub.4.sup.= olefins. The process involves combining dehydrocyclodimerization (DHCD) with dehydrogenation. Thus, the feedstream is first sent to a DHCD zone which produces an effluent stream which contains C.sub.6.sup.+ aromatics along with C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 hydrocarbons. This effluent stream is separated into a stream containing C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 hydrocarbons and one containing C.sub.6.sup.+ aromatics. The C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 containing stream is flowed to a dehydrogenation zone to produce C.sub.3.sup.= /C.sub.4.sup.= olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Christopher D. Gosling, Joseph H. Gregor, Charles P. Luebke
  • Patent number: 5567860
    Abstract: A process for the production of R.sub.2 -isoolefins by decomposition of R.sub.1 --O-tertiary-R.sub.2 is disclosed. R.sub.1 --O-secondary-R.sub.2 that are normally present in the feed stream are selectively removed. Removal of these R.sub.1 --O-secondary-R.sub.2 lowers the R.sub.2 -normal olefin impurity and increases the yield of the product R.sub.2 -isoolefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: John R. Mowry, Jacqueline A. Harris, Charles P. Luebke, David A. Hamm
  • Patent number: 5491267
    Abstract: In a process for the production of tertiary ethers by the reaction of an alcohol and isoalkene, a sidecut stream is selected from the etherification separation zone and recycled back to the etherification reaction zone. When this sidecut stream is characterized by an isoalkene to tertiary ether molar concentration ratio that is greater than the isoalkene to tertiary ether molar concentration ratio of the etherification reaction effluent (which is normally at equilibrium conditions), the conversion of isoalkene to tertiary ether is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Stanley J. Frey, David W. Liu, Charles P. Luebke, Terry L. Marker
  • Patent number: 5449501
    Abstract: Hydrocarbons are converted in a novel catalytic distillation zone comprising two or more cylindrical beds of dense loaded catalyst. Each catalyst bed is penetrated by a plurality of vertical vapor passageways which provide a means for vapor communication between fractionation sections located above and below the catalyst beds. The dense loading of the catalyst provides a low cost method of placing a large quantity of catalyst into the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Charles P. Luebke, Terry L. Marker, Gregory A. Funk
  • Patent number: 5401893
    Abstract: This invention deals with a process for converting aliphatic C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 hydrocarbons into C.sub.6.sup.+ aromatics and C.sub.3.sup.= /C.sub.4.sup.= olefins. The process involves combining dehydrocyclodimerization (DHCD) with dehydrogenation. Thus, the feedstream is first sent to a DHCD zone which produces an effluent stream which contains C.sub.6.sup.+ aromatics along with C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 hydrocarbons. This effluent stream is separated into a stream containing C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 hydrocarbons and one containing C.sub.6.sup.+ aromatics. The C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 containing stream is flowed to a dehydrogenation zone to produce C.sub.3.sup.= /C.sub.4.sup.= olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Christopher D. Gosling, Joseph H. Gregor, Charles P. Luebke
  • Patent number: 5370786
    Abstract: A method of operating a continuous process employing solid catalyst particles by means of charging a feedstock to a reactor and contacting the feedstock with a dense-phase moving bed of catalyst particles at conversion conditions in a reactor. A hydrogen-rich gas containing unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds is recovered from the reactor effluent and at least a portion is contacted with a hydrogenation catalyst to hydrogenate the olefins. The resulting hydrogenated hydrogen-rich gaseous stream is heated and used to supply heat to a vessel containing solid catalyst particles which are preheated and subsequently introduced into the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Paul R. Cottrell, Charles P. Luebke
  • Patent number: 5300696
    Abstract: A combination of an etherification process and a process for the isomerization of linear alkenes to isoalkenes uses an adsorptive separation zone that receives an effluent fraction from the etherification reaction zone and separates the fraction at low efficiency to produce an isomerization feed stream comprising normal butenes and butanes, and a butane stream that is rejected from the process. The rejection of butanes at low efficiency reduces or eliminates the loss of butenes with the rejection of butane. A low efficiency adsorptive separation to reject butanes also benefits the isomerization process by inhibiting coking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Charles P. Luebke, Srikantiah Raghuram, Joseph E. Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 5283373
    Abstract: A combination of an etherification process and a process for the isomerization of linear alkenes to isoalkenes uses a separation zone that receives an effluent stream from the etherification reaction zone and separates it into a high boiling stream, a low boiling stream and an intermediate boiling stream in order to reduce the mass flow of reactants through the isomerization and etherification reaction zones. The separation zone includes at least one distillation column. The distillation column can provide a distillation function only, or can also provide a reactive distillation zone. The intermediate boiling stream leaves a two column separation zone as a bottoms stream from a second column or in a single column separation zone as a sidecut which in the case of reactive distillation is taken from the point above a bed of catalyst within the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Charles P. Luebke, Bipin V. Vora, David A. Wegerer, Joseph E. Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 5276212
    Abstract: A combination of an etherification process and a process for the isomerization of linear alkenes to isoalkenes uses a first etherification zone that passes an etherification effluent and an etherification recycle stream through a skeletal isomerization separation zone to prepare an etherification feed for an additional etherification reactor. Etherification of additional isoalkane reactants in a separate etherification zone permits the production of additional ether products through isomerization without requiring additional etherification capacity upstream of the isomerization zone. Therefore additional etherification capacity can be added without significant changes to existing etherification capacity. The additional etherification zone may be in the form of a reactive distillation reactor that provides a high boiling ether product stream, a low boiling isoalkane vent stream and an intermediate boiling normal butene sidecut stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Charles P. Luebke, Joseph E. Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 5243102
    Abstract: Ethers suitable for use as high octane oxygenate additives for motor fuels are produced by a multistage catalytic distillation process wherein a multi-carbon number range olefin feed stream, e.g. C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 isoolefins, is charged to two catalytic distillation zones operated in series. The heavier paraffins and olefins in the olefin feed stream and a first product ether are concentrated into the bottoms stream of the first catalytic distillation zone. This bottoms stream and additional alcohol is passed into the second catalytic distillation zone in which the heavier isoolefin is consumed in the production of a second ether. Preferably a portion of the catalytic distillation zone overhead liquid is passed into an external close coupled adiabatic reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Terry L. Marker, Charles P. Luebke
  • Patent number: 5210327
    Abstract: A combination of an etherification process and a process for the isomerization of linear alkenes to isoalkenes uses a separation zone that receives an effluent stream from the etherification reaction zone and separates it into a high boiling stream, a low boiling stream and an intermediate boiling stream in order to reduce the mass flow of reactants through the isomerization and etherification reaction zones. The separation zone normally has an arrangement of a distillation column. The distillation column can provide a distillation function only, or can also provide a reactive distillation zone. The intermediate boiling stream typically leaves the column as a sidecut which in the case of reactive distillation is taken from the point above a bed of catalyst within the column. Taking the sidecut stream substantially eliminates the circulation of isoalkane hydrocarbons through the etherification and isomerization zone and maintains normal alkanes at an acceptable equilibrium level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Charles P. Luebke, Bipin V. Vora, David A. Wegerer, Joseph E. Zimmermann, Kevin C. Buck