Patents by Inventor Clay R. Sutton

Clay R. Sutton 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: 20250132363
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating molten carbonate fuel cells to produce increased amounts of H2 in the anode effluent while still maintaining operation of the cell within conventional operation boundaries, such as having a temperature differential between the cathode input flow and the cathode effluent of 35° C. or more, with the cathode effluent being hotter than the cathode input flow. This temperature differential between the cathode input flow and the cathode effluent while still producing excess hydrogen is achieved in part by a) passing an input flow containing hydrocarbons and/or reformable fuel into an external reformer, b) reforming 20 vol % or more of the hydrocarbons and/or reformable fuel in the external reformer prior to c) passing the partially reformed input flow into a fuel cell or fuel cell stack where additional reforming is performed in the anode(s) and/or in a reforming element in the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2024
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: Anastasios I. Skoulidas, Gregory R. Johnson, Clay R. Sutton, Lu Han
  • Publication number: 20250096294
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for using molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) to reduce, minimize, and/or avoid CO2 emissions in a marine vessel environment. The systems and methods can include operation of MCFCs on a marine vessel under high fuel utilization conditions in order to provide power and capture CO2. The high fuel utilization conditions can allow for mitigation of CO2 over extended periods of time in spite of the challenges of performing CO2 mitigation in a potentially isolated environment such as a marine vessel. Additionally, the high fuel utilization can also reduce or minimize exhaust of fuels, such as methane, to the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Aaron SATTLER, Matthew S. Mettler, Anastasios I. Skoulidas, Clay R. Sutton, Kenneth C.H. Kar
  • Publication number: 20250058270
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing amine capture on a heated flue gas using multiple rotating packed beds. By integrating a series of rotating packed beds to perform cooling of the flue gas, removal of CO2 from the flue gas by contact with an aqueous amine, and washing of the gaseous effluent from CO2 removal step to remove any entrained amine, the equipment footprint and overall equipment volume required for CO2 capture can be significantly reduced. The integration of cooling, CO2 removal, and washing can be integrated into a series of packed beds in part by using different packing materials in the various packed beds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Justin A. FEDERICI, Jayashree KALYANARAMAN, Eric R. SIMMERS, Eric B. SHEN, Clay R. SUTTON, Lisa S. BAUGH
  • Publication number: 20240047725
    Abstract: A module assembly is provided including a fuel cell stack assembly, a heat exchanger, and a housing enclosing the fuel cell stack assembly and the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is configured to receive process gas from an external source and output said process gas to the fuel cell stack assembly, and configured to receive process gas from the fuel cell stack assembly and output said process gas. A fuel cell power plant is provided including a module assembly with a first end, a racking structure configured to hold the module assembly, balance of plant equipment, and ducting configured to provide fluid communication between the balance of plant equipment and the first end of the module assembly. The module assembly and the racking structure are configured such that the module assembly may be removed from the racking structure in a direction away from the first end of the module assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Keith E. Davis, Frank Hershkowitz, Lu Han, Clay R. Sutton, Paul J. Rubas
  • Patent number: 11664519
    Abstract: A module assembly is provided including a fuel cell stack assembly, a heat exchanger, and a housing enclosing the fuel cell stack assembly and the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is configured to receive process gas from an external source and output said process gas to the fuel cell stack assembly, and configured to receive process gas from the fuel cell stack assembly and output said process gas. A fuel cell power plant is provided including a module assembly with a first end, a racking structure configured to hold the module assembly, balance of plant equipment, and ducting configured to provide fluid communication between the balance of plant equipment and the first end of the module assembly. The module assembly and the racking structure are configured such that the module assembly may be removed from the racking structure in a direction away from the first end of the module assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignees: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Keith E. Davis, Frank Hershkowitz, Lu Han, Clay R. Sutton, Paul J. Rubas
  • Publication number: 20210159534
    Abstract: A module assembly is provided including a fuel cell stack assembly, a heat exchanger, and a housing enclosing the fuel cell stack assembly and the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is configured to receive process gas from an external source and output said process gas to the fuel cell stack assembly, and configured to receive process gas from the fuel cell stack assembly and output said process gas. A fuel cell power plant is provided including a module assembly with a first end, a racking structure configured to hold the module assembly, balance of plant equipment, and ducting configured to provide fluid communication between the balance of plant equipment and the first end of the module assembly. The module assembly and the racking structure are configured such that the module assembly may be removed from the racking structure in a direction away from the first end of the module assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Keith E. Davis, Frank Hershkowitz, Lu Han, Clay R. Sutton, Paul J. Rubas
  • Patent number: 10173946
    Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for converting an oxygenate feedstock, such as methanol and/or dimethyl ether, in a fluidized bed containing a catalyst to hydrocarbons, such as gasoline boiling components, olefins and aromatics are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Bing Du, Samuel A. Tabak, Mitch L. Hindman, Eric B. Shen, David L. Johnson, Mohsen N. Harandi, Clay R. Sutton, Lu Han, Michael F. Raterman, Zhongcheng Wang, Samia Ilias, Brett Loveless, Stephen J. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 9938205
    Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for converting an oxygenate feedstock, such as methanol and dimethyl ether, in a fluidized bed containing a catalyst to hydrocarbons, such as gasoline boiling components, olefins and aromatics are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Bing Du, Samuel A. Tabak, Mitch L. Hindman, Eric B. Shen, David L. Johnson, Mohsen N. Harandi, Clay R. Sutton, Lu Han, Michael F. Raterman, Zhongcheng Wang, Rohit Vijay, Stephen J. McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20160102032
    Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for converting an oxygenate feedstock, such as methanol and/or dimethyl ether, in a fluidized bed containing a catalyst to hydrocarbons, such as gasoline boiling components, olefins and aromatics are provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Bing Du, Samuel A. Tabak, Mitch L. Hindman, Eric B. Shen, David L. Johnson, Mohsen N. Harandi, Clay R. Sutton, Lu Han, Michael F. Raterman, Zhongcheng Wang, Samia Ilias, Brett Loveless, Stephen J. McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20160102031
    Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for converting an oxygenate feedstock, such as methanol and dimethyl ether, in a fluidized bed containing a catalyst to hydrocarbons, such as gasoline boiling components, olefins and aromatics are provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Bing Du, Samuel A. Tabak, Mitch L. Hindman, Eric B. Shen, David L. Johnson, Mohsen N. Harandi, Clay R. Sutton, Lu Han, Michael F. Raterman, Zhongcheng Wang, Rohit Vijay, Stephen J. McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20150329441
    Abstract: An HF alkylation process for producing gasoline boiling range alkylate product by the alkylation in an HF alkylation unit of a light olefin reactant with an isoparaffin reactant in the presence of a hydrogen fluoride/sulfolane alkylation catalyst mixture in which fresh sulfolane feed having a Total Acid Number (TAN, ASTM D974) not more than 2 mq./L and optimally not more than 1 meq./L. is added to the hydrogen fluoride/sulfolane alkylation catalyst circulating in the unit. Control over the acidic components of the sulfolane feed is appropriately maintained by monitoring and pretreatment with an ion exchange resin to remove acidic components from the feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Fitt, Stacey E. Johnson, Clay R. Sutton, John J. Monson
  • Patent number: 9089797
    Abstract: A method of delivering feed, for example a paraffinic solvent treated bitumen froth, to a separation vessel, for example a froth separation unit (FSU). The feed is delivered from one or more side inlets that may be substantially normal to, and flush with, the wall of the vessel. In contrast to certain conventional feed systems used in gravity separators which use a distributor plate to widely distribute the feed with a vessel, the feed is delivered such that it flows down the inside wall of the vessel. This feed delivery is characterized by a Richardson number of greater than 1.0. Such feed delivery is particularly useful where the feed has particles with a bi-modal size distribution to be separated from an overflow stream. The gentle flow serves to mitigate the upward flux of the smaller particles, for example mineral solids, by being trapped below the larger particles, for example precipitated asphaltene aggregates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Clay R. Sutton, Ken N. Sury, Darwin Edward Kiel, John Khai-Quang Diep
  • Publication number: 20140041740
    Abstract: A method of delivering feed, for example a paraffinic solvent treated bitumen froth, to a separation vessel, for example a froth separation unit (FSU). The feed is delivered from one or more side inlets that may be substantially normal to, and flush with, the wall of the vessel. In contrast to certain conventional feed systems used in gravity separators which use a distributor plate to widely distribute the feed with a vessel, the feed is delivered such that it flows down the inside wall of the vessel. This feed delivery is characterized by a Richardson number of greater than 1.0. Such feed delivery is particularly useful where the feed has particles with a bi-modal size distribution to be separated from an overflow stream. The gentle flow serves to mitigate the upward flux of the smaller particles, for example mineral solids, by being trapped below the larger particles, for example precipitated asphaltene aggregates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Clay R. Sutton, Ken N. Sury, Darwin Edward Kiel, John Khai-Quang Diep
  • Patent number: 8591724
    Abstract: A method of delivering feed, for example a paraffinic solvent treated bitumen froth, to a separation vessel, for example a froth separation unit (FSU). The feed is delivered from one or more side inlets that may be substantially normal to, and flush with, the wall of the vessel. In contrast to certain conventional feed systems used in gravity separators which use a distributor plate to widely distribute the feed with a vessel, the feed is delivered such that it flows down the inside wall of the vessel. This feed delivery is characterized by a Richardson number of greater than 1.0. Such feed delivery is particularly useful where the feed has particles with a bi-modal size distribution to be separated from an overflow stream. The gentle flow serves to mitigate the upward flux of the smaller particles, for example mineral solids, by being trapped below the larger particles, for example precipitated asphaltene aggregates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Clay R. Sutton, Ken N. Sury, Darwin Edward Kiel, John Khai-Quang Diep
  • Patent number: 8435452
    Abstract: A circulating fluid bed reactor such as that used in fluid coking processes has a circular dense bed reaction section above the reactor base where the fluidizing gas is injected and a plurality of frusto-conical baffles in the dense bed reaction section, each of which depends downwardly and radially inwards from the reactor wall to a lower, inner edge defining a central aperture. The baffles are preferably provided with downcomers which permit downward flow of solids and upward flow of gas through the baffles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: John T. Wyatt, Jr., E. Nicholas Jones, Alvin U. Chen, Clay R. Sutton, Timothy M. Healy, Ronald Suryo, Len Lampert, Jonathan Miller
  • Patent number: 8357291
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved bitumen recovery process. The process includes adding water to a bitumen-froth/solvent system containing asphaltenes and mineral solids. The addition of water in droplets increases the settling rate of asphaltenes and mineral solids to more effectively treat the bitumen for pipeline transport, further enhancement, refining, or any other application of reduced-solids bitumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Ken N. Sury, Joseph L. Feimer, Clay R. Sutton
  • Publication number: 20110206563
    Abstract: A circulating fluid bed reactor such as that used in fluid coking processes has a circular dense bed reaction section above the reactor base where the fluidizing gas is injected and a plurality of frusto-conical baffles in the dense bed reaction section, each of which depends downwardly and radially inwards from the reactor wall to a lower, inner edge defining a central aperture. The baffles are preferably provided with downcomers which permit downward flow of solids and upward flow of gas through the baffles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: John T. WYATT, JR., E. Nicholas JONES, Alvin U. CHEN, Clay R. SUTTON, Timothy M. HEALY, Ronald SURYO, Len LAMPERT, Jonathan MILLER
  • Publication number: 20110114468
    Abstract: An improved, fouling-resistant configuration for the stripper sheds of fluid coking units comprises an inverted, open-bottomed channel with apertures spaced along the length of the channel and spaced from the apex of the channel. Preferably, the channels are of an inverted-V configuration with a downwardly extending lip provided on each side of the channel, extending from the bottom edge of each side of the channel. The stripper sheds may be positioned parallel to one another in the stripper section of the reactor vessel or, alternatively, the sheds in different tiers in the stripper section may be disposed so that the longitudinal axes of the sheds are rotated angularly relative to the sheds in other rows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Rathna P. DAVULURI, James R. BIELENBERG, Clay R. SUTTON, Brenda A. RAICH
  • Publication number: 20110011769
    Abstract: A method of delivering feed, for example a paraffinic solvent treated bitumen froth, to a separation vessel, for example a froth separation unit (FSU). The feed is delivered from one or more side inlets that may be substantially normal to, and flush with, the wall of the vessel. In contrast to certain conventional feed systems used in gravity separators which use a distributor plate to widely distribute the feed with a vessel, the feed is delivered such that it flows down the inside wall of the vessel. This feed delivery is characterized by a Richardson number of greater than 1.0. Such feed delivery is particularly useful where the feed has particles with a bi-modal size distribution to be separated from an overflow stream. The gentle flow serves to mitigate the upward flux of the smaller particles, for example mineral solids, by being trapped below the larger particles, for example precipitated asphaltene aggregates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Clay R. Sutton, Ken N. Sury, Darwin Edward Kiel, John Khai-Quang Diep
  • Publication number: 20090200209
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved bitumen recovery process. The process includes adding water to a bitumen-froth/solvent system containing asphaltenes and mineral solids. The addition of water in droplets increases the settling rate of asphaltenes and mineral solids to more effectively treat the bitumen for pipeline transport, further enhancement, refining, or any other application of reduced-solids bitumen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Ken N. Sury, Joseph L. Feimer, Clay R. Sutton