Patents by Inventor Clifford A. Maat

Clifford A. Maat 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: 10544071
    Abstract: The process to recover heat in oxidative dehydrogenation of butene to butadiene is presented. The process utilizes heat recovered in oxidative dehydrogenation of butene to butadiene to generate steam. The process utilizes the circulated water stream generated in oxidative dehydrogenation of butene to butadiene for steam generation. A feedstream comprising butene is mixed with steam and preheated air at the inlet of the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignees: UOP LLC, TPC Group LLC
    Inventors: John J. Senetar, Joseph G. Duff, Jillian M. Horn, Clifford A. Maat, Michael O. Nutt
  • Patent number: 10538466
    Abstract: A process is presented for the production of butadienes. The process includes the separation of oxygenates from the product stream from an oxidative dehydrogenation reactor. The process includes quenching the product stream and solvent and oxygenates from the product stream. The oxygenates are stripped from the solvent with an inert gas to reduce the energy consumption of the process, and the solvent is recycled and reused in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignees: UOP LLC, TPC Group, LLC
    Inventors: John J. Senetar, Jeannie M. Blommel, Charles P. Luebke, Dana K. Sullivan, Joseph G. Duff, Jillian M. Horn, Clifford A. Maat, Michael O. Nutt
  • Patent number: 10155704
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for the production of butadienes are provided. In an embodiment, a process for production of butadienes includes passing a reactor feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon stream comprising butene, a steam stream and a oxygen rich stream to a dehydrogenation reactor. The reactor feed stream is oxidatively dehydrogenated in the dehydrogenation reactor in presence of an oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst to provide an effluent stream comprising butadiene. The effluent stream is cooled in a quench tower to provide a cooled effluent stream and a bottoms water stream. The cooled effluent stream is passed to an aldehyde scrubber to provide a scrubbed effluent stream and a spent water stream comprising aldehydes. A first portion of the bottoms water stream is passed from the quench tower to the aldehyde scrubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignees: UOP LLC, TPC Group, LLC
    Inventors: Jeannie Mee Blommel, Charles P. Luebke, Clifford A. Maat
  • Publication number: 20180258015
    Abstract: A process is presented for the production of butadienes. The process includes the separation of oxygenates from the product stream from an oxidative dehydrogenation reactor. The process includes quenching the product stream and solvent and oxygenates from the product stream. The oxygenates are stripped from the solvent with an inert gas to reduce the energy consumption of the process, and the solvent is recycled and reused in the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: John J. Senetar, Jeannie M. Blommel, Charles P. Luebke, Dana K. Sullivan, Joseph G. Duff, Jillian M. Horn, Clifford A. Maat, Michael O. Nutt
  • Publication number: 20180251412
    Abstract: The process to recover heat in oxidative dehydrogenation of butene to butadiene is presented. The process utilizes heat recovered in oxidative dehydrogenation of butene to butadiene to generate steam. The process utilizes the circulated water stream generated in oxidative dehydrogenation of butene to butadiene for steam generation. A feedstream comprising butene is mixed with steam and preheated air at the inlet of the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: John J. Senetar, Joseph G. Duff, Jillian M. Horn, Clifford A. Maat, Michael O. Nutt
  • Patent number: 10035741
    Abstract: A method of oxidatively dehydrogenating a n-butenes to butadiene includes oxidatively dehydrogenating dehydrogenation reactant in a first adiabatic, catalytic reaction zone to provide a first-stage effluent stream enriched in butadiene at a first-stage effluent temperature above the first-stage inlet temperature, cooling the first-stage effluent stream in a first heat transfer zone to a second-stage inlet temperature lower than said first-stage effluent temperature to provide a second gaseous feed stream comprising superheated steam, n-butene and butadiene, wherein the second stage inlet temperature is lower than said first stage effluent temperature and oxidatively dehydrogenating n-butene in the second stream to provide a product stream further enriched in butadiene at a second stage effluent temperature above said second-stage inlet temperature. The first reaction zone temperature rise and the second reaction zone temperature rise are at least 200° F. (111° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: TPC Group LLC
    Inventors: Jillian M. Horn, Joseph G. Duff, Clifford A. Maat, Robert P. Adams, John J. Senetar
  • Patent number: 9902669
    Abstract: Oxidative dehydrogenation includes: (a) providing a gaseous feed stream to a catalytic reactor, the feed stream comprising a dehydrogenation reactant, oxygen, superheated steam, hydrocarbon moderator gas and optionally nitrogen, wherein the molar ratio of moderator gas to oxygen in feed stream is typically from 4:1 to 1:1 and the molar ratio of oxygen to nitrogen in the feed stream is at least 2; (b) oxidatively dehydrogenating the reactant in the reactor to provide a dehydrogenated product enriched effluent product stream; and (c) recovering dehydrogenated product from the effluent product stream. One preferred embodiment is a process for making butadiene including dimerizing ethylene to n-butene in a homogeneous reaction medium to provide a hydrocarbonaceous n-butene rich feed stream and oxidatively dehydrogenating the n-butene so formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TPC GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Liana Caciula, Clifford A. Maat, Mark P. Kaminsky, Michael O. Nutt, Jillian M. Horn, Joseph G. Duff
  • Publication number: 20180037523
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for the production of butadienes are provided. In an embodiment, a process for production of butadienes includes passing a reactor feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon stream comprising butene, a steam stream and a oxygen rich stream to a dehydrogenation reactor. The reactor feed stream is oxidatively dehydrogenated in the dehydrogenation reactor in presence of an oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst to provide an effluent stream comprising butadiene. The effluent stream is cooled in a quench tower to provide a cooled effluent stream and a bottoms water stream. The cooled effluent stream is passed to an aldehyde scrubber to provide a scrubbed effluent stream and a spent water stream comprising aldehydes. A first portion of the bottoms water stream is passed from the quench tower to the aldehyde scrubber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Jeannie Mee Blommel, Charles P. Luebke, Clifford A. Maat
  • Publication number: 20160368840
    Abstract: A method of oxidatively dehydrogenating a n-butenes to butadiene includes oxidatively dehydrogenating dehydrogenation reactant in a first adiabatic, catalytic reaction zone to provide a first-stage effluent stream enriched in butadiene at a first-stage effluent temperature above the first-stage inlet temperature, cooling the first-stage effluent stream in a first heat transfer zone to a second-stage inlet temperature lower than said first-stage effluent temperature to provide a second gaseous feed stream comprising superheated steam, n-butene and butadiene, wherein the second stage inlet temperature is lower than said first stage effluent temperature and oxidatively dehydrogenating n-butene in the second stream to provide a product stream further enriched in butadiene at a second stage effluent temperature above said second-stage inlet temperature. The first reaction zone temperature rise and the second reaction zone temperature rise are at least 200° F. (111° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Jillian M. Horn, Joseph G. Duff, Clifford A. Maat, Robert P. Adams, John J. Senetar
  • Patent number: 9505682
    Abstract: A method of producing butadiene includes: (1) dimerizing ethylene to butene followed by (2) oxidatively dehydrogenating the butene to butadiene and (3) recovering the butadiene by (i) absorbing the product with a hydrocarbon absorber oil and (ii) stripping a crude product stream from the absorber oil. The absorber oil is selected so as to be effective to sequester ethylene dimerization-derived impurities from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: TPC GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Joseph G. Duff, Clifford A. Maat, Michael O. Nutt, Mark P Kaminsky
  • Publication number: 20160002126
    Abstract: Oxidative dehydrogenation includes: (a) providing a gaseous feed stream to a catalytic reactor, the feed stream comprising a dehydrogenation reactant, oxygen, superheated steam, hydrocarbon moderator gas and optionally nitrogen, wherein the molar ratio of moderator gas to oxygen in feed stream is typically from 4:1 to 1:1 and the molar ratio of oxygen to nitrogen in the feed stream is at least 2; (b) oxidatively dehydrogenating the reactant in the reactor to provide a dehydrogenated product enriched effluent product stream; and (c) recovering dehydrogenated product from the effluent product stream. One preferred embodiment is a process for making butadiene including dimerizing ethylene to n-butene in a homogeneous reaction medium to provide a hydrocarbonaceous n-butene rich feed stream and oxidatively dehydrogenating the n-butene so formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: TPC Group LLC
    Inventors: Liana Caciula, Clifford A. Maat, Mark P. Kaminsky, Michael O. Nutt, Jillian M. Horn, Joseph G. Duff
  • Publication number: 20150018589
    Abstract: A method of producing butadiene includes: (1) dimerizing ethylene to butene followed by (2) oxidatively dehydrogenating the butene to butadiene and (3) recovering the butadiene by (i) absorbing the product with a hydrocarbon absorber oil and (ii) stripping a crude product stream from the absorber oil. The absorber oil is selected so as to be effective to sequester ethylene dimerization-derived impurities from the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph G. Duff, Clifford A. Maat, Michael O. Nutt, Mark P. Kaminsky