Patents by Inventor Dennis A. Vauk

Dennis A. Vauk 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: 20120022299
    Abstract: A process to integrate a first biofuels process and a second generation cellulosic biofuels process is provided. The pyrolysis means which produces the char stream and a bioliquid stream. The low pressure hydrotreating component, a high pressure hydrotreating component, the low pressure hydrotreating component which produces the hydrocarbon stream, the high pressure hydrotreating component which produces the steam stream and bioliquid stream. A distillation means, which produces a green gasoline stream and a green diesel stream from the bioliquid stream. The second biofuels process may be a first generation bio-ethanol process, which produces a bio-ethanol stream. The hydrogen production unit, which produces the hydrogen stream and the steam stream. The hydrogen production unit may be a steam reformer or partial oxidation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Air Liquide Large Industries U.S. LP
    Inventor: Dennis A. Vauk
  • Publication number: 20110297585
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the reduction of CO2 emissions from the flue gas of a cracking catalyst regenerator that is part of a fluidized catalytic cracking system which cracks petroleum feedstocks such as petroleum distillates of residual or crude oil which, when catalytically cracked, provide either a gasoline or a gas oil product. This process may also be utilized with regard to the cracking of synthetic feeds having boiling points of from 400° F. to about 1000 as exemplified by oils derived from coal or shale oil. By reducing the CO2 emissions in the regeneration step of catalytic cracking, the further goal of maximizing the production of CO in the flue gas is achieved, the CO being further utilized as a fuel in the refinery or further processed to produce hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Air Liquide Large Industries U.S. LP
    Inventor: Dennis A. Vauk
  • Publication number: 20110097260
    Abstract: A method of hydrogen and methane recovery from syngas from a gasifier is provided. Then directing a raw syngas stream from an acid gas removal system to a CO and methane removal system. Then returning the CO and methane stream to the gasifier, and exporting the hydrogen stream as a product. This method may include exchanging heat between a raw syngas stream from an acid gas removal system, a separated CO and methane stream, a separated hydrogen stream and a liquid nitrogen stream in a heat exchanger. Then directing the cooled raw syngas stream to a cryogenic Then returning the warmed separated CO and methane stream to the gasifier, and exporting the vaporized nitrogen stream as product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis A. Vauk, Bhadra S. Grover
  • Publication number: 20110085966
    Abstract: A method of high hydrogen recovery from syngas from a gasifier is provided. This method includes providing a syngas stream from the gasifier to first hydrogen separation device, wherein the first hydrogen separation device is a pressure swing adsorption device, thereby producing a first high purity hydrogen stream and a tailgas stream. This method also includes increasing the pressure of the tailgas stream in a first compressor; thereby producing a pressurized tailgas stream. This method also includes providing the pressurized tailgas stream to a second hydrogen separation device, thereby producing a second high purity hydrogen stream and a residue stream. This method also includes directing the residue stream to an auxiliary boiler, and combining the first high purity hydrogen product stream and the second high purity hydrogen product stream, thereby producing a high purity hydrogen product stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis A. Vauk, Bhadra S. Grover
  • Patent number: 7849691
    Abstract: Systems and methods for regasifying liquefied natural gas (LNG) are provided. The LNG is regasified by transferring heat from a steam methane reforming reaction to the LNG. In one embodiment, heat is transferred to the LNG from a synthesis gas produced in a steam methane reforming reaction. In another embodiment, heat is transferred to the LNG from a flue gas provided from a furnace heating a steam methane reforming reactor. By using excess heat from the steam methane reforming process, less energy may be consumed to regasify LNG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignees: Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc., Air Liquide Large Industries U.S. LP
    Inventors: Jason W. Faulkner, Dennis A. Vauk, Eli E. Shaheen, Roland Clay Williams, Terri L. Austin
  • Publication number: 20080181837
    Abstract: A process for recovering hydrogen from a multi-component gas stream is provided. This process includes compressing said multi-component gas stream, thereby creating a compressed multi-component gas stream. This process includes heating the compressed multi-component gas stream, thereby creating a heated compressed multi-component gas stream. This process also includes introducing steam into the heated compressed multi-component gas stream, thereby creating a first feed stream. This process further includes introducing the first feed stream into a CO shift conversion process, thereby creating a first intermediate stream. This process also includes introducing the first intermediate stream into an amine wash process, thereby creating a second intermediate stream and a carbon dioxide stream. This process also includes introducing the second intermediate stream into a methanation process, thereby creating a third intermediate stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Bhadra S. GROVER, Dennis A. Vauk
  • Publication number: 20080078177
    Abstract: Systems and methods for regasifying liquefied natural gas (LNG) are provided. The LNG is regasified by transferring heat from a steam methane reforming reaction to the LNG. In one embodiment, heat is transferred to the LNG from a synthesis gas produced in a steam methane reforming reaction. In another embodiment, heat is transferred to the LNG from a flue gas provided from a furnace heating a steam methane reforming reactor. By using excess heat from the steam methane reforming process, less energy may be consumed to regasify LNG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Jason Faulkner, Dennis Vauk, Eli Shaheen, Roland Williams, Terri Austin
  • Patent number: 6039771
    Abstract: An energy fortified diesel fuel is provided containing a hydrocarbon additive wherein greater than 50% vaporizes at or above about 650.degree. F. and diesel fuel of which about 90% of the diesel fuel vaporizes at or below about 640.degree. F. or about 95% of the diesel fuel vaporizes at or below about 698.degree. F. This energy fortified diesel fuel is made by distilling a heavy hydrocarbon fraction such as slurry oil or heavy cycle oil obtained from an FCC unit or a heavy hydrocarbon fraction obtained from a steam cracker unit at a temperature of between about 500 and 750.degree. F. and at a pressure of between about 1 mm Hg and 10 psig to remove contaminants, removing distillate from this distillation, and mixing the distillate with diesel fuel, wherein about 90% of the diesel fuel vaporizes at or below about 640.degree. F. or about 95% of the diesel fuel vaporizes at or below about 698.degree. F., to form an energy fortified diesel fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: KRC-GP, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Selvidge, Dennis A. Vauk
  • Patent number: 5403469
    Abstract: Hydrotreated and hydrocracked liquid/vapor effluents are separated in a common separating vessel under elevated pressure. High quality middle distillates and low-sulfur/low-hydrogen-containing FCC feedstocks are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Dennis A. Vauk, Christopher J. Anderle
  • Patent number: 5173173
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon feedstock is simultaneously distilled into two or more fractions while trace concentrations of contaminants in the feedstock are absorbed onto a sorbent packing material during distillation operation. The sorbent packings contain active metal components supported on porous refractory oxides. Such sorbent packings provide surfaces for mass transfer in the distillation process and concurrently absorb contaminants. Product boiling fractions from the absorption-distillation process are further processed over contaminant-sensitive catalysts such as reforming or isomerization catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventor: Dennis A. Vauk
  • Patent number: 4849093
    Abstract: In the catalytic processing of aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, a hydrocarbon oil is successively contacted at aromatic saturation conditions with a catalyst in a first reaction zone and contacted at a lower temperature with a second portion of the catalyst in the same reactor or in multiple reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Dennis A. Vauk, Milan Skripek
  • Patent number: 4686775
    Abstract: A method for drying a catalytic absorbent involves the contacting of a drying fluid with the wet absorbent until the absorbent is reduced to a desired level of water content. Prior to startup of a process employing a catalytic absorbent to remove impurities from a liquid hydrocarbon, water is removed from the absorbent by contact with the liquid hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventor: Dennis A. Vauk