Patents by Inventor Edward W. Corcoran

Edward W. Corcoran 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: 20150328578
    Abstract: The present application is directed to a method and system for preparing gaseous utility streams from gaseous process streams, particularly, removing oil contamination from such streams prior to use in a dry gas seal. The methods and systems may include at least one kinetic swing adsorption process including pressure swing adsorption, temperature swing adsorption, calcination, and inert purge processes to treat gaseous streams for use in dry gas seals of rotating equipment such as compressors, turbines and pumps and other utilities. The adsorbent materials used include a high surface area solid structured microporous and mesoporous materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Harry W. Deckman, Preeti Kamakoti, Peter I. Ravikovitch, Bruce T. Kelley, P. Scott Northrop, Peter C. Rasmussen, Paul L. Tanaka, Martin N. Webster, Wieslaw J. Roth, Edward W. Corcoran, JR.
  • Patent number: 9126138
    Abstract: The present application is directed to a method and system for preparing gaseous utility streams from gaseous process streams, particularly, removing oil contamination from such streams prior to use in a dry gas seal. The methods and systems may include at least one kinetic swing adsorption process including pressure swing adsorption, temperature swing adsorption, calcination, and inert purge processes to treat gaseous streams for use in dry gas seals of rotating equipment such as compressors, turbines and pumps and other utilities. The adsorbent materials used include a high surface area solid structured microporous and mesoporous materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Harry W. Deckman, Preeti Kamakoti, Peter I. Ravikovitch, Bruce T. Kelley, Paul Scott Northrop, Peter C. Rasmussen, Paul Lawrence Tanaka, Martin N. Webster, Wieslaw Jerzy Roth, Edward W. Corcoran
  • Patent number: 8939014
    Abstract: The identification, synthesis, and use of an isomorphously substituted molecular sieve material having structural frameworks substituted with a preselected substitution element for a framework element of the molecular sieve material can result in a preferred transport controlling window size range for the optimal separation of a target gas component from a gaseous mixture containing said target gas component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Preeti Kamakoti, Edward W. Corcoran, Ronald R. Chance
  • Patent number: 8864996
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a product stream with improved reduction of Conradson Carbon Residue (“CCR”) and a reduced average boiling point from a heavy hydrocarbon feedstream utilizing a high-pressure, low-energy separation process. The invention may be utilized to reduce the CCR content and reduce the average boiling point in heavy hydrocarbon feedstreams, such as whole crudes, topped crudes, synthetic crude blends, shale oils, bitumen, oil from tar sands, atmospheric resids, vacuum resids, or other heavy hydrocarbon streams. This invention also results in a process with an improved CCR separation efficiency while maintaining permeate flux rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Daniel P. Leta, Edward W. Corcoran, Brian Erik Henry, James D. Dearth, Kirk C. Nadler, Stephen M. Cundy, Miroslav Petro, Thomas H. McWaid, Li Song, Yan Ying Chan
  • Patent number: 8529664
    Abstract: The separation of a target gas selected from a high pressure gas mixture containing said target gas as well as a product gas using a swing adsorption process unit. A turboexpander is used upstream of the swing adsorber to reduce the pressure of the high pressure gas mixture. A compressor is optionally used downstream of the swing adsorber to increase the pressure of the target gas-containing stream for injecting into a subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Harry W. Deckman, Bruce T. Kelley, Eugene R. Thomas, Ronald R. Chance, Paul S. Northrop, Edward W. Corcoran, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8529663
    Abstract: The present invention relates the separation of a target gas from a mixture of gases through the use of engineered structured adsorbent contactors in pressure swing adsorption and thermal swing adsorption processes. Preferably, the contactors contain engineered and substantially parallel flow channels wherein 20 volume percent or less of the open pore volume of the contactor, excluding the flow channels, is in the mesopore and macropore range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Sebastian C. Reyes, Harry W. Deckman, Ronald R. Chance, Gregory J. DeMartin, Frank Hershkowitz, Eugene R. Thomas, Paul S. Northrop, Bruce T. Kelley, Edward W. Corcoran, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8529662
    Abstract: A process for the separation of one or more heavy hydrocarbon gases from a gas mixture containing heavy hydrocarbon gas components and methane. The process is conducted in swing adsorption apparatus containing adsorbent contactor having a plurality of flow channels and wherein 20 volume percent or less of the open pore volume of the contactors, is in the mesopore and macropore range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Bruce T. Kelley, Paul S. Northrop, Ronald R. Chance, Harry W. Deckman, Edward W. Corcoran, Jr., Eugene R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8444750
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the separation of one or more of CO2, N2, and H2S gas components from a gas mixture containing at least a second gas using a swing adsorption process unit. The adsorbent contactors of the swing adsorption process unit are engineered structured adsorbent contactors having a plurality of flow channels wherein 20 volume percent or less of the open pore volume of the contactors is in the mesopore and macropore range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Harry W. Deckman, Ronald R. Chance, Sebastian C. Reyes, Gregory J. DeMartin, Eugene R. Thomas, Paul S. Northrop, Bruce T. Kelley, Edward W. Corcoran, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120255377
    Abstract: The identification, synthesis, and use of an isomorphously substituted molecular sieve material having structural frameworks substituted with a preselected substitution element for a framework element of the molecular sieve material can result in a preferred transport controlling window size range for the optimal separation of a target gas component from a gaseous mixture containing said target gas component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Preeti Kamakoti, Edward W. Corcoran, Ronald R. Chance, Sebastian C. Reyes
  • Patent number: 8177965
    Abstract: This invention relates to an ultrafiltration process for separating a heavy hydrocarbon stream to produce an enriched saturates content stream(s) utilizing an ultrafiltration separations process. The enriched saturates content streams can then be further processed in refinery and petrochemical processes that will benefit from the higher content of saturated hydrocarbons produced from this separations process. The invention may be utilized to separate heavy hydrocarbon feedstreams, such as whole crudes, topped crudes, synthetic crude blends, shale oils, oils derived from bitumen, oils derived from tar sands, atmospheric resids, vacuum resids, or other heavy hydrocarbon streams into enriched saturates content product streams. The invention provides an economical method for separating heavy hydrocarbon stream components by molecular species instead of molecular boiling points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Daniel P. Leta, Eric B. Sirota, Edward W. Corcoran, Anjaneya S. Kovvali, Stephen H. Brown, Stephen M. Cundy
  • Patent number: 7959720
    Abstract: The present invention relates to engineered structured adsorbent contactors for use in pressure swing adsorption and thermal swing adsorption processes. Preferably, the contactors contain engineered and substantially parallel flow channels wherein 20 volume percent or less of the open pore volume of the contactor, excluding the flow channels, is in the mesopore and macropore range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Harry W. Deckman, Ronald R. Chance, Edward W. Corcoran, Jr., David L. Stern
  • Patent number: 7947120
    Abstract: The adsorption of CO2 from flue gas streams using temperature swing adsorption. Adsorbent contactors are used in the temperature swing adsorption unit that contain a plurality of substantially parallel channels comprised of or coated with an adsorbent material that is selective for adsorbing CO2 from flue gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Harry W. Deckman, Bruce T. Kelley, Frank Hershkowitz, Ronald R. Chance, Paul S. Northrop, Edward W. Corcoran, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7943037
    Abstract: A heavy residual petroleum feed boiling above 650° F.+ (345° C.+) is subjected to membrane separation to produce a produce a permeate which is low in metals and Microcarbon Residue (MCR) as well as a retentate, containing most of the MCR and metals, the retentate is then subjected to hydroconversion at elevated temperature in the presence of hydrogen at a hydrogen pressure not higher than 500 psig (3500 kPag) using a dispersed metal-on-carbon catalyst to produce a hydroconverted effluent which is fractionated to give naphtha, distillate and gas oil fractions. The permeate from the membrane separation may be used as FCC feed either as such or with moderate hydrotreatment to remove residual heteroatoms. The process has the advantage that the hydroconversion may be carried out in low pressure equipment with a low hydrogen consumption as saturation of aromatics is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Martin L. Gorbaty, David T. Ferrughelli, Edward W. Corcoran, Stephen M. Cundy
  • Patent number: 7931798
    Abstract: A heavy residual petroleum feed boiling above 650° F.+ (345° C.+) is subjected to hydroconversion at elevated temperature in the presence of hydrogen at a hydrogen pressure not normally higher than 500 psig (3500 kPag) using a dispersed metal-on-carbon catalyst to produce a hydroconverted effluent which is fractionated to form a low boiling fraction and a relatively higher boiling fraction which is subjected to membrane separation to produce a permeate which is low in metals and Microcarbon Residue (MCR) as well as a retentate, containing most of the MCR and metals. The process has the advantage that the hydroconversion may be carried out in low pressure equipment with a low hydrogen consumption as saturation of aromatics is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Martin L. Gorbaty, David T. Ferrughelli, Edward W. Corcoran, Stephen M. Cundy, Andrew Kaldor
  • Patent number: 7897828
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating a heavy hydrocarbon stream to produce at least one permeate product stream and at least one retentate product stream. The process utilizes an ultrafiltration process to designed to maximize the quality of the permeate and retenate product streams as well as process embodiments which improve permeate production quantities as well as improve the quality of the product streams obtained by the separations process. In preferred embodiments, the process includes configuration and operational parameters to maximize permeate yield and selectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobile Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Kirk C. Nadler, Daniel P. Leta, Halou Oumar-Mahamat, Edward W. Corcoran, Stephen H. Brown, Eric B. Sirota, John H. Hollenbach, Anjaneya S. Kovvali
  • Publication number: 20110031103
    Abstract: The present application is directed to a method and system for preparing gaseous utility streams from gaseous process streams, particularly, removing oil contamination from such streams prior to use in a dry gas seal. The methods and systems may include at least one kinetic swing adsorption process including pressure swing adsorption, temperature swing adsorption, calcination, and inert purge processes to treat gaseous streams for use in dry gas seals of rotating equipment such as compressors, turbines and pumps and other utilities. The adsorbent materials used include a high surface area solid structured microporous and mesoporous materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Harry W. Deckman, Preeti Kamakoti, Peter I. Ravikovitch, Bruce T. Kelley, Paul Scott Northrop, Peter C. Rasmussen, Paul Lawrence Tanaka, Martin N. Webster, Wieslaw Jerzy Roth, Edward W. Corcoran
  • Patent number: 7867379
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process of producing an upgraded product stream from steam cracker tar feedstream suitable for use in refinery or chemical plant processes or for utilization in fuel oil sales or blending. This process utilizes an ultrafiltration process for separating the steam cracker tar constituents resulting in a high recovery, low-energy process with improved separation and product properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Daniel P. Leta, Edward W. Corcoran, Eric B. Sirota, Stephen M. Cundy, Kirk C. Nadler, John Di-Yi Ou, Paul F. Keusenkothen
  • Patent number: 7736493
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for improving a deasphalting unit process by producing an improved feedstream for the deasphalting process via ultrafiltration of a vacuum resid-containing feedstream. In particular, the present invention produces an improved quality feedstream to a solvent deasphalting process which results in improved deasphalted oil (DAO) production rates and/or higher quality deasphalted oils. The present invention can be particularly beneficial when used in conjunction with an existing deasphalting equipment to result in improved deasphalted oil (DAO) production rates and/or higher quality deasphalted oils from the existing deasphalting equipment without the need for significant equipment modifications to the existing deasphalting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Daniel P. Leta, Lisa M. Rogers, Merryl J. Miranda, Keith K. Aldous, Stephen M. Cundy, MaryKathryn Lee, Edward W. Corcoran
  • Patent number: 7591879
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for operating a rapid cycling pressure swing adsorption (RCPSA) having a cycle time, T, to separate a feed gas into a non-adsorbed gas and tail gas. The method includes the steps of passing the feed gas having a purity of F % at high pressure into a first end of a bed which selectively adsorbs the tail gas and passes the product gas out a second end of the bed for a time, F. The product gas has a purity, P %, and a rate of recovery of R %. Then the bed is cocurrently depressurized for a time, tCO, followed by countercurrently depressurizing the bed for a time, tCN. The bed is then purged for a time, tP, wherein desorbate (tail gas) is released at the first end of the bed at a pressure greater than 30 psig, Subsequently the bed is repressurized for a duration, tRP. R>80%, P/F?1.1 or R?90%, 0<P/F <1.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Narasimhan Sundaram, Bal K. Kaul, Edward W. Corcoran, Craig Y. Sabottke, Richard L. Eckes
  • Publication number: 20090234166
    Abstract: A heavy residual petroleum feed boiling above 650° F.+ (345° C.+) is subjected to hydroconversion at elevated temperature in the presence of hydrogen at a hydrogen pressure not normally higher than 500 psig (3500 kPag) using a dispersed metal-on-carbon catalyst to produce a hydroconverted effluent which is fractionated to form a low boiling fraction and a relatively higher boiling fraction which is subjected to membrane separation to produce a permeate which is low in metals and Microcarbon Residue (MCR) as well as a retentate, containing most of the MCR and metals. The process has the advantage that the hydroconversion may be carried out in low pressure equipment with a low hydrogen consumption as saturation of aromatics is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Martin L. Gorbaty, David T. Ferrughelli, Edward W. Corcoran, Stephen M. Cundy, Andrew Kaldor