Patents by Inventor Glen B Brons

Glen B Brons 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: 9745528
    Abstract: A compound useful for reducing fouling in a hydrocarbon refining process is provided. A method for preparing the compound includes functionalizing a polymer having a vinyl chain end to obtain a terminal group having one or more anhydride units, and reacting the anhydride units with a polyamine. Methods of using the compound and compositions thereof are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Man Kit Ng, Glen B. Brons, Matthew W. Holtcamp, Donna J. Crowther, Patrick Brant, Hong Cheng, Clarence Chase
  • Patent number: 9714393
    Abstract: A compound useful for reducing fouling in a hydrocarbon refining process is provided. A method for preparing the compound includes functionalizing a polymer having a vinyl chain end to obtain a terminal group having one or more anhydride units, and reacting the anhydride units with a polyamine. Methods of using the compound and compositions thereof are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Man Kit Ng, Glen B. Brons, Matthew W. Holtcamp, Donna J. Crowther, Patrick Brant, Hong Cheng, Clarence Chase
  • Publication number: 20160264892
    Abstract: A compound useful for reducing fouling in a hydrocarbon refining process is provided. A method for preparing the compound includes functionalizing a polymer having a vinyl chain end to obtain a terminal group having one or more anhydride units, and reacting the anhydride units with a polyamine. Methods of using the compound and compositions thereof are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Man Kit NG, Glen B. BRONS, Matthew W. HOLTCAMP, Donna J. CROWTHER, Patrick BRANT, Hong CHENG, Clarence CHASE
  • Publication number: 20160264891
    Abstract: A compound useful for reducing fouling in a hydrocarbon refining process is provided. A method for preparing the compound includes functionalizing a polymer having a vinyl chain end to obtain a terminal group having one or more anhydride units, and reacting the anhydride units with a polyamine. Methods of using the compound and compositions thereof are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Man Kit NG, Glen B. BRONS, Matthew W. HOLTCAMP, Donna J. CROWTHER, Patrick BRANT, Hong CHENG, Clarence CHASE
  • Patent number: 9416325
    Abstract: Method and system for predicting a need for introducing anti-fouling additives to a hydrocarbon stream in a hydrocarbon refinery. The method comprises characterizing whether the hydrocarbon stream is a non-high solvency dispersive power (“HSDP”) crude and performing at least one of determining whether the hydrocarbon stream is subject to filterable solids levels greater than about 100 wppm or classifying whether the hydrocarbon stream has an expected low flow velocity during normal operating conditions within the refinery. The method further comprises indicating, using a processor, that anti-fouling additives are recommended if the hydrocarbon stream is characterized to be a non-HSDP crude and either the hydrocarbon stream is determined to be subject to filterable solids levels greater than about 100 wppm or the hydrocarbon stream is classified as having expected low flow within a heat exchanger of the refinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Glen B. Brons
  • Patent number: 9404847
    Abstract: Methods for determining the fouling propensity of a hydrocarbon stream and for reducing fouling are provided. In one method, the fouling propensity of a hydrocarbon stream is determined by obtaining a parameter indicative of the fouling propensity by a regression of a series of temperature measurements data for the hydrocarbon stream exiting a test unit. In another method, an effective minimal amount of an antifoulant is added to a hydrocarbon stream to reduce fouling, where the amount of the antifoulant is determined based on the fouling propensity of the hydrocarbon stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Teh C. Ho, Glen B. Brons
  • Patent number: 9290584
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing fouling, including particulate-induced fouling, in a hydrocarbon refining process including the steps of providing a crude hydrocarbon for a refining process and adding an antifouling agent containing a polymer base unit and a polyamine group to the crude hydrocarbon are provided. The antifouling agent can be obtained by converting a vinyl terminated polymer, such as polypropylene or poly(ethylene-co-propylene), to a terminal acyl containing functional group, followed by reacting the terminal acyl containing functional group with a polyamine compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Man Kit Ng, Glen B. Brons, David T. Ferrughelli, Hong Cheng, Kevin Mallory, Emmanuel Ulysse, John R. Hagadorn, Donna J. Crowther, Patrick Brant
  • Patent number: 8951409
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing fouling, including particulate-induced fouling, in a hydrocarbon refining process including the steps of providing a crude hydrocarbon for a refining process and adding an antifouling agent containing a polymer base unit and a polyamine group to the crude hydrocarbon. The antifouling agent can be obtained by reacting an epoxidation reagent with a vinyl-terminated polymer, such as polypropylene or poly(ethylene-co-propylene), to form a terminal epoxy group, followed by reacting a polyamine with the epoxy group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Man Kit Ng, Glen B. Brons, Steven W. Levine, Kevin Mallory, Hong Cheng, Patrick Brant, Donna J. Crowther
  • Publication number: 20140275663
    Abstract: Method and system for predicting a need for introducing anti-fouling additives to a hydrocarbon stream in a hydrocarbon refinery. The method comprises characterizing whether the hydrocarbon stream is a non-high solvency dispersive power (“HSDP”) crude and performing at least one of determining whether the hydrocarbon stream is subject to filterable solids levels greater than about 100 wppm or classifying whether the hydrocarbon stream has an expected low flow velocity during normal operating conditions within the refinery. The method further comprises indicating, using a processor, that anti-fouling additives are recommended if the hydrocarbon stream is characterized to be a non-HSDP crude and either the hydrocarbon stream is determined to be subject to filterable solids levels greater than about 100 wppm or the hydrocarbon stream is classified as having expected low flow within a heat exchanger of the refinery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventor: Glen B. BRONS
  • Patent number: 8663455
    Abstract: High molecular weight naphthenic tetra-acids are added to a base crude oil to prevent and/or reduce fouling of crude oil refinery equipment. The method includes adding an effective amount of a high molecular weight naphthenic tetra-acid to the base crude oil to form a crude oil mixture and feeding the crude oil mixture to a crude oil refinery component. Particularly, the high molecular weight naphthenic tetra-acids include ARN acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Steven W. Levine, Glen B. Brons, George A. Lutz, Daniel P. Leta, Clifford C. Walters
  • Patent number: 8609429
    Abstract: Methods for determining the fouling propensity of a hydrocarbon stream and for reducing fouling are provided. In one method, the fouling propensity of a hydrocarbon stream is determined by obtaining a parameter value indicative of the fouling propensity at no less than two different temperatures, and an activation energy of fouling by the hydrocarbon stream is derived therefrom. In another method, the thus obtained parameter value at no less than two different temperatures and the activation energy are used to select proper heating fluids and operating temperature and to determine whether to add an antifoulant to the hydrocarbon stream to reduce fouling at a given temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Teh C. Ho, Glen B. Brons, Limin Song, Tahmid I. Mizan
  • Patent number: 8440069
    Abstract: Method of isolating active resins from a high solvency dispersive power (HSDP) crude oil includes providing a HSDP crude oil, deasphalting the HSDP crude oil into at least a deasphalted oil (DAO) fraction and a first asphaltenes fraction, deasphalting the first asphaltenes fraction to isolate active resins from a second asphaltenes fraction, and combining the DAO fraction and the second asphaltenes fraction to form a de-resinated crude. Method of using components isolated from a high solvency dispersive power (HSDP) crude oil includes providing a HSDP crude oil, deasphalting the HSDP crude oil into at least a deasphalted oil (DAO) fraction and a first asphaltenes fraction, deasphalting the first asphaltenes fraction to isolate active resins from a second asphaltenes fraction, and selecting at least one of the DAO fraction, the active resins, or the second asphaltenes fraction for use in a refinery process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Chris A. Wright, Glen B. Brons, Sharon Feiller
  • Patent number: 8425761
    Abstract: Non-high solvency dispersive power (non-HSDP) crude oil with increased fouling mitigation and on-line cleaning effects includes a base non-HSDP crude oil and an effective amount of resins isolated from a high solvency dispersive power (HSDP) crude oil, and method of making same. Also, methods of using such non-HSDP crude oil for on-line cleaning of a fouled crude oil refinery component, for reducing fouling in a crude oil refinery component, and in a system capable of experiencing fouling conditions associated with particulate or asphaltene fouling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Chris A. Wright, Glen B. Brons, Sharon Feiller, George A. Lutz
  • Publication number: 20130008830
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing fouling, including particulate-induced fouling, in a hydrocarbon refining process including the steps of providing a crude hydrocarbon for a refining process and adding an antifouling agent containing a polymer base unit and a polyamine group to the crude hydrocarbon are provided. The antifouling agent can be obtained by converting a vinyl terminated polymer, such as polypropylene or poly(ethylene-co-propylene), to a terminal acyl containing functional group, followed by reacting the terminal acyl containing functional group with a polyamine compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Man Kit NG, Glen B. BRONS, David T. FERRUGHELLI, Hong CHENG, Kevin MALLORY, Emmanuel Ulysse, John R. Hagadorn, Donna J. CROWTHER, Patrick BRANT
  • Publication number: 20120122230
    Abstract: Methods for determining the fouling propensity of a hydrocarbon stream and for reducing fouling are provided. In one method, the fouling propensity of a hydrocarbon stream is determined by obtaining a parameter value indicative of the fouling propensity at no less than two different temperatures, and an activation energy of fouling by the hydrocarbon stream is derived therefrom. In another method, the thus obtained parameter value at no less than two different temperatures and the activation energy are used to select proper heating fluids and operating temperature and to determine whether to add an antifoulant to the hydrocarbon stream to reduce fouling at a given temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Teh C. HO, Glen B. BRONS, Limin SONG, Tahmid I. MIZAN
  • Publication number: 20120118794
    Abstract: Methods for determining the fouling propensity of a hydrocarbon stream and for reducing fouling are provided. In one method, the fouling propensity of a hydrocarbon stream is determined by obtaining a parameter indicative of the fouling propensity by a regression of a series of temperature measurements data for the hydrocarbon stream exiting a test unit. In another method, an effective minimal amount of an antifoulant is added to a hydrocarbon stream to reduce fouling, where the amount of the antifoulant is determined based on the fouling propensity of the hydrocarbon stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Teh C. HO, Glen B. BRONS
  • Patent number: 8062504
    Abstract: A method of reducing asphaltene and particulate induced fouling during the thermal processing of petroleum oils utilizes resin extracts from HSDP crude oils to disperse and solubilize asphaltenes and disperse inorganic particulate contaminants such as salts and iron oxide. The extracts are essentially maltene fractions which may be separated from the HSDP crude by a process of extraction from a precipitated asphalt fraction using light paraffinic solvents such as n-heptane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Chris A Wright, Glen B. Brons
  • Patent number: 7976640
    Abstract: A method for the on-line cleaning of a heat exchanger used with petroleum process fluids which create coke deposits of asphaltenic origin on the exchanger tubes. The asphaltenes are removed by re-dissolution in a solvent oil of high solubility power for the asphaltenes. Certain asphaltenic crudes are useful as solvents in view of their chemical similarity to the asphaltene coke precursors; also useful are refined petroleum fractions such as gas oils which are also characterized by their solvency for asphaltenes. The solvent oil may be admitted to the heat exchanger following withdrawal of the process fluid and then allowed to soak and dissolve the asphaltene coke precursors after which the resulting solution may be withdrawn and the exchanger returned to use without being at any time disconnected from its associated process unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Douglas S. Meyer, Glen B. Brons, Ryan E. Vick, Douglas P. Bryant, Gary L. Novosad
  • Publication number: 20110147275
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing fouling, including particulate-induced fouling, in a hydrocarbon refining process including the steps of providing a crude hydrocarbon for a refining process and adding an antifouling agent containing a polymer base unit and a polyamine group to the crude hydrocarbon. The antifouling agent can be obtained by reacting an epoxidation reagent with a vinyl-terminated polymer, such as polypropylene or poly(ethylene-co-propylene), to form a terminal epoxy group, followed by reacting a polyamine with the epoxy group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Man Kit NG, Glen B. Brons, Steven W. Levine, Kevin Mallory, Hong Cheng, Patrick Brant, Donna J. Crowther
  • Patent number: 7951340
    Abstract: Atmospheric and/or vacuum resid fractions of a high solvency dispersive power (HSDP) crude oil are added to a blend of crude oil to prevent fouling of crude oil refinery equipment and to perform on-line cleaning of fouled refinery equipment. The HSDP resid fractions dissolve asphaltene precipitates and maintain suspension of inorganic particulates before coking affects heat exchange surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Glen B. Brons, Chris A. Wright, George A. Lutz, Mark A. Greaney