Patents by Inventor Guangci Zhou

Guangci Zhou 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: 20150337087
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to removing metals from liquid-phase pyrolysis oil, such as at or near room temperatures. Specifically, some embodiments of the disclosure relate to a method and a system for removing metals from pyrolysis oil using acidic ion-exchange resins. One embodiment relates to a method for removing metals from pyrolysis oil comprising combining pyrolysis oil and an organic solvent to form a pyrolysis oil mixture and removing metal from the pyrolysis oil mixture to produce a reduced metal content pyrolysis oil mixture. In some embodiments, the removing of the metal uses a strongly acid ion-exchange resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Guangci Zhou, Stephen Harold Roby, Christopher W. Kuehler
  • Publication number: 20150203420
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to removing metals from liquid-phase pyrolysis oil, such as at or near room temperatures. Specifically, some embodiments of the disclosure relate to a method and a system for removing metals from pyrolysis oil using acidic ion-exchange resins. One embodiment relates to a method for removing metals from pyrolysis oil comprising combining pyrolysis oil and an organic solvent to form a pyrolysis oil mixture and removing metal from the pyrolysis oil mixture to produce a reduced metal content pyrolysis oil mixture. The metal can then be removed by using a strongly acidic ion-exchange resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Guangci Zhou, Stephen H. Roby, Christopher W. Kuehler
  • Patent number: 9006501
    Abstract: A renewable fuel blend and a process for producing a renewable fuel blend are described. The blend includes biologically derived C13 to C18 normal paraffins, which are provided to the blend in quantities such that blend does not require a pour point reducing treatment to achieve a low pour point. In embodiments, the normal paraffins are produced in an upgrading process, such as a hydrotreating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Rebecca Brafman, Stephen Roby, Guangci Zhou
  • Publication number: 20140058147
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to preparing distillate fuel having almost no oxygen and no carbon-to-carbon double bonds. The method comprises passing biodiesel and/or lipids derived from vegetable oils, algae oils, and/or animal fats over bio-feedstock, or lipids, conversion catalyst that performs the hydrocarbon isomerization function, removes oxygen from the feedstock, cracks off the C3 backbone, and saturates double bonds. The process is a single step process eliminating the need of a separate costly hydrotreating step while producing a renewable source distillate fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Guangci Zhou, William James Cannella, Stephen Harold Roby
  • Publication number: 20140058148
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to preparing distillate fuel having almost no oxygen and no carbon-to-carbon double bonds. The method comprises passing biodiesel and/or lipids derived from vegetable oils, algae oils, and/or animal fats over a bio-feedstock, or lipids, conversion catalyst that performs the hydrocarbon isomerization function, removes oxygen from the feedstock, cracks off the C3 backbone, and saturates double bonds. The process is a single step process eliminating the need of a separate costly hydrotreating step while producing a renewable source distillate fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Guangci Zhou, William James Cannella, Stephen Harold Roby
  • Publication number: 20120283491
    Abstract: A renewable fuel blend and a process for producing a renewable fuel blend are described. The blend includes biologically derived C13 to C18 normal paraffins, which are provided to the blend in quantities such that blend does not require a pour point reducing treatment to achieve a low pour point. In embodiments, the normal paraffins are produced in an upgrading process, such as a hydrotreating process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Guangci Zhou, Stephen Harold Roby, Rebecca Brafman
  • Patent number: 8147567
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to novel biodiesel fuel compositions having enhanced low-temperature properties. The present invention is additionally directed to methods (i.e., processes) for making such enhanced biodiesel fuels by improving the low-temperature properties of ester-based biodiesel fuels via in situ enhancement and/or additive enhancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Guangci Zhou, Curt Munson, Saleh A. Elomari, Stephen H. Roby
  • Patent number: 8142524
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to novel fuel compositions and to methods (i.e., processes) for enhancing the combustion efficiency and/or other properties of diesel fuels, particularly wherein such diesel fuels are, or comprise, biodiesel, such biodiesel typically having poorer low-temperature properties than traditional (petroleum) diesel. Generally, such fuel compositions are provided by the creation and inclusion of a quantity of one or more epoxy-ester species, such species serving as combustion improvers for the fuel composition of which they are part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen H. Roby, Guangci Zhou
  • Patent number: 8057558
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to novel biodiesel fuel compositions having enhanced low-temperature properties. The present invention is additionally directed to methods (i.e., processes) for making such enhanced biodiesel fuels by improving the low-temperature properties of ester-based biodiesel fuels via in situ enhancement and/or additive enhancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Guangci Zhou, Curt Munson, Saleh Elomari, Stephen H. Roby
  • Publication number: 20110203165
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to novel biodiesel fuel compositions having enhanced low-temperature properties. The present invention is additionally directed to methods (i.e., processes) for making such enhanced biodiesel fuels by improving the low-temperature properties of ester-based biodiesel fuels via in situ enhancement and/or additive enhancement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Guangci ZHOU, Curt Munson, Saleh A. Elomari, Stephen H. Roby
  • Patent number: 7931703
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to novel biodiesel fuel compositions having enhanced low-temperature properties. The present invention is additionally directed to methods (i.e., processes) for making such enhanced biodiesel fuels by improving the low-temperature properties of ester-based biodiesel fuels via in situ enhancement and/or additive enhancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen H. Roby, Guangci Zhou
  • Publication number: 20100154291
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to novel biodiesel fuel compositions having enhanced low-temperature properties. The present invention is additionally directed to methods (i.e., processes) for making such enhanced biodiesel fuels by improving the low-temperature properties of ester-based biodiesel fuels via in situ enhancement and/or additive enhancement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen H. Roby, Guangci Zhou
  • Publication number: 20100154292
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to novel biodiesel fuel compositions having enhanced low-temperature properties. The present invention is additionally directed to methods (i.e., processes) for making such enhanced biodiesel fuels by improving the low-temperature properties of ester-based biodiesel fuels via in situ enhancement and/or additive enhancement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Guangci Zhou, Curt Munson, Saleh Elomari, Stephen H. Roby
  • Publication number: 20100077651
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to novel fuel compositions and to methods (i.e., processes) for enhancing the combustion efficiency and/or other properties of diesel fuels, particularly wherein such diesel fuels are, or comprise, biodiesel, such biodiesel typically having poorer low-temperature properties than traditional (petroleum) diesel. Generally, such fuel compositions are provided by the creation and inclusion of a quantity of one or more epoxy-ester species, such species serving as combustion improvers for the fuel composition of which they are part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen H. Roby, Guangci Zhou