Patents by Inventor Jerry A. Bullin
Jerry A. Bullin 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: 7119240Abstract: A process for converting natural gas to an olefin includes heating the gas to a selected range of temperature to convert a fraction of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbons, primarily ethylene or acetylene, and reacting with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to produce the olefin, usually ethylene. A portion of the incoming natural gas may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Hydrogen resulting from the reactions may be used to make electricity in a fuel cell. Alternatively, hydrogen may be burned to heat the natural gas to the selected range of temperature.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2003Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: Kenneth R. Hall, Jerry A. Bullin, Philip T. Eubank, Aydin Akgerman, Rayford G. Anthony
-
Publication number: 20040002553Abstract: A process for converting natural gas to an olefin includes heating the gas to a selected range of temperature to convert a fraction of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbons, primarily ethylene or acetylene, and reacting with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to produce the olefin, usually ethylene. A portion of the incoming natural gas may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Hydrogen resulting from the reactions may be used to make electricity in a fuel cell. Alternatively, hydrogen may be burned to heat the natural gas to the selected range of temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2003Publication date: January 1, 2004Applicant: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEMInventors: Kenneth R. Hall, Jerry A. Bullin, Philip T. Eubank, Aydin Akgerman, Rayford G. Anthony
-
Patent number: 6602920Abstract: A process for converting natural gas to a liquid includes heating the gas to a selected range of temperature to convert a fraction of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbons, primarily ethylene or acetylene, and reacting methane and the reactive hydrocarbons in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a liquid, predominantly naphtha or gasoline. A portion of the incoming natural gas may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Hydrogen resulting from the reactions may be used to make electricity in a fuel cell. Alternatively, hydrogen may be burned to heat the natural gas to the selected range of temperature.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2001Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: Kenneth R. Hall, Jerry A. Bullin, Philip T. Eubank, Aydin Akgerman, Rayford G. Anthony
-
Publication number: 20020000085Abstract: A process for converting natural gas to a liquid includes heating the gas to a selected range of temperature to convert a fraction of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbons, primarily ethylene or acetylene, and reacting methane and the reactive hydrocarbons in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a liquid, predominantly naphtha or gasoline. A portion of the incoming natural gas may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Hydrogen resulting from the reactions may be used to make electricity in a fuel cell. Alternatively, hydrogen may be burned to heat the natural gas to the selected range of temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2001Publication date: January 3, 2002Inventors: Kenneth R. Hall, Jerry A. Bullin, Philip T. Eubank, Aydin Akgerman, Rayford G. Anthony
-
Patent number: 6323247Abstract: A process for converting natural gas to a liquid includes heating the gas to a selected range of temperature to convert a fraction of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbons, primarily acetylene, and reacting methane and the reactive hydrocarbons in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a liquid, predominantly pentane. Hydrogen resulting from the reactions is used to heat the incoming natural gas, either with a hydrogen furnace or by electrical energy generated from the hydrogen. Little or no use of methane is required to supply energy for the process.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2000Date of Patent: November 27, 2001Inventors: Kenneth R. Hall, Jerry A. Bullin, Philip T. Eubank, Aydin Akgerman, Rayford G. Anthony
-
Patent number: 6130260Abstract: A process for converting natural gas to a liquid includes heating the gas to a selected range of temperature to convert a fraction of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbons, primarily acetylene, and reacting methane and the reactive hydrocarbons in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a liquid, predominantly pentane. Hydrogen resulting from the reactions is used to heat the incoming natural gas, either with a hydrogen furnace or by electrical energy generated from the hydrogen. Little or no use of methane is required to supply energy for the process.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1998Date of Patent: October 10, 2000Assignee: The Texas A&M University SystemsInventors: Kenneth R. Hall, Jerry A. Bullin, Philip T. Eubank, Aydin Akgerman, Rayford G. Anthony
-
Patent number: 5527449Abstract: Waste lubricating oil, vegetable oil and animal fat are reprocessed into commercially usable diesel fuel and naphtha by thermocracking. A thermocracker unit is fired with sludge removed from the principal pool of oil or fat undergoing vaporization. The vapors are separated from liquids in a primary distillation tower with precisely controlled heating. Resultant vapors are partially condensed. Resultant liquids flow downward through a secondary distillation tower into a reboiler which is heated by a flue gas bypass with an auxiliary burner. Vapors leaving the secondary distillation tower are partially condensed and resultant fluids are passed to a light ends flash tank. Gases from the flash tank fuel the auxiliary burner. Liquids are collected and stored for selling as naphtha. Hot liquids are withdrawn from the reboiler and are immediately cooled to atmospheric conditions. Liquids within specification are stored in a diesel storage tank for further use and sale.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 1994Date of Patent: June 18, 1996Assignee: Stanton D. BrownInventors: Stanton D. Brown, Michael M. Wentworth, Ronald D. Marstaller, Jerry A. Bullin
-
Patent number: 5490873Abstract: An improved process for the glycol dehydration of water-containing natural gas comprises contacting the natural gas and glycol in a contacting zone to produce a dried natural gas and a water-rich glycol, and heating the water-rich glycol in a regeneration zone to produce a water-lean glycol for reintroduction into the contacting zone and a water-containing gaseous overhead. The gaseous overhead is partially condensed and the resulting gaseous components are returned to the contacting zone. In a preferred embodiment, the glycol is further purified by contact in a separate stripping column with dry stripping gas under a pressure lower than that of the regeneration zone.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1994Date of Patent: February 13, 1996Assignee: Bryan Research & Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Steven D. Behrens, Jerry A. Bullin
-
Patent number: 5362381Abstract: Waste lubricating oil is reprocessed into commercially usable diesel fuel and naphtha by thermocracking. A thermocracker unit is fired with sludge removed from the principal pool of oil undergoing vaporization. The vapors are separated from liquids in a primary distillation tower with precisely controlled heating. Resultant vapors are partially condensed. Resultant liquids flow downward through a secondary distillation tower into a reboiler which is heated by a flue gas bypass with an auxiliary burner. Vapors leaving the secondary distillation tower are partially condensed and resultant fluids are passed to a light ends flash tank. Gases from the flash tank fuel the auxiliary burner. Liquids are collected and stored for selling as naphtha. Hot liquids are withdrawn from the reboiler and are immediately cooled to atmospheric conditions. Liquids within specification are stored in a diesel storage tank for further use and sale.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1993Date of Patent: November 8, 1994Assignee: Stanton D. BrownInventors: Stanton D. Brown, Michael M. Wentworth, Ronald D. Marstaller, Jerry A. Bullin