Patents by Inventor John E. Asplin

John E. Asplin 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: 20220306949
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for processes for producing light hydrocarbons. In an embodiment, a process includes pressurizing the hydrocarbon feed in one or more pumps producing a pressurized hydrocarbon feed and heating the pressurized hydrocarbon feed in one or more heat exchangers to produce a heated hydrocarbon feed. The process includes mixing the heated hydrocarbon feed with water and separating an inter-stage hydrocarbon feed from interstage water. The process includes mixing the inter-stage hydrocarbon feed with water and separating a desalted hydrocarbon feed from outlet water. The process includes pyrolysing the desalted hydrocarbon feed in a steam cracker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Mark A. Nierode, Magaly C. Barroeta, Chee-Kong Leong, John E. Asplin, Asit K. Mondal
  • Patent number: 8092671
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating gaseous effluent from a hydrocarbon pyrolysis unit to provide steam cracked tar of reduced asphaltene and toluene insolubles content. The method is suitable for preparing reduced viscosity tar useful as a fuel blending stock, or feedstock for producing carbon black, while reducing or eliminating the need for externally sourced lighter aromatics additives to meet viscosity specifications. The method comprises drawing steam cracked tar from a separation vessel, e.g., a primary fractionator or tar knock-out drum, cooling the tar, and returning it to the separation vessel to effect lower overall tar temperatures within the separation vessel, in order to reduce viscosity increasing condensation reactions. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert David Strack, Richard C. Stell, John R. Messinger, Dane C. Grenoble, John E. Asplin
  • Patent number: 7718049
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating gaseous effluent from a hydrocarbon pyrolysis unit to provide steam cracked tar of reduced asphaltene and toluene insolubles content. The method is suitable for preparing reduced viscosity tar useful as a fuel blending stock, or feedstock for producing carbon black, while reducing or eliminating the need for externally sourced lighter aromatics additives to meet viscosity specifications. The method comprises drawing steam cracked tar from a separation vessel, e.g., a primary fractionator or tar knock-out drum, cooling the tar, and returning it to the separation vessel to effect lower overall tar temperatures within the separation vessel, in order to reduce viscosity increasing condensation reactions. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Robert David Strack, Richard C. Stell, John R. Messinger, Dane C. Grenoble, John E. Asplin
  • Patent number: 7714180
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for recovering product from reactor effluent of a reactor for a hydrocarbon feedstream is disclosed. An indigenous C4 stream is used as lean oil in a demethanizer, which facilitates significant cost and operational savings. C4 bottoms from a downstream depropanizer is used as lean oil recycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: David J Duhon, John E Asplin
  • Publication number: 20100096296
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating gaseous effluent from a hydrocarbon pyrolysis unit to provide steam cracked tar of reduced asphaltene and toluene insolubles content. The method is suitable for preparing reduced viscosity tar useful as a fuel blending stock, or feedstock for producing carbon black, while reducing or eliminating the need for externally sourced lighter aromatics additives to meet viscosity specifications. The method comprises drawing steam cracked tar from a separation vessel, e.g., a primary fractionator or tar knock-out drum, cooling the tar, and returning it to the separation vessel to effect lower overall tar temperatures within the separation vessel, in order to reduce viscosity increasing condensation reactions. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Robert David Strack, Richard C. Stell, John R. Messinger, Dane C. Grenoble, John E. Asplin
  • Patent number: 7273542
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for recovering product from reactor effluent of a reactor for a hydrocarbon feedstream. An indigenous C4 stream is used as lean oil in a demethanizer, which facilitates significant cost and operational savings. C4 bottoms from a downstream depropanizer is used as lean oil recycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Duhon, John E. Asplin
  • Patent number: 7208650
    Abstract: The present invention provides new highly-efficient separation processes and systems for separating polymerization-grade ethylene and propylene from an initial effluent stream comprising ethane, ethylene, propylene, dimethyl ether, and one or more of propane, acetylene, methyl acetylene, propadiene, methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and C4+ components. In one embodiment, the initial effluent stream is provided from a methanol-to-olefin reaction system. It has been discovered that an efficient separation of these components is realized when DME is partially removed in a first separation step comprising methanol and water washing steps, followed by separation of the remaining components in additional separation steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Cor F. Van Egmond, David Duhon, John E. Asplin
  • Publication number: 20040211703
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for recovering product from reactor effluent of a reactor for a hydrocarbon feedstream. An indigenous C4 stream is used as lean oil in a demethanizer, which facilitates significant cost and operational savings. C4 bottoms from a downstream depropanizer is used as lean oil recycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: David J. Duhon, John E. Asplin
  • Patent number: 6803494
    Abstract: A process for producing polypropylene from olefins selectively produced from a catalytically cracked or thermally cracked naphtha stream is disclosed herein. The naphtha stream is contacted with a catalyst containing from about 10 to 50 wt. % of a crystalline zeolite having an average pore diameter less than about 0.7 nanometers at reaction conditions which include temperatures from about 500° C. to 650° C. and a hydrocarbon partial pressure from about 10 to 40 psia. The catalyst may be pre-coked with a carbonaceous feed. Alternatively, the carbonaceous feed used to coke the catalyst may be co-fed with the naphtha feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Paul K. Ladwig, John E. Asplin, Gordon F. Stuntz, William A. Wachter, Brian Erik Henry, Shun C. Fung
  • Patent number: 6558531
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for maintaining heat balance in a fluidized bed catalytic cracking unit. More specifically, the invention relates to a combustion control method capable of maintaining or restoring heat balance by conducting, under appropriate conditions, fuel and an oxygen-containing gas to a transfer line. The transfer line conducts effluent including spent catalyst and combustion products to the unit's catalyst regeneration zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Todd R. Steffens, Paul K. Ladwig, George Melfi, John E. Asplin
  • Patent number: 6388152
    Abstract: A process for producing polymers from olefins selectively produced from a catalytically cracked or thermally cracked naphtha stream is disclosed herein. The naphtha stream is introduced into a process unit comprised of a reaction zone, a stripping zone, a catalyst regeneration zone, and a fractionation zone. The naphtha feedstream is contacted in the reaction zone with a catalyst containing from about 10 to 50 wt. % of a crystalline zeolite having an average pore diameter less than about 0.7 nanometers at reaction conditions which include temperatures ranging from about 500° to 650° C. and a hydrocarbon partial pressure from about 10 to 40 psia. Vapor products are collected overhead and the catalyst particles are passed through the stripping zone on the way to the catalyst regeneration zone. Volatiles are stripped with steam in the stripping zone and the catalyst particles are sent to the catalyst regeneration zone where coke is burned from the catalyst, which is then recycled to the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Paul K. Ladwig, John E. Asplin, Gordon F. Stuntz, Tan-Jen Chen
  • Patent number: 6339180
    Abstract: A process for producing polypropylene from olefins selectively produced from a catalytically cracked or thermally cracked naphtha stream is disclosed herein. The naphtha stream is contacted with a catalyst containing from about 10 to 50 wt. % of a crystalline zeolite having an average pore diameter less than about 0.7 nanometers at reaction conditions which include temperatures from about 500° C. to 650° C. and a hydrocarbon partial pressure from about 10 to 40 psia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul K. Ladwig, John E. Asplin, Gordon F. Stuntz, William A. Wachter, B. Erik Henry
  • Patent number: 6313366
    Abstract: A process for producing propylene from a catalytically cracked or thermally cracked naphtha stream is disclosed herein. The naphtha stream is contacted with a catalyst containing from about 10 to 50 wt. % of a crystalline zeolite having an average pore diameter less than about 0.7 nanometers at reaction conditions which include temperatures from about 500° C. to 650° C. and a hydrocarbon partial pressure from about 10 to 40 psia. A separate stream containing aromatics may be co-fed with the naphtha stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: ExxonMobile Chemical Patents, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul K. Ladwig, John E. Asplin, Gordon F. Stuntz, William A. Wachter, Brian Erik Henry, Shun C. Fung, Tan-Jen Chen, Jay F. Carpency, Ronald G. Searle
  • Publication number: 20010025806
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for maintaining heat balance in a fluidized bed catalytic cracking unit. More specifically, the invention relates to a combustion control method capable of maintaining or restoring heat balance by conducting, under appropriate conditions, fuel and an oxygen-containing gas to a transfer line. The transfer line conducts effluent including spent catalyst and combustion products to the unit's catalyst regeneration zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Todd R. Steffens, Paul K. Ladwig, George Melfi, John E. Asplin
  • Patent number: 6258257
    Abstract: A process for producing polymers from olefins selectively produced by a two stage process for selectively producing C2 to C4 olefins from a gas oil or resid is disclosed herein. The gas oil or resid is reacted in a first stage comprising a fluid catalytic cracking unit wherein it is converted in the presence of conventional large pore zeolitic catalyst to reaction products, including a naphtha boiling range stream. The naphtha boiling range stream is introduced into a second stage comprising a process unit containing a reaction zone, a stripping zone, a catalyst regeneration zone, and a fractionation zone. The naphtha feed is contacted in the reaction zone with a catalyst containing from about 10 to 50 wt. % of a crystalline zeolite having an average pore diameter less than about 0.7 nanometers at reaction conditions which include temperatures ranging from about 500 to 650° C. and a hydrocarbon partial pressure from about 10 to 40 psia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: George A. Swan, III, Michael W. Bedell, Paul K. Ladwig, John E. Asplin, Gordon F. Stuntz, William A. Wachter, B. Erik Henry
  • Patent number: 6258990
    Abstract: A process for producing polymers from C2-C4 olefins selectively produced from a catalytically-cracked or thermally-cracked naphtha stream is disclosed herein. A mixture of the naphtha stream and a stream of steam is feed into a reaction zone where it is contacted with a catalyst containing from about 10 to 50 wt. % of a crystalline zeolite having an average pore diameter less than about 0.7 nanometers at reaction conditions that include temperatures from about 500° C. to 650° C. and a hydrocarbon partial pressure from about 10 to 40 psia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Shun C. Fung, Tan-Jen Chen, Marcel J. Janssen, William A. Wachter, B. Erik Henry, John E. Asplin
  • Patent number: 6106697
    Abstract: C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 olefins are selectively produced from a gas oil or resid in a two stage process. The gas oil or resid is reacted in a first stage comprised of a fluid catalytic cracking unit wherein it is converted in the presence of conventional large pore zeolitic catalyst to reaction products, including a naphtha boiling range stream. The naphtha boiling range stream is introduced into a second stage comprised of a process unit containing a reaction zone, a stripping zone, a catalyst regeneration zone, and a fractionation zone. The naphtha feedstream is contacted in the reaction zone with a catalyst containing from about 10 to 50 wt. % of a crystalline zeolite having an average pore diameter less than about 0.7 nanometers at reaction conditions which include temperatures ranging from about 500 to 650.degree. C. and a hydrocarbon partial pressure from about 10 to 40 psia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: George A. Swan, Michael W. Bedell, Paul K. Ladwig, John E. Asplin, Gordon F. Stuntz, William A. Wachter, Brian Erik Henry