Patents by Inventor Keith Allen Couch

Keith Allen Couch 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: 11959029
    Abstract: A process for producing light olefins comprising thermal cracking. Hydrocracked streams are thermally cracked in a steam cracker to produce light olefins. A pyrolysis gas stream is separated into a light stream and a heavy stream. A light stream is separated into an aromatic naphtha stream and a non-aromatic naphtha stream. The aromatics can be saturated and thermally cracked. The integrated process may be employed to obtain olefin products of high value from a crude stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanley S. Carp, David Banks, Alan K. Bedell, Gregory Funk, Keith Allen Couch, Stanley Joseph Frey, Cora Wang Ploentham
  • Patent number: 11708537
    Abstract: A process for producing light olefins comprising thermal cracking. Hydrocracked streams are thermally cracked to produce light olefins. A pyrolysis gas stream is separated into a light pyrolysis gas stream and a heavy pyrolysis gas stream. A light pyrolysis gas stream is separated into a normal paraffins stream and a non-normal paraffins stream. A normal paraffins stream is thermally cracked. The integrated process may be employed to obtain olefin products of high value from a crude stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanley S. Carp, Alan K. Bedell, David M. Banks, Keith Allen Couch, Gregory Funk, Cora Wang Ploentham, Stanley Joseph Frey
  • Publication number: 20230212464
    Abstract: A process for producing light olefins comprising thermal cracking. Hydrocracked streams are thermally cracked in a steam cracker to produce light olefins. A pyrolysis gas stream is separated into a light stream and a heavy stream. A light stream is separated into an aromatic naphtha stream and a non-aromatic naphtha stream. The aromatics can be saturated and thermally cracked. The integrated process may be employed to obtain olefin products of high value from a crude stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Stanley S. Carp, David Banks, Alan K. Bedell, Gregory Funk, Keith Allen Couch, Stanley Joseph Frey, Cora Wang Ploentham
  • Patent number: 11667848
    Abstract: A process for reducing pressure of a vapor stream used for reducing a temperature or pressure in a reactor. A pressure of a vapor stream is reduced with a turbine to provide a lower pressure vapor stream. The vapor stream rotates a turbine wheel within the turbine. The turbine wheel is configured to transmit rotational movement to an electrical generator. Thus, electricity is generated with the turbine. The lower pressure vapor stream is injected into a reactor and reduces a temperature in the reactor or reduces a partial pressure of a hydrocarbon vapor in the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanley Joseph Frey, Keith Allen Couch, Donald A. Eizenga, James W. Harris
  • Publication number: 20230115510
    Abstract: A process for producing light olefins comprising thermal cracking. Hydrocracked streams are thermally cracked to produce light olefins. A pyrolysis gas stream is separated into a light pyrolysis gas stream and a heavy pyrolysis gas stream. A light pyrolysis gas stream is separated into a normal paraffins stream and a non-normal paraffins stream. A normal paraffins stream is thermally cracked. The integrated process may be employed to obtain olefin products of high value from a crude stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Stanley S. Carp, Alan K. Bedell, David M. Banks, Keith Allen Couch, Gregory Funk, Cora Wang Ploentham, Stanley Joseph Frey
  • Patent number: 11427771
    Abstract: A slurry separator comprising a moving blade that wipes slurry oil onto a wall of the slurry separator for separating a recovered oil stream from a concentrated residue stream has the capability of maximizing recovery of the LCO from slurry oil as well as removing both the catalyst fines as well as coke particles suspended in the slurry oil. The slurry separator can be fed directly from the main column bottoms. Advantageously, the process and apparatus can enable the FCC unit to achieve higher production of LCO and higher value clarified slurry oil more efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Keith Allen Couch, Joseph Mark Houdek
  • Publication number: 20210009904
    Abstract: A process for reducing pressure of a vapor stream used for reducing a temperature or pressure in a reactor. A pressure of a vapor stream is reduced with a turbine to provide a lower pressure vapor stream. The vapor stream rotates a turbine wheel within the turbine. The turbine wheel is configured to transmit rotational movement to an electrical generator. Thus, electricity is generated with the turbine. The lower pressure vapor stream is injected into a reactor and reduces a temperature in the reactor or reduces a partial pressure of a hydrocarbon vapor in the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Stanley Joseph Frey, Keith Allen Couch, Donald A. Eizenga, James W. Harris
  • Patent number: 10829698
    Abstract: A process for reducing pressure of a vapor stream used for reducing a temperature or pressure in a reactor. A pressure of a vapor stream is reduced with a turbine to provide a lower pressure vapor stream. The vapor stream rotates a turbine wheel within the turbine. The turbine wheel is configured to transmit rotational movement to an electrical generator. Thus, electricity is generated with the turbine. The lower pressure vapor stream is injected into a reactor and reduces a temperature in the reactor or reduces a partial pressure of a hydrocarbon vapor in the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanley Joseph Frey, Keith Allen Couch, Donald A. Eizenga, James W. Harris
  • Publication number: 20200308495
    Abstract: A slurry separator comprising a moving blade that wipes slurry oil onto a wall of the slurry separator for separating a recovered oil stream from a concentrated residue stream has the capability of maximizing recovery of the LCO from slurry oil as well as removing both the catalyst fines as well as coke particles suspended in the slurry oil. The slurry separator can be fed directly from the main column bottoms. Advantageously, the process and apparatus can enable the FCC unit to achieve higher production of LCO and higher value clarified slurry oil more efficiently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Keith Allen Couch, Joseph Mark Houdek
  • Publication number: 20190284486
    Abstract: A process for reducing pressure of a vapor stream used for reducing a temperature or pressure in a reactor. A pressure of a vapor stream is reduced with a turbine to provide a lower pressure vapor stream. The vapor stream rotates a turbine wheel within the turbine. The turbine wheel is configured to transmit rotational movement to an electrical generator. Thus, electricity is generated with the turbine. The lower pressure vapor stream is injected into a reactor and reduces a temperature in the reactor or reduces a partial pressure of a hydrocarbon vapor in the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Stanley Joseph Frey, Keith Allen Couch, Donald A. Eizenga, James W. Harris
  • Patent number: 9284495
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for fluid catalytic cracking. The process can include withdrawing a catalyst from a reaction vessel to replace a catalyst inventory over a period of about 10- about 35 days for maximizing propylene yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence L. Upson, Brian W. Hedrick, Keith Allen Couch
  • Publication number: 20120296146
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a fluid catalytic cracking process. The process can include a reaction zone operating at conditions to facilitate olefin production and including at least one riser. The at least one riser can receive a first feed having a boiling point of about 180° to about 800° C., and a second feed having more than about 70%, by weight, of one or more C4+ olefins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Mehlberg, Keith Allen Couch, Brian W. Hedrick, Zhihao Fei
  • Patent number: 8246914
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a fluid catalytic cracking system. The system can include a reaction zone operating at conditions to facilitate olefin production and including at least one riser. The at least one riser can receive a first feed having a boiling point of about 180-about 800° C., and a second feed having more than about 70%, by weight, of one or more C4+ olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Mehlberg, Keith Allen Couch, Brian W. Hedrick, Zhihao Fei
  • Publication number: 20110282124
    Abstract: An embodiment can be a process for catalytically cracking a hydrocarbon feed. The process can include providing the hydrocarbon feed including an effective amount of one or more C4-C6 olefins for producing at least one light olefin to a riser. Typically, at least about 99%, by mole, of the hydrocarbon feed is a gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Robert Mehlberg, Keith Allen Couch, Paul Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8007728
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a fluid catalytic cracking system. The fluid catalytic cracking system can include a reaction zone including a riser having a top and a bottom adapted to receive spent catalyst at a first elevation and regenerated catalyst at a second elevation. Typically, the first elevation is lower than the second elevation. Additionally, the fluid catalytic cracking system can include a gas distributor contained near the bottom of the riser in communication with a hydrocarbon feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Robert Mehlberg, Keith Allen Couch, Paul Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20100243528
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a method for revamping a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The method can include communicating an expander powered by a regeneration zone flue gas stream with a wet gas compressor transferring a stream including one or more hydrocarbons from a receiver of the fluid catalytic cracking unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Leonard E. Bell, Keith Allen Couch
  • Publication number: 20100236980
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for fluid catalytic cracking. The process can include withdrawing a catalyst from a reaction vessel to replace a catalyst inventory over a period of about 10- about 35 days for maximizing propylene yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Lawrence L. Upson, Brian W. Hedrick, Keith Allen Couch
  • Publication number: 20100158767
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a fluid catalytic cracking system. The system can include a reaction zone operating at conditions to facilitate olefin production and including at least one riser. The at least one riser can receive a first feed having a boiling point of about 180-about 800° C., and a second feed having more than about 70%, by weight, of one or more C4+ olefins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Robert L. Mehlberg, Keith Allen Couch, Brian W. Hedrick, Zhihao Fei
  • Publication number: 20100152515
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a fluid catalytic cracking system. The fluid catalytic cracking system can include a reaction zone including a riser having a top and a bottom adapted to receive spent catalyst at a first elevation and regenerated catalyst at a second elevation. Typically, the first elevation is lower than the second elevation. Additionally, the fluid catalytic cracking system can include a gas distributor contained near the bottom of the riser in communication with a hydrocarbon feed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Robert Mehlberg, Keith Allen Couch, Paul Nishimura