Patents by Inventor Larry D. Swinney
Larry D. Swinney 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).
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Patent number: 8932453Abstract: This invention relates to a hydroprocessing process with improved catalyst activity when hydroprocessing petroleum based feedstock or an oxygen containing feedstock. This invention also relates to a hydrotreating process with improved hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activity of a hydrotreating catalyst such as Co/Mo by co-feeding carbon monoxide or its precursors. Such inventive process confirms that adding a small amount of CO to H2 in a hydrotreater for a few days leads to an increase in product sulfur due to the inhibition of CO on the hydrotreating catalyst such as Co/Mo. However, it has been unexpectedly found that after the CO was removed from the hydrogen stream, product sulfur levels decreased to values below they were before CO addition which means the activity of the hydrotreating catalyst increased after the CO treatment.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2011Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Phillips 66 CompanyInventors: Jianhua Yao, Dhananjay B. Ghonasgi, Xiaochun Xu, Larry D. Swinney
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Publication number: 20120017496Abstract: This invention relates to a hydroprocessing process with improved catalyst activity when hydroprocessing petroleum based feedstock or an oxygen containing feedstock. This invention also relates to a hydrotreating process with improved hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activity of a hydrotreating catalyst such as Co/Mo by co-feeding carbon monoxide or its precursors. Such inventive process confirms that adding a small amount of CO to H2 in a hydrotreater for a few days leads to an increase in product sulfur due to the inhibition of CO on the hydrotreating catalyst such as Co/Mo. However, it has been unexpectedly found that after the CO was removed from the hydrogen stream, product sulfur levels decreased to values below they were before CO addition which means the activity of the hydrotreating catalyst increased after the CO treatment.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2011Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Jianhua YAO, Dhananjay B. GHONASGI, Xiaochun XU, Larry D. SWINNEY
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Patent number: 7922977Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a hydrocarbon and oxygen containing gas feed stream to a product stream, such as syngas, including catalytically partially oxidizing the hydrocarbon feed stream over a catalyst bed. The catalyst bed has a downstream zone which is less resistant to flow than the upstream zone.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2005Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventors: Bang Cheng Xu, Sriram Ramani, Kevin L. Ricketson, Gloria I. Straguzzi, Larry D. Swinney, Joe D. Allison
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Publication number: 20110077436Abstract: Disclosed are methods for pretreating triglyceride containing material prior to contacting with a hydrotreating catalyst to produce fuel range hydrocarbons without causing reactor fouling or catalyst plugging.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Jianhua YAO, Xiaochun XU, Dhananjay B. GHONASGI, Edward L. SUGHRUE, II, Yun BAO, Kathy A. SWALLOWS, Larry D. SWINNEY, Scott A. SCHOLTEN
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Publication number: 20110047866Abstract: Disclosed is a process for removing solids, metals, phosphorus compounds and other impurities from low quality triglyceride containing feedstock. The final treated triglyceride containing feedstock may be converted to fuel range hydrocarbons via hydrotreating process.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Yun BAO, Xiaochun XU, Jianhua YAO, Lisa L. MYERS, Dhananjay B. GHONASGI, Edward L. SUGHRUE, Scott A. SCHOLTEN, Kathy A. SWALLOWS, Larry D. SWINNEY
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Patent number: 7658906Abstract: Novel sulfur recovery plants, and processes utilizing these plants are disclosed. These apparatuses eliminate the use of a condenser between the waste heat boiler and first Claus catalytic reactors, and also eliminate the use of reheaters in between Claus catalytic reactors.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2008Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventors: Alfred E. Keller, Nathan A. Hatcher, Sriram Ramani, Larry D. Swinney
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Publication number: 20090220402Abstract: Novel sulfur recovery plants, and processes utilizing these plants are disclosed. These apparatuses eliminate the use of a condenser between the waste heat boiler and first Claus catalytic reactors, and also eliminate the use of reheaters in between Claus catalytic reactors.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2008Publication date: September 3, 2009Inventors: Alfred E. Keller, Nathan A. Hatcher, Sriram Ramani, Larry D. Swinney
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Patent number: 7560088Abstract: A compact sulfur recovery system is disclosed which includes an upflow orientation for the gases through a primary structure including a catalytic partial oxidation reaction zone, a first temperature-control zone, a first Claus catalytic reaction zone, a second temperature-control zone, a first liquid sulfur outlet, and a first effluent gas outlet. The upward flow of the gases puts the hottest gases in contact with the tubes and tube sheet in the waste heat boiler where there is greater confidence in having liquid water in most continuous therewith.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2007Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventors: Alfred E. Keller, Sriram Ramani, Nathan A. Hatcher, Joe D. Allison, Steven E. Lusk, Larry D. Swinney, Kerri J. Kirkendall, Gilbert E. Torres, Paul D. Stewart, Terry D. Pruitt
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Patent number: 7501111Abstract: Claus sulfur recovery plants that include one or more single-stage or multi-stage compact tubular Claus catalytic reactor-heat exchanger units are disclosed. In some instances, these new or improved Claus plants additionally include one or more compact heat exchanger containing cooling tubes that are filled with a heat transfer enhancement medium. The new compact tubular Claus catalytic reactor-heat exchanger units and HTEM-containing heat exchangers are also disclosed. A process for recovering sulfur from a hydrogen sulfide-containing gas stream, employing the new tubular Claus catalytic reactor-heat exchanger unit, and in some instances a HTEM-containing heat exchanger, are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2006Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: Conoco Phillips CompanyInventors: Alfred E. Keller, Sriram Ramani, Joe D. Allison, Steven E. Lusk, Nathan A. Hatcher, Larry D. Swinney, Rebecca S. Shaver
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Publication number: 20080050306Abstract: Claus sulfur recovery plants that include one or more single-stage or multi-stage compact tubular Claus catalytic reactor-heat exchanger units are disclosed. In some instances, these new or improved Claus plants additionally include one or more compact heat exchanger containing cooling tubes that are filled with a heat transfer enhancement medium. The new compact tubular Claus catalytic reactor-heat exchanger units and HTEM-containing heat exchangers are also disclosed. A process for recovering sulfur from a hydrogen sulfide-containing gas stream, employing the new tubular Claus catalytic reactor-heat exchanger unit, and in some instances a HTEM-containing heat exchanger, are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2006Publication date: February 28, 2008Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Alfred E. Keller, Sriram Ramani, Joe D. Allison, Steven E. Lusk, Nathan A. Hatcher, Larry D. Swinney, Rebecca S. Shaver
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Patent number: 7230034Abstract: The invention relates to methods for prevention of and recovery from a catalyst bed slumping in a gas-agitated multiphase hydrocarbon synthesis reactor, while the reactor is either under non-reactive conditions or under reaction promoting conditions when syngas is converted to products. The reactor contains a catalyst bed comprising catalyst particles and a gas injection zone suitable for injecting a reactor gas feed. A method for preventing bed slumping comprises supplying a supplemental gas to the gas-agitated multiphase reactor to prevent the catalyst bed from slumping due to insufficient reactor gas feed flow. The method may include recycling some or all of the supplemental gas to the reactor. The method may further comprise separating the gas injection zone from the catalyst bed with a porous plate so as to prevent migration of catalyst particles into the gas injection zone and to minimize plugging of gas distributor(s) present in said zone.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2004Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventors: Sergio R. Mohedas, Rafael L. Espinoza, Jack E. Cnossen, Todd H. Harkins, Vincent H. Melquist, Larry D. Swinney
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Patent number: 7226572Abstract: A compact sulfur recovery system is disclosed which comprises a primary structure including a catalytic partial oxidation reaction zone, a first temperature-control zone, a first Claus catalytic reaction zone, a second temperature-control zone, a first liquid sulfur outlet, and a first effluent gas outlet. In some embodiments, a secondary structure follows the primary structure and comprises a second Claus catalytic reaction zone, a third temperature-control zone, a second liquid sulfur outlet, and a second effluent gas outlet. One or more components of the system employ heat transfer enhancement material in the temperature-control zones, and one or more components deter accumulation of liquid sulfur in the Claus catalytic reaction zones.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2006Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventors: Alfred E. Keller, Sriram Ramani, Joe D. Allison, Steven E. Lusk, Nathan A. Hatcher, Larry D. Swinney, Kerri J. Kirkendall, Gilbert E. Torres, Paul D. Stewart, Terry D. Pruitt
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Patent number: 6946114Abstract: Lanthanide-promoted rhodium-containing supported catalysts that are active for catalyzing the net partial oxidation of methane to CO and H2 are disclosed, along with their manner of making and high efficiency processes for producing synthesis gas employing the new catalysts. A preferred catalyst comprises highly dispersed, high surface area rhodium on a granular zirconia support with an intermediate coating of a lanthanide metal and/or oxide thereof and is thermally conditioned during catalyst preparation. In a preferred syngas production process a stream of methane-containing gas and O2 is passed over a thermally conditioned, high surface area Rh/Sm/zirconia granular catalyst in a short contact time reactor to produce a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2001Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventors: Joe D. Allison, Larry D. Swinney, Tianyan Niu, Kevin L. Ricketson, Daxiang Wang, Sriram Ramani, Gloria I. Straguzzi, David M. Minahan, Harold A. Wright, Baili Hu
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Patent number: 6887456Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a hydrocarbon and oxygen containing gas feed stream to a product stream, such as syngas, including catalytically partially oxidizing the hydrocarbon feed stream over a catalyst bed. The catalyst bed has a downstream section which is less resistant to flow than the upstream section.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2002Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventors: Bang Chen Xu, Sriram Ramani, Kevin L. Ricketson, Gloria I. Straguzzi, Larry D. Swinney, Joe D. Allison
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Publication number: 20040171900Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for start-up a chemical reactor wherein at least a portion of the igniter is downstream from the reaction zone which needs to be ignited. Particularly, embodiments of the present invention include a partial oxidation reactor with an igniter downstream of the partial oxidation zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2003Publication date: September 2, 2004Applicant: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventors: Daxiang Wang, Chad Ricketson, Gloria I. Straguzzi, Harold A. Wright, Larry D. Swinney, Joe D. Allison, Zhen Chen, Kevin L. Ricketson, Shang Y. Chen, Steven R. McDonald
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Publication number: 20030083198Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a hydrocarbon and oxygen containing gas feed stream to a product stream, such as syngas, including catalytically partially oxidizing the hydrocarbon feed stream over a catalyst bed. The catalyst bed has a downstream section which is less resistant to flow than the upstream section.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2002Publication date: May 1, 2003Applicant: Conoco Inc.Inventors: Bang Chen Xu, Sriram Ramani, Kevin L. Ricketson, Gloria I. Straguzzi, Larry D. Swinney, Joe D. Allison
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Publication number: 20020115730Abstract: Lanthanide-promoted rhodium-containing supported catalysts that are active for catalyzing the net partial oxidation of methane to CO and H2 are disclosed, along with their manner of making and high efficiency processes for producing synthesis gas employing the new catalysts. A preferred catalyst comprises highly dispersed, high surface area rhodium on a granular zirconia support with an intermediate coating of a lanthanide metal and/or oxide thereof and is thermally conditioned during catalyst preparation. In a preferred syngas production process a stream of methane-containing gas and O2 is passed over a thermally conditioned, high surface area Rh/Sm/zirconia granular catalyst in a short contact time reactor to produce a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2001Publication date: August 22, 2002Inventors: Joe D. Allison, Larry D. Swinney, Tianyan Niu, Kevin L. Ricketson, Daxiang Wang, Sriram Ramani, Gloria I. Straguzzi, David M. Minahan, Harold A. Wright, Baili Hu