Patents by Inventor Larry E. Pedrick

Larry E. Pedrick 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: 6124367
    Abstract: Supports for Fischer-Tropsch catalysts with increased strength and attrition resistance are formed by incorporating both silica and alumina into a support comprised primarily of titania; whereupon Fischer-Tropsch active metals can be composited with the support; the catalysts being particularly useful in slurry reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Stanislaw Plecha, Charles H. Mauldin, Larry E. Pedrick
  • Patent number: 6117814
    Abstract: Supports for Fischer-Tropsch catalysts with increased strength and attrition resistance are formed by incorporating both silica and alumina into a support comprised primarily of titania; whereupon Fischer-Tropsch active metals can be composited with the support; the catalysts being particularly useful in slurry reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Stanislaw Plecha, Charles H. Mauldin, Larry E. Pedrick
  • Patent number: 6087405
    Abstract: Supports for Fischer-Tropsch catalysts with increased strength and attrition resistance are formed by incorporating both silica and alumina into a support comprised primarily of titania; whereupon Fischer-Tropsch active metals can be composited with the support; the catalysts being particularly useful in slurry reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Stanislaw Plecha, Charles H. Mauldin, Larry E. Pedrick
  • Patent number: 5905094
    Abstract: A slurry hydrocarbon synthesis process with reduced catalyst attrition is achieved by injecting a synthesis gas comprising a mixture of H.sub.2 and CO up into the reactive slurry with a gas distribution grid having gas injectors horizontally arrayed across, and vertically extending through, an otherwise gas and liquid impervious plate. The injectors have a throat with a gas pressure reducing orifice at one end, which is the bottom and gas entrance end, and the other end opening into an open cone in which the uprising gas contacts the slurry. Flow diverting means in the injectors prevents slurry from entering the throat and being attrited. The gas injectors do not protrude above the top surface of the plate and flat space is eliminated by means such as angular fillers, to prevent solids accumulation top of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Min Chang, Constantine A. Coulaloglou, Edward C. Hsu, Larry E. Pedrick
  • Patent number: 5382748
    Abstract: The operation of a hydrocarbon synthesis reactor and catalyst distributed in the reaction slurry therein are improved by the presence in said reactor of one or more vertical downcomers open at both ends with gas disengaging areas located at their top end. The downcomer which circulates catalyst from the top of the reaction slurry to the bottom of said slurry is fully immersed in the reaction slurry and preferably extends from just above the bottom of the reaction zone of the reaction vessel to just below the top surface of the reaction slurry. The bottom end of said downcomer is shielded from intrusion of rising synthesis gas by the placement of a baffle which blocks rising gas entry but facilitates the exit of catalyst and liquid from the bottom of said downcomer and distributes them radially throughout the adjacent reactor slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: William C. Behrmann, Charles H. Mauldin, Larry E. Pedrick
  • Patent number: 5268344
    Abstract: Catalyst in a slurry phase reactor is rejuvenated and uniformly distributed in said reactor using a substantially vertical draft tube fully immersed in the slurry which utilizes a rejuvenating gas injected substantially near the bottom of the substantially vertical draft tube whereby catalyst near the bottom of the slurry phase reactor is drawn up the draft tube and discharged from the top of the draft tube near the top of the slurry phase in said reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Larry E. Pedrick, Charles H. Mauldin, William C. Behrmann
  • Patent number: RE37229
    Abstract: The operation of a hydrocarbon synthesis reactor and catalyst distributed in the reaction slurry therein are improved by the presence in said reactor of one or more vertical downcomers open at both ends with gas disengaging areas located at their top end. The downcomer which circulates catalyst from the top of the reaction slurry to the bottom of said slurry is fully immersed in the reaction slurry and preferably extends from just above the bottom of the reaction zone of the reaction vessel to just below the top surface of the reaction slurry. The bottom end of said downcomer is shielded from intrusion of rising synthesis gas by the placement of a baffle which blocks rising gas entry but facilitates the exit of catalyst and liquid from the bottom of said downcomer and distributes them radially throughout the adjacent reactor slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: William C. Behrmann, Charles H. Mauldin, Larry E. Pedrick
  • Patent number: RE37649
    Abstract: Catalyst in a slurry phase reactor is rejuvenated and uniformly distributed in said reactor using a substantially vertical draft tube fully immersed in the slurry which utilizes a rejuvenating gas injected substantially near the bottom of the substantially vertical draft tube whereby catalyst near the bottom of the slurry phase reactor is drawn up the draft tube and discharged from the top of the draft tube near the top of the slurry phase in said reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Larry E. Pedrick, Charles H. Mauldin, William C. Behrmann