Patents by Inventor Michael Sean Driver

Michael Sean Driver 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: 11135575
    Abstract: We provide a process for regenerating a spent acidic ionic liquid, comprising contacting the spent acidic ionic liquid with hydrogen and without an addition of a hydrogenation catalyst; wherein a conjunct polymer content is decreased in the spent acidic ionic liquid to produce regenerated acidic ionic liquid. We also provide a process for making an alkylate gasoline blending component, comprising: a) alkylating a mixture of isoparaffins and olefins using an acidic ionic liquid and an alkyl halide or a hydrogen halide, wherein a conjunct polymer accumulates in a spent acidic ionic liquid; and b) feeding the spent acidic ionic liquid and a hydrogen, and without an addition of a hydrogenation catalyst, to a regeneration reactor operated under selected hydrogenation conditions to produce a regenerated acidic ionic liquid that is used for the alkylating, wherein the conjunct polymer in the regenerated acidic ionic liquid is decreased by at least 50 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Michael John Girgis, Huping Luo, Bong Kyu Chang, Hye-Kyung Cho Timken, Steven Xugi Song, Michael Sean Driver
  • Patent number: 10227274
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods which provide a process stream comprising a gaseous component, capture the gaseous component from the process stream by an ionic liquid solvent of a separator, and recover a captured gaseous component from the ionic liquid solvent in a regenerator. A second gaseous component from the process stream may be captured by the ionic liquid solvent of the separator, and the second gaseous component may be recovered from the ionic liquid solvent in the regenerator. Alternatively, the second gaseous component from the process stream may be uncaptured by the ionic liquid solvent, and the uncaptured second gaseous component may be recovered from a membrane unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Lei Ji, Ai-Fu Chang, Michael Sean Driver, Hye-Kyung Cho Timken
  • Publication number: 20180207629
    Abstract: We provide a process for regenerating a spent acidic ionic liquid, comprising contacting the spent acidic ionic liquid with hydrogen and without an addition of a hydrogenation catalyst; wherein a conjunct polymer content is decreased in the spent acidic ionic liquid to produce regenerated acidic ionic liquid. We also provide a process for making an alkylate gasoline blending component, comprising: a) alkylating a mixture of isoparaffins and olefins using an acidic ionic liquid and an alkyl halide or a hydrogen halide, wherein a conjunct polymer accumulates in a spent acidic ionic liquid; and b) feeding the spent acidic ionic liquid and a hydrogen, and without an addition of a hydrogenation catalyst, to a regeneration reactor operated under selected hydrogenation conditions to produce a regenerated acidic ionic liquid that is used for the alkylating, wherein the conjunct polymer in the regenerated acidic ionic liquid is decreased by at least 50 wt %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Michael John Girgis, Huping Luo, Bong Kyu Chang, Hye-Kyung Timken, Steven Xugi Song, Michael Sean Driver
  • Patent number: 9956552
    Abstract: We provide a process for regenerating a spent acidic ionic liquid, comprising contacting the spent acidic ionic liquid with hydrogen and without an addition of a hydrogenation catalyst; wherein a conjunct polymer content is decreased in the spent acidic ionic liquid to produce regenerated acidic ionic liquid. We also provide a process for making an alkylate gasoline blending component, comprising: a) alkylating a mixture of isoparaffins and olefins using an acidic ionic liquid and an alkyl halide or a hydrogen halide, wherein a conjunct polymer accumulates in a spent acidic ionic liquid; and b) feeding the spent acidic ionic liquid and a hydrogen, and without an addition of a hydrogenation catalyst, to a regeneration reactor operated under selected hydrogenation conditions to produce a regenerated acidic ionic liquid that is used for the alkylating, wherein the conjunct polymer in the regenerated acidic ionic liquid is decreased by at least 50 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Girgis, Huping Luo, Bong Kyu Chang, Hye-Kyung Timken, Steven Xugi Song, Michael Sean Driver
  • Publication number: 20170216827
    Abstract: We provide a process for regenerating a spent acidic ionic liquid, comprising contacting the spent acidic ionic liquid with hydrogen and without an addition of a hydrogenation catalyst; wherein a conjunct polymer content is decreased in the spent acidic ionic liquid to produce regenerated acidic ionic liquid. We also provide a process for making an alkylate gasoline blending component, comprising: a) alkylating a mixture of isoparaffins and olefins using an acidic ionic liquid and an alkyl halide or a hydrogen halide, wherein a conjunct polymer accumulates in a spent acidic ionic liquid; and b) feeding the spent acidic ionic liquid and a hydrogen, and without an addition of a hydrogenation catalyst, to a regeneration reactor operated under selected hydrogenation conditions to produce a regenerated acidic ionic liquid that is used for the alkylating, wherein the conjunct polymer in the regenerated acidic ionic liquid is decreased by at least 50 wt %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Michael John Girgis, Huping Luo, Bong Kyu Chang, Hye-Kyung Timken, Steven Xugi Song, Michael Sean Driver
  • Publication number: 20150133711
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods which provide a process stream comprising a gaseous component, capture the gaseous component from the process stream by an ionic liquid solvent of a separator, and recover a captured gaseous component from the ionic liquid solvent in a regenerator. A second gaseous component from the process stream may be captured by the ionic liquid solvent of the separator, and the second gaseous component may be recovered from the ionic liquid solvent in the regenerator. Alternatively, the second gaseous component from the process stream may be uncaptured by the ionic liquid solvent, and the uncaptured second gaseous component may be recovered from a membrane unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Lei JI, Ai-Fu CHANG, Michael Sean Driver, Hye-Kyung Cho Timken
  • Patent number: 8987159
    Abstract: We provide an extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45), comprising a hydrogenated conjunct polymer naphtha, from a used ionic liquid catalyst, having a final boiling point less than 246° C. (475° F.), a Bromine Number of 5 or less, and at least 30 wt % naphthenes. We also provide a blended alkylate gasoline (97) comprising the extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45), and integrated alkylation processes to make the extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45) and the blended alkylate gasoline (97). We also provide a method to analyze alkylate products, by determining an amount of methylcyclohexane in the alkylate products (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Hye Kyung Cho Timken, Izadyar Dalvand, Douglas Robert Cyr, Michael Tung-hai Cheng, Huping Luo, Shawn Shlomo Winter, Michael Sean Driver, Donald Henry Mohr
  • Patent number: 8969645
    Abstract: We provide a process comprising: a. feeding a chlorinated-hydrocarbon and an ionic liquid catalyst to a treatment unit; b. operating the treatment unit at an elevated temperature to produce dechlorinated-hydrocarbon and HCl; and c. collecting the dechlorinated-hydrocarbon, wherein at least 90 wt % of the chlorides are removed. A second process comprises: a. creating an ionic liquid catalyst-rich zone in a distillation unit; b. passing chlorinated-hydrocarbon to the distillation unit; c. operating the unit under conditions causing removal of alkyl chloride to produce dechlorinated-hydrocarbon having a final boiling point close to a first final boiling point. A third process comprises: a. feeding alkylate gasoline blending component and ionic liquid catalyst to a treatment unit; b. operating the treatment unit; and c. collecting a dechlorinated-hydrocarbon, wherein at least 90 wt % of the chlorides have been removed and the dechlorinated-hydrocarbon has a second RON that is close to a first RON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Bi-Zeng Zhan, Hye Kyung Cho Timken, Michael Sean Driver
  • Publication number: 20140179977
    Abstract: We provide an extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45), comprising a hydrogenated conjunct polymer naphtha, from a used ionic liquid catalyst, having a final boiling point less than 246° C. (475° F.), a Bromine Number of 5 or less, and at least 30 wt % naphthenes. We also provide a blended alkylate gasoline (97) comprising the extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45), and integrated alkylation processes to make the extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45) and the blended alkylate gasoline (97). We also provide a method to analyze alkylate products, by determining an amount of methylcyclohexane in the alkylate products (80).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Hye Kyung Cho Timken, Izadyar Dalvand, Douglas Robert Cyr, Michael Tung-hai Cheng, Huping Luo, Shawn Shlomo Winter, Michael Sean Driver, Donald Henry Mohr
  • Publication number: 20140174151
    Abstract: We provide an extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45), comprising a hydrogenated conjunct polymer naphtha, from a used ionic liquid catalyst, having a final boiling point less than 246° C.(475° F.), a Bromine Number of 5 or less, and at least 30 wt % naphthenes. We also provide a blended alkylate gasoline (97 comprising the extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45), and integrated alkylation processes to make the extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45) and the blended alkylate gasoline (97). We also provide a method to analyze alkylate products, by determining an amount of methylcyclohexane in the alkylate products (80).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Hye Kyung Cho Timken, Izadyar Dalvand, Douglas Robert Cyr, Michael Tung-hai Cheng, Huping Luo, Shawn Shlomo WInter, Michael Sean Driver, Donald Henry Mohr
  • Publication number: 20140171720
    Abstract: We provide a process comprising: a. feeding a chlorinated-hydrocarbon and an ionic liquid catalyst to a treatment unit; b. operating the treatment unit at an elevated temperature to produce dechlorinated-hydrocarbon and HCl; and c. collecting the dechlorinated-hydrocarbon, wherein at least 90 wt % of the chlorides are removed. A second process comprises: a. creating an ionic liquid catalyst-rich zone in a distillation unit; b. passing chlorinated-hydrocarbon to the distillation unit; c. operating the unit under conditions causing removal of alkyl chloride to produce dechlorinated-hydrocarbon having a final boiling point close to a first final boiling point. A third process comprises: a. feeding alkylate gasoline blending component and ionic liquid catalyst to a treatment unit; b. operating the treatment unit; and c. collecting a dechlorinated-hydrocarbon, wherein at least 90 wt % of the chlorides have been removed and the dechlorinated-hydrocarbon has a second RON that is close to a first RON.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Bi-Zeng Zhan, Hye Kyung Cho Timken, Michael Sean Driver
  • Patent number: 8704018
    Abstract: We provide an extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45), comprising a hydrogenated conjunct polymer naphtha, from a used ionic liquid catalyst, having a final boiling point less than 246° C. (475° F.), a Bromine Number of 5 or less, and at least 30 wt % naphthenes. We also provide a blended alkylate gasoline (97) comprising the extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45), and integrated alkylation processes to make the extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45) and the blended alkylate gasoline (97). We also provide a method to analyze alkylate products, by determining an amount of methylcyclohexane in the alkylate products (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Hye Kyung Cho Timken, Izadyar Dalvand, Douglas Robert Cyr, Michael Tung-hai Cheng, Huping Luo, Shawn Shlomo Winter, Michael Sean Driver, Donald Henry Mohr
  • Publication number: 20140039230
    Abstract: We provide an extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45), comprising a hydrogenated conjunct polymer naphtha, from a used ionic liquid catalyst, having a final boiling point less than 246° C. (475° F.), a Bromine Number of 5 or less, and at least 30 wt % naphthenes. We also provide a blended alkylate gasoline (97) comprising the extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45), and integrated alkylation processes to make the extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45) and the blended alkylate gasoline (97). We also provide a method to analyze alkylate products, by determining an amount of methylcyclohexane in the alkylate products (80).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Hye Kyung Cho Timken, Izadyar Dalvand, Douglas Robert Cyr, Michael Tung-hai Cheng, Huping Luo, Shawn Shlomo Winter, Michael Sean Driver, Donald Henry Mohr