Patents by Inventor N. Kelly Benham

N. Kelly Benham 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: 6517706
    Abstract: A slurry feed of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock and coke-inhibiting additive particles together with a hydrogen-containing gas, are fed upward through a confined hydrocracking zone in a vertical, elongated, cylindrical vessel with a generally dome-shaped bottom head. A mixed effluent is removed from the top containing hydrogen and vaporous hydrocarbons and liquid heavy hydrocarbons. The slurry feed mixture and a portion of the hydrogen-containing gas are fed into the hydrocracking zone through an injector at the bottom of the dome-shaped bottom head and the balance of the hydrogen-containing gas is fed into the hydrocracking zone through injection nozzles arranged within of the hydrocracking zone at a location above the slurry-feed injector. The combined slurry feed and hydrogen-containing gas are injected at a velocity whereby the additive particles are maintained in suspension throughout the vessel and coking reactions are prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Petro-Canada
    Inventors: Barry B. Pruden, N. Kelly Benham
  • Patent number: 6004453
    Abstract: A process for hydrocracking a heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock, a substantial portion of which boils above 524.degree. C. is described which includes the steps of: (a) passing a slurry feed of a mixture of heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock and from about 0.01-4.0% by weight (based on fresh feedstock) of coke-inhibiting additive particles upwardly through a confined vertical hydrocracking zone, the hydrocracking zone being maintained at a temperature between about 350.degree. and 600.degree. C. a pressure of at least 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Petro-Canada
    Inventors: N. Kelly Benham, Barry B. Pruden, Michel Roy
  • Patent number: 5972202
    Abstract: A process is described for controlling the size of additive or catalyst particles mixed with heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock containing asphaltenes and metals and being subjected to hydrotreating. A slurry feed of a mixture of the heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock and coke-inhibiting additive particles or catalyst particles is passed upwardly through a confined vertical hydrotreating zone in the presence of hydrogen gas, while removing from the top of the hydrotreating zone a mixed effluent containing a gaseous phase comprising hydrogen and vaporous hydrocarbon and a liquid phase comprising heavy hydrocarbon. The mixed effluent is passed through a separation vessel, while withdrawing from the top of the separator a gaseous stream comprising hydrogen and vaporous hydrocarbons and withdrawing from the bottom of the separator a liquid stream comprising heavy hydrocarbons and particles of coke-inhibiting additive or catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Petro--Canada
    Inventors: N. Kelly Benham, Barry B. Pruden
  • Patent number: 5755955
    Abstract: A process for hydrocracking a heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock, a substantial portion of which boils above 524.degree. C. is described which includes the steps of: (a) passing a slurry feed of a mixture of heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock and from about 0.01-4.0% by weight (based on fresh feedstock) of coke-inhibiting additive particles upwardly through a confined vertical hydrocracking zone, the hydrocracking zone being maintained at a temperature between about 350.degree. and 600.degree. C. a pressure of at least 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Petro-Canada
    Inventors: N. Kelly Benham, Barry B. Pruden, Michel Roy