Patents by Inventor Nathan A. Kirk

Nathan A. Kirk 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).

  • Process for producing ethanol using an extractive distillation column
    Patent number: 8304587
    Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of crude ethanol product are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In addition, the process involves separating the crude ethanol product using an extractive distillation column that employs an extraction agent, such as a recycled stream comprising water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Wael Amleh, Gerald Grusendorf, Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Fred Ronald Olsson, Nathan Kirk Powell, Manuel Salado, Lincoln Sarager
  • Water Control In Alcohol Production From Hydrogenation
    Publication number: 20120277483
    Abstract: Recovery of alcohol, in particular ethanol, from a crude product obtained from the hydrogenation of a feed stream comprising a carbonylation stock selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, and acetic acid and an ester thereof. The hydrogenation reaction produces a reactor product that is dehydrated to produce a dried product stream that comprises less water than the feed stream. This controls the additional water fed to the hydrogenation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Trinity Horton, Victor J. Johnston, Adam Orosco, Lincoln Sarager, Mark O. Scates, Manuel Salado, Nathan Kirk Powell, Fred Ronald Olsson
  • Process to Recover Alcohol From An Ethyl Acetate Residue Stream
    Publication number: 20120277490
    Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid using a low energy process. The crude ethanol product is separated in a column to produce a distillate stream comprising acetaldehyde and a residue stream comprising ethanol, acetic acid, ethyl acetate and water. The ethanol product is recovered from the residue stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: David Lee, Fred Ronald Olsson, Adam Orosco, Nathan Kirk Powell, Manuel Salado, Lincoln Sarager, R. Jay Warner, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston
  • Method and apparatus for making acetic acid with improved light ends column productivity
    Patent number: 8173076
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method of producing acetic acid includes condensing overhead vapor to provide reflux to the light ends column as well as condensing vapor from a central portion of the light ends column to increase capacity. Throughput or load on the light ends column is substantially reduced without compromising product quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Kirk Powell, Nathan Jeremy Nagel, Fred Ronald Olsson, Wayne David Picard, Ronald David Shaver, Ismael Torres Tejeda
  • PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ETHANOL USING AN EXTRACTIVE DISTILLATION COLUMN
    Publication number: 20110275864
    Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of crude ethanol product are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In addition, the process involves separating the crude ethanol product using an extractive distillation column that employs an extraction agent, such as a recycled stream comprising water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: R. Jay Warner, Wael Amleh, Gerald Grusendorf, Trinity Horton, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Fred Ronald Olsson, Nathan Kirk Powell, Manuel Salado, Lincoln Sarager
  • Method and Apparatus for Making Acetic Acid with Improved Light Ends Column Productivity
    Publication number: 20110250101
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method of producing acetic acid includes condensing overhead vapor to provide reflux to the light ends column as well as condensing vapor from a central portion of the light ends column to increase capacity. Throughput or load on the light ends column is substantially reduced without compromising product quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Kirk Powell, Nathan Jeremy Nagel, Fred Ronald Olsson, Wayne David Picard, Ronald David Shaver, Ismael Torres Tejeda
  • Process for Heat Integration for Ethanol Production and Purification Process
    Publication number: 20110190552
    Abstract: Ethanol production from the hydrogenation of acetic acid requires energy to drive the hydrogenation reaction and the purification of the crude ethanol product. Heat integration process to recover heat from one part of the production process to be used within the process improves efficiencies and reduces costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathan Kirk Powell, Samuel Roundy, Lincoln Sarager, Murray Viard, R. Jay Warner, Gerald Gruesendorf, Radmila Jevtic, Victor J. Johnston, Fred Ronald Olsson
  • Method and apparatus for making acetic acid with improved light ends column productivity
    Patent number: 7989659
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method of producing acetic acid includes condensing overhead vapor to provide reflux to the light ends column as well as condensing vapor from a central portion of the light ends column to increase capacity. Throughput or load on the light ends column is substantially reduced without compromising product quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Kirk Powell, Nathan Jeremy Nagel, Fred Ronald Olsson, Wayne David Picard, Ronald David Shaver, Ismael Torres Tejeda
  • Method and apparatus for making acetic acid with improved purification
    Patent number: 7619113
    Abstract: An improved method of producing acetic acid includes condensing overhead vapor from a light ends column and decanting the condensed vapor to a light phase and a heavy phase. The heavy phase consists predominantly of methyl iodide and at least a portion of the decanted heavy phase is refluxed to the light ends column. Acetic acid content of the light ends column overhead stream and water content of the light ends column product (sidedraw) stream are both decreased, improving purification efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventor: Nathan Kirk Powell
  • Method and apparatus for making acetic acid with improved purification
    Publication number: 20090088587
    Abstract: An improved method of producing acetic acid includes condensing overhead vapor from a light ends column and decanting the condensed vapor to a light phase and a heavy phase. The heavy phase consists predominantly of methyl iodide and at least a portion of the decanted heavy phase is refluxed to the light ends column. Acetic acid content of the light ends column overhead stream and water content of the light ends column product (sidedraw) stream are both decreased, improving purification efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventor: Nathan Kirk Powell
  • Method and apparatus for making acetic acid with improved light ends column productivity
    Publication number: 20080287706
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method of producing acetic acid includes condensing overhead vapor to provide reflux to the light ends column as well as condensing vapor from a central portion of the light ends column to increase capacity. Throughput or load on the light ends column is substantially reduced without compromising product quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Nathan Kirk Powell, Nathan Jeremy Nagel, Fred Ronald Olsson, Wayne David Picard, Ronald David Shaver, Ismael Torres Tejeda
  • Shellfish shucking machine
    Patent number: 5178577
    Abstract: An shellfish shucking machine comprising a housing; means on the housing for supporting oyster shells; a tool on the housing for opening oyster shells; and means for operating the tool whereby the tool performs a cutting of the oyster shell and then a splitting of the oyster shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Inventor: Nathan A. Kirk