Patents by Inventor Patrick C. Whitchurch

Patrick C. Whitchurch 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: 10865169
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing a C8 aromatic isomer product are provided. The process comprises introducing a reformate stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons to a reformate splitter column to provide a plurality of streams. One or more streams comprising at least one stream from the plurality of streams is passed to a reformate upgrading unit to obtain an upgraded reformate stream. The upgraded reformate stream is passed to an aromatics stripper column to provide an aromatics stripper sidedraw stream comprising C8 aromatic hydrocarbons. The aromatics stripper sidedraw stream is passed to a xylene separation unit to provide the C8 aromatic isomer product and a raffinate product stream. At least a portion of the raffinate product stream is processed in a liquid phase isomerization unit to obtain an isomerized stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Joseph A. Montalbano, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Gregory R. Werba, Ian G. Horn
  • Patent number: 10822291
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing a C8 aromatic isomer product are provided. The processes comprise introducing a raffinate product stream comprising C8 aromatic isomers to an isomerization unit to provide an isomerized stream. The isomerized stream is separated to provide a first stream comprising C8 naphthenes and C7 aromatic hydrocarbons and a second stream comprising C8 aromatic isomers. The first stream is passed to an extractive distillation column to provide a recycle feedstream comprising the C8 naphthenes and an extract stream comprising the C7 aromatic hydrocarbons. The recycle feedstream is passed to the isomerization unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jason T. Corradi, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Abhishek M. Pednekar, Leonid Bresler, Anton N. Mlinar
  • Publication number: 20200095181
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing para-xylenes are provided. The processes comprises providing a reformate stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons to a reformate splitter to provide a reformate bottoms stream and a reformate overhead stream. A portion of the reformate bottoms stream is passed to a para-xylene separation unit for separating para-xylene, wherein the portion of the reformate bottoms stream is passed to the para-xylene separation unit without an intermediate step for removal of olefins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Kathryn R. Bjorkman, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Rodrigo J. Lobo, Linda S. Cheng, Susan A. Somers
  • Patent number: 10519082
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing para-xylenes are provided. The processes comprises providing a reformate stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons to a reformate splitter to provide a reformate bottoms stream and a reformate overhead stream. A portion of the reformate bottoms stream is passed to a para-xylene separation unit for separating para-xylene, wherein the portion of the reformate bottoms stream is passed to the para-xyelene separation unit without an intermediate step for removal of olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Kathryn R. Bjorkman, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Rodrigo J. Lobo, Linda S. Cheng, Susan A. Somers
  • Patent number: 10479742
    Abstract: The field of this claimed subject matter generally relates to liquid phase isomerization technology. More specification, the field relates to liquid phase isomerization in complete absence of hydrogen which eliminates the need for gas-liquid separation at the reactor outlet. Even in the absence of the hydrogen, the catalyst demonstrates a stable isomerization performance with a paraxylene to xylene ratio of about 23 wt % in the product stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Ashish Suresh Bambal, Gregory B. Kuzmanich, Patrick C. Whitchurch
  • Patent number: 10427993
    Abstract: A process for separating xylene from a feedstock in which the feedstock is separated into a xylene stream, a benzene rich stream and a light ends stream. Two separation zones may be utilized in which liquid from both is sent to a compression zone and the vapor from the compression zone is combined with a stream prior to the stream entering the second separation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Leonid Bresler, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Jason T. Corradi
  • Publication number: 20190062237
    Abstract: A process for separating xylene from a feedstock in which the feedstock is separated into a xylene stream, a benzene rich stream and a light ends stream. Two separation zones may be utilized in which liquid from both is sent to a compression zone and the vapor from the compression zone is combined with a stream prior to the stream entering the second separation zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Leonid Bresler, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Jason T. Corradi
  • Patent number: 10214465
    Abstract: The present subject matter describes processes for increasing overall aromatics and xylenes yield in an aromatics complex. More specifically, the process for increasing overall aromatics and xylenes yield in an aromatics complex accomplishes the increased yields by incorporating an A8-A10 isomerization step into the aromatics complex. This isomerization integration increases the para-xylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanley J. Frey, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Keith A. Couch
  • Publication number: 20180319724
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing a C8 aromatic isomer product are provided. The processes comprise introducing a raffinate product stream comprising C8 aromatic isomers to an isomerization unit to provide an isomerized stream. The isomerized stream is separated to provide a first stream comprising C8 naphthenes and C7 aromatic hydrocarbons and a second stream comprising C8 aromatic isomers. The first stream is passed to an extractive distillation column to provide a recycle feedstream comprising the C8 naphthenes and an extract stream comprising the C7 aromatic hydrocarbons. The recycle feedstream is passed to the isomerization unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Jason T. Corradi, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Abhishek M. Pednekar, Leonid Bresler, Anton N. Mlinar
  • Publication number: 20180273444
    Abstract: The present subject matter describes processes for increasing overall aromatics and xylenes yield in an aromatics complex. More specifically, the process for increasing overall aromatics and xylenes yield in an aromatics complex accomplishes the increased yields by incorporating an A8-A10 isomerization step into the aromatics complex. This isomerization integration increases the para-xylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Stanley J. Frey, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Keith A. Couch
  • Publication number: 20180170840
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing para-xylenes are provided. The processes comprises providing a reformate stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons to a reformate splitter to provide a reformate bottoms stream and a reformate overhead stream. A portion of the reformate bottoms stream is passed to a para-xylene separation unit for separating para-xylene, wherein the portion of the reformate bottoms stream is passed to the para-xyelene separation unit without an intermediate step for removal of olefins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Kathryn R. Bjorkman, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Rodrigo J. Lobo, Linda S. Cheng, Susan A. Somers
  • Publication number: 20180170834
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing para-xylenes are provided. The processes comprises providing a reformate stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons to a reformate splitter to provide a reformate bottoms stream and a reformate overhead stream. A portion of the reformate bottoms stream is passed to a para-xylene separation unit for separating para-xylene, wherein the portion of the reformate bottoms stream is passed to the para-xyelene separation unit without an intermediate step for removal of olefins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Kathryn R. Bjorkman, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Rodrigo J. Lobo, Linda S. Cheng, Susan A. Somers
  • Publication number: 20170349508
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing a C8 aromatic isomer product are provided. The process comprises introducing a reformate stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons to a reformate splitter column to provide a plurality of streams. One or more streams comprising at least one stream from the plurality of streams is passed to a reformate upgrading unit to obtain an upgraded reformate stream. The upgraded reformate stream is passed to an aromatics stripper column to provide an aromatics stripper sidedraw stream comprising C8 aromatic hydrocarbons. The aromatics stripper sidedraw stream is passed to a xylene separation unit to provide the C8 aromatic isomer product and a raffinate product stream. At least a portion of the raffinate product stream is processed in a liquid phase isomerization unit to obtain an isomerized stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph A. Montalbano, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Gregory R. Werba, Ian G. Horn
  • Publication number: 20170297977
    Abstract: The field of this claimed subject matter generally relates to liquid phase isomerization technology. More specification, the field relates to liquid phase isomerization in complete absence of hydrogen which eliminates the need for gas-liquid separation at the reactor outlet. Even in the absence of the hydrogen, the catalyst demonstrates a stable isomerization performance with a paraxylene to xylene ratio of about 23 wt % in the product stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Ashish Suresh Bambal, Gregory B. Kuzmanich, Patrick C. Whitchurch
  • Publication number: 20170073285
    Abstract: This present disclosure relates to processes and apparatuses for toluene methylation in an aromatics complex for producing paraxylene. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to processes and apparatuses wherein a toluene methylation zone is integrated within an aromatics complex for producing paraxylene thus allowing no benzene byproduct to be produced. This may be accomplished by incorporating a toluene methylation process into the aromatics complex and recycling the benzene to the transalkylation unit the aromatics complex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Patrick C. Whitchurch, Gregory R. Werba
  • Patent number: 9527007
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for the production of at least one xylene isomer is provided. The process includes passing a first stream to one side of a split shell fractionation column and a second stream to the other side of the column. The second stream has a higher ratio of ethylbenzene to total C8 aromatics than the first stream. A first overhead stream from the one side is separated and passed as a mixed xylene product and a second overhead stream from the other side is separated and passed as feed to a para-xylene separation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Patrick C. Whitchurch
  • Publication number: 20160346711
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for the production of at least one xylene isomer is provided. The process includes passing a first stream to one side of a split shell fractionation column and a second stream to the other side of the column. The second stream has a higher ratio of ethylbenzene to total C8 aromatics than the first stream. A first overhead stream from the one side is separated and passed as a mixed xylene product and a second overhead stream from the other side is separated and passed as feed to a para-xylene separation zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventor: Patrick C. Whitchurch
  • Publication number: 20160347689
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for the production of at least one xylene isomer is provided. The process includes passing a first stream to one side of a split shell fractionation column and a second stream to the other side of the column. The second stream has a higher ratio of ethylbenzene to total C8 aromatics than the first stream. A first overhead stream from the one side is separated and passed as a mixed xylene product and a second overhead stream from the other side is separated and passed as feed to a para-xylene separation zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventor: Patrick C. Whitchurch
  • Patent number: 9309170
    Abstract: This invention is drawn to a process for isomerizing a non-equilibrium mixture of xylenes and ethylbenzene which contain a substantial concentration of nonaromatics using a catalyst system which features the ability to both convert nonaromatics and to obtain an improved yield of para-xylene from the mixture relative to processes of the known art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paula L. Bogdan, James A. Johnson, Gregory J. Gajda, Patrick C. Whitchurch, Stanley J. Frey, Wolfgang A. Spieker
  • Publication number: 20150105600
    Abstract: Embodiments of adsorbents for separating para-xylene from a mixture of C8 alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons, methods for making such adsorbents, and methods for separating para-xylene using such adsorbents are provided. In one example, an adsorbent comprises a binderless adsorbent. The binderless adsorbent comprises zeolite X and has a K2O/(K2O+BaO+Na2O) molar ratio of from about 0.15 to about 0.4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Patrick C. Whitchurch, Santi Kulprathipanja, Gregory F. Maher