Patents by Inventor Paul F. Keusenkothen

Paul F. Keusenkothen 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).

  • Publication number: 20210032545
    Abstract: Processes for converting an organic-material-containing feed comprising contacting the feed with a plurality of fluidized hot particles in a pyrolysis zone to product a first pyrolysis effluent, optionally contacting the first pyrolysis effluent with a quenching stream to impart additional pyrolysis of organic materials contained in the quenching stream, separating at least a portion of the particles and feeding them to a combustion zone where the particles are heated to an elevated temperature, optionally contacting the combustion zone effluent with a second organic-material-containing stream to produce, e.g., syngas, and feeding at least a portion of the heated particles to the pyrolysis zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Mohsen N. Harandi, Paul F. Keusenkothen
  • Publication number: 20210032549
    Abstract: A catalyst and corresponding methods of using a catalyst are provided that can be beneficial for conversion of paraffins into a product stream enriched in aromatics and/or methane while reducing or minimizing the content of ethane in the product stream. Such catalysts and methods can be useful, for example, for processing a raw gas, associated gas, tail gas, natural gas, or other type of methane-containing feed stream to convert C2+ hydrocarbons in the stream to heavier hydrocarbons and methane while reducing or minimizing content of ethane in the products from the conversion reaction. Such conversion can be useful for upgrading a methane-containing feed stream to have an energy content that is suitable for pipeline transport under one or more specifications for transport of natural gas. The catalyst and corresponding method can also be beneficial when used as a second stage catalyst in a configuration involving multiple conversion stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventor: Paul F. Keusenkothen
  • Publication number: 20200369580
    Abstract: Processes are described for isomerizing one or more C14-C24 alpha olefins to produce an isomerization mixture comprising one or more C14-C24 internal olefins comprising contacting an olefinic feed comprising the one or more C14-C24 alpha olefins with a catalyst under isomerization conditions, wherein the catalyst comprises a microporous crystalline aluminosilicate having an MWW framework. The resulting isomerization mixture typically exhibits a low pour point with maintained biodegradability properties as compared to the olefinic feed, and is particularly useful in drilling fluid and paper sizing compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Ronald Raymond Hill, JR., Renyuan Yu, Elizabeth G. Mahoney, Anatoly I. Kramer, Wenyih F. Lai, Paul F. Keusenkothen, Nan Hu, Andrew P. Broenen, James R. Lattner
  • Patent number: 10843981
    Abstract: The invention relates to catalytic aromatization, e.g., for the conversion of non-aromatic hydrocarbon to higher-value aromatic hydrocarbon, to catalysts useful for such aromatization, to methods for making such catalysts, and to systems and apparatus for carrying out aromatization in the presence of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Keusenkothen, Samia Ilias, John Scott Buchanan, Mayank Shekhar, Reyyan Koc-Karabocek, Teng Xu
  • Publication number: 20200325085
    Abstract: Ebullated bed reactors may be used to synthesize olefin compositions exhibiting low sediment toxicity and favorable pour points. The olefin compositions are formed by isomerizing linear alpha olefins (LAOs) into linear internal olefins (LIOs), skeletal isomerized branched olefins, or any combination thereof. Methods for preparing olefin compositions comprising LIOs and, optionally, branched olefins may comprise: providing an olefinic feed comprising one or more LAOs, and interacting the olefinic feed with a plurality of catalyst particulates in an ebullated bed reactor to form an isomerized product. The catalyst particulates are effective to isomerize the one or more LAOs into one or more of LIOs, skeletal isomerized branched olefins, or combinations thereof. The isomerized product may be incorporated in drilling fluids, particularly those intended for subsea use, due to their favorable environmental profile and low pour points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Anatoly I. Kramer, Renyuan Yu, Elizabeth G. Mahoney, Paul F. Keusenkothen
  • Publication number: 20200308497
    Abstract: A novel process/system for flexibly producing chemicals and fuels from a petroleum feed such as crude comprise a flashing drum, a first cracker (e.g., a fluidized bed pyrolysis cracker or an oxidative cracker), and an olefin-to-gasoline reaction zone. The process/system can also include a steam cracker and a hydrotreater. The process/system can convert crude oil into hydrogen, C2-C4 olefins, gas oil and distillates with various amounts by adjusting the cut point of the bottoms effluent exiting the flashing drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Mohsen N. Harandi, Paul F. Keusenkothen
  • Patent number: 10570345
    Abstract: The invention relates to a regenerative reactor system which includes a reverse flow regenerative reactor. The reverse flow regenerative reactor includes a housing enclosing an interior region, and process flow components configured to manage the flow of a pyrolysis stream through the interior region. The process flow components include reactor beds. The reverse flow regenerative reactor also includes a pyrolysis inlet conduit for managing flow of the pyrolysis stream to the reverse flow regenerative reactor, and further includes a liquid distribution device that is configured to disperse a liquid portion of the pyrolysis stream along an internal surface of the pyrolysis inlet conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Keusenkothen, Richard C. Stell
  • Publication number: 20190127294
    Abstract: The invention relates to catalysts and their use in processes for conversion of hydrocarbon feedstock to a product comprising single-ring aromatic hydrocarbons having six or more carbon atoms, to the methods of making such catalysts, to processes for using such catalysts, and to apparatus and systems for carrying out such processes. One of more of the catalysts comprise a crystalline aluminosilicate having a Constraint Index in the range of 1 to 12, a first metal and/or a second metal, and at least one selectivating agent, such as, for example, an organo-silicate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Mayank Shekhar, Paul F. Keusenkothen, Machteld M. Mertens, Anthony Go
  • Patent number: 10273196
    Abstract: The invention relates to hydrocarbon dehydrocyclization to produce products such as aromatic hydrocarbon, to equipment and materials useful for dehydrocyclization, to processes for carrying out dehydrocyclization, and to the use of dehydrocyclization for, e.g., natural gas upgrading. The dehydrocyclization is carried out in a catalytic reaction zone of a reverse-flow reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Keusenkothen, John S. Buchanan, John S. Coleman, Seth M. Washburn
  • Publication number: 20190105626
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for conversion of light paraffinic gases to form liquid products in a process performed in a fixed bed radial-flow reactor. The light paraffins can correspond to C3+ paraffins. Examples of liquid products that can be formed include C6-C12 aromatics, such as benzene, toluene, and xylene. The fixed bed radial-flow reactor can allow for improved control over the reaction conditions for paraffin conversion in spite of the fixed bed nature of the reactor. This can allow the process to operate with improved efficiency while reducing or minimizing the complexity of operation relative to non-fixed bed reactor systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Arsam BEHKISH, David W. MAHER, Paul F. KEUSENKOTHEN, Jaime A. VALENCIA
  • Patent number: 10202318
    Abstract: The invention relates to catalysts and their use in processes for conversion of hydrocarbon feedstock to a product comprising single-ring aromatic hydrocarbons having six or more carbon atoms, to the methods of making such catalysts, to processes for using such catalysts, and to apparatus and systems for carrying out such processes. One of more of the catalysts comprise a crystalline aluminosilicate having a Constraint Index in the range of 1 to 12, a first metal and/or a second metal, and at least one selectivating agent, such as, for example, an organo-silicate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Mayank Shekhar, Paul F. Keusenkothen, Machteld M. W. Mertens, Anthony Go
  • Patent number: 10196571
    Abstract: Methods are provided for converting lignin-containing biomass into compounds that are more readily processed to form fuel and/or chemical products. The methods can allow for removal of at least a portion of the oxygen in lignin, either during or after depolymerization of lignin to single ring aromatic compounds, while optionally reducing or minimizing aromatic saturation performed on the aromatic compounds. The methods can include use of quench solvent to control reactions within the product stream from a pyrolysis process and/or use of a solvent to assist with hydroprocessing of lignin, lignin-containing biomass, or a pyrolysis oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Lattner, Teng Xu, Paul F. Keusenkothen
  • Patent number: 10159970
    Abstract: The invention relates to long chain alcohol, to processes for catalytically producing long chain alcohol from carbon monoxide and molecular hydrogen, to equipment useful in such processes, and to the use of long chain alcohol, e.g., for producing fuel, lubricating oil, detergent, and plasticizer. The catalyst is mesoporous and comprises iron and copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Kapil Kandel, Paul F. Keusenkothen, Jeevan S. Abichandani
  • Patent number: 10159959
    Abstract: The invention relates to templated active material, including those deriving order from organic and/or inorganic templating agents. The invention also relates to methods for producing templated active material, and to active material produced by such methods, and the use of such templated active material for producing oxygenate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Kapil Kandel, Paul F. Keusenkothen, Jeevan S. Abichandani
  • Patent number: 10099972
    Abstract: Systems and a method are provided for producing an aromatic hydrocarbon and generating electricity from a tail gas stream. The method includes feeding a first stream including a raw natural gas into a reactor. The method includes converting the first stream, at least in part, to a second stream including an aromatic hydrocarbon within the reactor. The method includes separating the second stream into a tail gas stream and a liquid aromatic hydrocarbon stream and combusting at least a portion of the tail gas stream to generate electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Paul F. Keusenkothen, Timothy A. Barckholtz, J. Tim Cullinane, Robert D. Denton, Frank Hershkowitz, Ian J. Laurenzi
  • Patent number: 10086350
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hydrocarbon conversion process in which an alkane component is catalytically converted in the presence of an oxygen or oxidizing component (i.e., oxidant). The hydrocarbon conversion process can be an oxidative coupling reaction, which refers to the catalytic conversion of alkane in the presence of oxidant to produce an olefin product, i.e., a composition containing C2+ olefin. Reverse-flow reactors can be used to carry out the oxidative coupling reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventor: Paul F. Keusenkothen
  • Patent number: 10071938
    Abstract: The invention relates to the production of aromatic hydrocarbon by the conversion of a feed comprising C2+ non-aromatic hydrocarbon, e.g., natural gas. The invention is particularly useful in converting natural gas to liquid-phase aromatic hydrocarbon, which can be more easily transported away from remote natural gas production facilities. The conversion is carried out in the presence of a dehydrocyclization catalyst comprising dehydrogenation and molecular sieve components. The dehydrocyclization catalyst has an average residence time of 90 seconds or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Mayank Shekhar, Paul F. Keusenkothen
  • Patent number: 10053390
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention includes a reactor apparatus for pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon feedstock, the apparatus including: a reactor component comprising a refractory material in oxide form, the refractory material having a melting point of at least 2060° C. and which remains in oxide form when exposed to a gas having an oxygen partial pressure of 10?15 bar, a carbon partial pressure above the carbon partial pressure of the zirconium carbide and zirconium oxide phase transition at the same temperature, and at temperatures below the temperature of the zirconium triple point at the oxygen partial pressure of 10?15 bar; and ii) when exposed to a gas having an oxygen partial pressure of 10?15 bar and at temperatures above the zirconium triple point at the oxygen partial pressure of 10?15 bar. In some embodiments, the reactor comprises a regenerative pyrolysis reactor apparatus and in other embodiments it includes a reverse flow regenerative reactor apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Hershkowitz, ChangMin Chun, Paul F. Keusenkothen, Shiun Ling, Gary D. Mohr
  • Publication number: 20180229198
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for conversion of light paraffinic gases to form liquid products in a process performed in a fixed bed radial-flow reactor. The light paraffins can correspond to C3+ paraffins. Examples of liquid products that can be formed include C6-C12 aromatics, such as benzene, toluene, and xylene. The fixed bed radial-flow reactor can allow for improved control over the reaction conditions for paraffin conversion in spite of the fixed bed nature of the reactor. This can allow the process to operate with improved efficiency while reducing or minimizing the complexity of operation relative to non-fixed bed reactor systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Arsam BEHKISH, David W. MAHER, Paul F. KEUSENKOTHEN, Jaime A. VALENCIA
  • Publication number: 20180208523
    Abstract: A catalyst system and processes for combined aromatization and selective hydrogen combustion of oxygenated hydrocarbons are disclosed. The catalyst system contains at least one aromatization component and at least one selective hydrogen combustion component. The process is such that the yield of hydrogen is less than the yield of hydrogen when contacting the hydrocarbons with the aromatization component alone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Keusenkothen, Seth M. Washburn, Neeraj Sangar, Nikolaos Soultanidis, Mayank Shekhar