Patents by Inventor Pritham Ramamurthy

Pritham Ramamurthy 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: 8888875
    Abstract: Methods for pretreating feedstock for gasification are provided. At least a portion of a coal based feedstock stream can be combined with at least a portion of a supercritical carbon dioxide stream within a pretreatment system to provide a treated feedstock stream. At least a portion of the treated feedstock stream can be passed to a gasifier to produce a synthesis gas stream of less than 50% by volume carbon dioxide, at least 5% by volume carbon monoxide and at least 1% by volume hydrogen. At least a portion of the synthesis gas stream can be combusted to form an exhaust stream comprising carbon dioxide. At least a portion of the gasification byproduct stream can be purified and compressed to produce supercritical carbon dioxide. At least a portion of the supercritical carbon dioxide can be recycled to the pretreatment system via a supercritical carbon dioxide stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventor: Pritham Ramamurthy
  • Patent number: 8496804
    Abstract: Systems and methods for staging an investment in hydrocarbon processing are provided. In a first stage, a hydrocarbon feed can be apportioned equally or unequally into first and second portions. The first portion can be mixed with one or more oxidants and gasified to provide a first effluent, at least a portion of which can be combusted to provide steam. The second portion can be mixed with one or more solvents to provide one or more fungible hydrocarbon products, at least a portion of which can be sold to generate capital. In a second stage, the hydrocarbon feed can be mixed with one or more solvents and one or more non-catalytic solids and the resultant mixture thermally cracked to provide one or more hydrocarbon products and coked non-catalytic solids. The coked, non-catalytic solids can be regenerated and recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventor: Pritham Ramamurthy
  • Patent number: 8137535
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing and using one or more doped catalysts are provided. One or more coked-catalyst particles can be fluidized in the presence of one or more oxidants to provide a fluidized mixture. The coke from the one or more coked-catalyst particles can be removed to provide regenerated catalyst particles within the fluidized mixture. One or more doping agents can be distributed to the fluidized mixture, and the one or more doping agents can be deposited onto the surface of the regenerated catalyst particles to provide a regenerated, doped catalyst particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventor: Pritham Ramamurthy
  • Patent number: 7943038
    Abstract: Processes for producing one or more olefins are provided. In one or more embodiments, a doped catalyst can be prepared by fluidizing one or more coked-catalyst particles in the presence of one or more oxidants to provide a fluidized mixture. At least a portion of the coke can be removed from the coked-catalyst particles to provide regenerated catalyst particles. One or more doping agents can be distributed throughout the fluidized mixture, depositing on the surface of the regenerated catalyst particles to provide doped catalyst particles. One or more hydrocarbon feeds can be fluidized with the doped catalyst particles to provide a reaction mixture which can be cracked to provide a first product containing propylene, ethylene, and butane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventor: Pritham Ramamurthy
  • Publication number: 20110022547
    Abstract: Systems and methods for staging an investment in hydrocarbon processing are provided. In a first stage, a hydrocarbon feed can be apportioned equally or unequally into first and second portions. The first portion can be mixed with one or more oxidants and gasified to provide a first effluent, at least a portion of which can be combusted to provide steam. The second portion can be mixed with one or more solvents to provide one or more fungible hydrocarbon products, at least a portion of which can be sold to generate capital. In a second stage, the hydrocarbon feed can be mixed with one or more solvents and one or more non-catalytic solids and the resultant mixture thermally cracked to provide one or more hydrocarbon products and coked non-catalytic solids. The coked, non-catalytic solids can be regenerated and recycled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: KELLOGG BROWN & ROOT LLC
    Inventor: Pritham Ramamurthy
  • Patent number: 7833408
    Abstract: Systems and methods for staging an investment in hydrocarbon processing are provided. In a first stage, a hydrocarbon feed can be apportioned equally or unequally into first and second portions. The first portion can be mixed with one or more oxidants and gasified to provide a first effluent, at least a portion of which can be combusted to provide steam. The second portion can be mixed with one or more solvents to provide one or more fungible hydrocarbon products, at least a portion of which can be sold to generate capital. In a second stage, the hydrocarbon feed can be mixed with one or more solvents and one or more non-catalytic solids and the resultant mixture thermally cracked to provide one or more hydrocarbon products and coked non-catalytic solids. The coked, non-catalytic solids can be regenerated and recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventor: Pritham Ramamurthy
  • Publication number: 20090192343
    Abstract: Processes for producing one or more olefins are provided. In one or more embodiments, a doped catalyst can be prepared by fluidizing one or more coked-catalyst particles in the presence of one or more oxidants to provide a fluidized mixture. At least a portion of the coke can be removed from the coked-catalyst particles to provide regenerated catalyst particles. One or more doping agents can be distributed throughout the fluidized mixture, depositing on the surface of the regenerated catalyst particles to provide doped catalyst particles. One or more hydrocarbon feeds can be fluidized with the doped catalyst particles to provide a reaction mixture which can be cracked to provide a first product containing propylene, ethylene, and butane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventor: PRITHAM RAMAMURTHY
  • Publication number: 20090192338
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing and using one or more doped catalysts are provided. One or more coked-catalyst particles can be fluidized in the presence of one or more oxidants to provide a fluidized mixture. The coke from the one or more coked-catalyst particles can be removed to provide regenerated catalyst particles within the fluidized mixture. One or more doping agents can be distributed to the fluidized mixture, and the one or more doping agents can be deposited onto the surface of the regenerated catalyst particles to provide a regenerated, doped catalyst particle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventor: PRITHAM RAMAMURTHY
  • Publication number: 20080155899
    Abstract: Methods for pretreating feedstock for gasification are provided. At least a portion of a coal based feedstock stream can be combined with at least a portion of a supercritical carbon dioxide stream within a pretreatment system to provide a treated feedstock stream. At least a portion of the treated feedstock stream can be passed to a gasifier to produce a synthesis gas stream of less than 50% by volume carbon dioxide, at least 5% by volume carbon monoxide and at least 1% by volume hydrogen. At least a portion of the synthesis gas stream can be combusted to form an exhaust stream comprising carbon dioxide. At least a portion of the gasification byproduct stream can be purified and compressed to produce supercritical carbon dioxide. At least a portion of the supercritical carbon dioxide can be recycled to the pretreatment system via a supercritical carbon dioxide stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Pritham Ramamurthy
  • Publication number: 20080099379
    Abstract: Systems and methods for staging an investment in hydrocarbon processing are provided. In a first stage, a hydrocarbon feed can be apportioned equally or unequally into first and second portions. The first portion can be mixed with one or more oxidants and gasified to provide a first effluent, at least a portion of which can be combusted to provide steam. The second portion can be mixed with one or more solvents to provide one or more fungible hydrocarbon products, at least a portion of which can be sold to generate capital. In a second stage, the hydrocarbon feed can be mixed with one or more solvents and one or more non-catalytic solids and the resultant mixture thermally cracked to provide one or more hydrocarbon products and coked non-catalytic solids. The coked, non-catalytic solids can be regenerated and recycled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventor: Pritham Ramamurthy
  • Publication number: 20070090021
    Abstract: Supercritical conversion of hydrocarbons boiling above 538° C. (1000° F.) with a solvating hydrocarbon at a weight ratio of solvating hydrocarbon to high-boiling hydrocarbons of at least 2:1 and at conditions above the critical temperature and pressure of the high-boiling hydrocarbons-solvent mixture, in the presence of hot fluidized solids. The hydrocarbons are supplied to a reaction zone at a temperature below that of the hot solids supplied thereto, whereby the resulting hydrocarbons-solids suspension has a thermal equilibrium temperature corresponding to the reaction temperature. The conversion has high rates of sulfur, nitrogen and metals removal, nearly complete conversion to lower molecular weight products, high naphtha and distillate selectivity, and low coke formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas McCall, Pritham Ramamurthy, Kiran Shah, Michael Silverman, Martin Van Sickels
  • Patent number: 7144498
    Abstract: Supercritical conversion of hydrocarbons boiling above 538° C. (1000° F.) with a solvating hydrocarbon at a weight ratio of solvating hydrocarbon to high-boiling hydrocarbons of at least 2:1 and at conditions above the critical temperature and pressure of the high-boiling hydrocarbons-solvent mixture, in the presence of hot fluidized solids. The hydrocarbons are supplied to a reaction zone at a temperature below that of the hot solids supplied thereto, whereby the resulting hydrocarbons-solids suspension has a thermal equilibrium temperature corresponding to the reaction temperature. The conversion has high rates of sulfur, nitrogen and metals removal, nearly complete conversion to lower molecular weight products, high naphtha and distillate selectivity, and low coke formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventors: Thomas F. McCall, Pritham Ramamurthy, Kiran V. Shah, Michael A. Silverman, Martin John Van Sickels
  • Publication number: 20050167333
    Abstract: Supercritical conversion of hydrocarbons boiling above 538° C. (1000° F.) with a solvating hydrocarbon at a weight ratio of solvating hydrocarbon to high-boiling hydrocarbons of at least 2:1 and at conditions above the critical temperature and pressure of the high-boiling hydrocarbons-solvent mixture, in the presence of hot fluidized solids. The hydrocarbons are supplied to a reaction zone at a temperature below that of the hot solids supplied thereto, whereby the resulting hydrocarbons-solids suspension has a thermal equilibrium temperature corresponding to the reaction temperature. The conversion has high rates of sulfur, nitrogen and metals removal, nearly complete conversion to lower molecular weight products, high naphtha and distillate selectivity, and low coke formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas McCall, Pritham Ramamurthy, Kiran Shah, Michael Silverman, Martin Van Sickels
  • Patent number: 5290454
    Abstract: A process is for removal of suspended solids including resin and fatty acids from pulp mill effluents including Chemi-Thermo-Mechanical Pulp (CTMP) mill effluents. The process involves filtration of untreated or primary treated effluents through a mat of primary sludge, pulp or woodroom sludge. A sludge mat is formed on a wire screen or punched drum and the effluent to be treated is filtered through the mat. Most of the suspended solids and a part of colloidal material and dissolved solids are retained by the mat. Following the filtration stage, the sludge is dewatered and removed. A portion of the sludge is recycled to form the mat for the next filtration cycle, while the excess sludge is purged. The filtration is achieved by the application of vacuum below the filter mat or pressure over mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Pump and Paper Research Institute of Canada
    Inventors: Joseph Dorica, Steven Prahacs, Pritham Ramamurthy