Patents by Inventor Richard P. O'Connor

Richard P. O'Connor 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: 9994778
    Abstract: A direct coal liquefaction process and system is provided that utilizes a dispersed catalyst and recycle of atmospheric and vacuum fractionator bottoms to produce a maximum yield of jet fuel/diesel or chemical plant feedstock while eliminating all slurry heat exchangers and a slurry preheat furnace. Process hydrogen is preheated in a heat exchanger and, if necessary, in a hydrogen furnace, and mixed with the recycled atmospheric and vacuum fractionator bottoms being fed to the input of the direct liquefaction reactor. Heat for the hydrogen heat exchanger is provided by the overhead from the hot separator receiving the effluent from the direct liquefaction reactor. Product selectivity is controlled by operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventors: Richard F Bauman, Richard P O'Connor, Peter S Maa
  • Publication number: 20160340592
    Abstract: A direct coal liquefaction process and system is provided that utilizes a dispersed catalyst and recycle of atmospheric and vacuum fractionator bottoms to produce a maximum yield of jet fuel/diesel or chemical plant feedstock while eliminating all slurry heat exchangers and a slurry preheat furnace. Process hydrogen is preheated in a heat exchanger and, if necessary, in a hydrogen furnace, and mixed with the recycled atmospheric and vacuum fractionator bottoms being fed to the input of the direct liquefaction reactor. Heat for the hydrogen heat exchanger is provided by the overhead from the hot separator receiving the effluent from the direct liquefaction reactor. Product selectivity is controlled by operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Richard F Bauman, Richard P. O'Connor, Peter S Maa
  • Patent number: 8137444
    Abstract: Systems and methods for lowering levels of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants are provided. Economically viable systems and processes capable of removing vast quantities of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants from gaseous waste streams and sequestering them in storage-stable forms are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Calera Corporation
    Inventors: Kasra Farsad, Robert W. Elliott, Richard P. O'Connor, William Randall Seeker, Kyle Self, Justin Wall
  • Publication number: 20110247336
    Abstract: Systems and methods for lowering levels of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants are provided. Economically viable systems and processes capable of removing vast quantities of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants from gaseous waste streams and sequestering them in storage-stable forms are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Kasra Farsad, Robert W. Elliott, Richard P. O'Connor, William Randall Seeker, Kyle Self, Justin Wall
  • Publication number: 20100236242
    Abstract: Systems and methods for lowering levels of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants are provided. Economically viable systems and processes capable of removing vast quantities of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants from gaseous waste streams and sequestering them in storage-stable forms are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Kasra Farsad, Robert W. Elliott, Richard P. O'Connor, William Randall Seeker, Kyle Self, Justin Wall
  • Publication number: 20100230830
    Abstract: Systems and methods for lowering levels of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants are provided. Economically viable systems and processes capable of removing vast quantities of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants from gaseous waste streams and sequestering them in storage-stable forms are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Kasra Farsad, Robert W. Elliott, Richard P. O'Connor, William Randall Seeker, Kyle Self, Justin Wall
  • Publication number: 20100229725
    Abstract: Systems and methods for lowering levels of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants are provided. Economically viable systems and processes capable of removing vast quantities of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants from gaseous waste streams and sequestering them in storage-stable forms are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Kasra Farsad, Robert W. Elliott, Richard P. O'Connor, William Randall Seeker, Kyle Self, Justin Wall
  • Patent number: 6692711
    Abstract: Sour natural gas is processed to remove the sulfur compounds and recover C4+/C5+ hydrocarbons by scrubbing the gas with an amine solution to remove most of the sulfur, followed cooling the gas to remove C4+/C5+ hydrocarbons and more sulfur compounds as liquid condensate to produce a gas having less than 20 vppm of total sulfur. The condensate is sent to a fractionator to recover the C4+/C5+ hydrocarbons. The sulfur and hydrocarbon reduced gas is contacted first with zinc oxide and then nickel, to produce a gas having less than 10 vppb of total sulfur which is passed into a synthesis gas generating unit to form a very low sulfur synthesis gas comprising a mixture of H2 and CO. This synthesis gas is useful for hydrocarbon synthesis with increased life of the hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst and greater hydrocarbon production from the hydrocarbon synthesis reactor. Contacting the synthesis gas with zinc oxide further reduces the sulfur content to below 3 vppb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Dennis G. Alexion, Robert B. Fedich, John C. Wilbur, James H. Taylor, Jr., James P. Glass, Jr., Geoffrey R. Say, Richard P. O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20030178342
    Abstract: Sour natural gas is processed to remove the sulfur compounds and recover C4+/C5+ hydrocarbons by scrubbing the gas with an amine solution to remove most of the sulfur, followed cooling the gas to remove C4+/C5+ hydrocarbons and more sulfur compounds as liquid condensate to produce a gas having less than 20 vppm of total sulfur. The condensate is sent to a fractionator to recover the C4+/C5+ hydrocarbons. The sulfur and hydrocarbon reduced gas is contacted first with zinc oxide and then nickel, to produce a gas having less than 10 vppb of total sulfur which is passed into a synthesis gas generating unit to form a very low sulfur synthesis gas comprising a mixture of H2 and CO. This synthesis gas is useful for hydrocarbon synthesis with increased life of the hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst and greater hydrocarbon production from the hydrocarbon synthesis reactor. Contacting the synthesis gas with zinc oxide further reduces the sulfur content to below 3 vppb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Dennis G. Alexion, Robert B. Fedich, John C. Wilbur, James H. Taylor, James P. Glass, Geoffrey R. Say, Richard P. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 6168768
    Abstract: Sour natural gas is processed to remove the sulfur compounds and recover C4+/C5+ hydrocarbons by scrubbing the gas with an amine solution to remove most of the sulfur, followed cooling the gas to remove C4+/C5+ hydrocarbons and more sulfur compounds as liquid condensate to produce a gas having less than 20 vppm of total sulfur. The condensate is sent to a fractionator to recover the C4+C5+ hydrocarbons. The sulfur and hydrocarbon reduced gas is contacted first with zinc oxide and then nickel, to produce a gas having less than 10 vppb of total sulfur which is passed into a synthesis gas generating unit to form a very low sulfur synthesis gas comprising a mixture of H2 and CO. This synthesis gas is useful for hydrocarbon synthesis with increased life of the hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst and greater hydrocarbon production from the hydrocarbon synthesis reactor. Contacting the synthesis gas with zinc oxide further reduces the sulfur content to below 3 vppb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Dennis G. Alexion, Robert B. Fedich, John C. Wilbur, James H. Taylor, Jr., James P. Glass, Jr., Geoffrey R. Say, Richard P. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 6103206
    Abstract: Very low sulfur content hydrocarbon gas is achieved by sequentially contacting the gas first with zinc oxide and then with nickel metal. This has reduced the total sulfur content of natural gas feed for a fluid bed syngas generator to less than 0.1 ppm and has resulted in greater syngas productivity. A zinc oxide guard bed downstream of the syngas generator reduces the total sulfur content of the syngas to less than 10 vppb and preferably less than 5 vppb. This very low sulfur content syngas is used for sulfur sensitive processes, such as hydrocarbon synthesis. The process is especially useful for natural gas which contains H.sub.2 S, COS, mercaptans and other sulfur bearing compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co
    Inventors: James H. Taylor, Jr., James P. Glass, Jr., Geoffrey R. Say, Richard P. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 5882614
    Abstract: Very low sulfur content hydrocarbon gas is achieved by sequentially contacting the gas first with zinc oxide and then with nickel metal. This has reduced the total sulfur content of natural gas feed for a fluid bed syngas generator to less than 0.1 ppm and has resulted in greater syngas productivity. A zinc oxide guard bed downstream of the syngas generator reduces the total sulfur content of the syngas to less than 10 vppb and preferably less than 5 vppb. This very low sulfur content syngas is used for sulfur sensitive processes, such as hydrocarbon synthesis. The process is especially useful for natural gas which contains H.sub.2 S, COS, mercaptans and other sulfur bearing compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: James H. Taylor, Jr., James P. Glass, Jr., Geoffrey R. Say, Richard P. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 4432862
    Abstract: A reformate lean oil absorber is used in the downstream processing facilities of a reformer unit to remove isobutane and heavier components from a separator overhead vapor, part of which is reformer recycle gas. Stabilized reformate may be employed as lean oil to the absorber, and the fat oil is recycled to the stabilizer for isobutane recovery of isobutane and normal butane as overhead product and C.sub.5.sup.+ liquid as bottoms product. The mixed butanes are separated, and the isobutane employed as alkylation feedstock. The n-butane is recycled with the naphtha to the reformer unit, the absence of butanes in the recycle gas considerably enhancing the amount of isobutane produced in the reforming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1984
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Gerrit S. Swart, Louis S. Dauber, Richard P. O'Connor