Patents by Inventor Robert D. Strack

Robert D. Strack 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: 9296955
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for co-production of olefins and electric power. The method includes determining a separation level, separating a hydrocarbon feed into a light fraction stream and a heavy fraction stream based on the determined separation level; generating electric power from the heavy fraction stream; and cracking the light fraction stream in a pyrolysis unit to produce an effluent comprising olefins. The separation level may be based on olefin production requirements and electric power requirements or specific split of the hydrocarbon feed to be utilized for power generation and olefin production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Strack, Jennifer L. Bancroft, Paul Michael Edwards, Gregory E. Yeo
  • Publication number: 20160060187
    Abstract: A process for removing contaminants from an off-gas stream generated by the methylation of toluene and/or benzene by methanol to produce para-xylene. The treated off-gas stream, which contains C4? hydrocarbons, may be further processed in an olefins plant/process to yield valuable light alkanes and olefins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: James L. Kendall, Gregory E. Yeo, Robert D. Strack
  • Patent number: 8940950
    Abstract: The process relates to the use of any naphtha-range stream containing a portion of C8+ aromatics combined with benzene, toluene, and other non-aromatics in the same boiling range to produce toluene. By feeding the A8+ containing stream to a dealkylation/transalkylation/cracking reactor to increase the concentration of toluene in the stream, a more suitable feedstock for the methylation reaction can be produced. This stream can be obtained from a variety of sources, including the pygas stream from a steam cracker, “cat naphtha” from a fluid catalytic cracker, or the heavier portion of reformate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Justin M. Ellrich, Robert D. Strack, John W. Rebeck, Allen S. Gawlik, Larry L. Iaccino, Glenn C. Wood, Stephen H. Brown, Timothy Paul Bender
  • Patent number: 8882991
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention includes in a process for cracking a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising: a) feeding a hydrocarbon feedstock containing at least 1 wt % of resid components having boiling points of at least 500° C. to a furnace convection section to heat the feedstock; b) flashing the heated feedstock in a first flash separation vessel to create a first overhead stream and a first bottoms liquid stream; c) hydrogenating at least a portion of the first bottoms liquid stream to create a hydrogenated bottoms stream; d) flashing the hydrogenated bottoms stream in a second flash separation vessel to create a second overhead stream and a second bottoms liquid stream; e) cracking the first overhead stream and the second overhead stream in a cracking furnace to produce a pyrolysis effluent stream. In other embodiments, the process further comprises heating the hydrocarbon feedstock in step a) to a temperature within a range of from 315° C. to 705° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Keith H. Kuechler, Jennifer L. Bancroft, Paul F. Keusenkothen, Robert D. Strack
  • Publication number: 20120149958
    Abstract: The process relates to the use of any naphtha-range stream containing a portion of C8+ aromatics combined with benzene, toluene, and other non-aromatics in the same boiling range to produce toluene. By feeding the A8+ containing stream to a dealkylation/transalkylation/cracking reactor to increase the concentration of toluene in the stream, a more suitable feedstock for the methylation reaction can be produced. This stream can be obtained from a variety of sources, including the pygas stream from a steam cracker, “cat naphtha” from a fluid catalytic cracker, or the heavier portion of reformate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Justin M. Ellrich, Robert D. Strack, John W. Rebeck, Allen S. Gawlik, Larry L. Iaccino, Glenn C. Wood, Stephen H. Brown
  • Patent number: 8177200
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for cooling gaseous effluent from a hydrocarbon pyrolysis furnace, the cooling conduit apparatus including: (i) an inner wall for contacting the effluent, the inner wall defining a bore extending a length of the cooling conduit, the inner wall including a perimeter opening along the bore; (ii) an outer wall external to the inner wall and substantially coaxial to the inner wall; (iii) a substantially annular cavity external to the inner wall and including at least a portion of the outer wall, the annular cavity fluidly and remotely connected to the perimeter opening, the annular cavity externally surrounding a perimeter of the inner wall, the annular cavity including at least a portion of the outer wall; and (iv) a peripheral channel extending around a perimeter of the inner wall, the peripheral channel providing a channel flow path that fluidly connects the annular cavity with the remotely connected perimeter opening along the perimeter of the inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Robert D. Strack, George Stephens, James M. Frye
  • Publication number: 20120067058
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for co-production of olefins and electric power. The method includes determining a separation level, separating a hydrocarbon feed into a light fraction stream and a heavy fraction stream based on the determined separation level; generating electric power from the heavy fraction stream; and cracking the light fraction stream in a pyrolysis unit to produce an effluent comprising olefins. The separation level may be based on olefin production requirements and electric power requirements or specific split of the hydrocarbon feed to be utilized for power generation and olefin production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Robert D. Strack, Jennifer L. Bancroft, Paul Michael Edwards, Gregory E. Yeo
  • Publication number: 20120024749
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for treating the effluent from a hydrocarbon pyrolysis unit employing a small primary fractionator. The method comprises cooling the effluent from a furnace through a first heat exchanger, a vapor-liquid separator, and a second heat exchanger before it is passed to a fractionator for further processing. These heat exchangers may also be utilized to heat a utility fluid as part of the cooling process. Further, one or more generators and a third heat exchanger may also be used to assist in heat recovery for the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Robert D. Strack, James R. Arnold
  • Patent number: 8074973
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for cooling gaseous effluent from a hydrocarbon pyrolysis furnace, the cooling conduit apparatus comprising: (i) an inner wall for contacting the effluent, the inner wall defining a bore extending a length of the cooling conduit, the inner wall including a perimeter opening along the bore; (ii) an outer wall external to the inner wall and substantially coaxial to the inner wall; (iii) a substantially annular cavity external to the inner wall and including at least a portion of the outer wall, the annular cavity fluidly and remotely connected to the perimeter opening, the annular cavity externally surrounding a perimeter of the inner wall, the annular cavity including at least a portion of the outer wall; and (iv) a peripheral channel extending around a perimeter of the inner wall, the peripheral channel providing a channel flow path that fluidly connects the annular cavity with the remotely connected perimeter opening along the perimeter of the inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Robert D. Strack, George Stephens, James M. Frye
  • Publication number: 20110233797
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for cooling gaseous effluent from a hydrocarbon pyrolysis furnace, the cooling conduit apparatus comprising: (i) an inner wall for contacting the effluent, the inner wall defining a bore extending a length of the cooling conduit, the inner wall including a perimeter opening along the bore; (ii) an outer wall external to the inner wall and substantially coaxial to the inner wall; (iii) a substantially annular cavity external to the inner wall and including at least a portion of the outer wall, the annular cavity fluidly and remotely connected to the perimeter opening, the annular cavity externally surrounding a perimeter of the inner wall, the annular cavity including at least a portion of the outer wall; and (iv) a peripheral channel extending around a perimeter of the inner wall, the peripheral channel providing a channel flow path that fluidly connects the annular cavity with the remotely connected perimeter opening along the perimeter of the inner wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Robert D. Strack, George Stephens, James M. Frye
  • Patent number: 8025774
    Abstract: In a system for thermal cracking gaseous feedstocks, the system including a gas cracker for producing an effluent comprising olefins, at least one transfer line exchanger for the recovery of process energy from the effluent and a water quench tower system, a process for extending the range of system feedstocks to include liquid feedstocks that yield tar is provided. The process includes the steps of injecting a first quench fluid downstream of a primary transfer line exchanger to quench the process effluent comprising olefins, separating in a first separation vessel a cracked product and a first byproduct stream comprising tar from the quenched effluent, directing the separated cracked product to a water quench tower system and quenching the separated cracked product with a second quench fluid to produce a cracked gas effluent for recovery and a second byproduct stream comprising tar. An apparatus for carrying out such process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: James N. McCoy, Barrington M. Hammond, David J. Duhon, Mark A. Rooney, Robert D. Strack, John R. Messinger
  • Patent number: 8025773
    Abstract: In a system for thermal cracking gaseous feedstocks, the system including a gas cracker for producing an effluent comprising olefins, at least one transfer line exchanger for the recovery of process energy from the effluent and a water quench tower system, a process for extending the range of system feedstocks to include liquid feedstocks that yield tar is provided. The process includes the steps of injecting a first quench fluid downstream of the at least one transfer line exchanger to quench the process effluent comprising olefins, separating in a separation vessel a cracked product and a first byproduct stream comprising tar from the quenched effluent, directing the separated cracked product to the water quench tower system and quenching the separated cracked product with a second quench fluid to produce a cracked gas effluent for recovery and a second byproduct stream comprising tar. An apparatus for cracking a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock that yield tar is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: James N. McCoy, Walter F. Filupeit, Barrington M. Hammond, David J. Duhon, Mark A. Rooney, Robert A. D. Strack, John R. Messinger
  • Publication number: 20110042269
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention includes in a process for cracking a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising: a) feeding a hydrocarbon feedstock containing at least 1 wt % of resid components having boiling points of at least 500° C. to a furnace convection section to heat the feedstock; b) flashing the heated feedstock in a first flash separation vessel to create a first overhead stream and a first bottoms liquid stream; c) hydrogenating at least a portion of the first bottoms liquid stream to create a hydrogenated bottoms stream; d) flashing the hydrogenated bottoms stream in a second flash separation vessel to create a second overhead stream and a second bottoms liquid stream; e) cracking the first overhead stream and the second overhead stream in a cracking furnace to produce a pyrolysis effluent stream. In other embodiments, the process further comprises heating the hydrocarbon feedstock in step a) to a temperature within a range of from 315° C. to 705° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Keith H. Kuechler, Jennifer L. Bancroft, Paul F. Keusenkothen, Robert D. Strack
  • Publication number: 20090280042
    Abstract: In a system for thermal cracking gaseous feedstocks, the system including a gas cracker for producing an effluent comprising olefins, at least one transfer line exchanger for the recovery of process energy from the effluent and a water quench tower system, a process for extending the range of system feedstocks to include liquid feedstocks that yield tar is provided. The process includes the steps of injecting a first quench fluid downstream of a primary transfer line exchanger to quench the process effluent comprising olefins, separating in a first separation vessel a cracked product and a first byproduct stream comprising tar from the quenched effluent, directing the separated cracked product to a water quench tower system and quenching the separated cracked product with a second quench fluid to produce a cracked gas effluent for recovery and a second byproduct stream comprising tar. An apparatus for carrying out such process is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: James N. McCoy, Barrington M. Hammond, David J. Duhon, Mark A. Rooney, Robert D. Strack, John R. Messinger
  • Publication number: 20090238735
    Abstract: In a system for thermal cracking gaseous feedstocks, the system including a gas cracker for producing an effluent comprising olefins, at least one transfer line exchanger for the recovery of process energy from the effluent and a water quench tower system, a process for extending the range of system feedstocks to include liquid feedstocks that yield tar is provided. The process includes the steps of injecting a first quench fluid downstream of the at least one transfer line exchanger to quench the process effluent comprising olefins, separating in a separation vessel a cracked product and a first byproduct stream comprising tar from the quenched effluent, directing the separated cracked product to the water quench tower system and quenching the separated cracked product with a second quench fluid to produce a cracked gas effluent for recovery and a second byproduct stream comprising tar. An apparatus for cracking a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock that yield tar is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: James N. McCoy, Walter F. Filupeit, Barrington M. Hammond, David J. Duhon, Mark A. Rooney, Robert D. Strack, John R. Messinger
  • Patent number: 7582201
    Abstract: In a system for thermal cracking gaseous feedstocks, the system including a gas cracker for producing an effluent comprising olefins, at least one transfer line exchanger for the recovery of process energy from the effluent and a water quench tower system, a process for extending the range of system feedstocks to include liquid feedstocks that yield tar is provided. The process includes the steps of injecting a first quench fluid downstream of a primary transfer line exchanger to quench the process effluent comprising olefins, separating in a first separation vessel a cracked product and a first byproduct stream comprising tar from the quenched effluent, directing the separated cracked product to a water quench tower system and quenching the separated cracked product with a second quench fluid to produce a cracked gas effluent for recovery and a second byproduct stream comprising tar. An apparatus for carrying out such process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: James N. McCoy, Barrington M. Hammond, David J. Duhon, Mark A. Rooney, Robert D. Strack, John R. Messinger
  • Publication number: 20090156876
    Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for thermally cracking hydrocarbon feeds containing paraffin insoluble compounds by selectively adsorbing paraffin-insoluble compounds with solid particulate adsorbents, prior to cracking. An aromatics-containing stream such as one derived from cracked product is used to desorb the paraffin insoluble compounds from the adsorber stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: John D. Y. Ou, Robert D. Strack
  • Publication number: 20090085234
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for cooling gaseous effluent from a hydrocarbon pyrolysis furnace, the cooling conduit apparatus comprising: (i) an inner wall for contacting the effluent, the inner wall defining a bore extending a length of the cooling conduit, the inner wall including a perimeter opening along the bore; (ii) an outer wall external to the inner wall and substantially coaxial to the inner wall; (iii) a substantially annular cavity external to the inner wall and including at least a portion of the outer wall, the annular cavity fluidly and remotely connected to the perimeter opening, the annular cavity externally surrounding a perimeter of the inner wall, the annular cavity including at least a portion of the outer wall; and (iv) a peripheral channel extending around a perimeter of the inner wall, the peripheral channel providing a channel flow path that fluidly connects the annular cavity with the remotely connected perimeter opening along the perimeter of the inner wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Robert D. Strack, George Stephens, James M. Frye
  • Publication number: 20090050530
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a process for treating a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising: (a) feeding the hydrocarbon feedstock at a linear velocity equal to or less than 0.9 m/s to a first preheating zone in the convection section of a steam cracking furnace; (b) preheating the hydrocarbon feedstock in the first preheating zone to vaporize less than 99 wt. % of the hydrocarbon feedstock to form a vapor-liquid mixture; (c) separating at least a portion of the vapor-liquid mixture to form a vapor fraction and a liquid fraction; and (d) feeding at least a portion of the vapor fraction to the steam cracking furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Arthur R. Di Nicolantonio, James M. Frye, Richard C. Stell, James N. McCoy, Robert D. Strack
  • Publication number: 20080128323
    Abstract: In a system for thermal cracking gaseous feedstocks, the system including a gas cracker for producing an effluent comprising olefins, at least one transfer line exchanger for the recovery of process energy from the effluent and a water quench tower system, a process for extending the range of system feedstocks to include liquid feedstocks that yield tar is provided. The process includes the steps of injecting a first quench fluid downstream of a primary transfer line exchanger to quench the process effluent comprising olefins, separating in a first separation vessel a cracked product and a first byproduct stream comprising tar from the quenched effluent, directing the separated cracked product to a water quench tower system and quenching the separated cracked product with a second quench fluid to produce a cracked gas effluent for recovery and a second byproduct stream comprising tar. An apparatus for carrying out such process is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: James N. McCoy, Barrington M. Hammond, David J. Duhon, Mark A. Rooney, Robert D. Strack, John R. Messinger