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).
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Patent number: 9296955Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 26, 2011Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Robert D. Strack, Jennifer L. Bancroft, Paul Michael Edwards, Gregory E. Yeo
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Publication number: 20160060187Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventors: James L. Kendall, Gregory E. Yeo, Robert D. Strack
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Patent number: 8940950Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 23, 2011Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 8882991Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 21, 2009Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Keith H. Kuechler, Jennifer L. Bancroft, Paul F. Keusenkothen, Robert D. Strack
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Publication number: 20120149958Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2011Publication date: June 14, 2012Inventors: Justin M. Ellrich, Robert D. Strack, John W. Rebeck, Allen S. Gawlik, Larry L. Iaccino, Glenn C. Wood, Stephen H. Brown
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Patent number: 8177200Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 6, 2011Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: David B. Spicer, Robert D. Strack, George Stephens, James M. Frye
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Publication number: 20120067058Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2011Publication date: March 22, 2012Inventors: Robert D. Strack, Jennifer L. Bancroft, Paul Michael Edwards, Gregory E. Yeo
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Publication number: 20120024749Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Inventors: Robert D. Strack, James R. Arnold
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Patent number: 8074973Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 2, 2007Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: David B. Spicer, Robert D. Strack, George Stephens, James M. Frye
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Publication number: 20110233797Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Inventors: David B. Spicer, Robert D. Strack, George Stephens, James M. Frye
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Patent number: 8025774Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 20, 2009Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: James N. McCoy, Barrington M. Hammond, David J. Duhon, Mark A. Rooney, Robert D. Strack, John R. Messinger
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Patent number: 8025773Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 5, 2009Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20110042269Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2009Publication date: February 24, 2011Inventors: Keith H. Kuechler, Jennifer L. Bancroft, Paul F. Keusenkothen, Robert D. Strack
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Publication number: 20090280042Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2009Publication date: November 12, 2009Inventors: James N. McCoy, Barrington M. Hammond, David J. Duhon, Mark A. Rooney, Robert D. Strack, John R. Messinger
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Publication number: 20090238735Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2009Publication date: September 24, 2009Inventors: James N. McCoy, Walter F. Filupeit, Barrington M. Hammond, David J. Duhon, Mark A. Rooney, Robert D. Strack, John R. Messinger
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Patent number: 7582201Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 5, 2006Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: James N. McCoy, Barrington M. Hammond, David J. Duhon, Mark A. Rooney, Robert D. Strack, John R. Messinger
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Publication number: 20090156876Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2007Publication date: June 18, 2009Inventors: John D. Y. Ou, Robert D. Strack
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Publication number: 20090085234Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2007Publication date: April 2, 2009Inventors: David B. Spicer, Robert D. Strack, George Stephens, James M. Frye
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Publication number: 20090050530Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2008Publication date: February 26, 2009Inventors: David B. Spicer, Arthur R. Di Nicolantonio, James M. Frye, Richard C. Stell, James N. McCoy, Robert D. Strack
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Publication number: 20080128323Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2006Publication date: June 5, 2008Inventors: James N. McCoy, Barrington M. Hammond, David J. Duhon, Mark A. Rooney, Robert D. Strack, John R. Messinger