Patents by Inventor Robert Jay Wittenbrink

Robert Jay Wittenbrink 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: 20030087970
    Abstract: A slurry Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis process for synthesizing liquid hydrocarbons from synthesis gas in a synthesis reactor also hydroisomerizes the synthesized hydrocarbon liquid, which comprises the slurry liquid, in one or more lift reactors immersed in the slurry body in the synthesis reactor. A monolithic catalyst is preferably used for the hydroisomerization, and slurry circulation up through the lift reactors from the surrounding slurry body, is achieved at least in part by the lift action of the hydroisomerization treat gas. Preferably, catalyst particles are also removed before the slurry contacts the catalyst. Hydroisomerization occurs while the synthesis reactor is producing hydrocarbons, without interfering with the synthesis reaction. A gas bubble reducing downcomer may be used to produce and feed the gas bubble reduced slurry into the lift reactor, thereby providing a hydraulic head assist in the slurry circulation up through and out of the lift reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Charles John Mart, Janet Renee Clark, Jennifer Schaefer Feeley
  • Publication number: 20030088137
    Abstract: A slurry Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis process for synthesizing liquid hydrocarbons from synthesis gas, in a hydrocarbon synthesis reactor, also hydroisomerizes the synthesized hydrocarbons in one or more external downcomer reactor hydroisomerizing loops outside of the reactor, but which are a part of the synthesis reactor. A monolithic catalyst is used for the hydroisomerization, and slurry circulation between the synthesis reactor and the one or more hydroisomerization loops is achieved, at least in part, by density-difference driven hydraulics created by removing gas bubbles from the slurry passed into the loop. Preferably, catalyst particles are also removed before the slurry contacts the monolithic hydroisomerization catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Charles John Mart, Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Janet Renee Clark, Jennifer Schaefer Feeley
  • Patent number: 6555725
    Abstract: A slurry Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis process for synthesizing liquid hydrocarbons from synthesis gas in a hydrocarbon synthesis reactor also hydroisomerizes the synthesized hydrocarbon liquid, which comprises the slurry liquid, in one or more downcomer reactors immersed in the slurry body in the synthesis reactor. A monolithic catalyst is preferably used for the hydroisomerization, and slurry circulation down through the downcomer reactors from the surrounding slurry body, is achieved at least in part by density-difference driven hydraulics created by removing gas bubbles from the slurry passed into the downcomers. Preferably, catalyst particles are also removed before the slurry contacts the catalyst. Hydroisomerization occurs while the synthesis reactor is producing hydrocarbons, without interfering with the hydrocarbon synthesis reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Charles John Mart, Janet Renee Clark, Jennifer Schaefer Feeley
  • Publication number: 20030057132
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon wax product from a hydrocarbon synthesis slurry comprising liquid synthesis product and catalyst particles is purified by introducing a portion of hydrocarbon synthesis slurry from a hydrocarbon synthesis zone to a treatment zone in which a treatment gas contacts the hydrocarbon synthesis slurry. Hydrogen or a hydrogen-containing gas is useful as the treatment gas. The gas treatment removes impurities from the hydrocarbon wax portion of the hydrocarbon synthesis slurry. Purified wax product is separated and removed in situ via wax withdrawal means. This avoids or minimizes the need for further treating the wax product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Loren Leon Ansell, Daniel Francis Ryan, Louis Francis Burns
  • Publication number: 20030018087
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon wax product from a HCS slurry comprising liquid synthesis product and catalyst particles is purified by circulating the slurry from a synthesis zone with a first temperature through a treatment zone with a second temperature in which a hydrogen-containing treatment gas contacts the slurry. The gas treatment removes impurities from the hydrocarbon wax product and also removes catalyst de-activating species which may be present in the slurry. Purified wax product is separated and removed from the treated slurry via wax withdrawal means. This avoids or minimizes the need for further treating the wax product. Remaining treated slurry may be returned to the synthesis zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Louis Francis Burns, Gregg Johnston Howsmon, Geoffrey Rhys Say, Charles Harrison Mauldin
  • Patent number: 6506297
    Abstract: Discloses novel biodegradable high performance hydrocarbon base oils useful as lubricants in engine oil and industrial compositions, and process for their manufacture. A waxy, or paraffinic feed, particularly a Fischer-Tropsch wax, is reacted over a dual function catalyst to produce hydroisomerization and hydrocracking reactions, at 700° F.+ conversion levels ranging from about 20 to 50 wt. %, preferably about 25-40 wt. %, sufficient to produce a crude fraction, e.g., a C5-1050° F.+ crude fraction, containing 700° F.+ isoparaffins having from about 6.0 to about 7.5 methyl branches per 100 carbon atoms in the molecule. The methyl paraffins containing crude fraction is topped via atmospheric distillation to produce a bottoms fraction having an initial boiling point between about 650° F. and 750° F. which is then solvent dewaxed, and the dewaxed oil is then fractionated under high vacuum to produce biodegradable high performance hydrocarbon base oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: ExxonMobile Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Richard Frank Bauman, Daniel Francis Ryan
  • Patent number: 6458857
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon synthesis (HCS) process wherein a Fischer-Tropsch reactor is operated to maximize the selectivity to 371° C.+ boiling fraction while minimizing the production of less valuable products such as light gases (C1-C4), naphtha and diesel fractions. Inventive modes of operation to offset the effects of catalyst deactivation and maximize selectivity to 371° C.+ boiling fraction are utilized including (a) reducing gas inlet velocity to maintain an optimal CO conversion level, (b) introducing additional active catalyst until a maximum loading is reached, and (c) increasing reactor temperature until productivity reaches a predetermined cut-off level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Louis Francis Burns, Gregg Johnston Howsmon, Geoffrey Rhys Say
  • Patent number: 6455474
    Abstract: Discloses environmentally friendly, low temperature base oils and drilling fluids. The drilling fluid is constituted of one or more of weighting agents, emulsifiers, wetting agents, viscosifiers, fluid loss control agents, proppants, and other particulates such as used in a gravel pack, emulsified with a paraffinic solvent composition which forms a continuous oil phase, or water-in-oil invert phase. The solvent composition is constituted of a mixture of C10-C24 n-paraffins and isoparaffins having an isoparaffin:n-paraffin molar ratio ranging from about 0.5:1 to about 9:1, the isoparaffins of the mixture contain greater than 30 percent, preferably from about 30 percent to about 50 percent, of mono-methyl species, and greater than 30 percent, preferably from about 30 percent to about 50 percent of multi-methyl branched species and isoparaffins which contain one or more branches of carbon number higher than methyl, based on the total weight of the isoparaffins in the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Charles John Mart, Daniel Francis Ryan, Bruce Randall Cook
  • Publication number: 20020077370
    Abstract: Wax in water emulsions prepared from waxes, Fischer-Tropsch water and two surfactants provide high performance pipeline transport of waxes with reduced pipeline fouling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Tapan Chakrabarty, Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Paul Joseph Berlowitz, Loren Leon Ansell
  • Publication number: 20020062053
    Abstract: A wide cut Fischer-Tropsch derived diesel fuel is produced wherein the distillate boils in a wider range than a conventional diesel fuel while providing favorable low temperature properties and environmentally beneficial effects. In particular, the fuel comprises a hydrocarbon distillate derived from the Fischer-Tropsch process having T90 greater than 640° F. (338° C.) but less than 1000° F. (538° C.) and a cold filter plugging point less than or equal to +5° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Paul Joseph Berlowitz, Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Daniel Francis Ryan, Willaim Berlin Genetti, Jack Wayne Johnson
  • Patent number: 6296757
    Abstract: Diesel fuels or blending stocks having excellent lubricity, oxidative stability and high cetane number are produced from non-shifting Fischer-Tropsch processes by separating the Fischer-Tropsch product into a lighter and heavier fractions, e.g., at about 700° F., subjecting the 700° F.+fraction to hydro-treating, and combining the 700° F.− portion of the hydrotreated product with the lighter fraction that has not been hydrotreated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Richard Frank Bauman, Paul Joseph Berlowitz, Bruce Randall Cook
  • Patent number: 6274029
    Abstract: Diesel fuels or blending stocks having excellent lubricity, oxidative stability and high cetane number are produced from non-shifting Fischer-Tropsch processes by separating the Fischer-Tropsch product into a lighter and heavier fractions, e.g., at about 700° F., subjecting the 700° F.+fraction to hydro-treating, and combining the 700° F.+portion of the hydrotreated product with the lighter fraction that has not been hydrotreated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Richard Frank Bauman, Paul Joseph Berlowitz, Bruce Randall Cook
  • Publication number: 20010004971
    Abstract: Diesel fuels or blending stocks having excellent lubricity, oxidative stability and high cetane number are produced from non-shifting Fischer-Tropsch processes by separating the Fischer-Tropsch product into a lighter and heavier fractions, e.g., at about 700° F., subjecting the 700° F.+ fraction to hydro-treating, and combining the 700° F.− portion of the hydrotreated product with the lighter fraction that has not been hydrotreated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventors: Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Richard Frank Bauman, Paul Joseph Berlowitz, Bruce Randall Cook
  • Patent number: 6096690
    Abstract: Discloses environmentally friendly, low temperature base oils and drilling fluids, or drilling mud compositions useful in the production of oil and gas. The drilling fluid is constituted of one or more of weighting agents, emulsifiers, wetting agents, viscosifiers, fluid loss control agents, proppants, and other particulates such as used in a gravel pack, emulsified with a paraffinic solvent composition which forms a continuous oil phase, or water-in-oil invert phase. The solvent composition is constituted of a mixture of C.sub.10- C.sub.24 n-paraffins and isoparaffins having an isoparaffin:n-paraffin molar ratio ranging from about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Charles John Mart, Daniel Francis Ryan, Bruce Randall Cook
  • Patent number: 6096940
    Abstract: Discloses novel biodegradable high performance hydrocarbon base oils useful as lubricants in engine oil and industrial compositions, and process for their manufacture. A waxy, or paraffinic feed, particularly a Fischer-Tropsch wax, is reacted over a dual function catalyst to produce hydroisomerization and hydrocracking reactions, at 700.degree. F.+ conversion levels ranging from about 20 to 50 wt. %, preferably about 25-40 wt. %, sufficient to produce a crude fraction, e.g., a C.sub.5 -1050.degree. F.+ crude fraction, containing 700.degree. F.+ isoparaffins having from about 6.0 to about 7.5 methyl branches per 100 carbon atoms in the molecule. The methyl paraffins containing crude fraction is topped via atmospheric distillation to produce a bottoms fraction having an initial boiling point between about 650.degree. F. and 750.degree. F. which is then solvent dewaxed, and the dewaxed oil is then fractionated under high vacuum to produce biodegradable high performance hydrocarbon base oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Richard Frank Bauman, Daniel Francis Ryan
  • Patent number: 6075061
    Abstract: The instant invention is directed to an integrated process for producing a hydroisomerate in the presence of sulfur comprising the steps of (a) separating a natural gas into a first stream comprising a C.sub.5 + gas field condensate containing sulfur and a second stream comprising said natural gas having said a C.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Bruce Randall Cook, Paul Joseph Berlowitz
  • Patent number: 6025305
    Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a process for producing an improved lubricating base stock having a preselected desired oxidation stability comprising the steps of: (a) hydroisomerizing a hydrocarbon wax to obtain a lubricating base stock, (b) irradiating, within the frequency of about 4600 to about 3500 cm.sup.-1 or about 1300 to about 600 cm.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Haven Scott Aldrich, John Stephen Szobota, Robert Jay Wittenbrink
  • Patent number: 6008164
    Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a method for producing a lubricating base stock having a preselected oxidative stability comprising the steps of: (a) separating, into a plurality of fractions based on molecular shape, a hydroisomerized hydrocarbon wax, (b) collecting the fractions of step (a) which have the preselected oxidative stability for use as a lubricating base stock, wherein the fractions to be collected are determined by measuring the oxidative stability of each of said fractions of said plurality of fractions to determine which fractions have said preselected oxidative stability. The invention is also directed to an improved lubricating base oil and a formulated lubricating composition using said lubricating base oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Haven Scott Aldrich, Robert Jay Wittenbrink
  • Patent number: 5965475
    Abstract: An improved catalyst for the production of lube oil blending components, and lube oils, from waxy, paraffinic feeds, a process for producing such catalyst, and a process utilizing this catalyst in the production of lubes. The catalyst is a unitized mixed powder pellet catalyst constituted of a dehydrogenation component, or components, suitably a catalytically active Group VIB, VIIB, or VIII metal, or metals, an isomerization component, suitably an amorphous acidic solid support, and a small pore molecular sieve dewaxing component. The dewaxing component is characterized as a small pore molecular sieve wherein the pore windows are formed by 8 oxide atoms which form the limiting edge of the pore window, each of the oxide atoms constituting one of the four oxide atoms of a tetrahedrally coordinated cluster around a silicon or aluminum framework ion, or atom, each oxide ion is coordinated to two framework ions in these structures, and the pore size of the sieve ranges between about 6.3 .ANG. and 2.3 .ANG..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Russell J. Koveal, William J. Murphy, Ian A. Cody, Albert E. Schweizer
  • Patent number: 5906727
    Abstract: Discloses high purity solvent compositions constituted of n-paraffins and isoparaffins, with the isoparaffins containing predominantly methyl branches, and having an isoparaffin:n-paraffin ratio sufficient to provide superior low temperature properties and low viscosities. The solvent compositions are made by a process wherein a waxy, or long chain paraffinic feed, especially a Fischer-Tropsch wax, is reacted over a dual function catalyst to produce hydroisomerization and hydrocracking reactions at 700.degree. F.+ conversion levels ranging from about 20 to 90 wt.% to provide a C.sub.5 -1050.degree. F. crude fraction. The C.sub.5 -1050.degree. F. crude fraction is then topped via atmospheric distillation to produce a low boiling fraction with an upper end point boiling between about 650.degree. F. and 750.degree. F. The low boiling fraction is fractionated and a narrow boiling range solvent obtained therefrom; one which can be further divided into solvent grades of various boiling ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Robert Jay Wittenbrink, Steven Earl Silverberg, Daniel Francis Ryan