Patents by Inventor Steve Yanik

Steve Yanik 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: 9944837
    Abstract: Preparing solid biomass particles for catalytic conversion includes agitating solid biomass particles and providing a biomass-catalyst mixture to a conventional petroleum refinery process unit. The biomass-catalyst mixture includes the solid biomass particles and a catalyst. Agitating solid biomass particles includes flowing a gas to provide a velocity to at least a portion of the solid biomass particles sufficient to reduce their sizes. Co-processing a biomass feedstock and a conventional petroleum feedstock includes liquefying at least a portion of a biomass-catalyst mixture and co-processing at least a portion of the liquefied biomass feedstock and a conventional petroleum feedstock in a conventional petroleum refinery process unit. The biomass feedstock includes a plurality of solid biomass particles and a catalyst, which is liquefied to produce a liquefied biomass feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Inaeris Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Yanik, Paul O'Connor, Robert Bartek
  • Publication number: 20150291886
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for biomass conversion which includes co-processing the biomass with thermoplastic and non-thermoplastic polymer based materials in a catalytic pyrolysis reactor to convert such to liquid hydrocarbons; wherein hydrogen atoms originating with the polymer materials can remove oxygen from oxygenated hydrocarbons produced in the conversion of the biomass in the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Bartek, Steve Yanik
  • Patent number: 9120980
    Abstract: A reactor and/or process is disclosed for fluidized cracking of solid particulate biomass material, including a first mixing zone where a particulate stream comprising solid particulate biomass is mixed with a lift gas and becomes fluidized, and including a second mixing zone where a heat carrier material is mixed with the fluidized solid particulate biomass material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: KiOR, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bartek, Ronald Cordle, Steve Yanik, Paul O'Connor
  • Patent number: 9040761
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for biomass conversion which includes co-processing the biomass with thermoplastic and non-thermoplastic polymer based materials in a catalytic pyrolysis reactor to convert such to liquid hydrocarbons; wherein hydrogen atoms originating with the polymer materials can remove oxygen from oxygenated hydrocarbons produced in the conversion of the biomass in the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: KiOR, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bartek, Steve Yanik
  • Patent number: 8877015
    Abstract: A process and system is disclosed for optimizing a key parameter of a biomass feedstock that enhances bio-oil production. The process and system involves optimizing the values of the key parameter in multiple biomass feedstocks by regulating their feed rates and blending those feedstocks to produce a cumulative biomass feedstock with an optimal value for the key parameter. The key parameter in the biomass feedstocks is measured and the feed rates of the multiple biomass feedstocks are adjusted in order to produce a cumulative biomass feedstock exhibiting optimal values for the desired key parameter. The key parameters can include compositional properties, such as lignin content or mineral content, and/or fluidization properties of the biomass materials, such as density, particle cohesion force, or particle size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: KiOR, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bartek, Steve Yanik
  • Patent number: 8623634
    Abstract: A method for producing biomass and sequestering greenhouse gas includes providing a greenhouse gas, providing light energy, and growing algae in a growth container with the greenhouse gas and the light energy. The algae can be processed into a biomass feedstock. The biomass feedstock can be converted into a fuel or specialty chemical. At least a portion of the algae can be used as a fertilizer for a biomass growth source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: KiOR, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Yanik, Robert Bartek
  • Patent number: 8558043
    Abstract: A modular biomass treatment unit includes a first module having a pretreater and a first frame for transportation to and operation at a site adjacent to a solid biomass growth source. The pretreater is operable to process solid biomass to produce a plurality of solid biomass particles for conversion into a fuel or specialty chemical. The first frame supports the pretreater during transportation to and operation at the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source. The modular biomass treatment unit can also include additional modules each comprising a reactor, a separator, and a frame for transportation to and operation at a site such as the site adjacent to the solid biomass growth source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: KiOR, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Yanik, Paul O'Connor, Robert Bartek
  • Patent number: 8524959
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for small-scale operation of biomass catalytic cracking. The process is suitable for lab scale and pilot plant operation, as well as for small-scale commercial operation. The process is suitable for simulating a continuous biomass catalytic cracking (BCC) process. The process comprises a biomass conversion cycle and a catalyst regeneration cycle. A fluid bed reactor and a reaction feed fluidizer suitable for use in the process are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: KiOR, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul O'Connor, Henrique Soares Cerqueira, Robert Bartek, Steve Yanik
  • Publication number: 20130204054
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for biomass conversion which includes co-processing the biomass with thermoplastic and non-thermoplastic polymer based materials in a catalytic pyrolysis reactor to convert such to liquid hydrocarbons; wherein hydrogen atoms originating with the polymer materials can remove oxygen from oxygenated hydrocarbons produced in the conversion of the biomass in the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Bartek, Steve Yanik
  • Publication number: 20130068997
    Abstract: Preparing solid biomass particles for catalytic conversion includes agitating solid biomass particles and providing a biomass-catalyst mixture to a conventional petroleum refinery process unit. The biomass-catalyst mixture includes the solid biomass particles and a catalyst. Agitating solid biomass particles includes flowing a gas to provide a velocity to at least a portion of the solid biomass particles sufficient to reduce their sizes. Co-processing a biomass feedstock and a conventional petroleum feedstock includes liquefying at least a portion of a biomass-catalyst mixture and co-processing at least a portion of the liquefied biomass feedstock and a conventional petroleum feedstock in a conventional petroleum refinery process unit. The biomass feedstock includes a plurality of solid biomass particles and a catalyst, which is liquefied to produce a liquefied biomass feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Steve Yanik, Paul O'Connor, Robert Bartek
  • Patent number: 8344194
    Abstract: A process for producing bio-fuel from biomass is disclosed herein. The process includes processing the mean particle diameter of the biomass by mechanical processing to a size ranging from 1 ?m to 1000 ?m to form particulated biomass. The particulated biomass is mixed with a liquid hydrocarbon to form a suspension, wherein the suspension includes between 1 weight percent to 40 weight percent particulated biomass. The suspension is heated to a temperature between 50° C. and 550° C. The heated suspension is fed into a unit selected from the group consisting of a pyrolysis reactor, a fluid catalytic cracking unit, a delayed coker, a fluid coker, a hydroprocessing unit, and a hydrocracking unit; and then at least a portion of the particulated biomass of the heated suspension is converted into fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: KiOR, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bartek, Steve Yanik
  • Patent number: 8288599
    Abstract: Preparing solid biomass particles for catalytic conversion includes agitating solid biomass particles and providing a biomass-catalyst mixture to a conventional petroleum refinery process unit. The biomass-catalyst mixture includes the solid biomass particles and a catalyst. Agitating solid biomass particles includes flowing a gas to provide a velocity to at least a portion of the solid biomass particles sufficient to reduce their sizes. Co-processing a biomass feedstock and a conventional petroleum feedstock includes liquefying at least a portion of a biomass-catalyst mixture and co-processing at least a portion of the liquefied biomass feedstock and a conventional petroleum feedstock in a conventional petroleum refinery process unit. The biomass feedstock includes a plurality of solid biomass particles and a catalyst, which is liquefied to produce a liquefied biomass feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: KiOR, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Yanik, Paul O'Connor, Robert Bartek
  • Patent number: 8288600
    Abstract: A process for producing fuel from biomass is disclosed herein. The process includes torrefying biomass material at a temperature between 80° C. to 400° C. to form particulated biomass having a mean average particle size between 1 ?m and 1000 ?m. The particulated biomass is mixed with a liquid hydrocarbon to form a suspension, wherein the suspension includes from 1 weight percent to 40 weight percent particulated biomass. The suspension is fed into a unit selected from the group consisting of a pyrolysis reactor, a fluid catalytic cracking unit, a delayed coker, a fluid coker, a hydroprocessing unit, and a hydrocracking unit, and then at least a portion of the particulated biomass of the suspension is converted into fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: KiOR Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bartek, Michael Brady, Dennis Stamires, Steve Yanik, Paul O'Connor, Jacobus Cornelius Rasser
  • Publication number: 20120160658
    Abstract: A process and system is disclosed for optimizing a key parameter of a biomass feedstock that enhances bio-oil production. The process and system involves optimizing the values of the key parameter in multiple biomass feedstocks by regulating their feed rates and blending those feedstocks to produce a cumulative biomass feedstock with an optimal value for the key parameter. The key parameter in the biomass feedstocks is measured and the feed rates of the multiple biomass feedstocks are adjusted in order to produce a cumulative biomass feedstock exhibiting optimal values for the desired key parameter. The key parameters can include compositional properties, such as lignin content or mineral content, and/or fluidization properties of the biomass materials, such as density, particle cohesion force, or particle size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: KIOR, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Bartek, Steve Yanik
  • Publication number: 20120137572
    Abstract: A method is disclosed including co-processing a biomass feedstock and a refinery feedstock in a refinery unit. The method can include producing a liquid product by catalytically cracking or hyrocracking or hydrotreating a biomass feedstock and a refinery feedstock in a refinery unit having a fluidized reactor. Catalytically cracking can include transferring hydrogen from the refinery feedstock to carbon and oxygen from the biomass feedstock. Hydrocracking or hydrotreating can include transferring hydrogen from a hydrogen source to carbon and oxygen from the biomass feedstock, and to carbon from the refinery feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: KIOR, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Bartek, Steve Yanik, Paul O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20120090977
    Abstract: A reactor and/or process is disclosed for fluidized cracking of solid particulate biomass material, including a first mixing zone where a particulate stream comprising solid particulate biomass is mixed with a lift gas and becomes fluidized, and including a second mixing zone where a heat carrier material is mixed with the fluidized solid particulate biomass material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: KIOR, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Bartek, Ronald Lee Cordle, Steve Yanik, Paul O'Connor
  • Patent number: 8137632
    Abstract: A process is described including: contacting solid biomass with a first catalyst stream in a first reaction zone operated at a temperature T1 (from about 250 to about 400° C.), for conversion of a portion of the solid biomass and forming a first gaseous product stream; downwardly passing unconverted biomass to a second reaction zone for contact with a second catalyst stream charged to the second reaction zone operated at a temperature T2, for conversion to form a second gaseous product stream and a spent catalyst; burning coke off the spent catalyst in a regenerator to form a regenerated catalyst; charging a portion of the regenerated catalyst to each of the first and second reaction zones, as the first and second catalyst streams, respectively; upwardly passing the second gaseous product stream to the first reaction zone; and removing both first and second gaseous product streams from the first reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: KiOR, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bartek, Steve Yanik, Paul O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20120022307
    Abstract: Preparing solid biomass particles for catalytic conversion includes agitating solid biomass particles and providing a biomass-catalyst mixture to a conventional petroleum refinery process unit. The biomass-catalyst mixture includes the solid biomass particles and a catalyst. Agitating solid biomass particles includes flowing a gas to provide a velocity to at least a portion of the solid biomass particles sufficient to reduce their sizes. Co-processing a biomass feedstock and a conventional petroleum feedstock includes liquefying at least a portion of a biomass-catalyst mixture and co-processing at least a portion of the liquefied biomass feedstock and a conventional petroleum feedstock in a conventional petroleum refinery process unit. The biomass feedstock includes a plurality of solid biomass particles and a catalyst, which is liquefied to produce a liquefied biomass feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: KIOR, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Yanik, Paul O'Connor, Robert Bartek
  • Patent number: 8003835
    Abstract: A method for converting solid biomass into hydrocarbons includes contacting the solid biomass with a catalyst in a first riser operated at a temperature in the range of from about 50° C. to about 200° C. to thereby produce a first biomass-catalyst mixture and a first product comprising hydrocarbons; a) separating the first product from the first biomass-catalyst mixture; c) charging the first biomass-catalyst mixture to a second riser operated at a temperature in the range of from about 200° C. to about 400° C. to thereby produce a second biomass-catalyst mixture and a second product comprising hydrocarbons; d) separating the second product from the second biomass-catalyst mixture; e) charging the second biomass-catalyst mixture to a third riser operated at a temperature greater than about 450° C. to thereby produce a spent catalyst and a third product comprising hydrocarbons; and f) separating the third effluent from the spent catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Kior Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Yanik, Robert Bartek, Paul O'Connor, Dennis Stamires, Michael Brady
  • Publication number: 20110197496
    Abstract: A method for catalytically cracking a triglyceride-containing biomass can include the steps of (i) catalytically cracking triglycerides in a biomass-catalyst mixture, at a temperature below about 300° C., to produce a first oil and a cellulosic portion and (ii) catalytically cracking cellulose in the cellulosic portion, at a temperature between about 300 and about 600° C., to produce a second oil. Another method for catalytically cracking a triglyceride-containing biomass includes catalytically cracking triglycerides in a biomass-catalyst mixture, at a temperature between about 300 and about 600° C., where the catalyst comprises an acidic or basic catalyst, to produce an oil comprising aromatics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: KIOR, INC.
    Inventors: Paul O'Connor, Steve Yanik