Patents by Inventor Steven F. Eshelman

Steven F. Eshelman 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: 6137021
    Abstract: A method of converting an HF alkylation process into a solid catalyst alkylation process is disclosed. In this method, an HF alkylation unit having an HF stripper downstream of the HF alkylation reactor is modified to a benzene rectifier. By modifying the HF stripper, this invention not only makes use of the existing HF stripper but also allows the entire downstream product recovery section, which comprises four fractionation columns, to be used in the modified process with only relatively minor modifications. Thus this invention maximizes the use of existing equipment and minimizes the investment necessary to eliminate the use of HF in detergent alkylation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Steven F. Eshelman, Dennis E. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6069285
    Abstract: An integrated alkylaromatic process using a solid alkylation catalyst and an aromatic rectifier is disclosed for alkylating aromatics with olefins and for regenerating the solid alkylation catalyst. The aromatic rectifier produces a relatively low-purity aromatic-containing overhead stream that is used in producing alkylaromatics, and an aromatic column produces a relatively high-purity aromatic-containing overhead stream that is used in regenerating the solid alkylation catalyst. In another embodiment, this process is further integrated with a paraffin dehydrogenation zone and an aromatic by-products removal zone. This invention produces the benzene-containing streams that are necessary for alkylating and for regenerating in a more economical manner than prior art processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Thomas R. Fritsch, Steven F. Eshelman, Dennis E. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 5983476
    Abstract: A method of converting an HF alkylation process into a solid catalyst alkylation process is disclosed. In this method, an HF alkylation unit having an HF stripper downstream of the HF alkylation reactor is modified to a benzene rectifier. By modifying the HF stripper, this invention not only makes use of the existing HF stripper but also allows the entire downstream product recovery section, which comprises four fractionation columns, to be used in the modified process with only relatively minor modifications. Thus this invention maximizes the use of existing equipment and minimizes the investment necessary to eliminate the use of HF in detergent alkylation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Steven F. Eshelman, Dennis E. O'Brien