Patents by Inventor Timothy A. Brandvold

Timothy A. Brandvold 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: 10982152
    Abstract: Methods, processes, systems, or apparatus are provided to remove contaminants such as metals and chlorine present in a pyrolysis stream to form reduced-contaminant liquid biomass. In certain embodiments, for example, a metal chelating agent is dissolved into a metal-containing pyrolysis stream condensate to form metal chelate complex, followed by filtering to obtain the reduced-contaminant liquid biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry A. Freel, Josh Normand, Timothy A. Brandvold, Stanley J. Frey, Doug Clarke
  • Patent number: 10920151
    Abstract: Processes for partially deoxygenating a biomass-derived pyrolysis oil to produce a fuel for a burner are disclosed. A biomass-derived pyrolysis oil stream is combined with a low recycle stream that is a portion of a deoxygenated effluent to form a heated diluted py-oil feed stream, which is contacted with a first deoxygenating catalyst in the presence of hydrogen at first hydroprocessing conditions effective to form the effluent stream. The effluent may be separated and used to provide a product fuel stream for a burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. Brandvold, Lance A. Baird
  • Patent number: 10829697
    Abstract: An apparatus and a process for providing a green diesel with improved flow properties. A renewable feed comprising an oil is deoxygenated to provide an effluent. The effluent may be isomerized to improve the qualities of the effluent for use as a diesel fuel. Additionally, the effluent may be filtered to increase the fuel flow properties. As filtration zone can be used, which includes a filter and which may be flushed with a portion of the feed stream to the filtration zone or a portion of filtration zone effluent. The wash stream may be heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. Brandvold, Daniel L. Ellig, James M. Andersen
  • Publication number: 20200010764
    Abstract: Methods, processes, systems, or apparatus are provided to remove contaminants such as metals and chlorine present in a pyrolysis stream to form reduced-contaminant liquid biomass. In certain embodiments, for example, a metal chelating agent is dissolved into a metal-containing pyrolysis stream condensate to form metal chelate complex, followed by filtering to obtain the reduced-contaminant liquid biomass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Barry A. Freel, Josh Normand, Timothy A. Brandvold, Stanley J. Frey, Doug Clarke
  • Patent number: 10519079
    Abstract: Low metal biomass-derived pyrolysis oils and processes for producing the same are provided. Low metal biomass-derived pyrolysis oil is produced by a process of contacting metal-containing biomass-derived pyrolysis oil with an acidic ion-exchange resin having sulfonic acid groups. Low metal biomass-derived pyrolysis oil is removed from spent acidic ion-exchange resin after ion-exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Timothy A. Brandvold
  • Patent number: 10400176
    Abstract: Methods, processes, systems, or apparatus are provided to remove contaminants such as metals and chlorine present in a pyrolysis stream to form reduced-contaminant liquid biomass. In certain embodiments, for example, a metal chelating agent is dissolved into a metal-containing pyrolysis stream condensate to form metal chelate complex, followed by filtering to obtain the reduced-contaminant liquid biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry A. Freel, Josh Normand, Timothy A. Brandvold, Stanley J. Frey, Doug Clarke
  • Publication number: 20190093021
    Abstract: Processes for partially deoxygenating a biomass-derived pyrolysis oil to produce a fuel for a burner are disclosed. A biomass-derived pyrolysis oil stream is combined with a low recycle stream that is a portion of a deoxygenated effluent to form a heated diluted py-oil feed stream, which is contacted with a first deoxygenating catalyst in the presence of hydrogen at first hydroprocessing conditions effective to form the effluent stream. The effluent may be separated and used to provide a product fuel stream for a burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy A. Brandvold, Lance A. Baird
  • Publication number: 20180334618
    Abstract: Methods, processes, systems, or apparatus are provided to remove contaminants such as metals and chlorine present in a pyrolysis stream to form reduced-contaminant liquid biomass. In certain embodiments, for example, a metal chelating agent is dissolved into a metal-containing pyrolysis stream condensate to form metal chelate complex, followed by filtering to obtain the reduced-contaminant liquid biomass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Barry A. Freel, Josh Normand, Timothy A. Brandvold, Stanley J. Frey, Doug Clarke
  • Patent number: 9758441
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for deoxygenating pyrolysis oil. A method includes contacting a pyrolysis oil with a deoxygenation catalyst in a first reactor at deoxygenation conditions to produce a first reactor effluent. The first reactor effluent has a first oxygen concentration and a first hydrogen concentration, based on hydrocarbons in the first reactor effluent, and the first reactor effluent includes an aromatic compound. The first reactor effluent is contacted with a dehydrogenation catalyst in a second reactor at conditions that deoxygenate the first reactor effluent while preserving the aromatic compound to produce a second reactor effluent. The second reactor effluent has a second oxygen concentration lower than the first oxygen concentration and a second hydrogen concentration that is equal to or lower than the first hydrogen concentration, where the second oxygen concentration and the second hydrogen concentration are based on the hydrocarbons in the second reactor effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lance Awender Baird, Timothy A. Brandvold, Stanley Joseph Frey
  • Publication number: 20170029722
    Abstract: An apparatus and a process for providing a green diesel with improved flow properties. A renewable feed comprising an oil is deoxygenated to provide an effluent. The effluent may be isomerized to improve the qualities of the effluent for use as a diesel fuel. Additionally, the effluent may be filtered to increase the fuel flow properties. As filtration zone can be used, which includes a filter and which may be flushed with a portion of the feed stream to the filtration zone or a portion of filtration zone effluent. The wash stream may be heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy A. Brandvold, Daniel L. Ellig, James M. Andersen
  • Patent number: 9527022
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to improve hot gas filtration to reduce the liquid fuel loss caused by prolonged residence time at high temperatures are described. The improvement can be obtained by reducing the residence time at elevated temperature by reducing the temperature of the pyrolysis vapor, by reducing the volume of the pyrolysis vapor at the elevated temperature, by increasing the volumetric flow rate at constant volume of the pyrolysis vapor, or by doing a combination of these.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lance A. Baird, Timothy A. Brandvold, Stefan Müller
  • Publication number: 20160145172
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for deoxygenating pyrolysis oil. A method includes contacting a pyrolysis oil with a deoxygenation catalyst in a first reactor at deoxygenation conditions to produce a first reactor effluent. The first reactor effluent has a first oxygen concentration and a first hydrogen concentration, based on hydrocarbons in the first reactor effluent, and the first reactor effluent includes an aromatic compound. The first reactor effluent is contacted with a dehydrogenation catalyst in a second reactor at conditions that deoxygenate the first reactor effluent while preserving the aromatic compound to produce a second reactor effluent. The second reactor effluent has a second oxygen concentration lower than the first oxygen concentration and a second hydrogen concentration that is equal to or lower than the first hydrogen concentration, where the second oxygen concentration and the second hydrogen concentration are based on the hydrocarbons in the second reactor effluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Lance Awender Baird, Timothy A. Brandvold, Stanley Joseph Frey
  • Patent number: 9321714
    Abstract: A process of making terephthalic acid or a derivative of terephthalic acid is described. The process includes reacting a derivative of 2,5-dimethylfuran, with a dienophile containing an unsaturated 2-carbon unit, in the presence of a catalyst having Brönsted acidity to form a para-xylene derivative; and optionally reacting the para-xylene derivative to terephthalic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. Brandvold, Avram M. Buchbinder, Nancy Iwamoto, Hayim Abrevaya, Phuong T. M. Do
  • Patent number: 9222044
    Abstract: Methods for producing low oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oil are provided. Starting biomass-derived pyrolysis oil is deoxygenated by exposing the biomass-derived oil to a first catalyst in the presence of hydrogen-containing gas at first hydroprocessing conditions to produce a partially deoxygenated biomass-derived pyrolysis oil. The first catalyst has a neutral catalyst support. The partially deoxygenated biomass-derived pyrolysis oil is exposed to a second catalyst in the presence of additional hydrogen-containing gas at second hydroprocessing conditions to produce a hydrocarbon product. The biomass-derived pyrolysis oil may be esterified prior to deoxygenation. A portion of the low oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oil is recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Traynor, Timothy A. Brandvold
  • Patent number: 9193924
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for forming a low-metal biomass-derived pyrolysis oil are provided. The method comprises the steps of filtering a biomass-derived pyrolysis oil with a high flux rate filter arrangement having a flux rate of about 10 L/m2/hr or greater to form a low-solids biomass-derived pyrolysis oil. The low-solids biomass-derived pyrolysis oil is filtered with a fine filter arrangement having a pore diameter of about 50 ?m or less to form an ultralow-solids biomass-derived pyrolysis oil. The ultralow-solids biomass-derived pyrolysis oil is contacted with an ion-exchange resin to remove metal ions and form the low-metal biomass-derived pyrolysis oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanley Joseph Frey, Rajeswar Gattupalli, Timothy A. Brandvold
  • Patent number: 9192931
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for washing a spent ion exchange bed and for treating biomass-derived pyrolysis oil are provided herein. An exemplary process for washing a spent ion exchange bed employed in purification of biomass-derived pyrolysis oil includes the step of providing a ion-depleted pyrolysis oil stream having an original oxygen content. The ion-depleted pyrolysis oil stream is partially hydrotreated to reduce the oxygen content thereof, thereby producing a partially hydrotreated pyrolysis oil stream having a residual oxygen content that is less than the original oxygen content. At least a portion of the partially hydrotreated pyrolysis oil stream is passed through the spent ion exchange bed. Water is passed through the spent ion exchange bed after passing at least the portion of the partially hydrotreated pyrolysis oil stream therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lance Awender Baird, Timothy A. Brandvold
  • Patent number: 9163181
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for deoxygenating a biomass-derived pyrolysis oil are provided. In one example, a method comprises the steps of separating a low-oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oil effluent into a low-oxygen-pyoil organic phase stream and an aqueous phase stream. Phenolic compounds are removed from the aqueous phase stream to form a phenolic-rich diluent recycle stream. A biomass-derived pyrolysis oil stream is diluted and heated with the phenolic-rich diluent recycle stream to form a heated diluted pyoil feed stream. The heated diluted pyoil feed stream is contacted with a deoxygenating catalyst in the presence of hydrogen to deoxygenate the heated diluted pyoil feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lance Awender Baird, Timothy A. Brandvold
  • Patent number: 9080109
    Abstract: Methods for deoxygenating a biomass-derived pyrolysis oil are provided. A method comprising the steps of diluting the biomass-derived pyrolysis oil with a phenolic-containing diluent to form a diluted pyoil-phenolic feed is provided. The diluted pyoil-phenolic feed is contacted with a deoxygenating catalyst in the presence of hydrogen at hydroprocessing conditions effective to form a low-oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oil effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Timothy A. Brandvold
  • Patent number: 9068126
    Abstract: Methods for deoxygenating a biomass-derived pyrolysis oil are provided. A method for deoxygenating a biomass-derived pyrolysis oil comprising the steps of combining a biomass-derived pyrolysis oil stream with a heated low-oxygen-pyoil diluent recycle stream to form a heated diluted pyoil feed stream is provided. The heated diluted pyoil feed stream has a feed temperature of about 150° C. or greater. The heated diluted pyoil feed stream is contacted with a first deoxygenating catalyst in the presence of hydrogen at first hydroprocessing conditions effective to form a low-oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oil effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lance Awender Baird, Timothy A. Brandvold, Francis Stephen Lupton
  • Publication number: 20150175896
    Abstract: Methods for deoxygenating treated biomass-derived pyrolysis oil are provided. The treated biomass-derived pyrolysis oil is exposed to a catalyst having a neutral catalyst support such as a non-alumina metal oxide support, a theta alumina support, or both. The non-alumina metal oxide support may be a titanium oxide (TiO2) support, a silicon oxide support, a zirconia oxide (ZrO2) support, a niobium oxide (Nb2O5) support, or a support having a mixture of non-alumina metal oxides. The catalyst may include a noble metal or a Group VIII non-noble metal and a Group VIB non-noble metal on the neutral catalyst support. The treated biomass-derived pyrolysis oil is introduced into a hydroprocessing reactor in the presence of the catalyst under hydroprocessing conditions to produce low oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Traynor, Timothy A. Brandvold, Jennifer F. Abrahamian