Patents by Inventor Todd Steffens

Todd Steffens 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: 20070051665
    Abstract: This invention relates to the feed injection zone of a FCC. The feed injection zone is non-circular in shape allows for optimal penetration between feed and catalyst in the feed injection zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESERCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Dean Draemel, Todd Steffens
  • Publication number: 20060144757
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and process for injecting a petroleum feed. More particularly, a liquid petroleum feed is atomized with a nozzle assembly apparatus in which the apparatus has injection nozzles that produce a spray pattern of finely dispersed feed. The injection nozzles are each designed such that the overall effect of the different spray patterns from the individual nozzles provides a more uniform feed coverage across the catalyst stream, provided that at least one spray pattern is not substantially flat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Todd Steffens, Rathna Davuluri, Thomas Hewitt, Christopher Smalley, Robert Johnson, Phillip Niccum, Richard Miller, Eusebius Gbordzoe, Yong-Lin Yang
  • Publication number: 20060144758
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and process for injecting a petroleum feed. More particularly, a liquid petroleum feed is atomized with a nozzle assembly apparatus in which the apparatus has injection nozzles that produce a generally flat spray pattern of finely dispersed feed. The injection nozzles are each designed such that the overall effect of the different spray patterns from the individual nozzles provides a more uniform feed coverage across the catalyst stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: George Swan, Rustom Billimoria, Rathna Davuluri, Steven Lowenthal, Todd Steffens, Christopher Smalley
  • Publication number: 20060135348
    Abstract: This invention relates to efficiently regenerating catalyst particles by minimizing the formation of localized “hot spots” and “cold spots” in a regeneration zone. In one embodiment, the invention includes mixing spent catalyst from a reactor and cold catalyst from a catalyst cooler in a mixing zone and directing the mixed catalyst to the regeneration zone in a fluidized manner with a fluidizing medium. In the regeneration zone, the mixed catalyst contacts an oxygen-containing regeneration medium under conditions effective to regenerate the spent catalyst contained therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Brian Cunningham, Todd Steffens, James Beech, Richard Walter
  • Publication number: 20060108261
    Abstract: A process for selectively producing C3 olefins from a catalytically cracked or thermally cracked naphtha stream is disclosed herein. The naphtha stream is introduced into a process unit comprised of a reaction zone, a stripping zone containing a dense phase, a catalyst regeneration zone, and a fractionation zone. The naphtha feedstream is contacted in the reaction zone with a catalyst containing from about 10 to about 50 wt. % of a crystalline zeolite having an average pore diameter less than about 0.7 nanometers at reaction conditions. Vapor products are collected overhead and the catalyst particles are passed through the stripping zone on the way to the catalyst regeneration zone. Volatiles are stripped with steam in the stripping zone and the catalyst particles are sent to the catalyst regeneration zone where coke is burned from the catalyst, and are then recycled to the reaction zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Todd Steffens, Brian Henry, Jacob Thiart, Nicole Lai, James Dearth
  • Publication number: 20060016726
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and process for atomizing a petroleum feed. More particularly, a liquid petroleum feed is atomized with an atomization apparatus in which the apparatus has an orifice that produces a generally flat spray pattern of finely dispersed feed prior to contacting catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking zone. The orifice has a general aspect ratio greater than 1.0 and a ratio of perimeter length-to-cross-sectional area greater than 1.5 relative to a perimeter-to-cross-sectional area ratio of a circular orifice of equivalent area. The apparatus can be used to atomize feed injected into the cracking zone of a fluid catalytic cracker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventors: Todd Steffens, Thomas Hewitt, Rathna Davuluri, Enrique Feliz