Patents by Inventor Vasant P. Thakkar

Vasant P. Thakkar 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: 8404103
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the hydrotreating and hydrocracking of highly aromatic distillate feeds such as light cycle oil (LCO) to produce ultra low sulfur gasoline and diesel fuel. Optimization of hydrotreater severity improves the octane quality of the gasoline or naphtha fraction. In particular, the operation of the hydrotreater at reduced severity to allow at least about 20 ppm by weight of organic nitrogen into the hydrocracker feed is shown to lead to these important benefits. Post-treating of the hydrocracker effluent over an additional hydrotreating catalyst bed may be desired to meet specifications for ultra low sulfur fuel components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bart Dziabala, Vasant P. Thakkar, Suheil F. Abdo
  • Publication number: 20120043257
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the hydrotreating and hydrocracking of highly aromatic distillate feeds such as light cycle oil (LCO) to produce ultra low sulfur gasoline and diesel fuel. Optimization of hydrotreater severity improves the octane quality of the gasoline or naphtha fraction. In particular, the operation of the hydrotreater at reduced severity to allow at least about 20 ppm by weight of organic nitrogen into the hydrocracker feed is shown to lead to these important benefits. Post-treating of the hydrocracker effluent over an additional hydrotreating catalyst bed may be desired to meet specifications for ultra low sulfur fuel components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bart Dziabala, Vasant P. Thakkar, Suheil F. Abdo
  • Patent number: 8066867
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the hydrotreating and hydrocracking of highly aromatic distillate feeds such as light cycle oil (LCO) to produce ultra low sulfur gasoline and diesel fuel. Optimization of hydrotreater severity improves the octane quality of the gasoline or naphtha fraction. In particular, the operation of the hydrotreater at reduced severity to allow at least about 20 ppm by weight of organic nitrogen into the hydrocracker feed is shown to lead to these important benefits. Post-treating of the hydrocracker effluent over an additional hydrotreating catalyst bed may be desired to meet specifications for ultra low sulfur fuel components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bart Dziabala, Vasant P. Thakkar, Suheil F. Abdo
  • Publication number: 20110240519
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for alkylating and hydrogenating a light cycle oil. The process can include passing the light cycle oil, one or more C2-C6 alkenes, and hydrogen through a reaction vessel containing an alkylation zone and a hydrogenation zone. Generally, the hydrogen is at least partially comprised from a hydrocarbon product stream from a fluid catalytic cracking zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: UOP, LLC
    Inventors: Deng-Yang Jan, Vasant P. Thakkar, Christopher P. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 7951290
    Abstract: A process is provided to produce high cetane quality and low or preferably ultra low sulfur diesel and a fluid catalytic cracker (FCC) quality feedstock from a processing unit including at least a hydrotreating zone and a hydrocracking zone. In one aspect, the processing unit includes reactor severity requirements in both the hydrotreating zone and the hydrocracking zone effective to produce the FCC feed quality and the diesel sulfur quality to permit a high quality hydrocracked product to be formed at lower pressures and conversion rates without overtreating the FCC quality feedstock stream. In another aspect, a portion of the hydrotreated effluent is selected for conversion in the hydrocracking and the remaining portion of the hydrotreated effluent is directed to subsequent processing, such as fluid catalytic cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Vasant P. Thakkar, Douglas W. Kocher-Cowan
  • Patent number: 7803334
    Abstract: A hydrocracking process and apparatus wherein the feedstock is hydrotreated and the liquid and gaseous effluent from the hydrotreater is directly introduced into the upper end of a hydrocracking vessel which provides a liquid seal to prevent the passage of the gaseous stream containing hydrogen sulfide and ammonia from the hydrotreater to enter the hydrocracking zone containing hydrocracking catalyst. Fresh hydrogen is then introduced into the hydrocracking zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard K. Hoehn, Vasant P. Thakkar, Vedula K. Murty, Douglas W. Kocher-Cowan, Jennifer L. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20100160699
    Abstract: A method for efficient use of hydrogen in aromatics production from heavy aromatic oil. A hydrocarbonaceous stream comprising C9+ hydrocarbons and an essentially pure hydrogen stream are hydrotreated and hydrocracked to produce a hydrocracking zone effluent comprising aromatics. The hydrocracking zone effluent is fractionated to separately recover C4 and lighter hydrocarbons, hydrocarbons boiling between about 180° F. and about 380° F., and diesel. The heavier hydrocarbons are combined with a low purity hydrogen-containing stream and heated, then dehydrogenated or transalkylated to form hydrogen, volatile compounds, and aromatics. The hydrogen and volatile components are separated from the aromatics and treated by pressure swing adsorption to provide an essentially pure hydrogen-containing stream, which is compressed and provided to the hydrotreating and hydrocracking steps. Liquid products are recovered from the aromatics-containing stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Stanley Joseph FREY, Vasant P. Thakkar
  • Publication number: 20100116712
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the hydrotreating and hydrocracking of highly aromatic distillate feeds such as light cycle oil (LCO) to produce ultra low sulfur gasoline and diesel fuel. Optimization of hydrotreater severity improves the octane quality of the gasoline or naphtha fraction. In particular, the operation of the hydrotreater at reduced severity to allow at least about 20 ppm by weight of organic nitrogen into the hydrocracker feed is shown to lead to these important benefits. Post-treating of the hydrocracker effluent over an additional hydrotreating catalyst bed may be desired to meet specifications for ultra low sulfur fuel components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Bart Dziabala, Vasant P. Thakkar, Suheil F. Abdo
  • Patent number: 7686941
    Abstract: A process for simultaneously hydrocracking multiple feedstocks wherein a first feedstock is hydrotreated in a hydrotreating zone to produce a hydrotreating zone effluent which is separated to provide a first vaporous hydrocarbonaceous stream and a first liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream. The second feedstock and the first vaporous hydrocarbonaceous stream are hydroprocessed in a hydroprocessing zone to produce a hydroprocessing zone effluent. A third feedstock and the first liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream are hydrocracked in a hydrocracking zone to produce a hydrocracking zone effluent. The hydrocracking zone effluent and the hydroprocessing zone effluent are separated to recover hydrocracked hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gary R. Brierley, Vasant P. Thakkar, Milan Skripek
  • Publication number: 20100034708
    Abstract: A process is provided to produce high cetane quality and low or preferably ultra low sulfur diesel and a fluid catalytic cracker (FCC) quality feedstock from a processing unit including at least a hydrotreating zone and a hydrocracking zone. In one aspect, the processing unit includes reactor severity requirements in both the hydrotreating zone and the hydrocracking zone effective to produce the FCC feed quality and the diesel sulfur quality to permit a high quality hydrocracked product to be formed at lower pressures and conversion rates without overtreating the FCC quality feedstock stream. In another aspect, a portion of the hydrotreated effluent is selected for conversion in the hydrocracking and the remaining portion of the hydrotreated effluent is directed to subsequent processing, such as fluid catalytic cracking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Vasant P. Thakkar, Douglas W. Kocher-Cowan
  • Patent number: 7622034
    Abstract: A process is provided to produce high cetane quality and low or preferably ultra low sulfur diesel and a fluid catalytic cracker (FCC) quality feedstock from a processing unit including at least a hydrotreating zone and a hydrocracking zone. In one aspect, the processing unit includes reactor severity requirements in both the hydrotreating zone and the hydrocracking zone effective to produce the FCC feed quality and the diesel sulfur quality to permit a high quality hydrocracked product to be formed at lower pressures and conversion rates without overtreating the FCC quality feedstock stream. In another aspect, a portion of the hydrotreated effluent is selected for conversion in the hydrocracking and the remaining portion of the hydrotreated effluent is directed to subsequent processing, such as fluid catalytic cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Vasant P. Thakkar, Douglas W. Kocher-Cowan
  • Patent number: 7547386
    Abstract: An integrated process for the hydroprocessing of multiple feedstreams including vacuum gas oil and light cycle oil. The light cycle oil is reacted with hydrogen in a hydrocracking zone and the hydrocarbon feedstream comprising vacuum gas oil is reacted with hydrogen in a hydrodesulfurization reaction zone. The hydrotreated vacuum gas oil is good FCC feedstock. Naphtha and ultra low sulfur diesel are recovered in a common fractionation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Vasant P. Thakkar, Richard K. Hoehn
  • Publication number: 20090065401
    Abstract: In an atmospheric fractionator, the number of theoretical stages are increased in the upper light distillate flash zone and in the middle heavy distillate flash zone. The middle distillate pumparound circuit has been eliminated. The reflux to distillate ratio for the light distillate as well as the effluent feed temperature have been substantially increased. As a result, increased yields for middle distillate (e.g. kerosene) and heavy distillate (eg diesel) have been achieved which more than offset the increased energy consumption used for the higher feed temperature In the example of hydrocracking technology, the improved fractionation has benefits in the hydrocracking unit outside of the fractionation unit Increased fractionation efficiency reduces the severity in the hydrocracking unit reactor catalyst and less hydrogen is consumed. The invention can be applied to several other refining technologies besides hydrocracking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: John A. Petri, Vasant P. Thakkar
  • Patent number: 7419582
    Abstract: A hydrocracking process wherein the feedstock is hydrotreated and the liquid and gaseous effluent from the hydrotreater is directly introduced into the upper end of a hydrocracking vessel which provides a liquid seal to prevent the passage of the gaseous stream containing hydrogen sulfide and ammonia from the hydrotreater to enter the hydrocracking zone containing hydrocracking catalyst. Fresh hydrogen is then introduced into the hydrocracking zone. An apparatus for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon feedstock is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard K. Hoehn, Vasant P. Thakkar, Vedula K. Murty, Douglas W. Kocher-Cowan, Jennifer L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7384542
    Abstract: A process for the production of low sulfur diesel and high octane naphtha.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Vasant P. Thakkar, Richard K. Hoehn
  • Patent number: 7368619
    Abstract: A process for the production of low sulfur diesel and aromatic compounds wherein C9+ hydrocarbons are hydrocracked to produce low sulfur diesel and a naphtha boiling range stream which is transalkylated in an integrated transalkylation zone to produce xylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanley J. Frey, Vasant P. Thakkar
  • Publication number: 20080060976
    Abstract: A process for simultaneously hydrocracking multiple feedstocks wherein a first feedstock is hydrotreated in a hydrotreating zone to produce a hydrotreating zone effluent which is separated to provide a first vaporous hydrocarbonaceous stream and a first liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream. The second feedstock and the first vaporous hydrocarbonaceous stream are hydroprocessed in a hydroprocessing zone to produce a hydroprocessing zone effluent. A third feedstock and the first liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream are hydrocracked in a hydrocracking zone to produce a hydrocracking zone effluent. The hydrocracking zone effluent and the hydroprocessing zone effluent are separated to recover hydrocracked hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Gary R. Brierley, Vasant P. Thakkar, Milan Skripek
  • Patent number: 7265252
    Abstract: A process for the conversion of a hydrocarbon feedstock to produce xylene compounds. The feedstock is selectively hydrocracked and introduced into a transalkylation zone with a hydrocarbonaceous stream rich in benzene, toluene and C9+ hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stanley J. Frey, Suheil F. Abdo, Antoine Negiz, Edwin P. Boldingh, Vasant P. Thakkar, Lubo Zhou
  • Patent number: 7108779
    Abstract: A process for the production of low sulfur hydrocarbonaceous products. The hydrocarbon feedstocks are processed in integrated desulfurization zone, hydrocracking and hydrogenation zones to produce ultra low sulfur diesel, low sulfur naphtha products and low sulfur heavy distillate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Vasant P. Thakkar
  • Patent number: 7097760
    Abstract: A catalytic hydrocracking process for the production of ultra low sulfur diesel wherein a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock is hydrocracked at elevated temperature and pressure to obtain conversion to diesel boiling range hydrocarbons. The resulting hydrocracking zone effluent is hydrogen stripped in a stripping zone maintained at essentially the same pressure as the hydrocracking zone to produce a first gaseous hydrocarbonaceous stream and a first liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream. The first gaseous hydrocarbonaceous stream containing diesel boiling range hydrocarbons is introduced into a desulfurization zone and subsequently partially condensed to produce a hydrogen-rich gaseous stream and a second liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream containing diesel boiling range hydrocarbons. The first liquid stream is separated to produce a third liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream containing diesel boiling range hydrocarbons which is also introduced into the desulfurization zone. An ultra low sulfur diesel product stream is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Tom N. Kalnes, Vasant P. Thakkar, Richard K. Hoehn