Patents by Inventor William D. Schlueter

William D. Schlueter 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: 10507462
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for an improved catalyst stripping process. The stripping vessel is divided into two zones. The first zone is a stripping zone where a substantial portion of the volatile hydrocarbons is removed at higher severity conditions. After the catalyst is stripped, the stripped catalyst moves to the lower cooling zone to be cooled at lower severity conditions. The flow rates, temperatures, pressures and the stripping and cooling zones are designed to ensure there is minimal volatile hydrocarbons on the catalyst by the time it leaves the stripping vessel. This design enables efficient stripping of volatile hydrocarbons at high severity conditions and eliminates these components from being stripped off elsewhere in the unit causing process and equipment issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Pelin Cox, William D. Schlueter, William Yanez, Jeffrey Grott
  • Publication number: 20180050334
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for an improved catalyst stripping process. The stripping vessel is divided into two zones. The first zone is a stripping zone where a substantial portion of the volatile hydrocarbons is removed at higher severity conditions. After the catalyst is stripped, the stripped catalyst moves to the lower cooling zone to be cooled at lower severity conditions. The flow rates, temperatures, pressures and the stripping and cooling zones are designed to ensure there is minimal volatile hydrocarbons on the catalyst by the time it leaves the stripping vessel. This design enables efficient stripping of volatile hydrocarbons at high severity conditions and eliminates these components from being stripped off elsewhere in the unit causing process and equipment issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Pelin Cox, William D. Schlueter, William Yanez, Jeffrey Grott
  • Patent number: 8865608
    Abstract: Systems and processes for regenerating catalyst are provided herein that include a catalyst regeneration tower having a cooling zone that receives a catalyst cooling stream generated by a cooling gas loop. The systems and processes include a first thermocompressor that utilizes a first motive vapor and a second thermocompressor that utilizes a second motive vapor in order to provide the catalyst cooling stream to the regeneration tower. The second thermocompressor operates in parallel with the first thermocompressor. The first thermocompressor can utilize combustion air as the motive vapor. The second thermocompressor can utilize nitrogen as the motive vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Brian Nabozny, William D. Schlueter, Kate Tuson
  • Publication number: 20120093699
    Abstract: Systems and processes for regenerating catalyst are provided herein that include a catalyst regeneration tower having a cooling zone that receives a catalyst cooling stream generated by a cooling gas loop. The systems and processes include a first thermocompressor that utilizes a first motive vapor and a second thermocompressor that utilizes a second motive vapor in order to provide the catalyst cooling stream to the regeneration tower. The second thermocompressor operates in parallel with the first thermocompressor. The first thermocompressor can utilize combustion air as the motive vapor. The second thermocompressor can utilize nitrogen as the motive vapor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Brian Nabozny, William D. Schlueter, Kate Tuson
  • Patent number: 8071497
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is a refinery or a petrochemical production facility. The refinery or petrochemical production facility can include: a) a catalyst regeneration zone; b) a halogen removal zone; and c) an elimination zone for at least one of a dioxin and a furan compound, wherein at least a portion of an effluent from the halogen removal zone is combined with a stream comprising oxygen from the catalyst regeneration zone or halogen removal zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Leon Yuan, Steven M. Poklop, William D. Schlueter
  • Patent number: 7993514
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing peroxides from an exposed naphtha stream is shown and described. The process includes the catalytic reactive oxygen stripping of peroxides thereby generating hydrocarbons and oxygen. Numerous conventional catalysts may be employed. The catalytic stripping reaction can be carried out at substantially lower temperatures than conventional reboiled oxygen strippers thereby resulting in substantial energy savings. Further, the disclosed reactor vessels are substantially smaller and less expensive to build than conventional oxygen stripper columns The disclosed energy efficient reactive oxygen stripping process and equipment is intended to be utilized upstream of a naphtha hydrotreating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: William D. Schlueter, Julian A. Vickers, Gail L. Grady
  • Publication number: 20110083936
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is a refinery or a petrochemical production facility. The refinery or petrochemical production facility can include: a) a catalyst regeneration zone; b) a halogen removal zone; and c) an elimination zone for at least one of a dioxin and a furan compound, wherein at least a portion of an effluent from the halogen removal zone is combined with a stream comprising oxygen from the catalyst regeneration zone or halogen removal zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Leon Yuan, Steven M. Poklop, William D. Schlueter
  • Patent number: 7875757
    Abstract: A reforming and isomerization process has been developed. A reforming feedstream is charged to a reforming zone containing a reforming catalyst and operating at reforming conditions to generate a reforming zone effluent. Hydrogen and an isomerization feedstream is charged into an isomerization zone to contact an isomerization catalyst at isomerization conditions to increase the branching of the hydrocarbons. The isomerization catalyst is a solid acid catalyst comprising a support comprising a sulfated oxide or hydroxide of at least an element of Group IVB, a first component being at least one lanthanide series element, mixtures thereof, or yttrium, and a second component being a platinum group metal or mixtures thereof. The reforming zone effluent and the isomerization zone effluent are each separated to form a light ends stream and a product stream. The light ends streams are combined for processing in a net gas re-contacting zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Douglas A. Nafis, Gregory F. Maher, Lynn H. Rice, William D. Schlueter, Ralph D. Gillespie, Michelle J. Cohn
  • Publication number: 20100222202
    Abstract: Systems and processes for regenerating catalyst are provided herein that include a catalyst regeneration tower having a cooling zone that receives a catalyst cooling stream generated by a cooling gas loop. The systems and processes include a first thermocompressor that utilizes a first motive vapor and a second thermocompressor that utilizes a second motive vapor in order to provide the catalyst cooling stream to the regeneration tower. The second thermocompressor operates in parallel with the first thermocompressor. The first thermocompressor can utilize combustion air as the motive vapor. The second thermocompressor can utilize nitrogen as the motive vapor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Brian Nabozny, William D. Schlueter, Kate Tuson
  • Publication number: 20090320370
    Abstract: Methods for improving the efficiency of a catalytic reforming recycle gas compressor by combining a high molecular weight light hydrocarbon process stream from a unit operation associated with the catalytic reforming process with a lower molecular weight reactor off gas recycle stream to form a combined recycle gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: David J. Fecteau, Leon Yuan, William D. Schlueter
  • Publication number: 20090188839
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing peroxides from an exposed naphtha stream is shown and described. The process includes the catalytic reactive oxygen stripping of peroxides thereby generating hydrocarbons and oxygen. Numerous conventional catalysts may be employed. The catalytic stripping reaction can be carried out at substantially lower temperatures than conventional reboiled oxygen strippers thereby resulting in substantial energy savings. Further, the disclosed reactor vessels are substantially smaller and less expensive to build than conventional oxygen stripper columns. The disclosed energy efficient reactive oxygen stripping process and equipment is intended to be utilized upstream of a naphtha hydrotreating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: William D. Schlueter, Julian A. Vickers, Gail L. Gray
  • Patent number: 7435329
    Abstract: A reforming and isomerization process has been developed. A reforming feedstream is charged to a reforming zone containing a reforming catalyst and operating at reforming conditions to generate a reforming zone effluent. Hydrogen and an isomerization feedstream is charged into an isomerization zone to contact an isomerization catalyst at isomerization conditions to increase the branching of the hydrocarbons. The isomerization catalyst is a solid acid catalyst comprising a support comprising a sulfated oxide or hydroxide of at least an element of Group IVB, a first component being at least one lanthanide series element, mixtures thereof, or yttrium, and a second component being a platinum group metal or mixtures thereof. The reforming zone effluent and the isomerization zone effluent are each separated to form a light ends stream and a product stream. The light ends streams are combined for processing in a net gas re-contacting zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Douglas A. Nafis, Gregory F. Maher, Lynn H. Rice, William D. Schlueter, Ralph D. Gillespie, Michelle J. Cohn
  • Publication number: 20080245704
    Abstract: A reforming and isomerization process has been developed. A reforming feedstream is charged to a reforming zone containing a reforming catalyst and operating at reforming conditions to generate a reforming zone effluent. Hydrogen and an isomerization feedstream is charged into an isomerization zone to contact an isomerization catalyst at isomerization conditions to increase the branching of the hydrocarbons. The isomerization catalyst is a solid acid catalyst comprising a support comprising a sulfated oxide or hydroxide of at least an element of Group IVB, a first component being at least one lanthanide series element, mixtures thereof, or yttrium, and a second component being a platinum group metal or mixtures thereof. The reforming zone effluent and the isomerization zone effluent are each separated to form a light ends stream and a product stream. The light ends streams are combined for processing in a net gas re-contacting zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas A. Nafis, Gregory F. Maher, Lynn H. Rice, William D. Schlueter, Ralph D. Gillespie, Michelle J. Cohn
  • Publication number: 20080156699
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is a refinery or a petrochemical production facility. The refinery or petrochemical production facility can include: a) a catalyst regeneration zone; b) a halogen removal zone; and c) an elimination zone for at least one of a dioxin and a furan compound, wherein at least a portion of an effluent from the halogen removal zone is combined with a stream comprising oxygen from the catalyst regeneration zone or halogen removal zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Leon Yuan, Steven M. Poklop, William D. Schlueter
  • Publication number: 20080110801
    Abstract: An exemplary process can include passing a hydrocarbon stream through a reforming unit. The reforming unit may include a heater, which in turn generally includes a convection section and a radiant section, and a plurality of reforming reaction zones. Generally, the hydrocarbon stream is heated in the convection section for reacting in one of the reforming reaction zones to which the hydrocarbon stream is sent and the hydrocarbon stream is heated in the radiant section of the heater for reacting in the other reforming reaction zone to which the hydrocarbon stream is sent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Leon Yuan, David J. Fecteau, William M. Hartman, William D. Schlueter
  • Patent number: 6290916
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for removing water from a recycle gas stream in a catalyst regeneration process. A recycle gas stream contacts catalyst and the catalyst sorbs water from the recycle gas. Some of the now-dried recycle gas recirculates to the regeneration process, thereby decreasing the water content in the regeneration process. The catalyst containing sorbed water passes to a desorption zone, where water is desorbed from the catalyst and the desorbed water is rejected from the process. This method and apparatus are useful for extending the life of catalyst in catalytic hydrocarbon processes that employ continuous or semi-continuos catalyst regeneration zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paul A. Sechrist, Delmar W. Robinson, William D. Schlueter
  • Patent number: 6123833
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for removing water from a recycle gas stream in a catalyst regeneration process. A recycle gas stream contacts catalyst and the catalyst sorbs water from the recycle gas. Some of the now-dried recycle gas recirculates to the regeneration process, thereby decreasing the water content in the regeneration process. The catalyst containing sorbed water passes to a desorption zone, where water is desorbed from the catalyst and the desorbed water is rejected from the process. This method and apparatus are useful for extending the life of catalyst in catalytic hydrocarbon processes that employ continuous or semi-continuos catalyst regeneration zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paul A. Sechrist, Delmar W. Robinson, William D. Schlueter
  • Patent number: 4312743
    Abstract: This invention comprises a process for cracking a hydrocarbon charge stock using a used FCC catalytic composite comprising a zeolitic crystalline aluminosilicate dispersed in a porous inorganic matrix. Particles of zeolitic crystalline aluminosilicate having diameters less than the diameters of the pores of the composite are impregnated into the composite preferably by contacting the composite with an aqueous slurry of the particles and the evaporating off the water of the slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Hosheng Tu, William D. Schlueter
  • Patent number: 4261861
    Abstract: A method of increasing the activity and selectivity of a regenerated used FCC catalytic composite comprising a zeolitic crystalline aluminosilicate dispersed in a porous inorganic oxide matrix, the resultant composite and a cracking process utilizing the resultant composite. Particles of zeolitic crystalline aluminosilicate having diameters less than the diameters of the pores of the composite are impregnated into the composite, preferably by contacting the composite with an aqueous slurry of the particles and then evaporating off the water of the slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1981
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Hosheng Tu, William D. Schlueter