Patents by Inventor Xiaochun Xu

Xiaochun Xu 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: 20160304792
    Abstract: Methods are provided for modifying hydrogenation catalysts having silica supports (or other non-alumina supports) with additional alumina, and using such catalysts to achieve unexpectedly superior hydrogenation of feedstocks. The modified hydrogenation catalysts can have a relatively low cracking activity while providing an increased activity for hydrogenation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Michael P. LANCI, Stuart L. SOLED, Javier GUZMAN, Sabato MISEO, Thomas E. GREEN, Joseph E. BAUMGARTNER, Lei ZHANG, Christine E. KLIEWER, Lukasz KOZIOL, Kanmi MAO, Tracie L. OWENS, Gary P. SCHLEICHER, Xiaochun XU
  • Patent number: 9371256
    Abstract: A heated petroleum-derived hydrocarbon is contacted with a triglyceride feed in a thermal cracking zone to decompose and remove impurities prior to hydrotreating the mixture to fuel range hydrocarbon. This process allows the use of a variety of low cost triglyceride feeds while reducing fouling of process equipment and catalyst. The process also reduces the use of chemicals required for conventional degumming of triglyceride feeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: PHILLIPS 66 COMPANY
    Inventors: Jianhua Yao, Edward L. Sughrue, II, Dhananjay B. Ghonasgi, Xiaochun Xu
  • Publication number: 20160168333
    Abstract: Methods of preparing organosilica materials, which are a polymer comprising of at least one independent cyclic polyurea monomer of Formula wherein each R1 is a Z1OZ2Z3SiZ4 group, wherein each Z1 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group, or a bond to a silicon atom of another monomer unit; each Z2 and Z3 independently represent a hydroxyl group, a C1-C4 alkyl group, a C1-C4 alkoxy group or an oxygen atom bonded to a silicon atom of another monomer unit; and each Z4 represents a C1-C8 alkylene group bonded to a nitrogen atom of the cyclic polyurea are provided herein. Methods of preparing and processes of using the organosilica materials, e.g., for gas separation, color removal, etc., are also provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Paul Podsiadlo, Quanchang Li, David Charles Calabro, Lei Zhang, Kiara M. Benitez, Himanshu Gupta, Xiaochun Xu, Scott J. Weigel, Darryl Donald Lacy, Bal Kaul, James William Gleeson, Wenyih Frank Lai
  • Publication number: 20160145508
    Abstract: Methods are provided for hydrotreating a feed to generate a product with a reduced or minimized aromatics content and/or an increased distillate product yield. A distillate boiling range feed having an elevated content of sulfur and/or nitrogen can be hydrotreated using at least two hydrotreating stages with intermediate separation to produce a hydrotreated distillate boiling range product with a reduced or minimized aromatics content. Additionally or alternately, a mixed metal catalyst formed from a suitable precursor can be used during the hydrotreating. A mixed metal catalyst formed from a suitable precursor can provide an unexpectedly superior activity for aromatic saturation. A still further unexpected benefic can be achieved by combining a multi-stage hydrotreating process with intermediate separation with hydrotreating in the presence of a mixed metal catalyst formed from a suitable precursor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: ExxonMobile Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Xiaochun Xu, Adrienne C. Lukaski, Keith Wilson, James John Schorfheide, Jeffrey Lawrence Kaufman
  • Publication number: 20160145511
    Abstract: Methods are provided for hydroprocessing a feed (such as hydrotreating, hydrocracking, or hydrofining a feed) to generate a product with a reduced or minimized aromatics content relative to the severity of the hydroprocessing conditions. In some types of hydroprocessing applications, it can be desirable to select the severity of hydroprocessing conditions to achieve a desired level of removal for sulfur, a desired level for removal of nitrogen, and/or a desired level for increasing the viscosity index of a feed. The severity for heteroatom removal and/or viscosity index uplift can also correspond to an amount of conversion of a feed to lower boiling point products, so the lowest severity conditions suitable for achieving a product quality can be desirable. By improving the aromatics saturation during hydroprocessing, the severity of subsequent aromatics saturation processes can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Xiaochun Xu, Bradley R. Fingland, Keith Wilson, Doron Levin, Stuart L. Soled, Sabato Miseo, Joseph E. Baumgartner, Ajit B. Dandekar
  • Publication number: 20160145503
    Abstract: Methods are provided for hydrotreating a feed to generate a product with a reduced or minimized aromatics content and/or an increased distillate product yield. A distillate boiling range feed having an elevated content of sulfur and/or nitrogen can be hydrotreated using at least two hydrotreating stages with intermediate separation to produce a hydrotreated distillate boiling range product with a reduced or minimized aromatics content. Additionally or alternately, a mixed metal catalyst formed from a suitable precursor can be used during the hydrotreating. A mixed metal catalyst formed from a suitable precursor can provide an unexpectedly superior activity for aromatic saturation. A still further unexpected benefit can be achieved by combining a multi-stage hydrotreating process with intermediate separation with hydrotreating in the presence of a mixed metal catalyst formed from a suitable precursor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Xiaochun XU, Keith WILSON, Stuart Leon SOLED, Sabato MISEO, Doron LEVIN, Joseph Ernest BAUMGARTNER
  • Publication number: 20160115401
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for producing an improved product slate during hydrocracking of a feedstock for production of naphtha and distillate fuels. The methods can include use of stacked beds and/or sequential reactors so that a feedstock is exposed to a suitable catalyst under aromatic saturation conditions prior to exposing the feedstock to the hydrocracking catalyst. The catalyst for performing the aromatic saturation process can be a catalyst including a Group VIII noble metal, such as Pt, Pd, or a combination thereof, while the hydrocracking catalyst can include Group VIB and Group VIII non-noble metals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Xiaochun Xu, Amanda K. MILLER
  • Publication number: 20160115402
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for producing an improved product slate during hydrocracking of a feedstock that results in production of naphtha and distillate fuels. The methods can include use of stacked beds and/or sequential reactors so that a feedstock is exposed to suitable catalysts under hydrocracking conditions and aromatic saturation conditions. The catalyst for performing the aromatic saturation process can be a catalyst including a Group VIII noble metal, such as Pt, Pd, or a combination thereof, while the hydrocracking catalyst can include Group VIB and Group VIII non-noble metals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Xiaochun Xu, Amanda K. MILLER, Adam MADLINGER, Richard J. QUANN, Dean Edwin PARKER, Jeffrey Lawrence KAUFMAN, Matthew KAWABE
  • Publication number: 20150122701
    Abstract: Methods are provided for dewaxing a distillate fuel boiling range feed to improve one or more cold flow properties of the distillate fuel feed, such as cloud point, where the distillate fuel feed is fractionated to produce both a jet fuel product and an arctic diesel fuel product. The decrease of cloud point is achieved by using a feedstock having a concentration of nitrogen of less than about 50 wppm and a concentration of sulfur of less than about 15 wppm. Further, the dewaxing catalyst may have a reduced content of hydrogenation metals, such as a content of Pt or Pd of from about 0.05 wt % to about 0.35 wt %. A distillate fuel feed can be dewaxed to achieve a desired cloud point differential using a reduced metals content dewaxing catalyst under the same or similar conditions to those required for a dewaxing catalyst with higher metals content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Stuart S. Shih, Xiaochun Xu, William J. Novak, Carlos N. Lopez, Timothy Lee Hilbert, Stephen John McCarthy
  • Patent number: 8932453
    Abstract: This invention relates to a hydroprocessing process with improved catalyst activity when hydroprocessing petroleum based feedstock or an oxygen containing feedstock. This invention also relates to a hydrotreating process with improved hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activity of a hydrotreating catalyst such as Co/Mo by co-feeding carbon monoxide or its precursors. Such inventive process confirms that adding a small amount of CO to H2 in a hydrotreater for a few days leads to an increase in product sulfur due to the inhibition of CO on the hydrotreating catalyst such as Co/Mo. However, it has been unexpectedly found that after the CO was removed from the hydrogen stream, product sulfur levels decreased to values below they were before CO addition which means the activity of the hydrotreating catalyst increased after the CO treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Jianhua Yao, Dhananjay B. Ghonasgi, Xiaochun Xu, Larry D. Swinney
  • Publication number: 20140291202
    Abstract: Methods are provided for dewaxing a distillate fuel boiling range feed to improve one or more cold flow properties of the distillate fuel feed, such as cloud point, with reduced consumption of hydrogen during the dewaxing process. The reduced hydrogen consumption is achieved by using a dewaxing catalyst with a reduced content of hydrogenation metals, such as a content of Pt or Pd of from about 0.03 wt % to about 0.35 wt %. A distillate fuel feed can be dewaxed to achieve a desired cloud point differential using a reduced metals content dewaxing catalyst under the same or similar conditions to those required for a dewaxing catalyst with higher metals content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Xiaochun Xu, William J. Novak, Timothy L. Hilbert, Stephen J. McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20140213836
    Abstract: A heated petroleum-derived hydrocarbon is contacted with a triglyceride feed in a thermal cracking zone to decompose and remove impurities prior to hydrotreating the mixture to fuel range hydrocarbon. This process allows the use of a variety of low cost triglyceride feeds while reducing fouling of process equipment and catalyst. The process also reduces the use of chemicals required for conventional degumming of triglyceride feeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: PHILLIPS 66 COMPANY
    Inventors: Jianhua YAO, Edward L. SUGHRUE, II, Dhananjay B. GHONASGI, Xiaochun XU
  • Patent number: 8584100
    Abstract: Method and system for testing software code comprising determining code elements in software code, determining changed code elements in the software code, determining dependencies between code elements, determine dependency changes between code elements based on the determined changed code elements, determining an impact factor for the respective changed code elements based on the determined dependency changes, determine a test relevancy ranking for code tests based on the determined impact factor, selecting tests for the software code based on said test relevancy ranking, and performing the selected tests on the software code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Xiaochun Xu, Yangning Peng
  • Publication number: 20130172650
    Abstract: Methods and systems relate to upgrading light olefins, such as ethylene, propylene and butylenes, diluted in a gas mixture, such as refinery fuel gas. The upgrading yields products in a gasoline, distillate, lube oil or wax range without requiring purification or compression of the gas mixture prior to feeding the gas mixture to a reactor. In operation, the mixture contacts a solid oligomerization catalyst, such as silica supported chromium, within the reactor. This contact occurs at a first temperature suitable to produce oligomers that are formed of the olefins and adsorb on the catalyst in liquid or solid phases. Next, heating the catalyst to a second temperature higher the first temperature desorbs the oligomers that are recovered and separated into the products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: PHILLIPS 66 COMPANY
    Inventors: Shetian Liu, Jianhua Yao, Xiaochun Xu, Patrick W. Blosser, Joe D. Allison, Edward L. Sughrue, II
  • Publication number: 20120157742
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for the conversion of oxygen-containing hydrocarbons into long-chain hydrocarbons suitable for use as a fuel. These hydrocarbons may be derived from biomass, and may optionally be mixed with petroleum-derived hydrocarbons prior to conversion. The process utilizes a catalyst comprising Ni and Mo to convert a mixture comprising oxygenated hydrocarbons into product hydrocarbons containing from ten to thirty carbons. Hydro-conversion can be performed at a significantly lower temperature than is required for when utilizing a hydrotreating catalyst comprising Co and Mo (CoMo), while still effectively removing sulfur compounds (via hydrodesulfurization) to a level of 10 ppm (by weight) or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Yun Bao, Dhananjay B. Ghonasgi, Joseph E. Bares, Sundararajan Uppili, Jianhua Yao, Xiaochun Xu, Edward L. Sughrue, Lisa L. Myers
  • Publication number: 20120017496
    Abstract: This invention relates to a hydroprocessing process with improved catalyst activity when hydroprocessing petroleum based feedstock or an oxygen containing feedstock. This invention also relates to a hydrotreating process with improved hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activity of a hydrotreating catalyst such as Co/Mo by co-feeding carbon monoxide or its precursors. Such inventive process confirms that adding a small amount of CO to H2 in a hydrotreater for a few days leads to an increase in product sulfur due to the inhibition of CO on the hydrotreating catalyst such as Co/Mo. However, it has been unexpectedly found that after the CO was removed from the hydrogen stream, product sulfur levels decreased to values below they were before CO addition which means the activity of the hydrotreating catalyst increased after the CO treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Jianhua YAO, Dhananjay B. GHONASGI, Xiaochun XU, Larry D. SWINNEY
  • Publication number: 20120022305
    Abstract: Methods for producing C3-C30 hydrocarbons from fatty materials, such as triglyceride compounds, are provided. Hydrocarbon compounds, particularly those boiling in the temperature range of between about 80° F. to about 1000° F., are produced by contacting a fatty material, under hydrocracking conditions, with at least one catalyst comprising a Group VIII metal and a Group VIB metal on a acidic support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Jianhua YAO, Dhananjay B. Ghonasgi, Xiaochun Xu, Yun Bao, Edward L. Sughurue, II
  • Publication number: 20120000820
    Abstract: This invention relates to a hydroprocessing process for the improvement of catalyst life. Such inventive process is carried out with intermittent or discontinuous addition of a co-feed stream when hydroprocessing petroleum based feedstock or an oxygen containing feedstock. More specifically, it has been found that intermittent or discontinuous addition of the co-feed stream such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or their precursors to the hydrogen stream can reduce the long term deactivation, extend the life and increase run length of a cobalt/molybdenum hydrotreating catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Jianhua YAO, Stephen L. PARROTT, Xiaochun XU, Dhananjay B. GHONASGI
  • Publication number: 20110237851
    Abstract: A triglyceride or a triglyceride/hydrocarbon combination can be thermally cracked to remove its impurities in situ prior to be upgraded to fuel range hydrocarbon. This process allows the use of a variety of low cost feedstock and reduce reactor fouling tendency. The process also reduces the use of chemicals required for conventional clean up processes such as degumming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Jianhua YAO, Edward L. SUGHRUE, II, Dhananjay B. GHONASGI, Xiaochun XU
  • Patent number: 8017819
    Abstract: A triglyceride or a triglyceride/hydrocarbon combination can be heated to produce thermally treated feeds. The thermally treated feeds can then be contacted with a hydrotreating catalyst in a reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Jianhua Yao, Edward L. Sughrue, II, Dhananjay B. Ghonasgi, Xiaochun Xu