Catalytic Patents (Class 208/108)
  • Patent number: 8945373
    Abstract: According to the present invention, organic material is converted to biogas through anaerobic digestion and the biogas is purified to yield a combustible fluid feedstock comprising methane. A fuel production facility utilizes or arranges to utilize combustible fluid feedstock to generate renewable hydrogen that is used to hydrogenate crude oil derived hydrocarbons in a process to make liquid transportation or heating fuel. The renewable hydrogen is added to a reactor operated so as to simultaneously desulfurize and hydrogenate crude oil derived hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Iogen Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Foody
  • Patent number: 8940154
    Abstract: A system and process for the preparation of high quality gasoline through recombination of catalytic hydrocarbon includes fractionator and extractor. The upper part of the fractionator is equipped with light petrol pipeline, the lower part of the fractionator is equipped with heavy petrol pipeline, the middle part of the fractionator is equipped with medium petrol pipeline. The medium petrol pipeline is connected with a medium petrol extractor, the upper part of the medium petrol extractor is connected with the medium petrol raffinate oil hydrogenation unit through the pipeline, the lower part of the medium petrol extractor is connected with the medium petrol aromatic hydrocarbon hydrogenation unit through the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventor: Ranfeng Ding
  • Patent number: 8940155
    Abstract: An improved system and method for processing feedstocks in an ebullated-bed hydroprocessing reactor is provided in which hydrogen gas is dissolved in the fresh and recycled liquid feedstock by mixing and/or diffusion of an excess of hydrogen, followed by flashing of the undissolved hydrogen upstream of the reactor inlet, introduction of the feed containing dissolved hydrogen into the ebullated-bed hydroprocessing reactor whereby the dissolved hydrogen eliminates or minimizes the prior art problems of gas hold-up and reduced operational efficiency of the recycle pump due to the presence of excess gas in the recycle stream when hydrogen gas was introduced as a separate phase into the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Omer Refa Koseoglu
  • Patent number: 8936714
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for hydrocracking a primary hydrocarbon feed and a diesel co-feed in a hydrocracking unit and hydrotreating a diesel product from the hydrocracking unit in a hydrotreating unit. The diesel stream fed through the hydrocracking unit is pretreated to reduce sulfur and ammonia and can be upgraded with noble metal catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Peter Kokayeff, Paul R. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8936717
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst comprising at least one IZM-2 zeolite, at least one amorphous matrix, at least one hydro-dehydrogenating element selected from the group formed by the elements from group VIB and from group VIII of the periodic table and excluding platinum and palladium. The catalyst also optionally contains a controlled quantity of at least one doping element selected from phosphorus, boron and silicon, optionally at least one element from group VB of the periodic table of the elements, and optionally a group VIIA element. The invention also relates to hydrocracking and hydrotreatment processes implementing this catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Emmanuelle Guillon, Laurent Simon
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8926826
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for hydroprocessing hydrocarbons in liquid full reactors with one or more independent liquid recycle streams. The process operates as a liquid-full process, wherein all of the hydrogen dissolves in the liquid phase and one or more of the recycle streams may actually be zero. Hydrocarbons can be converted in the process to provide liquid products such as clean fuels with multiple desired properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Hasan Dindi, Luis Eduardo Murillo
  • Patent number: 8927796
    Abstract: This invention discloses a process for making high viscosity index lubricating base oils having a viscosity index of at least 110 by co-feeding a ketone or a beta-keto-ester feedstock with a lubricant oil feedstock directly to a hydrocracking unit to produce a hydrocracked stream. Then at least a portion of the hydrocracked stream is treated under hydroisomerization conditions to produce a high viscosity index lubricating base oil. The process may involve bypassing a hydrotreating or hydrofinishing step, which may result in improved efficiency and economics in producing high viscosity index lubricating base oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan Joseph Miller, Sven Ivar Hommeltoft, Saleh Ali Elomari
  • Publication number: 20140374316
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for distributing a liquid and gas in a multiple-bed downflow reactor, such as a hydrocarbon processing reactor, like a hydrocracker. The device comprises respectively the method uses a distributor device comprising a substantially horizontal collecting tray provided with a central gas passage. Gas passing in downward direction through the central gas passage is forced into a swirling motion by a swirler. This swirling motion has a swirl direction around a vertical swirl axis so that the gas leaves the central gas passage as a swirl. At a location below the collecting tray, liquid collected on the collecting tray is injected into the swirl in an injection direction, which is, viewed in a horizontal plane, at least partly opposite to the swirl direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Sujatha Degaleesan, Charles Eduard Dammis Ouwerkerk, Benoit Witkamp, Rachel Anna Worthen
  • Patent number: 8911614
    Abstract: A new family of crystalline microporous metallophosphates designated AlPO-59 has been synthesized. These metallophosphates are represented by the empirical formula R+rMm2+EPxSiyOz where R is an organoammonium cation such as the ETMA+, M is a framework metal alkaline earth or transition metal of valence 2+, and E is a trivalent framework element such as aluminum or gallium. The AlPO-59 compositions are characterized by a new unique ABC-6 net structure and compositions and have catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes, and separation properties for separating at least one component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gregory J. Lewis, Lisa M. Knight, Paulina Jakubczak, Justin E. Stanczyk
  • Publication number: 20140360919
    Abstract: The invention concerns a fluid distribution device (1) comprising: at least one inlet tube (2) comprising openings (7) and having a first and a second end (3, 4); a cap (5) comprising a principal body (6) with a lenticular shape and with a circular section elongated by a skirt (8) extending in the direction of the second end (4) towards the first end (3) of the inlet tube (2), said cap (5) having an outer surface and an inner surface, the cap being integral with the second end (4) of the tube via the inner surface and the principal body (6) being provided with a plurality of holes (10); and in which the cap (5) comprises at least one deflection means (14) disposed on its outer surface and configured to direct or maintain the gas towards or at the periphery of said cap (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: AXENS
    Inventors: Jean Francois LE COZ, Daniel FERRE, Cyril COLLADO
  • Patent number: 8906225
    Abstract: A new family of crystalline microporous metallophosphates designated AlPO-57 has been synthesized. These metallophosphates are represented by the empirical formula R+rMmn+EPxSiyOz where R is an organoammonium cation such as the DEDMA+, M is a divalent framework metal such as an alkaline earth or transition metal, and E is a framework element such as aluminum or gallium. The microporous AlPO-57 compositions are characterized by a new unique ABC-6 net structure and have catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes and separation properties for separating at least one component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gregory J. Lewis, Lisa M. Knight, Paulina Jakubczak, Justin E. Stanczyk
  • Publication number: 20140346086
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for distributing a liquid and gas in a multiple-bed downflow reactor, such as a hydrocarbon processing reactor, like a hydrocracker. The device comprises respectively the method uses a distributor device comprising a substantially horizontal collecting tray provided with a central gas passage. Gas passing in downward direction through the central gas passage is forced into a swirling motion by a swirler. This swirling motion has a swirl direction around a vertical swirl axis so that the gas leaves the central gas passage as a swirl. At a location above the collecting tray, a quench fluid is ejected into gas in an ejection direction, which is, viewed in a horizontal plane, at least partly opposite to the swirl direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Sujatha Degaleesan, Charles Eduard Dammis Ouwerkerk, Benoît Witkamp, Rachel Anna Worthen
  • Patent number: 8877039
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for hydrocarbon conversion. The process can include providing a feed to a slurry hydrocracking zone, obtaining a hydrocarbon stream including one or more C16-C45 hydrocarbons from the at least one separator, providing another feed to a hydrocracking zone, and providing hydrogen from a three-stage compressor to the slurry hydrocracking zone and the hydrocracking zone. Moreover, the slurry hydrocracking zone may include a slurry hydrocracking reactor and at least one separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Mark Van Wees, Robert Haizmann
  • Publication number: 20140291204
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for conducting a hydrocracking or a hydrotreating process in a microchannel reactor. This invention also relates to a process and apparatus for flowing a vapor and liquid into a plurality of microchannels in a microchannel processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Ravi Arora, John Brophy, Francis P. Daly, Soumitra Deshmukh, Maddalena Fanelli, Kai Tod Paul Jarosch, Timothy J. LaPlante, Richard Q. Long, Terry Mazanec, Daniel Francis Ryan, Laura J. Silva, Wayne W. Simmons, Bruce Strangeland, Yong Wang, Thomas Yuschak, Steven T. Perry, Jeffrey Dale Marco, Michael Alan Marchiando, Robert Lewis Litt
  • Patent number: 8846564
    Abstract: A process for the sulfidation of a sour gas shift catalyst, wherein the temperature of the sulfidation feed stream is coordinated with the sulfur/hydrogen molar ratio in that feed stream to obtain enhanced performance of the sour gas shift catalyst. In the sulfidation process to produce a sour gas shift catalyst, the lower the sulfur to hydrogen molar ratio of the sulfidation feed stream, the lower the required temperature of the sulfidation feed stream. The sulfidation reaction can be further enhanced by increasing the pressure on the sulfidation feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Clariant Corporation
    Inventors: Justin X. Wang, Yeping Cai
  • Publication number: 20140262937
    Abstract: A bitumen and heavy oil upgrading process and system is disclosed for the synthesis of hydrocarbons, an example of which is synthetic crude oil (SCO). The process integrates Fischer-Tropsch technology with gasification and hydrogen rich gas stream generation. The hydrogen rich gas generation is conveniently effected using singly or in combination a hydrogen source, a hydrogen rich vapour from hydroprocessing and the Fischer-Tropsch process, a steam methane reformer (SMR) and autothermal reformer (ATR) or a combination of SMR/ATR. The feedstock for upgrading is distilled and the bottoms fraction is gasified and converted in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor. A resultant hydrogen lean syngas is then exposed to the hydrogen rich gas stream to optimize the formation of, for example, the synthetic crude oil. Partial upgrading and the commensurate benefits is detailed as well. A system for effecting the processes is also characterized in the specification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Steve KRESNYAK
  • Patent number: 8834709
    Abstract: A process of producing a light oil stream from slurry oils. The process begins by obtaining slurry oil from a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The slurry oil is then flowed over a fixed bed catalyst, consisting essentially of a non-metal catalyst, to produce a processed slurry oil. The processed slurry oil is then separated by boiling point to separate out the light oil stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Tushar Choudhary, Ayyappan Subbiah
  • Patent number: 8834708
    Abstract: A process for treating a hydrocarbon-containing feedstock is provided in which a hydrocarbon-containing feedstock comprising at least 20 wt. % of heavy hydrocarbons is mixed with hydrogen and a metal-containing non-acidic catalyst at a temperature of 375° C. to 500° C. to produce a vapor comprising a first hydrocarbon-containing product. The vapor comprising the first hydrocarbon-containing product is separated from the mixture, and, apart from the mixture, the first hydrocarbon-containing product is contacted with hydrogen and a catalyst containing a Column 6 metal at a temperature of 260° C.-425° C. to produce a second hydrocarbon-containing product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Stanley Nemec Milam, Michael Anthony Reynolds, Scott Lee Wellington, Frederik Arnold Buhrman
  • Patent number: 8834707
    Abstract: A process for treating a hydrocarbon-containing feedstock is provided in which a hydrocarbon-containing feedstock comprising at least 20 wt. % of heavy hydrocarbons is mixed with hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide and a metal-containing catalyst at a temperature of 375° C. to 500° C. and a pressure of from 6.9 MPa to 27.5 MPa to produce a vapor comprising a first hydrocarbon-containing product, where the hydrogen sulfide is mixed with the feedstock, metal-containing catalyst, and hydrogen at a mole ratio of hydrogen sulfide to hydrogen of at least 1:10. The vapor comprising the first hydrocarbon-containing product is separated from the mixture, and, apart from the mixture, the first hydrocarbon-containing product is contacted with hydrogen and a catalyst containing a Column 6 metal at a temperature of 260° C.-425° C. and a pressure of from 3.4 MPa to 27.5 MPa to produce a second hydrocarbon-containing product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Stanley Nemec Milam, Michael Anthony Reynolds, Scott Lee Wellington, Frederik Arnold Buhrman
  • Patent number: 8821714
    Abstract: The invention describes a catalyst comprising at least one material with a hierarchical porosity comprising silicon and at least one hydrodehydrogenating element from group VIB and/or group VIII of the periodic table of the elements. Said material with a hierarchical porosity comprising silicon is constituted by at least two elementary spherical particles, each of said spherical particles comprising zeolitic nanocrystals having a pore size in the range 0.2 to 2 nm and a matrix based on silicon oxide, which is mesostructured, having a pore size in the range 1.5 to 30 nm and having amorphous walls with a thickness in the range 1 to 30 nm, said elementary spherical particles having a maximum diameter of 100 ?m. The matrix based on silicon oxide may contain aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Alexandra Chaumonnot, Patrick Bourges
  • Publication number: 20140231308
    Abstract: A mixing device for mixing concurrently-flowing streams of vapor and liquid in a vessel contains flow baffles forming a tangential inlet orifice through which the liquid and vapor streams flow at high flow velocity and in a tangential direction into a swirl box. The high momentum of the streams in the inlet orifice, the tangential direction of the streams, and the large distance between the inlet orifice and the vessel centerline, result in a violent swirling flow and a large number of fluid rotations in the swirl box, thereby thoroughly mixing the streams entering through the inlet orifice. A mixed stream of vapor and liquid exits the mixing device through an outlet opening in the bottom of the mixing device. An impingement plate located below the outlet opening spreads the liquid and decreases the velocity of the mixed stream. The temperature and chemical composition of the mixed stream are equilibrated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: MORTEN MULLER LTD. APS
    Inventor: Morten Muller
  • Publication number: 20140224707
    Abstract: The catalytic reactor with downward flow comprises a chamber (1) containing at least two solid catalyst beds (2; 11) separated by an intermediate zone comprising an essentially horizontal collecting plate (5) communicating with a vertical collecting pipe (7) for receiving fluids collected by the collecting plate, with a means for injecting a quenching fluid (8) emptying into the collecting pipe. An annular mixing chamber (9) is located below the collecting plate (5). A predistribution plate (11) is arranged below the chamber (9). The injection means (8) comprises a tubular portion that empties into the collecting pipe (7) in such a way as to inject quenching fluid in a direction forming an angle ? between 45° and 135° with the direction D from the axis of the mixing chamber measured at its input end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Yacine HAROUN, Frederic AUGIER
  • Patent number: 8795513
    Abstract: Provided is a catalyst for hydrocracking of heavy oil which is excellent in both functions of cracking activity and desulfurization activity with respect to heavy oil by striking a balance between the cracking activity and desulfurization activity and which includes a support including a crystalline aluminosilicate and a porous inorganic oxide excluding the crystalline aluminosilicate, with an active metal being supported on the support, in which (a) the support includes the crystalline aluminosilicate in an amount of 45% by mass or greater and smaller than 60% by mass and the porous inorganic oxide excluding the crystalline aluminosilicate in an amount of greater than 40% by mass and 55% by mass or smaller, based on the sum of an amount of the crystalline aluminosilicate and an amount of the porous inorganic oxide excluding the crystalline aluminosilicate, (b) the active metal is at least one kind of metal selected from metals belonging to Groups 6, 8, 9, and 10 of the Periodic Table, and (c) the catalyst fo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: JGC Catalysts and Chemicals Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Inamura, Akira Iino, Nobuyuki Takahashi, Yoji Sunagawa, Mitsunori Watabe, Yuichi Yamahata, Shinya Eura, Yuji Shirahama
  • Patent number: 8795514
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a regenerated hydrotreatment catalyst regenerated from a hydrotreatment catalyst for treating a petroleum fraction, the hydrotreatment catalyst being prepared by supporting molybdenum and at least one species selected from metals of Groups 8 to 10 of the Periodic Table on an inorganic carrier containing an aluminum oxide, wherein a residual carbon content is in the range of 0.15 mass % to 3.0 mass %, a peak intensity of a molybdenum composite metal oxide with respect to an intensity of a base peak is in the range of 0.60 to 1.10 in an X-Ray diffraction spectrum, and a peak intensity of a Mo—S bond derived from a residual sulfur peak with respect to an intensity of a base peak is in the range of 0.10 to 0.60 in a radial distribution curve obtained from an extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectrum of an X-ray absorption fine structure analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignees: JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation, Japan Petroleum Energy Center
    Inventors: Nobuharu Kimura, Yoshimu Iwanami, Wataru Sahara, Souichirou Konno
  • Publication number: 20140209509
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a method for hydrogenation comprising: supersaturating a hydrocarbonaceous liquid or slurry stream in a high shear device with a gas stream comprising hydrogen and optionally one or more C1-C6 hydrocarbons to form a supersaturated dispersion; and introducing the supersaturated dispersion into a reactor in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to generate a product stream. In some embodiments, the catalyst is present as a slurry or a fluidized or fixed bed of catalyst. In some embodiments, the hydrogenation catalyst is mixed with the hydrocarbonaceous liquid or slurry stream and the gas stream in the high shear device. In some embodiments, the method further comprises recycling at least a portion of an off gas from the reactor, recycling at least a portion of the product stream from the reactor, or both. Also disclosed herein is a system for hydrogenation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: H R D Corporation
    Inventors: Abbas Hassan, Aziz Hassan, Rayford G. Anthony, Gregory G. Borsinger
  • Patent number: 8784646
    Abstract: For conversion of crude oil or a heavy hydrocarbon fraction having an initial boiling point of at least 300° C., conducting a catalytic hydroconversion in a three-phase reactor operating in a boiling bed with an upward flow of liquid and gas, separating resultant effluent into a light liquid fraction boiling at less than 300° C. and a heavy liquid fraction boiling above 300° C., deasphalting the heavy liquid fraction to obtain a deasphalted hydrocarbon fraction and residual asphalt, and recycling at least one portion of the deasphalted hydrocarbon fraction upstream of the hydroconversion stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Eric Sanchez, Jan Verstraete
  • Publication number: 20140197069
    Abstract: A process for upgrading residuum hydrocarbons including: feeding pitch, hydrogen, and a partially spent catalyst recovered from a hydrocracking reactor to an ebullated bed pitch hydrocracking reactor; contacting the pitch, hydrogen, and the catalyst in the ebullated bed pitch hydrocracking reactor at reaction conditions of temperature and pressure sufficient to convert at least a portion of the pitch to distillate hydrocarbons; and separating the distillate hydrocarbons from the catalyst. In some embodiments, the process may include selecting the ebullated bed pitch hydrocracking reactor reaction conditions to be at or below the level where sediment formation would otherwise become excessive and prevent continuity of operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Ujjal K. Mukherjee, Mario C. Baldassari, Marvin I. Greene
  • Patent number: 8778169
    Abstract: Conversion of a heavy hydrocarbon fraction that is obtained either from a crude oil or from the distillation of a crude oil and that has an initial boiling point of at least 300° C. by hydroconversion of at least one portion of heavy hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of hydrogen in at least one three-phase reactor containing at least one hydroconversion catalyst, separation of the effluent to obtain a light liquid fraction that boils at a temperature that is less than 300° C. and a heavy liquid fraction that boils at a temperature that is greater than 300° C., and a deasphalting of at least one portion of the heavy liquid fraction that boils at a temperature that is greater than 300° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Eric Sanchez, Jan Verstraete
  • Patent number: 8764948
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
    Inventor: Marshall Medoff
  • Patent number: 8765622
    Abstract: A method of recovering unsupported fine catalyst from heavy oil comprises combining a slurry comprising unsupported fine catalyst in heavy oil with solvent to form a combined slurry-solvent stream. The combined slurry-solvent stream is filtered in a deoiling zone. A stream comprising unsupported fine catalyst and solvent is recovered from the deoiling zone. Unsupported fine catalyst is separated from the stream comprising unsupported fine catalyst and solvent. Filtering in the deoiling zone can comprise filtering the slurry and solvent through a cross-flow microfiltration unit, recovering a retentate stream of the cross-flow microfiltration unit, combining the retentate stream of the cross-flow microfiltration unit with solvent to form a combined retentate-solvent stream, and filtering the combined retentate-solvent stream through a cross-flow microfiltration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Lalit S. Shah, Christopher A. Powers, James R. Stoy, Fred D. Brent, Bruce E. Reynolds, Andre R. Da Costa
  • Publication number: 20140174984
    Abstract: Embodiments of a hydrocarbon conversion apparatus are provided, as are embodiments of a hydroprocessing conversion process. In one embodiment, the hydrocarbon conversion apparatus includes a reaction vessel having a reaction chamber and a feed distribution chamber. A riser fluidly couples the feed distribution chamber to the reaction chamber, and a catalyst recirculation standpipe fluidly couples the reaction chamber to the feed distribution chamber. The catalyst recirculation standpipe forms a catalyst recirculation circuit with the reaction chamber, the feed distribution chamber, and the riser. A catalyst is circulated through the catalyst recirculation circuit during operation of the hydrocarbon conversion apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Daniel R. Johnson, Clayton C. Sadler
  • Publication number: 20140174983
    Abstract: A supported catalyst useful in processes for chemically refining hydrocarbon feedstocks, the catalyst comprising a metal from Group 6, a metal from Group 8, and optionally phosphorous, wherein the carrier or support, comprises porous alumina comprising: (a) equal to or greater than about 78% to about 95% of TPV in pores having a diameter of less than about 200 Angstroms (A); (b) greater than about 2% to less than about 19% of the TPV in pores having a diameter of about 200 to less than about 1000 A; (c) equal to or greater than 3% to less than 12% of the TPV in pores having a diameter equal to or greater than about 1000 A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: ADVANCED REFINING TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Darryl P. Klein, Nan Chen, Matthew P. Woods, Bruno Nesci
  • Patent number: 8747653
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for hydroprocessing two hydrocarbon streams at two different pressures. A hydrogen stream is compressed and split. A first split compressed stream is further compressed to feed a first hydroprocessing unit that requires higher pressure for operation. A second split compressed stream is fed to a second hydroprocessing unit that requires lower pressure. Recycle hydrogen from the second hydroprocessing unit is recycled back to the compression section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Andrew P. Wieber
  • Patent number: 8741129
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for producing a hydroprocessed product. The invention is particularly advantageous in that substantially less hydrogen is absorbed during the process relative to conventional hydroprocessing methods. This benefit is achieved by using a particular solvent as a co-feed component. In particular, the solvent component contains at least one single ring aromatic compound and has a relatively low boiling point range compared to the heavy hydrocarbon oil component used as another co-feed component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Stephen Harold Brown, Teh C. Ho, Jane Chi-Ya Cheng, Hyung Suk Woo
  • Patent number: 8734618
    Abstract: Apparatus for treating a gaseous hydrocarbon fraction to obtain a gaseous fraction and a liquid fraction which apparatus includes a shell-and-tube heat exchanger and a distillation column, wherein the shell-and-tube heat exchanger includes an inlet and an outlet for cooling fluid which inlet and outlet are in fluid communication with the tube side of the heat exchanger, and an inlet for the gaseous hydrocarbon fraction at the upper end of the heat exchanger which inlet is in fluid communication with the shell side of the heat exchanger, and a conduit for guiding hydrocarbons from the heat exchanger to the distillation column which distillation column includes an outlet for gas at its upper end and an outlet for liquid at its lower end, and process in which such apparatus is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: George Anderson
  • Patent number: 8722556
    Abstract: A method of recovering unsupported fine catalyst from heavy oil comprises combining a slurry comprising unsupported fine catalyst in heavy oil with solvent to form a combined slurry-solvent stream. The combined slurry-solvent stream is filtered in a deoiling zone. A stream comprising unsupported fine catalyst and solvent is recovered from the deoiling zone. Unsupported fine catalyst is separated from the stream comprising unsupported fine catalyst and solvent. The deoiling zone can comprise a membrane that is rapidly displaced in a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Andre R. DaCosta, Paul Bryan
  • Patent number: 8709238
    Abstract: Crude tall oil is subjected to a distillation process that substantially removes impurities. The process produces a combined pitch and a distillate of free fatty acids and rosin acids from two vacuum columns. The distillate stream is amenable to further downstream hydroprocessing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: John A. Petri
  • Patent number: 8702969
    Abstract: A hydrocracking process that includes a wax fraction hydrocracking step of hydrocracking the wax fraction contained within a Fischer-Tropsch synthetic oil to obtain a hydrocracked product, a gas-liquid separation step of using a multi-stage gas-liquid separator to separate the hydrocracked product into a gas component, a heavy oil component and a light oil component, a specific component content estimation step of determining the flow rate ratio between the heavy oil component and the light oil component, and using this flow rate ratio to determine an estimated value for the content of a specific hydrocarbon component contained within the hydrocracked product, and a control step of controlling the operation of the wax fraction hydrocracking step on the basis of this estimated value, so that the content of the specific hydrocarbon component falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignees: Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, Inpex Corporation, JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation, Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd., Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd., Nippon Steel Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Tasaka, Yuichi Tanaka, Marie Iwama
  • Patent number: 8696885
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for hydrocracking hydrocarbon feed in a hydrocracking unit and hydrotreating a diesel product from the hydrocracking unit in a hydrotreating unit. The hydrocracking unit and the hydrotreating unit shares the same recycle gas compressor. A warm separator separates recycle gas and hydrocarbons from diesel in the hydrotreating effluent, so fraction of the diesel is relatively simple. The warm separator also keeps the diesel product separate from the more sulfurous diesel in the hydrocracking effluent, and still retains heat needed for fractionation of lighter components from the low sulfur diesel product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Andrew P. Wieber, Paul R. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20140097125
    Abstract: The present invention describes a distributor plate adapted to co-current downflow flows of gas and of liquid, more particularly in the “trickle” mode, said distributor plate integrating a filtration function separate from the distribution function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: IFP Energies nouvelles
    Inventors: Frederic BAZER-BACHI, Yacine HAROUN, Mathieu DIGNE
  • Patent number: 8691078
    Abstract: An apparatus and process is disclosed for hydroprocessing hydrocarbon feed in a hydroprocessing unit and hydrotreating a second hydrocarbon. A warm separator sends vaporous hydrotreating effluent to be flashed with liquid hydroprocessing effluent to produce a vapor flash overhead that can be recycled to the hydrotreating unit to provide hydrogen requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Andrew P. Wieber, Joao J. da Silva Ferreira Alves
  • Patent number: 8691077
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for converting a hydrocarbon stream. The process can include passing the hydrocarbon stream having one or more C40+ hydrocarbons to a slurry hydrocracking zone to obtain a distillate hydrocarbon stream having one or more C9-C22 hydrocarbons, and passing the distillate hydrocarbon stream to a hydrocracking zone for selectively hydrocracking aromatic compounds including at least two rings obtaining a processed distillate product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Clayton C. Sadler, Christopher D. Gosling
  • Patent number: 8691080
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can include a slurry hydrocracking process. The process can include combining one or more hydrocarbons and a slurry hydrocracking catalyst as a feed to a slurry hydrocracking reaction zone, fractionating an effluent from the slurry hydrocracking reaction zone, separating the pitch from at least a portion of the slurry hydrocracking catalyst, and recycling the suspension to the slurry hydrocracking reaction zone. The slurry hydrocracking catalyst may include a support. Fractionating the effluent may provide a light vacuum gas oil, a heavy vacuum gas oil, and a mixture comprising a pitch and the slurry hydrocracking catalyst. Generally, the separated slurry hydrocracking catalyst is comprised in a suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Robert Haizmann
  • Patent number: 8679322
    Abstract: A hydroconversion process includes feeding a heavy feedstock containing vanadium and/or nickel, a catalyst emulsion containing at least one group 8-10 metal and at least one group 6 metal, hydrogen and an organic additive to a hydroconversion zone under hydroconversion conditions to produce an upgraded hydrocarbon product and a solid carbonaceous material containing the group 8-10 metal, the group 6 metal, and the vanadium and/or nickel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Intevep, S.A.
    Inventors: Roger Marzin, Bruno Solari, Luis Zacarias
  • Patent number: 8673130
    Abstract: A hydroprocessing method and system involves introducing heavy oil and well-dispersed metal sulfide catalyst particles, or a catalyst precursor capable of forming the well-dispersed metal sulfide catalyst particles in situ within the heavy oil, into a hydroprocessing reactor. The well-dispersed or in situ metal sulfide catalyst particles are formed by 1) premixing a catalyst precursor with a hydrocarbon diluent to form a precursor mixture, 2) mixing the precursor mixture with heavy oil to form a conditioned feedstock, and 3) heating the conditioned feedstock to decompose the catalyst precursor and cause or allow metal from the precursor to react with sulfur in the heavy oil to form the well-dispersed or in situ metal sulfide catalyst particles. The well-dispersed or in situ metal sulfide catalyst particles catalyze beneficial upgrading reactions between the heavy oil and hydrogen and eliminates or reduces formation of coke precursors and sediment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Headwaters Heavy Oil, LLC
    Inventors: Roger K. Lott, Lap-Keung Lee
  • Patent number: 8647499
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method for hydrocracking and/or hydrotreating hydrocarbon-containing feeds using a catalyst comprising at least one hydro-dehydrogenizing metal selected from the group made up of group VIB and non-noble group VIII metals of the periodic table and a support comprising at least one zeolite having at least pore openings containing 12 oxygen atoms, modified by a) at least a stage of introducing at least one alkaline cation belonging to groups IA or IIA of the periodic table, b) a stage of treating said zeolite in the presence of at least one molecular compound containing at least one silicon atom, c) at least one stage of partial exchange of said alkaline cations by NH4+ cations in such a way that the proportion of alkaline cations remaining in the modified zeolite at the end of stage c) is such that the alkaline cation/aluminum molar ratio ranges between 0.2:1 and 0.01:1, and d) at least one thermal treatment stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventor: Laurent Simon
  • Publication number: 20140027347
    Abstract: Dual stripper column arrangements are described in which hot flash drum liquid is sent to one column and cold flash drum liquid is sent to a second column. Methods of operating the dual stripper column apparatus are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard K. Hoehn, Vedula K. Murty
  • Patent number: 8632673
    Abstract: A continuous process for upgrading sour crude oil by treating the sour crude oil in a two step process that includes a hydro-demetallization section and a hydro-desulfurization section, both of which are constructed in a permutable fashion so as to optimize the operating conditions and catalyst lifespan to produce a high value crude oil having low sulfur and low organometallic impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Stephane Cyrille Kressmann, Raheel Shafi, Esam Z. Hamad, Bashir Osama Dabbousi
  • Patent number: 8633128
    Abstract: The invention describes a heteropolycompound constituted by a nickel salt of a lacunary Keggin type heteropolyanion comprising tungsten in its structure, with formula: Nix+y/2AW11-yO39-5/2y, zH2O wherein Ni is nickel, A is selected from phosphorus, silicon and boron, W is tungsten, O is oxygen, y=0 or 2, x=3.5 if A is phosphorus, x=4 if A is silicon, x=4.5 if A is boron, and x=m/2+2 for the rest, and z is a number in the range 0 to 36, in which said heteropolycompound has no nickel atom in substitution for a tungsten atom in its structure, said nickel atoms being placed in the counter-ion position in the structure of said compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Audrey Bonduelle, Fabrice Bertoncini, Karima Ben Tayeb, Carole Lamonier, Michel Fournier, Edmond Payen