Solids Patents (Class 208/126)
  • Patent number: 11845075
    Abstract: A rotary feeder having a stationary, cylindrical housing having disposed therein a number of injection nozzles, and within which rotate a plurality of vanes about a central axis, wherein pairs of adjacent vanes of the plurality of vanes define wedge volumes, wherein the housing extends a width along the central axis, wherein each of the vanes has a length along the central axis, and wherein the injection nozzles are positioned across the width of the housing, such that a spray pattern of a gas injected via the number of injection nozzles spans substantially the entire length of the vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Andrea L. Hoener, Elena Mathopoullos, Jorge Garza
  • Patent number: 11713419
    Abstract: A process for converting lignocellulosic feedstock includes providing a lignocellulosic feedstock into a first inlet of a first reactor at a first end, and providing a hot feedstock into a second inlet of the first reactor at a second end of the first reactor. The process includes heating and reacting the lignocellulosic feedstock with the hot feedstock and outputting a first product stream from a first product outlet of the first reactor. The first product stream is an alkane rich product stream. A reactor system includes a first reactor having a first inlet at a first end, a second inlet at a second end and at least one product outlet. The first reactor is configured to receive a lignocellulosic feedstock at the first inlet and a hot feedstock at the second inlet. The system includes a second reactor having a first inlet downstream from the at least one product outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: T.EN Process Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin J. Mills
  • Patent number: 10961462
    Abstract: Disclosed is method that involves subjecting a base material to an extraction process to extract hydrocarbon fractions having molecular weights within a desired range from the base material to generate a resultant extraction material comprising mostly if not entirely of hydrocarbon fractions having molecular weights within the desired range. In some embodiments, the extraction process can involve performing the extraction in iterations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Inventor: Billy Shane McDade
  • Patent number: 10703984
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for using an oxygen-containing gas as at least part of the stripping gas for the stripping zone or section in a fluidized coker. By using an oxygen-containing gas as the stripping gas, heat can be added to the stripping zone selectively based on combustion of coke and/or hydrocarbons with the oxygen in the stripping gas. This can allow the temperature of the stripping zone to be increased relative to the temperature of the coking zone of a fluidized coking system. The flow of oxygen can be controlled to achieve a desirable temperature in the stripper while the reactor temperature is independently set by preheating of the feed and/or hot coke circulation to the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventor: Mohsen N. Harandi
  • Patent number: 10336945
    Abstract: A process for the decoking of a hydrocarbon steam cracking furnace having a firebox, radiant coils, a transfer line exchanger, and an oil quench connection wherein liquid quench oil is injected to directly cool the steam-cracked effluent. Decoking feed comprising steam and air is supplied to the furnace under conditions sufficient to at least partially combust coke accumulated on the interior of the radiant coils, the transfer line exchanger, and the quench connection. Quench steam is supplied and injected into the decoking process effluent in an amount sufficient to cool the decoking process effluent below the metallurgical temperature limit of downstream piping. Also, a pyrolysis furnace for the production of ethylene is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Subramanian Annamalai, James M. Frye
  • Patent number: 9809508
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for processing hydrocarbon feeds. The method may pass a pyrolysis feed to a thermal pyrolysis reactor and expose at least a portion of the pyrolysis feed to high-severity operating conditions in a thermal pyrolysis reactor, wherein the thermal pyrolysis reactor is operated at operating conditions that include pressure ?36 psig and provide a reactor product that has a C3+ to C2 unsaturate weight ratio ?0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Keusenkothen, Frank Hershkowitz
  • Patent number: 9005428
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feedstock that utilizes a short residence pyrolytic reactor operating under conditions that cracks and chemically upgrades the feedstock. The process of the present invention provides for the preparation of a partially upgraded feedstock exhibiting reduced viscosity and increased API gravity. This process selectively removes metals, salts, water and nitrogen from the feedstock, while at the same time maximizes the yield of the liquid product, and minimizes coke and gas production. Furthermore, this process reduces the viscosity of the feedstock in order to permit pipeline transport, if desired, of the upgraded feedstock with little or no addition of diluents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ivanhoe HTL Petroleum Ltd.
    Inventors: Barry Freel, Robert G. Graham
  • Publication number: 20140065684
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that 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. Hydrocarbon-containing materials are also used as feedstocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Marshall Medoff
  • Patent number: 8658025
    Abstract: Biomass is used as a co-feed for a heavy petroleum oil coking process to improve the operation of the coking process and to utilize biomaterial for the production of transportation fuels. The coking process may be a delayed coking process or a fluidized bed coking process and in each case, the presence of the biomass will decrease the coke drying time so reducing coke handling problems in the unit besides forming a superior coke product. In the case of a fluidized bed coking process using a gasifier for the coke, the addition of an alkali metal salt improves the operation of the gasifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael Siskin, Glen E. Phillips, Simon R. Kelemen, Walter Weissman
  • Patent number: 8496804
    Abstract: Systems and methods for staging an investment in hydrocarbon processing are provided. In a first stage, a hydrocarbon feed can be apportioned equally or unequally into first and second portions. The first portion can be mixed with one or more oxidants and gasified to provide a first effluent, at least a portion of which can be combusted to provide steam. The second portion can be mixed with one or more solvents to provide one or more fungible hydrocarbon products, at least a portion of which can be sold to generate capital. In a second stage, the hydrocarbon feed can be mixed with one or more solvents and one or more non-catalytic solids and the resultant mixture thermally cracked to provide one or more hydrocarbon products and coked non-catalytic solids. The coked, non-catalytic solids can be regenerated and recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventor: Pritham Ramamurthy
  • Patent number: 8460541
    Abstract: A process is disclosed process for converting a solid or highly viscous carbon-based energy carrier material to liquid and gaseous reaction products, said process comprising the steps of: a) contacting the carbon-based energy carrier material with a particulate catalyst material b) converting the carbon-based energy carrier material at a reaction temperature between 200° C. and 450° C., preferably between 250° C. and 350° C., thereby forming reaction products in the vapor phase. In a preferred embodiment the process comprises the additional step of: c) separating the vapor phase reaction products from the particulate catalyst material within 10 seconds after said reaction products are formed. In a further preferred embodiment step c) is followed by: d) quenching the reaction products to a temperature below 200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: KiOR, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul O'Connor, Dennis Stamires, Jacob Adriaan Moulijn
  • Patent number: 8377287
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the upgrading of heavy petroleum oils of high viscosity and low API gravity that are typically not suitable for pipelining without the use of diluents. The method comprises introducing a particulate heat carrier into an up-flow reactor, introducing the feedstock at a location above the entry of the particulate heat carrier, allowing the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock to interact with the heat carrier for a short time, separating the vapors of the product stream from the particulate heat carrier and liquid and byproduct solid matter, collecting a gaseous and liquid product mixture comprising a mixture of a light fraction and a heavy fraction from the product stream, and using a vacuum tower to separate the light fraction as a substantially bottomless product and the heavy fraction from the product mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ivanhoe Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Graham, Barry Freel
  • Patent number: 8361311
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for cracking a hydrocarbon feed containing resid, comprising: heating a hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid; passing said heated hydrocarbon feedstock to a vapor/liquid separator; flashing said heated hydrocarbon feedstock in said vapor/liquid separator to form a vapor phase and a liquid phase containing said resid; passing at least a portion of said resid-containing liquid phase from said vapor/liquid separator to a thermal conversion reactor operating at 649° C. or more, wherein the thermal conversion reactor contains coke particles; and converting at least a portion of said resid into olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: S. Mark Davis, Larry Lee Iaccino, Richard C. Stell, Steven E. Silverberg, Jiunn-Shyan Liou, Howard Freund
  • Patent number: 8349268
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons such as asphaltenes to lighter oil and gas components is disclosed. The process provides a reaction environment that promotes fast and selective cracking of heavy hydrocarbons, while minimizing coke formation and fouling and enhancing product yields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Value Creation Inc.
    Inventor: Columba Yeung
  • Publication number: 20120125815
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feedstock that utilizes a short residence pyrolytic reactor operating under conditions that cracks and chemically upgrades the feedstock. The method for upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock comprises introducing a particulate heat carrier into an upflow reactor, introducing the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock into the upflow reactor at a location above that of the particulate heat carrier so that a loading ratio of the particulate heat carrier to feedstock is from about 15:1 to about 200:1, allowing the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock to interact with the heat carrier with a residence time of less than about 1 second, to produce a product stream, separating the product stream from the particulate heat carrier, regenerating the particulate heat carrier, and collecting a gaseous and liquid product from the product stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Barry Freel, Robert G. Graham
  • Patent number: 8183423
    Abstract: This invention is about a cracking technology of waste rubber, and the content of this technology is as following: the rubber mass with the catalyst were added in the cracking chamber and the cracking process of the raw material is finished. The main contents and weight percentage of catalyzer are as following: the aluminosilicate is from 35 to 50, the active alumina is from 15 to 30, the zinc oxide is from 10 to 20, the active argil is from 5 to 15, the kaoline is from 5 to 15, the weight ratio of catalyst and rubber is 2-7:1000; The cracking temperature is from 350 to 450° C. The rubber mass crack comparative downright in low temperature by using this combinatorial catalyst, that's because the temperature is controlled between 350 and 450° C., which commendably control the cracking process of the carbon chain of rubber. Moreover, more low carbon chain products can be gained for the symmetrical cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Bin Niu
  • Patent number: 8163170
    Abstract: Randomly packing with filler material at least part of a pass in a coil used in a system for pyrolyzing hydrocarbon feedstock to lighter hydrocarbons. Randomly packing increases heat transfer and decreases the rate of coke build-up within the coil, yielding an improvement in overall system efficiency. Packing material can comprise or be treated with a suitable catalyst for increasing the rate of chemical decomposition, thus further improving system efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Cor Franciscus van Egmond, Kandasamy Meenakshi Sundaram
  • Patent number: 8105482
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feedstock. The process of the present invention provides for the preparation of a partially upgraded feedstock exhibiting reduced viscosity and increased API gravity. This process reduces the viscosity of the feedstock in order to permit pipeline transport of the upgraded feedstock with little or no addition of diluents. The method for upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock comprises introducing a particulate heat carrier into an upflow reactor, introducing the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock into the upflow reactor at a location above that of the particulate heat carrier, allowing the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock to interact with the heat carrier to produce a product stream, separating the product stream from the particulate heat carrier, regenerating the particulate heat carrier, and collecting a gaseous and liquid product from the product stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ivanhoe Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Freel, Robert G. Graham
  • Patent number: 8101066
    Abstract: An improved fluidized coking process wherein an effective amount of a basic material, preferably an alkali or alkaline-earth metal-containing compound, is added to the coking zone to mitigate agglomeration of the coke during the coking of a heavy hydrocarbonaceous feedstock to produce lower boiling products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael Siskin, Simon R. Kelemen, Christopher P. Eppig
  • Patent number: 8062503
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feedstock that utilizes a short residence pyrolytic reactor operating under conditions that cracks and chemically upgrades the feedstock. The process of the present invention provides for the preparation of a partially upgraded feedstock exhibiting reduced viscosity and increased API gravity. This process selectively removes metals, salts, water and nitrogen from the feedstock, while at the same time maximizes the yield of the liquid product, and minimizes coke and gas production. Furthermore, this process reduces the viscosity of the feedstock in order to permit pipeline transport, if desired, of the upgraded feedstock with little or no addition of diluents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ivanhoe Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Freel, Robert G. Graham
  • Patent number: 8057641
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for effective pyrolysis of a biomass utilizing rapid heat transfer from a solid heat carrier or catalyst. Particularly, various embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatuses which incorporate progressive temperature quenching and rapid disengagement of the heat carrier material and reaction product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Kior Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bartek, Ronald Lee Cordle
  • Patent number: 8057662
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons such as asphaltenes to lighter oil and gas components is disclosed. The process provides a reaction environment that promotes fast and selective cracking of heavy hydrocarbons, while minimizing coke formation and fouling and enhancing product yields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Value Creation Inc.
    Inventor: Columba K. Yeung
  • Patent number: 7901568
    Abstract: A process is disclosed process for converting a solid or highly viscous carbon-based energy carrier material to liquid and gaseous reaction products, said process comprising the steps of: a) contacting the carbon-based energy carrier material with a particulate catalyst material b) converting the carbon-based energy carrier material at a reaction temperature between 200° C. and 450° C., preferably between 250° C. and 350° C., thereby forming reaction products in the vapor phase. In a preferred embodiment the process comprises the additional step of: c) separating the vapor phase reaction products from the particulate catalyst material within 10 seconds after said reaction products are formed; In a further preferred embodiment step c) is followed by: d) quenching the reaction products to a temperature below 200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kior Inc.
    Inventors: Paul O'Connor, Dennis Stamires, Jacob Adriaan Moulijn
  • Patent number: 7892416
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thermodynamic cracking process wherein the cracking takes place in a cyclone reactor and in a riser of varying areas under the influence of a rotating and turbulent fluidised energy carrier which is put in motion in a fluidised regenerator by injection of combustion gases or air. A cracking unit is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ellycrack AS
    Inventor: Olav Ellingsen
  • Patent number: 7824540
    Abstract: Process for upgrading a liquid hydrocarbon feed comprising the steps of (a) preparing a slurry comprising the hydrocarbon feed having a boiling range above 350° C. and solid particles comprising a rehydratable material, (b) thermally treating said slurry at a temperature in the range of 250 to 550° C., (c) optionally separating the thermally treated slurry into (I) a lower boiling fraction and (ii) a higher boiling fraction containing the solid particles and formed coke, if any, and (d) separating the solid particles and formed coke, if any, from the thermally treated slurry resulting from step b) or the higher boiling fraction of step c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Albemarle Corporation
    Inventors: Paul O'Connor, Erik Jeroen Laheij, Dennis Stamires, Michael F. Brady, Francisco René Mas Cabre, Oscar René Chamberlain Pravia, Henrique Soares Cerqueira, Fabió Lopes De Azevedo
  • Patent number: 7820032
    Abstract: The main distinctive feature of the method lies in the fact that the hydrocarbon material is affected through primary and principal excitation by means of electromagnetic vibrations. The primary influence upon the hydrocarbon material is carried out prior to its feeding for thermal cracking, while the, principal influence is fulfilled in the rectifying column. For the method to be implemented, the primary excitation source in the installation is realized in a form of an electromagnetic oscillator, and the rectifying column is realized with possibility of resonance excitation provided, being the main exciter of the hydrocarbon material. The invention makes it possible to increase the percentage of output of lighter fractions, as well as to raise the quality of processing of raw materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventor: Nikolai Gennadievich Shlyachtin
  • Patent number: 7744753
    Abstract: A process for upgrading unconventional or heavy oils such as, tar sands, shale oil, or bitumen. This process may include a coking scheme in which oil-containing solids, of suitable size, are fed directly into the riser of an FCC unit. Contacting a hot stream of solids causes vaporization and produces a gaseous product stream. The gaseous product may be separated out in a separating vessel and coked or unconverted oil-containing solids may be transferred to a gasifier for combustion at high temperatures to remove the coke and residual oil. Syngas from the gasifier may be converted to hydrogen using a water gas shift reaction. The hydrogen may be used for hydroprocessing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Gavin P. Towler
  • Patent number: 7632394
    Abstract: A system and process for upgrading hydrocarbons such as heavy oils includes high temperature plasma reactor apparatus, in one or more vessels, into which the oils are introduced along with water, such as steam, to produce lighter hydrocarbon fractions, along with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, that flows to an additional stage where more hydrocarbons and water are introduced for further fractionating reactions facilitated by reaction of carbon monoxide and water to produce carbon dioxide and nascent, or prompt, free radicals of hydrogen. Heavy hydrocarbons upgraded can include heavy oils in the form of tar sands, oil shale, and oil residuals. The vessel or vessels can each contain a carbonaceous bed facilitating the described reactions and example embodiments include one vessel with the reactions performed in a single bed and, also, two vessels with the reactions performed in a carbonaceous bed portion in each vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Westinghouse Plasma Corporation
    Inventors: Shyam V. Dighe, Mark Anthony Montemurro, Richard Dale Bower, Aleksandr Gorodetsky, Mark F. Darr, Ivan A. Martorell
  • Patent number: 7572362
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the upgrading of heavy petroleum oils of high viscosity and low API gravity that are typically not suitable for pipelining without the use of diluents. It utilizes a short residence-time pyrolytic reactor operating under conditions that result in a rapid pyrolytic distillation with coke formation. Both physical and chemical changes taking place lead to an overall molecular weight reduction in the liquid product and rejection of certain components with the byproduct coke. The liquid product is upgraded primarily because of its substantially reduced viscosity, increased API gravity, and the content of middle and light distillate fractions. While maximizing the overall liquid yield, the improvements in viscosity and API gravity can render the liquid product suitable for pipelining without the use of diluents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Ivanhoe Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Freel, Jerry F. Kriz, Doug Clarke
  • Patent number: 7572365
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the upgrading of heavy petroleum oils of high viscosity and low API gravity that are typically not suitable for pipelining without the use of diluents. It utilizes a short residence-time pyrolytic reactor operating under conditions that result in a rapid pyrolytic distillation with coke formation. Both physical and chemical changes taking place lead to an overall molecular weight reduction in the liquid product and rejection of certain components with the byproduct coke. The liquid product is upgraded primarily because of its substantially reduced viscosity, increased API gravity, and the content of middle and light distillate fractions. While maximizing the overall liquid yield, the improvements in viscosity and API gravity can render the liquid product suitable for pipelining without the use of diluents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Ivanhoe Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Freel, Jerry F. Kriz, Doug Clarke
  • Publication number: 20090114567
    Abstract: A continuous process and apparatus for treating feedstocks containing carbonaceous materials involves heating bodies to heat the feedstock to vaporize and crack hydrocarbons and carbon formed on heating bodies is removed through direct contact to a flame heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: James F. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 7419585
    Abstract: A process for upgrading a residua feedstock using a short vapor contact time thermal process unit comprised of a horizontal moving bed of fluidized hot particles. The residua feedstock is preferably atomized so that the Sauter mean diameter of the residua feedstock entering the reactor is less than about 2500 ?m. One or more horizontally disposed screws is preferably used to fluidize a bed of hot particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Peter S. Maa, Craig Y. Sabottke
  • Patent number: 7419608
    Abstract: The present invention falls within the field of purifying oil-laden wastewater, which provides a method for purifying coke-cooling wastewater in a delayed coking process in petroleum chemical field. The method comprises the following steps: (a) cooling the coke-cooling wastewater produced in a delayed coking process to 5-55° C. under 0.1-0.25 MPa absolute pressure, to obtain cooled coke-cooling wastewater; (b) subjecting the cooled coke-cooling wastewater to solid-liquid separation, to obtain a coke breeze phase and a liquid phase; (c) further separating the obtained liquid phase, to obtain an oil phase and a water phase; and (d) further discharging water from the obtained oil phase, to obtain the separated oil phase. The present invention also provides an equipment for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignees: East China University of Science and Technology, Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company Limited, Luoyang Petrochemical Engineering Corporation (LPEC) Sinopec
    Inventors: Hualin Wang, Zhuoqun Qian, Jianwen Wang, Baohua Dai, Jiangqing Hu, Shuilong Yu, Chengyu Xu, Tianming Hou, Hejie Li, Jianghua Xu, Lixin Zhang
  • Patent number: 7368052
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for discharging and transferring upwardly fluidized particles from a dense fluidizing layer forming section to a high-velocity transferring section having a diameter which is smaller than that of the dense fluidizing fluidized layer forming section, wherein at least one intermediate cylindrical section is provided between the dense fluidizing fluidized layer forming section and the high-velocity transferring section. The process can decrease the degree of changes in the amount of particles to be discharged from the dense fluidizing layer forming section and transferred by the riser, thereby proving a stable and uniform transfer of the fluidized particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Nippon Mitsubishi Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Yoneichi Ikeda, Yuichiro Fujiyama
  • Patent number: 6835861
    Abstract: A low energy method of pyrolysis of rubber or other hydrocarbon material is provided. The hydrocarbon material is heated while maintaining a vacuum, using a clay catalyst. In an additional embodiment, the temperature of the reaction chamber and corresponding fuel input is varied either over time or spatially within the reaction chamber, to take advantage of the exothermic properties of the reaction. With the method of the present invention, a higher quality solid reaction product can be achieved, as well as a liquid having reduced polyaromatic hydrocarbons and oxidized organic contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: RJ Lee Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Nichols, Alan M. Levine, Jules E. Langlois
  • Patent number: 6833485
    Abstract: A low energy method of pyrolysis of rubber or other hydrocarbon material is provided. The hydrocarbon material is heated while maintaining a vacuum, using a clay catalyst. In an additional embodiment, also under a vacuum and optionally with or without the catalyst, the temperature of the reaction chamber and corresponding fuel input is varied either over time or spatially within the reaction chamber, to take advantage of the exothermic properties of the reaction. With the method of the present invention, an improved solid reaction product can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: RJ Lee Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Nichols, Alan M. Levine, Jules E. Langlois
  • Patent number: 6797850
    Abstract: A chromium catalyst is disclosed for use in dehydrogenation and dehydrocyclization processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Invista North America S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Kostantinos Kourtakis, Leo E. Manzer
  • Patent number: 6783662
    Abstract: A cavitation enhanced atomizing process comprises forming a flowing solution of the liquid to be atomized and a lower boiling cavitating liquid. This flowing solution is then contacted with a pressure reducing means, at a temperature below the bubble point of the cavitating liquid in the solution, to produce cavitation bubbles. These bubbles comprise cavitation liquid vapor and the bubble nucleation produces a two-phase fluid of the bubbles and liquid solution. The two-phase fluid is passed downstream into and through an atomizing means, such as an orifice, and into a lower pressure atomizing zone, in which the bubbles vaporize to form a spray of liquid droplets. The nucleated bubbles also grow in size as the so-formed two-phase fluid passes downstream to and through the atomizing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Dean C. Draemel, Nicholas C. Nahas, Teh C. Ho
  • Publication number: 20040108251
    Abstract: A method for processing carbonaceous material in a reactor. Carbonaceous material, such as sawdust, plant residues from forestry or agricultural processes, municipal solid waste and refuse derived fuel, is fed into the riser section (10) of a reactor (10-15) in which it is contacted with inorganic particulate material and reactor walls at an elevated temperature essentially in the absence of oxygen in order to convert the carbonaceous material at least mainly into gaseous processed products, whereby a gas phase is obtained, containing fluidization gas and processed products. According to the invention a dense suspension is formed into the riser space (10) of the reactor, containing based on the particle number 7×108 to 3×1011 particles/m3 (about 2×107-1×1010 particles/ft3), and the mass ratio between the particulate matter bringing heat into the reactor and the carbonaceous material is in the range of 1:1 to 10:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Steven Gust, Jukka-Pekka Nieminen, Jyrki Hiltunen, Pekka Knuuttila, Marko Fabritius, Pekka Jokela, Jatta Partanen
  • Patent number: 6746596
    Abstract: The process has to do with a circuit involving a fluidized bed coker reactor working in tandem with a fluidized bed coke burner. The burner is operated at a reduced temperature in the range 550° C.-630° C. Simultaneously, the coke circulation rate is increased to ensure the heat requirement of the reactor is met. It is found that sulphur emissions from the burner are significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignees: AEC Oil Sands, L.P., AEC Oil Sands Limited Partnership, Athabasca Oil Sands Investment Inc., Nexen Inc., Canadian Oil Sands Investments Inc., Gulf Canada Resources Limited, Imperial Oil Resources, Mocal Energy Limited, Murphy Oil Company Ltd., Petro-Canada
    Inventors: Keng H. Chung, Edward Furimsky
  • Publication number: 20040069682
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the upgrading of heavy petroleum oils of high viscosity and low API gravity that are typically not suitable for pipelining without the use of diluents. It utilizes a short residence-time pyrolytic reactor operating under conditions that result in a rapid pyrolytic distillation with coke formation. Both physical and chemical changes taking place lead to an overall molecular weight reduction in the liquid product and rejection of certain components with the byproduct coke. The liquid product is upgraded primarily because of its substantially reduced viscosity, increased API gravity, and the content of middle and light distillate fractions. While maximizing the overall liquid yield, the improvements in viscosity and API gravity can render the liquid product suitable for pipelining without the use of diluents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Barry Freel, Jerry F. Kriz, Doug Clarke
  • Publication number: 20030221992
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for increasing the capacity for processing residua and obtaining higher yields of liquids having an average boiling point equal to or less than about 510° C. A residual feedstock is introduced with recycled product asphaltenes into a short vapor contact time thermal process unit wherein the vaporized product is sent to a fractionator zone to produce a 510° C.− fraction and a 510° C.+ fraction. The 510° C.+ fraction is sent to a solvent extraction zone to produce an asphaltene-rich fraction that is recycled to the short vapor contact time thermal process unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Martin L. Gorbaty, Michael Siskin, Mitchell Jacobson
  • Publication number: 20030167691
    Abstract: This invention discloses improvements on previous inventions for catalytic conversion of coal and steam to methane. The disclosed improvements permit conversion of petroleum residua or heavy crude petroleum to methane and carbon dioxide such that nearly all of the heating value of the converted hydrocarbons is recovered as heating value of the product methane. The liquid feed is distributed over a fluidized solid particulate catalyst containing alkali metal and carbon as petroleum coke at elevated temperature and pressure from the lower stage and transported to the upper stage of a two-stage reactor. Particulate solids containing carbon and alkali metal are circulated between the two stages. Superheated steam and recycled hydrogen and carbon monoxide are fed to the lower stage, fluidizing the particulate solids and gasifying some of the carbon. The gas phase from the lower stage passes through the upper stage, completing the reaction of the gas phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventor: Nicholas Charles Nahas
  • Publication number: 20030159973
    Abstract: A process for upgrading a residua feedstock using a short vapor contact time thermal process unit comprised of a horizontal moving bed of fluidized hot particles. The residua feedstock is preferably atomized so that the Sauter mean diameter of the residua feedstock entering the reactor is less than about 2500 &mgr;m. One or more horizontally disposed screws is preferably used to fluidize a bed of hot particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Peter S. Maa, Craig Y. Sabottke
  • Publication number: 20030000868
    Abstract: The process has to do with a circuit involving a fluidized bed coker reactor working in tandem with a fluidized bed coke burner. The burner is operated at a reduced temperature in the range 550° C.-630° C. Simultaneously, the coke circulation rate is increased to ensure the heat requirement of the reactor is met. It is found that sulphur emissions from the burner are significantly reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: AEC OIL SANDS, L.P.
    Inventors: Keng H, Chung, Edward Furimsky
  • Publication number: 20020038778
    Abstract: A process for upgrading a residua feedstock using a short vapor contact time thermal process unit comprised of a horizontal moving bed of fluidized hot particles. The residua feedstock is preferably atomized so that the Sauter mean diameter of the residua feedstock entering the reactor is less than about 2500 &mgr;m. One or more horizontally disposed screws is preferably used to fluidize a bed of hot particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventors: Peter S. Maa, Craig Y. Sabottke
  • Publication number: 20020029996
    Abstract: Used oil is treated in a reactor to remove contaminants. The reactor comprises a rotating vessel housed within a heating chamber. The inside of the vessel is indirectly heated by conduction through the vessel walls. The vessel contains a permanently resident charge of non-ablating, coarse granular solids. Within the vessel, the oil is vaporized and pyrolysed, producing a hydrocarbon vapor. Coke is formed as a byproduct. Contaminants, such as metals and halides become associated with the coke. The coarse granular solids scour and comminute the coke to form fine solids. The fine solids are separated from the coarse solids and are removed from the vessel. The hydrocarbon vapors are separated from any fine solids and are routed to a vapor condensation system for producing a substantially contaminant-free product oil. The contaminant-rich solids are collected for disposal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Applicant: Alberta oil sands Tech and Research Authority
    Inventors: William Taciuk, Steve Odut, Gordon Taciuk, Charlie Wheeler
  • Patent number: 6352638
    Abstract: A two-stage process for converting petroleum residua and other low value oils to high valued gasoline blendstocks and light olefins. The first stage is comprised of a thermal process unit containing a reaction zone comprised of a horizontal moving bed of fluidized hot particles operated at temperatures from about 500 to 600° C. and having a short vapor residence time, and the second stage is comprised of a catalytic conversion zone operated at a temperature of about 525° C. to about 650° C., and also having a short vapor residence time, preferably shorter than that of the first stage reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Mitchell Jacobson, Willibald Serrand
  • Patent number: 6344429
    Abstract: A method for making an oil soluble coking process additive, includes the steps of: providing mixture of a metal salt in water wherein the metal salt contains a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and mixtures thereof; providing a heavy hydrocarbon; forming an emulsion of the mixture and the heavy hydrocarbon; heating the emulsion so as to react the metal salt with components of the heavy hydrocarbon so as to provide a treated hydrocarbon containing oil soluble organometallic compound, wherein the organometallic compound includes the metal and is stable at a temperature of at least about 300° C. The oil soluble additive and a process using same are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Intevep, S.A.
    Inventors: Pedro Pereira, Jose Guitian, Jose Cordova, Ramon Salazar, Monsaris Pimentel, Alice Dupatrocinio
  • Patent number: RE42832
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for reforming organics into shorter-chain unsaturated organic compounds. A molten metal bath is provided which can cause homolytic cleavage of an organic component of an organic-containing feed. The feed is directed into the molten metal bath at a rate which causes partial homolytic cleavage of an organic component of the feed. Conditions are established and maintained in the reactor to cause partial homolytic cleavage of the organic component to produce unsaturated organic compounds, as products of the homolytic cleavage, which are discharged from the molten metal bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Quantum Catalytics, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Nagel, Thomas P. Griffin, Thomas A. Kinney, Kevin A. Sparks