Distillation Patents (Class 208/347)
  • Patent number: 7390397
    Abstract: A process for the production of a synthetic low sulphur diesel fuel and a low soot emission aviation fuel is disclosed. The process includes fractionation of a Low Temperature Fischer-Tropsch feedstock into a light kerosene fraction and a heaver diesel fraction in a volumetric ratio of at least 1:2 to form the light kerosene fraction having a smoke point greater than 50 mm, a freezing point of below ?47° C., a BOCLE lubricity wear scar less than 0.85 mm, and an anti-oxidant additiveless thermal stability tube deposit rating at 260° C. of less than 1 useable as a low soot emission aviation fuel and/or an aviation fuel blend stock, and the heavier diesel fraction having CFPP according to IP309 of below ?5° C., a density@20° C. of at least 0.78 kg/l, and a viscosity@40° C. of above 2 cSt useable as a synthetic low sulphur diesel fuel and/or a diesel fuel blend stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Sasol Technology (Pty) Ltd
    Inventors: Delanie Lamprecht, Petrus Nicolaas Johannes Roets
  • Patent number: 7273542
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for recovering product from reactor effluent of a reactor for a hydrocarbon feedstream. An indigenous C4 stream is used as lean oil in a demethanizer, which facilitates significant cost and operational savings. C4 bottoms from a downstream depropanizer is used as lean oil recycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Duhon, John E. Asplin
  • Patent number: 7241377
    Abstract: A process for heating thermally unstable or difficult to heat liquid feeds, e.g., used lubricating oil (ULO) to dehydrate and/or recover distillable components therefrom, is disclosed. The liquid feed is heated by direct contact heat exchange with molten salt, preferably maintained as a bath, operating at a temperature above the boiling point of water and below 600 C. The liquid feed is heated and typically at least partially vaporized in, or above, or by contact with the molten salt to produce a heated liquid. When ULO contaminated with water is the feed, the vapor product of the process will comprise water vapor and/or distillable hydrocarbons. ULO additive decomposition products, such as carbon, may be removed as a solid, semi-solid or liquid residual phase from contact with the molten salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: DTX Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Donald P. Malone
  • Patent number: 7204928
    Abstract: A process for the fractional distillation of crude oil, which comprises the steps of: feeding a continuous current of crude oil at 310–400° C. into a turbomixer comprising a tubular cylindrical body (1) provided with a rotor (9) formed with helically oriented paddles (10) and rotatably supported inside the body, along with a continuous current of steam; subjecting both currents to the mechanical action of the paddled rotor (9), so as to create a thin tubular dynamic turbulent layer, which is discharged and fed continuously into a fractioning column, at a predetermined height level in the column, to produce an upward-flowing vapor current and a downward-flowing liquid current therein; and optionally discharging the downward-flowing liquid current continuously from the column bottom, and feeding it continuously into the turbomixer in the same direction as the crude oil current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Vomm Chemipharma S.r.l.
    Inventor: Giuseppina Cerea
  • Patent number: 7169267
    Abstract: A process is proposed for the separation of C5+ cuts by distillation into a low-boiler (A), a medium-boiler (B) and a high-boiler fraction (C) in one or more dividing-wall columns (TK), in which a dividing wall (T) is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the column with formation of an upper, common column region (1), a lower, common column region (6), a feed part (2, 4) with rectifying section (2) and stripping section (4), and a withdrawal part (3, 5) with rectifying section (5) and stripping section (3), with feed of the C5+ cut (A, B, C) into the central region of the feed part (2, 4), discharge of the high-boiler fraction (C) from the bottom of the column, discharge of the low-boiler fraction (A) via the top of the column, and discharge of the medium-boiler fraction (B) from the central region of the withdrawal part (3, 5), wherein the dividing ratio of the liquid reflux at the upper end of the dividing wall (T) is set in such a way that the proportion of high-boiling key components in the liquid re
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerd Kaibel, Carsten Oost, Manfred Stroezel, Gerald Meyer, Peter Trübenbach, Karl-Heinz Sartor, Jürgen Heners
  • Patent number: 7129387
    Abstract: An apparatus for recovering ethylene from a hydrocarbon feed stream, where the apparatus is a single distillation column pressure shell encasing an upper region and a lower region. The upper region houses an ethylene distributor rectifying section and the lower region houses a C2 distributor section and an ethylene distributor stripping section. Vapor passes from the lower region into the upper region, and liquid passes from the upper region to the lower region. The process for recovering the ethylene is also disclosed. The hydrocarbon feed stream is introduced into the C2 distributor section, and after a series of stripping and refluxing steps, distinct hydrocarbon products are recovered from the C2 distributor section, the ethylene distributor stripping section, and the ethylene distributor rectifying section, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Rian Reyneke, Michael J. Foral, Guang-Chung Lee
  • Patent number: 7094937
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising C26H30 hexamantane, referred to herein as peri-condensed hexamantane, fully condensed hexamantane, and cyclohexamantane. These enriched cyclohexamantane compositions comprise at least 5 percent by weight cyclohexamantane based upon the total weight of the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy E. Dahl, Robert M. Carlson
  • Patent number: 7060865
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for removing DME from a stream containing C4 olefins. The process includes providing a first stream comprising C4 olefins, C5+ hydrocarbons, DME, and methanol. The first stream is separated into a second stream comprising the C4 olefins and the DME and a third stream comprising the C5+ hydrocarbons and the methanol. The second stream is directed to a DME absorption unit, wherein the second stream contacts water under conditions effective to separate the C4 olefins from the DME. Also disclosed is a process including contacting the first stream with water in a methanol removal unit under conditions effective to separate remove the methanol therefrom; distilling the methanol-depleted stream to remove C5+ hydrocarbon components, and contacting the stream with water in a DME removal unit under conditions effective to form an overhead stream comprising the C4 olefins and a bottoms stream comprising the DME.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Zhong Yi Ding, James Richardson Lattner
  • Patent number: 7025875
    Abstract: A method of using a diesel reforming strategy is disclosed. The method comprises supplying diesel fuel to a fractional distillation device. The diesel fuel is fractionally distilled to produce a light fuel stream and a heavy fuel stream. The light fuel stream is reformed in a reformer to produce a reformate. A method of making an apparatus for a diesel fuel reforming strategy and a method for using a fuel cell system is also disclosed. A fuel cell system for diesel fuel reforming is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: M. James Grieve, Christopher M. DeMinco, Thomas R. Thoreson
  • Patent number: 6855244
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention relates to a method for reducing coke agglomeration in petroleum streams derived from coking processes. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a method for mitigating filter fouling from a coker gas oil by using a pusher gas substantially free of molecular oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael Siskin, Simon R. Kelemen
  • Patent number: 6844480
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of removing dimethyl ether from an olefin stream. Dimethyl ether is removed from the olefin stream by first separating the olefin stream into a first stream comprising dimethyl ether and lighter boiling point compounds, and a second stream comprising C4+ olefin and higher boiling point hydrocarbons. The dimethyl ether is then separated from the first stream using extractive distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Lattner, David R Lumgair, Jr., Jeffrey A. Kabin, Michael Peter Nicoletti
  • Patent number: 6830677
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention relates to a method for reducing coke agglomeration in petroleum streams derived from coking processes. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a method for mitigating filter fouling from a coker gas oil wherein an oxygen scavenger is employed to remove molecular oxygen and peroxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael Siskin, Simon R. Kelemen
  • Patent number: 6755965
    Abstract: A process for ethane extraction from a gas stream based on turboexpansion and fractionation with no mechanical refrigeration is provided. The feed gas is sweetened and dehydrated by a conventional amine process and by a molecular sieve unit, to remove carbon dioxide and water. After this pretreatment, the feed gas undergoes to a series of cooling steps through a cryogenic brazed aluminum heat exchanger and fed to a demethanizer column. A stream rich in methane is recovered from the top of this column and fed to a centrifugal compressor and subsequently routed to a booster/turboexpander. The temperature of the methane gas is greatly reduced by the expansion allowing the cooled methane stream to be a cooling source for cryogenic heat exchanger. Feed for a de-ethanizer column comes from the bottom liquids of the de-methanizer column. Ethane is recovered overhead at the de-ethanizer column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Inelectra S.A.
    Inventors: Filippo Pironti, Jorge Vincentelli
  • Patent number: 6737557
    Abstract: A process for recovering DCPD from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising introducing the hydrocarbon feedstock to a first column, recovering an overhead stream from the first column comprising C9− hydrocarbons, recovering a bottom stream from the first column comprising C10+ hydrocarbons, feeding the bottom stream from the first column to a second column, recovering an overhead stream from the second column comprising DCPD, and recovering a bottom stream from the second column comprising fuel oil, wherein the two columns are sized and operated at defined conditions such as pressures, temperatures, reflux rates, and reboil rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Tin-Tack Peter Cheung, Steven A. Owen, Marvin M. Johnson, Mark E. Lashier
  • Patent number: 6726835
    Abstract: Savings in the processing of a naphtha boiling range feed containing a thiophene are achieved by fractionating the feed stream in a single dividing wall column to yield a C6-minus overhead stream, a side-draw containing the majority of the C6 and C7 paraffins and olefins, and a bottoms stream comprising C7 and heavier hydrocarbons. A dividing wall column provides better control of the concentration of both thiophene and toluene in the side-draw. Less of the valuable naphtha is lost and the amount of thiophene in the overhead product is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gavin P. Towler, Michael A. Schultz
  • Patent number: 6723231
    Abstract: Process to separate propene from gaseous fluid catalytic cracking products by performing the following steps: a) separating a feed mixture comprising the gaseous products, propene and other saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons obtained in a fluid catalytic cracking process into a hydrocarbon-rich liquid fraction and a hydrogen containing gaseous fraction, b) separating the hydrogen containing gaseous fraction into a hydrogen-rich gaseous fraction and a hydrocarbon-rich gaseous fraction by means of a membrane separation, c) supplying the hydrocarbon-rich gaseous fraction obtained in step (b) to an absorber section and obtaining in said absorber section a lower boiling fraction rich in gaseous products having a boiling point of ethane or below and supplying the hydrocarbon-rich liquid fraction obtained in step (a) to a stripper section and obtaining in said stripper section a higher boiling fraction comprising propene and hydrocarbons having a boiling point higher than ethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eduard Rudolf Geus, John William Harris, Johan Jan Barend Pek
  • Publication number: 20040040893
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for stripping a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising: heating the feedstock forming a vapor stream and a liquid stream, separating the vapor stream from the liquid stream and then stripping the liquid stream with a counter-current flow of a gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventor: Harold R. Hunt
  • Publication number: 20040011707
    Abstract: A process for the fractional distillation of crude oil, which comprises the steps of: feeding a continuous current of crude oil at 310-400° C. into a turbomixer comprising a tubular cylindrical body (1) provided with a rotor (9) formed with helically oriented paddles (10) and rotatably supported inside the body, along with a continuous current of steam; subjecting both currents to the mechanical action of the paddled rotor (9), so as to create a thin tubular dynamic turbulent layer, which is discharged and fed continuously into a fractioning column, at a predetermined height level in the column, to produce an upward-flowing vapor current and a downward-flowing liquid current therein; and optionally discharging the downward-flowing liquid current continuously from the column bottom, and feeding it continuously into the turbomixer in the same direction as the crude oil current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventor: Giuseppina Cerea
  • Publication number: 20040011706
    Abstract: A process is proposed for the separation of C5+ cuts by distillation into a low-boiler (A), a medium-boiler (B) and a high-boiler fraction (C) in one or more dividing-wall columns (TK), in which a dividing wall (T) is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the column with formation of an upper, common column region (1), a lower, common column region (6), a feed part (2, 4) with rectifying section (2) and stripping section (4), and a withdrawal part (3, 5) with rectifying section (5) and stripping section (3), with feed of the C5+ cut (A, B, C) into the central region of the feed part (2, 4), discharge of the high-boiler fraction (C) from the bottom of the column, discharge of the low-boiler fraction (A) via the top of the column, and discharge of the medium-boiler fraction (B) from the central region of the withdrawal part (3, 5), wherein the dividing ratio of the liquid reflux at the upper end of the dividing wall (T) is set in such a way that the proportion of high-boiling key components in the
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Gerd Kaibel, Carsten Oost, Manfred Stroezel, Gerald Meyer, Peter Trubenbach, Karl-Heinz Sartor, Jurgen Heners
  • Publication number: 20030221995
    Abstract: Distillation is done by boiling, then cooling the vapor. If we decrease the pressure in the tube of distillation, We can have boiling at lower temperature and a rise of few degrees will boil the substance (crude oil, alcohol, salt water, etc . . . ) and turn it into vapor, then cooling by few degrees lead to the distilled substance (gas, alcohol, fresh water, etc . . .
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventor: Hanna Albert Awad
  • Publication number: 20030205506
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed that relate generally to a process for reducing harmful or unwanted emissions during the production of asphalt, such as blue smoke. The process includes the introduction of a pump around of the wax oil fraction for re-introduction into the vacuum tower. Additional desirable features include stripping trays below the wax oil collection tray and the feed zone. The result is to produce an asphalt product that creates less blue smoke in the hot mix plant. Another desirable feature is that a product can be created that meets Performance Grade specifications with the addition of polymers or other additives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Kenneth Hucker, Sanford P. Brass
  • Publication number: 20030158458
    Abstract: A processing method and system for separating methane-rich and ethane-rich components from an LNG stream. The LNG stream is preheated against a distillation column overhead vapor stream and against an overhead vapor product prior to entering the column. The overhead vapor product is methane-rich. The LNG stream may further be preheated against the column bottoms and another heating medium. The method may also include compressing the methane-rich product, condensing it against the LNG stream, and pumping it. The system may also comprise third and fourth heat exchangers configured to preheat the LNG stream with the bottoms product and the heating medium. Further, the system may provide for compressing the overhead vapor product prior to the its exchanging heat with the LNG stream and a pump for pumping condensed overhead vapor product. Additionally, the system generates all of the required reflux by cross exchanging the column overhead with the incoming LNG stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventor: Eric Prim
  • Patent number: 6590132
    Abstract: The process disclosed separates light olefins from heavy oligomers in a distillation column with an intermediary having a boiling point between the light olefin and the heavy oligomer in the column feed. The invention contemplates separating C4 hydrocarbons from C8 hydrocarbons in an effluent from an oligomerization reactor. The effluent includes or is supplemented with an intermediary that can include C5 hydrocarbon, C6 hydrocarbon or mixtures of both. Consequently, the bottoms reboiler temperature can be lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Bipin V. Vora
  • Publication number: 20030116474
    Abstract: Savings in the processing of a naphtha boiling range feed containing a thiophene are achieved by fractionating the feed stream in a single dividing wall column to yield a C6-minus overhead stream, a side-draw containing the majority of the C6 and C7 paraffins and olefins, and a bottoms stream comprising C7 and heavier hydrocarbons. A dividing wall column provides better control of the concentration of both thiophene and toluene in the side-draw. Less of the valuable naphtha is lost and the amount of thiophene in the overhead product is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Gavin P. Towler, Michael A. Schultz
  • Patent number: 6576805
    Abstract: The invention relates to a new process for more efficient separation and recovery of light olefins such as ethylene and propylene from a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The new process invention for recovering olefins from a mixture of cracked hydrocarbons from a fluid catalytic cracker comprises the steps of: (a) providing a mixture of cracked hydrocarbons including methane, ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane, butylene, butane and heavier hydrocarbons such as naphtha produced in a fluid catalytic cracker; (b) separating said mixture into (i) a first stream comprising substantially all of said ethane, ethylene, and methane and a major portion of said propane and propylene and (ii) a second stream comprising a portion of said butylene and butane, and a major portion of said heavier hydrocarbons; and (c) processing said first stream to recover the ethylene and propylene therefrom, and the details of such process described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Process Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ginger S. Keady, Juan Puerto, Berj Garbouchian
  • Patent number: 6552242
    Abstract: Fractional distillation performed to recover butane used as a desorbent component for adsorptive separation is integrated with the other fractionation of the raffinate stream of a C5-C6 paraffin adsorptive separation zone. A single fractionation column is employed to recover the desorbent butane, a highly branched paraffin product stream and a mono-branched paraffin rich recycle stream, thus reducing the cost of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Lynn H. Rice
  • Patent number: 6540907
    Abstract: Savings in the processing of a naphtha boiling range feed containing a thiophene are achieved by fractionating the feed stream in a single dividing wall column to yield a C6-minus overhead stream, a side-draw containing the majority of the C6 and C7 paraffins and olefins, and a bottoms stream comprising C7 and heavier hydrocarbons. A dividing wall column provides better control of the concentration of both thiophene and toluene in the side-draw. Less of the valuable naphtha is lost and the amount of thiophene in the overhead product is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gavin P. Towler, Michael A. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20030029778
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device for introducing a liquid-vapor mixture into a radial feed cylindrical fractionating column (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: TOTAL RAFFINAGE DISTRIBUTION S.A.
    Inventor: Denis Vedrine
  • Patent number: 6483002
    Abstract: Construction and operational costs of simulated moving bed adsorptive separation process units are reduced by recovering desorbent from both the extract and raffinate streams of the process in a single column. Both streams are fractionated to recover desorbent, which is removed at one end of a dividing wall column, while separate extract and raffinate products are removed from the other end of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Dennis E. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20020112993
    Abstract: A method of reducing the amount of energy required to fractionate a liquid hydrocarbon fraction is disclosed. Rather than use a single liquid feed point for a distillation column, the liquid feed is split into an upper feed portion and a lower feed portion. The lower feed portion is preheated to produce a vapor rich feed to a lower feed portion of the column, while charging, as a liquid, the remaining feed to an upper feed location at least one theoretical stage above the normal, single feed point location. Splitting the feed in this way reduces the total amount of heat required to reboil the column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Frank Paul Puglisi
  • Publication number: 20020095062
    Abstract: Process and installation for separation of a gas mixture, and gases obtained by this installation. The present invention pertains to a process and an installation for cryogenic separation of the constituents of a natural gas under pressure (14) by a first phase separator (B1) in which the constituents of each phase are separated in a distillation column (C1). Part of the gaseous fraction (5) from the top of the column (C1) is recycled into the highest stage of the column. The process also includes branching (9) of part of a first top fraction (3) from the first phase separator. The process also includes separation of a first bottom fraction (4) from the first separator, in a second separator (B2). Other modes of embodiment are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: TECHNIP-COFLEXIP
    Inventor: Henri Paradowski
  • Patent number: 6395951
    Abstract: Construction and operational costs of recovering the extract or raffinate product of a simulated moving bed adsorptive separation process units are reduced by employing a dividing wall column to perform the separation. The raffinate or extract stream is passed into the column at an intermediate point on the first side of the dividing wall, with the column delivering the adsorptive separation product as a sidedraw from the opposite side of the dividing wall. A stream of co-adsorbed impurity is removed as an overhead stream and desorbent is recovered as a net bottoms stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: David A Hamm
  • Publication number: 20020053531
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed that relate generally to a process for reducing harmful or unwanted emissions during the production of asphalt, such as blue smoke. The process includes the introduction of a pump around of the wax oil fraction for re-introduction into the vacuum tower. Additional desirable features include stripping trays below the wax oil collection tray and the feed zone. The result is to produce an asphalt product that creates less blue smoke in the hot mix plant. Another desirable feature is that a product can be created that meets Performance Grade specifications with the addition of polymers or other additives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventors: Kenneth Hucker, Sanford P. Brass
  • Patent number: 6358399
    Abstract: A process and a device for separating ethane and ethylene from a hydrocarbon steam-cracking effluent is described. Effluent (1) is absorbed in an absorption column (7) by a cooled solvent (9). At the bottom of the column, liquid phase (12) that contains the solvent and the C2+ hydrocarbons is recovered and hydrogenated (15). The hydrogenation effluent that contains the solvent is introduced into a first distillation column (70) where the solvent is regenerated. The solvent is cooled and recycled at the top of absorption column (7). The C2+ hydrocarbons are collected at the top, and a condensed liquid phase is distilled in a second distillation column (77) to recover a C2 fraction that consists of ethane and ethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Institute Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Ari Minkkinen, Jean-Hervé Le Gal, Pierre Marache
  • Patent number: 6348637
    Abstract: Construction and operational costs of simulated moving bed adsorptive separation process units are reduced by recovering desorbent from both the extract and raffinate streams of the process in a single column. Both streams are fractionated in the same column to recover desorbent, which is removed at the bottom of the column. The bottom of the column is divided into a reboiler sump section and a bottoms product-desorbent inventory section, with this reducing the equipment required in the overall process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: James W. Harris
  • Patent number: 6340429
    Abstract: A process for separating ethane and ethylene from a hydrocarbon steam-cracking effluent is described. Effluent (1) is absorbed in an absorption column by a cooled solvent (9). At the bottom of the column, the liquid phase that contains the solvent and the C2+ hydrocarbons is recovered and hydrogenated (15). The hydrogenation effluent that contains the solvent is introduced into a first distillation column (16). Ethane-ethylene mixture (17) is drawn off laterally from the column, and a phase (19) that contains the solvent and hydrocarbons with at least 3 carbon atoms is drawn off at the bottom of the column. This phase (19) is separated in a second distillation column (22), and C3+ hydrocarbons and, at the bottom of the column, regenerated solvent (26) that is cooled and that is recycled (9, 52) in the absorption column are collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Ari Minkkinen, Jean-Hervé Le Gal, Pierre Marache
  • Publication number: 20010045377
    Abstract: A novel process for the production of an extract useful as a process oil and a raffinate useful as a high-viscosity base oil by solvent refining is provided, characterized in that reduced pressure distillation is effected under the condition that the end point of distillate is 580° C. or higher as calculated in terms of atmospheric pressure or the initial boiling point of the residue is 450° C. or higher as calculated in terms of atmospheric pressure, the resulting residual oil is deasphalted under the condition that the carbon residue content in the deasphalted oil reached 1.6% or less, and the resulting deasphalted oil is subjected to solvent refining under the condition that the yield of extract is from 35% to 60%. It is a novel and economically excellent process for the preparation of a rubber process oil having a high safety, a high penetrating power with respect to rubber polymer and the content of PCA extract of less than 3%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Morishima, Kenji Fujino
  • Publication number: 20010032804
    Abstract: The present invention relates to fractionation improvements. Thus, in a fractionator having a fractionation vessel, a reactor effluent vapors inlet, a vapor feed contacting zone, a baffled contacting section above the vapor feed contacting zone, a tops section above the baffled contacting section, a heavy bottoms liquid hold-up pool section below the vapor feed contacting zone, a bottoms outlet, a bottoms recycle system with a heat exchanger with recycled, cooled bottoms fed back to the fractionation vessel at the heavy bottoms liquid hold-up pool section and above the vapor feed contacting zone, the improvements involve a separate remotely located bottoms liquid hold-up pool vessel for separating bottoms liquid holdup from vapor within the fractionation vessel to obtain a thermal separation and increased fractionation efficiency. The invention also relates to fractionation processes utilizing the aforesaid improvements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Applicant: Becht Engineering Company Inc.
    Inventor: William Lockett
  • Patent number: 6291734
    Abstract: An integrated debutanizer and low pressure depropanizer column and process for separating a feed stream comprising C3's, C4's and C5+ is disclosed. A single shell houses a refluxed upper portion and a lower portion of the column. A generally vertical wall partitions the lower portion of the column into a debutanizer section and a depropanizer stripper section. The upper column portion is used as the absorption section of the depropanizer. The feed is supplied to an intermediate stage in the debutanizer, and the debutanizer is operated at a lower pressure (and correspondingly lower temperature) matching that of the low pressure depropanizer. The design allows the use of one slightly larger column in place of the two large columns previously used for separate debutanization and low pressure depropanization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl Stork
  • Patent number: 6271433
    Abstract: The invention relates to a new process for more efficient separation and recovery of light olefins such as ethylene and propylene from a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The new process invention for recovering olefins from a mixture of cracked hydrocarbons from a fluid catalytic cracker comprises the steps of: (a) providing a mixture of cracked hydrocarbons including methane, ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane, butylene, butane and heavier hydrocarbons such as naphtha produced in a fluid catalytic cracker; (b) separating said mixture into (i) a first stream comprising substantially all of said ethane, ethylene, and methane and a major portion of said propane and propylene and (ii) a second stream comprising a portion of said butylene and butane, and a major portion of said heavier hydrocarbons; and (c) processing said first stream to recover the ethylene and propylene therefrom, and the details of such process described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Ginger S. Keady, Juan Puerto, Berj Garbouchian
  • Patent number: 6238549
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for converting a hydrocarbon feed in which said feed is treated in a distillation zone producing an overhead vapor distillate and a bottom effluent, associated with an at least partially external reaction zone comprising at least one catalytic bed, in which at least one reaction for converting at least a portion of at least one hydrocarbon is carried out in the presence of a catalyst and a gas stream comprising hydrogen, the feed for the reaction zone being drawn off at the height of at least one draw-off level and representing at least a portion of the liquid flowing in the distillation zone, at least part of the effluent from the reaction zone being re-introduced into the distillation zone at the height of at least one re-introduction level, so as to ensure continuity of the distillation, said process being characterized in that at least a portion of the vapor distillate is re-contacted with at least a portion of the feed introduced into the distillation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Charles Viltard, Jean-Louis Ambrosino, Blaise Didillon
  • Patent number: 6193849
    Abstract: A fractionator has a fractionation vessel, a reactor effluent vapors inlet, a vapor feed contacting zone, a baffled contacting section above the vapor feed contacting zone, a tops section above the baffled contacting section, a heavy bottoms liquid hold-up pool section below the vapor feed contacting zone, a bottoms outlet, a bottoms recycle system with a heat exchanger. Recycled, cooled bottoms is fed back to the fractionation vessel at the heavy bottoms liquid hold-up pool section and above the vapor feed contacting zone. The improvements involve providing a separation tray and downpipe for separating cooler bottoms liquid from hotter product vapors within the fractionation vessel: to avoid condensation and absorption of product vapors by the liquid pool; to have more rapid and uniform quenching of hot liquid entering the pool; and substantially reduce costly onstream maintenance to clean fouled bottoms recycle exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Inventor: William Lockett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6175049
    Abstract: The production of 1,2-butadiene in purities of at least 85% becomes possible by means of a process in which a polymerization-inhibitor-containing C4 hydrocarbon fraction is subjected to at least one fractional distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: EC Erdolchemie GmbH
    Inventors: Arnd St{umlaut over (u)}we, J{umlaut over (u)}rgen Linnemann, Jens Herwig, Christian Gabel, Bernd Hohmann, Joachim Grub
  • Patent number: 6110325
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided in which a vaporizer vaporizes a liquid feed for introduction to a feed conversion unit such as a steam active reformer. A condenser condenses vaporized feed from the vaporizer when introduction of feed to the feed conversion unit is stopped. Condensed, liquid feed is passed back into the vaporizer and is conserved rather than going to flare.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Krupp UHDE GmbH
    Inventor: Martin K. Lyons
  • Patent number: 6039771
    Abstract: An energy fortified diesel fuel is provided containing a hydrocarbon additive wherein greater than 50% vaporizes at or above about 650.degree. F. and diesel fuel of which about 90% of the diesel fuel vaporizes at or below about 640.degree. F. or about 95% of the diesel fuel vaporizes at or below about 698.degree. F. This energy fortified diesel fuel is made by distilling a heavy hydrocarbon fraction such as slurry oil or heavy cycle oil obtained from an FCC unit or a heavy hydrocarbon fraction obtained from a steam cracker unit at a temperature of between about 500 and 750.degree. F. and at a pressure of between about 1 mm Hg and 10 psig to remove contaminants, removing distillate from this distillation, and mixing the distillate with diesel fuel, wherein about 90% of the diesel fuel vaporizes at or below about 640.degree. F. or about 95% of the diesel fuel vaporizes at or below about 698.degree. F., to form an energy fortified diesel fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: KRC-GP, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Selvidge, Dennis A. Vauk
  • Patent number: 6027634
    Abstract: A petroleum derived oil is subjected to propane deasphalting to yield a solid asphaltene residue. The residue is crushed to 425 micron diameter particle or less at a crushing temperature in the range of 77.degree. F. to 122.degree. F. The asphaltene particles are suspended in a residual petroleum oil emulsion. The resulting suspension comprises 5 wt % to 40 wt % asphaltene particles. The 40 wt % asphaltene suspensions are boiler fuel. The 5 wt % asphaltene suspensions are gasified with a deficit of oxygen to produce synthesis gas. The suspensions are stable and transportable by pumping through a pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Shailaja Madhusudhan Shirodkar, Ronald James McKeon
  • Patent number: 5961815
    Abstract: The hydroconversion of heavy petroliferous stocks boiling mainly above 400.degree. F. is carried out in a distillation column reactor where concurrently a petroleum stream is fed into a feed zone; hydrogen is fed at a point below said feed zone; the petroleum stream is distilled and contacted in the presence of a cracking catalyst prepared in the form of a catalytic distillation structure at total pressure of less than about 300 psig and a hydrogen partial pressure in the range of 1.0 to less than 70 psia and a temperature in the range of 400 to 1000.degree. F. whereby a portion of the petroleum stream is cracked to lighter products boiling below the boiling point of the feed and products are distilled to remove a vaporous overhead stream comprising products mainly boiling below the boiling point of the feed and a liquid bottoms stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hickey, Dennis Hearn, Hugh M. Putman
  • Patent number: 5951853
    Abstract: In an atmospheric pipestill stripping process where steam is utilized as the stripping gas to strip bottoms and side stream products, the improvement comprising utilizing ammonia or a ammonia and steam mixture as said stripping gas wherein when an ammonia and steam mixture is utilized the ratio of ammonia to steam is about 0.1:1 to about 100:1. In a refinery atmospheric pipestill stripping process utilizing a stripping gas, said process comprising utilizing a gas selected from the group consisting of ammonia and a mixture of ammonia and steam as said stripping gas wherein when an ammonia and steam mixture is utilized the ratio of ammonia to steam is about 0.1:1 to about 100:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: David W. Savage, Guido Sartori
  • Patent number: 5876591
    Abstract: A process for fractionating a heavy hydrocarbon stream to produce a lube oil fraction having a constant, predetermined flash point. A liquid stream is removed from the fractionator, cooled in response to a fractionator top temperature and returned to the fractionator above the original draw point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Steven P. Lankton
  • Patent number: 5847249
    Abstract: A process for selectively treating the components in a multi-component stream in a distillation column reactor. Additional catalytic distillation structures are placed as a secondary bed in the distillation column, either above or below the primary bed, and the selected component withdrawn after reaction in the primary bed to prevent its entry into the secondary bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventor: Mario J. Maraschino