With Liquid Present Patents (Class 422/140)
  • Patent number: 8753577
    Abstract: Processing scheme and arrangement for increasing the relative yield of light olefins involves integration of the cracking a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock to produce an effluent comprising a range of hydrocarbon products including C4-C7 olefins and the subsequent cracking at least a portion of the C4-C7 olefins to produce additional light olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Joseph E. Zimmermann, Charles P. Luebke, John B. Baker
  • Publication number: 20140161712
    Abstract: A low-temperature graphite manufacturing method and a system thereof are disclosed. A graphite cast iron smelting manufacturing technique is used for melting a cast iron, for forming a cast iron melt. A graphitizing agent, a nucleating agent, and a spheroidizing agent are continuously added into the cast iron melt, for making the carbon powder be graphitized and spheroidized. Within the cast iron melt, the amounts of the carbon, the graphitizing agent, the nucleating agent, and the spheroidized agent are adjusted for making the spheroidal graphite be able to continuously float out of the cast iron melt. After that, by using gas blowing and electrostatic dust removal, the powdered graphite can be collected. At last, the gases are recycled and the collected powdered graphite is purified by acid pickling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventor: Swe-Kai CHEN
  • Patent number: 8735639
    Abstract: The present process provides a method for converting an oxygenate-containing feed stream to an olefin-containing product stream. The method includes: (1) providing a first fluidized catalytic reactor for converting methanol to propylene, the first reactor having a fluidized catalyst system comprising a first catalyst and a second catalyst; (2) providing a second fluidized catalytic reactor communicating with the first fluidized catalytic reactor for cracking heavy olefins having four carbon atoms or greater into propylene, the second reactor having the fluidized catalyst system; (3) providing an oxygenate containing feed to the first reactor; and (4) fluidizing the catalyst system with the oxygenate containing feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Andrea G. Bozzano, Bryan K. Glover, Peter R. Pujado
  • Publication number: 20140134058
    Abstract: Distillate cracks to propylene more readily than VGO. Additionally, less branched hydrocarbons crack to propylene more readily than more branched hydrocarbons. Oligomerization to diesel range oligomers followed by catalytic cracking with less branched oligomers can provide more propylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Nicholas, Christian D. Freet, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Todd M. Kruse
  • Patent number: 8721974
    Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a process, comprising: conducting unit operations in at least two process zones in a process microchannel to treat and/or form a non-Newtonian fluid, a different unit operation being conducted in each process zone; and applying an effective amount of shear stress to the non-Newtonian fluid to reduce the viscosity of the non-Newtonian fluid in each process zone, the average shear rate in one process zone differing from the average shear rate in another process zone by a factor of at least about 1.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Ravi Arora, David Kilanowski, Eric Daymo
  • Publication number: 20140115952
    Abstract: A process for converting a biomass comprising contacting the biomass with a catalytic cracking catalyst at a temperature of more than 400° C. in a catalytic cracking reactor to produce a product stream containing one or more cracked products and supplying a biomass to the reactor via a feed nozzle having a feed nozzle outlet located between a first section and a second section of the reactor and downstream of an opening of a catalyst supply pipe connected to the first section, wherein the second section comprises a fluid connection to and located downstream of the first section, the second section having an inner diameter which decreases in a downstream direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Gang WANG, Jinsen GAO, Yantao BI
  • Patent number: 8702972
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the separation of solids from gases in a mixture which is most particularly applicable to an FCC apparatus. The mixture of solids and gases are passed through a conduit and exit through a swirl arm that imparts a swirl motion having a first annular direction to centripetally separate the heavier solids from the lighter gases. The mixture then enters a gas recovery conduit in which at least one plate radially extending from an inner wall impedes rotational motion of the mixture. The mixture enters cyclones at the other end of the gas recovery conduit without substantial swirling motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Lacijan, Hadjira Iddir
  • Publication number: 20140093433
    Abstract: A hydroprocessing system involves introducing heavy oil and in situ formed metal sulfide catalyst particles, or a catalyst precursor capable of forming metal sulfide catalyst particles in situ within the heavy oil, into a hydroprocessing reactor. The metal sulfide catalyst particles are formed in situ 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 metal sulfide catalyst particles in situ in the heavy oil. The in situ formed 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: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: HEADWATERS HEAVY OIL, LLC
    Inventors: Roger K. Lott, Lap Keung Lee
  • Patent number: 8673225
    Abstract: A composite continuous countercurrent fluidized moving bed (FMB) and/or expanded moving bed (EMB) may be used for carrying out processes of recovery, purification or reaction of single or multiple component/s of interest, by contacting liquid phase containing the component/s with a solid adsorbent in continuous countercurrent mode. The net movement of the solids is against the liquid, flowing in upward direction through stages/columns, and sedimenting solids from the one stage/column are continuously fed to the top of another stage/column placed below or alongside of previous stage/column; and also operating in fluidized/expanded bed mode, wherein its countercurrent contact with up-flowing liquid is carried out. A system described herein may include a number of stages/columns. The FMB/EMB system can be used in processes for continuous recovery, purifications or reactions of various products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: DBT-ICT Centre for Energy Biosciences
    Inventors: Arvind Mallinath Lali, Sandeep Bhaskar Kale, Vinod Dinkar Pakhale, Yogeshwar Narayanrao Thakare
  • Publication number: 20130343956
    Abstract: A system and method of cracking hydrocarbon feedstocks is provided that allows for significant flexibility in terms of the desired product yield. An integrated process includes introducing the feedstock and hydrogen into a first hydrocracking reaction zone containing a first hydrocracking catalyst to produce a first zone effluent. The first zone effluent is passed to a fractionating zone to produce at least a low boiling fraction and a high boiling fraction, and optionally one or more intermediate fractions. The bottoms fraction is conveyed to a fluidized catalytic cracking reaction and separation zone, from which olefins and gasoline are recovered. At least a portion of remaining cycle oil is passed from the fluidized catalytic cracking reaction and separation zone to a second hydrocracking reaction zone containing a second hydrocracking catalyst to produce a second stage effluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Musaed Muhammad AL-THUBAITI, Ali Mahmood AL-SOMALI, Omer Refa KOSEOGLU
  • Publication number: 20130341245
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon upgrading method is described. The method can generally include a step of providing a nozzle reactor, a step of injecting hydrocarbon residuum into the feed passage of the nozzle reactor, and a step of injecting a cracking material into the main passage of the nozzle reactor, and a step of collecting a product stream exiting the exit opening of the main passage of the nozzle reactor. The hydrocarbon residuum used in the method can be obtained from a hydroconversion-type upgrader, such as an ebullating bed hydrocracker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: MARATHON OIL CANADA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jose Armando Salazar-Guillen, Mahendra Joshi, Dominic J. Zelnik
  • Publication number: 20130338418
    Abstract: A direct catalytic cracking system for converting undistilled and unfractionated hydrocarbon material into hydrocarbon products, which include light olefins and C6-8 aromatics. The direct catalytic cracking system includes a moving catalyst bed reactor having one or more catalytic reaction zones and configured to regulate its internal temperature. The direct catalytic cracking system also includes a catalyst regeneration system. A method for converting undistilled and unfractionated hydrocarbon material into hydrocarbon products using the direct catalytic cracking system. The process includes the step of introducing a moving bed reactor feed comprising steam and undistilled and unfractionated hydrocarbon material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Wei Xu, Ibrahim A. Abba
  • Publication number: 20130327682
    Abstract: Method and plant for converting hydrocarbon feedstock comprising a shale oil, comprising a step of decontaminating, a step of hydroconverting in an ebullating bed, a step of fractionating into a light fraction, a naphtha fraction, a gas-oil fraction and a fraction heavier than the gas-oil fraction, the naphtha and gas-oil fractions being hydrotreated, the fraction heavier than the gas-oil fraction being conveyed to the decontaminating step. The method aims to maximize the yield of fuel bases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicants: AXENS, TOTAL RAFFINAGE MARKETING
    Inventors: Christophe Halais, Helene Leroy, Frederic Morel, Cecile Plain
  • Patent number: 8603406
    Abstract: An apparatus and process are presented for drying a catalyst in a reactor-regenerator system. The process includes a continuous operating system with catalyst circulating between a reactor and regenerator, and the catalyst is dried before returning the catalyst to the reactor. The process uses air that is split between the drying stage and the combustion stage without adding equipment outside of the regenerator, minimizing energy, capital cost, and space requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David N. Myers, Daniel N. Myers, Paolo Palmas, Laura E. Leonard, Wolfgang A. Spieker
  • Publication number: 20130319908
    Abstract: Method and plant for converting hydrocarbon feedstock comprising a shale oil, comprising a step of hydroconverting in an ebullating bed, a fractionation into a light fraction, a naphtha fraction, a gas-oil fraction and a fraction heavier than gas-oil, the naphtha and gas oil fraction being hydrotreated, the fraction heavier than gas oil being hydrocracked, the products of the hydrocracking being sent to the step for hydrotreating. The method aims to maximize the yield of fuel bases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicants: AXENS, TOTAL RAFFINAGE MARKETING
    Inventors: Christophe Halais, Héléne Leroy, Frederic Morel, Cecille Plain
  • Patent number: 8586640
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon synthesis reaction apparatus which synthesizes a hydrocarbon compound by a chemical reaction of a synthesis gas including hydrogen and carbon monoxide as the main components, and a slurry having solid catalyst particles suspended in a liquid, the hydrocarbon synthesis reaction apparatus is provided with: a reactor which contains the slurry; a synthesis gas introduction part which introduces the synthesis gas into the reactor; and a synthesis gas heating part which is provided in the synthesis gas introduction part to heat the synthesis gas introduced into the reactor to the decomposition temperature of carbonyl compounds or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    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: Yasuhiro Onishi, Eiichi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20130288889
    Abstract: A visible light sensitive photocatalyst including: a composite including a first metal oxide, a second metal oxide, and a heterojunction therebetween, wherein the first and second metal oxides each include a Group 11 metal, wherein a first bond between metal atoms of the first metal oxide has a length that is smaller than a Van der Waals distance between the metals of the first bond, wherein a second bond between metal atoms of the second metal oxide has a length that is smaller than a Van der Waals distance between the metals of the second bond, and, wherein the composite has a band gap energy of about 1.0 eV to about 2.5 eV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae-gon KIM, Seoung-jae IM, Tae-hyung KIM, Jeong-hee LEE
  • Patent number: 8569386
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon synthesis reaction apparatus which synthesizes a hydrocarbon compound by a chemical reaction of a synthesis gas including a hydrogen and a carbon monoxide as the main components, and a slurry having solid catalyst particles suspended in a liquid, the apparatus is provided with: a reactor in which the synthesis gas contacts with the slurry; and an unreacted gas supply device which draws unreacted gas from the reactor, then pressurizes the unreacted gas, and supplies the unreacted gas to a constituent device which constitutes the hydrocarbon synthesis reaction apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    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: Yasuhiro Onishi, Yuzuru Kato, Eiichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8569387
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon compound synthesis reaction unit which synthesizes a hydrocarbon compound by a chemical reaction of a synthesis gas including a hydrogen and a carbon monoxide as the main components, and a slurry having a solid catalyst suspended in liquid hydrocarbons, the hydrocarbon compound synthesis reaction unit is provided with: a reactor which contains the slurry inside, into which the synthesis gas is introduced, and from which the gas after the reaction is discharged from the top thereof; an internal separation device provided inside the reactor to separate the catalyst and the synthesized liquid hydrocarbons in the slurry; and an external separation device provided outside the reactor to separate the catalyst and the liquid hydrocarbons in the slurry which is extracted from the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    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: Yasuhiro Onishi, Yuzuru Kato, Eiichi Yamada, Atsushi Murata, Osamu Wakamura, Kentarou Morita
  • Publication number: 20130267747
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi staged cracking and stripping process that can be used in a fluidized-bed catalytic cracking process or FCC (fluidized catalytic cracking) process for maximizing the production of olefins, that is to say of C3 and C4 olefins, in particular propylene and distillates. One subject of the present invention is therefore a multi-staged process for cracking and stripping a fluidized mixture of hydrocarbons and of coked catalyst particles, integrated into a conventional fluidized-bed catalytic cracking process comprising at least one cracking step and one stripping step after separation of the particles of coked catalyst from the cracked effluent during the disengaging/stripping step, characterized in that it comprises at least two steps of cracking at least one hydrocarbonaceous fluid over the separated coked catalyst particles followed by at least two steps of stripping these particles, each cracking step preceding a stripping step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: TOTAL RAFFINAGE MARKETING
    Inventors: Patrick Leroy, Marc Bories, Michaël Echard
  • Publication number: 20130233765
    Abstract: A hydrocracking system is upgraded by modifying an existing ebullated bed initially utilizing a supported ebullated bed catalyst to thereafter utilize a dual catalyst system that includes metal sulfide catalyst particles and supported ebullated bed catalyst. The upgraded hydrocracking system achieves at least one of: (1) hydroprocess lower quality heavy oil; (2) increase conversion of higher boiling hydrocarbons that boil at 524° C. (975° F.) or higher; (3) reduce the concentration of supported ebullated bed catalyst required to operate an ebullated bed reactor at a given conversion level; and/or (4) proportionally convert the asphaltene fraction in heavy oil at the same conversion level as the heavy oil as a whole. The metal sulfide catalyst may include colloidal or molecular catalyst particles less than 1 micron in size and formed in situ within the heavy oil using a catalyst precursor well-mixed within the heavy oil and decomposed to form catalyst particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: Roger K. Lott, Lap Keung Lee
  • Patent number: 8524160
    Abstract: A catalyst separation system is provided with: a reactor where hydrocarbons are synthesized by a chemical reaction of a synthesis gas including carbon monoxide gas and hydrogen gas as main components, and a catalyst slurry having solid catalyst particles suspended in a liquid; filters which separate the hydrocarbons and the catalyst slurry; and a gas-liquid separator which separates the liquid hydrocarbons flowing out of the filter into gas hydrocarbons and liquid hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    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: Yasuhiro Onishi, Eiichi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20130225395
    Abstract: Systems and methods for storing and handling slurries are provided. The surge drum system for storing a slurry can include a storage vessel having a first end, a second end, and at least one wall surrounding an internal volume between the first and second ends. The system can also include a slurry inlet and a slurry outlet, both in fluid communication with the internal volume. A recirculation inlet can be in fluid communication with the internal volume at the first end of the storage vessel. The system can also include a pump having a suction line in fluid communication with the outlet. A discharge line of the pump can be in fluid communication with an outlet valve and a recirculation valve that can be in fluid communication with the recirculation inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: KELLOGG BROWN & ROOT LLC
    Inventor: Gary L. Mason
  • Patent number: 8512644
    Abstract: A power generation system for converting organic material into thermal energy and electric power. A reaction of organic material with supercritical water, —OH radicals, and muon methyl radicals are released from a catalytic bed of silica particles in suspended initially transform the organic material into thermal energy. A Nano monomolecular film located on an interior surface of the reaction chamber interacts with plasma formed by conversion of the organic material into thermal energy to produce ion plasma electromagnetic energy. One or more magnetic-coil generators positioned adjacent to the reaction chamber interacts with the electromagnetic energy to produce electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas C. Maganas
  • Publication number: 20130195746
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, the silane and hydrogen (and inert gas) mixture is produced using catalytic gasification of silicon (or si-containing compounds including silicon alloys) with a hydrogen source such as hydrogen gas, atomic hydrogen and proton. By not separating silane from hydrogen and co-purifying all the gases (silane and hydrogen, inert gas) in the gas mixture simultaneously, the mixture is co-purified and then provide feed stock for downstream application without further diluting the silane gas. One aspect of the invention addresses the need for an improved production method, apparatus and composition for silane gas mixtures for large scale low cost manufacturing of high purity silicon and distributed on-site turnkey applications including but not limited to the manufacture of semiconductor integrated circuits, photovoltaic solar cells, LCD-flat panels and other electronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventor: Xi Chu
  • Publication number: 20130168289
    Abstract: This invention provides a fluidized catalytic cracking apparatus and process for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock containing higher concentrations of Conradson Carbon Residue (CCR), metal impurities, etc into lighter products by employing two riser reactors in which the feed impurities are removed using an adsorbent in a first riser reactor and cracking a portion of first riser reactor liquid product in a second riser reactor to lighter products using the active catalyst thus eliminating the catalyst deactivation due to metal, impurities and FCC catalyst activity dilution effect to achieve a better conversion and higher catalyst longevity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LTD.
    Inventors: G. Saidulu, M.K. Bhuyan, T.H.V.D. Prasad, Debasis Bhattacharyya, S. Rajagopal
  • Publication number: 20130172643
    Abstract: A two stage Fluid Catalytic Cracking process and an apparatus for simultaneous production of light olefins such as ethylene and propylene and middle distillate range hydrocarbons, wherein a first flow reactor, preferably a downer and a second flow reactor, preferably a riser are operating at varying reaction severities using different catalyst systems with the regenerated catalyst entering the reactors inlet through independent regenerators. Mild cracking of the fresh feedstock is carried out in the first flow reactor of short residence time and the effluent of first flow reactor is separated in an intermediate separator/fractionator followed by re-cracking of the C4 hydrocarbons and naphtha range hydrocarbons, preferably C5-150° C. from the second product separation section and unconverted hydrocarbons (370° C.+) of first flow reactor, in the second flow reactor at higher severity employing different catalyst system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LTD.
    Inventors: P.R. Pradeep, S. Mukthiyar, G. Saidulu, Debasis Bhattacharyya, V.K. Satheesh
  • Publication number: 20130165724
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process of alkylating aromatic hydrocarbons, and more particularly a process of making paraxylene by alkylation of benzene and/or toluene with methanol and/or dimethyl ether, and to an apparatus for carrying out said process, the improvement comprising staged injection of one of the reactants, with the stages separated by structured packing so as to minimize at least one of gas phase back-mixing, by-pass phenomena, and gas bubble size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: Lu Han, Rathna P. Davuluri, Christopher G. Smalley, Mark Hagemeister, Masaaki Sugita, Joseph S. Famolaro, Robert G. Tinger
  • Publication number: 20130161563
    Abstract: A method of gasification by introducing a feed material to be subjected to gasification into a dual fluidized bed gasifier comprising a pyrolyzer fluidly connected with a combustor such that a circulation stream comprising a heat transfer material can be continuously circulated between the pyrolyzer, in which the temperature of the circulation stream is reduced, and the combustor, in which the temperature of the circulation stream is increased, wherein the pyrolyzer is operable to convert at least a portion of the feed material into a gasifier product gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and wherein the combustor is operable to increase the temperature of the circulation stream via combustion of char introduced thereto with the circulation stream and at least one supplemental fuel. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Rentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Weibin JIANG, Bruce E. MCCOMISH, Bryan C. BORUM, Benjamin H. CARRYER, Mark D. IBSEN, Mark K. ROBERTSON, Eric R. ELROD, Sim WEEKS, Harold A. WRIGHT
  • Patent number: 8470250
    Abstract: A polyester production process employing an esterification system that utilizes a horizontally elongated esterification vessel as an esterification reactor and/or a vapor-liquid disengagement vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Grupo Petrotemex, S.A. DE C.V.
    Inventor: Bruce Roger DeBruin
  • Patent number: 8470251
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products. The heavy hydrocarbon feed is slurried with a particulate solid material to form a heavy hydrocarbon slurry and hydrocracked in a slurry hydrocracking unit to produce vacuum gas oil (VGO) and pitch. A first vacuum column separates VGO from pitch, and a second vacuum column further separates VGO from pitch. As much as 15 wt-% of VGO can be recovered by the second vacuum column and recycled to the slurry hydrocracking unit. A pitch composition is obtained which can be made into particles and transported without sticking together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, David N. Myers, Mark Van Wees, Paul R. Zimmerman, Ruth Buskus Kleinworth
  • Publication number: 20130126392
    Abstract: A system and process for conversion of heavy feedstocks in a slurry bed hydroprocessing reactor is provided in which (a) hydrogen gas is dissolved in the liquid feedstock by mixing and/or diffusion, (b) the mixture is flashed to remove and recover any light components and hydrogen, leaving a hydrogen-enriched feedstock. A homogenous and/or heterogeneous catalyst is added to the feedstock upstream of the inlet of the slurry bed hydroprocessing reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
  • Patent number: 8431081
    Abstract: Solvent extraction is used to remove wax and contaminants from an iron-based Fischer-Tropsch catalyst in a natural circulation continuous-flow system. The wax-free catalyst is then subjected to controlled oxidation to convert the iron to its initial oxidized state, Fe2O3. Reactivation of the oxide catalyst precursor is carried out by addition of synthesis gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Rentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Belma Demirel, Mark S. Bohn, Charles B. Benham, James E. Siebarth, Mark D. Ibsen
  • Publication number: 20130095018
    Abstract: An up-flow fluidized bed dry scrubber and a method of operating same. The scrubber includes up-flow reactors. The reactors receive an exhaust gas flow containing pollutants and each reactor includes one or more spray lances that inject a dry, powdered sorbent into the flow vertically onto material dispersion assemblies installed in the reactor and one or more dual-fluid spray lances with multiple spray nozzles that introduce humidification water into the flow in the reactor. The sorbent and the humidification water combine to create a fluidized sorbent bed in the flow when the flow is sufficient to suspend the fluidized sorbent bed in the reactor, in which pollutants react with the sorbent in the bed and are removed from the gas as the gas flows through the bed in the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventor: Herman W. Pilats
  • Patent number: 8420018
    Abstract: A gas hydrate production apparatus capable of reacting a raw gas with a raw water to thereby form a slurry gas hydrate and capable of removing water from the slurry gas hydrate by means of a gravitational dewatering unit. The gravitational dewatering unit is one including a cylindrical first tower body; a cylindrical dewatering part disposed on top of the first tower body; a water receiving part disposed outside the dewatering part; and a cylindrical second tower body disposed on top of the dewatering part, wherein the cross-sectional area of the second tower body is continuously or intermittently increased upward from the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Iwasaki, Takashi Arai, Kiyoshi Horiguchi, Akira Tokinosu
  • Publication number: 20130085310
    Abstract: A method for producing aromatic hydrocarbons, the method including: (a) bringing a feedstock oil such as an LCO into contact with an aromatic production catalyst to obtain a reaction product containing aromatic hydrocarbons, (b) separating the reaction product into a tower top fraction and a tower bottom fraction using a distillation tower, (c) separating the tower top fraction into a crude aromatic fraction containing an LPG fraction, and an off-gas containing hydrogen, (d) separating the crude aromatic fraction containing an LPG fraction into an LPG fraction and a crude aromatic fraction, (e) separating the off-gas containing hydrogen into hydrogen and an off-gas, and (f) using the hydrogen obtained in step (e) to hydrotreat the crude aromatic fraction, thereby obtaining an aromatic fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicants: JX NIPPON OIL & ENERGY CORPORATION, CHIYODA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Minami, Yoshishige Sugi, Atsushi Fukui, Atsuro Nagumo, Susumu Yasui, Shinichiro Yanagawa
  • Publication number: 20130084219
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved design and operation of a short contact time Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) Reactor wherein the upper internal riser and a lower internal riser are in fluid connection with one another and provide an improved disengaging zone for entraining the vapors from the dilute phase area of the FCC reactor. Detailed preferred embodiments include improvements over the prior art to the internal central riser, riser termination apparatus, cyclone separators, and a coke mitigation baffle system, as well as associated improved fluid catalytic cracking processes utilizing the novel reactor design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventor: Exxonmobil research and engineering company
  • Patent number: 8398340
    Abstract: A method of extracting the contents from the inside of a reactor kept at high temperature and high pressure includes the steps of introducing the contents of the reactor into a pipe having an internal space which communicates with the reactor, closing the pipe to enclose the contents in the internal space, removing unnecessary gas from the internal space, and supplying an inert gas to the internal space, thereby replacing the contents enclosed in the internal space with the inert gas. The contents are discharged from the internal space by replacing the contents enclosed in the internal space with the inert gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Engineering Co., Ltd., Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, Inpex Corporation, JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation, Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd., Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Onishi, Yuzuru Kato, Atsushi Murata, Eiichi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20130056393
    Abstract: The invention provides for a process and apparatus for simultaneous conversion of lighter and heavier hydrocarbon feedstocks into improved yields of light olefins in the range of C2 to C4, liquid aromatics in the range C6 to C8 mainly benzene, toluene, xylene and ethyl benzene and other useful products employing at least two different reactors operated in series with respect to catalyst flow and parallel with respect to feed flow under different regimes and process conditions with same catalyst system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Saravanan Subramani, Debasis Bhattacharyya, Reshmi Manna, Satyen Kumar Das, Tridib Sarkar, Santanam Rajagopal
  • Patent number: 8372997
    Abstract: According to the invention, powders of low hygroscopicity are prepared by granulation of an aqueous solution (1) in a fluidized bed (140). A compound formed from crystalline grains whose moisture content is defined and stable is obtained. The invention applies especially to organometallic complexes of glycine with a metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Pancosma Societe Anonyme pour l'Industrie des Produits Biochimiques
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Meunier, Sébastien Oguey
  • Patent number: 8361406
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a fluid with a body are disclosed. Various aspects involve treating a fluid with a porous body. In select embodiments, a body comprises ash particles, and the ash particles used to form the body may be selected based on their providing one or more desired properties for a given treatment. Various bodies provide for the reaction and/or removal of a substance in a fluid, often using a porous body comprised of ash particles. Computer-operable methods for matching a source material to an application are disclosed. Certain aspects feature a porous body comprised of ash particles, the ash particles have a particle size distribution and interparticle connectivity that creates a plurality of pores having a pore size distribution and pore connectivity, and the pore size distribution and pore connectivity are such that a first fluid may substantially penetrate the pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Errcive, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Ramberg, Stephen A. Dynan, Jack A. Shindle
  • Patent number: 8350069
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for reacting a natural oil with a short chain alcohol in the presence of alkaline catalyst, in which a mixture of natural oil, short chain alcohol and alkaline catalyst is fed in one direction along a pipe reactor under transitional or turbulent conditions, so that the reactants are mixed in a direction normal to the flow direction to a greater degree than in a direction parallel to the flow direction or so that the reactants are mixed in a direction normal to the flow direction, such that the time taken for 90% of the elements of fluid to pass through the reactor is within 20% of the mean residence time of reactant in the reactor. There is also provided a ship, comprising means for storing a raw material used in the synthesis of biodiesel, a plant for the synthesis of biodiesel and means for storing the biodiesel synthesized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Renewable Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Owen Matthew Davies, Richard David Jackson
  • Patent number: 8309031
    Abstract: A gas hydrate production apparatus capable of reacting a raw gas with a raw water to thereby form a slurry gas hydrate and capable of removing water from the slurry gas hydrate by means of a gravitational dewatering unit. The gravitational dewatering unit is one including a cylindrical first tower body; a cylindrical dewatering part disposed on top of the first tower body; a water receiving part disposed outside the dewatering part; and a cylindrical second tower body disposed on top of the dewatering part, wherein the cross-sectional area of the second tower body is continuously or intermittently increased upward from the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Katoh, Shigeru Nagamori, Toru Iwasaki, Takashi Arai, Kiyoshi Horiguchi, Tetsuro Murayama, Akira Tokinosu, Masahiro Takahashi, Toshio Yamaki
  • Patent number: 8298491
    Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a process, comprising: conducting unit operations in at least two process zones in a process microchannel to treat and/or form a non-Newtonian fluid, a different unit operation being conducted in each process zone; and applying an effective amount of shear stress to the non-Newtonian fluid to reduce the viscosity of the non-Newtonian fluid in each process zone, the average shear rate in one process zone differing from the average shear rate in another process zone by a factor of at least about 1.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Ravi Arora, David Kilanowski, Eric Daymo
  • Patent number: 8292977
    Abstract: The invention has its object to arbitrarily adjust an amount of particles to be circulated without changing a flow rate of a gasification agent to thereby enhance gasification efficiency in a fluidized bed gasification furnace. The fluidized bed gasification furnace 107 comprises first and second chambers 113 and 114 in communication with each other in a fluidized bed 105. The hot particles 102 separated in the separator 104 and raw material M are introduced into the first chamber 113. The particles 102 introduced from the first chamber 113 through interior in the fluidized bed 105 to the second chamber 114 are supplied in an overflow manner to the fluidized bed combustion furnace 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Suda, Yoshiaki Matsuzawa, Toshiro Fujimori
  • Patent number: 8282885
    Abstract: An FCC apparatus may include a distributor disposed in a recess in a wall of the riser for distributing gaseous hydrocarbon feed to a riser. The distributor may be shielded from upwardly flowing catalyst by a shield. An array of nozzles from the distributor may extend through openings in the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Paul S. Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8283512
    Abstract: A waste elimination apparatus includes a natural gas ignition system, a silica material bed, a heat transfer device, and a system for collecting plasma produced energy. A reaction formed by heat from ignition, carbon from the waste material, supercritical water, —OH radicals, and muons released from the silica bed transform the waste into a fuel. This fuel is more efficiently consumed by the complete combustion process resulting in near total elimination of the waste, increased energy production, and virtually no emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas C. Maganas
  • Patent number: 8277736
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluidized bed reactor system made up of at least two fluidized bed reactors, comprising at least one main reactor (1) in the form of a circulating fluidized bed and a secondary reactor (2) in the form of a circulating fluidized bed, and also a particle line comprising a particle separator for transporting fluidized bed particles from the main reactor into the secondary reactor, characterized in that, in the lower region of the respective reactor, a line (10) connects the secondary reactor (2) to the main reactor (1) for transporting fluidized bed particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Technische Universitat Wien
    Inventors: Tobias Proll, Philipp Kolbitsch, Johannes Bolhar-Nordenkampf, Hermann Hofbauer
  • Patent number: 8263007
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a slurry bed loop reactor comprising a riser and at least one downcomer (3), wherein two ends of the riser are connected to two ends of the downcomer (3) via lines (16) and (7), respectively. The riser comprises a reaction section (1) and a settling section (2) with an increased tube diameter disposed on the reaction section (1). A gas outlet (13) exists at the top of the settling section (2). Each of the downcomers (3) is divided into a filtrate section (5) and a slurry section (6) by filter medium (4), wherein the filtrate section (5) is connected to a liquid outlet (10); two ends of the slurry section (6) are respectively connected to two ends of the riser, and the filtrate region (5) may further be connected to a back purging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignees: China Petroleum Chemical Corporation, Research Institute of Petroleum Processing, Sinopec
    Inventors: Zhanzhu Zhang, Lifeng Hu, Xiaojin Tang, Shaobing Wang, Shuandi Hou, Junyi Mao, Hongliang Qu
  • Patent number: 8257657
    Abstract: A device for discharging, through a central rotating chimney, fluids from a fluidized bed driven in a rotational movement in the same direction by the rotation of the outer circular wall of a reaction chamber and/or by injection of part of these fluids along the circular wall of a fixed or rotating chamber, and methods for catalytic polymerization, drying, or other treatments of solid particles in suspension in a rotating fluidized bed or for cracking or other catalytic conversions of fluids using this device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Total Petrochemicals Research Feluy
    Inventors: Axel de Broqueville, Juray De Wilde