David E Earls

US Patent:

6387334, May 14, 2002

Filed:

Dec 18, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/216268

Inventors:

William B. Krantz - Boulder CO
David E. Earls - Pinole CA
Harold J. Trimble - Panama City Beach FL
Julie Chabot - Novato CA
Krishniah Parimi - Concord CA

Assignee:

Chevron U.S.A. Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

B01J 808

US Classification:

422143, 422220, 422311

Abstract:

The invention comprises an OCR catalyst reactor which includes passive spheres and catalyst particles having substantially the same size and separated on opposite sides of a distributor cone by a screen. The use of passive spheres of substantially the same size to the catalyst particles provides for a more uniform distribution of the gas liquid reactants charged into the reactor vessel. The screen is configured such that it provides a separation of the catalyst and the passive spheres while being sized to prevent plugging.

US Patent:

20020043483, Apr 18, 2002

Filed:

Apr 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/839042

Inventors:

Pak Leung - Lafayette CA, US
David Earls - Pinole CA, US
Bruce Reynolds - Martinez CA, US
David Johnson - Petaluma CA, US
Robert Bachtel - El Cerrito CA, US
Harold Trimble - Panama City Beach FL, US

International Classification:

C10G045/04

US Classification:

208/215000, 208/213000, 208/107000

Abstract:

Catalyst particles are presulfided in a treatment zone separate from a hydroconversion reaction zone. The presulfided catalyst is then added to a substantially packed bed of catalyst in the hydroconversion reaction zone at reaction pressure, so that the reactor is not shut down to replace catalyst. The presulfiding process is particularly beneficial for use in moving bed reactors for heavy oil conversion.

US Patent:

20050006283, Jan 13, 2005

Filed:

May 6, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/841650

Inventors:

Pak Leung - Lafayette CA, US
David Earls - Pinole CA, US
Bruce Reynolds - Martinez CA, US
David Johnson - Petaluma CA, US
Robert Bachtel - Livermore CA, US
Harold Trimble - Panama City Beach FL, US

International Classification:

C10G045/02
C10G047/06

US Classification:

208213000, 208215000, 20825100H, 20825400H, 208108000

Abstract:

Catalyst particles are presulfided in a pretreatment zone separate from a hydroconversion reaction zone. The presulfided catalyst is then added to a moving bed of catalyst in the hydroconversion reaction zone at reaction pressure, so that the reactor is not shut down to replace catalyst. The presulfiding process is particularly beneficial for use in moving bed reactors for heavy oil conversion.

US Patent:

44422210, Apr 10, 1984

Filed:

Apr 9, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/367070

Inventors:

Keith C. Bishop - San Rafael CA
David E. Earls - Pinole CA
Richard C. Robinson - San Rafael CA
Donald W. Blakely - late of Oakland CA
by Robert L. Jacobson - Vallejo CA

Assignee:

Chevron Research Company - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

B01J 2034
C10G 2916
C10G 2904

US Classification:

502 25

Abstract:

A process for regenerating a spent copper-porous refractory metal oxide carrier composite sorbent for removing sulfur-containing compounds from naphthas in which the spent sorbent is optionally stripped of absorbed naphtha, oxidized to convert absorbed sulfur to sulfates or sulfur dioxide, optionally reduced to further convert absorbed sulfur to sulfur dioxide, and, finally, impregnated with fresh copper via contact with an aqueous solution of a copper salt followed by drying and calcining to convert the salt to copper oxide or copper metal whereby a substantial portion of the sulfur sorbent activity and lifetime of the sorbent is restored.

US Patent:

56039042, Feb 18, 1997

Filed:

Mar 28, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/624195

Inventors:

Robert W. Bachtel - El Cerrito CA
Yoshitomo Ohara - Tokyo, JP
Toshio Ishizuka - Tokyo, JP
Tsunehiko Hiraga - Hokkaido, JP
Krishniah Parimi - Concord CA
David E. Earls - Pinole CA

Assignee:

Chevron U.S.A. Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

B01J 818

US Classification:

422143

Abstract:

A light-weight and easily manufacturable catalyst support structure is provided, which allows fluid flow into a catalyst bed in uniform distribution. The support structure is formed in a cone-like shape in which the diameter enlarges upward. The support structure comprises a shell-like support member, a first mesh layer comprising thick mesh elements, and a second mesh layer having a mesh size which does not allow catalytic particulates to pass through. The first mesh layer overlays the support member, and the second mesh layer overlays the first mesh layer. The shell-like support member includes a circular bottom plate extending perpendicular to the center line of the reactor, and a side wall having a truncated cone shape which extends upward from the edge of the bottom plate. The bottom plate and the side wall are primarily made of perforated plates through which the fluid passes. A plurality of cylindrical flow guides of different diameters are provided underneath the shell-like support member.

US Patent:

56607156, Aug 26, 1997

Filed:

Jun 6, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/466863

Inventors:

Harold J. Trimble - Novato CA
Bruce E. Reynolds - Martinez CA
Robert W. Bachtel - El Cerrito CA
Robert J. Klett - San Francisco CA
David N. Brossard - Oakland CA
David E. Earls - Pinole CA

Assignee:

Chevron U.S.A. Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

C10G 1118
C10G 3504

US Classification:

208148

Abstract:

This invention makes possible substantially continuous flow of uniformly distributed hydrogen and hydrocarbon liquid across a densely packed catalyst bed which substantially fills the entire volume of a reactor vessel. Catalyst are selected to be essentially the same density, shape and size at a design feed rate of liquids and gas to prevent ebullation of the packed catalyst bed at the design feed rates. The liquid and gas components of the hydrocarbon feed stream flow into the bed of catalyst and a quenching medium, which is preferably a liquid, is injected into the bed of catalyst. Injection of a liquid quench reduces the gas component of the hydrocarbon feed stream while simultaneously increasing the residence time and reducing the liquid velocity of the liquid component of the hydrocarbon feed stream within the substantially packed bed of catalyst. Injection of a liquid quench also increases penetration and contact of the liquid component into and on the surface area of the catalyst while simultaneously decreasing the viscosity of the liquid component. An apparatus for quenching in hydroprocessing of a hydrocarbon feed stream.

US Patent:

56480512, Jul 15, 1997

Filed:

Jun 6, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/468111

Inventors:

Harold J. Trimble - Novato CA
Bruce E. Reynolds - Martinez CA
Robert W. Bachtel - El Cerrito CA
Robert J. Klett - San Francisco CA
David N. Brossard - Oakland CA
David E. Earls - Pinole CA

Assignee:

Chevron U.S.A. Inc. - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

F28D 2100
B01J 2390

US Classification:

422207

Abstract:

An apparatus for quenching in hydroprocessing of a hydrocarbon feed stream, which provides a substantially continuous flow of uniformly distributed hydrogen and hydrocarbon liquid across a densely packed catalyst bed which substantially fills the entire volume of a reactor vessel. Catalyst are selected to be essentially the same density, shape and size at a design feed rate of liquids and gas to prevent ebullation of the packed catalyst bed at the design feed rates. The liquid and gas components of the hydrocarbon feed stream flow into the bed of catalyst and a quenching medium, which is preferably a liquid, is injected into the bed of catalyst. Injection of a liquid quench reduces the gas component of the hydrocarbon feed stream while simultaneously increasing the residence time and reducing the liquid velocity of the liquid component of the hydrocarbon feed stream within the substantially packed bed of catalyst. Injection of a liquid quench also increases penetration and contact of the liquid component into and on the surface area of the catalyst while simultaneously decreasing the viscosity of the liquid component.

US Patent:

54926173, Feb 20, 1996

Filed:

Jul 11, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/273526

Inventors:

Harold J. Trimble - Novato CA
Bruce E. Reynolds - Martinez CA
Robert W. Bachtel - El Cerrito CA
Robert J. Klett - San Francisco CA
David N. Brossard - Oakland CA
David E. Earls - Pinole CA

International Classification:

C10G 1118
C10G 3514

US Classification:

208148

Abstract:

This invention makes possible substantially continuous flow of uniformly distributed hydrogen and hydrocarbon liquid across a densely packed catalyst bed which substantially fills the entire volume of a reactor vessel. Catalyst are selected to be essentially the same density, shape and size at a design feed rate of liquids and gas to prevent ebullation of the packed catalyst bed at the design feed rates. The liquid and gas components of the hydrocarbon feed stream flow into the bed of catalyst and a quenching medium, which is preferably a liquid, is injected into the bed of catalyst. Injection of a liquid quench reduces the gas component of the hydrocarbon feed stream while simultaneously increasing the residence time and reducing the liquid velocity of the liquid component of the hydrocarbon feed stream within the substantially packed bed of catalyst. Injection of a liquid quench also increases penetration and contact of the liquid component into and on the surface area of the catalyst while simultaneously decreasing the viscosity of the liquid component. An apparatus for quenching in hydroprocessing of a hydrocarbon feed stream.