Dennis M O'Brien

US Patent:

7339088, Mar 4, 2008

Filed:

Oct 27, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/974271

Inventors:

Dennis E. O'Brien - Arlington Heights IL, US
Douglas G. Stewart - Wheeling IL, US
Bipin V. Vora - Naperville IL, US

Assignee:

UOP LLC - Des Plaines IL

International Classification:

C07C 7/04
B01D 3/00

US Classification:

585804, 203 74, 203 75, 203 78, 203 81, 203 82, 202158, 202161

Abstract:

Improved processes and apparatus use a finishing column with a mid-cut that provides alkylbenzene products of high purity containing less than about 1 ppmw benzene and less than about 50 ppmw heavies while accommodating enhancements in the efficiencies and the capacities of the distillation train to recover alkylbenzene from alkylation reaction product and while enabling the use of catalytic treatments to reduce olefinic-component content.

US Patent:

7528290, May 5, 2009

Filed:

Dec 28, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/617069

Inventors:

Joseph E. Zimmermann - Arlington Heights IL, US
Dennis E. O'Brien - Arlington Heights IL, US

Assignee:

UOP LLC - Des Plaines IL

International Classification:

C07C 7/00
B01D 3/14

US Classification:

585809, 585314, 585324, 585258, 202152, 202153, 202155, 202158, 202161, 202163, 202168, 202169, 202170

Abstract:

A process is disclosed for recovering 1-butene from a feed steam comprising n-butane, isobutane and butene isomers using a single, divided wall distillation column. The disclosed process includes introducing the feed steam into an inlet of a first side of a distillation column, wherein the distillation column comprises a top, a bottom and a center dividing wall extending between the bottom and the top of the column and dividing the column into the first side and a second side. The process includes taking off an isobutane stream from the top of the second side of column, taking off a 1-butene stream as a bottoms stream from the second side of the column, and taking off a combination 2-butene and n-butane stream as a bottom stream from the first side of column.

US Patent:

7687677, Mar 30, 2010

Filed:

Sep 29, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/541157

Inventors:

Dennis E. O'Brien - Arlington Heights IL, US
Joseph E. Zimmermann - Arlington Heights IL, US
Douglas G. Stewart - Wheeling IL, US

Assignee:

UOP LLC - Des Plaines IL

International Classification:

C07C 7/11

US Classification:

585809, 585634, 585639, 585654, 585655, 585658, 585804, 585807, 585867, 585910

Abstract:

A processing scheme and arrangement for enhanced olefin production involves recovering thermal energy from a reactor effluent stream resulting from the dehydrogenation of a dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon. The process involves contacting the reactor effluent stream with a circulating fluid stream in a first contact cooling zone to produce a product stream and to form a heated circulating fluid stream. Thermal energy is recovered from the heated circulating fluid stream via indirect heat exchange with a first process stream in a first heat exchange zone to form a cooled circulating fluid stream. The cooled circulating fluid stream can be subsequently cooled and at least a first portion thereof returned to the first contact cooling zone.

US Patent:

7267746, Sep 11, 2007

Filed:

Aug 27, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/650570

Inventors:

James W. Harris - Prospect Heights IL, US
Steven P. Rosenblum - Buffalo Grove IL, US
Michael A. Schultz - Chicago IL, US
Dennis E. O'Brien - Arlington Heights IL, US
Douglas G. Stewart - Wheeling IL, US

Assignee:

UOP LLC - Des Plaines IL

International Classification:

B01D 3/42

US Classification:

202160, 202158, 203 2, 203 99, 203DIG 18, 203DIG 19, 196111

Abstract:

A control apparatus and control method for controlling the separation in a dividing wall distillation column of at least two feeds into at least three products is disclosed. The apparatus uses a temperature measuring device to measure the temperature of fluid in the column, a controller, and a means for adjusting the temperature of fluid in the column. The temperature measuring device may be on either side of the dividing wall or above or below the dividing wall, and more than one such device may be used. The apparatus and method may be used in the production of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons by alkylating aromatic hydrocarbons with olefinic hydrocarbons.

US Patent:

43070639, Dec 22, 1981

Filed:

Jul 30, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/173560

Inventors:

Dennis E. O'Brien - Arlington Heights IL

Assignee:

UOP Inc. - Des Plaines IL

International Classification:

B01J 804

US Classification:

422256

Abstract:

An apparatus for contacting two immiscible fluids is disclosed. A liquid stream enters the top of the apparatus and travels downward within an annular bed of packing. A vapor stream or a less dense liquid stream enters the bottom of the apparatus and travels upward making many radial flow passes succeedingly higher parts of the annular bed. The sigmoid flow of the rising stream is channeled by horizontal disks within the open central volume of the annular bed and by horizontal open-centered rings which surround the annular bed at staggered elevations.

US Patent:

43814182, Apr 26, 1983

Filed:

Dec 4, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/327656

Inventors:

Steve A. Gewartowski - Mt. Prospect IL
Dennis E. O'Brien - Arlington Heights IL

Assignee:

UOP Inc. - Des Plaines IL

International Classification:

C07C 536

US Classification:

585655

Abstract:

A process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of C. sub. 2 + normally gaseous paraffinic hydrocarbons to produce the corresponding monoolefinic hydrocarbons is disclosed. The energy-efficient process is particularly directed to the separation of recycle hydrogen from the olefinic hydrocarbon products and unreacted paraffinic hydrocarbons.

US Patent:

43338178, Jun 8, 1982

Filed:

Jan 26, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/228517

Inventors:

Dennis E. O'Brien - Arlington Heights IL

Assignee:

UOP Inc. - Des Plaines IL

International Classification:

C10G 4700
C10G 4922

US Classification:

208101

Abstract:

A process for the catalytic reforming of a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock, preferably to produce high quality gasoline boiling range products, is disclosed. Relatively impure hydrogen is separated from the reforming zone effluent, compressed, and recontacted with at least a portion of the liquid reformate product to provide relatively pure hydrogen, a portion of which is recycled to the reforming zone. The balance is further compressed and recontacted with at least a portion of the liquid reformate product in a plural stage absorption zone to provide an improved recovery of normally gaseous hydrocarbons as well as an improved recovery of purified hydrogen at a pressure suitable, for example, the relatively high pressure hydrotreating of sulfur-containing feedstocks.

US Patent:

43847935, May 24, 1983

Filed:

Dec 22, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/219130

Inventors:

Dennis E. O'Brien - Arlington Heights IL

Assignee:

UOP Inc. - Des Plaines IL

International Classification:

G01K 302

US Classification:

374115

Abstract:

The invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the approximate temperature profile of a large curved surface such as the outer surface of a chemical or hydrocarbon conversion reactor. At least two arrays of wire having a temperature dependent electrical resistance are placed over the surface to be monitored, with the arrays being aligned in different directions to cover the surface with a grid of overlapping wires. By measuring the resistance of each wire and comparing this resistance to predetermine reference values, wires which pass through regions of elevated temperature compared to the remainder of the surface may be located. By attributing the elevated temperatures to the area covered by the intersecting wires which show an increased resistance the areas of high temperature on the surface may be located. The system requires fewer connections and is simpler than a temperature monitoring system which requires a thermocouple or other temperature measuring means to be located at each corresponding intersecting grid point.