Novvi LLC

Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Benton Thomas

Eduardo J Baralt

Jason Wells

Jason Charles Rosalli

Liwenny Ho

Ajit Ramachandra Pradhan

Yalin Hao

Wui Sum Willbe Ho

Willbe Ho

Cong-Yan Chen

Cong Yan Chen

Jason R Wells

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a process for producing synthetic hydrocarbon base oils having advantageous properties for formulation of engine oils, and the base oils obtained by such processes, involving the production of branched alkenes from the oligomerization of C14-C18 olefins. According to one embodiment, the base oils are obtained by first forming a mixture of two or more olefins ranging from C14-C18, where one of the olefins is an alpha olefin and the other has an average double bond position between 1.5-5.0, and oligomerizing this mixture in the presence of a catalyst to form one or more branched alkenes, hydrogenating the branched alkenes, and fractionating to form base oils. According to one aspect, advantageous properties can be obtained by controlling one or more of the degree of branching, branch length, branching positions, selection of the C14-C18 olefins, and catalytic isomerization, during or after the oligomerization process.

Base oils and methods of making the same

A process for the preparation of saturated hydrocarbon base oils is provided, comprising oligomerization of a feed mixture that has an average carbon number in the range of 14 to 18 to produce an oligomer product comprising dimers, trimers, and higher oligomers, where the dimer has a branching proximity (BP) of 20 or greater, isomerization of at least the dimer portion, and hydrogenation of the isomerized product. The dimer portion is separated from the oligomer product, and a saturated hydrocarbon base oil is obtained comprising greater than 90% dimers having an average carbon number in the range of from 29 to 36, and the dimer portion having a weight average molecular weight in the range of 422 to 510, where the dimers have an average Branching Index (BI) in a range of 22 to 26 and an average paraffin branching proximity (BP) in a range of from 18 to 26.

Provided herein is a unique process that prepares a saturated hydrocarbon mixture with well-controlled structural characteristics that address the performance requirements driven by the stricter environmental and fuel economy regulations for automotive engine oils. The process allows for the branching characteristics of the hydrocarbon molecules to be controlled so as to consistently provide a composition that has a surprising CCS viscosity at &#x2212;35&#xb0; C. (ASTM D5329) and Noack volatility (ASTM D5800) relationship. The process comprises providing a specific olefinic feedstock, oligomerizing in the presence of a BFcatalyst, and hydroisomerizing in the presence of a noble-metal impregnated, 10-member ring zeolite catalyst.

Process for preparing hydrocarbon mixture exhibiting unique branching structure

A polyalphaolefin composition is provided comprising trimers of C12 alpha-olefins and dimers of C14 alpha-olefins, where the ratio by weight of C12 trimer to C14 dimer is within a range of 4:1 by weight to 1:4 by weight, where the C12 trimer enriched polyalphaolefin has an average branching ratio &#x3c;0.2 and the C14 dimer has an average branching ratio of &#x3e;0.20, and where the average branching ratio for all C12 trimers and C14 dimers is between 0.19 and 0.26. The composition has a boiling point distribution where less than 30% by weight of the composition has a boiling point between 420&#xb0; C. and 455&#xb0; C., and the resulting base oil has a kinematic viscosity of about 3.3 to 4.7 cSt at 100&#xb0; C.

Synthetic oligomer compositions and methods of manufacture

Provided herein are hydrocarbon mixtures with controlled structure characteristics that address the performance requirements for finished lubricants driven by the stricter environmental and fuel economy regulations. The branching characteristics of the hydrocarbon molecules are controlled to provide a composition that has a unique and superior viscosity-temperature relationship and Noack volatility. An important aspect of the present invention relates to a saturated hydrocarbon mixture with at least 80% of the molecules having an even carbon number, with the branching characteristic of BP/BI in the range&#x2265;&#x2212;0.6037 (Internal alkyl branching)+2.0, where on average at least 0.3 to 1.5 of the internal methyl branches are located more than 4 carbons away from the terminal carbon when analyzed by carbon NMR. The saturated hydrocarbon mixture with such unique branching structure consistently exhibits a stand out performance in the cold crank simulated viscosity (CCS) vs Noack volatility relationship, which allows for the formulation of lower viscosity engine oils with improved fuel economies.

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Emeryville, CA, United States of America

Benton Thomas