Abstract: A self-cleaning strainer which may be installed upstream of a heat exchanger to prevent debris greater than a critical size from reaching the heat exchanger. The strainer is preferably mounted just upstream of a heat exchanger in order to minimize the possibility of debris reaching the heat exchanger. The strainer comprises a screen element which can be advanced across the flow path of the fluid between two rollers. The screen element is placed so that the fluid must flow across the screen element face to continue through the process pipe; the screen may be perpendicular or parallel to the fluid flow axis of the strainer body or at an intermediate angle to it. Flow blocking members are used so as to direct the flow to pass through the screen element.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a novel heat exchanger configuration which preferably uses the axial flow direction for the shell-side fluid and in which dead zones and areas of stagnation are significantly minimized or eliminated and in which inlet region tube erosion is addressed by providing a sacrificial portion of tube length so as to make repair and replacement of the eroded portion of tubes significantly cheaper, easier and with minimal process interruption. Because axial flow is employed with respect to the shell-side fluid according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, tube vibration problems are generally eliminated.

Abstract: A heat exchanger in which dead zones and areas of stagnation are significantly minimized or eliminated. The heat exchanger includes at least one floating tubesheet which is movable in a longitudinal direction in response to tube expansion and contraction relative to the heat exchanger shell. The shell is joined to the ends by conical members which preferably join onto the shell at a distance along its length to provide shell extensions which promote better flow patterns in the regions of the tube ends. Tube erosion may be addressed by providing a sacrificial portion of tube length extending beyond the tube sheets so as to make repair and replacement of the eroded portion of tubes significantly cheaper, easier and with minimal process interruption. Because axial or longitudinal flow is employed with respect to the shell-side fluid, tube vibration problems are generally eliminated and fouling is minimized through the use of high fluid velocities.

Abstract: High performance engine oils and other liquid lubricants comprise a liquid lubricant basestock of low viscosity from 1.5 to 12 cSt (100C) with two dissolved polymer components of differing molecular weights. The basestock is preferably a single PAO or blend of PAOs with a co-basestock component which is preferably an ester or an alkylated aromatic of comparable viscosity. The lower molecular weight polymer is highly viscoelastic in character and is preferably an HVI-PAO; this component in the lubricant which provides unexpectedly high film thickness and unexpectedly good wear protection under conditions where the second, higher molecular weight polymer may lose some or all of its thickening power. The use of the highly viscoelastic low molecular weight polymer in combination with the higher molecular weight thickener enables the production of very widely cross-graded engine oils, especially oils with a low temperature grading of 0W or better.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for polymerizing an olefin to produce poly-olefins using a crystalline catalyst. The resulting poly-olefins have low viscosity and low volatility and may be used in various functional fluids.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a multi-tier bypass apparatus for extending the operating life of fixed bed reactors. The multi-tier bypass may be disposed within a fixed catalyst bed to allow any fluid feedstock to bypass successive layers of the fixed catalyst bed as they foul. The invention also relates to an improved fixed bed reactor comprising the inventive multi-tier bypass and a method for extending the operating life of a fixed bed reactor.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a bypass device for extending the operating life of fixed bed reactors. The device may be placed within a fixed catalyst bed to partition the bed into a first top bed and a second virtual bed. The bypass device allows any fluid feedstock to bypass the first top bed of the fixed catalyst bed as it fouls and enter the second virtual bed under conditions that promote depositing any foulants contained in the bypass flow on the top surface of the second virtual bed rather than in the interstices of the second virtual bed. The invention also relates to an improved fixed bed reactor comprising the inventive bypass device and a method for extending the operating life of a fixed bed reactor that employs the inventive bypass device.

Abstract: A method for removing hydrogen sulfide from liquid sulfur, comprising introducing liquid sulfur containing hydrogen sulfide in an upstream portion of a conduit. The conduit has a fluid outlet in a downstream portion thereof located within a lower portion of a first vessel. The method further includes causing the liquid sulfur to flow through the conduit outlet into the first vessel, up an annulus formed between the conduit and the first vessel and overflow through an outlet positioned at an upper portion of the first vessel into a second vessel which is connected to a liquid sulfur pit operating at atmospheric pressure. Air is introduced into the liquid sulfur located in the annulus at a point between the conduit outlet and said first vessel outlet. The flows concurrently to the direction of flow of the liquid sulfur in the annulus and out of the first vessel outlet into the second vessel thereby removing hydrogen sulfide from the liquid sulfur in the annulus.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing sulfur from an effluent produced by hydrotreating a hydrocarbon feed, said effluent having a heavy fraction containing polyaromatic sulfur compounds and a lighter fraction, said method comprising contacting the effluent with a noble metal containing hydrodearomatization catalyst on a support under super-atmospheric hydrogen pressure and reaction conditions sufficient to hydrogenate at least one ring of said polyaromatic sulfur compounds and thereby produce a product with a reduced sulfur content.

Abstract: A fluid inlet nozzle distributor for a downflow fixed bed reactor which is a cylindrical housing having inlet and outlet openings and a swirl chamber disposed within said housing, whereby said swirl chamber imparts rotational motion to a fluid exiting said inlet nozzle.

Abstract: A process for isomerization dewaxing of a hydrocarbon feed which includes contacting the hydrocarbon feed with a large pore size, small crystal size, crystalline molecular sieve and an intermediate pore size, small crystal size, crystalline molecular sieve to produce a dewaxed product with a reduced pour point and a reduced cloud point. In a preferred embodiment, the feed is contacted with the molecular sieves sequentially, first with the large pore sieve followed by the intermediate pore sieve.

Abstract: A process and system is disclosed for removing sulfur from tail-gas emitted from a Claus sulfur recovery process. First, the tail-gas is oxidized so as to convert sulfur therein to sulfur oxides. Oxidized tail-gas is directed into an absorber where a solid absorbent absorbs substantially all the sulfur oxides thereon. After allowing sufficient time for a desired amount of sulfur oxides to be absorbed, absorption is ceased. Next, the solid absorbent containing the absorbed sulfur oxides is contacted with a reducing gas so as to release an off gas containing hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. Upon releasing sulfur from the solid absorbent, the solid absorbent is regenerated and redirected into the absorber. Sulfur in the off gas emitted by regeneration is concentrated to an extent sufficient for use within a Claus sulfur recovery process for conversion to elemental sulfur.

Abstract: An anchor rail and anchorage system for attaching ceramic refractory materials to a metallic substrate, or casing. Each anchoring rail (3) includes a web (9) and a retention structure. The retention structure of the rails includes a plurality of tabs (13) extending from the web to engage with alignment recesses on the edges of the tiles. The alignment structure on each tile (16) includes a slot (18) formed in each of two opposite sides of the tile (16). A method of building ceramic lined structures includes attaching an anchor rail (3) to a surface of the casing (5), fitting a row of tiles (4) in place with their alignment structures each fitting around the retention structures (13) of the anchor rail, and continuing on with another row of tiles, until a predetermined surface area of the structure is lined with tiles.

Abstract: A method is provided for co-producing dialkyl carbonate and alkanediol by reacting alkylene carbonate with alkanol in the presence of an amorphous aluminosilicate catalyst containing alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Diesel engine cylinder oils of improved cleanliness and load carrying ability and reduced port deposit characteristics for use in marine and stationary slow speed diesel engines are based on medium heavy Group I or Group II neutral base oils, typically from 300 to 500 SUS using a liquid, oil-miscible polyisobutylene (PIB) in combination with the neutral base stock and an additive package comprising a detergent component or components, an antioxidant, an antiwear agent, and a dispersant. The detergent component preferably comprises one or more overbased phenates, phenylates, salicylates or sulfonates in order to confer the desired alkalinity characteristics on the finished oil. The oils are produced in the viscosity range of 15 to 25 cS (100° C.), usually with a nominal viscosity of 20 or 24 cS, i.e., from 18.5 to 21.9 cS or 21.9 to 26.1 cS (100° C.). The viscosity index of the improved oils is at least 95, typically from 105 to 120. Total Base Number of the oils is in the range 40 to 100.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for producing a high viscosity index and low pour point lubricating oil base stock which comprises catalytically converting a hydrotreated hydrocarbon lube oil feedstock containing waxy paraffins in the presence of hydrogen and in the presence of a low acidity ZSM-5 catalyst having a highly dispersed noble metal component. The ZSM-5 catalyst is subjected to controlled acidity reduction to an alpha value below 15 prior to incorporation of the noble metal component.

Abstract: A model to predict the quality of a lubricant base stock for use in a plurality of products having a plurality of viscosities. The compositional model is based on a quantitative analysis of key compositional parameters and performance criteria for the plurality of products representing the plurality of viscosities. The compositional model predicts whether the composition of a new lubricant base stock is similar or dissimilar to known lubricant base stock compositions that have previously passed or failed performance tests. New base stock compositions, then, are evaluated in light of base stocks that have demonstrated acceptable performance in a plurality of products. The compositional model also predicts whether a combination of refinery streams can be blended for use in manufacturing a lubricant base stock.

Abstract: This concept concerns a vapor/liquid contacting tray which is useful in distillation and related mass transfer or heat transfer applications where liquid flows down and gas or vapor flows up through a vessel. In this device, the perforated area is relatively small, so the liquid is entrained upward. The liquid flow is then directed downward into a large disengaging area. The downward momentum of the liquid and the large disengaging allow for high liquid and vapor rates without overloading the vapor/liquid disengaging capacity of the device.

Abstract: Lubricant oils of low pour point and improved oxidation stability are produced by catalytically dewaxing a lube feedstock over a zeolite dewaxing catalyst such as ZSM-5 in the hydrogen or decationized form. The use of these catalysts enables products of excellent oxidative stability to be obtained and reduces the catalyst aging rate in the first and subsequent dewaxing cycles to values below 5° F./day. The duration of the dewaxing cycles may be extended, particularly in the second and subsequent cycles after hydrogen reactivation.

Abstract: This invention relates to the refining of petroleum products, and more particularly to an integrated hydroprocessing scheme involving a hydrocracking stage and subsequent dewaxing stage. Materials boiling in the middle distillate or lube oil range may be dewaxed. The bottoms streams (and optionally, other streams) of each stage are maintained separately from one another, during processing. Dewaxing may occur using either hydroisomerization catalysts or shape-selective catalysts or both in series. One embodiment employs a baffle in the flash zone of a fractionator to separate bottoms streams from each other. Alternatively, the effluent from the hydrocracking stage may be processed separately from the effluent from the dewaxing stage. The bottoms fraction from the dewaxing stage may be recycled back to the hydrocracking stage for further processing or used as lube base stock.