Abstract: An automated descaling system can be integrated into a tankless water heater or can be a separate system that is connected to a tankless water heater. The automatic descaling system comprises a cleaning media chamber and a valve with a motor. The descaling system can be set on an automatic cleaning schedule.

Abstract: Systems and methods of production for consistently sized and shaped optically anisotropic mesophase pitch from vacuum residue, one method including supplying processed vacuum residue to an extruder; heating the processed vacuum residue throughout a horizontal profile of the extruder from an inlet to an outlet of the extruder; venting hydrocarbon off-gases from the extruder along the horizontal profile of the extruder from the inlet to the outlet of the extruder; and physically shaping the consistently sized and shaped mesophase pitch at the outlet of the extruder for production of carbon fibers.

Abstract: A process for steam cracking a whole crude including a volatilization step performed to maintain a relatively large hydrocarbon droplet size. The process may include contacting a whole crude with steam to volatilize a portion of the hydrocarbons, wherein the contacting of the hydrocarbon feedstock and steam is conducted at an initial relative velocity of less than 30 m/s, for example. The resulting vapor phase, including volatilized hydrocarbons and steam may then be separated from a liquid phase comprising unvaporized hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons in the vapor phase may then be forwarded to a steam pyrolysis reactor for steam cracking of the hydrocarbons in the vapor phase.

Abstract: A method for desulfurization and contaminant reduction of fuel oil is provided. The method includes mixing, in a first container, the fuel oil with a first catalyst to oxidize sulfur containing compounds in the fuel oil to obtain one or more of a sulfoxide and a sulfone and oxidize metal contaminants in the fuel oil to obtain oxides of the contaminants, thereby forming a first mixture; mixing, in a second container, the first mixture with a second catalyst and a third catalyst to extract sulfur and an oxygen from the sulfoxide and the sulfone, thereby obtaining a second mixture; separating, in a vapor recovery unit, the second catalyst from the second mixture to obtain a third mixture; and separating, from the third mixture, in a mechanical separator, the third catalyst, the sulfur, and the oxide of the metal contaminants to obtain a purified fuel oil.

Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments herein, an integrated process for upgrading a hydrocarbon oil feed stream utilizing a delayed coker, steam enhanced catalytic cracker, and an aromatics complex includes solvent deasphalting the hydrocarbon oil stream; delayed coking the heavy residual hydrocarbons; hydrotreating the delayed coker product stream and the deasphalted oil stream to form a light C5+ hydrocarbon stream and a heavy C5+ hydrocarbon stream; steam enhanced catalytically cracking the light C5+ hydrocarbon stream; steam enhanced catalytically cracking the heavy C5+ hydrocarbon stream; passing at least a portion of the light steam enhanced catalytically cracked stream, the heavy steam enhanced catalytically cracked stream, or both to a product separator to produce a olefin product stream, a naphtha product stream, and a BTX product stream; and processing the naphtha product stream in the aromatics complex to produce benzene and xylenes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for crude oil desalting technology are provided. More specifically, systems and methods for the usage of waste heat from compression to treat high salinity water are provided. The systems and methods generate recycled water streams for desalter treatment. The systems and methods can treat high salinity waters from desalters and dehydrators. The high salinity streams are introduced to the compressed gas streams, where the waste heat causes the water portion of the water streams to evaporate, resulting in a fully or near-saturated gas stream and a concentrated waste water stream. The saturated gas streams are cooled and condensed, and low TDS water is separated from the gas stream in knockout drums. The low TDS water can be reintroduced to the desalting system as wash water, generating a circular water reuse.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a process for producing upgraded product from residue comprising atmospheric residue or vacuum residue upgrading comprising separating the residue through a Solvent Deasphalting (SDA) unit, wherein the SDA unit includes an asphaltene separator that separates the residue into asphaltene pitch and a stream comprising deasphalted oil (DAO) and resin, and a resin separator that subsequently separates the stream comprising DAO and resin into separate DAO and resin streams, treating the resin stream with supercritical water (SCW) to produce an upgraded resin stream, and hydroprocessing a portion of the upgraded resin stream and the DAO stream to produce the upgraded product.

Abstract: System and method for producing olefins are disclosed. The method includes using a radial flow moving bed reactor system to catalytically crack paraffins, in multiple stages with continuous catalyst regeneration, to form olefins. The system includes inter-stage heaters to facilitate increase in yield of olefins.

Abstract: Systems and processes for removing sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream. Sulfur compounds are extracted from a hydrocarbon feed stream with a caustic stream to provide a treated hydrocarbon stream and a rich caustic stream. The sulfur compounds in the rich caustic stream are oxidized in the presence of a catalyst to provide a lean caustic stream. The lean caustic stream is returned to extract sulfur from the hydrocarbon stream. Data such as a concentration of sulfurs species and degree of caustic saturation with the sulfur species in the rich caustic stream may be provided by a sensor, compared against other real-time or historical data and used to provide a recommended adjustment to process conditions associated with an extraction unit, or an oxidation unit, or both.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the continuous conversion of isotropic carbonaceous materials into anisotropic mesophase pitch is disclosed. The invention disclosed herein addresses the need for lower production costs compared with traditional batch mesophase conversion of isotropic pitch. A unique thermal processing and in-process separation of reacted mesophase from the continuous matrix of fresh or partially reacted isotropic pitch is provided. Potential uses are for further continuous processing into carbon fibers or carbon form densification.

Abstract: A process for catalytic cracking of hydrocarbon oils includes the step of contacting a hydrocarbon oil feedstock with a catalytic cracking catalyst in a reactor comprising a dilute-phase transport fluidized bed and a fast fluidized bed connected in series for reaction. In the fast fluidized bed, the axial solid fraction ? of the catalyst is controlled within the range of about 0.1 to about 0.2. When used for catalytic cracking of hydrocarbon oil feedstocks, particularly heavy feedstock oils, the process and system show lower yields of dry gas and coke, and good product distribution.

Abstract: A method for producing a diesel having improved cold flow properties, the method comprising the steps of introducing a crude oil to a distillation column, separating the crude oil in the distillation unit to produce a light gas oil, and a light vacuum gas oil, where the light gas oil has a T95% cut point in the range between 300 deg C. and 340 deg C., where the light vacuum gas oil has a T95% cut point in the range between 400 deg C. and 430 deg C., processing the light vacuum gas oil in the supercritical water unit to produce an upgraded vacuum gas oil, separating the upgraded vacuum gas oil in the fractionator to produce an upgraded light fraction, an upgraded light gas oil, and upgraded heavy fraction, introducing the upgraded light gas oil into a diesel pool, and blending the light gas oil into the diesel pool.

Abstract: A multi-stage process for reducing the Environmental Contaminants in a Feedstock Heavy Marine Fuel Oil that is compliant with ISO 8217: 2017 Table 2 as a residual marine fuel except for the concentration of Environmental Contaminants, the process involving a core hydrotreating process and either a pre-treating step or post-treating step to the core process that is selected from a) a sulfur absorption process unit; b) an oxidative desulfurizing process unit; and c) a microwave treatment process unit. The Product Heavy Marine Fuel Oil is compliant with ISO 8217 Table 2 as residual marine fuel and preferably has a sulfur level has a maximum sulfur content (ISO 14596 or ISO 8754) between the range of 0.05% wt. to 0.5% wt. A commercial scale process plant for conducting the process is disclosed.

Abstract: Improved catalytic reforming processes and systems employ reforming reactors in a more efficient manner and can avoid problems associated with yield loss. A portion of the naphtha feed is pre-reformed for conversion of paraffinic naphtha-range compounds into naphthenes and/or aromatics prior to passing to a reforming unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating production fluids using a system designed to minimize the heating requirements through thermodynamic efficiency and reduce equipment costs.

Abstract: A method for producing aromatic compounds from pyrolysis oil comprises: upgrading the pyrolysis oil to pyrolysis gasoline in a multi-stage reactor comprising a slurry-phase reactor and a fixed-bed reactor, wherein the slurry-phase reactor comprises a mixed metal oxide catalyst, and the fixed-bed reactor comprises a mesoporous zeolite-supported metal catalyst; aromatizing the pyrolysis gasoline in an aromatization unit; hydrodealkylating and transalkylating a product from the aromatization unit in a hydrodealkylation-transalkylation unit, thereby producing an aromatic stream; and processing the aromatic stream in an aromatics recovery complex to produce the aromatic compounds comprising benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX).

Abstract: The present invention provides a multistage single reactor system for hydroprocessing and a process of carrying out multistage hydroprocessing in the said reactor assembly consisting of, a fixed bed solid catalyst system, a feed injection system enabling axial flow of hydrogen saturated hydrocarbon feed, a hydrogen dispensing system inside the reactor enabling minimum required hydrogen flow in cross-flow pattern, also using multitudes of integrated separation and withdrawal limbs for continuous staging. The innovative reactor disclosed in the present invention enables continuous separation and withdrawal of gaseous products along the reactor length by means of combined horizontal reactor orientation and vertical separation limbs provided at the top of the horizontally oriented reactor. The advantage of the reactor assembly includes effective heat sink of exothermic reactions and lower severity of operation due to removal of inhibitory gaseous products.

Abstract: An ebullated bed hydroprocessing system is upgraded and operated at modified conditions using a dual catalyst system to produce less fouling sediment. The less fouling sediment produced by the upgraded ebullated bed reactor reduces the rate of equipment fouling at any given sediment production rate and/or concentration compared to the sediment produced by the ebullated bed reactor prior to upgrading. In some cases, sediment production rate and/or concentration are maintained or increased, after upgrading the ebullated bed reactor, while equipment fouling is reduced. In other cases, sediment production rate and/or concentration are increased, after upgrading the ebullated bed reactor, without increasing equipment fouling. In some cases, sediment production rate and/or concentration are decreased by a given percentage, after upgrading the ebullated bed reactor, and the rate of equipment fouling is decreased by a substantially greater percentage.

Abstract: Cracking furnace system for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock into cracked gas comprising a convection section, a radiant section and a cooling section, wherein the convection section includes a plurality of convection banks configured to receive and preheat hydrocarbon feedstock, wherein the radiant section includes a firebox comprising at least one radiant coil configured to heat up the feedstock to a temperature allowing a pyrolysis reaction, wherein the cooling section includes at least one transfer line exchanger.

Abstract: A process for operating a reforming system by operating a reforming section containing a plurality of reactors, wherein each of the plurality of reactors containing a reforming catalyst capable of catalyzing the conversion of at least a portion of the hydrocarbons in a treated hydrocarbon stream into a reactor effluent comprising aromatic hydrocarbons, and operating a sulfur guard bed (SGB) to remove sulfur and sulfur-containing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon feed to provide the treated hydrocarbon stream, where the SGB contains at least a layer of a SGB catalyst comprising the same catalyst as the reforming catalyst, and where each reactor of the plurality of reactors within the reforming section may be operated at a higher operating temperature than an operating temperature of the SGB. A system for carrying out the process is also provided.