Abstract: A process of preparing an alkylated benzene or mixture of alkylated benzenes involving contacting a benzene feedstock with a solid acid, such as an acidic clay or acid zeolite, in a pretreatment zone at a temperature greater than about 130° C. but less than about 300° C. to form a pretreated benzene feedstock, and thereafter contacting the pretreated benzene feedstock with (a) an alkylating agent in an alkylation zone or (b) a transalkylating agent in a transalkylation zone, in the presence of an alkylation/transalkylation catalyst so as to prepare the alkylated benzene or mixture of alkylated benzenes. The pretreatment step improves the lifetime of the alkylation/transalkylation catalyst. Preferred products are ethylbenzene and cumene.

Abstract: A compact and efficient fuel reformer which is operable to produce a hydrogen-enriched process fuel from a raw fuel such as natural gas, or the like includes a compact array of catalyst tubes which are contained in a heat-insulated housing. The catalyst tube array preferably includes a multitude of catalyst tubes that are arranged in a hexagonal array. The housing includes internal hexagonal thermal insulation so as to ensure even heating of the catalyst tubes. The diameter of the tubes is sized so that spacing between adjacent tubes in the array can be minimized for efficient heat transfer. The interior of each of the catalyst tubes includes a hollow dead-ended central tube which serves as a fines trap for collecting catalyst fines that may become entrained in the fuel stream. The catalyst tubes are also provided with an upper frusto-conical portion which serves to extend the catalyst bed and provide a catalyst reserve.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating and stripping a mixture of gas and particles comprises an envelope having separation chambers and circulation chambers distributed about a reactor, the upper portion of each separation chamber comprising an inlet opening communicating with the reactor and with a zone for rotating the mixture in a vertical plane. Each separation chamber comprises two lateral walls which are also walls for the circulation chamber, at least one of the walls of each chamber comprising a lateral outlet opening for mixing gas and particles into the adjacent circulation chamber. Each separation chamber also comprises an axial opening for particles to enter a stripping chamber, the envelope further comprises a conduit for evacuating a gas-particle mixture connected to at least one secondary separator and the stripping chamber communicating with the conduit via circulation chambers. Application of this apparatus is to fluidized bed catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons in a riser and/or dropper.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making alpha-methylstyrene dimers by combining a cobalt catalyst, a free-radical initiator and an alpha-methylstyrene monomer, in an inert atmosphere, to form a mixture. The mixture is heated to a temperature in the range of 5° C. to 140° C. to form alpha methyl styrene dimers. The present invention also relates to the products produced by this inventive method.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the production of thin oxide coatings, having a vacuum chamber wherein an oxygen chamber with an opening and a rotary substrate holder overlapping the latter are disposed. For the rotary arrangement of the substrate holder a rotary mounting is provided, which engages a circumferential portion of the substrate holder.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally an apparatus for uniformly mixing gaseous flows at different temperatures. In particular, a preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to a heterogeneous exothermic synthesis reactor including a plurality of superimposed catalytic beds wherein at least one of the beds is provided with a gas permeable wall for outlet of a hot gas flow. In this embodiment, a baffle extends below and parallel to the gas permeable wall, thereby defining an air space to collect the hot gas flow. An annular opening is provided for outlet of the hot gas flow from the air space defined between the baffle and a side wall supporting the beds associated with the reactor and a perforated distributor for cooling a gas flow supported below said baffle at a predetermined distance from the annular opening.

Abstract: The structure of the present invention consumes carbon monoxide produced by the reverse shift reaction proceeding in an effective temperature range that ensures a sufficient activity of a catalyst for selective oxidation of carbon monoxide, thus significantly reducing the concentration of carbon monoxide included in a resulting hydrogen-rich gas. A fuel reformer 30 incorporated in a fuel-cells system 10 includes a gas flow sensor 37 disposed in a reformed gas supply conduit 36 that connects a reformer unit 32 with a CO selective oxidizing unit 34. A control unit 70 outputs driving signals to three valves of the CO selective oxidizing unit 34, in response to a detection signal from the gas flow sensor 37. The CO selective oxidizing unit 34 has three reaction chambers filled with a carbon monoxide selective oxidizing catalyst. The number of the reaction chambers, which a reformed gas fed to the CO selective oxidizing unit 34 passes through, is changed by switching the on/off state of the three valves.

Abstract: Apparatus for sewage purifying treatment having a suction nozzle member for supplying pressurized water, an intermediate nozzle member and an injection nozzle member, each having a water passage therein, each nozzle being connected to each other. An air introducing nozzle is formed between nozzle members. An outer casing is arranged in such a fashion that an air introducing chamber is formed at the outer circumference of the intermediate nozzle member, the air introducing chamber and the air introducing nozzle communicating with each other. A pressurized water supply pipe is connected to an end of the suction nozzle member and an air supply pipe is connected to the outer casing for supplying the air to the outer casing. A groove for micronizing coarse bubbles are formed at the downstream position of the air introducing nozzles.

Abstract: A process for the dual riser contacting of a primary feed and a secondary recycle feed fraction uses independent recovery of the separate streams from the riser cracking zone to improve the product yields and properties. Separate recovery segregates the upgraded recracked components from the rest of the primary cracked products. The benefits of selective of recracking are lost if the upgraded products from the recycle stream become recombined with the primary cracked product. The selectively recovered recycle feed may undergo hydroprocessing to hydrogenate, hydrocrack and/or hydrotreatment before recracking. The process can also make highly efficient use of the high residual activity in the catalyst that has contacted the secondary feed.

Abstract: In a process for urea production, substantially pure ammonia and carbon dioxide are reacted in a main reaction space from which outgoes a reaction mixture subjected to stripping to obtain a partially purified mixture sent to a urea recovery section. From this section, a dilute carbamate solution is obtained which is recycled to an auxiliary reaction space in which the residual carbamate is converted into urea. This process achieves high average conversion yield with reduced energy consumption.

Abstract: A simulated moving bed flushing apparatus and its use are described. The adsorber comprises a plurality of beds (10, 11) of adsorbent, each bed being connected to a distribution means (5) comprising two fluid distribution lines (2,1,) the first distribution line (2) of each distribution means being connected to at least one inlet (7) for feed and to at least one raffmate outlet (8), the other line 1 being connected to at least one solvent inlet (3) and to at least one extract outlet (4), each inlet and outlet comprising an on-off valve (7a, 8a, 3a, 4a), the first distribution line (2) comprising a flushing valve (9), and all of the flushing valves (9) relating to all of the distribution lines (2) are connected to means (100, 102) for circulating a fluid to be displaced. FIG. 1 to be published.

Abstract: A process for carrying out a reaction on an organic feed, for example dimerization, co-dimerization, oligomerization or metathesis of olefins, as described in which the catalyst is a catalytic metal compound dissolved in a non-aqueous ionic medium which is not or is only slightly miscible with hydrocarbons. The reaction is carried out in a system comprising at least two treatment loops each comprising at least one reaction zone and at least one zone for separating the organic and polar phases between which the polar medium containing the catalytic metal compound, and the organic phase circulate. Fresh polar phase is injected into the second loop and used polar phase is eliminated from the first loop. The hydrocarbon to be transformed is injected into the first loop and the products are withdrawn from the second loop. The invention also concerns a unit for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A process gas selective oxidizer assemblage for use in a fuel cell power plant includes one or more catalyzed selective oxidizer process gas flow fields and one or more adjacent non-catalyzed heat exchanger process gas flow fields. The catalyzed selective oxidizer process gas flow fields may be formed with catalyzed pellets or with a monolithic catalyzed open cell foam component. The heat exchanger process gas flow fields are formed by non-catalyzed monolithic open cell foam components which have coolant fluid passages disposed therein. Planar metal sheets form a common wall between the selective oxidizer process gas flow fields and the heat exchanger process gas flow fields. The use of the open cell foam to form the heat exchanger process gas flow fields provides enhanced heat transfer between the reformate gas and the coolant fluid.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a continuous catalytic process, for example, for the metathesis of olefins that uses a catalyst circulating in a moving bed in at least one reaction zone operating in the liquid phase and in a regenerator, with a lift to transfer the deactivated catalyst emerging from the reaction zone to the regenerator, whereby said process is characterized by the fact that the transfer is accomplished by a gas that does not react with the catalyst and with the stripping off of at least a portion of the organic matter that is adsorbed on the deactivated catalyst.

Abstract: An injector for delivery of a fluid into a stream of hot gas is disclosed. The injector has a valve body with an elongated chamber in fluid communication with an orifice. A valve seat surrounds the orifice. A valve plunger is disposed within the chamber, an end of the plunger being adapted to sealingly interengage the seat. The plunger is slidably movable between an open and a closed position to open and close the orifice. A fluid inlet and an outlet are disposed within the valve body to deliver fluid to an annular fluid passageway in the chamber adjacent to the valve seat. Fluid is circulated through the annular passageway to cool the valve and a portion of the fluid is expelled through the orifice when the orifice is opened. The plunger is biased into the closed position by a coil spring and movable into the open position by a solenoid actuator mounted atop the valve body.

Abstract: A process for oligomerizing at least one heavy olefin having at least 5 carbon atoms per molecule in the presence of at least one co-fed light olefin having less than 5 carbon atoms per molecule is disclosed. The presence of the at least one co-fed light olefin results in increased C6=(C6 olefin) conversion (if present as one of the at least one heavy olefins), increased weight % of C11+ hydrocarbons in the C9+ material of the product and increased cetane of the C9+ material of the product as compared to the oligomerization of the at least one heavy olefin without the co-fed at least one light olefin.

Abstract: The inventive apparatus is comprised of a means for producing cavitation in a complex reaction mixture to enhance the yield of the selected reaction product, a means for controlling the temperature of the complex reaction mixture, especially during cavitation, and a means for affecting magnetic separation of paramagnetic beads to which the selected reaction product is attached from the complex reaction mixture. In one embodiment, the compound(s) or molecule(s) is synthesized in situ, and isolated using the inventive apparatus. The apparatus finds use in the fields of solid phase organic synthesis, and for isolation and purification of a selected compound(s) or molecule (s), especially where automation is desired.

Abstract: A system for converting light hydrocarbons to heavier hydrocarbons having a synthesis gas production unit and a hydrocarbon synthesis unit. For one application the synthesis gas production unit includes a turbine unit with a compression section, an autothermal reformer fluidly coupled to the compression section for producing synthesis gas and combusting at least a portion the gas therein, and an expansion section of the turbine unit fluidly coupled to the autothermal reformer for developing energy from the output of the autothermal reformer. A water separation unit is preferably fluidly coupled to the synthesis gas production unit for removing water from the synthesis gas. The water is directed to an oxygen/hydrogen separator to produce oxygen and hydrogen. Another water separation unit may also be coupled to the output from the hydrocarbon synthesis unit for removing water from the heavier hydrocarbons and directing the water to the oxygen/hydrogen separator.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the concurrent production and hydrogenation of diisobutene in a single distillation column reactor containing both a dimerization catalyst and a hydrogenation catalyst by the dimerized of isobutene to diisobutene. The catalysts may be in alternating beds or physically mixed together in one or more beds. Alternatively a bifunctional catalyst having both dimerization and hydrogenation properties may be used.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for indirectly heating reactants in a reaction zone controls the combustion of fuel through the metering of combustion gas from a central channel across perforated plates into outer combustion channels. Controlling the combustion of fuel in channels that supplies heat indirectly to a reaction zone simplifies the operation of the reaction zone and improves reaction zone conversion and/or selectivity. Simplified operation results from the elimination of equipment for the heating of the heat exchange fluid by the controlled combustion of fuel in situ in the reaction zone. Improved conversion and/or selectivity proceeds from reduction in temperature differences between the heating medium and the reactants. Catalyst promotion of fuel combustion may also be varied through other available mechanisms such as variations in residence time, catalyst composition, flow area, and component concentration. Particularly suitable catalysts comprise oxidation promoting catalysts.