Abstract: Apparatus and process for producing hydrocarbons from biomass having a pyrolysis reactor (2) in which dry biomass (Bd) is heated in an environment substantially free from oxygen and halogens, a pyrolysis product (PP) and char (C) is produced, a gasification reactor (3) in which separated char (C) is heated in an environment containing steam (Wst) to reduce the char (C) to produce a synthesis gas (Sh), a gas cooler (4) in which the produced synthesis gas (Sh) is cooled to a cooled synthesis gas (Srt); a conditioning and pressure system (5) in which cooled synthesis gas (Srt) is refined to produce a purified synthesis gas (Sp), and a separation device (6) in which hydrogen gas (H2) is separated from purified synthesis gas (Sp).

Abstract: Described herein are methods, systems, and compositions for providing catalysts for tail gas clean up in sulfur recovery operations. Aspects involve obtaining catalyst that was used in a first process, which is not a tailgas treating process and then using the so-obtained catalyst in a tailgas treating process. For example, the catalyst may originally be a hydroprocessing catalyst. A beneficial aspect of the described methods and systems is that the re-use of spent hydroprocessing catalyst reduces hazardous waste generation by operators from spent catalyst disposal. Ultimately, this helps reduce the environmental impact of the catalyst life cycle. The described methods and systems also provide an economically attractive source of high-performance catalyst for tailgas treatment, which benefits the spent catalyst generator, the catalyst provider, and the catalyst consumer.

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

Abstract: A method for extracting bitumen from an oil sand slurry involves limiting the size of rock and clay lumps in the slurry to a first size, conditioning the slurry in a pipeline, screening the slurry through a rotary screening apparatus to remove the lumps that are larger than a second size, and subjecting the slurry to gravity separation to separate the bitumen as a bitumen froth. A fastener assembly for securing a screen panel to a drum shell of a rotary screening apparatus includes an outer insert for insertion into an aperture of a drum shell, an inner insert for insertion through an aperture of the screen panel and into an inward facing pocket of the outer insert, and a bolt for securing together the outer and inner inserts. An insert for removable insertion into an aperture of a drum of a rotary screening apparatus defines a screening aperture.

Abstract: Paraffin compositions including mainly even carbon number paraffins, and a method for manufacturing the same, is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the method involves contacting naturally occurring fatty acid/glycerides with hydrogen in a slurry bubble column reactor containing bimetallic catalysts with equivalent particle diameters from about 10 to about 400 micron. The even carbon number compositions are particularly useful as phase change material.

Abstract: Lipid-depleted insect compositions are described and include protein, chitin, bacteria, fungi, and various ranges of calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, ash, manganese, iron, zinc, water, bulk density, carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and protein, wherein the composition is derived from Orthoptera order of insects, or the composition is not derived from Orthoptera order of insects. Lipid extraction methods are described which include use of a use of a first immiscible liquid and a second immiscible liquid. Compositions including insect eggs, feedstocks, and breeding materials are described.

Abstract: A process for conversion of a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock in a moving bed hydroprocessing reactor is provided in which (a) hydrogen gas is dissolved in the liquid feedstock and (b) the mixture is flashed to remove and recover any light components, leaving a hydrogen-enriched feedstock. A homogeneous and/or heterogeneous catalyst is added to the feedstock upstream of the moving bed hydroprocessing rector.

Abstract: Described is a method and apparatus for drying organic material using the energy contained in the organic material to be dried to drive the drying process. The organic material could be sewage sludge, food scraps, manure, wood, bagasse etc. The latent heat of evaporation is recovered through the use of a heat pump mechanism. This allows for the retention of a majority of the heat within the system, allowing optimal drying conditions to be maintained throughout the drying process.

Abstract: Aspects of the present application relate to dewatering methods, systems, apparatus, and associated components thereof. In one implementation, a plow for a sludge dewatering system includes a blade. The blade includes a leading edge, and a first wing swept downward in a vertical direction and outward in a first horizontal direction relative to the leading edge. The blade also includes a second wing swept downward in the vertical direction and outward in a second horizontal direction relative to the leading edge. The second horizontal direction is opposite of the first horizontal direction.

Abstract: An integrated process is provided herein having a first reaction zone to lower sulfur and nitrogen content of the initial feedstock to a target level to facilitate processing in a second reaction zone for deep hydrogenation. With the very low heteroatom content, noble metal catalyst materials used in the second reaction zone are protected and maximum saturation of aromatics is achieved. The processes and systems herein are suitable for converting certain heavy fractions, typically considered “low value” feedstocks, into higher value products including gasoline and diesel, and a hydrogen-rich, aromatic-lean heavy fraction suitable as feed for olefin production processes, or as a lubricant base oil.

Abstract: A delayed coking process for producing high grade coke comprising: introducing a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising asphaltenes to at least one fractionator to produce at least a bottoms fraction, an intermediate fraction and a light naphtha fraction: passing the bottoms fraction to a delayed coker unit furnace for heating to a predetermined coking temperature; passing the heated bottoms fraction to a first delayed coker unit to produce a first coke product and a first effluent substantially free of asphaltenes and comprising resins; and passing the first effluent to a second delayed coker unit to produce a second coke product comprising the high grade coke.

Abstract: A process and system for producing deasphalting and demetallized oil from an initial feed such as a heavy feed is provided. The feed is contacted with an effective quantity of solvent to promote phase separation, to produce an asphalt phase and a reduced asphalt content phase. The reduced asphalt content phase is contacted with an effective amount of solid adsorbent to remove undesirable metal compounds to produce an oil phase substantially-free of asphalt and substantially-free of metal. The oil phase that is substantially-free of asphalt and substantially-free of metal is subjected to flash separation to produce a solvent fraction for recycle and an oil phase effluent substantially-free of asphalt and substantially-free of metal for recovery as the desired product.

Abstract: Continuous charcoal production system in a vertical reactor with a concentric charging zone (1) and drying zone (2), a carbonization zone (3), a cooling zone (4) and a discharge zone (5), and a method for recovering energy from carbonization gases for the production of this charcoal, comprising the extraction of carbonization gas from the drying zone (2) and subdividing it into recirculating gas and heating gas, with the remaining gas exceeding the energy required to generate electricity; burning the heating gas in a hot gas generator (11); injecting the recirculating gas into a heat recovery unit (9); injecting the heating gas after combustion into the heat recovery unit (9), indirect heating of the recirculating gas; and reinjecting the heated recirculating gas into the carbonization zone (3) of the reactor (R).

Abstract: A process for separating and upgrading a hydrocarbon feed includes passing the hydrocarbon feed to a distillation unit to separate it into at least a naphtha stream and a residue, passing the naphtha stream to a NHT that hydrotreats the naphtha stream to produce a hydrotreated naphtha, passing the hydrotreated naphtha to an NREF that reforms the hydrotreated naphtha to produce a reformate, passing the reformate to an ARC that processes the reformate to produce at least one aromatic product effluent and an aromatic bottoms stream, and passing at least a portion of the aromatic bottoms stream comprising C9+ aromatic compounds to a steam cracking unit. The steam cracking unit may further upgrade the aromatic bottoms stream, which may increase the yields of greater value chemical intermediates and fuel blending components from the process. Systems for conducting the process are also described.

Abstract: A process for producing an upgraded oil blend, the process comprising the steps of introducing the combined stream to a supercritical reactor, wherein a volumetric ratio of water to oil in the combined stream is in the range between 10:1 and 2:1; reacting the combined stream in the supercritical water reactor to produce a reactor effluent, wherein the oil undergoes conversion reactions in the supercritical reactor such that the reactor effluent comprises upgraded bio-oil and upgraded heavy oil; reducing a temperature of the reactor effluent to produce a cooled effluent; operating the soaker to produce a product effluent, wherein a temperature in the soaker is between 250° C. and 350° C., wherein decarboxylation reactions occur in the soaker; and separating the product effluent in the separation unit to produce and the upgraded oil blend, wherein the upgraded oil blend comprises upgraded bio-oil and upgraded heavy oil.

Abstract: A photobioreactor with a microalgae's cultivation chamber in the form of a duct that is constructed from an inflatable sleeve from transparent polymer film; this inflatable sleeve excluding its terminal sections is sandwiched between a bank of frames with wire nettings from below and glass panes from above the inflatable sleeve, and it has a small inclination regarding the horizontal plane. The terminal sections of the inflatable sleeve are in fluid communication with two headers, which are used for supplying and removal of gaseous medium and suspension of microalgae into and out of the duct.

Abstract: A new apparatus, system and method to purified produced water and removed valuable metals and minerals is described. The apparatus comprises a device for flowing produced water wellbore from a wellbore to the produced water purification apparatus; at least one device to remove heavy metals from the produced water; at least one brine removal device to remove brine from the produced water. The method comprises steps to use the apparatus and the system comprises a control panel that operates the at least one device for removing heavy metals and at least one sensor in a coordinated manner.

Abstract: A method of forming C6-C8 aromatics may include selectively dealkylating a Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) heavy cut naphtha that has at least C9+ aromatics to selectively crack C2+ alkyl chains from the C9+ aromatics, thereby forming the C6-C8 aromatics. The selectively de-alkylated heavy cut naphtha is then combined with a FCC middle cut naphtha, and aromatics including the C6-C8 aromatics are separated from the combined stream. A system for forming C6-C8 aromatics may include a fluid catalytic cracking unit for producing a FCC heavy cut naphtha comprising at least C9+ aromatics; a de-alkylation reactor for selectively cracking C2+ alkyl chains from the C9+ aromatics, thereby forming the C6-C8 aromatics; and an aromatic extraction unit for extracting at least a portion of the C6-C8 aromatics.

Abstract: A two-stage recycle hydrocracking process may comprise hydrocracking at least a portion of a hydrocarbon feed to produce a first hydrocracked effluent, separating the first hydrocracked effluent into at least four separated effluents, hydrocracking at least a portion of the fourth separated effluent to produce a second hydrocracked effluent, and cooling the second hydrocracked effluent to a temperature less than or equal to 250 degrees Celsius to produce a cooled effluent. The second hydrocracking effluent may have a total concentration of aromatic compounds sufficient to maintain the solubility of heavy polynuclear aromatics in the second hydrocracked effluent and reduce precipitation of the heavy polynuclear aromatics in the second hydrocracked effluent. Processes for reducing or preventing the precipitation of heavy polynuclear aromatics during hydrocracking are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing carbonaceous clinker material from a coke oven are described. A coke oven can be provided including an oven floor, coke, and clinker material deposited on the oven floor. After a temperature of the coke oven has reached a first temperature (e.g., after heating coal in the oven to produce coke), the method includes increasing the temperature of the coke oven to a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature for a predetermined amount of time. After the predetermined amount of time, the temperature is reduced to a third temperature that is lower than the first temperature.