Abstract: Disclosed techniques include energy transfer using high-pressure vessels. Liquid is pumped into a high-pressure vessel to pressurize a gas. The gas can include air. Liquid is sprayed into the high-pressure vessel to cool the gas. Heat exchange is performed to cool the liquid before spraying the liquid into the high-pressure vessel. The spraying liquid into the top and the bottom of the high-pressure vessel is accomplished using nozzles in a top portion and nozzles in a bottom portion of the high-pressure vessel. The pressurized gas is transferred into a storage reservoir. The storage reservoir can include an underground cavern or aquifer. Gas from the storage reservoir is delivered to drive a turbine to recover stored energy. The extracting gas from the storage reservoir is accomplished using an additional high-pressure vessel. Heat exchange is performed to warm the liquid before spraying the liquid into the additional high-pressure vessel.

Abstract: A fluid catalytic cracking unit equipped with multiple feed injection points along the length of the riser is operated such that portions of the same fresh feed are charged to different feed injection points. Preferably, the hydrocarbon fresh feed can be split into two or more non-distinct fractions, with one fraction charged to the bottom injection point along the length of the riser reactor, and the remaining fractions charged to injection points progressively higher up along the length of the riser reactor with the temperature of the upper injection feed fractions being different from that of the lowest injection point fraction prior to entry into the FCC riser reactor. Hydrocarbon products from the cracking process can be recycled to one or more of the various injection points along the length of the riser.

Abstract: A fluid catalytic cracking unit equipped with multiple feed injection points along the length of the riser is operated such that all of the fresh feed is charged to one of different feed injection points, depending on the ratio of light distillate (gasoline) to middle distillate (light catalytic gas oil) that is desired in the product slate. When all of the fresh feed is charged to one of the upper injection points in the riser in order to increase middle distillate yield, the unconverted slurry oil (650.degree. F.+material) can be recycled to a location below the injection point of the fresh feed so as to increase conversion to middle distillate while lowering the activity of the catalyst (via coke deposition) for single pass conversion of the fresh feed. Steam in excess of levels typically employed for dispersion is used at the bottom of the riser to lift the regenerated catalyst up to the feed injection points.

Abstract: A method for selective alteration of yield structures in fluid catalytic cracking units toward more middle distillate (light catalytic gas oil) and less light distillate (gasoline) by the addition of basic nitrogen compounds.

Abstract: A process is provided for the pretreatment of heavy oil feeds to demetalate and remove coke precursors. Inert, sorbent material is utilized in a reaction zone to effect the contaminant removal and is cycled to a regeneration zone. The sorbent also adsorbs sulfur oxides produced in a regeneration zone which are then cycled back to the reaction zone, converted to hydrogen sulfide, and removed from the system. The preferred sorbent material is high surface area alumina, having an average surface area in the circulating inventory of greater than 100 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: Contaminant metals in hydrocarbon oils such as nickel, vanadium and iron deposit on inert sorbents during pretreatment of the oils in a fluidized reactor-regenerator system, and catalyze dehydrogenation reactions contributing to excessive coke and gas make. The dehydrogenation activity of the said contaminant metals is suppressed by depositing minor amounts of a bismuth-containing passivating agent on the inert solids, desirably, at a weight ratio of bismuth to nickel equivalents (nickel+0.2 vanadium+0.1 iron) of about 0.01:1 to about 1:1. The passivating agent can consist of mixtures of compounds of bismuth and antimony, and bismuth and tin, with the weight ratio of bismuth to antimony in the range of about 0.01:1 to about 100:1, and weight ratio of bismuth to tin in the range of about 0.01:1 to about 100:1.

Abstract: A fluid catalytic cracking unit equipped with multiple feed injection points along the length of the riser is operated such that portions of the same fresh feed are charged to different feed injection points. Preferably, the hydrocarbon fresh feed can be split into two or more non-distinct fractions, with one fraction charged to the bottom injection point along the length of the riser reactor, and the remaining fractions charged to injection points progressively higher up along the length of the riser reactor. Unconverted slurry oil boiling above 650.degree. F. can be recycled to one or more of the various injection points along the length of the riser.

Abstract: Poisoning of a cracking catalyst by contaminant metals such as nickel, vanadium and iron during fluid catalytic cracking of hydrocarbon charge stock containing the contaminant metals is suppressed by depositing minor amounts of a bismuth-containing passivating agent on the catalyst, desirably, a weight ratio of bismuth to nickel equivalents (nickel+0.2 vanadium+0.1 iron) of about 0.01:1 to about 1:1. The passivating agent can also comprise mixtures of compounds of bismuth and antimony, bismuth and tin.

Abstract: A fluid catalytic cracking unit equipped with multiple feed injection points along the length of the riser is operated such that portions of the same fresh feed are charged to different feed injection points. Preferably, the hydrocarbon fresh feed can be split into two or more non-distinct fractions, with one fraction charged to the bottom injection point along the length of the riser reactor, and the remaining fractions charged to injection points progressively higher up along the length of the riser reactor. Unconverted slurry oil boiling above 650.degree. F. can be recycled to one or more of the various injection points along the length of the riser.