Abstract: Processing scheme and arrangement for increasing the relative yield of light olefins involves integration of the cracking a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock to produce an effluent comprising a range of hydrocarbon products including C4-C7 olefins and the subsequent cracking at least a portion of the C4-C7 olefins to produce additional light olefins.

Abstract: A process and apparatus that uses a debutanizer with a side stripper can recover a light stream, an intermediate stream and a liquid stream. One of the intermediate stream and the liquid stream can be recycled to oligomerization or to fluid catalytic cracking.

Abstract: A process and apparatus that uses a debutanizer with a side stripper can recover a light stream, an intermediate stream and a liquid stream. One of the intermediate stream and the liquid stream can be recycled to oligomerization or to fluid catalytic cracking.

Abstract: Methods of making synthetic distillate fuel are described. The methods involve the use of an absorbent bed of molecular sieves which adsorb the n-paraffins from a distillate fuel cut. This allows the distillate fuel true boiling point cut point on the distillation column to increase to a higher temperature to make a distillate fuel which meets all of the synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) or synthetic diesel specifications on distillation as well as the cold flow property specification, such as freeze point for SPK or cloud point, cold filter plugging point and pour point for synthetic diesel. This approach could improve aviation fuel yields by about 5 to about 10% and synthetic diesel yields up to 20%.

Abstract: The present invention involves a process for processing an acidic biorenewable feedstock comprising olefins, in which the acidic biorenewable feedstock is diluted with a deoxygenated feed to produce a diluted biorenewable feedstock and then is sent through a guard bed comprising a hydroprocessing catalyst to cause the olefins to be saturated with hydrogen and thereby to produce a treated biorenewable feedstock. This treated biorenewable feedstock can then be treated under standard hydroprocessing condition to produce an upgraded feedstock for transportation fuels.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods for producing ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) are provided herein. A method for producing ETBE comprises the steps of contacting a C4 olefin-rich stream that contains isobutene with a first catalyst in the presence of ethanol at etherification conditions effective to form a reaction effluent comprising ETBE and residual ethanol. The reaction effluent is combined with a C5 paraffin-rich stream that contains isopentane to form a combined stream. The combined stream is fractionated at distillation conditions effective to produce an ETBE-rich product stream. Fractionating the combined stream comprises forming a light boiling azeotrope of ethanol with isopentane to remove at least a portion of the residual ethanol from the combined stream.

Abstract: One example method of the invention includes a process for producing an olefin comprising the steps of communicating a feed stream that comprises a paraffin to a distillation section, communicating a distillation section output stream to a reactor and reacting the distillation section output stream in the reactor to produce a reactor output stream comprising an olefin. A splitter feed stream that is in communication with and downstream from the reactor output stream is communicated to an olefin splitter, and a splitter output stream is communicated to a heat pump compressor. A heat pump compressor output stream is communicated to the distillation section and heat is used from the heat pump compressor output stream to reheat a distillation section stream that contains unreacted paraffin.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for oligomerizing one or more hydrocarbons. The process can include oligomerizing a feed including one or more C3-C5 hydrocarbons to produce an effluent, and recycling at least a portion of the effluent for oligomerizing. Typically, the recycled portion has at least about 50%, by weight, one or more alkenes based on the weight of the recycled portion.

Abstract: A process has been developed for producing fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant and animal oils and greases. The process involves treating a first portion of a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating in a first reaction zone and a second portion of a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating in a second reaction zone to provide a diesel boiling point range fuel hydrocarbon product. If desired, the hydrocarbon product can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A portion of the hydrocarbon product is recycled to the first reaction zone to increase the hydrogen solubility of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating hydrogen recycle gas in a process for converting biorenewable feedstock into green diesel fuel are provided. Sponge oil is provided. Hydrogen recycle gas produced during the process is contacted with the sponge oil. The sponge oil and hydrogen recycle gas are contacted in a contact drum and propane and other light hydrocarbons from the hydrogen recycle gas are absorbed into the sponge oil producing purified recycle gas and propane-rich sponge oil. The purified recycle gas is recycled into the process and the propane-rich sponge oil is fractionated to recover propane. The sponge oil may be sour sponge oil to also sulfide a deoxygenation catalyst used in the process.

Abstract: A process for improving cold flow properties of diesel range hydrocarbons produced from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils and animal oils. A renewable feedstock is treated by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide an effluent comprising paraffins followed by isomerizing and selectively hydrocracking at least a portion of the paraffins to generate a diesel range hydrocarbon product. A portion of the diesel range hydrocarbon product is selectively separated and recycled to the isomerization and selective hydrocracking zone.

Abstract: A process has been developed for producing fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant and animal oils and greases. The process involves treating a first portion of a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating in a first reaction zone and a second portion of a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating in a second reaction zone to provide a diesel boiling point range fuel hydrocarbon product. If desired, the hydrocarbon product can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A portion of the hydrocarbon product is recycled to the first reaction zone to increase the hydrogen solubility of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for desorbing an adsorbent bed. The process can include passing a desorbent stream through the adsorbent bed to remove at least one of a nitrile compound and an oxygenate compound. Generally, the desorbent stream after desorbing is combined with a feed stream for an alkylation zone after a selective hydrogenation zone.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating hydrogen recycle gas in a process for converting biorenewable feedstock into green diesel fuel are provided. Sponge oil is provided. Hydrogen recycle gas produced during the process is contacted with the sponge oil. The sponge oil and hydrogen recycle gas are contacted in a contact drum and propane and other light hydrocarbons from the hydrogen recycle gas are absorbed into the sponge oil producing purified recycle gas and propane-rich sponge oil. The purified recycle gas is recycled into the process and the propane-rich sponge oil is fractionated to recover propane. The sponge oil may be sour sponge oil to also sulfide a deoxygenation catalyst used in the process.

Abstract: In an oligomerization apparatus comprising at least two oligomerization reactors, at least portions of product streams from two reactors are separated in the same separator vessel; a liquid product stream from the first oligomerization reactor is fed to a fractionation column and a side cut from the fractionation column feeds the second oligomerization reactor.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a measurement associated with a cloud point of a biofuel being produced in a refining system. The method also includes determining how to adjust the refining system based on a desired cloud point of the biofuel and the measurement associated with the cloud point. The method further includes outputting a control signal to adjust the refining system based on the determination. Determining how to adjust the refining system could include determining how to adjust an inlet temperature of a reactor in the refining system. The reactor could represent an isomerization reactor, and a heater could heat material entering the isomerization reactor. Determining how to adjust the inlet temperature of the reactor could include determining how to adjust operation of the heater. A model predictive control (MPC) technique could be used to determine how to adjust the inlet temperature of the isomerization reactor.

Abstract: The present invention involves a process for processing an acidic biorenewable feedstock comprising olefins, in which the acidic biorenewable feedstock is diluted with a deoxygenated feed to produce a diluted biorenewable feedstock and then is sent through a guard bed comprising a hydroprocessing catalyst to cause the olefins to be saturated with hydrogen and thereby to produce a treated biorenewable feedstock. This treated biorenewable feedstock can then be treated under standard hydroprocessing condition to produce an upgraded feedstock for transportation fuels.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a fractionation zone for an alkylation apparatus. The fractionation zone can be a column adapted to receive a feed including at least one alcohol, water, and at least one ketone. The column may provide an overhead stream including the at least one ketone and a side-stream including the at least one alcohol and water.

Abstract: A process for improving cold flow properties of diesel range hydrocarbons produced from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils and animal oils. A renewable feedstock is treated by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide an effluent comprising paraffins followed by isomerizing and selectively hydrocracking at least a portion of the paraffins to generate a diesel range hydrocarbon product. A portion of the diesel range hydrocarbon product is selectively separated and recycled to the isomerization and selective hydrocracking zone.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for desorbing an adsorbent bed. The process can include passing a desorbent stream through the adsorbent bed to remove at least one of a nitrile compound and an oxygenate compound. Generally, the desorbent stream after desorbing is combined with a feed stream for an alkylation zone after a selective hydrogenation zone.