Abstract: A processing scheme and arrangement for enhanced olefin production involves recovering thermal energy from a reactor effluent stream resulting from the dehydrogenation of a dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon. The process involves contacting the reactor effluent stream with a circulating fluid stream in a first contact cooling zone to produce a product stream and to form a heated circulating fluid stream. Thermal energy is recovered from the heated circulating fluid stream via indirect heat exchange with a first process stream in a first heat exchange zone to form a cooled circulating fluid stream. The cooled circulating fluid stream can be subsequently cooled and at least a first portion thereof returned to the first contact cooling zone.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for recovering 1-butene from a feed steam comprising n-butane, isobutane and butene isomers using a single, divided wall distillation column. The disclosed process includes introducing the feed steam into an inlet of a first side of a distillation column, wherein the distillation column comprises a top, a bottom and a center dividing wall extending between the bottom and the top of the column and dividing the column into the first side and a second side. The process includes taking off an isobutane stream from the top of the second side of column, taking off a 1-butene stream as a bottoms stream from the second side of the column, and taking off a combination 2-butene and n-butane stream as a bottom stream from the first side of column.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for recovering 1-butene from a feed steam comprising n-butane, isobutane and butene isomers using a single, divided wall distillation column. The disclosed process includes introducing the feed steam into an inlet of a first side of a distillation column, wherein the distillation column comprises a top, a bottom and a center dividing wall extending between the bottom and the top of the column and dividing the column into the first side and a second side. The process includes taking off an isobutane stream from the top of the second side of column, taking off a 1-butene stream as a bottoms stream from the second side of the column, and taking off a combination 2-butene and n-butane stream as a bottom stream from the first side of column.

Abstract: Improved processes and apparatus use a finishing column with a mid-cut that provides alkylbenzene products of high purity containing less than about 1 ppmw benzene and less than about 50 ppmw heavies while accommodating enhancements in the efficiencies and the capacities of the distillation train to recover alkylbenzene from alkylation reaction product and while enabling the use of catalytic treatments to reduce olefinic-component content.

Abstract: A control apparatus and control method for controlling the separation in a dividing wall distillation column of at least two feeds into at least three products is disclosed. The apparatus uses a temperature measuring device to measure the temperature of fluid in the column, a controller, and a means for adjusting the temperature of fluid in the column. The temperature measuring device may be on either side of the dividing wall or above or below the dividing wall, and more than one such device may be used. The apparatus and method may be used in the production of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons by alkylating aromatic hydrocarbons with olefinic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for the production of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons by alkylating aromatic hydrocarbons with olefinic hydrocarbons is disclosed. The olefinic hydrocarbons are produced by dehydrogenating paraffinic hydrocarbons. Aromatic byproducts formed in dehydrogenation are removed using an aromatic byproducts removal zone and either a dividing wall distillation column or thermally coupled distillation columns. The process significantly decreases the cost of utilities in producing alkylaromatics, such as precursors for detergent manufacture.

Abstract: Construction and operational costs of simulated moving bed adsorptive separation process units are reduced by recovering desorbent from both the extract and raffinate streams of the process in a single column. Both streams are fractionated to recover desorbent, which is removed at one end of a dividing wall column, while separate extract and raffinate products are removed from the other end of the column.

Abstract: A process for the production of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons by alkylating aromatic hydrocarbons with linear olefinic hydrocarbons is disclosed. The linear olefinic hydrocarbons are produced by dehydrogenating linear paraffinic hydrocarbons which are extracted from a heartcut that is distilled from a kerosene boiling range fraction in either a dividing wall fractionation column or in two fully thermally coupled fractionation columns. The process significantly decreases the cost of utilities in producing alkylaromatic precursors for detergent manufacture.

Abstract: A process for the production of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons by alkylating aromatic hydrocarbons with olefinic hydrocarbons is disclosed. The olefinic hydrocarbons are produced by dehydrogenating paraffinic hydrocarbons. Aromatic byproducts formed in dehydrogenation are removed using an aromatic byproducts removal zone and either a dividing wall distillation column or thermally coupled distillation columns. The process significantly decreases the cost of utilities in producing alkylaromatics, such as precursors for detergent manufacture.

Abstract: Construction and operational costs of simulated moving bed adsorptive separation process units are reduced by recovering desorbent from both the extract and raffinate streams of the process in a single integrated fraction column. Both streams are fractionated to recover desorbent, which is removed at one end of a dividing wall column, while separate extract and raffinate products are removed from the other end of the column. A specific embodiment includes the use of the integrated fractionation column in an isomerization application.

Abstract: A method of converting an HF alkylation process into a solid catalyst alkylation process is disclosed. In this method, an HF alkylation unit having an HF stripper downstream of the HF alkylation reactor is modified to a benzene rectifier. By modifying the HF stripper, this invention not only makes use of the existing HF stripper but also allows the entire downstream product recovery section, which comprises four fractionation columns, to be used in the modified process with only relatively minor modifications. Thus this invention maximizes the use of existing equipment and minimizes the investment necessary to eliminate the use of HF in detergent alkylation.

Abstract: An integrated alkylaromatic process using a solid alkylation catalyst and an aromatic rectifier is disclosed for alkylating aromatics with olefins and for regenerating the solid alkylation catalyst. The aromatic rectifier produces a relatively low-purity aromatic-containing overhead stream that is used in producing alkylaromatics, and an aromatic column produces a relatively high-purity aromatic-containing overhead stream that is used in regenerating the solid alkylation catalyst. In another embodiment, this process is further integrated with a paraffin dehydrogenation zone and an aromatic by-products removal zone. This invention produces the benzene-containing streams that are necessary for alkylating and for regenerating in a more economical manner than prior art processes.

Abstract: A method of converting an HF alkylation process into a solid catalyst alkylation process is disclosed. In this method, an HF alkylation unit having an HF stripper downstream of the HF alkylation reactor is modified to a benzene rectifier. By modifying the HF stripper, this invention not only makes use of the existing HF stripper but also allows the entire downstream product recovery section, which comprises four fractionation columns, to be used in the modified process with only relatively minor modifications. Thus this invention maximizes the use of existing equipment and minimizes the investment necessary to eliminate the use of HF in detergent alkylation.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to shear thickening fluids which comprise a water-swellable material (clay), present in a sufficient concentration so as to be capable of forming a stiff paste upon interaction with the water used, and water wherein the clay and water are kept separated by an intervening hydrocarbon-surfactant composition. The intervening oil phase prevents the interaction between the water and the clay phases and results in a stable, nonreacting, pumpable composite until such time as the oil envelope is ruptured by application of a sufficiently high shear force. Upon such rupture, the materials interact rapidly forming a semi-rigid stiff paste.Various well-control problems, such as oil and gas with blowouts, can be controlled by use of the above-described composite. The composite is pumped down the well pipe.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to shear thickening fluids which comprise a water-swellable material (clay), present in a sufficient concentration so as to be capable of forming a stiff paste upon interaction with the water used, and water wherein the clay and water are kept separated by an intervening hydrocarbon-surfactant composition. The intervening oil phase prevents the interaction between the water and the clay phases and results in a stable, nonreacting, pumpable composite until such time as the oil envelope is ruptured by application of a sufficiently high shear force. Upon such rupture, the materials interact rapidly forming a semi-rigid stiff paste. Various well-control problems, such as oil and gas with blowouts, can be controlled by use of the above-described composite. The composite is pumped down the well pipe.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the approximate temperature profile of a large curved surface such as the outer surface of a chemical or hydrocarbon conversion reactor. At least two arrays of wire having a temperature dependent electrical resistance are placed over the surface to be monitored, with the arrays being aligned in different directions to cover the surface with a grid of overlapping wires. By measuring the resistance of each wire and comparing this resistance to predetermine reference values, wires which pass through regions of elevated temperature compared to the remainder of the surface may be located. By attributing the elevated temperatures to the area covered by the intersecting wires which show an increased resistance the areas of high temperature on the surface may be located.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of C.sub.2 + normally gaseous paraffinic hydrocarbons to produce the corresponding monoolefinic hydrocarbons is disclosed. The energy-efficient process is particularly directed to the separation of recycle hydrogen from the olefinic hydrocarbon products and unreacted paraffinic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of low molecular weight paraffinic hydrocarbons is disclosed. The process is particularly directed to the separation of hydrogen from the olefinic hydrocarbon products and unreacted paraffinic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for contacting two immiscible fluids is disclosed. A liquid stream enters the top of an apparatus and travels downward within an annular bed of packing. A vapor stream or a less dense liquid stream enters the bottom of the apparatus and travels upward making many radial flow passes through succeedingly higher parts of the annular bed. The sigmoid flow of the rising stream is channeled by horizontal disks within the open central volume of the annular bed and by horizontal open-centered rings which surround the annular bed at staggered elevations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for forming a polymeric solution or gel having a viscosity of at least about 50,000 cps which includes the steps forming a solvent system of an organic liquid and a polar cosolvent, the polar cosolvent being less than about 15 wt. % of the solvent system, a viscosity of the solvent system being less than about 1000 cps; dissolving to form a solution, a concentration of the neutralized sulfonated polymer in the solution being about 0.1 to about 20 wt. %, a viscosity of the solution being less than about 20,000 cps; and admixing or contacting said solution with about 5 to about 500 vol. % water, the water being immiscible with the solution and the polar cosolvent transferring from the solution phase to the water phase thereby causing the viscosity of said solution to increase rapidly from less to 20,000 cps to greater than 50,000 cps.