Abstract: A method for reducing the viscosity of a liquid heavy hydrocarbon feedstock comprising the steps of bringing said feedstock to a temperature capable of cracking of at least a portion of the hydrocarbons present in said feedstock and introducing said feedstock into a bottom portion of a maturation device (i.e. a "soaker"), where the feedstock is displaced from the bottom upwards, to get evacuated from a top portion of the soaker towards a fractioning unit. The invention also relates to an apparatus comprising a soaker in which are located, transversely to the direction of displacement of the feedstock to be treated, a plurality of annular discs spaced apart from one another, each disc comprising a circular central passage substantially coaxial to the soaker, the treated feedstock circulating from the bottom portion upwards in the soaker through the central passages of the various annular discs.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for controlling the relative proportion of products produced from a petroleum residuum by thermal coking. Coke yield promoting compounds are identified, and effective attenuating agents are specified. The method can mitigate a coke promoting effect induced by certain surfactants, antifoulants, or fugitive catalysts in thermal coking units. Mitigating the coke yield promoting effect of molybdenum, for example, in a thermal coker permits recovery of a greater proportion of distillate boiling range products.

Abstract: A steam cracking process and facility is described which comprises injection of erosive powder to effect at least partial decoking of transfer line exchangers without interrupting the steam cracking stream. The powder, preferably injected just upstream of the transfer line exchangers (TLE) (4), is separated from the cracked gases in primary gas/solid separators (5), temporarily stored in receiving drums at a controlled temperature and evacuated to a common powder storage and/or treatment module by pneumatic transfer by means of a relatively low flow of uncondensable gas. The process and facility can be used to collect solid fragments generated by injection of chemical compounds which are catalysts for the gasification of coke by steam.

Abstract: There is provided a process and a device with a convection zone (A) and a radiation zone (B) in a furnace (10), whereby the process includes: a first stage of precracking a feedstock of light hydrocarbons (1) and a second stage of final co-cracking of the mixture that is composed of this precracked light feedstock (7) and a feedstock of heavy hydrocarbons (2). The process further includes: separate heating of the two feedstock streams (1 and 2) in the convection zone (A), in which the preheating temperature of each feedstock stream remains below the initial cracking temperature in each case; precracking (5) of the preheated light hydrocarbons; mixing of precracked light hydrocarbon stream (8) while a mixed stream (9) is formed; intense heating of mixed stream (9) to a temperature that is higher than the initial cracking temperature by virtue of the fact that the mixture is introduced into the radiation zone (B) of the furnace (10); and cooling (15) of cracked gases outside the furnace (10).

Abstract: A coke drum head is hinged to a coke drum body using a compound joint such as a trammel pivot, and the head is moved between open and closed positions using an actuator. In moving between open and closed positions, the head traces out a non-circular path which reduces the required headroom relative to a head using a standard pivot.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a process for producing needle coke, which comprises reducing the ash content in a heavy oil obtained from fluid catalytic cracking of petroleum or in a hydrocarbon material mainly composed of said heavy oil to not more than 0.01 wt % by means of (1) filtration, (2) centrifugation, (3) electrostatic aggregation or (4) a combination thereof, and coking the thus treated heavy oil or hydrocarbon material with an ash content of not more than 0.01 wt %; and a needle coke produced by coking a heavy oil obtained from fluid catalytic cracking of petroleum or a hydrocarbon material mainly composed of said heavy oil.

Abstract: Cracker apparatus has a feedstock vessel for gaseous crackable substances, a dispenser which receives the gaseous crackable substances from the feedstock vessel and a cracker which receives the gaseous crackable substances from the dispenser. The vessel surfaces, dispenser surfaces and cracker surfaces that contact the gaseous crackable substances are suitably inert and can be made of quartz.

Abstract: A delayed coking process in which a flash zone gas oil stream from the bottom of the coker fractionator is upgraded by removing suspended solids and then hydroprocessing the stream to make it more attractive as a feed to a fluidized bed catalytic cracking unit or other processing unit. Removal of the solids allows the stream to be processed in a fixed bed catalytic hydrotreater without plugging of the catalyst bed.

Abstract: Acidic halides, especially chlorides, in two phase (vapor and hydrocarbon liquid) reactor effluent are separated and at least the halides in the vapor fraction neutralized in a vapor/liquid separator with an alkaline neutralization medium such as an alumina treater impregnated with NaOH. The treater may remove halides from both the vapor and liquid phase within the separator.

Abstract: An improved method of thermally cracking hydrocarbons to produce olefin wherein a gaseous stream containing hydrocarbons is passed through a heated metal tube in a pyrolysis furnace, the improvement comprising enhancing the olefin yield by exposing the gaseous stream to a barium silicate glass-ceramic as the gaseous stream passes through the tube.

Abstract: In a process for thermally cracking a low-quality feed stock containing a considerable proportion of heavy fractions such as high-boiling fractions, and evaporation residual oil, and a system used therefor, in which the low-quality feed stock is withdrawn from the preheater of the thermal cracking furnace to separate and remove a required proportion of said heavy fractions and thereafter returned to subject the feed stock to further preheating and thermal cracking. The low-quality feed stock thermally cracked has a predetermined proportion of the heavy fractions removed, and coking in the thermal cracking system at various lines is avoided from occurring.

Abstract: A reactor for thermocracking a fluid comprising a heat exchanger having at least one tube for conveying the fluid stream from a respective tube inlet to a tube outlet while contacting the at least one tube with a high temperature medium to effect heat transfer to the fluid stream sufficient to cause thermocracking of the fluid. A quench is provided for discharging a quench liquid so as to be positioned within the thermocracked fluid stream exiting the tube outlet during a cracking operation to immediately lower the temperature of the thermocracked fluid stream sufficient to terminate further thermocracking of the fluid as it emerges from the tube outlet thereby preventing carbon deposition downstream.

Abstract: A process for the production of olefins in an olefin plant, which includes an olefin pyrolysis furnace having pyrolysis tubes in which hydrocarbon feedstock is cracked, comprises introducing hydrocarbon feed substantially free of phosphorous-containing compounds into the pyrolysis furnace and operating the furnace under pyrolysis conditions producing olefin-containing effluent therefrom wherein the pyrolysis tubes have an effective passivator of metal catalytic sites bonded to the exposed metal surface by injecting an effective passivator into the furnace at a point above the dew point of water.

Abstract: A feedstock composition comprising residuum fractions and deasphalter bottoms is formulated by use of a carbon residue characterization factor. It has been found in the feedstock composition that the character of carbon residue is determinative of the coke quality. The process is used to make coke having a sulfur concentration of 0.5 to 0.9 of the feedstock composition sulfur.

Abstract: A novel process is disclosed by which petroleum cokes and cracked oil can be produced by thermal cracking of a heavy petroleum oil to which a rare earth metal compound is added. The process produces petroleum cokes with an improved combustibility and promotes the yield of cracked oil at the same time.

Abstract: A process is described for ultrapyrolytic upgrading of a heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock by contacting the feedstock in a confined riser vertical column with finely divided inert solid particles under ultrapyrolysis conditions, the riser forms part of an internally circulating aerated bed reactor with the bottom end of the riser being directly connected to an inlet nozzle feeding the heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock and the upper end of the riser extending above an annular aerated bed of the finely divided solid particles surrounding the riser. The riser also includes a plurality of orifices in a lower region thereof flow connected to a lower region of the aerated bed for controlled delivery of the particles from the aerated bed into the riser.

Abstract: A process for disposing of filter media is provided, which process comprises (a) mixing a filter media with a hydrocarbonaceous mixing stream to form a media-hydrocarbon mixture and (b) feeding said media-hydrocarbon mixture to a coking vessel. Preferred coking vessels include delayed cokers, fluidized cokers, and coke calciners. An apparatus for disposing of filter media is provided, which apparatus comprises (a) a coking vessel; (b) a mixer to mix the filter media with a hydrocarbonaeous mixing fluid to form a media- hydrocarbonaeous fluid mixture; and, (c) a feed means to feed the media-hydrocarbonaeous fluid mixture to the coking vessel. Preferably, the apparatus comprises a size reduction means to reduce the size of the filter media to form a media staple comprising fiber clusters having a desired shape and size.

Abstract: A process for fluidized catalytic cracking of heavy feed to minimize yields of heavy fuel oil is disclosed. Operating a reactor with a 15:1 to 30:1 cat:oil ratio, at a reactor temperature of 1000.degree. to 1100.degree. F., and 1.5 to 5.0 seconds of catalyst residence time produces large volumes of gasoline and less than 5.0 wt % heavy fuel oil. A catalyst cooler is essential, to provide cool catalyst to the riser while permitting the regenerator to operate at 1200.degree. F. or higher. FCC catalyst with over 25 wt % large pore zeolite is preferred.

Abstract: A process for fluidized catalytic cracking of heavy feed to make more catalytically cracked products and less thermally cracked products such as butadiene is disclosed. Operating an upflow riser reactor with a riser top temperature of 1050 to 1150 .degree.F., and a short catalyst residence time, yields large volumes of gasoline and light olefins, but reduced yields of butadiene. Preferably cooled catalyst in large amounts contacts severely preheated feed. FCC catalyst with over 30 wt % Y zeolite is preferred.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for upgrading a hydrocarbonaceous material to a product having a lower boiling point than the initial boiling point of said hydrocarbonaceous material and/or a higher boiling point than the final boiling point of said hydrocarbonaceous material, the process comprising heating a feed composition comprising said hydrocarbonaceous material in an enclosed space in the absence of externally supplied water or hydrogen at a temperature in the range of about 750.degree. F. to about 1300.degree. F. and a pressure sufficient to maintain the specific gravity of the contents of said enclosed space in the range of about 0.05 to about 1.5 for an effective period of time to yield said product, said feed composition being characterized by the absence of aromatic compounds with boiling points at atmospheric pressure below about 350.degree. F.

Abstract: A process for making a light hydrocarbonaceous liquid in a delayed coker comprising:(A) providing a hydrocarbonaceous feed to the coke drum and heating the feed to a temperature of about 800.degree. F. to about 1200.degree. F. to provide an intermediate product; and(B) introducing said intermediate product into the coke drum, operating the coke drum to convert the intermediate product to a final comprising light liquid and coke, and separating the light liquid from the coke;step (A) being conducted in combination with either step (A) (i) or step (A) (ii);Step (A) (i) comprising maintaining the feed during step (A) in an enclosed space and subjecting the feed to a pressure that is at least about 500 psig and is sufficient to maintain the specific gravity of the contents of the enclosed space at least about 0.

Abstract: A liquid tin-containing antifoulant composition is injected into a metal-walled thermal cracking reactor tube, concurrently with the injection of a gaseous stream (preferably a steam-diluted C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkane stream), through a nozzle of an injection quill which is positioned in the center region of the reactor tube substantially parallel to the flow of the gaseous stream.A liquid tin-containing antifoulant is injected into a metal-walled thermal cracking reactor tube through a nozzle of an injection quill at a temperature of about 1000.degree.-1300.degree. F. while a gaseous stream (preferably a steam-diluted C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkane stream) flows through the reactor tube, followed by raising the temperature to about 1400.degree.-1800.degree. F. Preferably, the metal walls of the reactor tube are treated with steam after the antifoulant injection at about 1000.degree.-1300.degree. F. but before the antifoulant injection at about 1400.degree.-1800.degree. F.

Abstract: An improved hydrocarbon pyrolysis process and apparatus for the production of ethylene comprising a novel furnace comprised of an unfired superheater radiant section and a fired radiant section, adiabatic tube reactor and quench boiler is provided.

Abstract: A refinery derived spent caustic is recycled by introducing the spent caustic to a delayed coking drum while conducting delayed coking of a hydrocarbon feedstock. The alkali metal containing material accelerates coking, induces production of shot coke, alleviates the problem of a hot drum and reduces drum cooling time.

Abstract: During delayed coking, channels are formed in the solid coke bed to facilitate cooling of the hot coke drum. A distributor device injects a fluid, preferably steam, directly into the coke drum during delayed coking. The fluid travels through the coke bed and forms a channel which eliminates an impervious zone in the mass of solid coke. The channel allows more efficient cooling of the drum and eliminates the problem of a "hot drum" which can occur during delayed coking.

Abstract: An improved process for vaporizing a crude petroleum feedstock, preferably one boiling in the vacuum gas oil range or higher, prior to thermal cracking to olefins, wherein such feedstock is preheated, in one or more stages, in the convection section of a tubular steam cracking furnace, characterized by conducting the preheating in the presence of a small amount of hydrogen, preferably at a hydrogen/feed ratio of from about 0.01 to about 0.15 wt. %, so as to inhibit coke formation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for steam cracking hydrocarbons in a furnace (10) having rectilinear single-pass tubes (12) which are interconnected at their outlet ends by a manifold (18) within which the steam cracking effluents are subjected to limited pre-quenching by injection of a cooler gaseous medium, with the effluents then being conveyed to quenching means (22). The invention serves in particular to increase the yield of hydrocarbon steam cracking installations.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for compressing and quenching a cracked gas stream from a hydrocarbon cracking furnace including the step of feeding furnace output directly into an ejector in the effluent line, the ejector acting to quench and compress the effluent by injection of pressurized motive fluid into the ejector thereby rapidly mixing the motive fluid with the effluent for quick quenching and compression to prevent coke build-up and allow efficient heat exchanger and low pressure furnace operation.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for heating a coking feedstock to a temperature sufficient to effect coking of the coking feedstock in a coking drum, said process and said apparatus being characterized by the fact that the heating is conducted in a double fired heater in which the coking feedstock is heated by flames located on opposite sides of the tubing through which the feedstock flows. The process and apparatus allow for increased coke production and extended operating periods.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for upgrading a hydrocarbonaceous material having an initial boiling point of at least about 625.degree. F. to a product having a lower boiling point than the initial boiling point of said hydrocarbonaceous material and/or a higher boiling point than the final boiling point of said hydrocarbonaceous material, the process comprising heating a mixture comprising said hydrocarbonaceous material and at least one organic solvent in an enclosed space in the absence of externally supplied water or hydrogen at a temperature in the range of about 750.degree. F. to about 1300.degree. F. and a pressure in excess of about 1200 psig for an effective period of time to yield said product, said pressure being sufficient to maintain the specific gravity of the contents of said enclosed space in the range of about 0.05 to about 1.

Abstract: A vented cup ballistic separation device and method of use for achieving rapid separation of a suspension of fluidized solid particulate and gasiform material. The vented cup ballistic separation apparatus is useful in a wide variety of vapor-solid contacting devices where rapid separation of solids from vapor is desired e.g. in fluidized catalytic cracking systems. The vented cup ballistic separation apparatus particularly comprises annular chamber about the outer periphery of an open ended riser conduit. The annular chamber is open in the upper end and one or more open end conduits extend outwardly from the annular chamber to provide means for discharging vapors and also for attachment of cyclone separation means if desired. The riser with vented cup or annular chamber preferably terminates within a larger diameter chamber.

Abstract: The invention is directed to steam-cracking in a fluid bed reaction zone, of a charge of hydrocarbons having at least two carbon atoms per molecule.In this process the charge (3) circulates with steam (2) and inert solid particles, heated at a temperature T.sub.1 from 500.degree. to 1,800.degree. C., through at least one enclosure (7). A gas effluent is separated from the particles in the enclosure and fed to a quenching zone (8) opening into said enclosure. Said effluent is circulated with cooling second solid particles which are at a temperature T.sub.2 lower than T.sub.1 and at most equal to 800.degree. C. A steam-cracking effluent is then recovered through line (15).This process can be used in petrochemistry, particularly for producing ethylene and propylene.

Abstract: This invention is an improvement of the prior art in that the properties, as well as the molecular structure of the coker heater charge material are altered by hydrogeneration under conidtions of pressure and temperature typically operated for a conventional delayed coking process. Hydrogeneation of the heater charge material is accomplished in a soaking pipe provided with static mixers for up to 90 minutes fluid residence time thereby improving the quality and yields of products from the process.

Abstract: When steam cracking hydrocarbons to lower olefins in a tubular fired furnace having a convection section for preheating hydrocarbon feed, feedstock flexibility to process light feeds is provided by cooling mixed feed of steam and hydrocarbon followed by reheating to the desired mixed feed temperature.

Abstract: Waste oil is treated in a tubular reactor having a length of up to and in excess of 2 km in a plurality of stages each of which involves heating the product to a different temperature and maintaining the product at a different pressure. The released fractions are evacuated from the path for the flow of waste oil and are immediately condensed and distilled to yield a variety of products from oil having a low boiling point to coke. One or more withdrawn fractions can be treated (for example, hydrogenated) in one or more discrete tubular reactors. The heating can involve raising the temperature of waste oil to several times the critical cracking temperature, and the regulation of pressure can involve a reduction of pressure to less than 1 mbar. The last stage of the reactor can be cleaned by abrasive particles, by vibration at high frequencies and/or by acceleration of the conveyed stream to an elevated speed.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon converter furnace has an upper convection heating zone and a lower radiant heating zone, and tubing extends in those zones to convey a fluid hydrocarbon feed and steam in sequence through the convection and radiant heating zones. The tubing includes a feed section and branches therefrom in the radiant section of the furnace, the feed section and branches arranged so that the hydrocarbon and steam flow from the feed section to said branches; also provided is valving for controlling the relative rates of flow in the branches to reduce differential coking in the branches.

Abstract: An oil characteristic improvement process and device therefor including methodology whereby the specific gravity and viscosity of heavy oil feedstock is reduced. The process includes the steps of forming a mixture of the heavy oil feedstock and one or more organic reagents having a terminal hydroxyl group and heating the mixture from 300.degree. F. to 750.degree. F. in a reactor vessel while simultaneously exposing the mixture to a ferrous metal. In connection with this process, the present invention is also directed to a tubular reactor vessel, the inner walls of which include ferrous metal, the inner diameter and length of the tubular vessel being chosen such that the flow rate of the heavy oil through the vessel is such that the residence time within the vessel ranges from 600 to 6000 seconds, the heat flux through the walls of the vessel is less than 20,000 BTU/hr/sq.ft.

Abstract: A method of producing pyrolytic oils suitable for petroleum reprocessing is disclosed. According to the invention, petroleum derived organic sludges or oil residues in a solid/liquid phase are subjected to vacuum pyrolysis under temperature and sub-atmospheric pressure conditions such as to prevent gas and vapor phase secondary cracking reactions and to thereby increase the yield of pyrolytic oils to the detriment of hydrocarbon gases. About 97% of the organic matter content of the sludges and about 75% of the organic matter content of the oil residues can be converted into pyrolytic oils suitable for petroleum reprocessing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved hydrocarbon steam-cracking method intended to produce more particularly ethylene and propylene.The method is based on the utilization of a multi-channel system made of ceramic material, in which the charge and heat exchange fluids or refrigerants alternatively pass through the channels or rows of channels constituting the continuous assembly comprising a pyrolysis zone followed by a quenching zone.The method according to the invention is applicable to charges ranging from ethane to vacuum gas oils.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for improving the transportability of a hydrocarbon composition by passing an influent feed stream of composition into a downcomer to provide a hydrostatic column of fluid. The influent stream is heated by heat exchange with an effluent product stream wherein at least one of the streams is in turbulent flow. The feed stream is pressurized by the hydrostatic pressure head to a reaction pressure of at least about 1000 psi. The heated and pressurized feed stream is contacted with an active heat source in a reaction zone to increase the temperature of the feed stream to a reaction temperature of between about 300.degree. C. and the coking temperature of the hydrocarbon composition. The temperature differential between the active heat source and the feed stream in the reaction zone is maintained at less than about 30.degree. C. to provide a treated effluent stream which is brought into heat exchange contact with the influent stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of olefins and diolefins by the cracking of hydrocarbons in the presence of steam, consisting in passing a mixture of hydrocarbons and steam flowing in a cracking tube disposed inside a radiation zone of a furnace. The process is characterized in that the mean dwell time of the mixture of flowing in the cracking tube between the inlet and the outlet of the radiation zone is from 300 to 1800 milliseconds, and the reaction volume is greater in the first half of the tube length than in the second one. The present invention relates also to a cracking furnace in which the ratio between the length and the mean diameter of the cracking tube is from 200 to 600, and the tube diameter decreases from the inlet to the outlet of the radiation zone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of olefins by the cracking of hydrocarbons consisting in passing a mixture of hydrocarbons and steam flowing in a cracking tube disposed inside a radiation zone of a furnace. The process is characterized in that an increase of the cracking temperature of the mixture between the inlet and the outlet of the radiation zone is associated to a non-homogeneous distribution of the thermal power of the furnace, greater at the beginning of the cracking tube than at the end, and to a reaction volume which is greater in the second half of the length tube than in the first one.The present invention relates also to a cracking furnace in which between the inlet and the outlet of the radiation zone the diameter of the cracking tube increases and the thermal power of the heating means decreases.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the thermal cracking of heavy oil containing nonvaporizable, high-molecular weight hydrocarbone in the presence of steam in one or more thermal cracking tubes or ducts, which process is characterized in that a fluid comprising steam and heavy oil is flowed through a thermal cracking tube such that thermal cracking is carried out under the following conditions:(a) temperature of the fluid in the thermal cracking tube: 800.degree. to 1100.degree. C.(b) pressure of the fluid in the thermal cracking tube: 0 to 50 kg/cm.sup.2 G(c) flow rate or velocity of fluid through the thermal cracking tube: 10 to 100 m/sec, and(d) residence time of the fluid in the thermal cracking tube: at least 0.2 seconds.

Abstract: In a delayed premium coking process the particle size of the premium coke is increased by the addition of a Lewis acid such as aluminum chloride to the coking process. Preferably the aluminum chloride is added during the latter part of the coking cycle.

Abstract: Heavy hydrocarbon oil is subjected to hydrogen donor diluent cracking under conditions of high temperature, moderate pressure and short residence time.

Abstract: An extraction residue obtained by solvent deasphalting of a residual oil is mixed with a carrier gas and thermally cracked at a temperature of 400.degree. C. to 600.degree. C. in a tube-type cracking apparatus to obtain cracked oil and pitch. The use of the carrier gas, which may be either an inert gas such as nitrogen or a reactive gas such as hydrogen, permits a flow velocity through the cracking apparatus sufficient to substantially prevent coking. Preferably, the cracking conditions are controlled so that the yield of cracked oil is not more than about 30 to 35%.

Abstract: Specified sulfur compounds such as N,N-diethylthiourea, N,N-dibutylthiourea, tetramethylthiuram monosulfide, tetrabutylthiuram monosulfide, tetraethylthiuram disulfide, tetrabutylthiuram disulfide are supplied as a coking inhibitor for preventing coking in equipment used in hydrocarbon treatment processes wherein a hydrocarbon is treated at a temperature of from about 250.degree. C. to 950.degree. C. to produce petroleum products, petrochemical products and/or their intermediate products.

Abstract: Combustion air for steam cracking furnaces is preheated by indirect heat exchange with medium pressure and low pressure steam that has been expanded through steam turbines from high pressure steam produced in the hot section of an ethylene production plant.

Abstract: In this process ethylene is prepared by pyrolytically cracking ethane in a pyrolytic cracking furnace having a plurality of elongated serpentine-situated thermal cracking tubes which have a longer run life as a result of the selective cracking of a C.sub.3 to C.sub.12 hydrocarbonaceous material at conditions sufficient to selectively place a coat of amorphous relatively smooth coat of coke on the interior walls of the thermal cracking tubes and thereby mask the catalytic effect of iron, nickel, both iron and nickel, or other metal catalytic sites indigenous to the walls of the furnished tubes. In this manner, the amount of cracking time realized for each particular furnace before regeneration of the same is increased by 20 to 50%.

Abstract: A method for thermally cracking hydrocarbons under elevated pressure is disclosed.