Abstract: A process is presented for quenching a process stream in a paraffin dehydrogenation process. The process comprises cooling a propane dehydrogenation stream during the hot residence time after the process stream leaves the catalytic bed reactor section. The process includes cooling and compressing the product stream, taking a portion of the product stream and passing the portion of the product stream to the mix with the process stream as it leaves the catalytic bed reactor section.

Abstract: A start-up method of a fractionator which fractionally distills FT synthesized hydrocarbons produced by the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction, the method includes: discharging light FT synthesized hydrocarbons which exist in a gaseous state in an FT reactor performing the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction from the FT reactor to the outside; cooling down the light FT synthesized hydrocarbons discharged from the FT reactor for liquefaction; supplying the liquefied light FT synthesized hydrocarbons to the fractionator; and heating the light FT synthesized hydrocarbons and circulating the light FT synthesized hydrocarbons to the fractionator.

Abstract: In a process for the production of para-xylene, methanol is preheated to a first temperature, an aromatic feedstock comprising toluene and/or benzene is preheated to a second temperature and the preheated methanol and aromatic feedstocks are fed to a reactor at a first methanol to aromatic feedstock molar ratio. The preheated aromatic feedstock is contacted with the preheated methanol under alkylation conditions in the reactor in the presence of a catalyst so that the methanol reacts with the aromatic feedstock to produce an effluent comprising para-xylene. During the reaction, a temperature is measured within the reactor and is compared with a predetermined optimal temperature. The methanol to aromatic feedstock molar ratio is then adjusted in a manner to reduce any difference between the measured and predetermined optimal temperatures in the reactor.

Abstract: A method and system for providing heat to a chemical conversion process is advantageously employed in the production of olefin by the catalytic dehydrogenation of a corresponding hydrocarbon. The catalytic dehydrogenation process employs diluent steam operating at a steam to oil ratio which can be 1.0 or below and relatively low steam superheater furnace temperature. The process and system are advantageously employed for the production of styrene by the catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for removing fouling from a heat transfer surface, such as a heat exchanger. The method involves conducting a vapor containing a scouring material to the heat transfer surface and contacting the scouring material with the foulant, the heat transfer surface, or both. Scouring material and removed foulant can be recovered and conducted away.

Abstract: 1,3-butadiene is obtained by extractive distillation with a selective solvent from a C4 cut comprising C4 acetylenes as secondary components in a dividing wall column having a bottom evaporator, in which a dividing wall is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the column to form a first subregion, a second subregion and a lower combined column region. The column is disposed upstream of an extractive wash column. The energy input into the dividing wall column via the bottom evaporator is controlled in such a way that a bottom stream containing solvent, C4 acetylenes and 1,3-butadiene restricted such that the loss of 1,3-butadiene is economically acceptable, is drawn off and fed to an acetylenes outgasser where the C4 acetylenes are stripped out overhead and purified solvent is obtained as the bottom stream.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes for quenching a pyrolysis furnace effluent are provided. In one embodiment, a hydrocarbon stream comprising gas and oil vapor can be quenched with a first quench water stream to form a mixed vapor-liquid stream. The mixed vapor-liquid stream can be fed to a water quench tower to separate the vapor and liquid. The separated vapor can be further quenched with a second quench water stream in the quench tower to form an overhead vapor product comprising light hydrocarbons. Water and liquid hydrocarbons can be collected from the quench tower in an oil-water separator. The liquid hydrocarbons can be recovered from the oil-water separator. Water can be recovered from the oil-water separator. A portion of the recovered water can be cooled. The cooled water can be recycled to the first and second quench water streams.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for the isothermal operation of heterogeneously catalyzed reactions involving at least three phases in the form of a gaseous phase, a liquid phase and a solid phase. The invention provides apparatus for carrying out reactions involving a gaseous phase, a liquid phase and a solid phase, comprising (i) a dispersing element for dispersing a gas phase in a liquid phase to generate a reaction fluid, (ii) at least one reactor which possesses an inlet, an outlet and a reactor space bounded by heat-removing walls which are spaced apart substantially uniformly along the main flow axis of the reaction fluid, and which is fitted with catalyst-coated metal fabric, and (iii) a feed line which routes the reaction fluid from the dispersing element to the reactor inlet and is sufficiently short that the degree of dispersion of the reaction fluid does not substantially change in the course of the passage through the feed line.

Abstract: Catalyst losses are prevented in riser reactor systems by using a low inlet velocity for the first cyclone separator in each multi-stage cyclone separator in the reactor. Catalyst particles not separated from the product output flow in an oxygenate-to-olefin reactor are also recaptured by cooling the product output flow and passing the flow through an electrostatic precipitator.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for converting hydrocarbons using at least one globally endothermic chemical reaction, in which a hydrocarbon feed successively traverses at least two reaction zones each containing at least one solid catalyst and comprising between said reaction zones an intermediate step, in a non catalytic zone, for reheating the stream (ST) from the first of the two reaction zones prior to its introduction into said second reaction zone, and in which said reheating is carried out in a heat exchanger, with heat transfer essentially by convection using a thermal fluid TF with a coking sensitivity index CS that is less than that of the stream ST, the difference in temperature ?T between the temperature of the fluid TF at the inlet to the exchanger and the temperature of the stream ST at the heat exchanger outlet being less than 250° C. The invention also concerns the use of said process for converting hydrocarbons and a unit for carrying out the process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovering heat in an oxygenate to olefin (“OTO”) production process. The process includes removing heat while maintaining the temperature of an effluent stream that comprises solid particles (typically catalyst particles) and a gas phase comprising prime olefins from an OTO reactor above the dew point temperature of the effluent stream. The process further includes washing the effluent stream in solids wash to remove the solid particles from the gas phase into a liquid wash medium.

Abstract: The acid catalyzed—effluent refrigerated alkylation of hydrocarbons in a shell and bare tube type alkylation reactor is improved by providing the bare tubes with internal inserts capable of increasing turbulence and mixing of refrigerant within the tubes whereby heat transfer in the process is enhanced.

Abstract: The specification describes a method and a fixed bed apparatus for producing olefinic hydrocarbons from a charge of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons with 2 to 20 carbon atoms and hydrogen in a chamber 1 comprising a plurality of parallel tubes 3 filled with a catalyst and arranged in rows. A so-called reaction phase and a catalyst-regenerating phase are carried out in the tubes of the chamber. The tubes are heated by appropriate radiant heating means 6, arranged in layers substantially perpendicular to the tubes. These layers heat a first part of the tubes (at the feed side) with a heat flux greater than the mean heat flux of the chamber and a second, subsequent part with a mean flux no more than equal to the mean heat flux, so that the isothermicity of the catalyst is substantially maintained, using appropriate control means.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for indirectly heating an endothermic reaction by combustion of reactants or products from the endothermic reaction using a plate heat exchange arrangement in a highly efficient manner. This invention is particularly suited for processes such as the production of styrene or synthesis gas. When producing synthesis gas, oxidizing reactants in a secondary reforming step generates heat for a primary reforming step and the process improves selectivity and yield with a highly efficient heat exchange step that uses narrow channel for indirect heat exchange. The narrow channels are preferably defined by corrugated plates. The primary reaction channels will contain a catalyst for the promotion of the primary reaction such as steam reforming or ethylbenzene dehydrogenation.

Abstract: A process and apparatus produces reaction products by indirectly preheating and heating reactants by indirect heat exchange. The use of the preheating step simplifies the reaction zone design by eliminating the need for external exchangers and is particularly suited for an arrangement of plates that defines narrow channels for indirect heat exchange. The narrow channels are preferably defined by corrugated plates. The primary reaction channels will contain a catalyst for the promotion of the desired reaction product from the principal reactants. The heating fluid passes through adjacent heating channels defined by shared partition plates to provide indirect heating. At least a portion of the heating channels exchange heat with a non-catalytic portion of the reaction channels to preheat the reactants ahead of a catalytic section of the reaction channels. Catalytic combustion within the heating channels may provide in-situ heat input for the heating medium.

Abstract: A channel reactor arrangement and a process that uses a high heat capacity heat exchange liquid to indirectly heat or cool by indirect heat exchange. The channel reactor arrangement maintains a pressure gradient through the channels and a pressure differential between the reaction channels and the heat exchange channels at all points to preserve the integrity of the plates defining the channels and to prevent any leakage of high heat capacity liquids into the reaction channels. The system brings the efficiency of plate reactor arrangements to the effectiveness of high heat capacity heat exchange fluids such as molten salts and liquid metals. The process overcomes the problem of low heat exchange pressure drop in combination with high reactant pressure drop by creating a negative pressure differential from reactant channels to the heat exchange channels.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for contacting reactants with a particulate catalyst while indirectly heating the reactants with a heat exchange medium improves temperature control by using an intermediate heat exchange fluid and system to prevent overheating of reactants and maintain parallel heating characteristics through multiple reaction-heat exchange zones. The internal flow path minimizes the circulation of the reaction zone heat exchange fluid by incorporating interstage reheating of the reaction zone heat exchange fluid as it passes in series flow. A particularly useful application of the process and apparatus is in the dehydrogenation of ethyl benzene to produce styrene. The process and apparatus can also be used with simultaneous exchange of catalyst particles by an operation that restricts reactant flow while moving catalyst through reaction stacks in which the reactant flow has been restricted.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for dehydrogenating ethylbenzene into styrene which method and apparatus eliminate the need for multiple reactors and preheaters by providing a single compact reactor which utilizes the principle of ascending-heat thermal reactor by having an internal heat source such as gas heaters or electric elements.

Abstract: Economies in capital cost and operation of a hydrocarbon refining unit for desulfurization of diesel fuel are provided by a heat exchange sequence which eliminates the need for a fired heater on the product fractionation zone. The feed to the fractionation zone is heat exchanged twice against both the effluent bottoms stream of the fractionation zone and the reaction zone effluent stream.

Abstract: Dual-flow chemical reactor cores containing catalytic heat-transfer walls comprising both a gas-impervious material and a suitable catalyst which allows oxidative coupling of methane into higher hydrocarbons, dual-flow reactors having these catalytic heat-transfer walls to control and facilitate simultaneously coupling of methane and cracking of hydrocarbon compounds in separate gas streams, and chemical processes which combine coupling of methane and cracking of hydrocarbon compounds to make olefins in a dual-flow reactor having catalytic heat-transfer walls.

Abstract: A reactor arrangement and process for indirectly contacting a reactant stream with a heat exchange stream uses an arrangement of heat exchange plates to control temperature conditions by varying the heat transfer factor in different portions of a continuous channel defined by the heat exchange plates. The reactor arrangement and process of this invention may be used to operate a reactor under isothermal or other controlled temperature conditions. The variation in the heat transfer factor within a single heat exchange section is highly useful in maintaining a desired temperature profile in an arrangement having a cross-flow of heat exchange medium relative to reactants. The corrugations arrangement eliminates or minimizes the typical step-wise approach to isothermal conditions.

Abstract: A reactor arrangement and process for indirectly contacting a reactant stream with a heat exchange stream uses an arrangement of corrugated heat exchange plates to control temperature conditions by varying the number and/or the arrangement of the corrugations along the plates. The reactor arrangement and process of this invention may be used to operate a reactor under isothermal or other controlled temperature conditions. The variation in corrugation arrangements within a single heat exchange section is highly useful in maintaining a desired temperature profile in an arrangement having a cross-flow of heat exchange medium relative to reactants. The corrugations arrangement eliminates or minimizes the typical step-wise approach to isothermal conditions.

Abstract: An alkane-containing feedstream is passed through one or more tubes, which may contain alkane-dehydrogenation catalyst, immersed in a bed of fluidized particles. The bed is at an elevated temperature which maintains the temperature within the tube(s) at an alkane-dehydrogenation temperature. The particles may be inert, chemically active and/or catalytically active. In one embodiment, cracking catalyst particles are circulated between a reaction zone wherein they contact a cracker feedstock which is converted to cracked hydrocarbon products and a regenerator (22) wherein carbonaceous deposits on the catalyst particles are exothermically removed by contact with an oxygen-containing gas (24). Hot regenerated particles from the regenerator (22) are recirculated (27) to the reaction zone for re-use therein.

Abstract: An olefins process is described which combines cracking of a hydrocarbon feedstock with the coupling of methane using an oxygen-affording gas such that the heat evolved in the exothermic methane coupling reaction is effectively transferred to the endothermic cracking process in a manner which does not allow the non-hydrocarbon products in the effluent of the methane coupling reaction to mix with the effluent of the cracking process. By combining the cryogenic requirements of the two processes, the refrigeration used in air liquifaction to separate oxygen for the methane coupling process can provide refrigerant nitrogen to liquify one or more of methane, ethylene and propylene which can be used in the cryogenic separation of the C.sub.2 + hydrocarbon products in the cracking process effluent.

Abstract: Operational flexibility of a fluid catalytic cracking process is improved by indirectly cooling catalyst in an endothermic catalyst cooler. Catalyst withdrawn from the FCC unit is cooled by driving an endothermic chemical reaction, which may be either thermal or catalytic. Dehydrogenation of, e.g., light aliphatics, produced by the cracking reactor in the endothermic cooler allows the FCC unit to adapt to heavier feeds. A preferred endothermic cooler, comprising a base heat exchanger section, transport riser, and solids collection and recycle vessel is disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the production of olefins and aromatics from hydrocarbon feedstocks by catalytically cracking alone or cracking and dehydrogenating the hydrocarbons in the presence of an entrained stream of catalytic heat carrying solids at short residence times to preferentially produce olefins having three or more carbon atoms and/or to produce aromatics, especially benzene.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for thermal conversion of methane to hydrocarbons of higher molecular weight, comprising a reactor 1 of elongated shape, connected at a first end to means 5 for supplying gas mixture containing methane (process gas), and connected at the opposite end to discharge means 10, the reactor having a plurality of electric heating means 3 surrounded by sheaths 4 over a first part (towards the first end). The heating means, which are substantially parallel, are arranged in sheets which are substantially parallel and perpendicular to the axis of the reactor, so that spaces or passages for circulation of the process gas and/or effluent are defined between the sheaths and/or between the sheaths and the walls 22 separating two consecutive sheets. The heating means are adapted to heat the passages by successive independent cross sections substantially perpendicular to the axis of the reactor.

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: Yield is improved in a fluid-bed catalytic paraffin aromatization process by tailoring heat transfer to match the endothermic heat load within the fluid bed.

Abstract: The invention provides a catalytic method for the dimerization or codimerization or oligomerization, in particular selective, of olefins, carried out under pressure, in a reaction zone 1 containing a solid catalyst bed in which is disposed a plurality of hollow internal spaces 6.3a defined by walls, each being divided into an upper semi-space 6.3, 1a and a lower semi-space 6.3, 2a which communicate together through a connecting zone 6.6a. An autogenous thermoregulation fluid flows, in the form of a sheet, in said hollow internal spaces 6.3a after passing through a central distributing zone 6.1a and distributing zones 6.2a and before passing into collecting zone 6.4a and into a central collecting zone 6.5a.

Abstract: A C.sub.2 and higher hydrocarbon product including ethylene is produced from a methane-containing gaseous paraffinic hydrocarbon feedstock by a process comprising heating the feedstock admixed with oxygen in an amount of at least 5% mol under elevated pressure in a pre-heating zone to a temperature sufficient to cause spontaneous reaction, the pre-heating and mixing being effected in a manner such that (i) substantial oxygen consumption is avoided, and (ii) a "flash-back" of the reaction to form a diffusion flame at the point of gaseous mixing is prevented, and thereafter in a reaction zone allowing the feedstock mixture to spontaneously react.

Abstract: The invention provides a catalytic method for the dimerization or codimerization or oligomerization, particularly selectively, of olefins, carried out under pressure, in a reaction zone 1 containing a solid catalyst bed into which is disposed a plurality of hollow internal spaces 6.3 defined by walls and through which an autogenous thermoregulation fluid flows, in the form of a sheet, after passing through a central distributing zone 6.1 and distributing zones 6.2 and before passing through collecting zones 6.4 and into a central collecting zone 6.5.

Abstract: Desulphurization of saturated or near saturated gaseous hydrocarbon stream is effected using a bed of a particulate adsorbent comprising zinc oxide. Condensation of the higher boiling components is avoided by heating the raw gas to a temperature at least 10.degree. C. above its dew point. This heating is effected by heat exchange with the heated desulphurized gas and by heat exchange with the combustion products of a minor part stream taken from the raw gas and/or from the desulphurized product gas stream. The absorbent particles preferably have a high BET surface area and pore volume.

Abstract: A process flow for a catalytic oligomerization process is presented. The feed contacts a solid catalyst in a tubular reactor cooled by indirect heat exchange. The mixed-phase coolant used in the reactor is the reactor effluent itself, which has been cooled by indirect heat exchange and depressurized. The reactor effluent is then passed into a rectified separation zone. The heat picked up by the effluent stream in the reactor is thereby used in separating light hydrocarbons from the effluent to produce a recycle stream.

Abstract: A finished oil product is recovered from crude or waste oil contaminated with water and the like by heating the waste oil in a tank with a heating flame which may be gas or oil fired. The waste oil is heated until vapors including light ends and the desired finished oil product are produced from the waste oil within the tank. The vapors are introduced into the heating flame so that additional heat is developed by such afterburning to heat the waste oil in the tank. The finished oil product as recovered from the waste oil is discharged from the tank by a suitable outlet pipe arrangement.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for a hydrocarbon conversion process, for example thermal cracking, in which feedstock is converted in a heated furnace, the furnace being heated by burning a mixture of fuel and preheated air. The preheated air is obtained by passing air through successive compression, heating and gas turbine expansion zones, the work thereby obtained from the gas turbine expansion zone being used, at least in part, to compress hydrocarbon process gas produced in the furnace.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for hydrocracking coal or other carbonaceous material to produce various aromatic hydrocarbons including benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, phenol and cresols in variable relative concentrations while maintaining a near constant maximum temperature. Variations in relative aromatic concentrations are achieved by changing the kinetic severity of the hydrocracking reaction by altering the temperature profile up to and quenching from the final hydrocracking temperature. The relative concentration of benzene to the alkyl and hydroxyl aromatics is increased by imposing increased kinetic severity above that corresponding to constant heating rate followed by immediate quenching at about the same rate to below the temperature at which dehydroxylation and dealkylation reactions appreciably occur.

Abstract: A method of alkylating an alkylatable hydrocarbon with different alkylating agents, at different reaction temperatures and in a single reaction zone, in which an alkylatable hydrocarbon is contacted with an acid-type catalyst and at different points in an elongated reaction zone, the reaction zone effluent is separated into a hydrocarbon phase and a catalyst recycle phase and the reaction temperatures of the various alkylating agents are maintained at different temperatures by splitting the recycle catalyst phase into an equal number of streams and adjusting the reaction temperatures by adjusting the temperatures of the recycle catalyst phase streams, the relative proportions of the recycle catalyst phase streams or both. A method of starting-up the process and apparatus for conducting the process are also disclosed.