Abstract: The present invention is an improved design and operation of a short contact time Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) Reactor wherein the upper internal riser and a lower internal riser are in fluid connection with one another and provide an improved disengaging zone for entraining the vapors from the dilute phase area of the FCC reactor. Detailed preferred embodiments include improvements over the prior art to the internal central riser, riser termination apparatus, cyclone separators, and a coke mitigation baffle system, as well as associated improved fluid catalytic cracking processes utilizing the novel reactor design.

Abstract: A reaction inhibitor can be used to reduce catalyst activity at the beginning of a naphtha selective hydrodesulfurization process. The use of the reaction inhibitor can allow greater flexibility in selecting the reaction conditions to accommodate both the start and end of the hydrodesulfurization process. The reaction inhibitor can be removed during the hydrodesulfurization process, possibly in conjunction with modification of the reaction temperature, in order to maintain a substantially constant amount of sulfur in the naphtha product.

Abstract: Fine, solid particles in a gas stream, especially fly ash particles in the hot gas stream from a coal/coke-utilizing synthesis gas unit, are agglomerated by passage through a gas flow matrix element having a body with confined gas flow channels which bring the particles into close proximity to one another in an environment of low turbulence; a rough surface on the gas flow passages provides surface induction to promote agglomeration of the particles. The larger, agglomerated particles may then be removed from the gas stream by inertial separators such as cyclones.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for improving the yield and properties of jet fuel from a kerosene feed. More particularly, a kerosene feedstock is hydrotreated and dewaxed using a ZSM-48 catalyst to produce a jet fuel in improved yield and having improved properties.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for detecting an abnormal on-line analysis or laboratory measurement and for predicting an abnormal quality excursion due to an abnormal process condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst for hydrodesulfurizing naphtha, to a method for preparing said catalyst and to a method for hydrodesulfurizing naphtha using said catalyst. More particularly, the catalyst comprises a Co/Mo metal hydrogenation component on a silica support having a defined pore size distribution and at least one organic additive. The catalyst has high dehydrosulphurisation activity and minimal olefin saturation when used to hydrodesulfurize FCC naphtha.

Abstract: A method for hydrodesulfurizing FCC naphtha is described. More particularly, a Co/Mo metal hydrogenation component is loaded on a silica or modified silica support in the presence of organic ligand and sulfided to produce a catalyst which is then used for hydrodesulfurizing FCC naphtha. The silica support has a defined pore size distribution which minimizes olefin saturation.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved regenerated catalyst bend assembly for a fluid catalytic cracking unit. In a preferred embodiment, the reduced elevation (“RE-bend” or “REL-bend”) regenerated catalyst return line assembly of the present invention has an outlet elevation that is lower than the inlet elevation of the RE-bend or REL-bend regenerated catalyst return line assembly, and a process for utilizing the assembly in a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The present invention is especially useful in the modification of existing fluid catalytic cracking units to lower the elevation of the outlet of the regenerated catalyst return line assembly, thereby providing needed space to increase the fluid catalytic cracking reactor riser length.

Abstract: The feeding of coal slurries into a gasifier for the production of synthesis gas is improved by modifying the rheological properties of the coal particles so that conventional liquid transfer equipment can be used in the feed transfer process to the gasifier. The coal particle surface modification is accomplished by adsorbing asphaltenes derived from petroleum onto the surfaces of coal particles prior to and/or during contact with the slurry liquid. The coal particles with their surfaces thus modified exhibit lower particle-particle interaction in the liquid slurries to form a shear independent Newtonian fluid or a weakly shear thickening pseudoplastic fluid. The rheological properties of the slurries permit them to be transported reliably into a pressurized, entrained feed gasifier vessel using convention slurry pumps with a low potential expenditure of energy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the selective separation of methane (“CH4”) from higher carbon number hydrocarbons (“HHC”s) in streams containing both methane and higher carbon number hydrocarbons (e.g. ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane, etc.) utilizing a zeolitic imidazolate framework (“ZIF”) material. Preferably, the stream to be separated is fed to the present process in a substantially gaseous phase. In preferred embodiments, the current invention is utilized in a process to separate methane from higher carbon number hydrocarbons in natural gas streams.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ultrafiltration process for separating a heavy hydrocarbon stream to produce an enriched saturates content stream(s) utilizing an ultrafiltration separations process. The enriched saturates content streams can then be further processed in refinery and petrochemical processes that will benefit from the higher content of saturated hydrocarbons produced from this separations process. The invention may be utilized to separate heavy hydrocarbon feedstreams, such as whole crudes, topped crudes, synthetic crude blends, shale oils, oils derived from bitumen, oils derived from tar sands, atmospheric resids, vacuum resids, or other heavy hydrocarbon streams into enriched saturates content product streams. The invention provides an economical method for separating heavy hydrocarbon stream components by molecular species instead of molecular boiling points.

Abstract: This invention relates to the partial hydrogenation of sulfur containing petroleum feedstreams by electrochemical means. The partially hydrogenated feedstream is then conducted to processes for either conversion and removal of at least some of the sulfur-containing species from the electrochemical desulfurization process or adsorption and removal of at least some of the sulfur-containing species from the electrochemical desulfurization process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the selective conversion of vacuum gas oil. The vacuum gas oil is treated in a two step process. The first is thermal conversion and the second is catalytic cracking of the products of thermal conversion. The product slate can be varied by changing the conditions in the thermal and catalytic cracking steps as well as by changing the catalyst in the cracking step. The combined products from thermal and catalytic cracking are separated in a divided wall fractionator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the selective conversion of hydrocarbon feed having a Conradson Carbon Residue content of 0 to 6 wt %, based on the hydrocarbon feed. The hydrocarbon feed is treated in a two-step process. The first is thermal conversion and the second is catalytic cracking of the products of the thermal conversion. The present invention results in a process for increasing the distillate production from a hydrocarbon feedstream for a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The resulting product slate from the present invention can be further varied by changing the conditions in the thermal and catalytic cracking steps as well as by changing the catalyst in the cracking step.

Abstract: An improved hydrotreating process for removing sulfur from distillate boiling range feedstreams. This improved process utilizes a two stage hydrotreating process scheme, each stage associated with an acid gas removal zone wherein one of the stages utilizes a rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption zone to increase the concentration of hydrogen in the process.

Abstract: This invention relates to the fabrication of a polymeric membrane and a process for utilizing the polymeric membrane for separating components of a feedstream. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this invention relates to the fabrication of a polymeric membrane and a process for utilizing the polymeric membrane in the separation of aromatics from a hydrocarbon based feedstream. The membranes of the present invention possess low soft segment glass transition temperatures and improved separation characteristics.

Abstract: The electrodesulfurization of heavy oils wherein a feedstream comprised of bitumen or heavy oil is conducted, along with an effective amount of hydrogen, to an electrochemical cell. A current is applied to the cell wherein sulfur from the feedstream combines with hydrogen to form hydrogen sulfide which is removed.

Abstract: A multi-layer membrane structure including a crosslinked polymeric membrane, such as a crosslinked polyvinyl sulfate membrane or a crosslinked copolymer polyvinyl sulfate and polyvinyl alcohol membrane, is provided. The membrane structure is suitable for use in an acid environment, and is suitable for recovering acid from a feed mixture comprising acid, hydrocarbons and water.

Abstract: The electrodesulfurization of heavy oil feedstreams is accomplished wherein a heavy oil feedstreams, along with hydrogen, is passed the cathode side of an electrochemical cell wherein the organically bound sulfur compounds in the heavy oil are reduced and the sulfur is released as hydrogen sulfide. The hydrogen sulfide can be fed directly into the anode side of the electrochemical cell to produce sulfur and hydrogen or it can be passed to an oxidation zone containing an aqueous solution of an oxidized metal salt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for removing sulfur from sulfur-containing hydrocarbon streams utilizing a multi-ring aromatic hydrocarbon complex containing an alkali metal ion. Preferably, the sulfur-containing hydrocarbon stream is comprised of high molecular weight hydrocarbons, such as a low API gravity, high viscosity crude, tar sands bitumen, an oil derived from shale, or heavy refinery intermediate stocks such as atmospheric resids or vacuum resids which are typically difficult to desulfurize and contain relatively high amounts of sulfur. However, intermediate refinery streams and refinery product streams may also be treated by the process of the current invention to achieve very low sulfur concentrations to meet environmental specification for fuels sulfur content.