Abstract: A gas assisted spray nozzle assembly having a nozzle body in the form of a hollow tubular member, such as a single cylindrical pipe section, which defines a mixing zone and a downstream barrel extension zone. A liquid inlet and an impingement pin are supported by said tubular member in opposed relation to each other at the mixing zone, and a pressurized gas inlet is provided at an upstream end of the tubular member. An annular dispersion ring is fixedly supported within said tubular member downstream of said impingement pin for defining an annular ledge for directing a peripheral portion of pressurized gas stream and liquid atomized in the mixing zone radially inwardly for facilitating continued intermixing of the liquid and pressurized gas stream as they proceed through the barrel zone for discharge from the spray nozzle.

Abstract: A withdrawal system for withdrawing particulate matter from a high-temperature industrial process or withdrawing material from a cryogenic process such as a pharmaceutical manufacturing process is disclosed. The withdrawal system comprises a heat exchanger comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, a first collection vessel and a second collection vessel, a conduit from the outlet end of the heat exchanger to the first collection vessel and the second collection vessel. The conduit comprises a first valve that controls flow of particulate material into the first collection vessel and a second valve that controls flow of particulate material into the second collection vessel. When the first valve is open allowing flow of particulate material into the first collection vessel, the second valve is closed; and when the second valve is open allowing flow of particulate material into the second collection vessel, the first valve is closed.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for cooling particulate matter from a high-temperature industrial process or warming material from a cryogenic process is disclosed. The heat exchanger comprises a structure comprising a rectangular frame, piping that is supported by the rectangular frame and completes at least one circumference around the rectangular frame, and a fan. The piping is supported to the frame on a series of moving supports. The piping comprises an inlet end and an outlet end, and the piping contains external cooling fins. The structure is sealed except for where the finned piping is located.

Abstract: An addition system for introducing particulate material into an industrial process is disclosed. The addition system comprises a vessel for holding the particulate material, a weighing device, piping, a controller, and a frame to support the piping. The piping comprises a first valve for transferring the particulate material to the industrial process, and a second valve for transferring a first stream of pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas to the vessel. The vessel comprises a filling nozzle located on the top of the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device that conditions high entrance velocity, superheated feed gas, which include some high boiling components, for example, asphaltenes and poly-nuclear aromatics that tend to coke upon condensation and exposure to the superheated feed gas temperature. Also included in superheated feed gas are solid catalyst fines, from a single or multiple feed nozzles to a quiescent flow regime for uniform distribution of the gases, to a contact device within the Main Fractionator (MF) column.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device that conditions high entrance velocity, superheated feed gas, which include some high boiling components, for example, asphaltenes and poly-nuclear aromatics that tend to coke upon condensation and exposure to the superheated feed gas temperature. Also included in superheated feed gas are solid catalyst fines, from a single or multiple feed nozzles to a quiescent flow regime for uniform distribution of the gases, to a contact device within the Main Fractionator (MF) column.

Abstract: Material delivery systems and methods are disclosed. Material delivery system includes delivery vessel, metering device, dispense mechanism, and mixer. The delivery vessel is configured to dispense material to a unit and metering device provides a metric indicative of the dispensed material to the unit. The dispense mechanism is configured to couple the delivery vessel to the unit. The mixer is coupled to the delivery vessel and configured to sufficiently mix the material with an activating agent. The method includes dispensing metered material from a dispense mechanism of a delivery vessel coupled to a mixer, wherein a metric is indicative of the dispensed material to the unit; sufficiently mixing the metered material with an activating agent in the mixer to activate the material, the mixer coupled to the unit; and delivering the activated material to the unit via the mixer. Systems and method also include providing material to plurality of units.

Abstract: A device and method for processing decoke effluent to remove particulate matter and pollutant gases is provided, with particular concern for meeting ever more stringent environmental standards.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to reduced-energy improvements in methods and systems to produce styrene monomer via ethylbenzene dehydrogenation. The methods and systems reduce utility cost and provide savings in comparison with the current technology practiced in the industry.

Abstract: An energy conservation process directed to the purification of styrene monomer via distillation after the dehydrogenation reaction of ethylbenzene to produce crude styrene is disclosed. As practiced today, the purification of styrene via distillation requires large amount energy (i.e., steam) to provide heat to the various distillation columns. The presently disclosed improved process allows for a reduction in the amount of steam needed for this purpose.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved methods and systems for increasing the efficiency of a dehydrogenation section of an alkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon production facility, wherein an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon, such as ethylbenzene, is dehydrogenated to produce an alkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon, such as styrene. The disclosed methods are more energy-efficient and cost effective than currently known methods for manufacturing styrene. The methods and systems advantageously utilize multiple reheat exchangers arranged in a series and/or parallel configuration that result in an energy consumption reduction and, consequently, a utility cost savings, as well as a reduction in styrene manufacturing plant investment costs.

Abstract: The invention is directed to effective means for joining materials having dissimilar coefficients of thermal expansion, such as advanced ceramics with metallic compounds. Moreover, the present invention relates to furnace tubes and methods of fabricating a joint between two different materials, which is compositionally graded to provide a substantially graded coefficient of thermal expansion between the joint materials.

Abstract: The invention includes a process for reducing the amount of HCN discharged to atmosphere from a FCC unit, having a regenerator and a means for collecting and supporting catalyst particles. The process comprises adding a catalyst to the regenerator flue gas prior to entering the collecting means and precipitating the catalyst in the collecting means to form a catalyst bed. Ammonia or ammonia precursor is optionally added to the flue gas. The flue gas HCN is reacted in the presence of water and oxygen in the flue gas, and optional ammonia or ammonia precursor, at 200° C. to 800° C. in the presence of the catalyst bed to reduce the HCN amount, and the flue gas containing a reduced amount of HCN is discharged to atmosphere. The catalyst is one or more supported transition or lanthanide metal catalysts. The process can also be utilized in any combustion process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of alkylated aromatics by contacting a feed stream comprising an alkylatable aromatic, an alkylating agent and trace amounts of water and impurities in the presence of a first catalyst and an alkylation catalyst wherein such water and impurities are removed in order to improve the cycle length of such alkylation catalysts. Water and at least a portion of impurities are removed in a dehydration zone. A reaction zone having a first catalyst which, in some embodiments is a large pore molecular sieve, acts to remove another portion of impurities, such as nitrogenous and other species. An alkylation zone having an alkylation catalyst which, in some embodiments is a medium pore molecular sieve or a MCM-22 family material, acts to remove additional impurities, and to alkylate the alkylatable aromatic compound.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removal of gas phase contaminants may utilize catalytic oxidation. For example, a method may include passing a gas that includes a gas phase contaminant through a catalytic membrane reactor at a temperature of about 150° C. to about 300° C., wherein the catalytic membrane reactor includes a bundle of tubular inorganic membranes, wherein each of the tubular inorganic membranes comprise a macroporous tubular substrate with an oxidative catalyst and a microporous layer disposed on a bore side of the macroporous tubular substrate, and wherein at least about 50% of the gas flows through the tubular inorganic membranes in a Knudsen flow regime; and oxidizing at least some of the gas phase contaminant with the oxidative catalyst layer, thereby reducing a concentration of the gas phase contaminant in the gas.

Abstract: The present inventors have surprisingly discovered that phytic acid tenaciously precipitates with soluble metals in food or fuel ethanol-processing fluid, producing insoluble organometallic salt deposit or scale on the processing equipment that must be removed in order to facilitate further ethanol processing. The present invention relates to converting phytic acid salts or phytates to inorganic phosphates to improve metal solubility and reduce deposition within processing equipment.

Abstract: An apparatus designed to completely vaporize an intake of heavy hydrocarbon feedstock is described. The apparatus, a so-called heavy feed mixer, is comprised of pipes being disposed coaxially about a common longitudinal axis. The inner tubular section delivers a two-phase liquid-vapor mixture of hydrocarbon feedstock and dilution steam to the apparatus. The converging/diverging tubular section has a unique structure which converges to a throat section and then diverges to an outlet section. The converging section directs a uniform shroud of superheated steam onto the hydrocarbon stream delivered by the inner tubular section. Impingement of the superheated steam with the intake stream initiates mixing and further vaporization within the throat section. The mixture traverses the converging/diverging tubular section and passes into the outlet section where vaporization is complete. The completely vaporized stream is directed out of the apparatus for further processing downstream.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for the catalytic conversion of a feedstock comprising an alkylatable aromatic compound and an alkylating agent to form a conversion product comprising the desired alkylaromatic compound by contacting said feedstock in at least partial liquid phase under catalytic conversion conditions with a catalyst composition comprising a porous crystalline material having a structure type of FAU, BEA* or MWW, or a mixture thereof, wherein the porous crystalline material has a Relative Activity measured at 220° C. as an RA220 of at least 7.5 or measured at 180° C. as RA180 of at least 2.5, allowing operation at lower reaction pressures, e.g., a reaction pressure of about 450 psig (3102 kPa) or less, and lower alkylating agent feed supply pressure of 450 psig (3102 kPa) or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved fluidized catalytic cracking process coupled with a two stage regeneration process in which the activity of the circulating catalyst is independently controlled for cracking hydrocarbon feedstocks or the vapors at low severity to produce maximum light cycle oil/distillate in one riser whilst cracking recycle streams comprising heavy cycle oil (HCO), light cracked naphtha (LCN) etc. in a second riser operating at high severity to produce LPG.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhancing the heat and water recovery from a transport membrane condenser (TMC) includes a non-moving mechanical device inserted into the TMC tubes to increase the heat transfer efficiency via the enhancement of the fluid turbulence and/or surface area. The apparatus and methods may be applied to porous tubes arranged in a spaced array, similar to a conventional shell and tube heat exchanger device. Other configurations of the TMC may be conceived and adapted for use with the described apparatus and method.