Abstract: It is advantageous to switch an active element with a background element. By using a switching mechanism, a background element can be made active while the application remains active. That is, the application does not need to be taken offline to switch the active element with a previously loaded background element. Single input/single output (SISO) relationships are defined for background elements and an active element which provides one or many functions and an active element which provides one or many functions between one input variable and one output variable. The switching mechanism acts on a given SISO relationship to determine the background element to use to replace the active element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a catalyst, which comprises: mixing a copper salt containing solution with a silicate salt containing composition resulting in a precipitated solid; and subjecting the precipitated solid to a temperature in the range of from 150 to 500° C. Further, the invention relates to a copper containing catalyst obtainable by said process. Still further, the invention relates to a hydrogenation process wherein such copper containing catalyst is used, more in particular a process wherein methyl phenyl ketone is hydrogenated into methyl phenyl carbinol.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion catalyst composition which comprises dealuminated ZSM-48 and/or EU-2 zeolite and a refractory oxide binder essentially free of alumina, processes for preparing such composition and processes for converting hydrocarbon feedstock with the help of such compositions.

Abstract: An improved method of operating a conventional ebullated bed process for the hydroconversion of heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks so as to provide for low or reduced sediment content in the conversion product without the loss of hydrodesulfurization function.

Abstract: Implementations of the disclosed subject matter provide methods for producing ethylene glycol from a carbohydrate feed which may include conditioning a heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst by treatment with a protic acid resulting in an acid-conditioned heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst. Next, in a reactor under hydrogenation conditions, the carbohydrate feed may be contacted with a bi-functional catalyst system comprising the acid-conditioned heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst, and a soluble retro-Aldol catalyst. An intermediate product stream may be obtained from the reactor including ethylene glycol.

Abstract: Processes and associated reaction systems for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane are provided. In particular, a process is provided that comprises supplying a feed gas comprising ethane and oxygen to a multitubular fixed-bed reactor, allowing the ethane and oxygen to react in the presence of an oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst to yield a reactor effluent comprising ethylene; supplying a coolant to an upstream region of an interior shell space of the reactor in a flow pattern that is counter-current with the flow of the feed gas; and withdrawing the coolant from the upstream region and supplying at least a portion of the coolant withdrawn from the upstream region to the downstream region in a flow pattern that is co-current with the flow of the feed gas.

Abstract: A grease composition comprises a base oil and an aluminium complex soap thickener, with graphite, molybdenum di-sulphide, calcium carbonate and bismuth sulphide all included as additives. The composition exhibits advantageous load, wear and friction performance, especially in extreme pressure environments, and is particularly suitable for use on open gears.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lubricating composition suitable for use in a two-stroke crosshead diesel engine. The lubricating composition comprises a base oil blend consisting of base oil chosen from Group I, base oil chosen from Group II and deasphalted cylinder oil.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of 1,4-BDO and THF from furan, said process comprising: (i) contacting furan with hydrogen and water in a reactor in the presence of a catalytic composition, wherein the furan and water are contacted in the presence of a solvent, said solvent being selected from one or more of THF, 1,4-BDO and NBA, and converting at least a portion of said furan to 1,4-BDO and THF; (ii) producing a reactor product stream comprising gases, water, THF, 1,4-BDO and furan; (iii) separating gases from the reactor product stream; (iv) then separating at least a portion of each of the THF and 1,4-BDO from said reactor product stream; and (v) recycling the remainder of the reactor product stream, comprising water, optionally furan, and at least one of THF, 1,4-BDO and NBA, to the reactor.

Abstract: The present application relates to a process for producing normally gaseous, normally liquid, and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons from synthesis gas in a three-phase reactor, said reactor comprising a top middle and bottom part wherein the bottom and top part are fluidly connected via one or more reactor tubes, wherein one or more reactor tubes comprise randomly stacked catalyst bodies held stationary in the reactor tube and the reactor is at least partially filled with a liquid medium, said process comprising the steps of: (i) introducing the synthesis gas into the reactor via the bottom part; and (ii) contacting the synthesis gas with a stationary catalyst to catalytically convert the synthesis gas at an elevated temperature to obtain the normally gaseous, normally liquid, and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons from synthesis gas; (iii) withdrawing the normally gaseous, normally liquid, and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons; wherein the catalyst bodies have an open celled foam structure.

Abstract: A seismic receiver array has a plurality of seismic receiver channels, each coupled to a local surrounding in an earth formation. A formation-material-dependent response of each seismic receiver channel is determined, and associated with an assumed depth for the corresponding seismic receiver channel. The formation-material-dependent responses as function of the assumed depth are compared to an independent depth log of at least one petrophysical parameter of the earth formation as a function of depth along the borehole. Based on the comparison, a set of lags between said assumed depth and depth in the independent depth log is determined, that provides the best correlation between the formation-material-dependent response and the independent depth log of the at least one petrophysical parameter of the earth formation. The assumed depth of each seismic receiver channel can thus be aligned with corresponding depths in the independent depth log.

Abstract: The present invention provides a paraffin wax having a congealing point according to ASTM D938 of at least 100° C. and a Saybolt colour according to ASTM D156 of at least 25 cm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst composition which comprises a carrier material component and at least one metal component that is supported on the carrier material component. The carrier material component comprises a ZSM-12 type zeolite, a EU-1 type zeolite, and an inorganic binder. The metal component may include a Group VIII metal. The invention further relates to a process for preparing the catalyst and using it in a process for the isomerisation of alkylaromatics.

Abstract: Presented is a process for the regeneration of a deactivated nitrogen oxide decomposition catalyst of a selective catalytic reduction system that is a component of a flue gas treating system that is one of parallel flue gas treating systems. The selective catalytic reduction system is isolated to provide a closed system in which a regeneration gas is circulated to regenerate the deactivated nitrogen oxide decomposition catalyst. Denitrified flue gas from a parallel flue gas treating system is introduced and used within the closed system as regeneration gas.

Abstract: Processes for producing ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, and associated reaction systems are similarly provided. Specifically, a process is provided that comprises supplying an overhead absorber stream withdrawn from an absorber to a vapor-liquid separator to yield an aqueous bottoms stream and a recycle gas stream; supplying an aqueous process stream comprising one or more impurities to a distillation apparatus to yield an overhead impurities stream and a purified aqueous process stream; supplying at least a portion of the purified aqueous process stream and an ethylene oxide product stream to the absorber; and contacting the ethylene oxide product stream with the purified aqueous process stream in the absorber in the presence of one or more carboxylation and hydrolysis catalysts to yield a fat absorbent stream comprising ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol.

Abstract: A lubricating oil composition for automotive transmissions is disclosed. It offers an automotive transmission (especially a fuel-saving type) which satisfies all requirements as regards the properties of resistance to churning, maintenance of the oil film and low-temperature viscosity. It comprises a GTL low viscosity base oil and a Group 1 high viscosity base oil.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a process for separating at least a first gas component and a second gas component by contacting a gas stream comprising the first and second gas components with a carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membrane under aggressive gas separation conditions in which the partial pressure of the selectively sorbed gas component in the gas stream is high. Despite the high partial pressure of the sorbed gas component, the selectivity of the carbon molecular sieve membrane is not substantially reduced by plasticization or saturation. In some embodiments, the aggressive gas separation process may include contacting a gas stream at supercritical conditions with a CMS membrane to separate at least first and second gas components. The process may be useful for, among other things, the separation of CO2 from a natural gas stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst composition comprising a) a carrier comprising: (i) of from 5 to 95 wt % of CON type zeolite, (ii) of from 5 to 95 wt % of ZSM-5 type zeolite; and (iii) of from 10 to 60 wt % of inorganic binder; and b) of from 0.001 to 10 wt % one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Group 6-11 of the IUPAC Periodic Table of Elements. The invention further relates to a process for preparing the catalyst composition and to a process for the conversion of an alkylaromatic hydrocarbons containing feedstock using a catalyst prepared by the present process.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon stream, such as natural gas, is commonly cooled together with a first refrigerant stream, against an evaporating refrigerant in a series of one or more consecutively arranged common heat exchangers. The series comprises of one or more consecutively arranged common heat exchangers comprise a first common heat exchanger, upstream of which first common heat exchanger the hydrocarbon stream and the first refrigerant stream are not commonly cooled. The hydrocarbon stream to be cooled is fed into the first common heat exchanger at a hydrocarbon feeding temperature, while the first refrigerant stream is fed into the first common heat exchanger at a refrigerant feeding temperature. The temperature difference between the hydrocarbon feeding temperature and the refrigerant feeding temperature is lower than 60° C.

Abstract: An integrated seismic system and method for monitoring seismic parameters of a subsurface structure is provided. The integrated seismic system includes a base station; a plurality of mobile satellite nodes, each of the plurality of mobile satellite nodes having sensor stations for collecting seismic data from the subsurface structure; and a fiber optic cable extending from the base station to the plurality of mobile satellite nodes and operatively linking the plurality of mobile satellite nodes and the sensor stations; the base station comprising: a light source for sending a light through the fiber optic cable, the light being distributed to the sensor stations and, in the sensor stations, experiencing a change or phase shift related to a physical property being measured; and a seismic acquisition unit for receiving seismic signals from the plurality of mobile satellite nodes via the fiber optic cable and generating seismic parameters therefrom.