Abstract: A separation vessel for separating an effluent stream that comprises a mixture of hydrocarbons and ionic liquid. The separation vessels may be vertically orientated. Ionic liquid is utilized to remove entrained ionic liquid droplets form rising hydrocarbons within the separation zone. The ionic liquid may be provided with a stream of the ionic liquid from the separation vessel. The ionic liquid may be provided as a layer or travel counter-current to the hydrocarbons rising in the separation vessel.

Abstract: Process and apparatuses for producing benzene and para-xylene from a reformate stream is provided. The process comprises separating the reformate stream to provide a first stream comprising C4 and lighter hydrocarbons and a second stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons. The second steam is provided to a reformate splitter to provide a reformate bottoms stream comprising C8+ aromatic hydrocarbons and a reformate overhead stream comprising C7? aromatic hydrocarbons. The reformate overhead stream is passed to an aromatics extraction unit to provide an aromatics extract stream comprising benzene and toluene and a raffinate stream comprising non-aromatic hydrocarbons. The reformate bottoms stream and one of the first stream and the raffinate stream is passed to an olefin reduction zone, wherein the reformate bottoms stream and one of the first stream and the raffinate stream are contacted with an olefin saturation catalyst under olefin saturation conditions to produce an olefin-treated reformate stream.

Abstract: Methods and systems for recovering a hydrocarbon from fluid catalytic cracking (“FCC”) slurry and for separating a FCC slurry stream from a FCC effluent are provided. An exemplary hydrocarbon recovery method comprises the steps of: contacting a feed with a catalyst in a FCC reactor under conditions suitable to crack one or more hydrocarbons and generate a FCC effluent; separating the FCC effluent with a fractionation column to generate a product stream and a FCC slurry that collects in a lower portion of the fractionation column; drawing a first FCC slurry stream at a first temperature from a first location in the fractionation column; drawing a second FCC slurry stream at a second temperature from a second location in the fractionation column, and separating a hydrocarbon from the second FCC slurry stream, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature.

Abstract: A process and catalyst is disclosed for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products using multifunctional catalysts. Multifunctional catalysts enable use of less expensive metal by substituting expensive metals for less expensive metals with no loss or superior performance in slurry hydrocracking. Less available and expensive ISM can be replaced effectively.

Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for para-xylene separation. A stream of para-xylene is separated from a toluene stream in a fractionation column. An overhead stream of the fractionation column is compressed and then passed to a heat recovery zone to transfer heat from the overhead stream to another process stream in, for example, a heat exchanger. The fractionation column may be separating an effluent from a toluene methylation reactor.

Abstract: Processes and apparatuses are disclosed for catalytically cracking hydrocarbons comprising hydrotreating a residual feed stream and a recycle cracked stream comprising an oil to provide a hydrotreated effluent stream. The hydrotreated effluent stream is separated to provide a FCC feed stream and a distillate stream. The FCC feed stream is fed to a first riser reactor to provide a first cracked stream. The distillate stream is fed to a second riser reactor to provide a second cracked stream. The first cracked stream and the second cracked stream are fed to a main fractionation column. The first cracked stream and the second cracked stream are fractionated in the main fractionation column. The recycle cracked stream is taken from the main fractionation column.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for controlling the antifoam injection based on the pressure differential of the column. More specifically, the present invention relates to a process for controlling the antifoam injection based on the pressure differential of an aromatics extraction unit using an intelligent differential pressure transmitter. The controller communicates with the antifoam injection system so that the antifoam is injected to the unit only when it is required.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for sweetening a hydrocarbon stream. The apparatus includes two vessels. In a first extraction vessel, caustic removes mercaptans from the hydrocarbon stream. In a second oxidation vessel, the mercaptans in the rich caustic are converted in disulfides. The lean caustic and disulfides are passed back to the first extraction vessel in which the disulfides are separated into the sweetened hydrocarbon phase. The second vessel may receive a wash oil, such as the sweetened hydrocarbon phase, to remove disulfides from a vented gas stream.

Abstract: Processes for regenerating ionic liquid catalyst in which reaction vessel is operated under conditions sufficient to perform, in the presence of an ionic liquid catalyst, a hydrocarbon conversion reaction and provide a reaction effluent. The reaction effluent is separated into a hydrocarbon phase and a spent ionic liquid catalyst, wherein the spent ionic liquid catalyst includes conjunct polymer. The spent ionic liquid catalyst is contacted with hydrogen in a regeneration zone at conditions sufficient to reduce an amount of conjunct polymer in the spent ionic liquid catalyst to provide a regenerated effluent. The regenerated effluent is separated into a liquid phase comprising regenerated ionic liquid catalyst and a vapor phase comprising hydrogen and hydrogen chloride. The hydrocarbon phase is separated into a plurality of liquid hydrocarbon streams. The vapor phase is isolated from the liquid hydrocarbon streams. Alkylation processes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of alkylating a hydrocarbon stream including: providing a feed stream that includes hydrocarbons and ionic liquid catalyst; passing the feed stream through a low efficiency mixer to create a mixed stream, whereby the low efficiency mixer creates droplets within the feed stream that are primarily within a predetermined size range; passing the mixed stream and an olefin stream into a reactor; performing an alkylation reaction within the reactor, thereby forming a reacted stream; and separating the reacted stream into a settled ionic liquid catalyst stream and a hydrocarbon stream through the use of at least one hydrocyclone.

Abstract: Separation processes and separation apparatus are described. The process includes introducing a stream of liquid containing dispersed droplets of another liquid into a separation apparatus comprising a vessel having at least one mesh screen covering substantially all of the cross-section of the vessel. The mesh screen is periodically slightly moved so that the wires of the mesh screen contact the dispersed droplets and some of the dispersed droplets coalesce on the wires. The coalesced droplets rise or fall from the wires through the stream of the second liquid. The coalesced droplets are collected in a portion of the vessel. A stream of the second liquid having a reduced level of dispersed droplets is recovered.

Abstract: Utilization of at least three strippers is proposed for a slurry hydrocracking unit to reduce heater duty for a product fractionation column. A stripping column for stripping a hydrocracked stream from a wash oil stripper is proposed in addition to a cold stripper for a cold hydrocracked stream and a warm stripper for a warm hydrocracked stream. The arrangement enables omission of heating a hot hydrocracked stream from a hot separator in a fired heater before product fractionation.

Abstract: A micro-emulsion and a method of making the micro-emulsion are described. The micro-emulsion includes a hydrocarbon component, an ionic liquid component, and a co-solvent. The ionic liquid comprises a halometallate anion and a cation. The micro-emulsion can optionally include a surfactant, and a catalyst promoter. The co-solvent has a polarity greater than the polarity of the hydrocarbon. The ionic liquid is present in an amount of about 0.05 wt % to about 40 wt % of the micro-emulsion.

Abstract: A process and catalyst is disclosed for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products using multifunctional catalysts. Multifunctional catalysts enable use of less expensive metal by substituting expensive metals for less expensive metals with no loss or superior performance in slurry hydrocracking. Less available and expensive ISM can be replaced effectively.

Abstract: A process and catalyst is disclosed for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products using multifunctional catalysts. Multifunctional catalysts enable use of less expensive metal by substituting expensive metals for less expensive metals with no loss or superior performance in slurry hydrocracking. Less available and expensive ISM can be replaced effectively.

Abstract: A clip assembly for holding down a member in a vessel comprising a clip comprising a first panel comprising a tab extending from the first panel and a protrusion extending from the first panel, and a second panel integral with and normal to the first panel for engaging the member. A wall in the vessel comprises a cut-out adapted to receive the tab and a recess disposed laterally to the cut-out and adapted to receive the protrusion upon inserting the tab into the cut-out and sliding the tab in the cut-out laterally with respect to the recess. The subject matter also pertains to the clip itself and the method of use.

Abstract: The hydroprocessing reactor internals (HRI) have reduced height compared to standard HRI designs. In this design, HRI height reduction is achieved by placing a mixing chamber above the collection tray. A ring quench distributor is located around the fluid collection tray between the mixing chamber and reactor shell to eliminate the vertical space occupied by the distributor. The hydroprocessing reactor quench zone internals comprise a collection tray, a mixing chamber, a ring distributor, a rough liquid distribution tray, and a vapor-liquid distribution tray. Fluid mixing occurs in the mixing chamber and above the rough liquid distribution tray.

Abstract: A reforming reactor and process of using same in which the process gas is effectively and efficiently distributed through the non-reactive zone. The non-reactive zone has two portions, a first portion receiving a purge gas and having an outlet for an effluent from a reactive zone disposed beneath the non-reactive zone and a second portion receiving the feed and having an inlet. The inlet is located between the reaction zone and the outlet. A flow distributor separates the non-reactive zone into the two portions.

Abstract: A process is presented for the recovery of solvent used in an alkylation process. The solvent removes heavy hydrocarbons from a C4 stream. The C4 stream is passed to an alkylation unit to generate an alkylate product. A portion of the solvent is carried over with the C4 stream and needs to be recovered to reduce the aromatics content in the C4 stream, to reduce any deleterious effects of the aromatics in downstream processing.

Abstract: An alkylation process and apparatus are described. The alkylation process includes pre-mixing a paraffin stream with an ionic liquid catalyst stream from a settler. The premixed paraffin and ionic liquid catalyst stream is mixed in a low-efficiency pump to form a paraffin and ionic liquid catalyst mixture. An olefin feed stream is introduced into a riser reactor. The paraffin and ionic liquid catalyst mixture is introduced into the riser reactor to form a reaction mixture comprising alkylate and the ionic liquid catalyst. The reaction mixture is separated in a settler into an ionic liquid catalyst stream and a hydrocarbon stream.