Abstract: A process for recovering hydrogen from dehydrogenation reactor effluent is disclosed. A feed stream comprising hydrocarbons and hydrogen to a dehydrogenation reactor maintained at dehydrogenation conditions to provide a dehydrogenation reactor effluent. The dehydrogenation reactor effluent is passed to a cold box separation unit to provide a liquid hydrocarbon product stream and a recycle hydrogen stream. A return portion of the recycle hydrogen stream is passed to the reactor effluent compressor. The subject matter disclosed improved process and apparatus which enables the paraffin dehydrogenation reactor to run at reduced H2/HC ratio without requiring an investment in a resized compressor or resized turboexpanders or separators in the cold box.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for reforming of hydrocarbons including recovery of products are provided. In one example, a method comprises separating a reforming-zone effluent into a net gas phase stream and a liquid phase hydrocarbon stream. The net gas phase stream is separated for forming an H2-rich stream and a first liquid phase hydrocarbon stream. The H2-rich stream may be contacted with an adsorbent to form an H2-ultra rich stream and a gas stream. C3/C4 hydrocarbons are absorbed from the gas stream with the liquid phase hydrocarbon stream. The gas stream may be contacted with an H2/hydrocarbon separation membrane to separate the PSA tail gas stream and form an H2-rich permeate stream and an H2 depleted non-permeate residue stream.

Abstract: A method of making highly an active mixed transition metal oxide material has been developed. The method may include sulfiding the metal oxide material to generate metal sulfides which are used as catalyst in a conversion process such as hydroprocessing. The hydroprocessing may include hydrodenitrification, hydrodesulfurization, hydrodemetallation, hydrodesilication, hydrodearomatization, hydroisomerization, hydrotreating, hydrofining, and hydrocracking.

Abstract: A slurry separator comprising a moving blade that wipes slurry oil onto a wall of the slurry separator for separating a recovered oil stream from a concentrated residue stream has the capability of maximizing recovery of the LCO from slurry oil as well as removing both the catalyst fines as well as coke particles suspended in the slurry oil. The slurry separator can be fed directly from the main column bottoms. Advantageously, the process and apparatus can enable the FCC unit to achieve higher production of LCO and higher value clarified slurry oil more efficiently.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process is provided to remove oxygen from a hydrogen stream through the use of a copper material in combination with layers of adsorbent to remove water, C2 and C3 hydrocarbons, as well as other impurities. The feed gas comprises more than 70 mol % hydrogen, at least 1 mol % methane and more than 10 ppmv oxygen. The purified product hydrogen stream comprises greater than 99 mol % hydrogen, with less than 1 ppmv oxygen.

Abstract: A plant or refinery may include equipment such as reactors, heaters, heat exchangers, regenerators, separators, or the like. Types of heat exchangers include shell and tube, plate, plate and shell, plate fin, air cooled, wetted-surface air cooled, or the like. Operating methods may impact deterioration in equipment condition, prolong equipment life, extend production operating time, or provide other benefits. Mechanical or digital sensors may be used for monitoring equipment, and sensor data may be programmatically analyzed to identify developing problems. For example, sensors may be used in conjunction with one or more system components to detect and correct maldistribution, cross-leakage, strain, pre-leakage, thermal stresses, fouling, vibration, problems in liquid lifting, conditions that can affect air-cooled exchangers, conditions that can affect a wetted-surface air-cooled heat exchanger, or the like. An operating condition or mode may be adjusted to prolong equipment life or avoid equipment failure.

Abstract: Process of treating a net gas stream is disclosed. The process includes sending the net gas stream to a compressor to produce a compressed gas stream. The compressed gas stream is then sent to a pressure swing adsorption unit to produce a hydrogen product stream and a tail gas stream. Tail gas stream from the pressure swing adsorption unit is sent to a first membrane unit to produce a first permeate stream and a first non-permeate stream. Portion of the tail gas stream is sent to a second membrane unit to produce a second permeate stream and a second non-permeate stream.

Abstract: A chemical plant may include one or more fired heaters for heating of process streams. A fired heater may include a direct-fired heat exchanger that uses the hot gases of combustion to raise the temperature of a process fluid feed flowing through tubes positioned within the heater. Fired heaters may deliver feed at a predetermined temperature to the next stage of the reaction process or perform reactions such as thermal cracking. Systems and methods are disclosed to optimize the performance of fired heaters or reduce energy consumption of fired heaters.

Abstract: The invention involves a scale collection device that is located within downflow reactor head for removing solids from feed streams to increase reactor operating cycle time without impact on effective reactor space for catalyst loading. More particularly, a filtering zone is located in an upper portion of a reactor vessel above a rough liquid distribution tray and a distribution tray.

Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing polymer particles with a solid state polycondensation reactor and an underwater pelletization unit. The apparatuses use a pre-conditioning zone to adjust a temperature, crystallization in addition to dust, acetaldehyde and water content of the particles from a crystallization bin. Various inert gas streams can be provided from a purification unit to remove dust, acetaldehyde, water and adjust temperature and crystallinity of the particles, as also move the particles. The precondition zones have stages that allow for the particles to accurately achieve the desired SSP reactor inlet conditions.

Abstract: A process for producing acetylene, ethylene, or both is disclosed. The process includes combusting a fuel stream to produce a combustion gas effluent stream and pyrolyzing a feed stream in a pyrolysis zone in the presence of the combustion gas effluent stream to produce a pyrolysis zone effluent stream which is further quenched and compressed. The compressed quenched stream is separated in a solvent separation column to produce a net gas stream comprising hydrogen, methane, and at least one carbon oxide and a product stream. A portion of the carbon oxide of the net gas stream is converted into methane in a methanation reactor and a reactor effluent stream is sent to an amine scrubber where carbon dioxide is removed and a methane containing stream is generated as an effluent. The methane containing stream is then recycled to the pyrolysis zone of the supersonic reactor.

Abstract: Hydroprocessing reactor internals height reduction is achieved by placing a mixing chamber above the collection tray. The mixing chamber has spillways on the top (top spillways) and the side of the mixing chamber (side spillways) for fluid entry. The design of the spillways has a significant impact on pressure drop. The pressure drop is reduced by having wide shallow spillways rather than narrow and deep spillways without impacting mixing performance. With both side and top spillways, the height of the mixing chamber can be reduced significantly with minimal impact on fluid mixing and pressure drop.

Abstract: In an FCC apparatus and process gas and catalyst exit from a riser, are disengaged from each other and the catalyst is stripped. Product gases are evacuated from catalyst that can over crack the product gases to other undesired products. A baffle in or above the stripping section can direct product gases into a passage that evacuates the product gases to product recovery in isolation from the catalyst.

Abstract: A dehydrogenation process and apparatus contact a paraffinic stream with dehydrogenation catalyst to product olefinic product gases. The olefinic product gases are separated from spent dehydrogenation catalyst and contained in a confined space that has a smaller volume than the reactor particularly at the same elevation. The containment of the olefinic product gases facilitates quenching the olefinic product gases to terminate reaction and improve selectivity to propylene.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for gradually starting fluidization in a bed of particulate from the top down so as to avoid thrusting the entire mass of particulates upwardly in the bed at the same time which may damage internals in the bed. The particulate bed may comprise a catalyst cooler for an FCC unit containing internals such as cooling, fluidization and support equipment.

Abstract: The invention provides a process to purify a gas stream by using an adsorbent bed and a secondary device to remove heavy hydrocarbons with a recycle stream then sent first to a vessel containing an amine solvent to remove acid gases including carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide and then in most embodiments of the invention sending the treated gas stream to a dehydration unit such as an adsorbent bed or to a triethylene glycol absorbent to remove water. The invention further provides improved integration of the process streams to allow for smaller amine solvent and dehydration units as compared to the prior art.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for fluidizing a catalyst cooler with fluidization gas fed to the cooler below the catalyst bed is disclosed. Fluidization headers extend through an outlet manifold and deliver fluidization gas through distributors protruding through an outlet tube sheet defining said outlet manifold. The outlet manifold collects heated water vapor from the catalyst cooler and discharges it from the catalyst cooler.

Abstract: In an FCC apparatus in which swirl arms are used to discharge gas and catalyst from a riser, the swirling movement of the catalyst particles is inhibited while impeding the catalyst particles and gaseous products from exiting the disengaging chamber and entering a reactor annulus. The catalyst particles and gaseous products pass through a tunnel comprising a vertical wall to enter the reactor annulus. The vertical wall presents a face that is opposed to the angular direction in which the catalyst particles and gaseous products swirl. A baffle may be located at the intersection between the reactor annulus and the disengaging chamber to deflect catalyst laterally in a stripping section after exiting the reactor annulus. The baffle may be equipped with openings to fluidize the large proportion of catalyst passing over this region to effectively pre-strip this catalyst before it enters a stripping section.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for analyzing fluid properties of a stream are described. The processes utilize a simulated moving bed system and a rotary valve. The processes involve sending a portion of the pump-around stream to a side chamber where the moisture content of the adsorbent in the side chamber or one or more fluid properties of the stream or both are measured using an analyzer specific to each fluid property.

Abstract: The invention involves a scale collection device that is located within downflow reactor head for removing solids from feed streams to increase reactor operating cycle time without impact on effective reactor space for catalyst loading and reactor pressure drop. More particularly, a scale collection device is in an upper portion of a reactor vessel above a rough liquid distribution tray and a vapor-liquid distribution tray.