Abstract: In a system and method for cleaning and recovering a solid catalyst, a solvent is added to a slurry comprising the catalyst and residual hydrocarbons. A portion of the residual hydrocarbons and the solvent are separated from the slurry, and the solvent addition and separating steps are repeated until a desired amount of the hydrocarbons have been removed. The solvent is finally removed from the catalyst using a stripping gas to recover a cleaned catalyst. In preferred embodiments, the slurry comprises a Fischer-Tropsch solid catalyst; the slurry exits a slurry bubble reactor, or both. In an embodiment, the solvent comprises naphtha; the residual hydrocarbons comprise waxy hydrocarbons; and one of the separation steps comprises filtration. In an embodiment, the repeating of the solvent addition and separating steps is carried out in a plurality of filters operated in series.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for producing hydrogen in a reactor having a non-catalytic hydrogen selective permeable membrane in thermal contact with a reaction zone.

Abstract: The present invention is generally related towards enhancing the yield and/or cold-flow properties of certain hydrocarbon products, increasing the degree of isomerization in a diesel product and/or increasing the production rate of a diesel product. The embodiments generally include reducing the residence time of lighter hydrocarbon fractions during hydrocracking, thereby decreasing secondary cracking, by various configurations of introducing at least two hydrocarbon feedstreams of different boiling ranges at different entry points in a hydrocracking unit. A method further includes forming a hydrocarbons stream comprising primarily C5+ Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon products; fractionating hydrocarbons stream to form at least a wax fraction and an intermediate fraction which serve as separate feedstreams to a hydrocracking unit comprising at least two hydroconversion zones.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for improving the octane number of a synthetic naphtha stream and optionally for producing olefins and/or solvents. In one embodiment, the method comprises aromatizing at least a portion of a synthetic naphtha stream to produce an aromatized hydrocarbon stream; and isomerizing at least a portion of the aromatized hydrocarbon stream to produce an isomerized aromatized hydrocarbon stream having a higher octane rating than the synthetic naphtha stream. Alternatively, the method comprises providing at least three synthetic naphtha cuts comprising a C4-C5 stream; a C6-C8 stream and a C9-C11 stream; aromatizing some of the C6-C8 stream to form an aromatized hydrocarbon stream with a higher octane number; steam cracking some of the C6-C8 stream and optionally the C9-C11 stream to form olefins; and selling some portions of C9-C11 stream as solvents. In preferred embodiments, the synthetic naphtha is derived from Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.

Abstract: A method for hydroprocessing a hydrocarbon synthesis product feed to form upgraded fuels and lubricating oils. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: (a) contacting a Fischer-Tropsch product with a hydroprocessing catalyst to produce a desired distillate; and (b) counter-currently stripping the desired distillate as it is produced. The method may include distilling the desired distillate or distilling the treated Fischer-Tropsch product.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for removing wax products from a slurry used in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are characterized by a solid/liquid separation system that removes liquid products from a slurry by drawing the fluid across a filter medium composed of a filter cake disposed on a substrate. In the preferred embodiments, the filter cake is desirable and performs the majority of the filtration. In certain embodiments, the filter medium is disposed in a filter housing where slurry flows parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter medium from and inlet to an outlet. The characteristics or properties of the cake, which will effect the performance of the solid/liquid separation system, can be controlled by regulating the velocity of the slurry flowing across the cake, where the velocity may be regulated by adjusting the slurry flow through the filter housing or may be self-regulated by changing slurry velocities influenced by the design of the filter housing.