Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for pyrolytically cracking a hydrocarbon vapor feedstock. The hydrocarbon vapor feedstock is contacted with water prior to cracking. While the hydrocarbon vapor feedstock is being contacted with water, both the feedstock and the water are heated by indirect heat exchange with at least one process stream containing waste heat. Consequently, a portion of the water vaporizes and combines with the hydrocarbon vapor feedstock. The hydrocarbon vapor feedstock is subsequently cracked in the presence of the vaporized water.

Abstract: A method of introducing oxygen-containing gas into a fluidized bed of cracking catalyst particles through a plurality of nozzles which are arranged in the underside portion of the catalyst bed. One aspect of the invention comprises positioning at least one of a plurality of nozzles, used in the fluidized bed, substantially vertically downward. Another aspect of the invention comprises installing at least one nozzle with a length greater than the diameter of a header pipe which supplies the plurality of nozzles. In yet other aspects of the invention comprises installing at least one of the nozzles with a beveled tip, and installing at least one nozzle with a baffle on its tip.

Abstract: Nozzle designs and processes introducing the regeneration air into a catalytic cracking unit are disclosed which reduce the probability of erosion induced nozzle failures. Novel features include nozzle length, tip design, and orientation with respect to the air headers.In one aspect of the invention at least one of the nozzles is positioned substantially vertically downwardly. In another aspect of the invention at least one of the nozzles has a length greater than the outside diameter of the pipe. In another aspect of the invention at least one of the nozzles is provided with a beveled tip. In still another aspect of the invention, at least one of the nozzles is provided with a baffle on its tip.

Abstract: An apparatus for catalyst/oil mixing in a catalytic cracking unit comprises a bifluid nozzle for atomizing oil having an outer tube with an end connected to the sidewalls of a coaxial inner tube forming an annulus therebetween, and apertures through the inner tube for mixing steam introduced into the annulus with oil introduced into the inner tube. The inner tube has an end protruding past the end of the outer tube with a cap having a slot affixed to the end of the inner tube, and a plate baffle mounted inside the inner tube and extending partially thereacross near the apertures. The apparatus further comprises a means for providing a flow of cracking catalyst particles along an exterior surface of the cap so as to sweep the length of the slot.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for fractionating a hot vaporous hydrocarbon feed from a fluid catalytic cracking reactor wherein the hot vaporous feed is introduced into a fractionator zone near one end thereof and liquid is removed from a liquid collection zone and cooled in a heat extraction zone. A first portion of the cooled liquid is returned to a location between the liquid collection zone and the point of introduction of the vaporous feed and sprayed directly on hot condensed liquid flowing downwardly over an inclined baffle plate to quickly quench the liquid below the temperature at which polymerization of the constituents of the liquid can occur.

Abstract: In a fluid catalytic cracking unit where oil and steam are mixed with regenerated catalyst the individual and combined improvements: (1) extending the oil-steam line into the riser reactor at least to a point where the axis of the riser is intersected by an imaginery extension of the inside diameter of the catalyst standpipe and (2) installation of a plurality of purge gas points beneath the regenerator slide valve in the catalyst standpipe.

Abstract: A catalytic cracking apparatus comprises a catalyst lift pot having a first diameter, a riser-reactor having a mouth connected to the lift pot and defining a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter, and a plug member which axially extends into the lift pot from the lower end thereof. The riser-reactor and plug member are situated so that fluid flowing through the lift pot before flowing into the riser-reactor flows radially inward across an upper end surface of the plug member. The apparatus further comprises a device for introducing a fluidizable catalyst through a sidewall of the lift pot, and a device for releasing liquid oil feedstock and atomizing fluid into the lift pot from the upper end surface of the plug member.

Abstract: Catalyst/oil mixing in a catalytic cracking unit can be effected at approximately right angles by introducing the liquid oil axially into the mouth of the riser and bringing the catalyst radially inwardly into the mouth of the riser from substantially the entire circumference thereof.

Abstract: A method of temporarily storing a producer unit effluent, during the transmission of the effluent from the producer unit to a user unit at a predetermined user unit flow rate, in which excess producer unit effluent is passed to a storage unit through a single bidirectional flow line and make-up producer unit effluent is passed from the storage unit through the bidirectional flow line to the user unit. The feed rate to the user unit is controlled to maintain a predetermined feed rate and producer unit effluent, from the producer unit to the storage unit and from the storage unit to the user unit through the bidirectional flow line, is controlled by measuring the back pressure built up in the bidirectional flow line or the flow line from the producer unit to the user unit and permitting flow from the bidirectional flow line to the storage unit and from the storage unit to the bidirectional flow line, as the case may be, in accordance with the measured pressure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for fractionating a hot vaporous hydrocarbon feed from a fluid catalytic cracking reactor wherein the hot vaporous feed is introduced into a fractionator zone near one end thereof and liquid is removed from a liquid collection zone and cooled in a heat extraction zone. A first portion of the cooled liquid is returned to a location between the liquid collection zone and the point of introduction of the vaporous feed and sprayed directly on hot condensed liquid flowing downwardly over an inclined baffle plate to quickly quench the liquid below the temperature at which polymerization of the constituents of the liquid can occur.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing a fluidized solid and a fluid wherein the fluidized solid flows in a space defined between an outer member and an inner member positioned within the outer member. A body means is provided in the space between the members to occupy a predetermined volume in the space. A stream of solid particles flows around the body, and is directed across the upper end of the inner member. Fluid is released at the upper end of the inner member which mixes with the fluidized solid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing a fluidized solid and a fluid wherein the fluidized solid flows in a space defined between an outer member and an inner member positioned within the outer member. A body means is provided in the space between the members to occupy a predetermined volume in the space. A stream of solid particles flows around the body, and is directed across the upper end of the inner member. Fluid is released at the upper end of the inner member which mixes with the fluidized solid.

Abstract: In a fractional distillation process in which a heating fluid and waste heat stream are utilized to supply heat to a fractional distillation column and in which the heat supplied from the waste heat stream is not controllable, control of the liquid level in the fractional distillation column is accomplished by manipulating the flow rate of the heating fluid so as to maintain a desired liquid level until such time as the flow rate of the heating fluid becomes zero at which time the flow rate of the external reflux to the fractional distillation column is manipulated to maintain a desired liquid level in the fractional distillation column. A switching of control of the liquid level provides a means by which an uncontrollable heat input may be provided to the fractional distillation column without losing control of the liquid level in the fractional distillation column.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering HF catalyst from an alkylation unit acid stream containing acid soluble oil wherein a bottoms stream, which contains HF, acid soluble oils and a minor quantity of water, from an HF rerun column are processed. The bottoms mixture is cooled in a heat exchanger to a temperature sufficiently low so as to effect separation of HF from the acid soluble oil with the mixture then being passed to a separating vessel to allow the separation of the HF from the acid soluble oil due to the reduced mutual solubility. A gradient of HF concentration is effected within the separation vessel wherein an HF-rich acid soluble oil mixture is withdrawn as a stream separate from a substantially HF-free acid soluble oil portion which is also recovered as a separate stream.

Abstract: Liquid propane containing HF is admixed in an eductor or sparger with aqueous alkaline solution, e.g., 2-5 percent aqueous NaOH maintained in a treating vessel, the eductor or sparger being located within a body of said alkaline treating agent in said vessel, thus to avoid explosion.