Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for separating aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons by extractive distillation. A solvent is mixed with the aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons. A first separation column separates non-aromatic hydrocarbons from the solvent and the aromatic hydrocarbons. A second separation column separates the aromatic hydrocarbons and the solvent. A side draw stream from the second separation column is used to heat the feed stream to the first separation column. A bottom stream from the second separation may be used to heat the liquid in the first separation column. A stab-in reboiler may be used to transfer heat from the bottoms stream to the liquid in the first separation column.

Abstract: Processes for increasing an octane value of a gasoline component by dehydrogenating a stream comprising C7 hydrocarbons and methylcyclohexane in a first dehydrogenation zone to form an intermediate dehydrogenation effluent, and then dehydrogenating the intermediate dehydrogenation effluent in a second dehydrogenation zone to form a C7 dehydrogenation effluent. The C7 dehydrogenation effluent has an increased olefins content compared to an olefins content of the intermediate dehydrogenation effluent. The first dehydrogenation zone is operated under conditions to convert methylcyclohexane to toluene and minimize cracking reactions. The intermediate dehydrogenation effluent may be heated before being passed to the second dehydrogenation zone.

Abstract: A reforming process is described. The reforming process includes introducing a hydrocarbon stream comprising hydrocarbons having 5 to 12 carbon atoms into a reforming zone containing reforming catalyst, the reforming zone comprising at least two reformers, each reformer having a set of reforming operating conditions, to produce a reformate effluent, wherein the last reformer contains less catalyst than the next to the last reformer.

Abstract: Processes for increasing an octane value of a gasoline component by dehydrogenating a stream comprising C7 hydrocarbons and methylcyclohexane in a first dehydrogenation zone to form an intermediate dehydrogenation effluent, and then dehydrogenating the intermediate dehydrogenation effluent in a second dehydrogenation zone to form a C7 dehydrogenation effluent. The C7 dehydrogenation effluent has an increased olefins content compared to an olefins content of the intermediate dehydrogenation effluent. The first dehydrogenation zone is operated under conditions to convert methylcyclohexane to toluene and minimize cracking reactions. The intermediate dehydrogenation effluent may be heated before being passed to the second dehydrogenation zone.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for making aromatics are described. The process includes reforming a naphtha stream in a reforming zone to form a reformer effluent comprising aromatic compounds and non-aromatic compounds, wherein at least a portion of the aromatic compounds contain alkyl groups. The reformer effluent is heated and passed directly to an acid cracking reaction zone. The non-aromatic compounds are selectively cracked and at least a portion of the alkyl groups on the aromatic compounds are selectively dealkylated in the presence of an acid cracking catalyst to form a cracked reformer effluent comprising the aromatic compounds and cracked olefins.

Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing a C8 aromatic isomer product are provided. The process comprises introducing a reformate stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons to a reformate splitter column to provide a plurality of streams. One or more streams comprising at least one stream from the plurality of streams is passed to a reformate upgrading unit to obtain an upgraded reformate stream. The upgraded reformate stream is passed to an aromatics stripper column to provide an aromatics stripper sidedraw stream comprising C8 aromatic hydrocarbons. The aromatics stripper sidedraw stream is passed to a xylene separation unit to provide the C8 aromatic isomer product and a raffinate product stream. At least a portion of the raffinate product stream is processed in a liquid phase isomerization unit to obtain an isomerized stream.

Abstract: A process is provided for separation of light olefins and paraffins and particular for the separation of propylene and propane comprising sending at least one olefin/paraffin stream to a distillation column and a membrane unit to produce an olefin stream comprising at least 92 mol % olefin. In an embodiment of the invention where the membrane unit is placed downstream from the column which can produce propylene streams at polymer grade of over 99.5 mol % propylene.

Abstract: A process is provided for separation of light olefins and paraffins and particular for the separation of propylene and propane comprising sending at least one olefin/paraffin stream to a distillation column and a membrane unit to produce an olefin stream comprising at least 92 mol % olefin. In an embodiment of the invention where the membrane unit is placed downstream from the column which can produce propylene streams at polymer grade of over 99.5 mol % propylene.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for making aromatics are described. The process includes reforming a naphtha stream in a reforming zone to form a reformer effluent comprising aromatic compounds and non-aromatic compounds, wherein at least a portion of the aromatic compounds contain alkyl groups. The reformer effluent is heated and passed directly to an acid cracking reaction zone. The non-aromatic compounds are selectively cracked and at least a portion of the alkyl groups on the aromatic compounds are selectively dealkylated in the presence of an acid cracking catalyst to form a cracked reformer effluent comprising the aromatic compounds and cracked olefins.

Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing a C8 aromatic isomer product are provided. The apparatus comprises an isomerization unit to provide an isomerized stream. An isomerate stripper column is in communication with the isomerization unit to provide an isomerate stripper overhead stream comprising C6? hydrocarbons in an isomerate overhead line and an isomerate stripper bottoms stream in an isomerate bottoms line. A dividing wall naphthene splitter column is in communication with the isomerate bottoms line to provide an overhead naphthene splitter stream comprising the C8 naphthenes and C7 aromatic hydrocarbons in a naphthene splitter overhead line and a naphthene splitter sidedraw stream comprising C8 aromatic isomers in a naphthene splitter sidedraw line. An extractive distillation column is in communication with the naphthene splitter overhead line to provide a recycle feedstream comprising the C8 naphthenes in a recycle line and an extract stream comprising the C7 aromatic hydrocarbons in an extract line.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for making olefins and aromatics are described. The process includes reforming a naphtha stream in a reforming unit to produce a reformer effluent stream comprising aromatic compounds and aliphatic compounds, wherein at least a portion of the aromatic compounds contain alkyl groups. A cracking feed stream is taken from the reformer effluent stream, heated and passed to a cracking reactor. The aliphatic compounds are selectively cracked and at least a portion of the alkyl groups on the aromatic compounds are selectively dealkylated in the presence of a cracking catalyst to produce a cracked reformer effluent stream comprising aromatic compounds and cracked olefins.

Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing a C8 aromatic isomer product are provided. The apparatus comprises an isomerization unit to provide an isomerized stream. An isomerate stripper column is in communication with the isomerization unit to provide an isomerate stripper overhead stream comprising C6? hydrocarbons in an isomerate overhead line and an isomerate stripper bottoms stream in an isomerate bottoms line. A dividing wall naphthene splitter column is in communication with the isomerate bottoms line to provide an overhead naphthene splitter stream comprising the C8 naphthenes and C7 aromatic hydrocarbons in a naphthene splitter overhead line and a naphthene splitter sidedraw stream comprising C8 aromatic isomers in a naphthene splitter sidedraw line. An extractive distillation column is in communication with the naphthene splitter overhead line to provide a recycle feedstream comprising the C8 naphthenes in a recycle line and an extract stream comprising the C7 aromatic hydrocarbons in an extract line.

Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing a C8 aromatic isomer product are provided. The process comprises introducing a reformate stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons to a reformate splitter column to provide a plurality of streams. One or more streams comprising at least one stream from the plurality of streams is passed to a reformate upgrading unit to obtain an upgraded reformate stream. The upgraded reformate stream is passed to an aromatics stripper column to provide an aromatics stripper sidedraw stream comprising C8 aromatic hydrocarbons. The aromatics stripper sidedraw stream is passed to a xylene separation unit to provide the C8 aromatic isomer product and a raffinate product stream. At least a portion of the raffinate product stream is processed in a liquid phase isomerization unit to obtain an isomerized stream.

Abstract: This present disclosure relates to processes and apparatuses for toluene methylation in an aromatics complex for producing paraxylene. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to processes and apparatuses wherein a toluene methylation zone is integrated within an aromatics complex for producing paraxylene thus allowing no benzene byproduct to be produced. This may be accomplished by incorporating a toluene methylation process into the aromatics complex and recycling the benzene to the transalkylation unit the aromatics complex.

Abstract: A process for separating xylene from a feedstock in which the feedstock is separated into a xylene stream, a benzene rich stream and a light ends stream. Two separation zones may be utilized in which liquid from both is sent to a stabilization zone and the vapor from the stabilization zone is combined with a stream prior to the stream entering the second separation zone.

Abstract: A process for separating xylene from a feedstock in which the feedstock is separated into a xylene stream, a benzene rich stream and a light ends stream. Two separation zones may be utilized in which liquid from both is sent to a stabilization zone and the vapor from the stabilization zone is combined with a stream prior to the stream entering the second separation zone.

Abstract: A process for flushing the rounded top head and rounded bottom head of a vessel used in an adsorption process in which the rounded top head and the rounded bottom head of the vessel are flushed with a flush fluid. The extract stream from the adsorption process is split into a desorbent rich stream and desorbent lean steam. The flushing fluid is a fraction separated from a desorbent lean split of the extract stream.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for processing hydrocarbons are provided. In one embodiment, a method for processing hydrocarbons includes fractionating a feed stock to form a C6-C10 naphtha stream and a C11+ hydrocarbon stream. The method reforms the C6-C10 naphtha stream. Further, the method cracks the C11+ hydrocarbon stream to form a stream of C6-C10 hydrocarbons and extracts aromatics from the stream of C6-C10 hydrocarbons to form an extract stream. The method includes combining the C6-C10 naphtha stream and the extract stream containing the aromatics. Also, the method includes processing the C6-C10 naphtha stream and the extract stream in an aromatics complex to form selected aromatic products. Further, the embodiment may include reforming raffinate streams.

Abstract: An aromatics complex producing one or more xylene isomers offers a large number of opportunities to conserve energy by heat exchange within the complex. One previously unrecognized opportunity is through providing two parallel distillation columns operating at different pressures to separate C8 aromatics from C9+ aromatics. The parallel columns offer additional opportunities to conserve energy within the complex through heat exchange in associated xylene recovery facilities.

Abstract: An aromatics complex producing one or more xylene isomers offers a large number of opportunities to conserve energy by heat exchange within the complex. One previously unrecognized opportunity is through providing two parallel distillation columns operating at different pressures to separate C8 aromatics from C9+ aromatics. The parallel columns offer additional opportunities to conserve energy within the complex.