Abstract: A process and apparatus for achieving multistage, hot catalyst stripping of spent FCC catalyst in a bubbling bed regenerator having a stripper mounted over the regenerator and a stripped catalyst standpipe within the regenerator. Hot catalyst stripping is achieved by lifting regenerated catalyst into the conventional stripper or to a secondary catalyst stripper under the primary stripper. Spent catalyst is heated by direct contact heat exchange with hot regenerated catalyst. Three different types of lift gas may be used to transport catalyst from the regenerator to the hot stripper, a light reactive hydrocarbon, an inert, or steam.

Abstract: A continuous multistage process for converting normally gaseous olefins containing an amount of ethene to gasoline and/or distillate range hydrocarbons, the process employing at least two fluidized olefins oligomerization reaction zones operating in parallel with one reaction zone operating under high severity reaction conditions effective for converting ethene.

Abstract: Methanol or other alcohol is converted to high octane gasoline components by an integrated process wherein crude aqueous alcohol feedstock is extracted with a liquid extractant stream containing C.sub.4 +iso-olefin and reacted to form tertiary-alkyl ethers, such as MTBE. The aqueous raffinate is converted to olefinic hydrocarbons in a MTO catalytic reactor. Propene from the MTO reaction is reacted with water to produce di-isopropyl ether, which may be blended with MTBE and C.sub.6 +MTO hydrocarbons to produce high octane gasoline. Isobutylene and isoamylenes from the MTO reaction can be recovered and recycled as a liquid extractant stream.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for fluid catalytic cracking (FCC). The output of a reactor riser zone is fed to a riser cyclone separator, a primary cyclone separator, and secondary cyclone separators, connected in series within a single reactor vessel. The riser cyclone separator is connected to the primary cyclone separator by a conduit, which prevents random post-riser thermal cracking of the hydrocarbons after they exit the riser cyclone separator. The conduit contains an annular port to allow stripping gas to enter the conduit to improve the separation of hydrocarbons from catalyst. Catalyst separated in the riser cyclone separator drops through a riser cyclone dipleg and passes through a dipleg seal which comprises a seal pot or catalyst held around the dipleg. The conduit is formed by two overlapping parts, one having a larger diameter than the other to form the annular port and packing or spacers may be used to align and space the overlapping parts.

Abstract: A improved process is provided for upgrading light olefins from hydrocarbon cracking, such as light crackate gas containing ethene, propene and other C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 lower aliphatics. The process comprises the steps of: maintaining an oligomerization reactor containing a fluidized bed of zeolite catalyst particles in a low severity reactor bed at oligomerization temperature conditions by passing hot olefinic gas upwardly through the fluidized catalyst bed under throughput rate conditions sufficient to convert at least 50 wt % of lower olefins to hydrocarbons in the C.sub.5 -C.sub.10 range; maintaining turbulent fluidized bed conditions through the fluidized bed by passing fresh ethene-rich feedstream gas upwardly through the fluidized catalyst bed and adding thereto sufficient recycled light byproduct gas to maintain a minimum gas velocity; cooling reaction effluent from the conversion zone to provide light gas byproduct and liquid hydrocarbon reaction product rich in C.sub.5 -C.sub.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for achieving turbulent or fast fluidized bed regeneration of spent FCC catalyst in a bubbling bed regenerator having a stripper mounted over the regenerator and a stripped catalyst standpipe within the regenerator. A closed coke combustor vessel is added to the existing regenerator vessel, and spent catalyst is discharged into the coke combustor and regenerated in a turbulent or fast fluidized bed, and discharged up into a dilute phase transport which preferably encompasses, and is in a countercurrent heat exchange relationship with, the spent catalyst standpipe. Regenerated catalyst is discharged from the dilute phase transport riser, and collected in the bubbling dense bed surrounding the coke combustor. Catalyst may be recycled from the dense bed to the coke combustor for direct contact heat exchange. Catalyst coolers may be used on catalyst recycle lines to the coke combustor, or on the line returning regenerated catalyst to the cracking reactor.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for achieving multistage, hot catalyst stripping of spent FCC catalyst in a bubbling bed regenerator having a stripper mounted over the regenerator and a stripped catalyst standpipe within the regenerator. A secondary or hot catalyst stripper is placed under the primary stripper and within the existing regenerator vessel. Spent catalyst from the primary stripper is heated in the secondary stripper by at least one of immersion in the bubbling dense bed of hot regenerated catalyst, addition of hot regenerated catalyst recovered from the discharged into the coke combustor and regenerated in a turbulent or fast fluidized bed, and discharged up into a dilute phase transport riser which preferably encompasses, and is in a countercurrent heat exchange relationship with, the spent catalyst standpipe. Regenerated catalyst is discharged from the dilute phase transport riser, and collected in the bubbling dense bed surrounding the coke combustor.

Abstract: Aliphatics are aromatized in a two-stage catalytic upgrading process. In the first stage, aliphatic hydrocarbons are at least partially cracked and dehydrogenated to form an intermediate product stream. The extent and selectivity of the cracking and dehydrogenation reactions are preferably controlled to maintain heat balance in a second stage catalytic aromatization step.In a preferred embodiment, a first aliphatic feedstream is cracked and dehydrogenated to form an intermediate product stream. The intermediate product stream is then mixed with a second aliphatic feedstream and contacted with a zeolite aromatization catalyst. Cracking and dehydrogenation of the first aliphatic feedstream is controlled to provide heat balanced aromatization of the combined streams.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the conversion of an aliphatic feedstream in which an oxygen-deficient flue gas is used to directly transfer heat to the primary conversion reaction. Hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from the primary conversion reactor effluent are converted to methanol or Fischer-Tropsch liquid and may be recycled to the primary conversion reactor. Preferred primary conversion reactions include dehydrogenation and aromatization of aliphatics.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for the catalytic conversion of hydrocarbons in a transport or sub-transport fluidized bed reaction zone. Inert particles are used to transfer heat to the reaction zone. The particles may be heated separately from the catalyst in a combustion zone or together with the catalyst in a regenerator. Fuel is fired to heat the inert particles or a mixture of catalyst and inert particles. Hydrogen deficient fuels such as charcoal or coke are preferred.

Abstract: An improved system for converting crude aqueous methanol feedstock or the like to olefinic hydrocarbons in contact with a medium pore shape selective crystalline acid zeolite catalyst, wherein the improvement comprises feedstock preparation means contacting the aqueous methanol feedstock with a liquid propane-rich hydrocarbon extractant under liquid extraction conditions, means for recovering an aqueous phase containing the major amount of water introduced with the feedstock, means for recovering an organic extract phase comprising the hydrocarbon extractant and a portion of methanol introduced in the feedstock, and reactor means for converting the extracted methanol at elevated temperature under catalytic reaction conditions to produce predominantly olefinic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Improved operating techniques and apparatus for converting methanol or the like to intermediate olefins and etherification products, such as methyl t-butyl ether, by extracting crude methanol feedstock with an olefinic liquid hydrocarbon stream containing C.sub.4.sup.+ iso-olefins. The methanol extract phase is reacted under etherification conditions. The aqueous methanol raffinate stream is converted catalytically to olefins for recovery of C.sub.4.sup.+ olefinic liquid hydrocarbons useful as extraction solvent.

Abstract: An integrated process for the production of ether-rich liquid fuels containing MTBE and TAME by etherifying a hydrocarbon feedstock containing C.sub.4 + isoalkenes in the presence of a high stoichiometric excess of lower alkyl alcohol. Unreacted alcohol and olefins are passed to a zeolite catalyzed conversion reactor under olefinic and oxygenates conversion condition whereby gasoline and light hydrocarbons are produced. The light hydrocarbon fraction comprising C.sub.4 -C.sub.5 paraffins is dehydrogenated and C.sub.4 -C.sub.5 olefins are recycled to the etherification reactor.

Abstract: This application is directed to a process and apparatus for regenerating an elutriable mixture of fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst and a demetallizing additive. Deactivated catalyst and coke containing additive are added to a single dense bed regenerator. Within the regenerator, differences in settling velocity segregate the elutriable mixture into a lower dense bed containing most of the additive and a contiguous upper dense bed containing most of the FCC catalyst. Some regeneration gas is added to the lower dense bed to at least partially decoke the additive, while additional regeneration gas is added to the upper dense bed. Decoked additive and regenerated FCC catalyst are preferably withdrawn separately and charged to a riser reactor for demetallizing and catalytic cracking of heavy feed. Flue gas is withdrawn from the regenerator from a dilute phase vapor space above the single dense bed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for fractionation of a superheated vapor in a fractionation column is disclosed. A conventional fractionator, having an inlet for hot vapors at the base, and a plurality of products withdrawn via side draws is modified by physically inverting some parts of the column. The superheated vapors are charged to an upper portion of the column, to contact and vaporize a liquid fraction pumped up from a lower portion of the column. The vaporized liquid is discharged as a vapor fraction to the base of the column from which the liquid fraction was obtained. Superheated vapor fed to the column is fractionated, but in a fractionator in which the hottest part of the column is not in the base of the column. The inverted fractionator, when used in conjunction with a riser cracking FCC reactor, greatly reduces thermal cracking in a transfer line moving superheated, cracked vapor from the reactor to the fractionator.

Abstract: A fluid catalytic cracking reactor system useful for regenerating and recycling hot cracking catalyst while utilizing thermal energy therefrom comprising: pressurized regenerator vessel for regenerating a coke-contaminated fluid cracking catalyst in a regeneration zone, maintaining oxidation regeneration temperature and receiving sufficient oxygen-containing regeneration gas to maintain a dense fluid bed of regenerator catalyst so as to regenerate the catalyst before recycling it to a fluid cracker; first valved conduit for withdrawing a controlled stream of regenerator catalyst from the regenerator vessel; dehydrogenation reactor in valved communication with the regenerator vessel, the dehydrogenation reactor having a dehydrogenation zone maintained at temperature below that in the regeneration zone, with the dehydrogenation reactor being located externally relative to the cracker and regenerator vessel; fluid handling for introducing a lower alkane feedstream into the dehydrogenation zone in an amount suffi

Abstract: A semi-continuous multi-stage catalytic reactor system for converting lower olefinic feedstock to heavier liquid hydrocarbon product.

Abstract: A process for preparing lower molecular weight unsymmetrical ethers such as methyl t-butyl (MTBE) and t-amyl methyl ether (TAME) from an iso-olefin and methanol, the process comprising a preliminary step of contacting the iso-olefin and methanol with a medium-pore zeolite conversion catalyst in at least one reaction zone under conditions sufficient to convert the iso-olefin and methanol to an unsymmetrical ether and then feeding effluent from the preliminary step to an etherification reaction zone containing a macroreticular polystyrenesulfonic acid resin catalyst.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon feeds are dewaxed and hydrotreated in a two-stage dewaxing-hydrotreating reactor system with interstage separation of olefinic and naphtha and light olefins. Separation of the naphtha and olefins is carried out by stripping the effluent from the dewaxing reactor with a stripping medium such as make-up hydrogen or vapor from the hydrotreater effluent. Hydrogen recycle for the dewaxer and the hydrotreater is taken from the stripper/separator after removal of the olefinic naphtha and removal of contaminants. Separation of the lighter olefins from the olefinic naphtha may be improved by the use of an oil solvent such as naphtha introduced into the top of the interstage stripper/separator so that the recycle gas from the stripper/separator is essentially free of wet gas and heavier fractions.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting a light hydrocarbon feedstock that contains a mixture of linear and branched olefins to ether-rich high octane gasoline streams that include tertiary alkyl and isoalkyl ethers such as MTBE, TAME, methyl isopropyl ether (MIPE), and methyl sec-butylether (MSBE). The conversion is achieved by utilizing the differing reactivity of tertiary olefins under selected conditions compared to linear olefins in the catalyzed etherification processes. The discovery has been made that unreacted olefins from the etherification reactions can be converted to gasoline boiling range hydrocarbons by contacting them with zeolite catalyst at elevated temperature. Further, it has been discovered that unreacted paraffins in the integrated process can be dehydrogenated to produce C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 olefins which can be recycled to the etherification process.