Abstract: A fluid catalytic cracking process includes feeding hydrocarbon into a riser in the presence of a catalyst, cracking the hydrocarbon in the riser in the presence of the catalyst to form a cracked stream, and separating the catalyst from the cracked stream. When in a gasoline mode, the hydrocarbon is fed through a first distributor into the riser, and when in a light olefin mode, the hydrocarbon is fed through a second distributor into the riser. The second distributor is positioned at a higher elevation than the first distributor.

Abstract: In a cyclone separator used for separating solids from gases, we discovered placing at least one opening in a lateral surface of a gas outlet conduit on a side facing away from an inlet to the cyclone separator prevents coke deposits from forming thereon. A plurality of openings may be placed on the side of the lateral surface of the gas outlet conduit facing away from the inlet. In an embodiment, no openings are placed on a side of the lateral surface facing the inlet to the cyclone separator.

Abstract: A tubular reactor passes a flowing stream of reactants through a plurality of mixing devices that simultaneously provide indirect heat exchange of the reactants to improve the uniformity of reactant temperatures and concentrations. The mixing devices provide intimate mixing by passing the reactants through a plurality of narrow channels defined by parallel plate elements that channel a heat exchange fluid on their opposite side to provide the simultaneous indirect heat exchange. The heat exchange channels can have any desired degree of mixing intensity by providing irregularities in the channel walls or flow path that supply the desired degree of fluid shear. Preferably the mixing reactor provides a series of mixing devices with heat exchange along the length of the conduit flow path with space between the devices for remixing of the fluid reactants.

Abstract: An arrangement for the controlled production of an essentially linear array of hydrocarbon feed injection jets reduces required clearances and elevation while facilitating modification of the contacting locating a feed distributor containing a linear array of jets at a standpipe junction point to provide choke point for particle flow control. The flow properties of the extended particle layer are controlled by adjusting the density of the particles above the choke point created by the upper part of the standpipe inside diameter and the top of the distributor. Steam or another fluidization medium may be added to the particles directly above the distributor for this purpose. This invention can also modify the particle or feed injection characteristics by changing the projection of the distributor into the standpipe to adjust the flow area over the choke point and by the use of bottom slides or baffles to change the flow area size and configuration.

Abstract: An arrangement for the controlled production of an essentially linear array of hydrocarbon feed injection jets reduces required clearances and elevation while facilitating modification of the contacting locating a feed distributor containing a linear array of jets at a standpipe junction point to provide choke point for particle flow control. The flow properties of the extended particle layer are controlled by adjusting the density of the particles above the choke point created by the upper part of the standpipe inside diameter and the top of the distributor. Steam or another fluidization medium may be added to the particles directly above the distributor for this purpose. This invention can also modify the particle or feed injection characteristics by changing the projection of the distributor into the standpipe to adjust the flow area over the choke point and by the use of bottom slides or baffles to change the flow area size and configuration.

Abstract: This FCC process suspends a layer of catalyst in a riser proximate or above the riser outlets. The density at the riser outlets is higher than the flowing density in the riser. The suspended catalyst provides a disengagement zone that enhances the separation of catalyst from product vapors. The riser operates in a manner that prevents any discharge of catalyst from its end. The arrangement also provides a convenient method for vetoing stripping vapors into a closed reactor cyclone system.

Abstract: A side-by-side reactor vessel and stripping vessel arrangement uses a rejection vessel to collect the catalyst from the bottom of a reactor vessel and eliminate stagnant layers of catalyst within the reactor vessel while increasing the efficiency of a stripper vessel located to the side of the reactor. Catalyst containing entrained and sorbed hydrocarbons pass from the bottom of a reactor vessel into the small diameter rejection vessel that provides a hydrocarbon rejection zone and uses a fresh stripping medium to maintain a dense fluidized bed from which entrained hydrocarbons are quickly disengaged from the catalyst and travel upward into the reactor vessel. Partially stripped catalyst flows through a passageway that extends horizontally to a stripping vessel that contains a conventional stripping zone. In the stripping vessel, catalyst counter-currently contacts additional stripping medium which removes sorbed hydrocarbons from the catalyst surface.

Abstract: A side-by-side reactor vessel and stripping vessel arrangement uses a rejection vessel to collect the catalyst from the bottom of a reactor vessel and eliminate stagnant layers of catalyst within the reactor vessel while increasing the efficiency of a stripper vessel located to the side of the reactor. Catalyst containing entrained and sorbed hydrocarbons pass from the bottom of a reactor vessel into the small diameter rejection vessel that provides a hydrocarbon rejection zone and uses a fresh stripping medium to maintain a dense fluidized bed from which entrained hydrocarbons are quickly disengaged from the catalyst and travel upward into the reactor vessel. Partially stripped catalyst flows through a passageway that extends horizontally to a stripping vessel that contains a conventional stripping zone. In the stripping vessel, catalyst counter-currently contacts additional stripping medium which removes sorbed hydrocarbons from the catalyst surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an FCC process uses means for dissipating turbulent flow at the outlet of a disengaging vessel to provide a quick separation of catalyst from product vapors and to prevent reentrainment of catalyst into the disengaging vessel. The process and apparatus use a riser for the conversion of an FCC feedstock and direct the effluent from the riser directly into a disengaging vessel to separate catalyst from the product vapors. Catalyst is directed downwardly out of the outlet of the disengaging vessel and through a series of dissipator plates that dissipate turbulent flow by eliminating the tangential velocity that would be otherwise introduced by the vortex and would lead to reentrainment of catalyst. A stripping vessel is located immediately below the disengaging vessel outlet to receive catalyst as it leaves the dissipator plates.

Abstract: An FCC reactor achieves greater utilization of the space within the reactor vessel by using a vented riser arrangement having an inlet opening at the bottom of a vented riser collector. The inlet opening at the bottom of the vented riser collector allows plug flow of the catalyst and hydrocarbon vapors through the upper and lower section of the reactor vessel without any substantial degradation and separation efficiency between the catalyst and the hydrocarbon vapors. This permits almost the entire tangent length of the reactor vessel to be used for the purpose of catalyst and hydrocarbon contact.

Abstract: This FCC process suspends a layer of catalyst in a riser proximate or above the riser outlets. The density at the riser outlets is higher than the flowing density in the riser. The suspended catalyst provides a disengagement zone that enhances the separation of catalyst from product vapors. The riser operates in a manner that prevents any discharge of catalyst from its end. The arrangement also provides a convenient method for venting stripping vapors into a closed reactor cyclone system.

Abstract: A tubular reactor uses a plurality of improved mixing devices to reduce the overall length of the tubular reactor while maintaining a low pressure drop operation. The mixing devices in the tubular reactor provide stages of mixing with increased severity. In a preferred form, the mixing device inwardly blends gas and liquid and outwardly discharges the blended gas and liquid in a manner that provides a high shear impact on the liquid and gas.

Abstract: An FCC process uses a highly efficient separation device to remove product from the catalyst so that the reactor vessel receives a low volume of feed hydrocarbons and riser by-products. The separation device encloses an upwardly directed outlet end of a ballistic separation device in low volume disengaging vessel that collects disengaged catalyst from the riser in a dense bed. Immediate contact of the dense bed with a stripping fluid minimizes the amount of hydrocarbons that are carried out of the disengaging vessel into the open volume of the reactor vessel.

Abstract: A method of heating or cooling particulate material by indirect heat exchange of the particles with the heat exchange fluid in a heat exchanger located outside and offset from the vessel that supplies the particulate material and to which the particulate material returns uses the addition of an open conduit to increase catalyst circulation through the heat exchanger. The open conduit has been found to be effective when used internally or externally. The internal use of the open conduit minimizes structural changes required to retrofit the conduit to existing back mix coolers. The use of the conduit for increased catalyst circulation allows a flow through type cooler duty to be produced in an amount of space that would ordinarily only permit the use of a backmix type cooler.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an FCC process uses means for dissipating turbulent flow at the outlet of a disengaging vessel to provide a quick separation of catalyst from product vapors and to prevent reentrainment of catalyst into the disengaging vessel. The process and apparatus use a riser for the conversion of an FCC feedstock and direct the effluent from the riser directly into a disengaging vessel to separate catalyst from the product vapors. Catalyst is directed downwardly out of the outlet of the disengaging vessel and through a series of dissipator plates that dissipate turbulent flow by eliminating the tangential velocity that would be other-wise introduced by the vortex and would lead to reentrainment of catalyst. A stripping vessel is located immediately below the disengaging vessel outlet to receive catalyst as it leaves the dissipator plates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an FCC process uses dissipator plates at the outlet of a disengaging vessel to provide a quick separation of catalyst from product vapors and to prevent reentrainment of catalyst into the disengaging vessel. The process and apparatus use a riser for the conversion of an FCC feedstock and direct the effluent from the riser directly into a disengaging vessel to separate catalyst from the product vapors. Catalyst is directed downwardly out of the outlet of the disengaging vessel and through a series of dissipator plates that eliminate the tangential velocity that would be otherwise introduced by the vortex and would lead to reentrainment of catalyst. A stripping vessel is located immediately below the disengaging vessel outlet to receive catalyst as it leaves the dissipator plates. The apparatus and process are specifically suited for operation without a reactor vessel for containment of the disengaging vessel and cyclones.

Abstract: An FCC reactor achieves greater utilization of the space within the reactor vessel by using a vented riser arrangement having an inlet opening at the bottom of a vented riser collector. The inlet opening at the bottom of the vented riser collector allows plug flow of the catalyst and hydrocarbon vapors through the upper and lower section of the reactor vessel without any substantial degradation and separation efficiency between the catalyst and the hydrocarbon vapors. This permits almost the entire tangent length of the reactor vessel to be used for the purpose of catalyst and hydrocarbon contact.

Abstract: This FCC process suspends a catalyst and a riser proximate or above the riser cyclone inlets at a density that is higher than the flowing density in the riser. The suspended catalyst provides a disengagement zone that enhances the separation of catalyst from product vapors. The riser operates in a manner that prevents any discharge of catalyst from its end. The arrangement also provides a convenient method for venting stripping vapors into a closed reactor cyclone system.

Abstract: A method of converting a side by side FCC arrangement adds a new reactor vessel and uses the regenerator vessel and reactor vessel to provide a regeneration section having at least three stages of regeneration that is used as part of an enlarged FCC process. In simplest form, the conversion method calls for the use of the regeneration vessel as a first-stage regeneration zone, the use of the reactor vessel as a second-stage regeneration zone, and the use of the spent catalyst stripper as a third stage of regeneration. This arrangement provides a second stage of regeneration that is positioned to facilitate the addition of partially regenerated catalyst to the stripping zone to facilitate the operation of a hot catalyst stripping section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an FCC process uses dissipator plates at the outlet of a disengaging vessel to provide a quick separation of catalyst from produce vapors and to prevent reentrainment of catalyst into the disengaging vessel. The process and apparatus use a riser for the conversion of an FCC feedstock and direct the effluent from the riser directly into a disengaging vessel to separate catalyst from the product vapors. Catalyst is directed downwardly out of the outlet of the disengaging vessel and through a series of dissipator plates that eliminate the tangential velocity that would be otherwise introduced by the vortex and would lead to reentrainment of catalyst. A stripping vessel is located immediately below the disengaging vessel outlet to receive catalyst as it leaves the dissipator plates.