Abstract: A process for introducing exothermic reactant vapor stream to an adiabatic catalyst zone comprising the steps of: preheating a volatile liquid exothermic reactant stream below its autogenous temperature under process pressure; contacting the preheated liquid reactant stream in a saturator unit with a hot diluent gas to vaporize the reactant stream in gaseous mixture with the diluent stream; directing the gaseous mixture from the saturator unit to the catalyst zone for exothermic conversion of the reactant under substantially adiabatic reaction conditions in the presence of diluent gas; recovering reaction products and diluent gas from the catalyst zone; separating diluent gas from the products, compressing and recycling the diluent gas to the saturator unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for fluid catalytic cracking (FCC). Output of an FCC riser feeds a riser cyclone. A downstream end of the riser and the riser cyclone are located within a reactor vessel (disengaging vessel) having sidewalls. Cracked hydrocarbons in the output pass from the riser into a riser cyclone and discharge from the reactor vessel without being added to a reactor vessel atmosphere. A stripper cap divides the reactor vessel atmosphere into upper and lower portions. The stripper cap and a lower portion of the reactor vessel sidewalls define a stripping zone. A riser cyclone dipleg extends through an opening in the stripper cap into the stripping zone. A chimney vent conduit is provided for conducting stripped hydrocarbons out of the stripping zone without being added to the atmosphere of the reactor vessel above the stripper cap.

Abstract: A continuous reactor system useful for treating petroleum oil in a multi-phase fixed bed catalytic reactor comprising a system for:feeding the oil and a reactant gas at production flow rates above a first bed of porous solid catalyst particles under conversion conditions for cocurrent downward flow therethrough, collecting and withdrawing the treated oil from the first bed and redistributing at least a portion of the treated oil to at least one succeeding catalyst bed while permitting the gaseous phase to flow directly to the succeeding lower catalyst bed, recycling a quantity of treated oil collected below a catalyst bed and reapplying the treated oil at a preceding redistribution zone above the bed from which treated oil is collected, whereby the total of oil production flow rate and recycled treated oil flow rate is maintained at a predetermined minimum sufficient to effect uniform catalyst wetting. This technique is useful for hydrodewaxing of oils over zeolite catalysts.

Abstract: A process for introducing a exothermic reactant vapor stream to an adiabatic catalyst zone comprising the steps of: preheating a volatile liquid exothermic reactant stream below its autogenous temperature under process pressure; contacting the preheated liquid reactant stream in a saturator unit with a hot diluent gas to vaporize the reactant stream in gaseous mixture with the diluent stream; directing the gaseous mixture from the saturator unit to the catalyst zone for exothermic conversion of the reactant under substantially adiabatic reaction conditions in the presence of diluent gas; recovering reaction products and diluent gas from the catalyst zone; separating diluent gas from the products, compressing and recycling the diluent gas to the saturator unit.

Abstract: A continuous process and system is provided for a petroleum oil in a multi-phase fixed bed catalytic reactor column comprising methods and means for:feeding the oil and a reactant gas at production flow rates above a first bed of porous solid catalyst particles under conversion conditions for cocurrent downward flow therethrough, collecting and withdrawing the treated oil from the first bed and redistributing at least a portion of the treated oil to at least one succeeding catalyst bed while permitting the gaseous phase to flow directly to the succeeding lower catalyst bed, recycling a quantity of treated oil collected below a catalyst bed and reapplying the treated oil at a preceding redistribution zone above the bed from which treated oil is collected, whereby the total of oil production flow rate and recycled treated oil flow rate is maintained at a predetermined minimum sufficient to effect uniform catalyst wetting. This technique is useful for hydrodewaxing of oils over zeolite catalysts.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for conversion of LPG hydrocarbons into distillate fuels by integrating LPG dehydrogenation with catalytic oligomerization and recovering the distillates produced. The described method and apparatus may comprise an H.sub.2 separation zone, wherein a lean oil stream contacts a dehydrogenation effluent stream to produce a C.sub.3.sup.+ rich liquid stream to feed oligomerization. An energy efficient separation zone comprising dual debutanizers is disclosed. In addition, a method and apparatus is disclosed for a fluid bed dehydrogenation reactor zone using an FCC catalyst contaminated with a metal, such as nickel and/or vanadium.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for direct coking of tar sands which includes contacting the tar sand with heat transfer particles resulting from combustion of coked sand effluent from the coking process, and transporting the combination up a riser/mixer to a coking vessel whereby separation of oil and hydrocarbon gases from the sand is initiated. The tar sand is introduced into a fluid coking vessel which has at least two coking zones. The first coking zone is substantially at the top of the vessel whereas the second coking zone is immediately below the first coking zone and includes a stream of hot spent sand so that a more severe coking temperature is present in the second coking zone. A product stream of oil and light hydrocarbon gases, recovered from the riser/mixer and coking process, is directed to a separator located above said coking vessel in which the heavy oil is removed and preferably directed to the second coking zone.

Abstract: A methanol-to-gasoline conversion process in which the conversion is conducted in a number of reactors which are fed directly by the charge, preferably in equal proportions. A diluent gas, preferably recycled light hydrocarbons separated from the product, is passed in sequence through each of the beds to carry away the heat of reaction. In this way, a high effective recycle ratio is maintained in each bed although the actual recycle ratio for the entire system is low.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic devolatilization of coal is disclosed wherein a selected mixture of preheated coal particles and hot catalyst solids is contacted with a gaseous material such as steam and/or a hydrogen-containing gas to form a high temperature suspension in a riser reactor to obtain a high initial rate of heat transfer from high temperature catalyst particles to coal particles thereby promoting high yields of devolatilized liquid hydrocarbon product. Morever, the quality of the devolatilized material is improved by the hot catalytic solids which either convert devolatilized tars and phenols to more desirable products or prevent tar and phenol formation by catalytic interception of the initial products devolatilized from the coal. Char produced by this devolatilization technique is particularly suited for subsequent gasification and other use.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved process for deriving liquid fuels from coal which involves the steps of (1) solubilizing coal in a FCC residual oil to form a solvated coal solution phase and an ash solids phase; (2) subject the two phase admixtureto FCC conversion conditions; (3) separating and recovering a hydrocarbon phase and a catalyst-ash solids phase in a catalyst-ash solids phase; (4) treating the catalyst-ash solids phase in a catalyst regeneration zone, and removing entrained ash solids from the flue gas effluent of the catalyst regeneration zone; and (5) fractioning the hydrocarbon phase to recover liquid fuel products.

Abstract: The conversion of alcohols and ethers to gasoline boiling constituents with HZSM-5 catalyst in a fluid catalyst system is arranged for reactant plug flow wherein the reaction temperature is controlled by the heat of vaporization of liquid reactant charged to the reactor. Vaporization of the reactant with recycled catalyst in acceptable ratios restricts reaction temperatures to within acceptable limits.

Abstract: A method and system for cracking hydrocarbons with distinct fluid catalyst particles differing in activity, selectivity and physical characteristics is described wherein a common catalyst regeneration system is employed which will measurably contribute to the heat requirements of the operation as well as the activity/selectivity characteristics of the catalyst employed. Except for size, the catalysts upon make-up may have different or identical catalytic characteristics. However, upon contact with a particular hydrocarbon stream, such as vacuum resid, the selectivity and coke producing characteristics of the catalysts may be altered.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved process for deriving liquid fuels from coal which involves the steps of (1) solubilizing coal in a FCC residual oil to form a solvated coal solution phase and an ash solids phase; (2) subjecting the two phase admixture to FCC conversion conditions; (3) separating and recovering a hydrocarbon phase and a catalyst-ash solids phase; (4) treating the catalyst-ash solids phase in a catalyst regeneration zone, and removing entrained ash solids from the flue gas effluent of the catalyst regeneration zone; and (5) fractionating the hydrocarbon phase to recover liquid fuel products.

Abstract: Natural gas of low heating value, high CO.sub.2 content, is converted to valuable products by the combination process of steam reforming the desulfurized gas, subjecting the effluent of the steam reformer to a water gas shift reaction and converting the resultant carbon dioxide, the unreacted carbon monoxide and hydrogen to liquid product useful as fuel, e.g. methanol. In a preferred embodiment, the gas phase separated from the liquid fuel products is processed to provide a gas sufficiently rich in carbon dioxide for use in tertiary recovery of petroleum from natural reservoirs which have produced the quantity of oil available by natural drive.

Abstract: The conversion of methanol to gasoline boiling hydrocarbons in a thermally balanced operation with a special group of zeolite catalysts having a constraint index of 1 to 12, a silica to alumina ratio of at least about 12 and a crystal density of not substantially lower than about 1.6 grams per cubic centimeter is described. The steady state operation of the process is improved by feeding methanol preheated to a selected temperature proximate to its boiling point so that the heat required thereafter to vaporize the feed and to raise its temperature to conversion temperature is substantially equal to the exothermicity of the conversion itself.

Abstract: Conversion of synthesis gas (a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen) having a smaller hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio than that required for methanol stoichiometry, i.e. 2 to 1, by passing such over a zinc-chromium-acid or copper-zinc alumina-acid modified methanol synthesis catalyst under conditions conducive to converting the synthesis gas to a mixture of methanol and dimethyl ether as the desirable organic products.