Abstract: A dehydrogenation system includes a plurality of dehydrogenation reactors valved to operate in alternating dehydrogenation modes and regeneration modes in a timed sequence in a system cycle by way of the plurality of valves; a digital programmable controller connected to the plurality of valves for sequencing the reactors; and means for determining the productivity characteristics of each reactor over a system cycle. The digital controller is operable to re-sequence the reactors to reduce either peak productivity or productivity deltas over an initial system cycle. After resequencing, production may be increased with the more uniform productivity profile of the re-sequenced system without exceeding system limits, such as compressor operating limits.

Abstract: The process to recover heat in oxidative dehydrogenation of butene to butadiene is presented. The process utilizes heat recovered in oxidative dehydrogenation of butene to butadiene to generate steam. The process utilizes the circulated water stream generated in oxidative dehydrogenation of butene to butadiene for steam generation. A feedstream comprising butene is mixed with steam and preheated air at the inlet of the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor.

Abstract: A process is presented for the production of butadienes. The process includes the separation of oxygenates from the product stream from an oxidative dehydrogenation reactor. The process includes quenching the product stream and solvent and oxygenates from the product stream. The oxygenates are stripped from the solvent with an inert gas to reduce the energy consumption of the process, and the solvent is recycled and reused in the process.

Abstract: A process is presented for the production of butadienes. The process includes the separation of oxygenates from the product stream from an oxidative dehydrogenation reactor. The process includes quenching the product stream and solvent and oxygenates from the product stream. The oxygenates are stripped from the solvent with an inert gas to reduce the energy consumption of the process, and the solvent is recycled and reused in the process.

Abstract: The process to recover heat in oxidative dehydrogenation of butene to butadiene is presented. The process utilizes heat recovered in oxidative dehydrogenation of butene to butadiene to generate steam. The process utilizes the circulated water stream generated in oxidative dehydrogenation of butene to butadiene for steam generation. A feedstream comprising butene is mixed with steam and preheated air at the inlet of the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing butadiene by way of oxidative dehydrogenation of a butene-rich feed stream includes: (a) a reactor adapted for receiving said butene-rich feed stream and converting butenes to butadiene, thereby providing a butadiene enriched product effluent stream; (b) a superheater coupled to the reactor to receive the butadiene enriched product effluent stream from the reactor as well as being configured to receive reactor feed, said superheater transferring sensible heat from the butadiene enriched product effluent stream to reactor feed and (c) a first feed-vaporizer coupled to the superheater to receive the butadiene enriched product effluent stream as it exits the superheater and to transfer sensible heat from the butadiene enriched product effluent stream to reactor feed. Also provided are (d) a second feed vaporizer; (e) a purification train; and (f) a thermal oxidizer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process to treat a ferrite based catalyst useful in the oxidative dehydrogenation of monololefins and diolefins which process includes a preheat step prior to use of the catalyst in the OXO-D reactor. The catalyst is preferably a zinc ferrite catalyst for the production of butadiene. It has been observed that substantially no nitrogen oxide emissions result from the use of this treated catalyst in the reactor unit during the oxidative dehydrogenation reaction.

Abstract: A method of oxidatively dehydrogenating a dehydrogenation reactant includes providing a first gaseous feed stream to a first adiabatic, catalytic reaction zone with less than a stoichiometric amount of oxygen and superheated steam, oxidatively dehydrogenating dehydrogenation reactant in said first adiabatic, catalytic reaction zone and subsequently cooling the effluent, adding additional oxygen and reacting the effluent stream in at least one subsequent adiabatic reaction zone. The dehydrogenation system enables higher conversion and yield per pass and in some cases greatly reduces steam usage and energy costs. In a preferred integrated process, ethylene is converted to n-butene which is then oxidatively dehydrogenated to butadiene.

Abstract: A method of oxidatively dehydrogenating a n-butenes to butadiene includes oxidatively dehydrogenating dehydrogenation reactant in a first adiabatic, catalytic reaction zone to provide a first-stage effluent stream enriched in butadiene at a first-stage effluent temperature above the first-stage inlet temperature, cooling the first-stage effluent stream in a first heat transfer zone to a second-stage inlet temperature lower than said first-stage effluent temperature to provide a second gaseous feed stream comprising superheated steam, n-butene and butadiene, wherein the second stage inlet temperature is lower than said first stage effluent temperature and oxidatively dehydrogenating n-butene in the second stream to provide a product stream further enriched in butadiene at a second stage effluent temperature above said second-stage inlet temperature. The first reaction zone temperature rise and the second reaction zone temperature rise are at least 200° F. (111° C.

Abstract: Butadiene is made from a butene rich feed by passing a superheated butene rich feed including superheated steam and oxygen at a temperature of at least about 343° C. (650° F.) over a catalyst bed having a depth of over about 69 cm (27 inches) of granules of ferritic oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst. Inlet conditions being controlled such that the oxidative dehydrogenation reactions initially occur in the lower most layers of catalyst. Process control includes monitoring the temperature throughout the bed and increasing the inlet temperature in response to a drop in the temperature in the active layer, when the active layer of oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst begins to become deactivated so that the reaction zone moves upwardly in the oxidative dehydrogenation bed.

Abstract: Oxidative dehydrogenation includes: (a) providing a gaseous feed stream to a catalytic reactor, the feed stream comprising a dehydrogenation reactant, oxygen, superheated steam, hydrocarbon moderator gas and optionally nitrogen, wherein the molar ratio of moderator gas to oxygen in feed stream is typically from 4:1 to 1:1 and the molar ratio of oxygen to nitrogen in the feed stream is at least 2; (b) oxidatively dehydrogenating the reactant in the reactor to provide a dehydrogenated product enriched effluent product stream; and (c) recovering dehydrogenated product from the effluent product stream. One preferred embodiment is a process for making butadiene including dimerizing ethylene to n-butene in a homogeneous reaction medium to provide a hydrocarbonaceous n-butene rich feed stream and oxidatively dehydrogenating the n-butene so formed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for the regeneration of oxidative dehydrogenation (OXO-D) catalyst in an alternate or separate regeneration reactor by employing controlled steam:air and time/pressure/temperature conditions. The process avoids destruction of the catalyst, and wear/tear on an OXO-D reactor. The regenerated catalyst is an iron based oxide catalyst which can be zinc or zinc-free. The iron based oxide catalyst is regenerated in the regeneration reactor by feeding an air/steam stream over a set amount of time, preferably about 6 days to yield a regenerated OXO-D catalyst. The regenerated catalyst is activated and re-utilized to produce butadienes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for the regeneration of oxidative dehydrogenation (OXO-D) catalyst in an alternate or separate regeneration reactor by employing controlled steam: air and time/pressure/temperature conditions. The process avoids destruction of the catalyst, and wear/tear on an OXO-D reactor. The regenerated catalyst is an iron based oxide catalyst which can be zinc or zinc-free. The iron based oxide catalyst is regenerated in the regeneration reactor by feeding an air/steam stream over a set amount of time, preferably about 6 days to yield a regenerated OXO-D catalyst. The regenerated catalyst is activated and re-utilized to produce butadienes.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing butadiene by way of oxidative dehydrogenation of a butane-rich feed stream includes: (a) a reactor adapted for receiving said butane-rich feed stream and converting butenes to butadiene by oxidative dehydrogenation, thereby providing a butadiene enriched product effluent stream which exits the reactor at an elevated temperature; (b) a superheater coupled to the reactor to receive the butadiene enriched product effluent stream from the reactor at elevated temperature as well as being configured to receive reactor feed, said superheater being adapted to transfer sensible heat from the butadiene enriched product effluent stream to reactor feed and provide superheated feed to the reactor and (c) a first feed vaporizer coupled to the superheater to receive the butadiene enriched product effluent stream as it exits the superheater and to transfer sensible heat from the butadiene enriched product effluent stream to reactor feed.

Abstract: Butadiene is formed by dehydrogenation of butenes which are mixed with steam and oxygen then converted to butadiene by oxidative dehydrogenation over a ferritic oxide catalyst, wherein the sensible heat in the oxidative dehydrogenation reaction product is utilized along with heat produced by thermal oxidation of low value volatile products formed to reduce energy requirements and CO2 emissions. Sensible heat is utilized at high temperature for purposes of superheating feed and at somewhat lower temperatures for purposes of vaporizing feed at sequential locations in the process.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process to treat a ferrite based catalyst useful in the oxidative dehydrogenation of monololefins and diolefins which process includes a preheat step prior to use of the catalyst in the OXO-D reactor. The catalyst is preferably a zinc ferrite catalyst for the production of butadiene. It has been observed that substantially no nitrogen oxide emissions result from the use of this treated catalyst in the reactor unit during the oxidative dehydrogenation reaction.

Abstract: A method of oxidatively dehydrogenating a n-butenes to butadiene includes oxidatively dehydrogenating dehydrogenation reactant in a first adiabatic, catalytic reaction zone to provide a first-stage effluent stream enriched in butadiene at a first-stage effluent temperature above the first-stage inlet temperature, cooling the first-stage effluent stream in a first heat transfer zone to a second-stage inlet temperature lower than said first-stage effluent temperature to provide a second gaseous feed stream comprising superheated steam, n-butene and butadiene, wherein the second stage inlet temperature is lower than said first stage effluent temperature and oxidatively dehydrogenating n-butene in the second stream to provide a product stream further enriched in butadiene at a second stage effluent temperature above said second-stage inlet temperature. The first reaction zone temperature rise and the second reaction zone temperature rise are at least 200° F. (111° C.

Abstract: A method of producing butadiene includes: (1) dimerizing ethylene to butene followed by (2) oxidatively dehydrogenating the butene to butadiene and (3) recovering the butadiene by (i) absorbing the product with a hydrocarbon absorber oil and (ii) stripping a crude product stream from the absorber oil. The absorber oil is selected so as to be effective to sequester ethylene dimerization-derived impurities from the system.

Abstract: The present discloses a process and catalyst therefor to selectively remove acetylenes from gaseous streams in the vapor phase. The process is particularly suitable for high yield recovery of olefinic hydrocarbons from gaseous streams in refinery processes.

Abstract: A method of oxidatively dehydrogenating a dehydrogenation reactant includes providing a first gaseous feed stream to a first adiabatic, catalytic reaction zone with less than a stoichiometric amount of oxygen and superheated steam, oxidatively dehydrogenating dehydrogenation reactant in said first adiabatic, catalytic reaction zone and subsequently cooling the effluent, adding additional oxygen and reacting the effluent stream in at least one subsequent adiabatic reaction zone. The deydrogenation system enables higher conversion and yield per pass and in some cases greatly reduces steam usage and energy costs. In a preferred integrated process, ethylene is converted to n-butene which is then oxidatively dehydrogenated to butadiene.