Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for removing one or more sulfur compounds from a first liquid. The process can include passing the first liquid through a first inlet and a second liquid through a second inlet of a vessel, passing the first and second liquids through the passageway for facilitating contacting of the first and second liquids to extract the one or more sulfur compounds from the first liquid to the second liquid, and passing the first liquid through the first outlet and the second liquid through the second outlet. Often, the vessel has a plurality of vortex contactors, and a first outlet and a second outlet. The plurality of vortex contactors can include a first vortex contactor, in turn having at least one wall forming a perimeter about an interior region and including a first side and a second side forming a passageway communicating the first liquid from an exterior to the interior region, and a frustum positioned proximate to the passageway and abutting the at least one wall.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is for recycling LCO and/or HCO to an FCC unit to recover additional distillate. Spent catalyst recycle in the FCC unit may be used to improve distillate yield. A hydroprocessing zone may saturate cycle oil aromatics for cracking in an FCC unit. The recycle cracked stream may be recycled to a downstream hydroprocessing zone to avoid a first hydroprocessing zone for hydrotreating feed to the FCC unit. Additional recovery of cycle oil for recycle is obtained by heating slurry oil prior to vacuum separation.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is for recycling LCO and/or HCO to an FCC unit to recover additional distillate. Spent catalyst recycle in the FCC unit may be used to improve distillate yield. A hydroprocessing zone may saturate cycle oil aromatics for cracking in an FCC unit. The recycle cracked stream may be recycled to a downstream hydroprocessing zone to avoid a first hydroprocessing zone for hydrotreating feed to the FCC unit. Additional recovery of cycle oil for recycle is obtained by heating slurry oil prior to vacuum separation.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is for recycling LCO and/or HCO to an FCC unit to recover additional distillate. Spent catalyst recycle in the FCC unit may be used to improve distillate yield. A hydroprocessing zone may saturate cycle oil aromatics for cracking in an FCC unit. The recycle cracked stream may be recycled to a downstream hydroprocessing zone to avoid a first hydroprocessing zone for hydrotreating feed to the FCC unit. Additional recovery of cycle oil for recycle is obtained by heating slurry oil prior to vacuum separation.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is for recycling LCO and/or HCO to an FCC unit to recover additional distillate. Spent catalyst recycle in the FCC unit may be used to improve distillate yield. A hydroprocessing zone may saturate cycle oil aromatics for cracking in an FCC unit. The recycle cracked stream may be recycled to a downstream hydroprocessing zone to avoid a first hydroprocessing zone for hydrotreating feed to the FCC unit. Additional recovery of cycle oil for recycle is obtained by heating slurry oil prior to vacuum separation.

Abstract: Catalyst regenerators and methods of their use are provided. A catalyst regenerator includes a combustion chamber with a combustion chamber diameter and a combustion chamber bottom. A mixing chamber is fluidly coupled to the combustion chamber at the combustion chamber bottom, where the mixing chamber has an exterior wall and a mixing chamber diameter less than the combustion chamber diameter. A first and second catalyst inlet are fluidly coupled to the mixing chamber, and a mixing cylinder is within the mixing chamber. The mixing cylinder and the exterior wall define an annular space there-between, and the mixing cylinder includes a cylinder opening.

Abstract: Catalyst regenerators and methods of their use are provided. A catalyst regenerator includes a combustion chamber with a combustion chamber diameter and a combustion chamber bottom. A mixing chamber is fluidly coupled to the combustion chamber at the combustion chamber bottom, where the mixing chamber has an exterior wall and a mixing chamber diameter less than the combustion chamber diameter. A first and second catalyst inlet are fluidly coupled to the mixing chamber, and a mixing cylinder is within the mixing chamber. The mixing cylinder and the exterior wall define an annular space there-between, and the mixing cylinder includes a cylinder opening.

Abstract: One embodiment can be an apparatus for contacting a first liquid and a second liquid. The apparatus can include a vessel, which in turn, may include at least one wall, a first member, and a funnical frustum. The at least one wall can form a perimeter about an interior space. Also, the first member can be positioned within the interior space and form a plurality of passageways. Each passageway may be bordered by a first side and a second side from an outer region to an interior surface of the first member. Generally, the funnical frustum is positioned downstream of the first member to facilitate a swirling of at least one of the first and second liquids.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for cracking a hydrocarbon. The method includes contacting a first hydrocarbon stream with a first cracking catalyst at a first cracking temperature in a first riser to produce a first riser effluent and a first spent catalyst. A second hydrocarbon stream is contacted with a second cracking catalyst at a second cracking temperature in a second riser to produce a second riser effluent and a second spent catalyst, where the second cracking temperature is less than the first cracking temperature. The first riser effluent and the second riser effluent are combined to produce a mixed riser effluent, and the mixed riser effluent is fractionated in a fractionation zone to produce a light cycle oil. The first spent catalyst and the second spent catalyst are combined in a reactor to produce a mixed spent catalyst.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the dehydrogenation of paraffins is presented. The process utilizes a reactor that includes a slower flow of catalyst through the reactor, with a counter current flow of gas through the catalyst bed. The catalyst is regenerated and distributed over the top of the catalyst bed, and travels through the bed with the aid of reactor internals to limit backmixing of the catalyst.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the dehydrogenation of paraffins is presented. The process utilizes a reactor that includes a slower flow of catalyst through the reactor, with a counter current flow of gas through the catalyst bed. The catalyst is regenerated and distributed over the top of the catalyst bed, and travels through the bed with the aid of reactor internals to limit backmixing of the catalyst.

Abstract: A process and apparatus described is for distributing hydrocarbon feed to catalyst in a riser. Hydrocarbon feed is delivered to a plenum in the riser. Nozzles from the plenum inject feed into the riser to contact the catalyst. Streams of regenerated catalyst and carbonized catalyst may be passed to the riser and mixed around an insert in a lower section of a riser. The plenum may be located in the riser.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for mixing streams of regenerated and carbonized catalyst involves passing a catalyst stream around an insert in a lower section of a riser. The insert fosters mixing of the catalyst streams to reduce their temperature differential before contacting hydrocarbon feed.

Abstract: Vapor-liquid contacting apparatuses and methods for removing contaminants from gas streams are provided. In an embodiment, a vapor-liquid contacting apparatus includes a vortex contacting stage having a contacting zone bound by a wall and defining an axis, a radially inner region surrounding the axis, and a radially outer region adjacent the wall. The vapor-liquid contacting apparatus also includes a feed conduit configured to direct flow of a feed gas into the radially outer region of the contacting zone in a direction tangential to the axis to form a vortex. Further, the vapor-liquid contacting apparatus includes a liquid conduit configured to deliver a liquid absorbent stream to the radially inner region in the contacting zone.

Abstract: A process and apparatus described is for distributing hydrocarbon feed to catalyst in a riser. Hydrocarbon feed is delivered to a plenum in the riser. Nozzles from the plenum inject feed into the riser to contact the catalyst. Streams of regenerated catalyst and carbonized catalyst may be passed to the riser and mixed around an insert in a lower section of a riser. The plenum may be located in the riser.

Abstract: A reactor design and process for the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons is presented. The reactor design includes a multibed catalytic reactor, where each of the reactor beds are fluidized. The catalyst in the reactor cascades through the reactor beds, with fresh catalyst input into the first reactor bed, and the spent catalyst withdrawn from the last reactor bed. The hydrocarbon feedstream is input to the reactor beds in a parallel formation, thereby decreasing the thermal residence time of the hydrocarbons when compared with a single bed fluidized reactor, or a series reactor scheme.

Abstract: Fluid catalytic cracking units having risers with improved hydrodynamics through the use of baffles are described. The baffles break up the high concentration of catalyst in the slower moving outer annulus and redistribute it into the faster moving, more dilute center of the riser flow.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing streams of regenerated and carbonized catalyst utilizes bend provided on only one of the catalyst conduits to provide mixing advantages. A pair of horizontally aligned openings with a band between the pair of openings provided a robust design and superb catalyst mixing performance.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for extracting one or more sulfur compounds. The process may include mixing a hydrocarbon stream containing the one or more sulfur compounds with an alkaline stream in at least one vessel. Often, the at least one vessel includes a member forming a perimeter about an interior space and having a first side and a second side forming a passageway communicating at least one of the hydrocarbon stream and the alkaline stream from an outer surface of the member to the interior space, and a frustum. The frustum can be positioned proximate to the passageway and abutting the member for facilitating contacting of the hydrocarbon stream and the alkaline stream.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for mixing streams of regenerated and carbonized catalyst involves passing a catalyst stream around an insert in a lower section of a riser. The insert fosters mixing of the catalyst streams to reduce their temperature differential before contacting hydrocarbon feed.