Abstract: One or more trays for use in distillation columns and methods of manufacture of such trays. The trays include a plate having a plurality of through holes that extend between a first surface of the plate and a second surface of the plate. The plurality of through holes include a first set of through holes each having substantially a first diameter and a second set of through holes each having substantially a second diameter that is different from the first diameter. The trays also include a weir coupled to the plate and extending from the first surface. The weir is positioned between the first set of through holes and the second set of through holes.

Abstract: A method of producing a fuel additive includes passing a feed stream comprising C4 hydrocarbons through a first hydrogenation unit producing a first process stream; passing the first process stream through a distillation unit; withdrawing a 2-butene stream from the distillation unit: passing the 2-butene stream through a second hydrogenation unit producing a 1-butene stream; passing at least a portion of the 1-butene stream through a separation unit; and passing the 1-butene stream through a hydration unit producing the fuel additive.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing a C3 and C4 hydrocarbon mixture have been disclosed. The C3 and C4 hydrocarbon mixture is separated to remove propane from C4 hydrocarbons. The resulting C4 hydrocarbons are then processed in an isomerization unit to produce additional isobutane. The isobutane of the isomerization unit effluent is dehydrogenated in a dehydrogenation unit to produce isobutene. The resulting isobutene is reacted with an alkanol to produce an alkyl tert-butyl ether.

Abstract: A process for producing ethylene and at least one of butanol and an alkyl tert-butyl ether from field butane includes separating the field butane into an n-butane stream and an isobutane stream; cracking the n-butane stream to obtain a cracked product stream comprising n-butane, 1-butene, 2-butene, butadienes, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and at least one of the following: (1) separating the cracked product stream to obtain a butane stream and a butene stream, and reacting the butene stream with water to obtain a fuel additive comprising butanol, and (2) dehydrogenating the isobutane stream in a dehydrogenation unit to form an isobutene stream and reacting the isobutene stream with an aliphatic alcohol to produce an alkyl tert-butyl ether.

Abstract: This disclosure describes one or more trays for use in distillation columns. The trays include a plate having a plurality of through holes that extend between a first surface of the plate and a second surface of the plate. The plurality of through holes include a first set of through holes each having substantially a first diameter and a second set of through holes each having substantially a second diameter that is different from the first diameter. The trays also include a weir coupled to the plate and extending from the first surface. The weir is positioned between the first set of through holes and the second set of through holes.

Abstract: Methods of producing cement using a spent hydrocarbon dehydrogenation catalyst are disclosed. A spent hydrocarbon dehydrogenation catalyst comprising alumina is processed to produce a processed raw material. The processed raw material is then used as a component for producing the cement. Compositions of cement including the processed raw material are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing heat and an oxidant for an endothermic chemical production process are disclosed. At least some process heat is recovered from (1) a hot gas including hot gas from a waste air vent of an MTBE production unit and/or (2) a catalyst regeneration process into a combustion gas stream. The combustion gas stream is further used in a steam reformer and/or a cracker for providing an oxidant and at least some heat.

Abstract: Houdry lumps can be reduced by controlling the reactors in a fixed bed dehydrogenation process for producing olefins according to defined rules. A programmable logic controller can apply the rules to the operation of the dehydrogenation unit and control the operation of individual reactors according to the rules. By doing so, the performance of dehydrogenation units can be improved without adding any heat generating inerts, such as CuO-? alumina For example, the dehydrogenation units can be operated according to combinatorics in the programmable logic controller such that the farthest two reactors in the dehydrogenation unit never operate in parallel in the dehydrogenation or air regeneration steps.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing an alkyl tert-butyl ether are disclosed. The methods include providing heat to a reboiler of a distillation column of an alkyl tert-butyl ether production unit from a flue gas emanating from a unit carrying out a catalyst regeneration process.

Abstract: A method of producing methanol is disclosed. The method involves adding alkali to crude methanol and distilling the crude methanol in one or more distillation columns. The method also includes flowing a vapor side draw from one of the distillation columns, where the vapor side draw comprises fusel oil substantially free from alkali. The fusel oil is recycled to a methanol synthesis reactor and/or a MTBE synthesis reactor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing a C3 and C4 hydrocarbon mixture have been disclosed. The C3 and C4 hydrocarbon mixture is separated to remove propane from C4 hydrocarbons. The resulting C4 hydrocarbons are then processed in an isomerization unit to produce additional isobutane. The isobutane of the isomerization unit effluent is dehydrogenated in a dehydrogenation unit to produce isobutene. The resulting isobutene is reacted with an alkanol to produce an alkyl tert-butyl ether.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing MTBE without using a catalytic distillation column or a super fractionator have been disclosed. An optimum volume of methanol stream required to maximize MTBE production and reduce slippage of isobutylene to minimum acceptable values together with a crude C4 stream are flowed into a primary reaction unit that comprises a first reactor and a second reactor in parallel configured to produce maximum values of final MTBE volumes under higher or equal established purity commercial quality specifications levels. The combined effluent from the first reactor and the second reactor is split to form a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion is flowed to a third reactor configured to produce additional MTBE. The second portion is combined with an effluent from the third reactor for further separation. The third portion is recycled to the first reactor and/or second reactor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing a C3 and C4 hydrocarbon mixture have been disclosed. The C3 and C4 hydrocarbon mixture is first processed in an isomerization unit to isomerize n-butane to form isobutane. The resulting effluent stream from the isomerization unit comprising primarily isobutane and C3 hydrocarbons, collectively, is flowed into a separation unit configured to separate the effluent stream to form a C3 stream comprising C1 to C3 hydrocarbons and a C4 stream comprising primarily isobutane. The isobutane in the C4 stream is further dehydrogenated to form isobutene, which is further flowed into an MTBE synthesis unit as a feedstock for producing MTBE.

Abstract: A method of producing a fuel additive includes: passing a raffinate stream comprising C4 hydrocarbons through a hydrogenation unit, forming a first process stream; passing the first process stream through an extractive distillation unit, forming a C4 olefin stream; passing the C4 olefin stream through a stripper column, forming a purified C4 olefin stream; and forming the fuel additive by passing the purified C4 olefin stream through a hydration unit.

Abstract: A method of producing a fuel additive includes passing a feed stream comprising C4 hydrocarbons through a methyl tertiary butyl ether unit producing a first process stream; passing the first process stream through a selective hydrogenation unit producing a second process stream; passing the second process stream through an isomerization unit producing a third process stream; and passing the third process stream through a hydration unit producing the fuel additive and a recycle stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrated glycerol carbonate and/or urea production. This disclosure pertains to development of a process for production of glycerol carbonate and/or urea from ammonia, carbon dioxide and glycerol. The process integrates glycerol carbonate production into a urea production process. The urea produced in the production facility may be used to produce glycerol carbonate by reacting urea with glycerol. The ammonia generated by glycerol carbonate production may be recycled back to urea production. Unreacted urea from the glycerol carbonate production may be separated and recycled to the urea product stream. The systems and methods can reduce the cost for urea production and increase product value of the excessive glycerol produced from other chemical plants.

Abstract: A method of producing a fuel additive includes passing a feed stream comprising C4 hydrocarbons through a hydrogenation unit producing a hydrogenated stream; passing the hydrogenated stream through a distillation unit producing a first stream and a second stream; producing an isobutylene stream by passing the first stream through a molecular sieve unit; passing the isobutylene stream to a hydration unit as a feedstock for the fuel additive; and forming the fuel additive in the hydration unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing propylene using an MTBE synthesis raffinate are disclosed. An MTBE synthesis raffinate stream first passes through a molecular sieve to separate n-butane and isobutane from the rest of C4 hydrocarbons of the MTBE synthesis raffinate. The 1-butene in the rest of C4 hydrocarbons of the MTBE synthesis raffinate is then isomerized to form 2-butene. Therefore, the concentration of 2-butene in the subsequent propylene production process increases due to the separation of n-butane and isobutane and the isomerization of 1-butene, resulting in an improved reaction rate and reaction efficiency for propylene production.

Abstract: A method of producing a fuel additive includes producing a first product stream comprising butadiene by passing a feed stream comprising C4 hydrocarbons through a steam cracker; transforming greater than or equal to 90 weight % of the butadiene in the first product stream into a second product stream by passing the first product stream through a first hydrogenation unit, wherein the second product stream comprises 1-butene, 2-butene, n-butane, isobutylene, isobutane, or a combination thereof; and converting the second product stream into the fuel additive by passing the second product stream through a fuel additive synthesis unit with an acid catalyst.

Abstract: A method of producing a fuel additive includes passing a feed stream comprising C4 hydrocarbons through a methyl tertiary butyl ether unit producing a first process stream; passing the first process stream through a selective butadiene hydrogenation unit transforming greater than or equal to 90% by weight of the butadiene to 1-butene and 2-butene, preferably greater than or equal to 93%, preferably, greater than or equal to 94%, more preferably, greater than or equal to 95% producing a second process stream; passing the second process stream through a hydration unit producing a third process stream and the fuel additive; passing the third process stream through a total hydrogenation unit producing a hydrogenated stream; and passing the hydrogenated stream to a cracker unit.