Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for fluidizing a population of catalyst particles that are depleted of catalyst fines. In one embodiment, the process includes providing a plurality of catalyst particles in the reactor, wherein the catalyst particles have a d2 value of greater than about 40 microns. The catalyst- particles are contacted with a fluidizing medium under conditions effective to cause the catalyst particles to behave in a fluidized manner and form a fluidized bed. The particles are contacted with one or more primary obstructing members while in the fluidized bed. By fluidizing the catalyst particles in this manner, the catalyst particles can be maintained at an axial gas Peclet number of from about 10 to about 20.

Abstract: The invention concerns methods and systems for minimizing back-mixing of feedstock flow in converting oxygenates to olefins. In one embodiment, back-mixing is reduced by providing a reactor that includes baffles to reduce the hydraulic diameter of at least a portion of the reactor. Some or all of the baffles can also serve as cooling tubes for reducing temperature gradients in the reactor, and thereby maximize light olefin production.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of rejuvenating a molecular sieve that has decreased catalytic activity as a result of contact with moisture, and a method of using the rejuvenated catalyst to make an olefin product from methanol feed. The molecular sieve can be rejuvenated by heating at a rate sufficient to increase the catalytic activity of the molecular sieve. The molecular sieve is considered to be rejuvenated when the molecular sieve has a CMCPS that is increased by at least 5% relative to that at a heat rate basis of 40° C./min over a temperature range of from 25° C. to 475° C.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of rejuvenating a molecular sieve that has decreased catalytic activity as a result of contact with moisture, and a method of using the rejuvenated catalyst to make an olefin product from methanol feed. The molecular sieve can be rejuvenated by heating at a rate sufficient to increase the catalytic activity of the molecular sieve. The molecular sieve is considered to be rejuvenated when the molecular sieve has a CMCPS that is increased by at least 5% relative to that at a heat rate basis of 40° C./min over a temperature range of from 25° C. to 475° C.

Abstract: A gas-solids reaction system with termination devices to connect a riser with one or more separation devices. The termination devices have a radius of curvature that is at least 1.0 times as great as the diameter of the conduit forming the termination device. The termination devices can be openly or closely coupled to the separation devices.

Abstract: The invention concerns methods and systems for minimizing back-mixing of feedstock flow in converting oxygenates to olefins. In one embodiment, back-mixing is reduced by providing a reactor that includes baffles to reduce the hydraulic diameter of at least a portion of the reactor. Some or all of the baffles can also serve as cooling tubes for reducing temperature gradients in the reactor, and thereby maximize light olefin production.

Abstract: The invention provides processes for preparing and using an analytical tool for determining coke content on a catalyst composition. The analytical tool is particularly desirable in that it allows the determination of an average coke on catalyst level as well as a distribution of coke on catalyst levels of an unknown catalyst sample. The processes correlate color information with coke content, and provide an easy way to determine the amount of coke on the catalyst based on the color of the catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hydrocarbon conversion apparatus and process. The apparatus comprises the following: a plurality of riser reactors, each having a first end into which a catalyst is fed, a second end through which the catalyst can exit, and optionally a center axis extending therebetween. The apparatus also includes a separation zone having a plurality of inlets, each inlet not being oriented along the center axes of the riser reactors, the separation zone being provided to separate the catalyst from products of a reaction conducted in the hydrocarbon conversion apparatus. A plurality of deviating members are also provided, each deviating member being in fluid communication between the second end of a respective riser reactor and a respective inlet of the separation zone. The apparatus also includes a catalyst retention zone provided to contain catalyst, which is fed to the riser reactors.

Abstract: Molecular sieve catalysts are combined to provide a catalyst mixture having a beneficial combination of the activities and selectivities of the individual molecular sieves. The molecular sieve catalysts can be formulated or unformulated silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieves, silicoaluminate molecular sieves, and/or metalloaluminophosphate molecular sieves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for fluidizing a population of catalyst particles that are depleted of catalyst fines. In one embodiment, the process includes providing a plurality of catalyst particles in the reactor, wherein the catalyst particles have a d2 value of greater than about 40 microns. The catalyst- particles are contacted with a fluidizing medium under conditions effective to cause the catalyst particles to behave in a fluidized manner and form a fluidized bed. The particles are contacted with one or more primary obstructing members while in the fluidized bed. By fluidizing the catalyst particles in this manner, the catalyst particles can be maintained at an axial gas Peclet number of from about 10 to about 20.

Abstract: A method for maintaining the activity of silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO) molecular sieve catalyst particles during oxygenate to olefin conversion reactions. After regeneration of SAPO catalyst particles, the regenerated particles are mixed with particles having coke on their surface in a manner that maintains their catalytic activity at a predetermined level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for fluidizing a population of catalyst particles that are depleted of catalyst fines. In one embodiment, the process includes providing a plurality of catalyst particles in the reactor, wherein the catalyst particles have a d2 value of greater than about 40 microns. The catalyst particles are contacted with a fluidizing medium under conditions effective to cause the catalyst particles to behave in a fluidized manner and form a fluidized bed. The particles are contacted with one or more primary obstructing members while in the fluidized bed. By fluidizing the catalyst particles in this manner, the catalyst particles can be maintained at an axial gas Peclet number of from about 10 to about 20.

Abstract: A multi-stage gas-solids separator is configured so that the higher density (solids) output flows of two or more of the separator stages are merged together. The multi-stage separator is preferably composed of cyclone separators, with the diplegs of at least two of the cyclone separator stages merged together.

Abstract: The invention is to a process for removing contaminants from a compressor and/or compressor intercooler in a methanol to olefin separation system. The process comprises compressing an effluent in a compressor having an inlet and an outlet and a compressor surface, the compressing occurring under conditions effective to form a contaminant on the compressor surface. A contaminant-removal medium is injected into the compressor or intercooler and the contaminant-removal medium contacts the contaminant under conditions effective to remove the contaminant from the compressor or intercooler inner surface thereby forming a mobile contaminant. The mobile contaminant is then removed from the compressor or intercooler.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods for protecting metalloaluminophosphate molecular sieves, particularly silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO) molecular sieves, from loss of catalytic activity due to contact with a gas containing water. The methods of the invention provide procedures that enable activated sieve to contact water vapor, within a certain range of time, temperature, and water partial pressure conditions, before the sieve becomes substantially deactivated.

Abstract: Catalyst losses are prevented in riser reactor systems by using a low inlet velocity for the first cyclone separator in each multi-stage cyclone separator in the reactor. Catalyst particles not separated from the product output flow in an oxygenate-to-olefin reactor are also recaptured by cooling the product output flow and passing the flow through an electrostatic precipitator.

Abstract: A process is described for converting an oxygenate-containing feedstock into one or more olefins in a reactor system including a plurality of fixed bed reactors each containing a catalyst composition comprising a molecular sieve and at least one metal oxide having an uptake of carbon dioxide at 100° C. of at least 0.03 mg/m2 of the metal oxide. Each reactor is sequentially rotated between at least one operating mode, wherein the catalyst composition in the reactor is contacted with the oxygenate-containing feedstock, and a regeneration mode, wherein the catalyst composition in the reactor is contacted with a regeneration medium.

Abstract: A process is described for converting an oxygenate-containing feedstock into one or more olefins in a moving bed reactor system operating in countercurrent flow using a catalyst composition comprising a molecular sieve and at least one metal oxide having an uptake of carbon dioxide at 100° C. of at least 0.03 mg/m2 of the metal oxide.

Abstract: A process is described for converting an oxygenate-containing feedstock into one or more olefins in which the feedstock is contacted in a reaction zone with a fluidized bed of a particulate catalyst composition comprising a molecular sieve and at least one metal oxide having an uptake of carbon dioxide at 100° C. of at least 0.03 mg/m2 of the metal oxide whereby at least part of the feedstock is converted into a product stream comprising one or more olefins and a carbonaceous material is deposited on the catalyst composition to produce a coked catalyst composition. The coked catalyst composition is separated from the product stream and divided into at least first and second portions. The first portion of the coked catalyst composition is contacted with a regeneration medium in a regeneration zone under conditions to remove at least part of the carbonaceous material from the coked catalyst composition and produce a regenerated catalyst composition, which is subsequently recycled to the reaction zone.

Abstract: This invention relates to processes for converting oxygenates to olefins that include a step of pretreating catalyst, which comprises molecular sieve and one or more active metal oxides of one or more metals, with a hydrocarbon composition to provide an integrated hydrocarbon co-catalyst within the molecular sieve. The combination of molecular sieve and hydrocarbon co-catalyst converts oxygenate to an olefin product with high selectivity to light olefins (i.e., ethylene or propylene, or mixture thereof).