Abstract: A process and apparatus for reducing pressure of a flue gas stream including passing a pressurized flue gas stream to a vessel and through a bed of particulates in the vessel to reduce the pressure of the flue gas stream. The flue gas passes from the vessel at a lower pressure than at which it entered. The bed of particulates is disposed in the vessel between the outlet end of the inlet conduit and the inlet end of the outlet conduit. If deposits develop in the bed of particulates, the particulates can be replaced with fresh particulates to avoid excessive pressure drop. Data may be received from a stream in fluid communication with the foregoing process and apparatus.

Abstract: Pyrolysis methods and apparatuses that allow effective heat removal, for example when necessary to achieve a desired throughput or process a desired type of biomass, are disclosed. According to representative methods, the use of a quench medium (e.g., water), either as a primary or a secondary type of heat removal, allows greater control of process temperatures, particularly in the reheater where char, as a solid byproduct of pyrolysis, is combusted. Quench medium may be distributed to one or more locations within the reheater vessel, such as above and/or within a dense phase bed of fluidized particles of a solid heat carrier (e.g., sand) to better control heat removal.

Abstract: A method for fluidizing a spent catalyst in a regenerator during a combustion process. The combustor includes a vessel and an air distributor. The air distributor includes an air grid and a plurality of first nozzles extending from the air grid. Spent catalyst is introduced into the vessel. Air is provided to the vessel via the plurality of first nozzles at a base combustion air rate. Additional air is provided to the vessels via a plurality of second nozzles of a fluffing air distributor at a fluffing air rate that is between 0.5 wt % and 10 wt % of the base combustion air rate to fluidize the catalyst. The second nozzles have outlets that are disposed below the air grid and above a bottom head of the vessel.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for controlling heat for rapid thermal processing of carbonaceous material are provided herein. The apparatus comprises a reactor, a reheater for forming a fluidized bubbling bed comprising an oxygen-containing gas, inorganic heat carrier particles, and char and for burning the char into ash to form heated inorganic particles. An inorganic particle cooler is in fluid communication with the reheater. The inorganic particle cooler comprises a shell portion and a tube portion. The inorganic particle cooler is configured such that the shell portion receives a portion of the heated inorganic particles and the tube portion receives a cooling medium for indirect heat exchange with the portion of the heated inorganic particles to form partially-cooled heated inorganic particles.

Abstract: A counter-current catalyst regenerator with at least two stages of counter-current contact along with a regenerator riser is proposed. Each stage may comprise a permeable barrier that allows upward passage of oxygen-containing gas and downward passage of coked catalyst into each stage, but inhibits upward movement of catalyst to mitigate back mixing and approximate true counter-current contact and efficient combustion of coke from catalyst. The regenerator riser may provide a passage to transport the catalyst and may serve as a secondary stage for coke combustion to provide the regenerated catalyst.

Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for co-processing pyrolysis effluent and a hydrocarbon stream in which a char produced by the catalytic cracking of the pyrolysis effluent is recovered and utilized to provide energy, such as heat to the catalytic cracking zone. The char can be burned in various combustion zones associated with the catalytic cracking zone. The char is produced from a renewable resource.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for reducing pressure of a flue gas stream comprising passing a pressurized flue gas stream to a vessel and through a bed of particulates in the vessel to reduce the pressure of the flue gas stream. The flue gas passes from the vessel at a lower pressure than at which it entered. The bed of particulates is disposed in the vessel between the outlet end of the inlet conduit and the inlet end of the outlet conduit. If deposits develop in the bed of particulates, the particulates can be replaced with fresh particulates to avoid excessive pressure drop. Data may be received from a stream in fluid communication with the foregoing process and apparatus.

Abstract: A power generation process for use in a processing unit that includes the steps of: using a regenerator to produce a flue gas stream; removing catalyst particles from the flue gas stream; routing the flue gas stream to a combustor/expander unit after performing the step of removing catalyst particles; and using rotation of the turbine of the combustor/expander unit as a source of rotary power. Preferably, the combustor/expander unit includes a combustion chamber and a power recovery turbine housed within a single casing. In certain embodiments, the flue gas stream is routed between the regenerator and the combustor/expander without passing through a compressor.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for reducing pressure of a flue gas stream comprising passing a pressurized flue gas stream to a vessel and through a bed of particulates in the vessel to reduce the pressure of the flue gas stream. The flue gas passes from the vessel at a lower pressure than at which it entered. The bed of particulates is disposed in the vessel between the outlet end of the inlet conduit and the inlet end of the outlet conduit. If deposits develop in the bed of particulates, the particulates can be replaced with fresh particulates to avoid excessive pressure drop.

Abstract: A process for combusting coke from catalyst in partial burn mode is disclosed. The partial burn regenerator runs deprived of oxygen such that the flue gas will contain a fair amount of carbon monoxide. The oxygen present in the flue gas can burn in the bed before reaching the dilute phase. The catalyst distributor is positioned in the upper chamber of the regeneration vessel for discharging the catalyst.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for controlling heat for rapid thermal processing of carbonaceous material are provided herein. The apparatus comprises a reheater for containing a fluidized bubbling bed comprising an oxygen-containing gas, inorganic heat carrier particles, and char and for burning the char into ash to form heated inorganic particles. An inorganic particle cooler is in fluid communication with the reheater to receive a first portion of the heated inorganic particles. The inorganic particle cooler is configured to receive a cooling medium for indirect heat exchange with the first portion of the heated inorganic particles to form first partially-cooled heated inorganic particles that are fluidly communicated to the reheater and combined with a second portion of the heated inorganic particles to form second partially-cooled heated inorganic particles. A reactor is in fluid communication with the reheater to receive the second partially-cooled heated inorganic particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating solid particles from a stream of a mixture of gaseous fluids and solid particles has a separation vessel. A mixture conduit extends vertically into a central section of the separation vessel and defines a discharge opening located within the vessel and tangentially oriented for discharging the stream into an open interior of the vessel and imparting a tangential velocity to the stream. A gas recovery conduit within the separation vessel has an inlet for withdrawing gaseous fluids from within the open interior of the separation vessel at a location below the discharge opening and radially offset from the mixture conduit. An intermediate portion of the gas recovery conduit is located above the inlet within the separation vessel and has a diameter greater than a diameter of the inlet.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for controlling heat for rapid thermal processing of carbonaceous material are provided herein. The apparatus comprises a reactor, a reheater for forming a fluidized bubbling bed comprising an oxygen-containing gas, inorganic heat carrier particles, and char and for burning the char into ash to form heated inorganic particles. An inorganic particle cooler is in fluid communication with the reheater. The inorganic particle cooler comprises a shell portion and a tube portion. The inorganic particle cooler is configured such that the shell portion receives a portion of the heated inorganic particles and the tube portion receives a cooling medium for indirect heat exchange with the portion of the heated inorganic particles to form partially-cooled heated inorganic particles.

Abstract: A counter-current catalyst regenerator with at least two stages of counter-current contact along with a regenerator riser is proposed. Each stage may comprise a permeable barrier that allows upward passage of oxygen-containing gas and downward passage of coked catalyst into each stage, but inhibits upward movement of catalyst to mitigate back mixing and approximate true counter-current contact and efficient combustion of coke from catalyst. The regenerator riser may provide a passage to transport the catalyst and may serve as a secondary stage for coke combustion to provide the regenerated catalyst.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for upgrading a pyrolysis oil stream and a hydrocarbon stream are provided. In an embodiment, a method for upgrading a pyrolysis oil stream and a hydrocarbon stream includes providing the pyrolysis oil stream and providing the hydrocarbon stream separate from the pyrolysis oil stream. The pyrolysis oil stream and the hydrocarbon stream are introduced into a reaction zone. Deposits form adjacent to a pyrolysis oil outlet of the pyrolysis oil stream. The pyrolysis oil stream and the hydrocarbon stream are catalytically cracked in the presence of a particulate cracking catalyst in the reaction zone. During catalytic cracking, the pyrolysis oil deposits adjacent the pyrolysis oil outlet of the pyrolysis oil stream are removed, such as with a cleaning head.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for fluidizing a spent catalyst in a regenerator during a combustion process. The combustor includes a vessel and an air distributor. The air distributor includes an air grid and a plurality of first nozzles extending from the air grid. Spent catalyst is introduced into the vessel. Air is provided to the vessel via the plurality of first nozzles at a base combustion air rate. Additional air is provided to the vessels via a plurality of second nozzles of a fluffing air distributor at a fluffing air rate that is between 0.5 wt % and 10 wt % of the base combustion air rate to fluidize the catalyst. The second nozzles have outlets that are disposed below the air grid and above a bottom head of the vessel.

Abstract: A process for combusting coke from catalyst in partial burn mode is disclosed. The partial burn regenerator runs deprived of oxygen such that the flue gas will contain a fair amount of carbon monoxide. The oxygen present in the flue gas can burn in the bed before reaching the dilute phase. The catalyst distributor is positioned in the upper chamber of the regeneration vessel for discharging the catalyst.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for combusting coke from catalyst two stages is disclosed. Catalyst and flue gas from a lower chamber ascends to an upper chamber to be roughly separated by swirl ducts extending from a combustion conduit. The swirl ducts may discharge into a container in the upper chamber.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for combusting coke from catalyst two stages is disclosed. Catalyst and flue gas from a lower chamber ascends to an upper chamber to be roughly separated by swirl ducts extending from a combustion conduit. The swirl ducts may discharge into a container in the upper chamber.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for separating regenerated catalyst are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for separating regenerated catalyst includes a regeneration vessel including a catalyst bed section. The apparatus includes a catalyst settler physically separated from the catalyst bed section by a wall extending within the regeneration vessel. The catalyst overflowing the catalyst bed section flows over the wall and enters the catalyst settler. The apparatus further includes a pipe in fluid communication with the catalyst settler and configured to deliver regenerated catalyst from the regeneration vessel to another vessel.