Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for hydrotreating hydrocarbons. A method includes heating a start-up oil in a stripper liquid fraction heat exchanger during a start-up period, and heating a reactor with the start-up oil. The start-up oil is discharged from the reactor when the start-up period ends, and a standard operating period begins after the start-up period. A reactor effluent is produced by introducing a hydrocarbon stream into the reactor during the standard operating period, where hydrogen sulfide is produced from an organic sulfur compound in the hydrocarbon stream. Steam is produced in the stripper liquid fraction heat exchanger during the standard operating period.

Abstract: A hydrotreating reactor including a vessel comprising an upper zone, and intermediate zone and a lower zone. The upper zone comprises at least one upper catalyst bed. The intermediate zone comprises a vapor/liquid separation zone, wherein gas separated within the vapor/liquid separation zone is directed to a high pressure knockout drum and the liquid separated within the vapor/liquid separation zone is directed to a stripping section and then the lower zone. The lower zone comprises at least one lower catalyst bed. Preferably, the stripping section is configured and arranged for removing hydrogen sulfide and ammonia from the gas.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the operation of fractionation columns to avoid column flooding is described. The apparatus uses mass flow meters to measure the mass flow rates of the receiver vapor, and the stripper hydrocarbon liquid stream or the stripper reflux and the stripper net overhead liquid. The water from the receiver can be measured with either a volumetric flow meter or a mass flow meter. The apparatus also includes at least one computer in communication with a molecular weight analyzer or specific gravity analyzer; an overhead vapor line pressure gauge; an overhead vapor line temperature gauge; a hydrocarbon liquid outlet line temperature gauge; the stripper hydrocarbon stream mass flow meter, or the stripper reflux hydrocarbon liquid mass flow meter and the stripper net overhead hydrocarbon liquid mass flow meter; the vapor mass flow meter; and the water flow meter.

Abstract: An apparatus and process is disclosed for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon feed in a hydrocracking reactor and hydrocracking a liquid first hydrocracked stream and a recycle oil stream in a second hydrocracking reactor. A vapor first hydrocracked stream and the second hydrocracked stream are fractionated to provide the recycle oil stream.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for recovering hydroprocessing effluent from a hydroprocessing unit utilizing a hot stripper and a cold stripper. Only the hot hydroprocessing effluent is heated in a fired heater prior to product fractionation, resulting in substantial operating and capital savings.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for recovering hydrotreating effluent from a hydrotreating unit utilizing a hot stripper and a cold stripper. Only the hot hydrotreating effluent is heated in a fired heater prior to product fractionation, resulting in substantial operating and capital savings. The cold stripped stream from the cold stripper bottoms line may be passed directly to a diesel pool when VGO is hydrotreated in the hydrotreating reactor bypassing the product fractionation column.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for increasing the recovery of hydrogen from fractionation section offgas are described. The methods include reducing the pressure of a liquid effluent from a high-pressure reaction zone, and introducing the effluent into a flash drum forming a low pressure liquid effluent. The low pressure effluent is introduced into a low-pressure stripper column, and separated into an overhead vapor stream and at least one additional stream. The stripper column overhead vapor stream is compressed in a one cylinder of a compressor, which has at least one additional cylinder, to an intermediate pressure. The compressed overhead stream is introduced to an intermediate pressure knockout drum forming a gas stream and a liquid stream. The gas stream is introduced into a pressure swing adsorption zone to produce a hydrogen rich gas stream at an intermediate pressure.

Abstract: A separator for separating a hydroprocessed effluent and a process of using same. The separator vessel includes a scrubbing section in a tower to remove acid gases from the vapor that is separated in the separator and that passes upwards through the tower. A treated gas can be recovered from the separator. Additionally, a liquid hydrocarbon stream and a water stream, usually a sour water stream, can be recovered from the separator as well.

Abstract: A hydrotreater reactor device includes a reactor chamber including a first bed and a second bed. A first input is disposed to provide a hydrocarbon stream to the first bed and a second input is disposed to bypass the first bed and provide a hydrocarbon stream to the second bed. A differential temperature controller measures a temperature difference across the first bed. A control valve at the second input adjusts an amount of the hydrocarbon stream admitted through the second input based on the measured temperature difference. A charge heater provides a hydrocarbon stream as an output through a split output line having a first branch connected to the first input and in fluid communication with the first bed, and a second branch connected to the second input and in fluid communication with the second bed. A restrictor downstream of the split controls a pressure drop at the first input.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for recovering hydroprocessing effluent from a hydroprocessing unit utilizing a hot stripping column and a cold stripping column. A light fractionation column fractionates naphtha from kerosene predominantly from a cold stripped stream. A heavy fractionation column fractionates diesel from unconverted oil predominantly present in a hot stripped stream. Only the hot hydroprocessing effluent is heated in a fired heater prior to entering the heavy fractionation column, resulting in substantial operating and capital savings.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for hydrotreating hydrocarbons. A method includes heating a start-up oil in a stripper liquid fraction heat exchanger during a start-up period, and heating a reactor with the start-up oil. The start-up oil is discharged from the reactor when the start-up period ends, and a standard operating period begins after the start-up period. A reactor effluent is produced by introducing a hydrocarbon stream into the reactor during the standard operating period, where hydrogen sulfide is produced from an organic sulfur compound in the hydrocarbon stream. Steam is produced in the stripper liquid fraction heat exchanger during the standard operating period.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for recovering hydroprocessing effluent from a hydroprocessing unit utilizing a hot stripping column and a cold stripping column. A light fractionation column fractionates naphtha from kerosene predominantly from a cold stripped stream. A heavy fractionation column fractionates diesel from unconverted oil predominantly present in a hot stripped stream. Only the hot hydroprocessing effluent is heated in a fired heater prior to entering the heavy fractionation column, resulting in substantial operating and capital savings.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for recovering hydroprocessing effluent from a hydroprocessing unit utilizing a hot stripping column and a cold stripping column. A light fractionation column fractionates naphtha from kerosene predominantly from a cold stripped stream. A heavy fraction column fractionates diesel from unconverted oil predominantly present in a hot stripped stream. Only the hot hydroprocessing effluent is heated in a fired heater prior to entering the heavy fractionation column, resulting in substantial operating and capital savings.

Abstract: A process for recovering hydrogen during hydroprocessing, where the process includes providing a pressure increasing device to a hydroprocessing unit, wherein the pressure increasing device utilizes a high pressure stream from a separator for increasing pressure; introducing a hydrogen containing stream to the pressure increasing device, thereby increasing the pressure of the hydrogen containing stream; and routing the hydrogen containing stream from the pressure increasing device to a vapor-liquid separator. The process also includes separating the hydrogen from the hydrogen containing stream in a hydrogen purification unit to produce a recovered hydrogen stream; and then preferably using the recovered hydrogen stream from the hydrogen purification unit within the hydroprocessing unit.

Abstract: Dual stripper column arrangements are described in which hot flash drum liquid is sent to one column and cold flash drum liquid is sent to a second column. Methods of operating the dual stripper column apparatus are also described.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for recovering hydroprocessing effluent from a hydroprocessing unit utilizing a hot stripper and a cold stripper. The cold stripper and the hot stripper utilize a common overhead recovery apparatus.

Abstract: A process for recovering heat from a high pressure stream during hydroprocessing, where one embodiment of the process includes serially introducing a high pressure stream from a hot separator into a first steam generator and a second steam generator; using the first steam generator to generate a medium pressure stream of steam, and then using the medium pressure stream as stripping steam. The process also includes using the second steam generator to generate a low pressure stream of steam, and then using the low pressure stream as stripping steam.

Abstract: A hydrotreater reactor device includes a reactor chamber including a first bed and a second bed. A first input is disposed to provide a hydrocarbon stream to the first bed and a second input is disposed to bypass the first bed and provide a hydrocarbon stream to the second bed. A differential temperature controller measures a temperature difference across the first bed. A control valve at the second input adjusts an amount of the hydrocarbon stream admitted through the second input based on the measured temperature difference. A charge heater provides a hydrocarbon stream as an output through a split output line having a first branch connected to the first input and in fluid communication with the first bed, and a second branch connected to the second input and in fluid communication with the second bed. A restrictor downstream of the split controls a pressure drop at the first input.

Abstract: Methods for processing a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock flows are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing two or more hydroprocessing stages disposed in sequence, each hydroprocessing stage having a hydroprocessing reaction zone with a hydrogen requirement and each stage in fluid communication with the preceding stage. The hydrocarbonaceous feedstock flow may be separated into portions of fresh feed for each hydroprocessing stage, and the first portion of fresh feed to the first hydroprocessing stage is heated. The heated first portion of fresh feed may be supplied with hydrogen from the hydrogen source in an amount satisfying substantially all of the hydrogen requirements of the hydroprocessing stages to a first hydroprocessing zone. The unheated second portion of fresh feed is injected counter current to the process flow as quench at one or more locations in one or more of the reaction zones.

Abstract: A process for recovering hydrogen during hydroprocessing, where the process includes providing a pressure increasing device to a hydroprocessing unit, wherein the pressure increasing device utilizes a high pressure stream from a separator for increasing pressure; introducing a hydrogen containing stream to the pressure increasing device, thereby increasing the pressure of the hydrogen containing stream; and routing the hydrogen containing stream from the pressure increasing device to a vapor-liquid separator. The process also includes separating the hydrogen from the hydrogen containing stream in a hydrogen purification unit to produce a recovered hydrogen stream; and then preferably using the recovered hydrogen stream from the hydrogen purification unit within the hydroprocessing unit.