Abstract: A fluid catalytic cracking reactor including a vessel, a chamber housed within the vessel, and a plurality of cyclones housed within the vessel, but externally of the chamber. The plurality of cyclones are arranged in a plurality of cyclone clusters, where each of the cyclone clusters includes a grouping of at least two cyclones that share common outlet piping for communication with the chamber. Alternatively, a fluid catalytic cracking reactor including a vessel, a chamber housed within the vessel, and a plurality of catalytic separation devices housed within the vessel, but externally of the chamber. The catalytic separation devices are in communication with the chamber via outlet piping. Preferably, the catalytic separation devices of the reactor are also in communication with a plenum via separator gas outlet piping, and optionally at least one of the catalytic separation devices feeds an outlet vapor stream into at least two different separator gas outlet piping members.

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: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for removing deposits in thermal conversion processes are provided herein. In one example, a method comprises advancing a hot vapor through a hot vapor inlet tubular section to a low temperature zone inlet nozzle of a longitudinal tubular section. The hot vapor inlet tubular section has a first inner diameter and the longitudinal tubular section has a second inner diameter that is greater than the first inner diameter. A ram head with a net open cross-sectional flow area is moved between a retracted position and an extended position to remove the deposits in the low temperature zone inlet nozzle.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for transferring catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking apparatus. The process can include passing the catalyst through a conveyor wherein the conveyor contains a screw for transporting the catalyst.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for separating particulate solids from a gas stream. The process can include regenerating a catalyst in a regenerator, separating particulate solids in first and second cyclone stages, passing the gas stream from the second cyclone stage to an external third stage separator, and passing the gas stream from the external third stage separator to a cyclone recirculator to obtain a clean gas stream.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for upgrading a pyrolysis oil stream and a hydrocarbon stream are provided herein. In an embodiment, a method for upgrading a pyrolysis oil stream and a hydrocarbon stream includes separately introducing the pyrolysis oil stream and the hydrocarbon stream into a reaction zone to form a mixture of the pyrolysis oil stream and the hydrocarbon stream in the reaction zone. The mixture of the pyrolysis oil stream and the hydrocarbon stream is catalytically cracked in the presence of a particulate cracking catalyst in the reaction zone. The pyrolysis oil stream is maintained at a temperature of less than or equal to about 100° C. substantially up to introduction into the reaction zone.

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: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for separating particulate solids from a gas stream. The process can include regenerating a catalyst in a regenerator, separating particulate solids in first and second cyclone stages, passing the gas stream from the second cyclone stage to an external third stage separator, and passing the gas stream from the external third stage separator to a cyclone recirculator to obtain a clean gas stream.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for separating particulate solids from a gas stream. The process can include regenerating a catalyst in a regenerator, separating particulate solids in first and second cyclone stages, passing the gas stream from the second cyclone stage to an external third stage separator, and passing the gas stream from the external third stage separator to a cyclone recirculator to obtain a clean gas stream.

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: 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: Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for rapid thermal processing of carbonaceous material are provided herein. The method comprises the step of contacting a carbonaceous feedstock with heated inorganic heat carrier particles at reaction conditions effective to rapidly pyrolyze the carbonaceous feedstock to form a product stream comprising pygas, pyrolysis oil, and solids. The solids comprise char and cooled inorganic heat carrier particles. The reaction conditions include a reactor pressure of about 70 kPa gauge or greater.

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: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for separating particulate solids from a gas stream. The process can include regenerating a catalyst in a regenerator, separating particulate solids in first and second cyclone stages, passing the gas stream from the second cyclone stage to an external third stage separator, and passing the gas stream from the external third stage separator to a cyclone recirculator to obtain a clean gas stream.

Abstract: A fluid catalytic cracking process includes feeding hydrocarbon into a riser in the presence of a catalyst, cracking the hydrocarbon in the riser in the presence of the catalyst to form a cracked stream, and separating the catalyst from the cracked stream. When in a gasoline mode, the hydrocarbon is fed through a first distributor into the riser, and when in a light olefin mode, the hydrocarbon is fed through a second distributor into the riser. The second distributor is positioned at a higher elevation than the first distributor.