Abstract: This disclosure provides an apparatus and method for harnessing machine learning and data analytics for a real-time predictive model for a FCC pre-treatment unit. The method includes collecting operating parameters of a pre-treatment unit and fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit; evaluating an independent variable of the operating parameters; and adjusting an input to the pre-treatment unit to control the independent variable within specifications in an output of the FCC unit.

Abstract: A process for maximizing production of heavy naphtha from a hydrocarbon stream is disclosed. The process comprises providing a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising diesel to a separation column to provide a light diesel stream and a heavy diesel stream. The heavy diesel stream is hydrocracked in the presence of a hydrogen stream and a first hydrocracking catalyst in a first hydrocracking reactor at a first hydrocracking pressure of 13790 kPa to 17237 kPa to provide a first hydrocracked effluent stream. The light diesel stream is hydrocracked in the presence of a hydrogen stream and a second hydrocracking catalyst in a second hydrocracking reactor at a second hydrocracking pressure of 3450 kPa to 6205 kPa to provide a second hydrocracked effluent stream. At least a portion of the first hydrocracked effluent stream and at least a portion of the second hydrocracked effluent stream are fractioned to produce heavy naphtha.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one processor configured to obtain inline measurements of one or more properties of crude oil, translate the measurements into a set of process and control parameters, and apply the process and control parameters to process equipment. The process and control parameters configure the process equipment to process the crude oil having the one or more properties. The one or more properties of the crude oil may include at least one of: density, specific gravity, viscosity, carbon residue, and sulfur content of the crude oil. The process and control parameters could be applied to one or more controllers associated with a blending unit in a refinery or to one or more controllers associated with a crude oil distillation column in the refinery.

Abstract: Processes for the production of a gasoline blend. A C7 portion of a naphtha stream is first isomerized to increase the branched, iso-paraffins, and then, the isomerized effluent is passed to a dehydrogenation reaction zone. In the dehydrogenation zone, the C7 saturated hydrocarbons are convert to C7 olefins. The C7 olefins have a higher octane number than the C7 saturated hydrocarbons, and the branched olefins have a higher octane number than the normal olefins. The C7 olefins can be blended in a gasoline pool. C5 and C6 hydrocarbons can be isomerized and dehydrogenated as well, separately or with the C7 components.

Abstract: A method of operating a refinery including at least one coke drum coupled to a coker fractionator. A pump characteristics curve is provided for a fractionator bottom pump coupled to the coker fractionator comprising a net positive suction head required (NPSHr) curve as a function of a pump flow rate. Fog computing utilizes the pump characteristics curve along with at least one sensed input parameter including a real-time value for the pump flow rate to control the fractionator bottom pump to dynamically control a column pressure (Pc) in the coker fractionator. A reduction in Pc is obtained that reduces an available NPSH (NPSHa) which lessens a difference between the NPSHa and the NPSHr.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for maximizing production of heavy naphtha from a hydrocarbon stream are provided. The process comprises providing a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising vacuum gas oil to a first hydrocracking reactor. The hydrocarbon feed stream is hydrocracked at first hydrocracking conditions comprising a first hydrocracking pressure to provide a first hydrocracked effluent stream therein. At least a portion of the first hydrocracked effluent stream is fractionated in a fractionation column to provide a heavy naphtha fraction. A kerosene stream is hydrocracked in a second hydrocracking reactor operating at second hydrocracking conditions comprising a second hydrocracking pressure to provide a second hydrocracked effluent stream. In an aspect, the first hydrocracking pressure can be greater than the second hydrocracking pressure by at least about 6895 kPa (g).

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process and apparatus for selectively hydrogenating diolefins in a cracked stream. The method combines a conversion unit and a recovery section. The recovery section includes the diolefin hydrogenation reactor that is used to selectively hydrogenate the diolefins in the cracked naphtha. The diolefin depleted naphtha may be debutanized to separate the stabilized naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas streams.

Abstract: A method of increasing reliability for a reactor effluent air cooler (REAC). The method includes providing a process facility computer communicatively coupled to at least one REAC including an air condenser with a plurality of field devices coupled thereto. The process facility computer includes a processor connected to a memory device storing a REAC predictive maintenance model. The REAC predictive maintenance model implements retrieving history data including at least one historical REAC value from the memory and receiving real-time data from the field devices including at least one real-time REAC value. A digital twin calculates a current reliability value for the REAC using the historical REAC data and the real-time REAC value. The method further includes comparing the current reliability value to a predetermined reliability value and generating an alert indicating that the REAC needs current maintenance whenever the current reliability value is less than the predetermined reliability value.

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: A method of operating a refinery including at least one coke drum coupled to a coker fractionator. A pump characteristics curve is provided for a fractionator bottom pump coupled to the coker fractionator comprising a net positive suction head required (NPSHr) curve as a function of a pump flow rate. Fog computing utilizes the pump characteristics curve along with at least one sensed input parameter including a real-time value for the pump flow rate to control the fractionator bottom pump to dynamically control a column pressure (Pc) in the coker fractionator. A reduction in Pc is obtained that reduces an available NPSH (NPSHa) which lessens a difference between the NPSHa and the NPSHr.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrotreating process that includes providing a vacuum gas oil stream; heating the vacuum gas oil stream; passing the heated vacuum gas oil stream to a hydrotreating reactor; passing the hydrotreated effluent to a hot separator to form a gas stream and a liquid stream; passing the gas stream to a cold separator to form a heavy liquid stream, a light liquid stream and a vapor stream; and passing the vapor stream to an amine scrubber. Aspects of certain embodiments of the present invention also relate to a hydrotreating process in which the hydrotreating reactor is operated at a pressure within the range of approximately 35-50 kg/cm2g.

Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for isomerizing hydrocarbons are provided. In an embodiment, a process for isomerizing hydrocarbons includes providing a first hydrocarbon feed that includes hydrocarbons having from 5 to 7 carbon atoms. The first hydrocarbon feed is fractionated to produce a first separated stream that includes hydrocarbons having from 5 to 6 carbon atoms and a second separated stream that includes hydrocarbons having 7 carbon atoms. The first separated stream is contacted with a benzene saturation catalyst at benzene saturation conditions to produce an intermediate stream and subsequently isomerized in the presence of a first isomerization catalyst and hydrogen under first isomerization conditions to produce a first isomerized stream. The second separated stream is isomerized in the presence of a second isomerization catalyst and hydrogen under second isomerization conditions that are different from the first isomerization conditions to produce a second isomerized stream.

Abstract: A process is presented for the removal of contaminants like oxygenates from hydrocarbons. The contaminant oxygenates are removed from hydrocarbons that may be feed to cracking units. A crude feed stream is fed to a water wash column along with water to remove oxygenates and is subsequently treated with an adsorbent to effectively remove all the oxygenates from the crude hydrocarbon. A regenerant medium from a naphtha hydrotreating unit is used to regenerate the adsorbent.

Abstract: Processes for hydrotreating a hydrocarbon stream in which a separation zone and a stripping zone is disposed between two hydrotreating reactors. The stripping zone may comprise a portion of the second hydrotreating reactor. The separation zone may comprise two separator vessels. A separator vessel may include the scrubbing zone to receive a scrubbing fluid, for example, steam, hydrogen, or heated effluent, and remove H2S and NH3. A divided wall separator may be used. Vapor from the separator vessels can be recycled in the system.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one processor configured to obtain inline measurements of one or more properties of crude oil, translate the measurements into a set of process and control parameters, and apply the process and control parameters to process equipment. The process and control parameters configure the process equipment to process the crude oil having the one or more properties. The one or more properties of the crude oil may include at least one of: density, specific gravity, viscosity, carbon residue, and sulfur content of the crude oil. The process and control parameters could be applied to one or more controllers associated with a blending unit in a refinery or to one or more controllers associated with a crude oil distillation column in the refinery.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an apparatus and method for harnessing machine learning and data analytics for a real-time predictive model for a FCC pre-treatment unit. The method includes collecting operating parameters of a pre-treatment unit and fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit; evaluating an independent variable of the operating parameters; and adjusting an input to the pre-treatment unit to control the independent variable within specifications in an output of the FCC unit.

Abstract: A process is presented for the removal of contaminants like oxygenates from hydrocarbons. The contaminant oxygenates are removed from hydrocarbons that may be feed to cracking units. A crude feed stream is fed to a water wash column along with water to remove oxygenates and is subsequently treated with an adsorbent to effectively remove all the oxygenates from the crude hydrocarbon. A regenerant medium from a naphtha hydrotreating unit is used to regenerate the adsorbent.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for treating a hydroprocessing fraction. The process can include obtaining a bottom stream from a fractionation zone, and passing at least a portion of the bottom stream to a film generating evaporator zone for separating a first stream containing less heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds than a second stream.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process and apparatus for selectively hydrogenating diolefins in a cracked stream. The method combines a conversion unit and a recovery section. The recovery section includes the diolefin hydrogenation reactor that is used to selectively hydrogenate the diolefins in the cracked naphtha. The diolefin depleted naphtha may be debutanized to separate the stabilized naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas streams.

Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for isomerizing hydrocarbons are provided. In an embodiment, a process for isomerizing hydrocarbons includes providing a first hydrocarbon feed that includes hydrocarbons having from 5 to 7 carbon atoms. The first hydrocarbon feed is fractionated to produce a first separated stream that includes hydrocarbons having from 5 to 6 carbon atoms and a second separated stream that includes hydrocarbons having 7 carbon atoms. The first separated stream is contacted with a benzene saturation catalyst at benzene saturation conditions to produce an intermediate stream and subsequently isomerized in the presence of a first isomerization catalyst and hydrogen under first isomerization conditions to produce a first isomerized stream. The second separated stream is isomerized in the presence of a second isomerization catalyst and hydrogen under second isomerization conditions that are different from the first isomerization conditions to produce a second isomerized stream.