Abstract: The present invention is generally related towards enhancing the yield and/or cold-flow properties of certain hydrocarbon products, increasing the degree of isomerization in a diesel product and/or increasing the production rate of a diesel product. The embodiments generally include reducing the residence time of lighter hydrocarbon fractions during hydrocracking, thereby decreasing secondary cracking, by various configurations of introducing at least two hydrocarbon feedstreams of different boiling ranges at different entry points in a hydrocracking unit. A method further includes forming a hydrocarbons stream comprising primarily C5+ Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon products; fractionating hydrocarbons stream to form at least a wax fraction and an intermediate fraction which serve as separate feedstreams to a hydrocracking unit comprising at least two hydroconversion zones.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for prevention of and recovery from a catalyst bed slumping in a gas-agitated multiphase hydrocarbon synthesis reactor, while the reactor is either under non-reactive conditions or under reaction promoting conditions when syngas is converted to products. The reactor contains a catalyst bed comprising catalyst particles and a gas injection zone suitable for injecting a reactor gas feed. A method for preventing bed slumping comprises supplying a supplemental gas to the gas-agitated multiphase reactor to prevent the catalyst bed from slumping due to insufficient reactor gas feed flow. The method may include recycling some or all of the supplemental gas to the reactor. The method may further comprise separating the gas injection zone from the catalyst bed with a porous plate so as to prevent migration of catalyst particles into the gas injection zone and to minimize plugging of gas distributor(s) present in said zone.

Abstract: A method of partially oxidizing a feed gas comprises providing a reactor containing a catalyst, providing a gas distributor comprising a body having a plurality of channels therethrough and a plurality of outlets from said channels for distributing gas across the catalyst, feeding the feed gas and the oxygen-containing gas into the gas distributor and allowing the feed gas and the oxygen-containing gas to flow through the gas distributor and out through the outlets into contact with the catalyst. The gas distributor preferably comprises a micro-channel gas distributor, which can be assembled by providing a plurality of etched plates defining flow channels, and stacking and fusing the plates. The reactant gases can be mixed within the gas distributor or maintained separately until they have exited the gas distributor.

Abstract: A method for water removal in hydrocarbon product reactors operating at Fischer-Tropsch conditions. The water removal decreases the concentration of water in the reactor. In one embodiment, a method of reducing the concentration of water in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor containing a water-rich hydrocarbon product includes removing water from the water-rich hydrocarbon product of the reactor by a water removal means so as to form a water-reduced hydrocarbon product and returning that product to the reactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for controlling the ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide in feed streams to reactors that convert syngas to hydrocarbon liquids. The process includes primary syngas production process for converting hydrocarbon gas to syngas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The process further includes introducing a hydrogen rich stream, a carbon monoxide rich stream, or both produced by an auxiliary source to a feed stream being passed to a reactor for converting the syngas to hydrocarbon liquid, thereby adjusting the H2/CO ratio in the feed stream. Examples of reactors that may be used to convert syngas to hydrocarbon liquids are FT reactors staged in series and oxygenate producing reactors staged in series.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a process that allows for the adjustment of hydrogen concentration in a syngas product or Fischer-Tropsch feedstock stream. In particular, the invention is identified as an improved process for producing syngas comprising a secondary chemical reaction, preferably a water gas shift reaction, that allows for the adjustment of the hydrogen concentration in a syngas product stream. Ultimately, the present invention is for an improved process for converting hydrocarbon-containing gas to liquid hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a process that allows for the adjustment of hydrogen concentration in a syngas product or Fischer-Tropsch feedstock stream. In particular, the invention is identified as an improved process for producing syngas comprising a secondary chemical reaction, preferably a water gas shift reaction, that allows for the adjustment of the hydrogen concentration in a syngas product stream. Ultimately, the present invention is for an improved process for converting hydrocarbon-containing gas to liquid hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for controlling the ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide in feed streams to reactors that convert syngas to hydrocarbon liquids. The process includes primary syngas production process for converting hydrocarbon gas to syngas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The process further includes introducing a hydrogen rich stream, a carbon monoxide rich stream, or both produced by an auxiliary source to a feed stream being passed to a reactor for converting the syngas to hydrocarbon liquid, thereby adjusting the H2/CO ratio in the feed stream. Examples of reactors that may be used to convert syngas to hydrocarbon liquids are FT reactors staged in series and oxygenate producing reactors staged in series.

Abstract: A method of partially oxidizing a feed gas comprises providing a reactor containing a catalyst, providing a gas distributor comprising a body having a plurality of channels therethrough and a plurality of outlets from said channels for distributing gas across the catalyst, feeding the feed gas and the oxygen-containing gas into the gas distributor and allowing the feed gas and the oxygen-containing gas to flow through the gas distributor and out through the outlets into contact with the catalyst. The gas distributor preferably comprises a micro-channel gas distributor, which can be assembled by providing a plurality of etched plates defining flow channels, and stacking and fusing the plates. The reactant gases can be mixed within the gas distributor or maintained separately until they have exited the gas distributor.

Abstract: A method for water removal in hydrocarbon product reactors operating at Fischer-Tropsch conditions. The water removal decreases the concentration of water in the reactor. In one embodiment, a method of reducing the concentration of water in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor containing a water-rich hydrocarbon product includes removing water from the water-rich hydrocarbon product of the reactor by a water removal means so as to form a water-reduced hydrocarbon product and returning that product to the reactor.