Abstract: A process is provided for producing aromatic hydrocarbons which comprises: (a) contacting a lower alkane feed with a solid particulate aromatic hydrocarbon conversion catalyst in a fixed bed reaction zone to produce aromatic hydrocarbons and other products, whereby the catalyst is at least partially deactivated by the formation of undesirable coke deposits, (b) periodically regenerating the catalyst under regeneration conditions, (c) separating aromatic hydrocarbons from the other products and unreacted lower alkanes, and (d) optionally recycling unreacted lower alkanes to the reaction zone wherein the fixed bed reaction zone additionally comprises a volume of a catalytically inactive solid.

Abstract: A feed nozzle assembly for co-currently introducing gas and liquid into a reactor vessel which feed nozzle assembly comprises (a) an inner tube defining a gas conduit and an outer tube arranged around the inner tube, wherein the outer surface of the inner tube and the inner surface of the outer tube define an annular liquid conduit, and wherein each of the tubes have an inlet end and an opposite outlet end; (b) a first nozzle attached to the outlet end of the inner tube; (c) a second nozzle attached to the outlet end of the outer tube and arranged downstream of the first nozzle, wherein the inner tube contains purging orifices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing ethylene and/or propylene, wherein an oxygenate feedstock is contacted with a zeolite-comprising catalyst at a temperature in the range of from 500 to 700° C. to obtain a reactor effluent comprising ethylene and/or propylene and the oxygenate feedstock is contacted with the catalyst in a riser reactor having a reactor wall defining a flow trajectory towards a downstream outlet for reactor effluent, wherein at least oxygenate feedstock and catalyst are provided at one or more upstream inlets of the riser reactor and wherein C5 olefins are admitted to the riser reactor at one or more of locations along the length of the flow trajectory. The invention further provides a reaction system suitable for preparing ethylene and propylene.

Abstract: A dual riser catalytic cracking process for preferentially making middle distillate and lower olefins. The system and process provide for the processing of multiple hydrocarbon feedstocks so as to selectively produce middle distillate boiling range product and lower olefins. The system and process uses two riser reactors, a single vessel for separating the cracked product and cracking catalyst received from both riser reactors, and a regenerator for regenerating coked or spent cracking catalyst.

Abstract: Gas-solids separator comprises a tubular housing, an inlet for introducing a gas-solids mixture at one end of said housing, which inlet is executed such that it imparts a swirl to the gas-solids mixture, a solids outlet opening at the opposite end of said housing, and a co-axially positioned tubular gas outlet conduit placed at an end of said housing, which separator further comprises a vortex stabilizer, comprising a pin placed on a stabilizing plate, in which separator the pin runs along the axis of the tubular housing and in which a passageway is provided through the stabilizer plate and the pin.

Abstract: A system comprising a reactor comprising a hydrocarbon feedstock and a regenerated catalyst under catalytic cracking conditions to yield a cracked reactor product and a spent catalyst, the spent catalyst comprising a hydrocarbon layer; a regenerator comprising a spent catalyst feedstock and an oxygen containing gas feedstock to burn at least a portion of the hydrocarbon layer to regenerate the spent catalyst, the regenerator output comprising a first conduit comprising a regenerated catalyst, and a second conduit comprising a flue gas, the first and second conduits fluidly connected to the reactor; the second conduit fluidly connected to a heated oxygen containing gas source; and a mixing chamber fluidly connected to the second conduit comprising the flue gas.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing aromatic hydrocarbons which comprises: (a) contacting a lower alkane feed with a solid particulate aromatic hydrocarbon conversion catalyst in a fixed bed reaction zone to produce aromatic hydrocarbons and other products, whereby the catalyst is at least partially deactivated by the formation of undesirable coke deposits, (b) periodically regenerating the catalyst under regeneration conditions, (c) separating aromatic hydrocarbons from the other products and unreacted lower alkanes, and (d) optionally recycling unreacted lower alkanes to the reaction zone wherein the fixed bed reaction zone additionally comprises a volume of a catalytically inactive solid.

Abstract: A feed nozzle assembly for introducing a mixture of a gas and a liquid hydrocarbon droplets into a vessel in the form of a substantially sheet-like spray, which feed nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle body provided at its upstream part with means to supply the gas and means to supply the liquid hydrocarbon to said nozzle body and at the downstream end with a closed outlet end which outlet end is provided with an elongated opening wherein in the opening an insert is positioned such that a continuous loop opening results for discharge of the mixture of gas and liquid droplets.

Abstract: Gas-solids separator comprises a tubular housing, an inlet for introducing a gas-solids mixture at one end of said housing, which inlet is executed such that it imparts a swirl to the gas-solids mixture, a solids outlet opening at the opposite end of said housing, and a co-axially positioned tubular gas outlet conduit placed at an end of said housing, which separator further comprises a vortex stabiliser, comprising a pin placed on a stabilising plate, in which separator the pin runs along the axis of the tubular housing and in which a passageway is provided through the stabiliser plate and the pin.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved regeneration process and system for the regeneration of a spent FCC catalyst in a regenerator without vertical partitions by introducing different fluidization gas streams to different regions of a dense phase catalyst zone at the lower end of the regenerator such as a high velocity central region and a low velocity annular zone are formed, positioned below a common dilute catalyst phase.

Abstract: A feed nozzle assembly located near the bottom of an FCC riser reactor includes a plurality of feed nozzles, each feed nozzle including a discharge end which is angled toward the center of the riser. The angled discharged ends provide a combined discharge of hydrocarbon feed and atomization gas into the central portion of the riser thereby providing a desirable feed/catalyst contact condition while preventing impingement of the feed upon the riser walls.

Abstract: A fluid catalytic reactor vessel having at its upper end a single centrally positioned primary cyclone having a gas-solids inlet fluidly connected to the downstream end of a fluid catalytic riser, which riser is positioned externally from a fluid catalytic reactor vessel. The primary cyclone is further provided with a gas outlet conduit at its upper end fluidly connected to one or more secondary cyclone separators, which secondary cyclone separators are positioned in the space between the centrally positioned primary cyclone and the wall of the reactor vessel and which secondary cyclones have means to discharge solids to the lower end of the reactor vessel and means to discharge a gaseous stream poor in solids to a gas outlet of the reactor vessel. The primary cyclone is further provided with a primary stripping zone at its lower end and means to discharge pre-stripped solids from the primary cyclone to the lower end of the reactor vessel.

Abstract: A cyclone separator provided with an inlet for receiving gas and solid particles, + a gas outlet at its upper end and a lower tubular part, wherein the lower tubular part is provided with a closed lower end, through which closed lower end a substantially vertical particle withdrawal conduit extends from a position below the closed lower end to a position in the tubular part and below the inlet for receiving gas and solid particles, said conduit being provided with openings to withdraw solid particles from the cyclone separator and wherein said conduit has a smaller cross-sectional area than the lower tubular part, thereby defining a space between conduit and inner wall of the lower tubular part, wherein in the lower part of said space main means to add a primaxy fluidizing medium are present.

Abstract: A protective shield for protecting a feed nozzle encloses, not only the circumference of the feed nozzle, but also encloses and protects the end of the feed nozzle. The protective shield includes an open portion in its end which corresponds to, and surrounds the slit in the end of the feed nozzle. Optimal shape of the open portion is determined by spray visualization tests.

Abstract: A process to supply solid particles to a fluidized bed via a riser which has a substantially vertical upper part terminating at an outlet opening in the fluidized bed and wherein the solid particles are transported towards the fluidized bed in the riser with a lift gas, which lift gas and solid particles are contacted at an upstream part of the riser and wherein between the upstream part and the outlet opening the interior of the riser is provided with a plurality of axially spaced mixing elements.

Abstract: A feed nozzle assembly located near the bottom of an FCC riser reactor includes a plurality of feed nozzles, each feed nozzle including a discharge end which is angled toward the center of the riser. The angled discharged ends provide a combined discharge of hydrocarbon feed and atomization gas into the central portion of the riser thereby providing a desirable feed/catalyst contact condition while preventing impingement of the feed upon the riser walls.

Abstract: A feed nozzle assembly for introducing a mixture of a gas and a liquid hydrocarbon droplets into a vessel in the form of a substantially sheet-like spray, which feed nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle body provided at its upstream part with means to supply the gas and means to supply the liquid hydrocarbon to said nozzle body and at the downstream end with a closed outlet end which outlet end is provided with an elongated opening wherein in the opening an insert is positioned such that a continuous loop opening results for discharge of the mixture of gas and liquid droplets.

Abstract: In a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, a regenerator, a stripper or a withdrawal well connecting to either of the vessels, includes a standpipe for circulating catalyst from one vessel to another, the standpipe having an inlet design which reduces gas entrainment during catalyst transport by partial de-fluidization in the standpipe inlet region. The standpipe inlet design could include multiple inlet openings through the top of the standpipe or from the side wall by slots, or both, and a horizontal disk surrounding the standpipe below the slots for blocking the upward flow of bubbles, the combination thereby forming a dense fluidization zone above the disk and surrounding the inlet, including the slots. Additionally, the disk may include a downwardly-projecting lip or edge forming an inverted void space around the standpipe and the downwardly-projecting edge may further include vent holes around its circumference which allow bubbles trapped under the disk to be vented outside the standpipe inlet region.

Abstract: The present invention is related to methods and apparatus for improving distributions of both spent catalyst and transport gas into a regenerator of a fluid catalytic cracking unit. Spent catalyst and transport gases move upwardly through a spent catalyst riser and are diverted in a radially outward direction by a deflector cone. The catalyst and transport gas are re-mixed as they move radially outward between two disks before discharging from the outer edges (perimeter) of the distributor into the regenerator in a substantially uniform radial direction. The distributor is adapted to provide continuous discharge from its perimeter so as to cover the entire cross-section of the regenerator.

Abstract: Fluid catalytic reactor vessel comprising: at its upper end a single centrally positioned primary cyclone having a gas-solids inlet fluidly connected to the downstream end of a fluid catalytic riser, which riser is positioned externally from a fluid catalytic reactor vessel; said primary cyclone further provided with a gas outlet conduit at its upper end fluidly connected to one or more secondary cyclone separators, which secondary cyclone separators are positioned in the space between the centrally positioned primary cyclone and the wall of the reactor vessel and which secondary cyclones have means to discharge solids to the lower end of the reactor vessel and means to discharge a gaseous stream poor in solids to a gas outlet of the reactor vessel; said primary cyclone further provided with a primary stripping zone at its lower end and means to discharge pre-stripped solids from the primary cyclone to the lower end of the reactor vessel; and wherein the reactor vessel further comprises at the lower end of re