Abstract: A hydrocarbon stream is cracked to produce a hot gaseous stream which is compressed and cooled to condense almost all of the hydrocarbons contained in the stream. A noncondensed stream remaining after the condensation step, comprised predominantly of hydrogen and C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 hydrocarbons, is subjected to pressure swing adsorption or temperature swing adsorption at an adsorption temperature of about 0.degree. to about 250.degree. C. in a bed of adsorbent which selectively adsorbs ethylene and propylene, thereby adsorbing substantially all of the ethylene and propylene from the gas stream. The ethylene and/or propylene is recovered upon bed regeneration.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating a hydrocarbon gas into fractions containing predominant portions of hydrogen, methane, and C.sub.2 and heavier components, where the methane and lighter components are separated from the feed gas under non-cryogenic conditions to produce a hydrogen-rich fraction, a first fraction rich in C.sub.2 and heavier components and a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, the hydrocarbon-rich fraction then being separated under cryogenic conditions into a second fraction rich in C.sub.2 and heavier components and a methane-rich fraction.

Abstract: The invention is a process for reducing capital and energy costs in ethylene recovery. Moderate pressure processing and thermally coupled fractionation steps are achieved through the use of integrator columns. Ethylene separation from cracked gas originating from ethane through gas oil feeds can now be done with thermodynamically efficient fractionation at capital cost competitive with low efficiency designs. Acetylene hydrogenation may be done before demethanization where desired, and dephlegmation is preferred to accomplish high-efficiency rectification of hydrogen and methane from ethylene. Open loop heat pumps can optionally be incorporated into the ethane/ethylene splitter fractionation step, whose desirability is controlled by optimization of capital and energy costs.

Abstract: A method of processing a cracked gas feedstream containing hydrogen and C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 and heavier hydrocarbons is described using a relatively low pressure as compared to conventional cryogenic separation processes. At pressures below 27 bars, the feedstream is dried and cooled in a series of steps to initially separate out essentially all of the C.sub.6 and heavier hydrocarbons forming a vapor stream containing the hydrogen, the C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 hydrocarbons and at least some of the C.sub.4 and C.sub.5 hydrocarbons. The C.sub.4 and C.sub.5 components act as an absorption liquid to lower the light ends partial pressure permitting the condensation of C.sub.2 and C.sub.3 components at higher temperature levels and permitting the operation at lower pressures. The vapor stream is then further cooled and separated in another series of steps and processed in a demethanizer column in a manner to provide a high pressure hydrogen and methane overhead product and a high recovery of C.sub.2 and C.sub.

Abstract: A side-by-side reactor vessel and stripping vessel arrangement uses a rejection vessel to collect the catalyst from the bottom of a reactor vessel and eliminate stagnant layers of catalyst within the reactor vessel while increasing the efficiency of a stripper vessel located to the side of the reactor. Catalyst containing entrained and sorbed hydrocarbons pass from the bottom of a reactor vessel into the small diameter rejection vessel that provides a hydrocarbon rejection zone and uses a fresh stripping medium to maintain a dense fluidized bed from which entrained hydrocarbons are quickly disengaged from the catalyst and travel upward into the reactor vessel. Partially stripped catalyst flows through a passageway that extends horizontally to a stripping vessel that contains a conventional stripping zone. In the stripping vessel, catalyst counter-currently contacts additional stripping medium which removes sorbed hydrocarbons from the catalyst surface.

Abstract: A method of converting a hydrocarbon feed with a catalyst and regenerating the catalyst by contact with an oxygen-containing stream is disclosed. The hydrocarbon conversion process employs a purification zone that purifies a net gas stream and that also removes water from a circulating regeneration gas stream. This method is useful for the regeneration of reforming catalysts comprising L-zeolite.

Abstract: An integrated three-column process for recovering hydrocarbon distillate products from a hydroprocessing or hydrocracking reactor effluent stream and a hydrocarbon distillate product recovery train are disclosed. According to the present recovery process, an effluent stream from the cracking reactor is cooled and separated into light and heavy phase streams. The heavy phase stream is depressurized and stripped of light end components in a steam stripping column. The light phase stream is further cooled to separate a liquid stream which is combined with the light ends from the stripper and fed to a debutanizer. A C.sub.4 -rich light end stream taken overhead from the debutanizer is condensed to produce LPG product stream(s). A C.sub.4 -lean heavy end stream removed from the bottoms of the debutanizer is combined with a heavy end bottoms stream from the stripper and fed to a fractionator for fractionation into product distillate streams such as light and heavy naphtha, jet fuel, diesel oil, and the like.

Abstract: Purified hydrogen is recovered from the effluent of a catalytic dehydrogenation zone using an integrated cold absorption process. The effluent, which contains olefinic hydrocarbons and hydrogen is compressed, cooled and contacted with a liquid absorbent. The purified hydrogen can be recycled to the dehydrogenation zone and the olefinic hydrocarbons are recovered as product. The present invention will recover higher purity hydrogen and liquefiable hydrocarbons more economically than prior art processes.

Abstract: Hydrotreated and hydrocracked liquid/vapor effluents are separated in a common separating vessel under elevated pressure. High quality middle distillates and low-sulfur/low-hydrogen-containing FCC feedstocks are produced.

Abstract: A FCC product recovery section operates at greater efficiency by recovering separate riser product streams and reactor product streams and quenching and absorbing lighter, more valuable hydrocarbon products from the reactor product stream in separate quench and absorption vessels. The quench and absorbtion vessels are intergrated with a main fractionator and gas concentration section of a typical FCC product recovery section. Heavy hydrocarbons, clarified oil and/or cycle oil absorb hydrocarbons from the reactor product stream in the quench and absorption vessels and return the absorbed products to the main fractionator while net gasoline product from the reactor product stream enter the primary absorber of the gas concentration section. This arrangement is particularly useful in increasing the product recovery capacity of an existing FCC product separation section.

Abstract: In an ebullated bed process reactor effluent is subjected to high pressure followed by intermediate flash separation. An ebullation liquid is formed by educting high pressure flash separation liquid into an intermediate flash separation liquid. The ebullation liquid is recycled to the reactor to expand the catalyst bed to 110 vol % to 200 vol % of a settled catalyst bed volume. As a result of recycle pressure balance is advantageously maintained. Carry over catalyst and catalyst fines are recycled to the reactor and kept out of downstream equipment.

Abstract: A process for recovering hydrogen-rich gases and increasing the recovery of liquid hydrocarbon products from a hydrocarbon conversion zone effluent is improved by a particular arrangement of a refrigeration zone, a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) zone, and up to two separation zones. The admixing of at least a portion of the tail gas from the PSA zone with a hydrogen-rich gas stream recovered from a first vapor-liquid separation zone results in significantly improved hydrocarbon recoveries and the production of a high purity hydrogen product. The process is especially beneficial in the integration of the catalytic reforming process with vapor hydrogen consuming processes such as catalytic hydrocracking in a petroleum refinery.

Abstract: In a process for the recovery of a polymerizable useful fraction, consisting of styrene, methylstyrenes, vinyltoluenes, indene, methylindenes and fractions whose boiling points are between styrene and methylindenes, from the crack gases of a steam cracker, the sidestream of the crack gas column is divided, by means of a distillation unit, into the useful fraction and into fractions which are recycled to the crack gas column.

Abstract: A catalytic hydrocracking process which minimizes the fouling of the process unit with 11.sup.+ ring heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds by means of partially condensing the hydrocarbon effluent from the hydrocracking zone to produce an unconverted hydrocarbon stream comprising trace quantities of 11.sup.+ ring heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds and contacting the unconverted hydrocarbon stream with an adsorbent which selectively retains the 11.sup.+ ring heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds before the unconverted hydrocarbon stream is recycled to the hydrocracking zone.

Abstract: An improved hydrocracking process, in a process for conversion of components of a heavy hydrocarbon feed to lighter, more valuable products, wherein the feed comprises foulant, the process comprising: (a.) contacting the feed with hydrogen, in the presence of a hydrocracking catalyst, at an elevated temperature and pressure in a hydrocracker, to produce a hydrocracker effluent comprising foulant; (b.) cooling and depressurizing the hydrocracker effluent to form a cooled, depressurized hydrocracker effluent comprising foulant; (c.) separating the cooled, depressurized hydrocracker effluent into the products of the conversion and an unconverted portion of the hydrocracker effluent which comprises foulant; and (d.) recycling, as effluent recycle to the hydrocracker, the unconverted portion of the hydrocracker effluent to the hydrocracker, wherein the concentration of foulant in the hydrocracker effluent is increased; the improvement comprising: (i.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for decreasing the energy consumption of a catalytic cracking process product recovery section while improving gasoline yield by integrating multistage vapor compression and product recovery with deacidification and conversion of C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 aliphatics to C.sub.5 + normally liquid hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A hydroconversion effluent separation process is provided.The effluent from the hydroconversion zone is passed to a hot high pressure separation zone. The gas phase from that zone is then passed to a cold high pressure separation zone while the liquid hydrocarbon bottoms is passed to a hot low pressure separation zone. The gas phase is partially condensed in the cold high pressure separation zone to obtain a hydrogen-rich gas and a liquid hydrocarbon bottoms. A portion of the hydrogen-rich gas is recycled to the hydroconversion zone. A second portion is sent to a hydrogen purification step, most preferably by membrane separation, and the purified gas is recycled to the hydroconversion zone. The overhead from the hot low pressure separation is fed to a cold low pressure separation zone. The gas phase from the cold low pressure separation zone is recycled to the hydroconversion zone. Preferably, two cold low pressure separation zones are utilized in the process.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for fluidized catalytic cracking of heavy oils is disclosed. The long transfer line connecting the catalytic cracking reactor to the main fractionator is modified to include a cooling means, such as a quench drum or a heat exchanger. Cooling hot cracked products from the FCC reactor upstream of the main fractionator prevents thermal cracking in the transfer line, improves yields, and permits higher catalytic cracking reactor temperatures.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for fractionation of a superheated vapor in a fractionation column is disclosed. A conventional fractionator, having an inlet for hot vapors at the base, and a plurality of products withdrawn via side draws is modified by physically inverting some parts of the column. The superheated vapors are charged to an upper portion of the column, to contact and vaporize a liquid fraction pumped up from a lower portion of the column. The vaporized liquid is discharged as a vapor fraction to the base of the column from which the liquid fraction was obtained. Superheated vapor fed to the column is fractionated, but in a fractionator in which the hottest part of the column is not in the base of the column. The inverted fractionator, when used in conjunction with a riser cracking FCC reactor, greatly reduces thermal cracking in a transfer line moving superheated, cracked vapor from the reactor to the fractionator.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon feeds are dewaxed and hydrotreated in a two-stage dewaxing-hydrotreating reactor system with interstage separation of olefinic and naphtha and light olefins. Separation of the naphtha and olefins is carried out by stripping the effluent from the dewaxing reactor with a stripping medium such as make-up hydrogen or vapor from the hydrotreater effluent. Hydrogen recycle for the dewaxer and the hydrotreater is taken from the stripper/separator after removal of the olefinic naphtha and removal of contaminants. Separation of the lighter olefins from the olefinic naphtha may be improved by the use of an oil solvent such as naphtha introduced into the top of the interstage stripper/separator so that the recycle gas from the stripper/separator is essentially free of wet gas and heavier fractions.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the separation of light hydrocarbons from a feedstream containing hydrogen, light hydrocarbons and heavy hydrocarbons. The processes employ thermal swing adsorption zone to adsorb heavy hydrocarbons and a pressure swing adsorption zone to remove the remaining light hydrocarbons. At least a portion of the product from the pressure swing adsorption zone is used to purge the thermal swing adsorption zone. Specific applications of the process of the present invention are disclosed with relation to hydrodealkylation processes and dehydrocyclodimerization processes.

Abstract: A catalytic hydrocracking process which comprises: (a) contacting a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock having a propensity to form heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds and a liquid recycle stream in a hydrocracking zone to convert a substantial portion of the hydrocarbonaceous components in the feedstock to lower boiling products; (b) recovering a hydrocarbon effluent from the hydrocracking zone and partially condensing the hydrocarbon effluent from the hydrocracking zone and separating the same into a lower boiling hydrocarbon product stream and an unconverted hydrocarbon stream having at least a portion boiling above about 400.degree. F. (204.degree. C.

Abstract: Process for separating a mixed-phase hydrocarbonaceous effluent originating from the conversion of a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock in the presence of hydrogen at elevated temperature and pressure in a multiple separator system, which effluent contains hydrogen, normally liquid hydrocarbonaceous components and normally gaseous hydrocarbonaceous components by(i) separating in a first separation zone the effluent into a first liquid phase (L1) and a first vapor phase (V1),(ii) cooling the first vapor phase obtained to a temperature in the range between 25.degree. and 85.degree. C.

Abstract: Crude oils are normally so viscous that they cannot be pumped through pipelines without periodic heating. The usual practice is to pump the oil from one heat station to another, with part of the crude oil being used to generate heat. This problem is solved by reducing the viscosity of the crude oil. The viscosity reduction is effected using reactors for partially cracking crude oil, mixing the partially cracked oil with incoming crude oil, separating gases from the liquid in the mixture in a flash vessel, condensing the gases to yield liquid hydrocarbons, and mixing the latter with untreated crude oil and liquid residue from the flash vessel to yield a flowable, relatively low viscosity mixture. Coke produced in the reactors is periodically reacted with superheated steam to yield hydrogen, which is used to improve the quality of some of the residue from the flash residue. The thus treated flash vessel residue is used to feed the reactors.

Abstract: An effective, economical catalytic cracking process is provided to produce quality gasoline and other hydrocarbons from whole crude oil. The catalytic cracking process is operable and particularly useful during maintenance or shutdown of associated pipestills, vacuum tower, and/or atmospheric tower.

Abstract: A process for recovery of hydrocarbon (C.sub.2.sup.+) containing at least two carbon atoms per molecule (e.g. LPG) from a fluid feed containing C.sub.2.sup.+ hydrocarbons and components having at most one carbon atom per molecule (e.g. refinery gas) comprising the following steps:(i) contacting the fluid feed with one side of at least one membrane which is substantially non-permeable for C.sub.2.sup.30 hydrocarbons and removing a first fluid (permeate) containing a substantial amount of components having at most one carbon atom per molecule from the other side of the membrane(s), and(ii) fractionating fluid (retentate) obtained from the one side of the membrane(s) into at least a product containing C.sub.2.sup.30 hydrocarbons and a gaseous product.

Abstract: An improved method for processing the effluent of a hydrocarbon conversion zone. The invention is particularly useful in a catalytic reforming reaction, wherein practice of the invention results in an increased recovery of butane and propane. The effluent is separated into vapor and liquid components, which are then recontacted at a higher pressure. Several recontacting steps may be employed. Liquid product is then subjected to fractionation. Overhead vapor from the fractionation zone is recycled back to a recontacting step in order to recover a portion of the hydrocarbons contained therein, instead of routing the vapor to the plant fuel gas system.

Abstract: A process for catalytically cracking a hydrocarbon-containing feed stream, preferably having an API.sup.60 gravity of about 5-30, wherein at least a portion of off-gases is treated so as to remove C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 olefins therefrom, and the off-gas stream having a reduced olefin content is then recycled to the catalytic cracking zone.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the recovery of hydrogen and C.sub.6 -plus product hydrocarbons from the effluent stream of a hydrogen-producing hydrocarbon conversion process. The effluent stream of the reaction zone is partially condensed to remove the bulk of the heavy C.sub.6 -plus hydrocarbons, which are then sent to a fractionation zone. The remaining vapor is compressed to a substantially higher pressure. The compressed vapor is then passed into a membrane separation zone in which a hydrogen-rich stream is separated from the compressed vapor. The relatively high pressure nonpermeate portion of the vapor stream which emerges from the membrane separation zone is partially condensed by autorefrigeration. The still high pressure mixed phase fluid is separated into vapor and liquid portions. The liquid phase material is then flashed to produce coolant used to perform the partial condensation.

Abstract: Unreacted hydrogen contained in the gaseous effluent from a high pressure hydrogenation process is reduced in pressure, followed by purification of the hydrogen at the lower pressure, and recompression to a high pressure for use in a hydrogenation process. Liquid effluent is also reduced in pressure, hydrogen stripped therefrom, and combined with the recovered hydrogen gas at the lower pressure for purification.

Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature and composition of a vapor feedstream into a second reactor connected in series flow arrangement with a first reactor. The effluent stream from the first reactor containing vapor and liquid fractions is first cooled against a vapor stream and then further cooled against a suitable external fluid, then is phase separated to provide vapor and liquid fractions. The separated vapor fraction is reheated against the first reactor effluent stream and passed at an intermediate temperature into the second reactor. The first reactor is preferably an ebullated bed type catalytic reactor and the second reactor is preferably a fixed bed type catalytic reactor which is operated at an inlet temperature 20.degree.-200.degree. F. lower than the first reactor effluent stream temperature.

Abstract: Hydrocracked, low pour lubricating oils of good stability are manufactured by passing a suitable hydrocarbon feed and hydrogen sequentially through a hydrocracking zone, a catalytic dewaxing zone, and a hydrotreating zone, all at high pressure and in that order, with purification of the hydrogen gas prior to passage to the dewaxing zone. By maintaining all zones at high pressure, the efficiency of the process is augmented.

Abstract: Hydrocracked, low pour lubricating oils of good stability are manufactured by passing a suitable hydrocarbon feed sequentially through a hydrocracking zone, a catalytic dewaxing zone, and a hydrotreating zone, all at high pressure and in that order, and with separation of hydrocrackate from recycle hydrogen prior to dewaxing. Only clean makeup hydrogen is fed to the dewaxer, passed through the hydrotreater, and then on to the hydrocracker, thereby providing an exceptionally efficient process.

Abstract: Process for producing butane and gasoline of high isooctane content, from a C.sub.4 olefin cut issued from a steam cracking unit, comprising the steps of:polymerizing at least 90% of the isobutene of the cut mainly to dimers and trimers thereof,hydrogenating the resulting polymerization mixture to normal butane, isooctane and isododecane,supplying the effluent from the hydrogenation unit to a separation zone to recover a gaseous fraction and a liquid mixture, andfractionating the liquid mixture to separate gasoline of high isooctane content, a C.sub.3.sup.- fraction and a butane fraction which is recycled to the steam cracking unit.

Abstract: Heavy petroliferous stocks such as vacuum and atmospheric resids, tar sand oils, shale oils, liquids from conversion of coal and the like are concurrently distilled and hydroprocessed for removal of sulfur, nitrogen and metals and are hydrocracked or otherwise hydroprocessed in a packed distillation column under hydrogen pressure wherein the packing is constituted, at least to a substantial extent in both stripping and rectifying sections by catalyst suited to the desired conversions.

Abstract: A process for increasing the octane rating of gasoline and decreasing the quantity of coke produced by a catalytic cracking process by adding C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 linear olefins to the feed to the reactor with a zeolite containing cracking catalyst. The olefins may be added separately or mixed with the gas oil feed just before the oil preheat section ahead of the reactor.

Abstract: Process for hydrocracking a petroleum hydrocarbon charge contaminated with nitrogenous compounds, comprising the hydrogenation of said charge in a first reaction zone followed with a separation in two phases, gaseous and liquid, of the resulting hydrogenated product, adding to said liquid phase the effluent from a subsequent prefractionation zone, treating the resulting mixture in a second reaction zone, adding to the effluent of said second reaction zone the above-mentioned gaseous phase, treating the resulting effluent in said prefractionation zone and separating therefrom a liquid fraction, at least one portion of which is recycled to said second reaction zone and a gaseous fraction which, after cooling is separated into a gas of high hydrogen content and a liquid effluent containing products converted in at least one reaction zone, said products being separated by fractionation.

Abstract: The present application discloses a fluidized catalytic cracking process wherein intermediate cycle gas oil is stripped of light cycle gas oil components employing reboiled intermediate cycle gas oil as stripping vapor for improving light cycle gas oil yield, reducing feed preheat requirements, and reducing sour water production from a fluidized catalytic cracking unit.

Abstract: The present application discloses a fluidized catalytic cracking process wherein light cycle gas oil is stripped of heavy naphtha components employing reboiled light cycle gas oil as stripping vapor. Heavy naphtha vapors stripped from the light cycle gas oil are returned to the reaction vapor as primary stripping vapor. This process results in increased naphtha octanes, and reduced sour water production from a fluidized catalytic cracking unit.

Abstract: Pyrolysis naphtha is contacted with a residuum hydrocarbon charge stock under process conditions suitable for delayed coking of said residuum hydrocarbon charge. Unstable olefinic and diolefinic components of said pyrolysis naphtha are reduced in the product naphtha. Such conversion of unstable olefin and diolefin components is accomplished without substantial conversion of aromatic components of said pyrolysis naphtha.

Abstract: Separation of the catalyst-containing product effluent from a fluid catalytic cracking unit is effected in the main column by a technique which involves removing a light naphtha fraction as the single overhead stream and separately withdrawing a heavy naphtha fraction as a lower side-cut. The latter is stripped of light naphtha (for recycle to the main column) and recovered as a product stream. Preferably a portion of the heavy naphtha fraction (as withdrawn) is cooled and combined with the light naphtha overhead reflux stream.

Abstract: A vapor-liquid separator is provided which is adapted to be connected directly to the exit of a fixed reactor bed, and includes a vertically disposed housing, an upper portion of which is connected to vapor-liquid inlet means which may be provided by the fixed bed reactor so that a vapor-liquid mixture may be introduced downwardly into the housing.