Abstract: A method of starting up one or more units, the method comprising the steps of: (a) starting up a first unit including a microchannel reactor housing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst by initially feeding a carbon monoxide source and a hydrogen source to the first unit and through the microchannel reactor; (b) processing, within the microchannel reactor, at least a portion of the carbon monoxide source and the hydrogen source; (c) monitoring at least one of internal pressure, temperature, and concentration at least one of within the microchannel reactor and downstream from the microchannel reactor; (d) at least partially containing the microchannel reactor using a wall of a containment device, the wall cooperating with the microchannel reactor to delineate at least one of a first inlet cavity and a first outlet cavity of the microchannel reactor, where at least one of the first inlet cavity and the first outlet cavity is not in fluid communication with at least one of a second inlet cavity and a second outlet cavity;

Abstract: A method is provided for introducing or reintroducing a gas into a slurry vessel holding a slurry comprising a liquid and solid particles and having a gas distributor for injecting a gas into the slurry, where the gas distributor includes a sparger device comprising an apertured sparger portion inside the slurry vessel, an inlet portion leading into the slurry vessel and an outlet portion leading from the slurry vessel, and a valve, external of the slurry vessel, operable to allow or deny flow from the sparger portion out through the outlet portion of the sparger device. The method comprises operating the valve to allow flow through the outlet portion of the sparger device, flushing the sparger device through the outlet portion to remove settled material which may be present in the sparger device, operating the valve to deny flow through the outlet portion of the sparger device, and introducing or reintroducing the gas into the slurry vessel through the sparger device.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of shutting down reaction systems. The reaction systems are those that use catalysts that comprise molecular sieves, particularly metalloaluminophosphate molecular sieves, especially metalloaluminophosphate molecular sieves which are susceptible to loss of catalytic activity due to contact with water molecules. The methods provide appropriate mechanisms of stopping feed to the reactor and unloading catalyst to protect against loss of catalytic activity that can occur due to contact with water molecules.

Abstract: A stripping apparatus for desorbing gases from solid particles through which flows counter-currently a stripping fluid is described, which comprises a series of sets of at least two parallel, segmented, baffle plates each, with the segmented baffles being oriented so that the rows are offset relative to rows of other levels, where the thickness and separation of said sets of baffles is so dimensioned as to reduce coalescence of the size of the formed bubbles and optimize the hydrocarbons desorption from said fluidized solid particles. The solid particles are mainly spent catalyst particles from a FCC process. The stripping process to be carried out in a fluidized bed comprises contacting the spent catalyst with a stripping fluid that flows upwardly in the fluidized bed in the form of bubbles. Adsorbed hydrocarbons present in the spent catalyst are transferred from the catalyst emulsion that flows downwardly to the upwardly moving bubbles, so as to promote the efficient recovery of cracked products.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for catalytic cracking a hydrocarbon feed to lighter hydrocarbon employing a catalyst cooler in flow communication with a catalyst stripper is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for starting up an olefin production plant without venting gases to the atmosphere wherein an artificial feed is employed in the compression zone of the plant while the furnace and quench zones remain idle, and gases from the compression and refrigeration zones of the plant are recycled to the inlet of the compression zone during startup, after which the furnace and quench zones are started up using natural feed.

Abstract: A metal spring with embedded constrained layer damping provides effective damping of a supported load. A continuous load bearing tube is provided with an inner diameter and an outer diameter with a plurality of constraining layer tube sections concentric with the load bearing tube and spaced along the load bearing tube. A damping layer of a viscoelastic material contacts facing surfaces of the continuous load bearing tube and the constraining layer tube sections so that shear strains are induced in the viscoelastic material from relative rotation of the load bearing tube and the constraining layer sections to provide damping of an applied load. In one embodiment, the constraining layer tube sections and damping are within the load bearing continuous tube and the continuous tube is sealed at each end to permit use of the spring in a vacuum environment.

Abstract: A startup method for a fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) unit operating with a magnetic catalyst separation means is disclosed. Magnetic strength, or separation severity, is maintained or increased until most of the catalyst has passed through the magnetic separation unit. After this point, magnetic flux and/or centrifugal forces, are decreased for lined-out operation. Preferably a MagnaCat.RTM. catalyst separation unit is used for magnetic fractionation of catalyst.

Abstract: An apparatus for the catalytic cracking in the fluid state of hydrocarbon feedstocks which comprises a riser-type column (2); at the top of the riser (2) and concentric therewith, a chamber (1) for separation of the hydrocarbon vapors and the coke-laden catalyst particles; directly above the upper opening of the riser (2) and in the interior of said chamber (1), a ballistic separator (3); at least one unit for regeneration of the spent catalyst, fed by stripped particles received from said chamber. The chamber (1) for separation of the coke-laden catalyst particles and the stripping thereof comprises, at a level intermediate between the bed (6) of particles being stripped and the opening of the riser (2), a means (11) adapted to form a baffle for locally reducing the diameter of said chamber (1) and the free passage at the periphery of the riser (2), thereby reducing recirculating streams of hydrocarbon vapors in separation chamber (1) of the FCC unit thus avoiding overcracking.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method for decreasing the time required for degassing a hydroprocessing reactor fabricated from a base metal with or without an alloy overlay.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of oil from solid hydrocarbonaceous material and particularly from oil shale by retorting fresh feed shale and heat medium particles using a fluidized bed. The invention uses a self supporting dense phase fluidized bed in a retort without the need to use an external fluid for fluidization.Also described is a control system for the method whereby feed stock input rate is controlled as a function of flow rate of oil vapour products given off, and whereby heat medium particle input rate is controlled as a function of the temperature of either the retort bed or of the oil vapor product.

Abstract: A fluid catalytic cracking process wherein a hydrocarbon charge-stock is atomized and injected, in a contactor/reactor, into a vertical curtain of hot regenerated catalyst to vaporize and crack hydrocarbons in the charge-stock, wherein the catalyst preferably contains at least 40% by weight of a zeolitic cracking component and the contact time of the hydrocarbon vapors and the catalyst in the contactor/reactor is ultra-short, preferably not greater than 0.5 second.

Abstract: A continuous fluidized process for upgrading a heavy liquid hydrocarbon charge-stock containing solid or solid-forming contaminants, e.g., inorganic solids, metals and asphaltenes. The charge is atomized to provide a stream of liquid particles introduced horizontally into a horizontal contacting zone to contact a vertical curtain of fluidized hot solid particles so as to vaporize hydrocarbons in the charge without substantial cracking, the solid particles being solely derived from the contaminants in the charge. The mixture of hydrocarbon vapors and solid particles are rapidly separated, carbon is burned from the separated particles, and the resulting hot solid particles are recycled to the contacting zone. The hydrocarbon vapors are condensed and there is recovered a liquid product having a substantially reduced content of contaminants.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for controlling movement of a vertically movable plug valve with respect to a bottom open end of a riser conduit of a catalytic conversion apparatus during startup and shutdown. The method involves sensing the pressure between the communicating surfaces of the plug valve and the riser conduit as the riser conduit expands or contracts due to thermal changes experienced during startup and shutdown. When the riser conduit expands and causes the pressure to exceed a preselected range, the position of the plug valve with respect to the riser conduit is lowered to reduce the pressure to within the range. When the riser conduit contracts and causes the pressure to fall below the preselected range, the position of the plug valve with respect to the riser conduit is raised to prevent catalyst flow through the valve.

Abstract: A method of feeding a mixture of fluidized solids, such as cracking catalyst, and a fluidized feed material to be contacted therewith, such as a hydrocarbon feedstock to be cracked, into a contacting zone. In another aspect, method and apparatus useful in starting up a catalytic cracking unit are disclosed.

Abstract: A basket is removably inserted in the upper end of each drain tube in those interbed assemblies of a catalytic tower whose catalyst beds are to be removed upwardly by vacuuming. The basket has a grid for a bottom wall, so that catalyst particles thereabove are retained but fluid being treated in the tower can easily pass therethrough. The provision of the baskets makes it possible to downwardly drain spent catalyst from the lower bed sections while simultaneously vacuuming it upwardly from the upper bed sections.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preventing hydrogen-induced disbonding of austenitic stainless steel cladding, which is made on a low alloy steel, in a reactor vessel which has been used in a high-temperature and high-pressure hydrogen atmosphere. The clad steel is cooled from its operating temperature to a temperature which is not lower than 100.degree. C. Then, the clad steel is maintained at a temperature between said temperature which is not lower than 100.degree. C. and a postweld heat treatment so as to effect hydrogen degassing treatment. Thereafter, the clad steel is further cooled.

Abstract: A start-up procedure wherein a halogenated rhenium-containing catalyst, to improve its performance in reforming naphtha feeds, is contacted with water, added with the hydrogen and said feed. During the start-up period, preferably on initiation of the start-up period after aromatics production has begun, a naphtha feed, hydrogen and water are passed cocurrently through the several reactors of a reforming unit and reacted over the halogenated rhenium-containing catalyst. Water is generally added with the naphtha and hydrogen, preferably to the initial reactor of the series of reactors of the reforming unit, in concentration ranging from about 100 vppm of hydrogen to about 10,000 vppm of hydrogen, preferably from about 100 vppm to about 5000 vppm of hydrogen.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for upgrading a variety of hydrocarbon oils including low-grade crudes and fractions thereof. In this process, a hydrocarbon oil having an ASTM 50% temperature not higher than 550.degree. F. is converted at low temperature and pressure to more volatile products by a dispersion of crystalline zeolite catalysts having a silica: alumina ratio of at least 12 and a C.I. within 1-12. Initially, 0.02-10 wt % of the catalyst is dispersed in the feed until the catalyst inventory in the reactor stage accumulates. Thereafter, catalyst is added and removed to maintain a total catalyst content not greater than about 35 wt % of the feed in the reactor.

Abstract: An improved method for hydrodewaxing a petroleum or shale oil fraction, e.g. petroleum distillate, in a reactor is provided which involves contacting said fraction with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a crystalline zeolite having a silica to alumina mole ratio of at least 12 under hydrodewaxing conditions wherein the average reactor temperature at start-up of from about 200.degree. C. to 310.degree. C. is increased uniformly to at least 360.degree. C. within about seven days from start-up.

Abstract: A hydrotreating process, particularly a hydroconversion process, wherein a hydrogenation catalyst is contacted with a hydrocarbon or hydrocarbonaceous feed containing 1050.degree. F.+ materials at a preselected high initial temperature and maintained essentially at this temperature throughout an operating run. In accordance with such mode of operation certain advantages are obtained, these including: (1) greater overall conversion of 1050.degree. F.+ to 1050.degree. F.- hydrocarbon products at a given level of hydrodesulfurization, catalyst consumption rate, with the same reactor volume and pressure requirements; (2) greater overall reduction of Con carbon; and (3) improved overall feed metals reduction.