By Solids Circulation To External Heat Exchange And Return To Same Zone Patents (Class 208/160)
  • Patent number: 10473326
    Abstract: In a method and a plant for chemical looping oxidation-reduction combustion (CLC) of a gaseous hydrocarbon feed, for example natural gas essentially containing methane, catalytic reforming of the feed is performed within the reduction zone where combustion of the feed is conducted on contact with an oxidation-reduction active mass in form of particles. The reforming catalyst comes in form of untransported fluidized particles within the reduction zone. The catalyst thus confined in the reduction zone does not circulate in the CLC loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignees: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES, TOTAL RAFFINAGE CHIMIE
    Inventors: Mahdi Yazdanpanah, William Pelletant, Tiago Sozinho, Stephane Bertholin, Hélène Stainton, Ann Cloupet, Florent Guillou
  • Patent number: 8999146
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon feed to a catalytic reactor can be heat exchanged with flue gas from a catalyst regenerator. This innovation enables recovery of more energy from flue gas thus resulting in a lower flue gas discharge temperature. As a result, other hot hydrocarbon streams conventionally used to preheat hydrocarbon feed can now be used to generate more high pressure steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Yunbo Liu, Xin X. Zhu, Daniel N. Myers, Patrick D. Walker
  • Patent number: 8921633
    Abstract: In a hydrocarbon upgrading process, a hydrocarbon feed is treated in at least one of a steam cracker, catalytic cracker, coker, hydrocracker, and reformer under suitable conditions to produce a first stream comprising olefinic and aromatic hydrocarbons. A second stream composed mainly of C4 to C12+ olefinic and aromatic hydrocarbons is recovered from the first stream and blended said second stream with a residual fraction from a steam cracker or an atmospheric or vacuum distillation unit to produce a third stream. The third stream is then catalytically pyrolyzed in a reactor under conditions effective to produce a fourth stream having an increased benzene and/or toluene content compared with said second stream and a C3-olefin by-product. The C3-olefin by-product is recovered and benzene and/or toluene are recovered from the fourth stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Larry L. Iaccino, Stephen M. Davis, Steven E. Silverberg
  • Patent number: 8101066
    Abstract: An improved fluidized coking process wherein an effective amount of a basic material, preferably an alkali or alkaline-earth metal-containing compound, is added to the coking zone to mitigate agglomeration of the coke during the coking of a heavy hydrocarbonaceous feedstock to produce lower boiling products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael Siskin, Simon R. Kelemen, Christopher P. Eppig
  • Patent number: 7273543
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Process Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Warren Letzsch
  • Patent number: 6059958
    Abstract: A process for the fluid catalytic cracking of heavy feeds under a heat balance regime is described, where one or more catalyst coolers external to the regenerator cool a stream of regenerated catalyst. A portion of said stream returns to the regenerator and a portion of the cooled regenerated catalyst is admixed to the non-cooled regenerated catalyst at a temperature substantially lower than the regenerator temperature, said admixture being brought into contact with the hydrocarbon feed to be cracked. As a result, the control of the catalyst circulation is rendered independent from the heat balance of the unit, with minimization of the thermal cracking, and therefore lower coke and fuel gas products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.-Petrobras
    Inventors: Jose Geraldo Furtado Ramos, Jose Mozart Fusco, Moacir Jose Bampi, Emanuel Freire Sandes, Francisco Carlos Da Costa Barros, Jorivaldo Medeiros, Claudio Fonseca Machado Dos Santos, Aurelio Medina Dubois, Ingrid Alexandra Zech, Monica Einsfeldt, Maria Celia Dos Santos Da Rocha
  • Patent number: 5904837
    Abstract: A process for the fluid catalytic cracking of oils, wherein an oil is brought into contact with catalyst particles using a fluid catalytic cracking reactor under the following conditions: a) a reaction zone outlet temperature of 580 to 630.degree. C., catalyst/oil ratio of 15 to 50 wt./wt., contact time of 0.1 to 3.0 sec.; b) a catalyst-concentrated phase temperature in the regenerating zone of 670 to 800.degree. C.; and c) a temperature of regenerated catalyst to be forwarded into the reaction zone of 610 to 665.degree. C.; thereby producing light fraction olefins. The process increases the cracking rate of heavy fractions of oils while producing a lessened amount of dry gases generated by the overcracking of light fractions to obtain light fraction olefins in a high yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignees: Nippon Oil Co., Ltd., Petroleum Energy Center
    Inventor: Yuichiro Fujiyama
  • Patent number: 5853568
    Abstract: A fluid cat cracking process for catalytically cracking a feed containing vanadium into lower boiling products, includes a cat cracker and a regenerator, with the feed entering the catalytic cracking zone preheated by indirect heat exchange with spent, stripped catalyst particles being recycled from the cracking reactor to the regenerator. Operating the regenerator at a temperature no higher than about 1150.degree. F. permits the amount of vanadium in the feed to be substantially increased with no loss of catalytic activity due to vanadium poisoning of the catalyst, when compared to a higher regenerator temperature of 1365.degree. F. Using the stripped, spent catalyst for heating the feed reduces feed coking and heat exchanger fouling, compared to using the hotter regenerated catalyst for feed preheat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: John F. R. Brander
  • Patent number: 5800697
    Abstract: An FCC reactor and regenerator arrangement provides substantially independent control of temperature on the reactor side and regenerator side of the process. The arrangement withdraws cooled regenerated catalyst for transfer to a reactor riser and cooled regenerator catalyst for return to the regeneration zone. The process may operate with a single cooler that supplies catalyst to both the reaction side of the process and the regeneration side of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Robert A. Lengemann
  • Patent number: 5773379
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for thermal regulation in a continuous fluidized bed treatment process for a powdered solid, wherein the solid is treated in a fluidized bed treatment zone, at least a portion of the solid is extracted from said zone and transported to an external heat exchanger (21) containing at least one array (22) of thermal exchange tubes in which vaporizable cooling fluid circulates, fluidized or mobile bed thermal regulation by indirect heat exchange with the fluid is carried out and the portion of regulated solid is extracted for recycling into the treatment zone or to another treatment zone (1). More precisely, said portion of solid is circulated in descending mode by means of an inert or non inert fluidization fluid across the array of tubes (22) which are wound such that the current of solid intersects said tubes and that the cooling fluid is circulated in one direction in the array of tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole
    Inventors: Regis Bonifay, Thierry Gauthier, Renaud Pontier, Frederic Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 5665949
    Abstract: A process for separating catalyst particles in the catalytic cracking of reacted hydrocarbons includes feeding the reacted hydrobarbons to an unconfined cyclone device made up of a diplegless cyclone opening directly into a large volume separator vessel downwardly through a mouth and upwardly through the annular space between concentric pipes. The concentric pipes are connected to the other components of the system as well as the hydrocarbon fluid catalytic cracking process carried out in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras
    Inventors: Jose Mozart Fusco, Jose Geraldo Furtado Ramos, Valmor Neves Vieira, Eduardo Cardoso de Melo Guerra
  • Patent number: 5589057
    Abstract: This invention makes possible substantially continuous flow of uniformly distributed hydrogen and hydrocarbon liquid across a densely packed catalyst bed to fill substantially the entire volume of a reactor vessel by introducing the fluids as alternate annular rings of gas and liquid (i.e. a mixture of liquid hydrocarbon and a hydrogen-containing gas) at a rate insufficient to levitate or ebullate the catalyst bed. Catalyst are selected by density, shape and size at a design feed rate of liquids and gas to prevent ebullation of the packed bed at the design feed rates. The liquid and gas components of the hydrocarbon feed flow into the catalyst bed from concentric annular rings that are coaxial with the catalyst bed. At the desired hydrocarbon flow rate, such catalyst bed continually flows in a plug-like manner downwardly through the reactor vessel. Catalyst is removed on a periodic or semicontinuous basis by laminarly flowing catalyst particles in a liquid stream out of the bottom of the catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Harold J. Trimble, Brian A. Darsow
  • Patent number: 5389231
    Abstract: A catalytic cracking process and apparatus wherein hot regenerated catalyst particles from the dense phase of the regenerator are passed through a heat exchanger in indirect heat exchange with stripped catalyst particles whereby the former are cooled and the latter are heated. The regenerated catalyst which contacts the feed is thus cooler than it would otherwise be, and there is a reduction in thermal cracking. The stripped catalyst entering the regenerator is hotter than it would otherwise be thereby improving the efficacy of the regeneration step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: John F. R. Brander, Todd R. Steffens
  • Patent number: 5370789
    Abstract: A process is described for ultrapyrolytic upgrading of a heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock by contacting the feedstock in a confined riser vertical column with finely divided inert solid particles under ultrapyrolysis conditions, the riser forms part of an internally circulating aerated bed reactor with the bottom end of the riser being directly connected to an inlet nozzle feeding the heavy hydrocarbon oil feedstock and the upper end of the riser extending above an annular aerated bed of the finely divided solid particles surrounding the riser. The riser also includes a plurality of orifices in a lower region thereof flow connected to a lower region of the aerated bed for controlled delivery of the particles from the aerated bed into the riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Energy Mines & Resources Canada
    Inventors: Bruce J. Milne, Franco Berruti, Leo A. Behie
  • Patent number: 5324421
    Abstract: In a steam generator for recovering heat in a hot fluidized bed of solid particles, wherein coils of the steam generator make a 180.degree. U-bend, the U-bend portion of the coils are protected from overheating by installing an open top insulating box around the U-bend portion of the coil. In use solid particles from the circulating fluidized bed accumulate in the insulating box thus providing a non-moving layer of solid particles surrounding the U-bend which thermally insulates the U-bend portion of the coil from the higher temperature encountered in the moving fluidized bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: William C. Rahlwes
  • Patent number: 5284574
    Abstract: A fluid coking-gasification process for converting heavy hydrocarbonaceous chargestocks to lower boiling products in which an inorganic metal composition is used to mitigate slagging in the gasifier, wherein the metal is selected from the alkaline-earths, the rare earths, and zirconium. The inorganic metal composition is added either directly into the gasifier or it is mixed with the coke passing from the heating zone to the gasification zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Tan-Jen Chen, Paul E. Eberly, Jr., Francis X. Mayer
  • Patent number: 5271826
    Abstract: A process for thermally and catalytically upgrading a heavy feed in a single riser reactor FCC unit is disclosed. A heavy feed is added to a blast zone in the base of the riser, and sufficient hot regenerated FCC catalyst is added to induce both thermal and catalytic cracking of the heavy feed. A reactive quench material, which cools the material discharged from the blast zone is added to a quench zone downstream of the blast zone, to reduce temperature at least in part by undergoing endothermic reactions in the riser. Quench liquids can be distillable FCC feeds such as gas oil, slack wax, or alcohols or ethers. The quench material is added in an amount equal to 100 to 1000 wt % of the non-distillable material in the heavy feed. A preferred catalyst, with a high zeolite content, is used which retains activity in the quench despite initial contact with the heavy feed, which tends to overwhelm conventional FCC catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick J. Krambeck, Donald M. Nace, Paul H. Schipper, Ajit V. Sapre
  • Patent number: 5215650
    Abstract: Operational flexibility of a fluid catalytic cracking process is improved by indirectly cooling catalyst in an endothermic catalyst cooler. Catalyst withdrawn from the FCC unit is cooled by driving an endothermic chemical reaction, which may be either thermal or catalytic. Dehydrogenation of, e.g., light aliphatics, produced by the cracking reactor in the endothermic cooler allows the FCC unit to adapt to heavier feeds. A preferred endothermic cooler, comprising a base heat exchanger section, transport riser, and solids collection and recycle vessel is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Ajit V. Sapre
  • Patent number: 5176819
    Abstract: An improved fluid coking process which includes: (a) a fluid coker comprised of a coking zone, a scrubbing zone, and a stripping zone; (b) a heater, and optionally a gasifier. The improvement comprises feeding a portion of the heated solids from the heater and/or the gasifier, to the stripping zone. Consequently, the coking zone can be operated at a temperature lower than the stripping zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Company
    Inventor: Robert C. Green
  • Patent number: 5167795
    Abstract: A process for the production of olefins and aromatics from hydrocarbon feedstocks by catalytically cracking alone or cracking and dehydrogenating the hydrocarbons in the presence of an entrained stream of catalytic heat carrying solids at short residence times to preferentially produce olefins having three or more carbon atoms and/or to produce aromatics, especially benzene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Robert J. Gartside
  • Patent number: 5160426
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for achieving hot catalyst stripping of spent FCC catalyst in a stripper mounted over a bubbling bed regenerator. Hot catalyst stripping is achieved by indirect transfer of heat from the regenerator to the stripper. Heat pipes, surface modifications such as fins on the stripper vessel, or use of a stripper in, or connective with, a heat exchange tube bundle may be used to heat spent catalyst with heat from the regenerator dilute phase, without transferring catalyst from the regenerator. The benefits of hotter catalyst stripping are achieved, without increasing catalyst traffic in the regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Amos A. Avidan
  • Patent number: 5141625
    Abstract: The use of lift gas for FCC risers is improved by the direct use of stripping vapors from a second stage of catalyst stripping as a lift gas. Reactor vapors recovered primarily from the stripping section of an FCC reactor/regenerator section provide an excellent source for lift gas material. These reactor vapors contain high concentrations of light paraffinic materials often with an equal weight percent amount of steam. The recovery of the stripping vapors independent from the product stream allows such gaseous mixtures to be readily used as lift gas. The lift gas material is obtained from a stripping section located subadjacent to a regenerator section so that it will have adequate pressure for use as a lift gas stream. The relatively high pressure of the lift gas stream eliminates processing requirements that would otherwise be necessary for the removal of particulate material and the compression of the gas to the pressure conditions at the bottom of the riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: David A. Lomas
  • Patent number: 5139649
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for achieving turbulent or fast fluidized bed regeneration of spent FCC catalyst in a bubbling bed regenerator having a stripper mounted over the regenerator and a stripped catalyst standpipe within the regenerator. A coke combustor vessel, which may be partially or totally open to the dilute phase above the bubbling bed, is added to the existing regenerator vessel. Spent catalyst is discharged into the coke combustor, regenerated in a turbulent or fast fluidized bed, then discharged into the dilute phase region above the bubbling bed, either via a deflector or by simply overflowing the combustor. Regeneration of catalyst is completed in the bubbling dense bed, and/or an annular fast fluidized bed surrounding the coke combustor. Catalyst may be recycled from the dense bed to the coke combustor either by a flow line, or by adjusting relative heights of bubbling to fast fluidized bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Hartley Owen, Paul H. Schipper
  • Patent number: 5062945
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed to reduce the amount of unstripped hydrocarbon flowing to the regenerator in an FCC unit. The catalyst stripper section is heated by indirect heat exchange with a mixture of hot regenerator flue gas and regenerated catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Pappal, Paul H. Schipper
  • Patent number: 5059305
    Abstract: Operational flexibility of a fluid catalytic cracking process is improved by directly cooling regenerated catalyst in an external catalyst cooler/stripper (ECCS). Regenerated catalyst withdrawn from the catalytic cracking unit regenerator is mixed with spent catalyst from the reactor stripper to effect desorption of cracked products from the spent catalyst at elevated temperature. The catalyst mixture is then contacted with an alkane-containing feedstream in a fluid bed maintained within a central section of the external catalyst cooler/stripper (ECCS). The mixture of spent and regenerated catalyst, cooled by the endothermic dehydrogenation of the alkanes, then flows downward through the ECCS to a lower section of the ECCS where the catalyst is countercurrently stripped with steam to remove remaining entrained hydrocarbons. Steam is withdrawn from an upper section of the steam stripping zone and bypassed around the dehydrogenation/stripping and mixing stages to avoid steam deactivation of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Ajit V. Sapre
  • Patent number: 5047140
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for achieving turbulent or fast fluidized bed regeneration of spent FCC catalyst in a bubbling bed regenerator having a stripper mounted over the regenerator and a stripped catalyst standpipe within the regenerator. A closed coke combustor vessel is added alongside an existing regenerator vessel, and spent catalyst is discharged into a transfer pot beneath the existing dense bed, then into the coke combustor. Catalyst is regenerated in a turbulent or fast fluidized bed, and discharged into the dilute phase region above the existing bubbling dense bed. The discharge line preferably encompasses, and is in a heat exchange relationship with, the spent catalyst standpipe. Discharge catalyst is collected in the bubbling dense bed surrounding the coke combustor, and may be given an additional stage of regeneration. Catalyst may be recycled from the dense bed to the transfer pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Hartley Owen, Paul H. Schipper
  • Patent number: 5043055
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for achieving multistage, hot catalyst stripping of spent FCC catalyst in a bubbling bed regenerator having a stripper mounted over the regenerator and a stripped catalyst standpipe within the regenerator. Hot catalyst stripping is achieved by lifting regenerated catalyst into the conventional stripper or to a secondary catalyst stripper under the primary stripper. Spent catalyst is heated by direct contact heat exchange with hot regenerated catalyst. Three different types of lift gas may be used to transport catalyst from the regenerator to the hot stripper, a light reactive hydrocarbon, an inert, or steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Hartley Owen, Paul H. Schipper
  • Patent number: 5034115
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for achieving turbulent or fast fluidized bed regeneration of spent FCC catalyst in a bubbling bed regenerator having a stripper mounted over the regenerator and a stripped catalyst standpipe within the regenerator. A coke combustor vessel is immersed in, and in open fluid communication with, the bubbling dense bed of the existing regenerator vessel. Spent catalyst is discharged into the coke combustor, mixes with hot regenerated catalyst which flows into the coke combustor, and regenerated with combustion air in a turbulent or fast fluidized bed. Catalyst and flue gas are discharged up into a dilute phase transport riser, preferably into cyclone which separate hot regenerated catalyst from flue gas. Regenerated catalyst is collected in the bubbling dense bed surrounding the coke combustor, and some is recycled by flowing into the coke combustor for direct contact heat exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Amos A. Avidan
  • Patent number: 5032251
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for achieving turbulent or fast fluidized bed regeneration of spent FCC catalyst in a bubbling bed regenerator having a stripper mounted over the regenerator and a stripped catalyst standpipe within the regenerator. A closed coke combustor vessel is added to the existing regenerator vessel, and spent catalyst is discharged into the coke combustor and regenerated in a turbulent or fast fluidized bed, and discharged up into a dilute phase transport which preferably encompasses, and is in a countercurrent heat exchange relationship with, the spent catalyst standpipe. Regenerated catalyst is discharged from the dilute phase transport riser, and collected in the bubbling dense bed surrounding the coke combustor. Catalyst may be recycled from the dense bed to the coke combustor for direct contact heat exchange. Catalyst coolers may be used on catalyst recycle lines to the coke combustor, or on the line returning regenerated catalyst to the cracking reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Hartley Owen, Paul H. Schipper
  • Patent number: 5032252
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for achieving multistage, hot catalyst stripping of spent FCC catalyst in a bubbling bed regenerator having a stripper mounted over the regenerator and a stripped catalyst standpipe within the regenerator. A secondary or hot catalyst stripper is placed under the primary stripper and within the existing regenerator vessel. Spent catalyst from the primary stripper is heated in the secondary stripper by at least one of immersion in the bubbling dense bed of hot regenerated catalyst, addition of hot regenerated catalyst recovered from the discharged into the coke combustor and regenerated in a turbulent or fast fluidized bed, and discharged up into a dilute phase transport riser which preferably encompasses, and is in a countercurrent heat exchange relationship with, the spent catalyst standpipe. Regenerated catalyst is discharged from the dilute phase transport riser, and collected in the bubbling dense bed surrounding the coke combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Hartley Owen, Paul H. Schipper
  • Patent number: 4988430
    Abstract: The use of lift gas for FCC risers is improved by the direct use of reactor vapors as the source of the lift gas. Reactor vapors recovered primarily from the stripping section of an FCC reactor/regenerator section provide an excellent source for lift gas material. These reactor vapors contain high concentrations of light paraffinic materials often with an equal weight percent amount of steam. The recovery of the stripping vapors independent from the product stream allows such gaseous mixtures to be readily processed for use as lift gas. The only processing requirements are the removal of particulate material and the compression of the gas to pressure conditions at the bottom of the riser. Compression of the gas requires a reduction in its temperature to suitable compressor inlet conditions. This invention is readily practiced in the most recent FCC reactor designs that separate the majority of product vapors from the catalyst in a closed riser cyclone arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Paul A. Sechrist, David A. Lomas, Daniel N. Myers
  • Patent number: 4975181
    Abstract: There is disclosed an improved process and apparatus for the pyrolysis of a heavy hydrocarbon feed utilizing a transfer line reactor wherein pyrolysis reaction temperatures are achieved by contact of the heavy hydrocarbon feed with heated solid particles immediately followed by quenching of the pyrolysis gaseous effluent with cooled solid-particles in the transfer line reactor to maximize ethylene production and minimize the effect of secondary reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Inventor: Utah Tsao
  • Patent number: 4971681
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed to reduce the amount of unstripped hydrocarbon flowing to the regenerator in a riser reactor FCC unit. The catalyst stripper section is heated by indirect heat exchange with a mixture of hot regenerator flue gas and regenerated catalyst. In the preferred embodiment, the regenerator is operated under partial combustion conditions and the resulting carbon monoxide-containing flue gas is burned in a catalyst stripper heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp.
    Inventors: Mohsen N. Harandi, Hartley Owen, David A. Pappal, Paul H. Schipper
  • Patent number: 4968401
    Abstract: A paraffinic feedstream is aromatized in an FCC external catalyst cooler by contacting the paraffinic feedstream with hot regenerated cracking and additive catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp.
    Inventors: Mohsen N. Harandi, Hartley Owen
  • Patent number: 4960503
    Abstract: A process for the fluidized catalytic cracking of an FCC feedstock uses a backmix catalyst cooler to heat FCC feed and control tube wall temperatures to avoid coking and thermal cracking. Heated FCC feed contacts the catalyst in a reactor riser to convert the feedstock. Prior heating of the feed raises its temperature so that it is more easily vaporized and better distributed throughout the riser. Using FCC catalyst to heat the feed maintains the heat balance between the reactor and the regenerator so that the catalyst circulation to the riser can remain unchanged. The backmix type cooler has heat exchange tubes located in a separate vessel. Catalyst from the dense bed of a regeneration zone is circulated to a section of the cooler located above the heat exchange tubes. One form of the invention uses two conduits to transfer catalyst to the section of the cooler above the exchange tubes and thereby control the temperature of the catalyst above the heat exchange tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Edward C. Haun, Steven S. Milner, David A. Lomas
  • Patent number: 4917790
    Abstract: A fluidized catalytic cracking process and apparatus operates with a two stage hot stripper between the reactor and catalyst regenerator. Addition of hot, regenerated catalyst to spent catalyst from the reactor heats the spent catalyst in the first stripping stage, which preferably uses steam stripping gas. The second stage of stripping occurs about a heat removal means, such as a stab-in heat exchanger tube bundle, which removes heat from the catalyst during the second stage of stripping. Steam or flue gas may be used in the second stripping stage to fluidize catalyst, improve heat transfer and simultaneously strip the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Hartley Owen
  • Patent number: 4914255
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for increasing heat transfer efficiency between a conduit and a gas flowing through the conduit by fluidizing in the gas stream a Geldart Type A powder having controlled fines content. The invention further provides a method for integrating two fluid beds to transfer heat from a heat source to a fluid-bed reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp.
    Inventors: Amos A. Avidan, Reuel Shinnar
  • Patent number: 4895639
    Abstract: In an ebullated bed process, a residual hydrocarbon oil and a hydrogen containing gas is passed upwardly through an ebullated bed of catalyst in a hydrocracking zone at a temperature in the range of 650.degree. F. to 950.degree. F. and pressure of 1000 psia to 5000 psia. FCCU catalyst fines are added to the ebullated bed in an amount of 15 wt % to 21 wt % of total catalyst comprising hydrocracking catalyst and fines. A hydrocracked oil is recovered characterized by having a reduced sediment content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Bellinger, Scott M. Sayles
  • Patent number: 4895637
    Abstract: This application is directed to a process and apparatus for regenerating an elutriable mixture of fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst and a demetallizing additive. Deactivated catalyst and coke containing additive are added to a single dense bed regenerator. Within the regenerator, differences in settling velocity segregate the elutriable mixture into a lower dense bed containing most of the additive and a contiguous upper dense bed containing most of the FCC catalyst. Some regeneration gas is added to the lower dense bed to at least partially decoke the additive, while additional regeneration gas is added to the upper dense bed. Decoked additive and regenerated FCC catalyst are preferably withdrawn separately and charged to a riser reactor for demetallizing and catalytic cracking of heavy feed. Flue gas is withdrawn from the regenerator from a dilute phase vapor space above the single dense bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Hartley Owen
  • Patent number: 4895636
    Abstract: An FCC or fluidized catalytic cracking process and apparatus for converting heavy metals laden crudes is disclosed. The heavy feed, conventional catalyst and an additive or vanadium getter contact the feed in a riser reactor. The additive is segregated from conventional FCC catalyst upstream of the conventional FCC regenerator. An elutriating, upflow riser reactor may be used with a coarse, rapidly settling getter. A fine, slowly settling getter may be used, with getter segregation achieved by using an elutriating cyclone on the riser outlet, an elutriating catalyst stripper, a sieve, or the like. The spent getter may be used once through, regenerated in a separate getter regenerator, or used as a source of fuel. Alumina and sponge coke are preferred getters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Nai Y. Chen, Billy K. Huh, Thomas F. Degnan
  • Patent number: 4859315
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Inventor: David B. Bartholic
  • Patent number: 4859308
    Abstract: Lower alkanes are converted to olefins in a `third bed` external catalyst cooler (ECC) in which hot catalyst, from a first regenerator (`second bed`) operating in conjunction with a fluid catalytic cracker (`first bed`), thermally cracks and dehydrogenates the alkanes. Because this is an endothermic reaction, the catalyst is autogeneously cooled before it is recirculated to the FCC regenerator. The cracking catalyst is the catalyst of choice in the FCC reactor. Maximum conversion of alkanes to olefins is sought, and can be maintained because the FCC regenerator burns the coke made during alkane dehydrogenation. The olefins produced are then oligomerized in an oligomerization reactor ("fourth" bed) operating in conjunction with a second regenerator ("fifth" bed) to produce a gasoline range stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Mohsen N. Harandi, Hartley Owen
  • Patent number: 4840928
    Abstract: Lower alkanes are converted to olefins in a `third bed` external catalyst cooler (ECC) in which hot catalyst, from the regenerator (`second bed`) operating in conjunction with a fluid catalytic cracker (`first bed`), thermally cracks and dehydrogenates the alkanes. Because this is an endothermic reaction, the catalyst is autogeneously cooled before it is recirculated to the FCC regenerator. The cracking catalyst is the catalyst of choice in the FCC reactor. The most evident benefit of using the ECC is that it eliminates internal regenerator coils for steam regeneration. Among several additional benefits is that the ECC allows flexibility in design of its fluid `third bed` for optimum weight hourly space velocity (WHSV), and control of the dehydrogenation temperature so as to get maximum conversion of alkanes. This conversion can be maintained because the FCC regenerator burns the coke made during alkane dehydrogenation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Mohsen N. Harandi, Hartley Owen
  • Patent number: 4784748
    Abstract: The invention combines two unit operations i.e. fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) and circulating fluid bed (CFB) boiler technologies. The circulating solid inventory of the CFB boiler is introduced to the bottom of a conventional FCC unit to supply the endothermic heat of reaction. A once-through FCC catalyst is introduced under high-temperature, short residence time conditions whereby improved yields are achieved through the reduction of coke made in the FCC unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Amos A. Avidan, Susan P. Donnelly, Frederick J. Krambeck
  • Patent number: 4764268
    Abstract: Vacuum gas oil is catalytically cracked in the presence of a fluid zeolite catalyst in a riser reactor and then quenched before discharging into the disengaging section of a stripper vessel. The quench fluid is injected into the last 10 vol % of the riser reactor to prevent over cracking. In this manner, the amount of cracking which takes place in the disengaging vessel is reduced. The quench injection nozzles should be located at a point near the riser outlet but far enough from the outlet that the mixture in the riser and the quench fluid have come to temperature equilibrium by the time the mixture reaches the riser outlet. The quench fluid should be essentially inert to cracking, e.g. water or selected hydrocarbon fractions such as an intermediate cycle gas oil or heavy recycle naphtha.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Philip A. Lane
  • Patent number: 4753907
    Abstract: Solids e.g. catalysts are separated from suspensions in gases e.g. products from catalytic cracking of crude oil fractions a discharging of suspensions against a surface positioned above the outlet of a riser conduit through which the suspensions are flowing and collecting the displaced gases for passage to cyclones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Ashland Oil, Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver J. Zandona, Paul W. Walters, Roger M. Benslay
  • Patent number: 4731175
    Abstract: A computer control system for automatically optimizing the temperature of the feed supplied to a distillation column from a fuel fired preheat furnace, wherein the furnace temperature is manipulated in response to a measured ratio of distillate flow (D) from the tower to fuel flow (F) to the furnace. The D/F ratio is maximized by periodically comparing the present value of D/F to the previous value and incrementally increasing the furnace temperature as long as the D/F ratio increases. When no change is detected or the D/F ratio starts to decrease the furnace temperature is incrementally decreased until the D/F ratio again increases and reverses the control action once more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Gary L. Funk, Terrence A. Davis, Bruce A. Jensen
  • Patent number: 4698212
    Abstract: In an apparatus for the regeneration of fluid cracking catalyst, the catalyst is cooled in a heat exchanger mounted to the lower side of the regenerator and cool catalyst is returned to the regenerator by means of a separate gas lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Ashland Oil, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Walters, H. Anthony Raiche, Ronald L. Harness, Genaro M. Quodala
  • Patent number: 4664778
    Abstract: An improved process for hydrocarbon conversion-catalyst regeneration processes particularly useful for residual oil, especially high carbon content residual oil conversion. The process generally comprises cooling the compressed air which is introduced into the second stage catalyst regeneration vessel in order to allow processing of feeds which typically produce high coke loading of catalyst in the conversion zone. The cooling process described can be installed and maintained with minimal expense in existing facilities and generally comprises a refrigeration unit and a heat exchange means installed in the conduit transporting air from a compressor unit to the second stage catalyst regenerator air distributor means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: Total Engineering and Research Company
    Inventor: Leo R. Reinkemeyer
  • Patent number: RE33728
    Abstract: A process for converting residual oil comprising vacuum bottoms in the presence of a cracking catalyst of high surface area and comprising an ultrastable zeolite is described. More particularly, a conversion process particularly contributing to producing cycle oil and gasoline boiling range products with reduced carbon deposition in combination with a relatively high regeneration temperature operation of at least 1350.degree. F. and above, and a short contact time riser hydrocarbon conversion operation contributing to reducing slurry oil product in favor of lower boiling products is described. A fluid cracking catalyst comprising a special ultrastable crystalline zeolite of high silica to alumina ratio provides hydrothermal stability of acceptable tolerance in the environment employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Total Engineering and Research Company
    Inventors: Robert R. Dean, Warren S. Letzsch, Jean L. Mauleon