Abstract: A robot gripper that takes stacked patties from a conveyor and moves them to a packaging device.

Abstract: A process for separating a catalyst component from a catalyst-containing slurry by centrifugation including separating the catalyst component from the mother liquor of the catalyst-containing slurry using a stacked disc centrifuge equipped with an auto-discharging functionality. The solids discharge from the stacked disc centrifuge is enhanced by adding a washing solution to the bowl and the solids discharge chute of the stacked disc centrifuge.

Abstract: There is provided a process and system for producing carbon fiber products. The process can involve deasphalting a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock, which can contain native asphaltenes, to produce a solid asphaltene particulate material, which can be further treated to produce the carbon fiber products. In some implementations, the solid asphaltene particulate material can be extruded in the presence of a polymer. In some implementations, the solid asphaltene particulate material can be chemically treated with a chemical agent including a Lewis acid, an oxidizing agent and/or a reducing agent before extrusion. In some implementations, the process can further produce activated carbon fibers.

Abstract: A new process for the decomposition of hydrocarbon feed stream(s) that achieves the conversion of a hydrocarbon feed stream to hydrogen and filamentous carbon, with minimal resulting production of carbon oxides is described herein. In this invention it is proposed to achieve the hydrocarbon conversion by the use of dual fluidized bed reaction zones, fluidly connected, for (i). hydrocarbon reaction (the reactor) and (ii). catalyst regeneration and heating (the regenerator) and to use a transition metal supported catalyst to achieve high hydrocarbon conversion and to produce high quality filamentous carbon.

Abstract: Methods are provided to prepare a low sulfur fuel from hydrocarbon sources, such as light tight oil and high sulfur fuel oil, often less desired by conventional refiners, who split crude into a wide range of differing products and may prefer presence of wide ranges (C3 or C5 to C20 or higher) of hydrocarbons. These fuels can be produced by separating feeds into untreated and treated streams, and then recombining them. Such fuels can also be formulated by combinations of light, middle and heavy range constituents in a selected manner as claimed. Not only low in sulfur, the fuels of this invention are also low in nitrogen and essentially metals free. Fuel use applications include on-board large marine transport vessels but also on-shore for large land based combustion gas turbines, boilers, fired heaters and transport vehicles and trains.

Abstract: Methods are provided to prepare a low sulfur fuel from hydrocarbon sources, such as light tight oil and high sulfur fuel oil, often less desired by conventional refiners, who split crude into a wide range of differing products and may prefer presence of wide ranges (C3 or C5 to C20 or higher) of hydrocarbons. These fuels can be produced by separating feeds into untreated and treated streams, and then recombining them. Such fuels can also be formulated by combinations of light, middle and heavy range constituents in a selected manner as claimed. Not only low in sulfur, the fuels of this invention are also low in nitrogen and essentially metals free. Fuel use applications include on-board large marine transport vessels but also on-shore for large land based combustion gas turbines, boilers, fired heaters and transport vehicles and trains.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for recovering hydroprocessing effluent from a hydroprocessing unit utilizing a hot stripper and a cold stripper. The cold stripper and the hot stripper are contained in the same vessel. A barrier prevents material from the hot stripper from entering into the cold stripper.

Abstract: When a retake button is selected, a CPU causes a dialog screen for inputting a reason for a photographic error to be displayed. On the dialog screen, the name of a radiographer who is logging onto an X-ray photographing apparatus and select buttons indicating possible reasons for photographic errors are indicated. The CPU transmits an unsatisfactorily photographed image to a different server.

Abstract: A method of recovering unsupported fine catalyst from heavy oil comprises combining a slurry comprising unsupported fine catalyst in heavy oil with solvent to form a combined slurry-solvent stream. The combined slurry-solvent stream is filtered in a deoiling zone. A stream comprising unsupported fine catalyst and solvent is recovered from the deoiling zone. Unsupported fine catalyst is separated from the stream comprising unsupported fine catalyst and solvent. Filtering in the deoiling zone can comprise filtering the slurry and solvent through a cross-flow microfiltration unit, recovering a retentate stream of the cross-flow microfiltration unit, combining the retentate stream of the cross-flow microfiltration unit with solvent to form a combined retentate-solvent stream, and filtering the combined retentate-solvent stream through a cross-flow microfiltration unit.

Abstract: A method of recovering unsupported fine catalyst from heavy oil comprises combining a slurry comprising unsupported fine catalyst in heavy oil with solvent to form a combined slurry-solvent stream. The combined slurry-solvent stream is filtered in a deoiling zone. A stream comprising unsupported fine catalyst and solvent is recovered from the deoiling zone. Unsupported fine catalyst is separated from the stream comprising unsupported fine catalyst and solvent. The deoiling zone can comprise a membrane that is rapidly displaced in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A method for separating and recovering ultrafine particulate solid material from a suspension or slurry of the solid material and a hydrocarbon liquid by precipitation or flocculation of a heavy fraction of the hydrocarbon liquid with an effective amount of a precipitation or flocculation agent such that the precipitated heavy fraction encapsulates the particulate solid material. The method further comprises coking the precipitated heavy fraction and grinding the coked product to an ultrafine size.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for contacting reactants with a particulate catalyst while indirectly contacting the reactants with a heat exchange medium performs heat exchange in a first reaction zone and moves catalyst, at least intermittently, through the second reaction zone while the process is operating. The first reaction zone is preferably a fixed bed reaction zone. The use of first reaction zone as a fixed bed reaction zone simplifies the process arrangement by not requiring means for catalyst movement in a reaction zone that performs simultaneous heat exchange. Long periods of operation are possible since the first reaction zone will typically experience a slow rate of catalyst deactivation and need infrequent regeneration. The first reaction zone may also be designed for catalyst movement, but independently controlled from the first reaction zone to facilitate the movement of catalyst therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention employs a unique method that allows a user to create at least one standard pattern about how a particular type of x-ray examination of a body part of a patient is routinely performed, then monitors the machine when a operator uses it to perform this same type of examination. The invention creates and records certain data during the performance of the examination then combines the data from a standard protocol with the data that is created during the actual performance of an examination to produce certain desired results that include the performance and skill level of the operator during the examination, the revenues and expenses involved in performing the examination as well as the productivity of the machine and operator(s) who use the machine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving fluid cracking catalyst performance by increasing metal contamination incrementally while cracking two different feedstocks that have different concentrations of metal contaminants. The relative amount of metal contamination is controlled by magnetic separation. The incrementally increased cracking catalyst is used in cracking a second feedstock.

Abstract: An FCC process uses a highly efficient separation device to remove product from the catalyst so that the reactor vessel receives a low volume of feed hydrocarbons and riser by-products. The separation device encloses an upwardly directed outlet end of a ballistic separation device in low volume disengaging vessel that collects disengaged catalyst from the riser in a dense bed. Immediate contact of the dense bed with a stripping fluid minimizes the amount of hydrocarbons that are carried out of the disengaging vessel into the open volume of the reactor vessel.

Abstract: Ceramic films and coatings, single or multi-layered, including superlattice, infiltrated with boride, carbide, nitride, oxynitride, and silicide were formed by methods which comprises of an electrochemical coating of a ceramic precursor by a constant or an amplitude-modulated electric current with a DC component in a medium containing at least one of the ionic species for the composition of the ceramic precursor, following single or multiple infiltration in a medium containing at least one of the compounds selected from a B-containing compounds, a C-containing compounds, a N-containing compounds, a Si-containing compounds, and a mixture thereof, by heating means selected from radio-frequency, microwave, thermal, flame, plasma, laser, and a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A fluidized catalyst contacting apparatus improves the recovery of entrained hydrocarbon gases by providing a de-gassing zone upstream of a conventional stripping zone. The de-gassing zone has a downwardly increasing catalyst density gradient that reduces the void volume of the fluidized catalyst thereby de-gassing hydrocarbon vapors from the catalyst prior to entering a stripping zone. The de-gassing zone is particularly useful in a vented riser arrangement for an FCC reactor where catalyst concentrates along the wall of the reactor vessle as it flows downwardly into the stripping zone. By providing a de-gassing zone to collect the downwardly descending catalyst and remove hydrocarbon vapors, efficiency of a sub-adjacent stripping zone is significantly improved.

Abstract: A downcomer for use in ebullating bed reactors that is perforated along its length within the reactor. These perforations are sized slightly smaller that the solid catalyst particles used in the reactor in order to screen out these solid particles and prevent their flow or movement into the downcomer from the reactor. As a result of the perforated downcomer, any liquid separated from the fluidized medium and collected in the downcomer will flow back through these perforations and into the reactor when the ebullating bed is operating at its normal level; however, when the ebullating bed is operating at an upset level condition, the liquid in this fluidized medium will flow in the opposite direction and will pass through these perforations into the downcomer in order to maintain a minimum flow to the ebullating pumps.

Abstract: The invention reduces cracking catalyst fines in decanted oil by mixing the decanted oil (DCO) containing cracking catalyst fines with a resid oil and then treating the DCO-resid mixture with a non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent in an extraction unit or in a multi-stage deasphalting unit.

Abstract: The invention reduces cracking catalyst fines in decanted oil by mixing the decanted oil (DCO) containing cracking catalyst fines with asphaltene and then treating the DCO-asphaltene mixture with a non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent in an extraction unit or in a multi-stage deasphalting unit.

Abstract: The invention reduces cracking catalyst fines in decanted oil by mixing the decanted oil (DCO) containing cracking catalyst fines with asphaltene and then treating the DCO-asphaltene mixture with a non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent in an extraction unit or in a multi-stage deasphalting unit.

Abstract: In a two stage catalytic cracking process a heavy cycle gas oil fraction (HCGO) nominal boiling range 600.degree. F. to 1050.degree. F., API gravity of -10.degree. to +10.degree. and 65 to 95 vol % aromatics is recycled to extinction between an ebullated bed hydrocracking zone and fluidized catalytic cracking zone to yield a liquid fuel and lighter boiling range fraction as the light fraction from each zone.The catalyst in the fluidized catalytic cracking zone is maintained at a micro activity 68 to 72 while cracking a virgin gas oil to HCGO. HCGO is then mixed with vacuum residuum and hydrocracked in an ebullated bed reactor. The mid range fraction is recycled to the fluidized catalytic cracking zone. The 1000.degree. F..sup.+ fraction is blended with a fuel oil.

Abstract: The invention is an improvement in an ebullated bed process. Gas is removed from the vertically oriented reaction vessel until the vessel, including the recycle conduit is liquid filled. Foam, generated around the recycle cup and riser conduits is floated to the top of the reaction vessel by liquid and is prevented from entering the recycle conduit. A more stable hydrodynamic system is thereby achieved.

Abstract: A fluid catalytic cracking unit equipped with multiple feed injection points along the length of the riser is operated such that all of the fresh feed is charged to one of different feed injection points, depending on the ratio of light distillate (gasoline) to middle distillate (light catalytic gas oil) that is desired in the product slate. When all of the fresh feed is charged to one of the upper injection points in the riser in order to increase middle distillate yield, the unconverted slurry oil (650.degree. F.+material) can be recycled to a location below the injection point of the fresh feed so as to increase conversion to middle distillate while lowering the activity of the catalyst (via coke deposition) for single pass conversion of the fresh feed. Steam in excess of levels typically employed for dispersion is used at the bottom of the riser to lift the regenerated catalyst up to the feed injection points.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the separation of fine catalyst particles from a hydrocarbon feedstock coming from a catalytic cracking unit by filtration through mineral barriers and a filtration loop.The process consists of filtering the feedstock through mineral barriers that are resistant to heat and have a porosity adapted to the minimum diameter of the particles to be retained. The porosity is generally between 0.1 and 100 microns.

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. The hydrogen containing gas comprises hydrogen sulfide in an amount to maintain the sulfur content of the oil in the hydrocracking zone at 2 wt % to 10 wt %. A hydrocracked oil is recovered characterized by having a reduced sediment content.

Abstract: The invention is an improvement in an ebullated bed process. Gas is removed the ebullated bed reactor preferentially to liquid. Gas is removed by material balance control until the reactor, including the recycle conduit is liquid full. Foam, generated around the recycle cup and riser conduits is floated upward by liquid and does not enter the recycle conduit. When steady state is achieved, liquid and gas are both removed from the reactor under material balance control.

Abstract: A process for the production of hydrogen-enriched hydrocarbonaceous products which process comprises: (a) converting a heavy, asphaltene-containing hydrocarbonaceous residual oil, wherein at least 80% of the residual oil boils above 650.degree. F. (343.degree. C.), in the presence of hydrogen and a particulate catalyst at residual oil conversion conditions in a reaction zone to produce a liquid effluent stream comprising particulate catalyst and normally liquid hydrocarbonaceous compounds; (b) contacting at least a portion of the liquid effluent stream from step (a) with water and a hydrocarbonaceous solvent comprising at least one aromatic hydrocarbon; and (c) gravitationally separating the resulting admixture from step (b) into a solvent phase comprising the normally liquid hydrocarbonaceous compounds and essentially free of solids, and an aqueous phase comprising essentially all of the particulate catalyst.

Abstract: A process for separating finely divided petroleum cracking catlyst from a mixture of the finely divided catalyst particles with a high boiling refractory hydrocarbon oil by intimately contracting said mixture with a concentrated aqueous solution of a basic alkali metal compound at a temperature above 170.degree. F., the quantity of aqueous solution employed being substantially greater than the quantity of said mixture with which it is contracted.

Abstract: An effective hydrotreating process is provided to minimize precipitation of asphaltenic solids in the product oil. In the preferred process, an aromatic diluent, preferably comprising decanted oil, is injected into one or more of the fractionators downstream of the reactor.

Abstract: Resid hydrotreating conversion of resid can be substantially increased by blending the resid with high-temperature flash drum oil before being hydrotreated in a train of ebullated bed reactors. The high-temperature flash drum oil also improves the overall thermal efficiency of the process.

Abstract: A process for separating finely divided solid particles from a hydroprocessing liquid product which comprises treating a heavy hydrocarbon feed having an asphaltene content of at least 1 wt. % so as to obtain an unstable product characterized by heavy molecular weight molecules which promote the agglomeration of said finely divided solid particles and thereafter feeding said unstable product to a precipitating zone provided with a centrifugal decanter for precipitating the agglomerated solid particles and said heavy molecular weight molecules in said precipitating zone wherein at least 80 wt. % of the finely divided solid particles is recovered.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering bitumen from a carbonaceous solid feed and for recovering a carbonaceous liquid from a fines-containing carbonaceous liquid feed by extraction of the feed with a solvent of predetermined solvency power, wherein the recovered product has a low fines content.

Abstract: A two-stage catalytic hydroconversion process for heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks usually containing fine particulate solids to produce lower boiling hydrocarbon liquid and gas products. The feedstock is fed into a first stage ebullated bed reactor containing fine sized catalyst and operated at moderate reaction conditions for hydroconversion to produce hydrocarbon gas and liquid fractions, from which a low boiling liquid fraction is separated and withdrawn as a product. The remaining gas and heavier liquid fractions are recombined and fed to a second stage ebullated bed reactor containing larger size catalyst for further hydroconversion reactions at less severe conditions to produce lower boiling hydrocarbon liquid fractions. Following product distillation steps, liquid product fractions are withdrawn and a portion of vacuum bottoms material is recycled to the second stage reactor to provide increased hydroconversion and improved yields of the light hydrocarbon liquid product.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for cracking a carbo-metallic oil feed containing high amounts of coke forming carbonaceous materials as characterized by a Conradson carbon value of more than 1 and containing a level of nickel and/or vanadium of greater than 5 ppm. The method includes contacting the feed with catalyst particles and liquid water containing hydrogen sulfide. At least a portion of the water may be recycled water from prior catalytic cracking of an oil feed containing sulfur.

Abstract: An improved process for economically converting carbo-metallic oils to lighter products. Enhanced catalyst activity is enjoyed through use of a select process to vaporize and atomize the high boiling portion of a carbo-metallic oil feed. The carbo-metallic oil feed is dispersed into droplets having a diameter of at least smaller than 350 microns and preferably 100 microns or less. These small droplets ensure more even coverage of the catalyst surface and decrease diffusion problems. The water utilized for dispersion of the carbo-metallic oil feed is present as a homogenized mixture in fine oil droplets with an average diameter below 1,000 microns. The water is dispersed in the carbo-metallic oil feed through use of a select mixing apparatus and can be dispersed as finer droplet sizes through use of an emulsifying or dispersing agent. The ratio of water to carbo-metallic oil feed ranges from about 0.04 to 0.25 by weight and the concentration of emulsifying agent ranges from 0.01 to 10 wt.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for recovering mechanical energy from a particle-containing pressurized high temperature gas stream such as the flue gas stream of an FCC regenerator. Heat is removed from the gas stream in two different indirect heat exchangers in series flow and the gas stream is then scrubbed by contact with a liquid to remove entrained particles. The gas stream is then reheated by exchange against itself in the second heat exchanger and depressurized in a power recovery expander which produces useful mechanical energy. The scrubbed gas stream may be further heated in the FCC regenerator or some other high temperature location prior to being depressurized in the power recovery expander.

Abstract: Cracking catalyst fines from a slurry oil are introduced into a cracking-regeneration loop not together with the highly aromatic, refractory hydrocarbon of the slurry oil but rather with a desirable hydrocarbon, such as a virgin gas oil. The invention has the advantage that the desirable catalyst fines are introduced into the cracking-regeneration loop whereas the highly aromatic oil of this slurry is not or not to a substantial extent introduced into the cracking zone.

Abstract: A fluid coking process is provided in which the recycling of coke particles of less than about 44 microns in diameter to the coking reactor is minimized by passing the stream of coke withdrawn from the coking reactor to a vessel comprising a fluidized bed of solids separated into two zones. The coke withdrawn from the coker is passed into one zone where seed generation for the process is performed. Coke recycled to the coker is withdrawn from the second zone which is operated as an elutriation zone. The solid fines of less than 44 microns are removed overhead from the vessel with the gaseous effluent of the vessel. This improvement is particularly suitable for once-through fluid coking to minimize small fines being present in the coker liquid product.

Abstract: This invention provides a continuous process for separating a gaseous phase from a hydrocarbon liquid containing carbonaceous particulates and gases. The liquid is fed to a cylindrical separator, with the gaseous phase being removed therefrom as an overhead product, whereas the hydrocarbon liquid and the particulates are withdrawn as a bottoms product. By feeding the liquid tangentially to the separator and maintaining a particulate-liquid slurry downward velocity of from about 0.01 to about 0.25 fps in the separator, a total solids weight percent in the slurry of from about 0.1 to about 30%, a slurry temperature of from about 550.degree. to about 900.degree. F., a slurry residence time in the separator of from about 30 to about 360 seconds, and a length/diameter ratio for the separator of from about 20/1 to about 50/1, so that the characterization factor, .alpha., defined as ##STR1## DOES NOT EXCEED ABOUT 48 (.degree.R sec.sup.

Abstract: A process for the thermal cracking of heavy oils with a fluidized particulate heat carrier is carried out while recovering particles of the heat carrier accompanied by a stream of the reaction product by means of a cyclone and a gravitational separator, returning the particles of the heat carrier recovered by the cyclone directly to the reactor and returning the particles of the heat carrier recovered by the gravitational separator to the reactor in the form of suspension in a cracked oil.

Abstract: An improvement in a process for catalytic cracking of hydrocarbon feedstocks which comprises reducing the emisssion of catalyst particles through a regenerator effluent gas by passing a catalyst-laden stream from a main column into a slurry settling zone where there is recovered a decanted oil from an upper portion of said zone and an oil (slurry and oil) of catalyst from a bottom portion of said slurry settler. The improvement comprises recycling at least a portion of the decanted oil from said zone to a lower portion of the zone so as to regulate the upward velocity of the oil in said zone to selectively reject through the decanted oil stream small catalyst particles (less than about 20 microns diameter), which if not rejected through the decanted oil stream, would be recycled back to a fluidized catalytic cracking reaction zone in the slurry oil stream and ultimately released to the atmosphere by the effluent gases from the regeneration zone.

Abstract: This is a process and apparatus for continuously separating a liquid mixture comprising particulate carbon produced by the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous fuel, water, and liquid organic extractant into two separate immiscible streams i.e. a stream of particulate carbon-liquid organic extractant dispersion and a separate stream of clarified water. The subject apparatus may be referred to as a carbon decanter and comprises a closed pressure vessel whose horizontal cross-section is circular. Thus, the decanter may be shaped like a vertical cylinder or may be spherical shaped with discharge ports in the top and bottom.