Solids Transferring Patents (Class 208/164)
  • 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: 5030338
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for the catalytic conversion of hydrocarbons in a transport or sub-transport fluidized bed reaction zone. Inert particles are used to transfer heat to the reaction zone. The particles may be heated separately from the catalyst in a combustion zone or together with the catalyst in a regenerator. Fuel is fired to heat the inert particles or a mixture of catalyst and inert particles. Hydrogen deficient fuels such as charcoal or coke are preferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp.
    Inventors: Mohsen N. Harandi, Hartley Owen
  • Patent number: 5017536
    Abstract: A method of introducing oxygen-containing gas into a fluidized bed of cracking catalyst particles through a plurality of nozzles which are arranged in the underside portion of the catalyst bed. One aspect of the invention comprises positioning at least one of a plurality of nozzles, used in the fluidized bed, substantially vertically downward. Another aspect of the invention comprises installing at least one nozzle with a length greater than the diameter of a header pipe which supplies the plurality of nozzles. In yet other aspects of the invention comprises installing at least one of the nozzles with a beveled tip, and installing at least one nozzle with a baffle on its tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Frank W. Skraba
  • Patent number: 5013425
    Abstract: A method of converting a side by side FCC arrangement adds a new reactor vessel and uses the regenerator vessel and reactor vessel to provide a regeneration section having at least three stages of regeneration that is used as part of an enlarged FCC process. In simplest form, the conversion method calls for the use of the regeneration vessel as a first-stage regeneration zone, the use of the reactor vessel as a second-stage regeneration zone, and the use of the spent catalyst stripper as a third stage of regeneration. This arrangement provides a second stage of regeneration that is positioned to facilitate the addition of partially regenerated catalyst to the stripping zone to facilitate the operation of a hot catalyst stripping section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: Ismail B. Cetinkaya
  • Patent number: 5007999
    Abstract: A process for reducing sulfur oxides production during an FCC cracking operation comprises the steps of:(a) passivating metal contaminants on an FCC catalyst by contacting the FCC catalyst with a sulfur-containing compound under conditions that enable association of the sulfur with the metal contaminants;(b) cracking hydrocarbons with the passivated FCC catalyst in an FCC cracking zone;(c) oxidatively regenerating the catalyst in a regeneration zone whereby the carbonaceous material deposited on the catalyst in step (b) is burned off and the sulfur deposited on the FCC catalyst in step (a) is converted to sulfur oxides;(d) reacting the sulfur oxides with a sulfur oxide adsorption additive capable of adsorbing the sulfur oxides under sulfur oxide adsorbing conditions;(e) converting the adsorbed sulfur oxides from step (d) to hydrogen sulfide by contacting the adsorbed sulfur oxides in a separate treatment vessel with a reducing gas before the regenerated FCC catalyst and sulfur oxides adsorption additive enter
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Arthur A. Chin
  • Patent number: 5006495
    Abstract: An FCC catalyst regeneration technique in which the catalyst is regenerated in a dense bed regenerator. Regenerator effluent gases are collected from different parts of the regenerator vessel in a common collection zone and passed through the catalyst separation cyclones from the common collection zone. Removal of nitrogen oxides from the regeneration effluent gases is enhanced by passing spent cracking catalyst through the effluent gases from a secondary spent catalyst inlet in the upper part of the regeneration vessel. Coke on the spent catalyst effects a reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) species in the effluent gases to nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Pappal, Michael S. Sarli
  • Patent number: 5000841
    Abstract: A fluidized catalytic cracking process operates with a hot stripper to improve stripping of spent catalyst from the FCC process. The catalyst from the hot stripper is cooled by direct contact heat exchange with a source or cooled regenerated catalyst. Cooled catalyst may contact hot, stripped catalyst in the base of the stripper or downstream of the stripper. The cooled, stripped catalyst has reduced hydrogen, sulfur and coke content, improves regeneration efficiency, and reduces hydrothermal degradation of catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Hartley Owen
  • Patent number: 5000837
    Abstract: An improvement in gasoline octane without substantial decrease in overall yield is obtained in an integrated process combining a fluidized catalytic cracking reaction and a low severity fluidized catalyst olefin oligomerization reaction when crystalline medium pore shape selective zeolite catalyst particles are withdrawn in partially deactivated form from the oligomerization reaction stage and added as part of the active catalyst in the FCC reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Mohsen N. Harandi
  • Patent number: 4997800
    Abstract: A process for fluidized bed catalyst regeneration while minimizing emissions of NOx. The process uses a single, dense phase fluidized bed of particles wherein a combustible substance is burned to produce heat and a flue gas containing CO, CO2, O2 and NOx. A CO combustion promoter, present in an amount sufficient to increase the combustion of CO to CO2 in the dense bed, is disposed on particles having a settling velocity which is smaller than the settling velocity of the particles in the dense phase fluidized bed. CO combustion promoter segregates in the dense phase fluidized bed so that a majority of the combustion promoter is present in an upper one half of the dense bed. Maintaining a reducing atmosphere in the lower one half of the dense bed converts at least a portion of the NOx produced during combustion to nitrogen in the reducing atmosphere. Preferably an external means is provided to recover entrained CO combustion promoter from fines generated in the fluidized bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan E. Child
  • Patent number: 4994173
    Abstract: Modified ZSM-5 type zeolite catalyst is prepared by controlled aging in a moving bed catalytic cracking unit. The modified catalyst exhibits significant olefin isomerization activity and reduced paraffin cracking activity. Hydrocarbons are cracked to products boiling in the motor fuel range, e.g., gasoline, by using the modified catalyst mixture comprising a ZSM-5 type zeolite and a conventional cracking catalyst. The ZSM-5 type zeolite is treated with partial pressure steam under conditions which increase the gasoline octane number of the product fuel without decreasing gasoline plus distillate yield. A process for changing a catalytic cracking unit's inventory from a conventional catalyst to a modified ZSM-5 type containing catalyst is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Chou Tai-Sheng, Frederick J. Krambeck, Paul H. Schipper
  • Patent number: 4994424
    Abstract: An improved process and apparatus are disclosed for fluidized catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons using a swirl type catalyst regenerator. Multiple, symmetrically spaced spent catalyst inlets are provided for addition of coked catalyst to the regenerator. Preferable a single catalyst outlet, for withdrawal of regenerated catalyst, is provided in the center of the regenerator. Use of multiple symmetrical inlets and a central catalyst outlet greatly reduce stagnant regions in the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Tiberiu M. Leib, Ajit V. Sapre
  • Patent number: 4990314
    Abstract: A fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process and apparatus which employs relatively more elutriatable catalyst particles comprising intermediate pore zeolite, particularly ZSM-5, and relatively less elutriatable catalyst particles comprising large pore zeolite, preferably zeolite Y. The process and apparatus employ a first stripping vessel which also separates a more elutriatable first portion of catalyst from a less elutriatable second portion of catalyst. The more elutriatable first portion passes to a second stripping vessel, and subsequently recycles to a fluid catalytic cracking reactor riser. The second portion of less elutriatable catalyst passes from the first stripping vessel to a fluid catalytic cracking regenerator vessel and, after being regenerated, recycles to the reactor riser. The more elutriatable first portion contains a higher ratio of intermediate pore catalyst particles to large pore catalyst particles than does the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Herbst, 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: 4978441
    Abstract: A device for delivering solid particulates is disclosed. The particulate delivery system can be used to deliver a small quantity of solids to a laboratory and/or pilot plant scale fluid-catalytic cracking (FCC) device which may be operated on a semi-continuous or continuous program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp.
    Inventors: John S. Buchanan, Hans J. Schoennagel
  • Patent number: 4973398
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed to reduce the amount of coke and unstripped hydrocarbon flowing to the regenerator in an FCC unit. The catalyst stripper section is heated by indirect heat exchange with hot regenerator flue gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp.
    Inventors: David A. Pappal, Paul H. Schipper
  • 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: 4968409
    Abstract: A uniform feed distribution system for selectively upgrading a feed stream of hydrocarbon fluid containing metallic components, such as organometallic compounds, and/or inert materials, which deactivate or contaminate catalyst particles counterflows into a descending bed of catalyst particles. The heated feed stream is at temperatures and pressures so that lighter hydrocarbon components or hydrogen evolve as gas components as it is introduced into the reaction vessel. The evolved gas is separated into reservoir or pocket above a reservoir of liquid components and both components are then uniformly and selectively introduced into the downflowing bed of catalyst. By forming a common supply volume of gaseous and liquid components, the gas components are independently accessible to the lower end of the moving bed of catalyst particles through an inclined distribution surface preferably in the form of a cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: David S. Smith
  • 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: 4968404
    Abstract: In a fluid catalytic cracking process, coke is burned from spent catalyst at elevated temperature in a vertically arranged regenerator vessel. The regenerator vessel contains a lower, dense phase oxidation zone to which spent catalyst is introduced and an upper, dilute phase oxidation zone. Catalyst is fluidized and oxidized by means of air which is introduced in an amount of 5 vol % to 15 vol % to a lower air distributor at the bottom of the dense phase zone. Spent catalyst is discharged above the lower air distributor. The balance of the air is distributed in a horizontal plane in the dense phase above the catalyst discharge. As a result, a substantial proportion of the coke and carbon monoxide is burned in the dense phase zone at a lower temperature. A reduced amount of carbon monoxide is carried over to the dilute phase where higher temperature oxidation occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Henry C. Chan, Gary E. Collier
  • Patent number: 4965232
    Abstract: A catalyst regeneration process effected in an apparatus which comprises two regeneration chambers, a heat exchanger, means for withdrawing from the second chamber a controlled fraction of hot catalyst for the purpose of maintaining the temperature in that chamber substantially at a first desirable value of less than 950.degree. C., and preferably at 910.degree. C., means for transferring this fraction of hot catalyst to the heat exchanger for the purpose of cooling it, means for the discharge of the cooled catalyst from the heat exchanger and the reinjection of the cooled catalyst into the first chamber, and means, controlled by the means for measuring the temperature in the first chamber, for regulating the supply of combustion fluid to the first chamber for the purpose of maintaining said temperature substantially at a second desired value lower than 730.degree. C. and preferably ranging from 650.degree. to 710.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignees: Compagnie de Raffinage et de Distribution Total France, Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Mauleon, Jean-Bernard Siguad, Renaud Pontier, Frederic Hoffmann
  • 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: 4959334
    Abstract: A process for the regeneration of a catalyst by combustion of the coke deposited thereon during a hydrocarbon conversion reaction in which process more than 50 percent of the coke is burned in at least one regeneration chamber operating with a fluidized bed, wherein the upper portion of the fluidized bed the suspension of catalyst particles in said chamber is slowed down due to a substantial increase in the diameter of the regeneration chamber so that the superficial velocity of the rising fluids which no longer contain any oxygen is reduced to a value ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 meters/second, that is, to a value corresponding to the fluidization conditions in a dense fluidized bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: C. Compagnie de Raffinage et de Distribution
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Mauleon, Jean-Bernard Sigaud
  • Patent number: 4927527
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the stripping of hydrocarbons from catalyst particles in a fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) unit. A stripper vessel is located directly adjacent the exhaust barrel of a separator and immediately begins stripping hydrocarbon from catalyst particles. The stripper is sealed at the catalyst exit by a catalyst seal pot, with the drain sized so as to permit only a portion of catalyst flow to pass therethrough, with the remainder catalyst overflowing the seal pot. The location of the stripper adjacent the separator exhaust and the provision of a catalyst seal pot, in other embodiments, can be combined either separately or together with a short contact time (SCT) stripper and/or a catalyst particle deflector in order to reduce the "residence" time of hydrocarbons with catalyst particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: James H. Haddad, Hartley Owen
  • Patent number: 4923834
    Abstract: The duty of a side-mounted, backmix type catalyst cooling zone is increased by having one conduit that delivers catalyst to the top of the cooling zone and another conduit that uses fluidizing gas to vent catalyst from the top of the cooling zone back to a regenerator. The catalyst cooling zone is used to cool catalyst in a fluidized catalytic cracking process. The cooling zone comprises a heat exchanger located remote from an FCC regenerator that supplies hot catalyst particles to the cooling zone from a dense phase catalyst bed. Hot catalyst particles enter the top end of the cooling zone through a first conduit. Fluidizing gas, added to the cooling zone for backmixing and heat transfer purposes, exits the top of the cooling zone through a second conduit that communicates the top of the cooler with a dilute phase catalyst zone in the regenerator. Gas flow into and through the second conduit transports catalyst from the cooling zone to the regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: David A. Lomas
  • Patent number: 4921596
    Abstract: The present invention describes improved FCC and TCC stripper operations by incorporating a stripper operated at a reduced pressure. The improved strippers of the invention will increase total liquid hydrocarbon yield while reducing the coke load on the regenerator. Novel porous TCC bead catalysts are disclosed wherein at least 1/3 of the pore volume of catalyst pores having a pore diameter of at least 3000 Angstroms. These macropores facilitate flash vaporization of hydrocarbons in a stripping zone of the spent catalyst upstream of a regeneration zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Tai-Sheng Chou, Paul H. Schipper
  • 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: 4911824
    Abstract: The amount of finely divided particulate solids added to a stream of fluid to form a mixture of the particulate solids and the fluid is determined by a method comprising (a) determining the temperature and quantity of fluid in a stream of fluid; (b) determining the temperature of the particulate solids; (c) determining the temperature of the mixture; and (d) calculating the amount of the particulate solids in the mixture. The method can also be used to control the amount of finely divided particulate solids added to the stream of a fluid. The fluid is at a different temperature than the finely divided solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventor: John J. Wakefield, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4904372
    Abstract: An improved fluidized catalytic cracking-catalyst regeneration process for catalytically cracking heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks is provided which comprises first and second, relatively lower and higher temperature, catalyst regeneration zones, wherein CO-rich effluent flue gas from the first regeneration zone is combusted in a CO-incinerator/combustor means to substantially convert all CO present therein to CO.sub.2. The effluent gas from the CO-incinerator/combustor is then combined with the effluent flue gas from the second regeneration zone, with the combined streams thereafter being sent to an expansion turbine-compressor means to recover the work energy therefrom and to provide at least all the compressed air requirements of the first and second regeneration zones, and preferably in addition the compressed air requirements of the CO-incinerator/combustor means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Alan R. Goelzer
  • Patent number: 4891129
    Abstract: An apparatus suitable for solids-fluid (e.g. cracking catalyst/hydrocarbon vapor) separation is disclosed having a plurality of substantially vertical tubular elements disposed within a housing. Inlet means are arranged in the bottom section of the housing and communicate with the space between the tubular elements and the housing. A plurality of tubular fluid outlet means are provided, the lower sections of which are arranged substantially coaxially within the upper sections of said tubular elements and define annular spaces therebetween in which swirl imparting means are arranged. The upper sections of the tubular fluid outlet means cooperate with opening(s) in the upper section of the housing, and the lower sections of the tubular elements communicating with solids outlet means. The invention further relates to a process for separating fluid cracking catalyst particles from gaseous hydrocarbon conversion products and/or flue gases using said apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Peter H. Barnes
  • Patent number: 4875994
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for cracking heavy hydrocarbons using a mixture of fluid cracking catalyst and a demetallizing additive differing in physical characteristics from the cracking catalyst is described. A heavy, metals containing feed such as a resid contacts demetallizing additive in the base of a riser reactor. The demetallized resid is cracked by contact with a stream of hot, regenerated catalyst. A mixture of metal containing additive, deactivated cracking catalyst, and cracked products is discharged from the riser. The metal containing additive and deactivated catalyst are stripped, preferably with steam, and charged to a two-stage regenerator. The first stage of the regenerator partially regenerates the cracking catalyst and separates it by elutriation from the demetallizing additive, which accumulates as a dense phase fluidized bed in a lower portion of the first stage regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Inventors: James H. Haddad, Hartley Owen, Klaus W. Schatz
  • Patent number: 4875993
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for catalytic cracking in a fluid phase of a hydrocarbon charge. The process comprises contacting, in ascending or descending flow, the charge and grains of a cracking catalyst in a tubular reactor, ballistically separating the spent catalyst and the cracked charge downstream of the end of said reactor, mixing spent catalyst with grains of at least partially regenerated catalyst having a temperature exceeding that of the grains of spent catalyst, stripping spent catalyst in a dense fluidized phase by means of a fluid injected counter-current into this catalyst regenerating the catalyst under conditions to effect combustion of coke deposited thereon, and recycling regenerated catalyst to feed the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Compagnie de Raffinage et de Distribution Total France
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Mauleon, Jean-Bernard Sigaud, Bernard Chapotel, Leonard Seglin
  • Patent number: 4871699
    Abstract: A process in which coke is reduced and volatile products yield increased in a catalytic cracking system wherein spent cracking catalyst is stripped in the presence of a hydrogen donor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Fahrig, William D. Fitzharris, James L. Aderhold Jr.
  • Patent number: 4868144
    Abstract: A multistage process for reducing NO.sub.x in flue gas from fluid catalytic cracking catalyst regeneration. Flue gas is preferably removed after each stage. NO.sub.x formed in each regeneration stage is converted to N.sub.2 prior to discharge from a stage by operating at least the downstream ends of each regeneration stage at oxygen-lean conditions. Staged regeneration can be achieved by passing spent catalyst through a transport reactor in plug type flow and sequentially contacting the catalyst with a plurality of oxygen-containing streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Herbst, Hartley Owen, Paul H. Schipper
  • 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: 4859313
    Abstract: A method for operating a fluid catalytic cracking unit comprising a regeneration zone and a reaction zone with a relatively reduced temperature in the regeneration zone while processing a hydrocarbon feedstock having a 50 volume percent distillation temperature greater than about 500.degree. F. which method comprises contacting the feedstock in a reaction zone with a mixture of regenerated fluidizable cracking catalyst and fluidizable low coke make solid particles comprising a refractory inorganic oxide in a ratio of low coke make solid particles to cracking catalyst from about 1:100 to about 10:1, the low coke made solid particles having a surface area of less than about 5 m.sup.2 /g and a coke making capability of less than about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Lengemann, Gregory J. Thompson, Anthony G. Vickers, Raymond W. Mott
  • Patent number: 4853107
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of and apparatus for reducing the level of extremely small catalyst particles ("fines") in an FCC system by temporarily retaining particles separated from the secondary cyclone separator in either a reactor vessel or catalyst regenerator. These particles can be withdrawn from the temporary retaining area, which takes them out of the active catalyst inventory within the reactor/regenerator system. The withdrawing of catalyst "fines" reduces the particulate contamination both in flue gas exhausted to the atmosphere from the catalyst regenerator and in the main column bottom (MCB) products from the fractionation stage. Preferred embodiments include withdrawal of "fines" from either the regenerator or the reactor vessels and the secondary cyclones contained in each of these vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp.
    Inventors: James H. Haddad, Hartley Owen
  • Patent number: 4851196
    Abstract: A fluid catalytic cracking unit of the type having a reactor vessel positioned directly over a regenerator vessel. A pair of catalyst wells are mounted on the lower interior portion of the regenerator vessel and are each in communication with an associated conduit. The other end of each conduit is connected to an atomizing lift pot positioned beneath the lowest level of the regenerator vessel. The atomizing lift pot is placed in fluid communication with the reactor vessel via a riser reactor which may be either internal or external to the regenerator vessel. Plug valves or slide valves may be used to control the flow of regenerated catalyst from the regenerator to the lift pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Chester O. Bowen, Floyd H. Holland
  • Patent number: 4851374
    Abstract: A continuous regenerator for the two-stage regeneration of hot coked fluid catalytic cracking catalyst, and a method for regenerating coked catalyst by combustion with air and with reduced emissions of nitrogen oxides, or with reduced emissions of any two or more of the pollutants which include nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and carbon monoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Tsoung Y. Yan, Gary J. Green
  • Patent number: 4851108
    Abstract: An improved hydrocarbon conversion process is disclosed of the type employing circulating solids between a reactor (contactor) and regenerator (combustor). The entire process is in the dilute phase and is characterized by all the catalyst passing through the cyclones and never returning to a dense bed in either the reactor or regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: David B. Bartholic, Dwight F. Barger
  • Patent number: 4843050
    Abstract: Catalytic regenerators, nozzle designs and processes suitable for introducing regeneration air into a catalytic cracking unit which substantially reduce erosion induced nozzle failures include at least one nozzle which has at least one planar surface generally parallel to the nozzle's longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: William C. Rahlwes, Kelly G. Knopp
  • Patent number: 4843051
    Abstract: An FCC catalyst regeneration technique in which the catalyst is regenerated in a dense bed regenerator. Regeneration effluent gases are collected from different parts of the regenerator vessel in a common collection zone and passed through the catalyst separation cyclones from the common collection zone. The cyclones may be arranged with their inlet horns adajcent one another in the common collection zone or a cyclone inlet manifold with a common inlet may be connected to the cyclone inlets. The inlet port to the manifold may be extended to form an elongated vertical duct through which regeneration effluent gases and entrained catalyst pass from the dilute phase of the dense bed to the cyclone so that mixing of the effluent gases is promoted to ensure combustion in residual quantities of oxygen present in the effluent gases before the gases enter the cyclones. Improved operating flexibility is obtained together with a reduced likelihood of cyclone damage as a result of localized high temperature excursions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Richard C. Kovacs, Frederick J. Krambeck, Michael S. Sarli
  • 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: 4840726
    Abstract: The amount of finely divided particulate solids added to a stream of fluid to form a mixture of the particulate solids and the fluid is determined by a method comprising (a) determining the temperature and quantity of fluid in a stream of fluid; (b) determining the temperature of the particulate solids; (c) determining the temperature of the mixture; and (d) calculating the amount of the particulate solids in the mixture. The method can also be used to control the amount of finely divided particulate solids added to the stream of a fluid. The fluid is at a different temperature than the finely divided solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventor: John J. Wakefield, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4824557
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for immediately and intimately mixing a fluidizable cracking catalyst with a fluid hydrocarbon in a riser reactor. The process involves passing the hydrocarbon through a stationary fluid feedstock feed means in fixed relationship with the upstream end of the riser. The feedstock is atomized by a nozzle attached to the downstream end of the feed means. A hollow plug valve positioned concentrically around the feed means is capable of moving in a reciprocating fashion to permit the flow of catalyst to the riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Cartmell, Carl J. Horecky
  • Patent number: 4822477
    Abstract: An improvement in gasoline octane without substantial decrease in overall yield is obtained in an integrated process combining a fluidized catalytic cracking reaction and a fluidized catalyst olefin oligomerization reaction when crystalline medium pore shape selective zeolite catalyst particles are withdrawn in partially deactivated form from the oligomerization reaction stage and added as part of the active catalyst in the FCC reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Amos A. Avidan, Tai-Sheng Chou
  • Patent number: 4822761
    Abstract: A process for upgrading residual portions of crude oils comprising metal contaminants and Conradson Carbon contributing components by the combination of thermal visbreaking with fluid inert solids and catalytic upgrading of naphtha and higher boiling components of thermal visbreaking in separate systems of riser conversion and solids regeneration is discussed. Heat management of the regeneration systems is restricted in substantial measure by a novel external solids heat exchange apparatus arrangement utilized to partially cool hot regenerated solids utilized in the solids regeneration systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Ashland Oil, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Walters, Lloyd E. Busch, Oliver J. Zandona
  • Patent number: 4820404
    Abstract: A fluid catalytic cracking process and apparatus is described which includes a high temperature stripper (hot stripper) to control the carbon level and sulfur on spent catalyst, followed by catalyst cooling to control the regeneration inlet temperature. The high temperature stripper operates at a temperature between 100.degree. F. above the temperature of a catalyst-hydrocarbon mixture exiting a riser and 1500.degree. F. The regenerator inlet temperature is controlled to obtain the desired regeneration temperature, regenerator outlet temperature, and degree of regeneration. The regenerator is maintained at a temperature between 100.degree. F. above that of the catalyst in the high temperature stripper and 1600.degree. F. The present invention has the advantage that it separates hydrogen from catalyst to eliminate hydrothermal degradation, and separates sulfur from catalyst as hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans which are easy to scrub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Hartley Owen
  • Patent number: 4814067
    Abstract: A process for cracking hydrocarbon with hot particulate solids wherein a curtain of hot particulate solids is delivered to a thermal reactor through peripheral openings and hydrocarbon feed is delivered to the reactor through the curtain of hot particulate solids at an angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Gartside, Richard C. Norton
  • Patent number: 4814068
    Abstract: A multistage process and apparatus for regenerating fluid catalytic cracking catalyst is disclosed. Each stage preferably has a successively higher temperature, and flue gas is removed after each stage. The process may regenerate a single phase catalyst or, preferably, a dual phase catalyst system, wherein an intermediate pore zeolite catalyst contained within a less elutriatable catalyst particle and a larger pore zeolite catalyst contained within a more elutriatable catalyst particle, thereby separating the intermediate pore zeolite catalysts from the larger pore zeolite catalysts prior to a final regeneration step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Josheph A. Herbst, Hartley Owen, Paul H. Schipper