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: An arrangement for the controlled production of an essentially linear array of hydrocarbon feed injection jets maintains stable and reliable jets by passing individual piping for each jet through a support shroud that is located in a contacting vessel. Controlled atomization is provided by independently injecting a uniform quantity of gas medium into each of the plurality of uniformly created feed injection streams upstream of a discharge nozzle that separately discharges each mixed stream of hydrocarbons and gas medium into a stream of catalyst particles at or about the inner end of the support shroud. The feed injection jets are suitable for positioning in an inner location of large contacting vessel. Uniformity of distribution is obtained by dividing the hydrocarbons streams from an oil header into an individual oil conduit for each spray injection nozzle.

Abstract: An arrangement for the controlled production of an essentially linear array of hydrocarbon feed injection jets reduces required clearances and elevation while facilitating modification of the contacting locating a feed distributor containing a linear array of jets at a standpipe junction point to provide choke point for particle flow control. The flow properties of the extended particle layer are controlled by adjusting the density of the particles above the choke point created by the upper part of the standpipe inside diameter and the top of the distributor. Steam or another fluidization medium may be added to the particles directly above the distributor for this purpose. This invention can also modify the particle or feed injection characteristics by changing the projection of the distributor into the standpipe to adjust the flow area over the choke point and by the use of bottom slides or baffles to change the flow area size and configuration.

Abstract: A short contact time FCC process raises the coke level of the spent catalyst to improve regeneration zone kinetics and to decrease the total solids circulation through the unit by passing spent catalyst from the reaction zone back to a blending vessel. The blending vessel supplies a mixture of spent and fully regenerated catalyst to the reaction zone. The invention may also preferentially recover lightly coked catalyst by segregating catalyst from a separation device for recycle to the reaction zone.

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.

Abstract: A feedstock pipe for a FCC unit is provided with a plurality of turbulence generating members mounted on its interior surface. Each of the turbulence generating members has a pointed tip pointing toward the discharge end of the pipe and a ramp inclined toward the center of the pipe leading to the pointed tip.

Abstract: A process for converting liquid or semi-liquid hydrocarbon charges to lighter fractions comprises a first step (a) heating droplets jets of the charge introduced into a pyrolysis chamber by surrounding them with parallel jets of hot solid particles, of relatively large size, of a heat carrier material, not substantially in contact with the droplet jets, so as to maintain a temperature of 700.degree.-1600.degree. C., and introducing a gas so as to obtain a pressure from 1 to 150 bars. A second step involves (b) separating the gaseous fraction from the solid particles. Thereafter (c) at least a portion of the solid particles are heated and fed back to step (a). The gaseous fraction is (d) cooled by means of a cold gas so as to recover light hydrocarbons therefrom.

Abstract: A radial flow reactor design which allows the maintenance of a temperature profile along the height of a catalyst bed which descends through the reactor by gravity flow. Two feed inlet conduits are provided on the inlet side of the annular catalyst bed, with the inlets being divided by a porous flow control and distribution means. The inlet streams have different temperatures and the distribution means produces a changing admixture rate between the two streams along the bed. A preferred form of the distribution means is an open-topped cone located within the centerpipe of the reactor.

Abstract: A process for upgrading a petroleum charge of crude oil or residual fractions thereof, in which the charge is dispersed into a descending curtain of heated, substantially inert contact material. This contact material preferably has a conversion rate not substantially greater than 10% in the CAT D test. The vapors generated on contact of the charge with the curtain are collected on the side of the curtain opposite from where the charge is dispersed. The recovered product has a substantially reduced metals content and Conradson Carbon number and is suitable for catalytic cracking or use as heavy fuel or a heavy fuel precursor.