Catalytic Cracking Patents (Class 208/55)
  • Patent number: 9452955
    Abstract: A process for upgrading residuum hydrocarbon feedstocks that may include: contacting a residuum hydrocarbon and hydrogen with a hydroconversion catalyst in a residuum hydroconversion reactor system; recovering an effluent from the residuum hydroconversion reactor system; separating the effluent to recover two or more hydrocarbon fractions including at least a vacuum residuum fraction and a heavy vacuum gas oil fraction; combining at least a portion of the heavy vacuum gas oil fraction and at least a portion of the vacuum residuum fraction to form a mixed heavy hydrocarbon fraction; feeding at least a portion of the mixed heavy hydrocarbon fraction to a coker; operating the coker at conditions to produce anode grade green coke and distillate hydrocarbons; recovering the distillate hydrocarbons from the coker; fractionating the distillate hydrocarbons to recover hydrocarbon fractions including a light distillates fraction, a heavy coker gas oil fraction, and a coker recycle fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Sieli, Ahmad Faegh, Ujjal K. Mukherjee, Mario C. Baldassari, Marvin I. Greene
  • Publication number: 20150076032
    Abstract: Heavy gas oil components, coking process recycle, and heavier hydrocarbons in the delayed coking process are cracked in the coking vessel by injecting a catalytic additive into the vapors above the gas/liquid-solid interface in the coke drum during the coking cycle. The additive comprises cracking catalyst(s) and quenching agent(s), alone or in combination with seeding agent(s), excess reactant(s), carrier fluid(s), or any combination thereof to modify reaction kinetics to preferentially crack these components. The quenching effect of the additive can be effectively used to condense the highest boiling point compounds of the traditional recycle onto the catalyst(s), thereby focusing the catalyst exposure to these target reactants. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can also provide methods to (1) reduce coke production, (2) reduce fuel gas production, and (3) increase liquids production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Roger G. ETTER
  • Patent number: 8888991
    Abstract: Heavy gas oil components, coking process recycle, and heavier hydrocarbons in the delayed coking process are cracked in the coking vessel by injecting a catalytic additive into the vapors above the gas/liquid-solid interface in the coke drum during the coking cycle. The additive comprises cracking catalyst(s) and quenching agent(s), alone or in combination with seeding agent(s), excess reactant(s), carrier fluid(s), or any combination thereof to modify reaction kinetics to preferentially crack these components. The quenching effect of the additive can be effectively used to condense the highest boiling point compounds of the traditional recycle onto the catalyst(s), thereby focusing the catalyst exposure to these target reactants. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can also provide methods to (1) reduce coke production, (2) reduce fuel gas production, and (3) increase liquids production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Roger G. Etter
  • Patent number: 8691077
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for converting a hydrocarbon stream. The process can include passing the hydrocarbon stream having one or more C40+ hydrocarbons to a slurry hydrocracking zone to obtain a distillate hydrocarbon stream having one or more C9-C22 hydrocarbons, and passing the distillate hydrocarbon stream to a hydrocracking zone for selectively hydrocracking aromatic compounds including at least two rings obtaining a processed distillate product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Clayton C. Sadler, Christopher D. Gosling
  • Publication number: 20140048445
    Abstract: Heavy gas oil components, coking process recycle, and heavier hydrocarbons in the delayed coking process are cracked in the coking vessel by injecting a catalytic additive into the vapors above the gas/liquid-solid interface in the coke drum during the coking cycle. The additive comprises cracking catalyst(s) and quenching agent(s), alone or in combination with seeding agent(s), excess reactant(s), carrier fluid(s), or any combination thereof to modify reaction kinetics to preferentially crack these components. The quenching effect of the additive can be effectively used to condense the highest boiling point compounds of the traditional recycle onto the catalyst(s), thereby focusing the catalyst exposure to these target reactants. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can also provide methods to (1) reduce coke production, (2) reduce fuel gas production, and (3) increase liquids production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventor: Roger G. ETTER
  • Patent number: 8518239
    Abstract: This invention is directed to hydrocracking catalysts and hydrocracking processes employing a magnesium aluminosilicate clay. The magnesium aluminosilicate clay has a characteristic 29Si NMR spectrum. The magnesium aluminosilicate clay is the product of a series of specific reaction steps. Briefly, the magnesium aluminosilicate clay employed in the catalyst and process of the present invention is made by combining a silicon component, an aluminum component, and a magnesium component, under aqueous conditions and at an acidic pH, to form a first reaction mixture and subsequently the pH of the first reaction mixture is adjusted to greater than about 7.5 to form a second reaction mixture. The second reaction mixture is allowed to react under conditions sufficient to form the magnesium aluminosilicate clay. The resulting magnesium aluminosilicate clay combines high surface area and activity for use in hydrocracking catalysts and processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Theodorus Maesen, Alexander E. Kuperman, Darren P. Fong
  • Patent number: 8394257
    Abstract: A reactor process added to a coking process to modify the quantity or yield of a coking process product and/or modify certain characteristics or properties of coking process products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventor: Roger G. Etter
  • Patent number: 8372265
    Abstract: Undesirable gas oil components are selectively cracked or coked in a coking vessel by injecting an additive into the vapors of traditional coking processes in the coking vessel prior to fractionation. The additive contains catalyst(s), seeding agent(s), excess reactant(s), quenching agent(s), carrier(s), or any combination thereof to modify reaction kinetics to preferentially crack or coke these undesirable components that typically have a high propensity to coke. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also provide methods to control the (1) coke crystalline structure and (2) the quantity and quality of volatile combustible materials (VCMs) in the resulting coke. That is, by varying the quantity and quality of the catalyst, seeding agent, and/or excess reactant the process may affect the quality and quantity of the coke produced, particularly with respect to the crystalline structure (or morphology) of the coke and the quantity & quality of the VCMs in the coke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Inventor: Roger G. Etter
  • Patent number: 8372264
    Abstract: Heavy gas oil components, coking process recycle, and heavier hydrocarbons in the delayed coking process are cracked in the coking vessel by injecting a catalytic additive into the vapors above the gas/liquid-solid interface in the coke drum during the coking cycle. The additive comprises cracking catalyst(s) and quenching agent(s), alone or in combination with seeding agent(s), excess reactant(s), carrier fluid(s), or any combination thereof to modify reaction kinetics to preferentially crack these components. The quenching effect of the additive can be effectively used to condense the highest boiling point compounds of the traditional recycle onto the catalyst(s), thereby focusing the catalyst exposure to these target reactants. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can also provide methods to (1) reduce coke production, (2) reduce fuel gas production, and (3) increase liquids production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Inventor: Roger G. Etter
  • Patent number: 8361310
    Abstract: Gas oil components, coking process recycle, and heavier hydrocarbons are cracked or coked in the coking vessel by injecting an additive into the vapors of traditional coking processes in the coking vessel. The additive contains catalyst(s), seeding agent(s), excess reactant(s), quenching agent(s), carrier(s), or any combination thereof to modify reaction kinetics to preferentially crack or coke these components. Modifications of the catalysts in the additive improve performance for certain desired outcomes. One exemplary embodiment of the present invention uses the olefin production capabilities from newly developed catalysts to increase the production of light olefins (e.g. ethylene, propylenes, butylenes, pentenes) for alkylation process unit feed, the production of oxygenates, and petrochemical feedstocks, such as plastics manufacture. Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is the use of the olefin production from newly developed catalysts to improve the coker naphtha quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventors: Roger G. Etter, Augusto Quinones
  • Patent number: 8206574
    Abstract: A reactor process added to a coking process to modify the quantity or yield of a coking process product and/or modify certain characteristics or properties of coking process products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Inventor: Roger G. Etter
  • Patent number: 8168061
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the selective conversion of vacuum gas oil. The vacuum gas oil is treated in a two step process. The first is thermal conversion and the second is catalytic cracking of the products of thermal conversion. The product slate can be varied by changing the conditions in the thermal and catalytic cracking steps as well as by changing the catalyst in the cracking step. The combined products from thermal and catalytic cracking are separated in a divided wall fractionator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Martin L. Gorbaty, Bruce R. Cook, David T. Ferrughelli, Jason B. English, Steven S. Lowenthal
  • Patent number: 8163168
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the selective conversion of hydrocarbon feed having a Conradson Carbon Residue content of 0 to 6 wt %, based on the hydrocarbon feed. The hydrocarbon feed is treated in a two-step process. The first is thermal conversion and the second is catalytic cracking of the products of the thermal conversion. The present invention results in a process for increasing the distillate production from a hydrocarbon feedstream for a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The resulting product slate from the present invention can be further varied by changing the conditions in the thermal and catalytic cracking steps as well as by changing the catalyst in the cracking step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Martin L. Gorbaty, Bruce R. Cook, David T. Ferrughelli, Jason B. English, Steven S. Lowenthal
  • Publication number: 20100122932
    Abstract: Integrated slurry hydrocracking (SHC) and coking methods for making slurry hydrocracking (SHC) distillates are disclosed. Representative methods involve passing a slurry comprising a recycle SHC gas oil, a coker gas oil, a vacuum column resid, and a solid particulate through an SHC reaction zone in the presence of hydrogen to obtain the SHC distillate. Recovery of an SHC pitch from fractionation of the SHC reaction zone effluent provides an additional possibility for integration with the coker, and particularly via the upgrading of the SHC pitch in the coker to provide coke and lighter hydrocarbons such as SHC vacuum gas oil (VGO).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Robert S. HAIZMANN, Paul R. ZIMMERMAN
  • Publication number: 20090152165
    Abstract: Gas oil components, coking process recycle, and heavier hydrocarbons are cracked or coked in the coking vessel by injecting an additive into the vapors of traditional coking processes in the coking vessel. The additive contains catalyst(s), seeding agent(s), excess reactant(s), quenching agent(s), carrier(s), or any combination thereof to modify reaction kinetics to preferentially crack or coke these components. The quenching effect of the additive can be effectively used to condense the highest boiling point compounds onto the catalyst(s), thereby focusing the catalyst exposure to these target reactants. With a catalyst to crack these highest boiling point materials, this mechanism can effectively increase the catalyst's selectivity, thereby increasing its efficiency and reducing catalyst requirements and costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: Roger G. ETTER
  • Patent number: 7125483
    Abstract: A method for reducing acid corrosion and products of acid corrosion in a thermal cracking plant, the acid corrosion products being compounds of iron, chromium, nickel, lead, cadmium, manganese, mercury, magnesium, calcium, sodium, copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum, and aluminum, the improvement comprising introducing ethylene diamine into at least one process stream of the plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventor: Robert J. Haynal
  • Patent number: 6491875
    Abstract: A particulate catalyst is regenerated by upward transport in a combustor having an extended length and separated from combustion gases with a single stage of cyclones. The extended length combustor ends with a termination device arranged to tangentially discharge particulate catalyst and gases into an open disengaging vessel and to achieve a high separation efficiency. Initial high separation efficiency provided by the termination device permits a single downstream stage of cyclones to reduce particulate emissions to acceptable levels. The combination of the separation device and the extended combustor can accommodate changes in particulate densities in the extended combustor without inducing cyclone overload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Paolo Palmas
  • Patent number: 6165349
    Abstract: The nature of the process consists in that the low-grade organic substances are subject, at a temperature of 150.degree. C. to 700.degree. C. and at a pressure of 0.1 MPa to 2.5 MPa, to the action of a moving bed of solid particles of a substance which perform whirling motion, whereby the solid particles of a substance constituting the moving bed are set to whirling motion by intensive agitation.The device consists of a reaction chamber (1) with a rotation mechanism (2) which rotation mechanism (2), located rotably in the faces of the reaction chamber (1), consists of a shaft (3) to which vanes (5) are symetrically attached by means of driving discs (4). The vanes (5) may be arranged in 3 to 10 rows, and they may be provided with openings (5.1) or cut-outs (5.2) of various geometrical shapes, and they may be divided into individual segments (5.3). Also the driving discs (4) may be provided with openings (4.1) of various geometrical shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Inventor: Ivan Madar
  • Patent number: 5919352
    Abstract: A process wherein a residuum feedstock is upgraded in a short vapor contact time thermal process unit comprised of a horizontal moving bed of fluidized hot particles, then fed to a fluid catalytic cracking process unit. Hot flue gases from the fluid catalytic cracking unit is used to circulate solid particles and to provide process heat to the thermal process unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Willibald Serrand, David G. Hammond, Mitchell Jacobson, John F. Pagel, Martin C. Poole
  • Patent number: 5554341
    Abstract: This invention concerns an apparatus and process for effectively contacting oil, catalyst, and a gas. This invention has specific applications in the design and operation of catalytic cracking units and specifically, the processing and upgrading of heavy oils to higher valued components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Jan W. Wells, William H. Long, Jr., William J. Vedder
  • Patent number: 4892646
    Abstract: A method for treating a porous crystalline catalyst optionally associated with a metal component such as a noble and/or base metal(s) is described. The method comprises contacting the catalyst with a low molecular weight aromatic compound under coking conditions. Such a treatment method increases the cycle length and the useful life of the catalyst. Using the treated catalyst in a dewaxing process and regenerating the catalyst by treating with hydrogen and a low molecular weight hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Chaya Venkat, Darrell D. Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 4882036
    Abstract: A hydrocarbonaceous feed, such as petroleum vacuum distillation bottoms, is upgraded by a combination coking and catalytic slurry hydroconversion process wherein a bottoms fraction from coking is passed through a microfiltration system to remove coke fines, the filtrate passed to a slurry hydroconversion zone, and the bottoms fraction from the slurry hydroconversion zone is also passed through a microfiltration system to remove catalyst particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Clarence M. Eidt, Jr., Clyde L. Aldrige, Roby Bearden, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4839023
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for converting heavy hydrocarbonaceous feedstock to more valuable products. The feedstock is introduced into a coking unit containing a coking zone and a scrubbing zone. The bottoms fraction from the scrubbing zone is passed through a microfiltration unit, thus removing fine coke particles which are recycled to the coking zone. The substantially solids-free filtrate is hydrotreated, then passed to a catalytic cracking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Francis X. Mayer, William E. Lewis, Joseph P. Matula, David W. Staubs
  • Patent number: 4834864
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process wherein a scrubber bottom stream from a fluid coker is departiculated by passing it through a microfiltration system. The substantially solids-free filtrate is then upgraded by hydrotreating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Francis X. Mayer, William E. Lewis, Joseph P. Matula, David W. Staubs
  • Patent number: 4814064
    Abstract: A process for the conversion of an aromatic-rich, residual hydrocarbonaceous charge stock which possesses an aromatic hydrocarbon concentration greater than about 20 volume percent to selectively produce large quantities of high quality middle distillate while minimizing hydrogen consumption which process comprises the steps of: (a) reacting at least a portion of the residual hydrocarbonaceous charge stock and a hereinafter-described paraffin-rich, distillable hydrocarbonaceous stream boiling at a temperature greater than about 700.degree. F. (371.degree. C.) in a thermal coking zone at mild thermal coking conditions selected to provide thermal coking zone effluent rich in middle distillate; (b) separating the thermal coking zone effluent to provide a middle distillate fraction boiling in the range from about 300.degree. F. (149.degree. C.) to about 700.degree. F. (371.degree. C.) and a distillate hydrocarbonaceous stream boiling at a temperature greater than about 700.degree. F. (371.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell W. Staggs, Laurence O. Stine, Te-yu M. Chen
  • Patent number: 4569751
    Abstract: A carbonaceous feed, such as a heavy hydrocarbonaceous oil or coal and mixtures thereof, is upgraded by a combination coking and catalytic slurry hydroconversion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Clarence M. Eidt, Jr., Clyde L. Aldridge, Roby Bearden, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4569752
    Abstract: A carbonaceous feed, such as a heavy hydrocarbonaceous oil or coal, and mixtures thereof, is upgraded by a combination coking and catalytic slurry hydroconversion process in which a catalyst precursor is added to the feed of the hydroconversion zone as a catalyst precursor concentrate prepared from a virgin hydrocarbonaceous oil and a thermally decomposable or oil dispersible metal compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Clyde L. Aldridge, Roby Bearden, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4569753
    Abstract: A combination process is described for upgrading residual oils and high boiling portions thereof comprising metal contaminants and high boiling Conradson carbon forming compounds comprising a thermal visbreaking operation with fluidizable inert solids followed by a fluidized zeolite catalytic cracking operation processing demetallized products of the visbreaking operation, regenerating solid particulate of each operation under conditions to provide CO rich flue gases relied upon to generate steam used in each of the fluidized solids conversion operation and downstream product separation arrangements, separating the wet gas product stream of each operation in a common product recovery arrangement and processing the high boiling feed product of visbreaking comprising up to 100 ppm Ni+V metal contaminant over a recycled crystalline zeolite cracking catalyst distributed in a sorbent matrix material comprising a high level of Ni+V metal contaminant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: Ashland Oil, Inc.
    Inventors: Lloyd E. Busch, Paul W. Walters, Oliver J. Zandona
  • Patent number: 4551229
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon feedstocks, especially those high in Ramsbottom carbon, are vaporized by contact with a relatively inactive coked cracking catalyst, separating the resulting intermediate into a high and low boiling fraction, and cracking the high boiling fraction in a fluid catalytic cracker containing active cracking catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: Theresa A. Pecoraro, Russell R. Krug, Joanne Deady
  • Patent number: 4443325
    Abstract: A combined process for treating heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks, such as resids that minimizes coke production and maximizes naphtha production, comprising the steps of thermally treating the feedstocks, in the absence of an added catalyst and either with or without hydrogen and steam, at a temperature of at least about 750.degree. F. (399.degree. C.) and under a pressure greater than about 400 psig to create significant chemical transformations without causing phase separation and consequent formation of sludge or a coke deposit; topping the thermally treated product to produce a distillate fraction and a bottoms fraction; coking the bottom fraction to produce gas, liquid products, and coke; and finally catalytically cracking the combined distillate fraction and liquid products to recover gas, gasoline, and light distillate products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Nai Y. Chen, Lillian A. Rankel
  • Patent number: 4325809
    Abstract: Metals deposited on an inert contact material during high temperature decarbonizing and demetallizing of heavy petroleum stocks are inactivated by mixing the contact material with a silica donor and reacting the mixture at high temperature in the presence of steam to induce migration of silica from the donor to mask metal on the contact material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: Engelhard Minerals & Chemicals Corporation
    Inventor: David B. Bartholic
  • Patent number: 4311579
    Abstract: Gasoline and a heavier fraction from selective vaporization of crude or residual petroleum stocks are separately supplied to a riser reactor of the FCC type. The crude or resid is contacted at low cracking severity with hot inert solids in a riser. The vaporized product is fractionated to provide a gasoline injected to the bottom of an FCC riser and a bottoms fraction introduced at a higher point in the FCC riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1982
    Assignee: Engelhard Minerals & Chemicals Corporation
    Inventor: David B. Bartholic
  • Patent number: 4269696
    Abstract: An integrated fluid coking and gasification process is provided in which a solid cracking catalyst is added to the coker chargestock and in which a partially gasified coke matrix comprising the cracking catalyst is recycled to the coker vapor phase product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1981
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Company
    Inventor: William J. Metrailer
  • Patent number: 3954600
    Abstract: A catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons in the presence of an added olefin-containing naphtha increases the selectivity and yield of middle distillate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1974
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1976
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Elroy M. Gladrow, Daniel F. Ryan