With Subsequent Fractionation Patents (Class 208/83)
  • Patent number: 8992764
    Abstract: An integrated process for producing naphtha fuel, diesel fuel and/or lubricant base oils from feedstocks under sour conditions is provided. The ability to process feedstocks under higher sulfur and/or nitrogen conditions allows for reduced cost processing and increases the flexibility in selecting a suitable feedstock. The sour feed can be delivered to a catalytic dewaxing step without any separation of sulfur and nitrogen contaminants. The integrated process includes an initial dewaxing of a feed under sour conditions, optional hydrocracking of the dewaxed feed, and a separation to form a first diesel product and a bottoms fraction. The bottoms fraction is then exposed to additional hydrocracking and dewaxing to form a second diesel product and optionally a lubricant base oil product. Alternatively, a feedstock can be hydrotreated, fractionated, dewaxed, and then hydrocracked to form a diesel fuel and a dewaxed, hydrocracked bottoms fraction that is optionally suitable for use as a lubricant base oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Krista Marie Prentice, Michel Daage, Ajit Bhaskar Dandekar, Christopher Gordon Oliveri, Rohit Vijay, Stephen J. McCarthy, Wenyih F. Lai, Bradley R. Fingland
  • Patent number: 8070938
    Abstract: A contactor/separator is formed from a vessel; an inlet for receiving a vapor/liquid mixture; an inlet for receiving a superheated vapor; a hub located within the vessel, the hub including a plurality of vanes for imparting a centrifugal motion to the vapor/liquid mixture or the superheated vapor; an outlet in a bottom of the vessel for removing liquid; and an outlet for removing vapor from the vessel. A method is also provided for heating and separating liquid and vapor from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising introducing a hydrocarbon feedstock into a contactor/separator: introducing a superheated vapor into the contactor/separator such that it contacts and vaporizes a portion of the feedstock within the contactor/separator; separating unvaporized feedstock from vaporized feedstock in the contactor/separator; removing the vaporized feedstock and the superheated vapor through a first outlet; and removing the unvaporized feedstock through a second outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Louis Edward Stein, Danny Yuk Kwan Ngan, Arthur James Baumgartner, Karl Gregory Anderson, Raul Jasso Garcia, Sr., Richard Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 8007661
    Abstract: Processing schemes and arrangements are provided arrangements are provided for the processing a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock via hydrocarbon cracking processing with selected hydrocarbon fractions being obtained via absorption-based product recovery while minimizing or avoiding loss of light olefins via system purging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignees: UOP LLC, SNI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Michael A. Schultz, David A. Wegerer, Gavin P. Towler
  • Publication number: 20110036752
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of hydroconverting in ebullated bed mode a petroleum feed containing a significant amount of light fractions and, among other things, asphaltenes, sulfur-containing and metallic impurities. More precisely, the object of the invention is a hydroconversion method using at least one ebullated-bed reactor for which injection of the feed is carried out at the top of said reactor, in the gas overhead, and involving separation within said feed inside the reactor into a vaporized fraction and a liquid fraction. The invention also relates to the reactor allowing said method to be implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: IFP
    Inventors: Thierry Gauthier, Jan Verstraete, Simon Maget
  • Patent number: 7638040
    Abstract: A process for the recovery and purification of a contaminated hydrocarbons, wherein the contamination includes metals, finely divided solids and non-distillable components. The process further includes hydroprocessing the oil to remove deleterious compounds, to produce high quality reusable lubricants, solvents and fuels and to improve the quality of water byproduct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Mark Van Wees, Robert B. James, Jr., Tom N. Kalnes, Gavin P. Towler
  • Patent number: 7459072
    Abstract: Process for the work-up of naphtha, wherein a) naphtha or a stream produced from naphtha in a pretreatment step is separated in a membrane unit into a stream A which is depleted in aromatics and a stream B which is enriched in aromatics, with the aromatics concentration in stream A being from 2 to 12% by weight (step a), b) at least part of the substream A is fed to a steam cracker (step b), c) at least part of the substream B is fed to a unit in which it is separated by means of a thermal process into a stream C which has a lower aromatics content than stream B or a plurality of streams C?, C?, C?? . . . which each have lower aromatics contents than stream B and a stream D which has a higher aromatics content than stream B or a plurality of streams D?, D?, D?? . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Bitterlich, Hartwig Voss, Gunter Schuch, Rudolf Sinnen, Heinrich Laib, Peter Paessler
  • Patent number: 7318845
    Abstract: A distillate fuel steam reformer system in which a fuel feed stream is first separated into two process streams: an aliphatics-rich, sulfur-depleted gas stream, and an aromatics- and sulfur-rich liquid residue stream. The aliphatics-rich gas stream is desulfurized, mixed with steam, and converted in a reforming reactor to a hydrogen-rich product stream. The aromatics-rich residue stream is mixed with air and combusted to provide heat necessary for endothermic process operations. Reducing the amounts of sulfur and aromatic hydrocarbons directed to desulfurzation and reforming operations minimizes the size and weight of the overall apparatus. The process of the invention is well suited to the use of microchannel apparatuses for heat exchangers, reactors, and other system components, which may be assembled in slab configuration, further reducing system size and weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Research Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Aly H. Shaaban, Timothy J. Campbell
  • Patent number: 7250107
    Abstract: For producing basic oils and in particular very high quality oils, i.e. oils possessing a high viscosity index (VI), a low aromatics content, good UV stability and a low pour point, from oil cuts having an initial boiling point higher than 340° C., possibly with simultaneous production of middle distillates (in particular gasoils and kerosene) of very high quality, i.e. having a low aromatics content and a low pour point, the invention provides a flexible procedure for producing oils and middle distillates from a charge containing heteroatoms, i.e. containing more than 200 ppm by weight of nitrogen, and more than 500 ppm by weight of sulphur. The procedure comprises at least one hydrorefining stage, at least one stage of catalytic dewaxing on zeolite, and at least one hydrofinishing stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Eric Benazzi, Christophe Gueret, Pierre Marion, Alain Billon
  • Patent number: 7108779
    Abstract: A process for the production of low sulfur hydrocarbonaceous products. The hydrocarbon feedstocks are processed in integrated desulfurization zone, hydrocracking and hydrogenation zones to produce ultra low sulfur diesel, low sulfur naphtha products and low sulfur heavy distillate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Vasant P. Thakkar
  • Patent number: 6787026
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for hydroprocessing vacuum gas oils and other feeds in order to produce unconverted oil suitable for use as base oil feed for white oils, Group III oils, and BMCI (Bureau of Mines Correlation Index) ethylene plant feed. Ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and light products are removed from the first stage at high pressure in order to produce a higher quality of unconverted oil that is suitable for Group III base oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Darush Farshid
  • Patent number: 6787025
    Abstract: In the refining of crude oil, vacuum gas oil hydrotreaters and hydrocrackers are used to remove impurities such as sulfur, nitrogen, and metals from the crude oil. Typically, the middle distillate boiling material (boiling in the range from 250° F.-735° F.) from VGO hydrotreating or moderate severity hydrocrackers does not meet the smoke point, the cetane number or the aromatic specification. In most cases, this middle distillate is separately upgraded by a middle distillate hydrotreater or, alternatively, the middle distillate is blended into the general fuel oil pool or used as home heating oil. With this invention, the middle distillate is hydrotreated in the same high pressure loop as the vacuum gas oil hydrotreating reactor or the moderate severity hydrocracking reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Ujjal Kumar Mukherjee, Wai Seung W. Louie, Arthur J. Dahlberg
  • Patent number: 6596155
    Abstract: A hydrocracking process wherein a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and a hot hydrocracking zone effluent containing hydrogen is passed to a denitrification and desulfurization reaction zone to produce hydrogen sulfide and ammonia to thereby clean up the fresh feedstock. The resulting hot, uncooled effluent from the denitrification and desulfurization zone is hydrogen stripped in a stripping zone maintained at essentially the same pressure as the preceding reaction zone with a hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to produce a vapor stream comprising hydrogen, hydrocarbonaceous compounds boiling at a temperature below the boiling range of the fresh feedstock, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, and a liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream which is countercurrently contacted with hydrogen in a hydrogenation zone located in the bottom end of the stripping zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David B. Gates, Tom N. Kalnes
  • Publication number: 20030111387
    Abstract: In the refining of crude oil, vacuum gas oil hydrotreaters and hydrocrackers are used to remove impurities such as sulfur, nitrogen, and metals from the crude oil. Typically, the middle distillate boiling material (boiling in the range from 250° F.-735° F.) from VGO hydrotreating or moderate severity hydrocrackers does not meet the smoke point, the cetane number or the aromatic specification. In most cases, this middle distillate is separately upgraded by a middle distillate hydrotreater or, alternatively, the middle distillate is blended into the general fuel oil pool or used as home heating oil. With this invention, the middle distillate is hydrotreated in the same high pressure loop as the vacuum gas oil hydrotreating reactor or the moderate severity hydrocracking reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Ujjal Kumar Mukherjee, Wai Seung W. Louie, Arthur J. Dahlberg
  • Patent number: 6387245
    Abstract: A hydrocracking process wherein a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and a hot hydrocracking zone effluent containing hydrogen is passed to a hydrocracking reaction zone to produce lower boiling hydrocarbon compounds. The resulting hot, uncooled effluent from the hydrocracking zone is hydrogen stripped in a stripping zone maintained at essentially the same pressure as the preceding hydrocracking reaction zone with a hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to produce a vapor stream comprising hydrogen, hydrocarbonaceous compounds boiling at a temperature below the boiling range of the fresh feedstock, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, and a liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream which is countercurrently contacted with hydrogen in a hydrogenation zone located in the bottom end of the stripping zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Tom N. Kalnes, David B. Gates
  • Patent number: 6379532
    Abstract: A hydrocracking process wherein the undesirable production of polynuclear aromatic compounds is controlled by removing a small dragstream of high pressure product stripper bottoms to reject polynuclear aromatic compounds and recovering valuable diesel boiling range hydrocarbons and unconverted feedstock by routing the dragstream to a hot flash separator and subsequently to a divided wall fractionation zone to produce a concentrated stream of polynuclear aromatic compounds while recovering the valuable hydrocarbon compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard K. Hoehn, Bradford L. Bjorklund
  • Patent number: 5980729
    Abstract: A hydrocracking process wherein a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and a hot hydrocracking zone effluent containing hydrogen is passed to a denitrification and desulfurization reaction zone to produce hydrogen sulfide and ammonia to thereby clean up the fresh feedstock. The resulting hot, uncooled effluent from the denitrification and desulfurization zone is hydrogen stripped in a stripping zone maintained at essentially the same pressure as the preceding reaction zone with a hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to produce a vapor stream comprising hydrogen, hydrocarbonaceous compounds boiling at a temperature below the boiling range of the fresh feedstock, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, and a liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Tom N. Kalnes, Vasant P. Thakkar
  • Patent number: 5976354
    Abstract: In an integrated lube oil process, a lube oil stock is hydrotreated over a non-noble metal containing hydrotreating catalyst in an HDN/HDS unit to remove sulfur and nitrogen from the lube oil stock and produce an HDN/HDS unit effluent. The effluent comprises hydrodesulfurized, hydrodenitrogenated lube oil stock, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. The hydrogen sulfide and ammonia are stripped from the hydrodesulfurized, hydrodenitrogenated lube oil stock to form a liquid stream comprising stripped lube oil stock and a first gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and molecular hydrogen. The stripped lube oil stock is hydrotreated over a noble-metal containing hydrotreating catalyst in an HDW unit to produce an HDW unit effluent comprising a dewaxed lube oil stock. A second gas stream comprising molecular hydrogen is separated from the dewaxed lube oil stock. The first gas stream is combined with the second gas stream to form a third gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: John Robert Powers, Robert M Steinberg
  • Patent number: 5725756
    Abstract: A method to minimize catalyst deactivation rate and coke laydown, and maximize desired reaction rate in processing of industrially significant reactions under supercritical conditions to generate a reaction mixture stream including formed reaction products and reactants, said contacting at a desired catalyst temperature of about 1-1.2 critical temperature of the resulting reaction mixture and at a pressure between the critical pressure of the reaction mixture and a pressure necessary to establish said reaction mixture fluid density of greater than 0.65 gm/cc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Center For Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Bala Subramaniam, Said Saim
  • Patent number: 5690809
    Abstract: An improved process is provided for in situ mitigation of coke buildup and porous catalyst used for the processing of hydrocarbon feed stocks. The process exhibits improved catalyst activity over extended periods and the process comprises the pretreatment of hydrocarbon feed stocks to reduce impurities in the feed stocks in the form of peroxides and oxygen compounds that promote the formation of coke precursors, which precursors are typically in the form of olefinic oligomers. The process includes contacting the pretreated feed stream with a suitable catalyst under sub-critical, near-critical and supercritical conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Center for Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Bala Subramaniam, Said Saim, Michael C. Clark
  • Patent number: 5360533
    Abstract: A FCC product recovery section operates at greater efficiency by recovering separate riser product streams and reactor product streams and quenching and absorbing lighter, more valuable hydrocarbon products from the reactor product stream in separate quench and absorption vessels. The quench and absorbtion vessels are intergrated with a main fractionator and gas concentration section of a typical FCC product recovery section. Heavy hydrocarbons, clarified oil and/or cycle oil absorb hydrocarbons from the reactor product stream in the quench and absorption vessels and return the absorbed products to the main fractionator while net gasoline product from the reactor product stream enter the primary absorber of the gas concentration section. This arrangement is particularly useful in increasing the product recovery capacity of an existing FCC product separation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Constante P. Tagamolila, Edward C. Haun, David A. Lomas, Joseph E. Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 4213847
    Abstract: Heavy petroliferous stocks such as vacuum and atmospheric resids, tar sand oils, shale oils, liquids from conversion of coal and the like are concurrently distilled and hydroprocessed for removal of sulfur, nitrogen and metals and are hydrocracked or otherwise hydroprocessed in a packed distillation column under hydrogen pressure wherein the packing is constituted, at least to a substantial extent in both stripping and rectifying sections by catalyst suited to the desired conversions. In a specific application to catalytic hydrodewaxing of lubricating oil stocks, improvement of Viscosity Index (VI) of dewaxed product results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1980
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Nai Y. Chen, Ikai Wang