Including Specific Wind Box Or Particulate Matter Support Grid Patents (Class 422/143)
  • Patent number: 4985209
    Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus comprising (FIG. 3):a substantially vertical reactor (1),means (2) for introducing solid particles into the upper part of the reactor,means (4) for withdrawing solid particles from the lower part of the reactor,at least one funnel defining a flared zone (25), whose apex is turned downwardly, andmeans (7 and 8) for introducing a fluid charge, formed of a liquid and a gas, into the lower part of the reactor under the funnel (25).The apparatus is characterized by the presence of a charge injection device, comprising:at least one substantially vertical leg or pipe (24) passing through the funnel, anda cap (26) covering the upper end of pipe (24), the lower part (or fringe) of the cap comprising several indentations or a series of indentations arranged over the major part of its perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Pierre Renard, Jean-Claude Simandoux, Jean-Pierre Burzynski
  • Patent number: 4968492
    Abstract: The device for feeding fluidizing gas to the openings (1) in a fluidizing grid (2) comprises an end piece (4) fitted on each bottom inlet (3) to each opening (1) and having a length e lying in the range between 0 and 0.5 times the diameter d of the end piece, and a cup (5a) into which the end piece extends, with the bottom (6) of the cup being at a distance i from the end piece, which distance may optionally be adjustable. The entire device is housed in a fluidizing gas feed box (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Charbonages de France
    Inventors: Arnaud Delebarre, Paul V. Witwicki
  • Patent number: 4968325
    Abstract: There are disclosed a process and a plant for gasifying biomass. The plant has a pressure vessel containing a hot fluidized sand bed. The bio-mass is pre-dried to a moisture content of from 10% to 35% by weight. A steam-free oxygen-containing gas is fed and distributed, through a grid system at the bottom of the hot sand bed, to hold the bed in a fluidized state and to form, in its lower portion, an oxygen-rich heat-forming combustion zone and, in its upper portion, a hydrogen-rich gas-forming pyrolysis zone. The pre-dried biomass is uninterruptedly fed in the pyrolysis zone at essentially the center of the hot fluidized bed, this center being determined when the sand bed stands at rest. The fluidized bed is held at an operating temperature of 750.degree. to 860.degree. C. under an operating pressure of 400 kPa to 1750 kPa by controlling the feeding rate of the fluidized gas as well as the feeding rate of the biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Centre Quebecois de Valorisation de la Biomasse
    Inventors: John W. Black, Guy Gravel, Raynald Hoareau
  • Patent number: 4961907
    Abstract: A catalytic cracking process is disclosed which comprises catalytically cracking a hydrocarbon charge stock in a catalytic cracking unit possessing at least one reaction zone, stripping zone and catalyst regeneration zone to provide a gasiform product employing as catalyst a mixed catalyst system which comprises, as a first catalyst component, particles of a cracking catalyst which requires relatively frequent regeneration and is relatively hydrothermally stable, and as a second catalyst component, particles of a catalyst which requires less frequent regeneration than the first catalyst component, physical characteristics(s) of particles of first catalyst component differing sufficiently from physical characteristics(s) of particles of second catalyst component as to permit their separation in the stripping zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Herbst, Hartley Owen, Paul H. Schipper
  • Patent number: 4946655
    Abstract: A seal system for a circular perforated grid floor in a walled process vessel is disclosed, wherein air is passed upwardly through the perforations in the grid floor into catalyst bed, and by-passing of air through a gap between the grid floor and the wall of the process vessel is prevented by the seal. The seal system relies on the grid floor expanding into an annular space which is partially filled with a compressible packing material. When heated, the grid floor compresses the packing material to form the desired air tight seal between the grid floor and the vessel wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: James D. Whiteside, II, David F. Bichler
  • Patent number: 4946654
    Abstract: A new process for continuously preparing granules having narrow grain size distribution, comprisinga. spraying the product to be granulated in liquid form into a fluidized bed,b. separating the proportions of fine material escaping from the fluidized bed from the off-gas and returning said fine material to the fluidized bed as nuclei for granule formation,c. setting the fluidizing gas flow such that granules are formed which are of a predetermined size, andd. removing the completed granules solely by way of at least one countercurrent gravity classifier inserted into the outflow bottom of the fluidized-bed vessel.A new apparatus for carrying out the process according to the invention and new granules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans Uhlemann, Burkhard Braun, Heinz Heusmann, Gerhard Stopp, Horst Karkossa
  • Patent number: 4940007
    Abstract: In a fast fluidized bed reactor having, in a lower region, downwardly and inwardly inclined walls, a change in the direction of the wall surface or a ledge or protrusion is provided to change the direction of the particles flowing downwardly adjacent the wall for directing the particles inwardly away from the wall and into the region acted on by the nozzles providing the fluidizing gas. The change of direction, abutment or projection is preferably provided along the refractory wall surface at an elevation 200-1100 mm above the grid plate. In this manner, clogging of the nozzles is prevented and more efficient and effective fluidization and combustion processes occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: A. Ahlstrom Corporation
    Inventors: Matti Hiltunen, Ragnar Lundqvist, Juha Sarkki
  • Patent number: 4931259
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fluidized-bed reaction apparatus comprising a perforated plate located in the lower portion of a fluidized-bed reaction tower for forming fluidized-bed of particles thereon, the plate having regions with different opening ratios, at least the outer peripheral portion and the geometrical center portion of the plate having an opening ratio larger than an average opening ratio of the plate, inlets of a heating-fluidizing gas and the particles receiving the reaction, outlets of the particles and a discharge gas, and a fluidized-bed reaction process using such an apparatus. Upon operation of the apparatus, stationary circulation of the particles is obtained in the fluidized-bed thereby the particles are scarcely pulverized or entrained and the circulation velocity is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Kureha Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuneo Okamoto, Yasuo Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 4931401
    Abstract: The disclosure herein describes a bioreactor for the biochemical treatment of liquids containing organic matter. It comprises a container with an inlet for receiving liquid to be treated with at least one horizontal plate to support a bed of microorganism cells which react with the organic matter to form a volatile gas. An aperture is provided in the plate to provide liquid flow communication between upper and lower compartments on either sides of the plate. A blockage element extends over the aperture to prevent the liquid and the microorganism cells from returning through the aperture to the lower compartment. An outlet is provided for releasing the gas from the container while a further outlet is used for releasing treated liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: La Societe de Recherche Snc Inc.
    Inventor: Bechara F. Safi
  • Patent number: 4927606
    Abstract: This invention provides an improved apparatus for stripping hydrocarbons from spent catalyst which has been used in effecting hydrocarbon conversion reactions prior to the regeneration of this catalyst by combustion of carbon deposits upon the catalyst. The invention is described in terms of its use in FCC processes, since such processes are the most common application of the invention. In order to better distribute stripping gas, which is normally steam, so that the gas contacts and passes through substantially all of the catalyst, distribution ports are added to the skirts of the stripper baffles which direct catalyst flow in a generally side-to-side manner as it moves downward through a stripping vessel. The ports are sized to vary penetration of the stripping gas into the stream catalyst that moves past the grids. Use of these ports increases the amount of hydrocarbons removed from the spent catalyst and/or decreases stripping gas requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Ismail B. Cetinkaya, Robert P. Culler
  • Patent number: 4925632
    Abstract: A succession of low profile catalyst chambers each housing a reservoir of catalyst are alternately connected in sequence by openings below the levels of the catalyst reservoirs and openings thereabove. The catalyst in all reservoirs is fluidized by a gas moving upwardly therethrough. Separate portions of the sequence of chambers are operated as reactor and regenerator sections according to the gas used to fluidize the catalyst in those sections. Other portions of the sequence of chambers are used to create inert atmospheric seals between the reactor and regenerator sections. The entire apparatus is configured as a low-profile catalytic cracker wherein the fluidized flow of the catalyst moves throughout the apparatus in an alternating lifting and dropping sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Inventors: Milton B. Thacker, John M. Limburg, Vincent J. Memmott
  • Patent number: 4902418
    Abstract: The element is disposed in a vessel receiving a fluid flow. The vessel wall is porous at least for a proportion of the fluid and bounds an inner chamber communicating through the vessel wall with a chamber outside the vessel. The element is in the shape of a plate or tube and is so devised that the porous wall either on its own or in combination with other similarly shaped elements to form a module, forms a turbulence generator particularly in the form of a static mixer for the fluid flow. The resulting turbulence on the wall of the elements ensures that the wall remains porous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventor: Heinrich Ziegler
  • Patent number: 4879958
    Abstract: In a fluidized bed thermal reactor including a main housing including, a waste inlet, an exhaust gas outlet, an incombustible solids outlets, a base member, a fluidizable medium located on the base member, a plurality of gas inlets in the base member whereby a fluidizing medium located on the base member may be fluidized, and the improvement comprising a hollow body of generally triangular cross-section extending across the main housing and dividing the housing into upper and lower zones and having a pair of arcuate deflector surfaces. A gas inlet into the body is provided whereby gas may be fed to the interior of the body. A plurality of openings are provided in the top of the body whereby gas fed to the body through the gas inlets heated in the body may rise upwardly in the upper zone to assist in combustion in that upper zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Inventors: John V. Allen, Berend Put, Geoff W. Boraston
  • Patent number: 4877587
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor and operating process is disclosed, the reactor including distributor plate means to provide distribution of fluid passing upwardly into a fluidized bed; a mixing chamber positioned below the distributor plate means; fluid entry means, preferably at the base of the reactor, for the passage of fluid into the reactor; flow deflector means associated with the entry means for providing at least an upwardly fluid flow path and an outward fluid flow path along the wall of the mixing chamber to inhibit the accumulation of solids and liquid in the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics Company Inc.
    Inventors: Seung J. Rhee, Larry L. Simpson
  • Patent number: 4874583
    Abstract: A bubble cap assembly and distributor plate is revealed uniquely suited for a reactor in an ebullated bed process. In the riser of the bubble cap assembly a ball check valve is mounted on a valve seat. An orifice mixer below the valve seat delivers a homogeneous vapor-liquid mixture to the orifice in the valve seat thereby minimizing slug flow which causes destructive valve chatter. The fluid outlet port is positioned in the riser to hydraulically limit ball travel between the valve seat and the cap, eliminating the need for pins or other restraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: James H. Colvert
  • Patent number: 4863699
    Abstract: In brief, a grid plate, especially a flat grid plate, horizontally disposed in a fluidized solids contacting vessel, is supported by a conical skirt that extends downwardly and inwardly from substantially the outer periphery of the grid plate for a predetermined portion of the length of the skirt and then downwardly to the bottom of the vessel. Preferably, the conical skirt extends inwardly at an angle, .alpha., measured from the vertical in the range of about 20 degrees to about 45 degrees, and preferably about 30 degrees, for a distance equal to about one third to one half of the length of the skirt, and generally for a distance of about half the length of the skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Inventors: Donald J. Shaw, Te-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 4861562
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for fluidized bed mixing of fluids and gases in which the fluid is injected with a high angular velocity through a relatively narrow, preferably single, orifice (3). The angular velocity may be imparted by injecting the fluid at high velocity tangentially at the periphery of the squate chamber (4) so that angular momentum is gained as it spirals inwards towards orifice (3). Optionally, an open-topped hopper (5) for solids is suspended above orifice (3). The lower end of the hopper (5) terminates in a second orifice (7) located vertically above orifice (3). The solid particles are thereby swept radially outwards towards the wall of the chamber (1) in co-current admixture with the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
    Inventor: Frederick Rowe
  • 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: 4834947
    Abstract: There is provided an improvement in a method for terminating a gas phase olefin polymerization reaction with a kill gas such as carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. The improvement involves the use of a carrier gas to increase the rate of penetration of kill gas into the reaction medium. The improved method is particularly adaptable to a fluid bed reactor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Cook, Robert O. Hagerty, Frederick W. Jacob
  • Patent number: 4832700
    Abstract: A fluidized bed apparatus comprises a chamber having a perforated floor, a spray nozzle located in the chamber above the perforated floor, whereby material to be granulated is introduced into the chamber in the form of a solution or dispersion, means for passing heated gas upward through said perforated floor, whereby solid particles of said material are formed in said chamber, particle size-reducing means outside of said chamber, whereby particles larger than a first predetermined size are reduced in size, a screw shaft located above said perforated floor and communicating with said size-reducing means, whereby particles are withdrawn from said chamber and conveyed to said size-reducing means, a pipe having one end located downstream of said size-reducing means and its other end communicating with said chamber, and means for generating a flow of air whereby particles smaller than a second predetermined size exiting from said size-reducing means are returned through said pipe to said chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Sandoz Ltd.
    Inventors: Jan Kaspar, Pierre Schmid
  • Patent number: 4822573
    Abstract: A fluidized-bed reactor for the pyrolytic treatment of wastes containing hydrocarbons and a high content of polymeric organic substances includes a circumferential wall having an inner surface and an interior with a conical lower section and an expanded cylindrical upper section. Fluidizing-gas feed pipes have ends with lower circumferential sections protruding directly from the inner surface of the circumferential wall into the conical lower section. Covering walls covering the ends of the fluidizing-gas feed pipes and extend obliquely downwardly and inwardly. Blow orifices are each disposed at a respective one of the lower circumferential sections and have an obliquely downward and inward blow direction for blowing fluidizing-gas into a fluidized-bed material in the interior. Heating pipes for heating with heating gas dip vertically from above through the expanded cylindrical upper section of the interior. The heating pipes have connections for heating gas, combustion air and exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Brown, Boveri & Cie AG
    Inventor: Hinrich Timmann
  • Patent number: 4820493
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for mixing fluid catalytic cracking hydrocarbon feed and catalyst is disclosed. The invention passes lift gas through a first conduit which is axially aligned with a second conduit. A downstream end of the first conduit and an upstream end of the second conduit are located within a catalyst bed enclosed by a chamber. Furthermore, the second conduit axially injects catalyst and lift gas into an upstream end of an elongated fluid catalytic cracking riser while passing hydrocarbon feed into the riser through an annular zone about the upstream end of the riser. Preferably steam also passes through this annular zone. The process and apparatus achieves substantially uniform catalyst-to-oil ratio across a horizontal cross-section of the riser. A process and apparatus for control of the level of the catalyst bed in the enclosed chamber by employing a control gas stream is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: James H. Haddad, Hartley Owen
  • Patent number: 4801432
    Abstract: The particulate solid is maintained in a bed in contact with a liquid within a high pressure vessel. The particulate solid is supported in the vessel in a cone-like configuration. A discharge tube is provided communicating with the particulate solid running from the bottom of the cone externally of said vessel and pressure on the supported particulate is produced to discharge said particulate out of said vessel via the discharge tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Intevep, S.A.
    Inventors: Roberto E. Galiasso, Jose I. Belandria, Pasquale L. Caprioli
  • Patent number: 4778661
    Abstract: An improved fluidized bed process for upgrading olefinic hydrocarbon feedstock by contacting the feedstock with acidic siliceous zeolite conversion catalyst particles at elevated temperature under exothermic conditions to produce heavier hydrocarbons including gasoline range hydrocarbons. The improvement comprises maintaining a turbulent fluidized bed of catalyst particles by flowing hydrocarbon-containing vapor upwardly through said bed at less than transport velocity; and introducing liquid olefinic feedstock comprising at least one C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 diene component into the fluidized catalyst bed in a lower portion thereof by rapidly atomizing and vaporizing the liquid feedstock, thus converting feedstock to heavier hydrocarbon without substantial thermal diene degradation thereof prior to contacting conversion catalyst particles in the fluidized bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Amos A. Avidan, Fritz A. Smith, Samuel A. Tabak
  • Patent number: 4772193
    Abstract: In a rotation granulator, the injection nozzles for the powder are provided along the jacket surface of the granulator container over the rotary table, so that the powder will arrive directly in the range of the stronger flow. In order to prevent any interruptions of the operation due to the filter part, a two-chamber system is proposed in which the first and second chambers may be alternately cut off. This makes it possible to operate the installation without any interruption. In order to control the air supply, the rotary table is mounted so that it may be moved up and down, in order that the width of the air gap between the rotary table and the inner wall of the conical casing may be adjusted. Lastly, a device for taking of samples provides a system of sluices or channels by which the low-pressure space of the granulator is actively prevented from being in direct contact with the free atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Inventor: Werner Glatt
  • Patent number: 4764347
    Abstract: An improved grid plate flow distributor assembly for use in a pressurized catalytic reactor in which gas and liquid materials flow uniformly upwardly through the grid into the reactor ebullated catalyst bed. The grid plate assembly contains multiple vertical flow tubes each covered at its upper end by a cap which is spaced outwardly from the tube upper end and preferably has tapered sides. The cap can have any horizontal cross-sectional shape, such as circular, polygonal, rectangular or triangular. If desired, a horizontal elongated cap can be used which covers at least two adjacent vertical flow tubes. Such elongated caps can be provided as concentric circular shapes above the grid plate. Also, if desired, a thermocouple can be provided extending upwardly above the cap, such as through selected caps to monitor the temperature distribution of the ebullated bed above the grid plate assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Inventor: John D. Milligan
  • Patent number: 4755358
    Abstract: Method for the treatment of fluidized carbon black with gases in a fluidized bed, wherein the carbon black and the treatment gases are conveyed for introduction in an unique operating procedure into the treating region in a countercurrent stream manner. The mass streams of the carbon black and the treating gases are held constant and the mass streams of the starting carbon black or the treated carbon black is regulated with the help of an optical electrical level sensor so that the height of the fluidized bed is held on a predetermined level. An apparatus is shown for the carrying out of the fluidized bed countercurrent process which has a novel carbon black product delivery system and is provided with a optical electrical level sensor means for controlling the level of the fluidized bed. The sensor comprises a hair pin shaped lighting circuit composed of two legs or rods separated by a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: Degussa Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Voll, Richard Engel
  • Patent number: 4744413
    Abstract: Apparatus for carrying out physical and/or chemical processes has a lower chamber, an upper chamber, vertical riser tubes for the passage of a first fluid medium from the lower chamber to the upper chamber and an intermediate chamber through which the riser tubes exetend so that a second fluid medium can contact the riser tubes. A granular mass is fluidized in at least the riser tubes by the flow of the first medium. A vertical gravity tube for return passage of the granular mass from the upper to the lower chamber has an outlet below the inlets of the riser tubes. A distribution plate for the first medium is mounted in the lower chamber between the inlets of the riser tubes and the outlet of the gravity tube. To allow the granular mass to fall below the distribution plate for start-up of the apparatus the gravity tube has, at least one opening connecting to the lower chamber above the distribution plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Eskla B.V.
    Inventors: Dick G. Klaren, Zacharias L. Nunninga
  • Patent number: 4740216
    Abstract: A device for the gasification of waste, particularly light waste, is comprised of a reactor having a single fluidized bed including two concentric chambers communicating at the top and bottom wherein the outer chamber is intended to implement the pyrolysis of supplied waste and the inner chamber is intended to implement the combustion of pyrolyzed materials. A circulation of pyrolysis gas and combustion gas is established between the outer chamber and the inner chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Cokerill Mechanical Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Georges A. L. Allard
  • Patent number: 4715996
    Abstract: A bubble cap assembly is provided with keyways and a special keyed lock washer with locking tabs to securely fasten the bubble cap during operation in a reactor. The unique arrangement also accommodates simple removal for easy maintenance and decoking without damaging the bubble cap assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: George G. Lambousy, Benjamin H. Reaves, William E. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4707340
    Abstract: A staged distribution grid assembly and method for uniform fluid flow distribution upwardly into an ebullated catalyst bed of a reactor. In the staged grid assembly, the gas and liquid mixture flows first through a lower secondary flow distribution grid plate into an interim zone and then flows upwardly through an upper primary flow distribution grid plate into the reactor ebullated bed. The staged grid assembly contains an upper primary grid plate containing multiple flow tubes covered by bubble caps, and a lower secondary grid plate containing multiple flow tubes. The staged flow distribution grid assembly enables the primary grid to provide a more uniform distribution of gas and liquid flow upwardly into the ebullated bed across the entire cross-sectional area of the reactor, and thereby provides improved operation of the ebullated catalyst bed reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Inventor: John D. Milligan
  • Patent number: 4702891
    Abstract: An improved flow distribution system for a catalytic reactor plenum chamber for a gas-liquid-solids ebullated bed reactor incudes a baffled nozzle device containing at least two baffle plates usually oriented substantially normal to the nozzle inlet flow direction for providing good mixing and uniform flow distribution of gas-liquid materials in the lower portion of the plenum, used in combination with distribution grid to effect a substantially uniform flow distribution of the gas/liquid mixture upwardly into the ebullated catalyst bed. A sparger can be provided in the plenum above the baffled flow distributor device for feeding additional gas-liquid mixture into the reactor. The flow distribution system provides a substantially uniform flow distribution of the gas-liquid mixture into the ebullated bed and thereby provides fouling-free operation of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: HRI, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen S. Li, Richard M. Eccles
  • Patent number: 4686723
    Abstract: A bed is disclosed, comprising a base having a floor and an upstanding wall extending aroung the periphery of the floor. A body of particulate fluidizable material is contained within the base. The floor has an elongate slit connectable to an air supply and a pair of inclined surfaces extending upwardly on opposite sides of the slit. Supply of air to the slit causes circulation of the particulate material along the inclined surfaces towards the slit and causes fluidization of the upper region of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: The University of Toronto Innovations Foundation
    Inventor: James W. Smith
  • Patent number: 4676735
    Abstract: A fluidized combustion device that can be positioned inside the soda boiler of a cellulose factory and rapidly taken out of the boiler when it is desired to use the boiler as a normal soda boiler and as necessary again installed in the boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Rauma-Repola Oy
    Inventor: Jukka Hannuniemi
  • Patent number: 4673552
    Abstract: An improved flow distribution system for a catalytic reactor plenum chamber for a gas-liquid-solids ebullated bed reactor including a downwardly directed conduit and a flow distributor device such as a baffled nozzle attached to the inner end of the conduit, said nozzle containing at least two substantially parallel baffle plates usually oriented substantially normal to the nozzle inlet flow direction for providing initially downward flow and good mixing and radial flow disperson of gas-liquid materials in the lower portion of the plenum. The initially downward flow is then deflected generally upwardly by the curved lower head of the reactor plenum chamber and passes uniformly upwardly through a flow distribution grid into the ebullated catalyst bed. A sparger can be provided in the plenum above the flow distributor device for feeding additional gas-liquid mixture into the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Hydrocarbon Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen S. Li, Richard M. Eccles, Lloyd M. Ruef
  • Patent number: 4650566
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for feeding catalyst, oil and steam into a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) riser. Oil passes through respective oil lines into a multiplicity of upwardly extending nozzles located at a lower portion of the riser, while steam passes through respective steam lines into the nozzles where it blends with the oil, with the combined oil and steam mixture being fed through the nozzles into the riser. Each oil line and steam line is provided with a valve to separately control oil and steam flow rates, respectively, in each of the nozzles to obtain a substantially constant catalyst to oil ratio across a horizontal cross-section of the riser. The substantially constant catalyst to oil ratio is represented by a substantially isothermal temperature profile across the horizontal riser cross-section, which is detected by measuring the temperature at various points along the horizontal cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Frank M. Buyan, Mark S. Ross
  • Patent number: 4647434
    Abstract: A support assembly for the air distributor in the catalyst regenerator vessel of a fluid catalytic cracking apparatus is revealed. The support assembly comprises a primary support which fixedly connects the air distributor to the catalyst regenerator and a plurality of secondary rigid supports. The secondary rigid supports connect to both the air distributor and catalyst regenerator vessel with ball and socket joints.The support assembly allows for unrestricted multi directional thermal expansion of the air distributor without causing twisting or warping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Harold J. Ayers, Ting Y. Chan
  • Patent number: 4639354
    Abstract: The hydrotreatment of hydrocarbons in the liquid phase is effected in a column containing a catalyst bed supported by a grid, wherethrough passes an ascending stream of the charge admixed with hydrogen which expands the catalyst bed, the perforations of the grid being small enough to prevent passage of the catalyst particles but large enough to permit passage of the hydrogen-charge mixture, the reaction effluent being withdrawn from the top of the column. The reactor column is provided with means between the hydrogen-charge mixture introducing means and the catalyst bed supporting grid for mixing and dispersing the combined liquid-gas charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Didier Bischoff, Gerard Courteheuse, Pierre Renard
  • Patent number: 4615382
    Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for carrying out physical and/or chemical processes, more specifically a heat exchanger (10) of the continuous type, comprising a large number of vertical heat exchanger tubes (18) mounted between a lower chamber (17) and an upper chamber (16) within a jacket (15). Within the tubes (18) small solid particles are kept in a fluidized condition by the fluid medium passing up from the lower chamber (17) through the tubes (18), so as to achieve a good heat transfer, whereas also any deposit will be removed from the inner tube walls. For the downward flow of the granular mass at least one return tube (21) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Esmil B.V.
    Inventor: Dick G. Klaren
  • Patent number: 4582120
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the cooling of the fluidizable particulate solids, either catalytic or inert, in the regenerator section of an FCC process, an RCC process or a metals removal systems or "ART" type process. It is directed to the use of a conduit means for charging fluidizing gaseous material to a vertical cylindrical vessel for cooling fluidizable particulate solids flowing through said vertical cylindrical vessel, which conduits means comprises a horizontal header means having suspended therefrom a plurality of vertical and horizontally spaced apart conduits, each conduit having near its open end a restriction orifice. The header means can be located near the top of the cylindrical cooling vessel. While the example of a specific embodiment discloses one portion of the vertical conduits with lower ends located in a lower cross-sectional area of the vessel other arrangements sufficient to ensure proper fluidization are also possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Ashland Oil, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Walters, H. Anthony Raiche, Lloyd E. Busch
  • Patent number: 4578183
    Abstract: An improved Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) Process wherein vaporization of oil feed is optimized prior to catalytic cracking. A draft tube mixer placed in the lower reactor riser splits the hot regenerated catalyst flow into two streams resulting in improved riser mixing of catalyst and oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1986
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Tai-Sheng Chou, Chang-Kuei Lee
  • Patent number: 4559719
    Abstract: For processing matter in a turbulent mass of particulate material, a substantially annular processing region (14; 104; 206) is provided and is preferably in the form of a substantially annular processing chamber having a radially inner wall which includes a waist (38; 122). A flow of fluid and matter to be processed are admitted to the processing region through one or more inlets (28, 46; 108, 124; 214, 220) with the flow of fluid being directed generally circumferentially into the processing region. In the processing region, matter to be processed is embedded in a compact turbulent band of particulate material for processing. Once processing is complete, the processed matter is withdrawn from the processing region, preferably by entrainment in an exhaust flow of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: Torftech Limited
    Inventor: Christopher E. Dodson
  • Patent number: 4554963
    Abstract: A fluidized bed heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes for passing a primary medium, a particulate matter bed, and side and base inlet conduits for passing the primary medium fluid into the heat exchanger with the base inlet conduit adapted to receive the primary medium and fluidizing the particulate matter bed. The primary medium passing through the inlet conduits is controllable to maintain a desired amount of fluidized particulate matter within the tubes when descaling is desired and reduced at the base inlet conduit to eliminate the fluidized particulate matter from flowing within the tubes when descaling is not desired while flow of the primary medium through the tubes is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: Baker International Corporation
    Inventors: Alton C. Goodwin, Mark T. Junglen, John S. Kent
  • Patent number: 4546552
    Abstract: Solids comprising a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed are transported in a direction transverse to the flow of the fluidizing fluid exiting the bed by contacting at least a portion of said solids with fluidizing fluid which enters the bed with a velocity component in the direction of solids flow; i.e. the transverse flow direction. In a preferred embodiment, the fluidizing fluid entering the bed is passed through a distribution means containing propulsion passages slanted in the desired direction of solids flow which serve to orient the fluidizing fluid in the transverse flow direction. Use of this invention eliminates the need for the costly and inconvenient pneumatic, hydraulic and mechanical transport devices employed in the prior art. Solids attrition and elutriation are also reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Robert P. Cahn, Jeffrey H. Siegell
  • Patent number: 4545959
    Abstract: A chamber for the treatment of particulate matter in a fluidized bed, e.g. at elevated temperatures, comprises an apertured bottom for the admission of carrier gas into the overlying space. The latter is divided by upstanding partitions into at least one medial compartment and at least two additional compartments adjoining the at least one medial compartment at the opposite sides of the latter. The apparatus further comprises a duct of substantially triangular cross-section with a horizontal base and an upwardly sloping side walls located in the at least one medial compartment, with the side walls of the duct extending in directions parallel to the partitions, and the base of the duct being imperforate and resting on the wall of the chamber and preventing the entry of the carrier gas into the at least one medial compartment from below; and a nozzle arrangement in each of the upwardly sloping side walls of the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: Bergwerksverband GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Schilling, Lothar Holl
  • Patent number: 4543733
    Abstract: In a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed in which the bed particles continuously move transverse to the flow of the fluidizing fluid, the bed particles have increased fluidity when the bed is operated at or substantially near the locus of transition between the bubbling and stabilized regimes of said bed. More specifically, the particulate bed comprising a transverse flow magnetically stabilized fluidized bed process has greater fluidity when the bed is operated such that the ratio of the difference between the transition velocity and the operating velocity to the difference between the transition velocity and the normal minimum fluidization velocity ranges between -0.1 and +0.5. The increased fluidity facilitates the movement of solids within a vessel as well as the transfer of solids to other vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Siegell, Costas A. Coulaloglou
  • Patent number: 4539183
    Abstract: A support structure for a distribution grid to be mounted in a reaction vessel wherein the reaction vessel is formed with an inwardly-extending annular shoulder portion to which is mounted, such as by welding, a ring-member whereby the distribution grid is mounted on such support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventors: Malcolm W. Clark, Harold B. Kohn
  • Patent number: 4532108
    Abstract: In all refractory gas distributor is used to distribute fluidization gas to a fluidized bed reactor. The distributor slabs contain cast-in gas passages which distribute the gas to uniformly distributed grid holes to the surface. The slabs are continuously supported by a bed of refractory filling the bottom head of said reactor vessel and pressure equalization passages are provided to place the lower surface of the grid plate in fluid communication with the upper surface of the grid plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventor: Charles Becht, IV
  • Patent number: 4526759
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor in which at least a portion of the walls of the reactor housing are formed by a plurality of water wall tubes. A fluidized bed is formed in the housing and a plurality of heat exchange tubes are provided, at least a portion of each of which extends into the bed. One or both ends of each heat exchange tube registers with a water wall tube and a water flow circuit is formed that includes the water wall tubes and heat exchange tubes for passing the water in a heat exchange relation with the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1985
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventor: Robert D. Stewart
  • Patent number: 4521378
    Abstract: A fluid bed reactor system for olefin polymerization composed of a cylindrical reaction vessel equipped with a distribution plate and an agitator, characterized in that the distribution plate satisfies the following conditions,(i) each of many passage holes provided in the distribution plate for passage of the fluidizing gas medium is covered with a cap having an opening,(ii) the opening in said cap is provided only on one side of the cap, and the direction (A) of the opening is not opposite to the direction (B) of the rotational flow,(iii) the direction (A) of the opening varies with the distance (d) from the center (X) of the plate to the center (Y) of the hole,(iv) the opening direction (A) of a cap or caps at a hole or holes whose distance (d) is minimum is directed nearer to the center (X) than is the tangential direction of a circle having the center (X) as a center and the distance (d.sub.min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Assignee: Mitsui Petrochemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsunori Ichimura, Ryoichi Yamamoto, Katsutoshi Horimoto