Abstract: A method is disclosed for reforming organics into shorter-chain unsaturated organic compounds. A molten metal bath is provided which can cause homolytic cleavage of an organic component of an organic-containing feed. The feed is directed into the molten metal bath at a rate which causes partial homolytic cleavage of an organic component of the feed. Conditions are established and maintained in the reactor to cause partial homolytic cleavage of the organic component to produce unsaturated organic compounds, as products of the homolytic cleavage, which are discharged from the molten metal bath.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoking and suppressing coke formation during pyrolysis has been discovered that does not require complete shut down of the pyrolysis furnace. For the decoking step, the hydrocarbon feed is cut off to one or more coils for usually less than about three hours during which a decoking additive is added to the steam flow in that coil. This additive is comprised of an aqueous solution of a group IA metal salt and a group IIA metal salt and catalyzes the coke removal. The hydrocarbon feed continues in the other coils during this procedure. After decoking, a suppression additive also comprising group IA and IIA metals is added to the steam and hydrocarbon feed. This suppression additive will melt onto the inner surfaces of the pyrolysis furnace coils, coating the coils with a glass layer which inhibits coke formation.

Abstract: A catalytic pyrolysis process for production of ethylene and propylene from heavy hydrocarbons, comprises that heavy hydrocarbons are contacted with a pillared interlayered clay molecular sieve and/or phosphorus and aluminum or magnesium or calcium modified high silica zeolite having a structure of pentasil contained catalysts in a riser or downflow transfer line reactor in the presence of steam and catalytically pyrolysed at a temperature of 650° C. to 750° C. and a pressure of 0.15 to 0.4 MPa for a contact time of 0.2 to 5 seconds, a weight ratio of catalyst to feedstock of 15:1 to 40:1 and a weight ratio of steam to feedstock of 0.3:1 to 1:1. The yields of ethylene and propylene by the present invention are over 18 wt %.

Abstract: An integrated process for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock having components boiling above about 100° C. into steam cracked products is described. The process first involves passing the feedstock to a hydrotreating zone at a pressure in the range of from about 400 psig to about 1,250 psig to effect substantially complete decomposition of organic sulfur and/or nitrogen compounds. The product from the hydrotreating zone is passed to a steam cracking zone. Hydrogen and C1-C4 hydrocarbons, steam cracked naphtha, steam cracked gas oil and steam cracked tar are recovered, where the amount of steam cracked tar produced is reduced by at least about 15 percent, basis the starting hydrocarbon feedstock which has not been subject to hydrotreating.

Abstract: A combined chain of a high temperature, high conversion steam cracker in combination with a polymerization or oligomerization unit provides capital and operating cost reduction.

Abstract: An anti-aging additive composition and an operating method to control the quench oil viscosity in an ethylene production plant are described, capable of raising the yield of said plant through a control of the quench oil viscosity related to a significant increase in the operation temperature of the plant fractionating column, said composition comprising an effective quantity with respect to the aging of said oil of at least one component selected in the group constituted by alkylated phenols, alkylated biphenols, diphenols, alkylated diphenols, aromatic amines and nitroxides, precursors and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for improving the conversion of a hydrocarbon feedstock to light olefins comprising mixing a hydrocarbon feedstock with a diolefin to form a mixture; and thereafter contacting the mixture with a zeolite cracking catalyst. Preferably the catalyst is contacted at a reaction temperature within the range of about 500.degree. C. to about 750.degree. C. and the feedstock flows at a weight hourly space velocity in the range of about 0.1 Hr.sup.-1 WHSV to about 100 Hr.sup.-1 WHSV. The diolefin can be a straight, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon having at least two II bonds. Preferably diolefin is a hydrocarbon of 4 to 20 carbons.

Abstract: A process for producing catalyst compositions for converting a cracked gasoline feedstock to a product comprising incremental aromatics and lower olefins. The catalyst compositions produced thereby. A process for converting a cracked gasoline feedstock to a product comprising incremental aromatics and lower olefins.

Abstract: A process for selectively producing C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 olefins from a catalytically cracked or thermally cracked naphtha stream. The naphtha stream is contacted with a catalyst containing from about 10 to 50 wt. % of a crystalline zeolite having an average pore diameter less than about 0.7 nanometers at reaction conditions which include temperatures from about 500 to 650.degree. C. and a hydrocarbon partial pressure from about 10 to 40 psia.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process in which the rate of coke formation is reduced without a significant sacrifice in light olefin and BTX yield by the use of a silylated, stabilized metal promoted zeolite catalyst. Another embodiment includes a novel silylated spinel/zeolite catalyst. Another embodiment includes a process for producing a zinc or gallium promoted zeolite in which the promoter is stabilized by a high temperature water vapor treatment in the presence of a metal oxide such as alumina and thereafter the stabilized catalyst precursor is calcined and silylated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing ethylene from a hydrocarbon feedstock, whereby the hydrocarbon feedstock is subjected to cracking. The crude gas thus produced undergoes quenching with water washing, crude gas compression, and crude gas drying and precooling. The gas is then sent to a separation section, wherein a C2/C3 separation of the precooled crude gas into a C2- stream and a C3+ stream is conducted. The C2- stream is sent through C2 hydrogenation, and the C3+ stream is separated into a C3 stream and a C4+ stream by means of a C3/C4 separation. According to the invention, when the process is started up, at times foreign ethylene and/or foreign C3 is fed to crude gas compression. In addition, a stream from C2 hydrogenation and a C3 stream from the C3/C4 separation are merged and recycled as a first recycle stream before crude gas compression.

Abstract: Sulphur-containing hydrocarbon feedstocks are desulphurized prior to being subjected to steam cracking in the presence of one or more thiohydrocarbons wherein the sulphur is part of aromatic heterocycles, preferably thiophene and/or benzothiophene. Optimum results are obtained in terms of the combination of reduced coking rate and reduced carbon monoxide formation.

Abstract: A process for the production of propylene and ethylene by non-catalytic oxidative conversion of propane by allowing the endothermic hydrocarbon cracking reaction to occur simultaneously with the exothermic hydrocarbons oxidative conversion reactions in an empty tubular reactor is disclosed. The process comprises mixing of oxygen and propane at ambient temperatures, mixing of sulfur compound with steam, admixing the mixture of steam and sulfur compound and the mixture of oxygen and propane and preheating the resulting admixture, passing said mixture through an empty tubular reactor, cooling and separating the components of effluent product gases by known methods and recycling the unconverted reactants, if required.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for cracking hydrocarbon feedstock comprising a mixture of ethane and propane by (a) subjecting the feedstock to a fractionation process so as to separate the feedstock into an ethane rich stream and a propane rich stream, (b) steam cracking each of these streams separately under optimum cracking conditions for each stream in separate furnaces, (c) recovering the ethylene so formed in said crackers and (d) recycling the residual uncracked ethane and propane from the cracked products to the respective ethane rich and propane rich feedstreams being fed to the steam cracker. The process enables yields of ethylene to be increased.

Abstract: A continuous pyrolysis and decoking process and apparatus is described for the production of acetylenic compounds, in which hydrocarbons and steam are circulated in at least one tube (31) of a steam cracking reactor (30) and steam is circulated in at least one tube (32) of that reactor. The hydrocarbon effluent and steam then circulate in at least one row (1) of a pyrolysis reactor (40) and the decoking effluent comprising steam circulate in at least one other row (2) of that reactor (4) to effect decoking. A set of valves V1, V2, V11, V12 is used to alternate the pyrolysis step path and the decoking step path. The temperature in the steam cracking furnaces is lower than that in the pyrolysis reactor.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing coke deposition in a pyrolysis furnace which comprises treating the pyrolysis furnace with a combination of sulfur- and phosphorus-containing compounds having a total sulfur to phosphorus atomic ratio of at least 5.

Abstract: A heat exchange surface in reactors and/or heat exchangers of installations for the conversion of hydrocarbons and other organic compounds at high temperatures in the gaseous phase. According to the invention, the metallic surfaces coming into contact with the organic substances are treated at a temperature of 300 to 1000.degree. C. over a period of 0.5 to 12 hours with a mixture of a silicon- and sulfur-containing product and a dry gas flow which is inert with respect to the silicon- and sulfur-containing product. The invention is further directed to a process for producing a catalytically inactivated metallic surface in chemical reactors and/or heat exchangers.

Abstract: Gases and liquid products of the cracking zone of a ethylene production plant fractionated in a demethanizer to from a dilute ethylene stream containing about 5 to about 40 percent of the ethylene contained in the feed. The dilute ethylene is feed to an ethylbenzene plant and reacts with impure benzene. The product ethylbenzene is normally converted to styrene.

Abstract: The viscosity of quench oil circulated in a pyrolysis fractionation unit is controlled by contacting pyrolysis furnace effluent with a slip stream of 0.1-0.5 kg/kg of the quench oil, separating the resulting vapor-liquid mixture to remove tarry liquid, and feeding the remaining vapor to the fractionator. Removing the tarry liquid from the fractionator feed in this manner allows operation of the fractionator with less reflux, a higher bottoms temperature, and more heat recovery at a higher temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to the protection of tubular reactors or heat exchangers against coke formation in plants for converting hydrocarbons and other organic compounds at high temperatures in the gaseous phase. The problem in such plants is that the usual steam/air cleaning processes for removing coke deposits lead to an increase in the catalytic activity of the material surfaces, which in turn shortens the service life of the plants. The object of the invention is to substantially reduce coking and to maintain the long-term passivity of steels for long operational periods.

Abstract: Methods for cracking hydrocarbons in reactor systems having improved resistances to carburization and coking. The reactor system comprises a steel portion having provided thereon a Group VIB metal protective layer to isolate the steel portion from hydrocarbons, applied to a thickness effective for isolating the steel portion from the hydrocarbon environment. The protective layer is anchored to the steel substrate through an intermediate carbide-rich, bonding layer.

Abstract: Steam-free non-catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons in reaction zomes each having surfaces heated externally and a heated surface to volume ratio above 3 cm-.sup.1, at a rate such that the flow through each reaction zone is essentially laminar.

Abstract: A improved hydrocarbon conversion process, comprising applying a plating, cladding, paint or other coating to at least a portion of a hydrocarbon conversion reactor system which is used to convert hydrocarbons to products in the presence of steam, said coating being effective to reduce the amount of undesirable by-products in said process; and operating the hydrocarbon conversion process at a steam to hydrocarbon ratio that is lower than the steam to hydrocarbon ratio at which said process was operated prior to applying said coating. Preferred hydrocarbon conversion process includes steam cracking of hydrocarbons to produce ethylene and dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of selecting a gas oil feedstock for use in manufacturing olefins. The feedstock is analyzed for the presence of benzothiophenes and is used to manufacture olefins only if it contains less than 50 ppm (as sulfur) of benzothiophenes. The concentration of benzothiophenes can be reduced by distilling the feedstock and removing the fraction of the feedstock that boils between about 45.degree. and about 60.degree. C. under reduced pressure of about 0.05 to about 0.1 mmHg. The concentration of benzothiophenes can also be reduced by passing the feedstock through a benzothiophene adsorber such as activated alumina or activated carbon.

Abstract: An improved method of thermally cracking hydrocarbons to produce olefin wherein a gaseous stream containing hydrocarbons is passed through a heated metal tube in a pyrolysis furnace, the improvement comprising enhancing the olefin yield by exposing the gaseous stream to a barium silicate glass-ceramic as the gaseous stream passes through the tube.

Abstract: Coke formation and coil corrosion in pyrolysis furnaces is controlled by adding a mixture of a Group IA metal salt, a Group IIA metal salt and an aluminum salt thereof to the hydrocarbon feedstock for the pyrolysis furnace.

Abstract: A thermal cracking process is provided which comprises contacting a thermal cracking furnace with a fluid stream which comprises steam, a hydrogen-containing fluid, and a hydrogen sulfide precursor such as dimethyl sulfide under a condition sufficient to effect the generation of hydrogen sulfide and thereafter introducing a steam fluid containing a saturated hydrocarbon under a condition sufficient to convert the saturated hydrocarbon to an olefinic compound.

Abstract: A process for the production of olefins in an olefin plant, which includes an olefin pyrolysis furnace having pyrolysis tubes in which hydrocarbon feedstock is cracked, comprises introducing hydrocarbon feed substantially free of phosphorous-containing compounds into the pyrolysis furnace and operating the furnace under pyrolysis conditions producing olefin-containing effluent therefrom wherein the pyrolysis tubes have an effective passivator of metal catalytic sites bonded to the exposed metal surface by injecting an effective passivator into the furnace at a point above the dew point of water.

Abstract: Inhibiting coke formation on heat transfer surfaces used to heat or cool a petroleum feedstock at coke-forming conditions. The heat transfer surfaces are treated with an effective amount of tripiperidinophosphine oxide to inhibit coke formation on the heat transfer surfaces. The tripiperidinophosphine oxide is essentially free from contributing to corrosion and from producing catalyst-impairing by-products.

Abstract: Coke formation and coil corrosion in pyrolysis furnaces is controlled by adding a mixture of a Group IA metal salt, a Group IIA metal salt and a boron acid or salt thereof to the hydrocarbon feedstock for the pyrolysis furnace.

Abstract: A process for the thermal pyrolysis of hydrocarbons in a reactor (1) of elongate shape comprising at a first end supply means (5) for a gaseous mixture containing at least one hydrocarbon, at the opposite end discharge means (10) for the effluents produced and between these two ends supply means (9) for effluent cooling fluid, the reactor comprising in a first part (first end side) a plurality of electric heating means (3) enclosed by casings (4) disposed in substantially mutually parallel layers perpendicular to the axis of the reactor, in such a way as to define between the casings and/or the casings and the walls (22), spaces or passages for circulation of the gaseous mixtures and/or effluents. The heating means heat the passages in successive, individual, transverse sections which are substantially perpendicular to the axis of the reactor. The reactor comprises means for introducing into the casings (4) a gas G known as a casing gas which preferably contains water vapour and/or hydrogen.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for initiating pyrolysis of a feedstock by establishing a continuous, standing shock wave. Several embodiments of a shock wave reactor (10, 100, 150) are disclosed; each is connected to receive an ethane feedstock and a carrier fluid comprising superheated steam. The feedstock and the carrier fluid are pressurized so that they expand into parallel supersonic streams that mix due to turbulence within a mixing section (36) of a longitudinally extending channel (12) of the shock wave reactor. The carrier fluid heats the ethane feedstock as it mixes with it, producing a mixture that flows at supersonic velocity longitudinally down the channel. A gate valve (44) disposed downstream of the channel provides a controlled back pressure that affects the position of the shock wave and the residence time for the reaction. The shock wave rapidly heats the mixture above a pyrolysis temperature, producing a desired product by cracking the feedstock.

Abstract: An improved hydrocarbon pyrolysis process and apparatus for the production of ethylene comprising a novel furnace comprised of an unfired superheater radiant section and a fired radiant section, adiabatic tube reactor and quench boiler is provided.

Abstract: Cracked hydrocarbon gases are treated to remove contaminating compounds that react in caustic wash to form the reaction products which cause equipment fouling. The treating of the cracked hydrocarbon gases includes the contacting of a cracked hydrocarbon stream with an aqueous amine solution, prior to caustic washing, to remove carbonyl compounds contained in the cracked hydrocarbon gases. By treating the cracked hydrocarbons with an amine compound prior to caustic washing, the formation and deposition of fouling compounds upon the internal components of caustic treating equipment is inhibited.

Abstract: A process is provided for the concentration and recovery of ethylene and heavier components from a hydrocarbon feedstream. A pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process is used to remove from hydrocarbon feedstream light cut comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane and subsequently concentrate a heavy cut comprising the ethylene and heavy components in the PSA tail gas. In one aspect of the invention, an FCC off gas is separated into a light cut and a heavy cut and the heavy cut is routed to an ethylene plant. In another aspect of the invention, a C.sub.2 -rich stream is withdrawn from an ethylene plant and used to enhance the recovery of the ethylene and heavier stream in the PSA process and an ethylene-rich stream is returned to the ethylene plant.

Abstract: A process for the production of olefins and aromatics from hydrocarbon feedstocks by catalytically cracking alone or cracking and dehydrogenating the hydrocarbons in the presence of an entrained stream of catalytic heat carrying solids at short residence times to preferentially produce olefins having three or more carbon atoms and/or to produce aromatics, especially benzene.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for steam cracking hydrocarbons in a furnace (10) having rectilinear single-pass tubes (12) which are interconnected at their outlet ends by a manifold (18) within which the steam cracking effluents are subjected to limited pre-quenching by injection of a cooler gaseous medium, with the effluents then being conveyed to quenching means (22). The invention serves in particular to increase the yield of hydrocarbon steam cracking installations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for pyrolytically cracking a hydrocarbon vapor feedstock. The hydrocarbon vapor feedstock is contacted with water prior to cracking. While the hydrocarbon vapor feedstock is being contacted with water, both the feedstock and the water are heated by indirect heat exchange with at least one process stream containing waste heat. Consequently, a portion of the water vaporizes and combines with the hydrocarbon vapor feedstock. The hydrocarbon vapor feedstock is subsequently cracked in the presence of the vaporized water.

Abstract: Coker water from a delayed coking process is cooled and a water soluble, organic cationic surface active compound is introduced to produce a substantially water free oil stream and a substantially oil free coker water stream which can be returned to the coking process.

Abstract: Ternary oxide phases, including copper oxide, which exhibit unusal electronic properties, have been determined to exhibit catalytic function for the oxidiation of carbon monoxide, the hydrogenation of ethylene and the cracking of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of propylene from C.sub.4 or higher feed by a combination of cracking and metathesis wherein higher hydrocarbon is cracked to form ethylene and propylene and at least a portion of the ethylene is metathesized to propylene.

Abstract: A method of cracking heavy hydrocarbons into lighter hydrocarbons consisting in providing an advantageously catalytic bed of particles in a reaction chamber, feeding a bed fluidizing gas with a predetermined flow rate to provide a springing fluidized bed and feeding a plasma jet preferably containing argon into the chamber, the jet being directed towards a determined place of the bed so as to provide a reaction space with at least two reaction zones of different temperatures, the zone of higher temperature being the one where the plasma jet is directed; feeding heavy hydrocarbons into the reaction zone of lower temperature and feeding preferably in the zone of higher temperature at least one light alkane for carrying out the cracking of the heavy hydrocarbons within the fluidized bed, the latter effecting a quenching of the reaction medium and catalysing the cracking and consisting in discharging the products obtained downstream of the zone of lower temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of ethylene from C.sub.4 or higher feed by a combination of cracking and metathesis wherein higher hydrocarbon is cracked to form ethylene and propylene and at least a portion of the propylene is metathesized to ethylene.

Abstract: Improved operation of the ACR process is achieved by regulating the reactions within a small area in the combustion feedstock mixing zone, "Scorch Zone", by the addition of steam or other fluid such as ethane at the point of feed injection.

Abstract: Gum and sediment formation in liquid hydrocarbon mediums are inhibited by adding to the medium an alkyl 1,2-dihydroquinoline compound, dimer, trimer or polymer thereof. The invention is particularly well-suited for use in hydrodesulfurizer processes wherein the hydrocarbon medium is typically a naphtha, diesel, kerosene, light gas and or residual fuel charge and the charge or medium is subjected to high temperature and pressure treatment in the presence of a catalyst.

Abstract: Dilution steam for steam cracking hydrocarbons to produce lower olefins is economically provided by saturating gaseous hydrocarbon feed with water at a temperature selected to achieve the particular steam to hydrocarbon ratio desired in the steam cracking step. Complete saturation of the feed gas is ensured by injecting the gas into the flooded portion of an indirectly heated tubular saturation zone.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting a gaseous or vaporized hydrocarbon feedstock to a product comprising ethylene, acetylene or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A method for producing hydrocarbons having two carbon atoms, which comprises introducing methane gas into a reactor downwardly from the top, the reactor comprising a pair of reactor walls extending vertically and facing each other, one of the walls being maintained at a high temperature and the other being maintained at a low temperature, so that the methane gas is dimerized primarily through the dehydrogenation on the surface of the high temperature wall to form C.sub.2 hydrocarbons and hydrogen, and the C.sub.2 hydrocarbons are preferentially diffused and transferred to the low temperature wall side by thermal diffusion effects.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for on-line decoking of flame-cracking reactors whereby decoking is achieved without interruption of the normal operation of such reactors and without the necessity to change feed equipment and/or disassemble reactor components. While maintaining the temperature of the effluent at 1000.degree. C. to 2000.degree. C., the flow of the hydrocarbon feedstock in the reactor is periodically stopped for a time sufficient to reduce the carbon deposits to an acceptable level.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for operation of a plant for the cracking of hydrocarbons. In this process, the hydrocarbons in the cracking furnaces are indirectly heated by the heat incurred in the combustion of a heating medium with an oxygen containing gas. In order to reduce operating costs of such a process, it is suggested to mix the waste gas of a gas turbine with air and to pass the gas mixture to the cacking furnace for combustion of the heating medium whereby an electric generator is powered by the gas turbine.