Abstract: A process is presented for quenching a process stream in a paraffin dehydrogenation process. The process comprises cooling a propane dehydrogenation stream during the hot residence time after the process stream leaves the catalytic bed reactor section. The process includes cooling and compressing the product stream, taking a portion of the product stream and passing the portion of the product stream to the mix with the process stream as it leaves the catalytic bed reactor section.

Abstract: An aromatics complex producing one or more xylene isomers offers a large number of opportunities to conserve energy by heat exchange within the complex. One previously unrecognized opportunity is through providing two parallel distillation columns operating at different pressures to separate C8 aromatics from C9+ aromatics. The parallel columns offer additional opportunities to conserve energy within the complex through heat exchange in associated xylene recovery facilities.

Abstract: An aromatics complex producing one or more xylene isomers offers a large number of opportunities to conserve energy by heat exchange within the complex. One previously unrecognized opportunity is through providing two parallel distillation columns operating at different pressures to separate C8 aromatics from C9+ aromatics. The parallel columns offer additional opportunities to conserve energy within the complex.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for cooling an olefin cracking reactor effluent stream. One provided method includes reacting a hydrocarbon feedstock including C4+ olefins in an olefin cracking reactor to produce an olefin cracking reactor effluent stream, providing the olefin cracking reactor effluent stream to an inlet of a contact cooler, contacting the olefin cracking reactor effluent stream with a first quench liquid in a first contact zone in the contact cooler to produce a first bottoms stream and an intermediate vapor stream, contacting the intermediate vapor stream with a second quench liquid in a second contact zone in the contact cooler to produce a second bottoms stream and a cooled vapor stream, and removing the cooled vapor stream from an outlet of the contact cooler. The method can also include cooling the first bottoms stream to provide a cooled first bottoms stream, and cooling the second bottoms stream to provide a cooled second bottoms stream.

Abstract: An aromatics complex producing one or more xylene isomers offers a large number of opportunities to conserve energy by heat exchange within the complex. One previously unrecognized opportunity is through providing two parallel distillation columns operating at different pressures to separate C8 aromatics from C9+ aromatics. The parallel columns offer additional opportunities to conserve energy within the complex through heat exchange in associated xylene recovery facilities.

Abstract: A method for improving performance of a catalyzed reaction carried out in a moving bed system having a reaction zone. A process stream is introduced into the reaction zone at a temperature, and the temperature of the catalyst introduced to the reaction zone is different from the process stream introduction temperature to increase conversion.

Abstract: A process for separating para-xylene from aromatic compounds is presented. The process introduces throughout a first step-time interval a first mixed xylene stream into a first feed input on a first adsorptive separation unit comprising multiple bed lines. The process further introduces throughout the first step-time interval a second mixed xylene stream into a second feed input on the first adsorptive separation unit. During a first portion of the first step-time interval, the process introduces material from a feed stream used during the first step-time interval into a bed line not used to deliver a stream into, or withdraw a stream from, the first adsorptive separation unit during the first step time interval. During a second portion of the first step-time interval, the process introduces material from a purification zone into the feed stream used during the first step-time interval.

Abstract: The present process comprises a means for energy savings in a process pump by combining the pump with a power-recovery turbine. The invention is particularly useful in the separation of a desired product from a mixture of components using simulated-moving-bed adsorption associated with a large circulating stream with a power-recovery turbine feature for conservation of energy relative to the known art. The improvement is particularly applicable to a process for the separation of para-xylene from mixed C8 aromatics.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of C2 to C3 olefins via the catalytic cracking of feedstocks including C4 and heavier olefins in an integrated reaction/regeneration system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of C2 to C3 olefins via the catalytic cracking of feedstocks including C4 and heavier olefins in an integrated reaction/regeneration system.

Abstract: Methods and processes for increasing the efficiency and/or expanding the capacity of a dehydrogenation unit by use of at least one direct heating unit are described.

Abstract: A method and system for providing heat to a chemical conversion process is advantageously employed in the production of olefin by the catalytic dehydrogenation of a corresponding hydrocarbon. The catalytic dehydrogenation process employs diluent steam operating at a steam to oil ratio which can be 1.0 or below and relatively low steam superheater furnace temperature. The process and system are advantageously employed for the production of styrene by the catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene.

Abstract: Improved processing of an oxygenate-containing feedstock involving increased or enhanced removal or recovery of carbonyls, particularly, acetaldehyde via either or both application of a more stringent stripping regime or addition of a sulfite-containing material.

Abstract: Methods and processes for increasing the efficiency and/or expanding the capacity of a dehydrogenation unit by use of at least one direct heating unit are described.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for removing fouling from a heat transfer surface, such as a heat exchanger. The method involves conducting a vapor containing a scouring material to the heat transfer surface and contacting the scouring material with the foulant, the heat transfer surface, or both. Scouring material and removed foulant can be recovered and conducted away.

Abstract: A processing scheme and arrangement for enhanced olefin production involves cooling or treating an olefin cracking reactor effluent stream by contacting the olefin cracking reactor effluent stream with a quench oil stream in a single contact cooler contact zone to produce a cooled vapor stream and to form a heated quench oil stream. A pressure differential across the single contact cooler is less than about 3.5 kPa. The heated quench oil stream can be subsequently cooled and returned to the single contact cooler.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of olefins, and in particular for separation of olefins produced by a dehydrogenation process from paraffin feed stocks, is provided. A high pressure product splitter is used to separate olefins produced in a dehydrogenation plant from residual paraffin feed stocks. The use of a high pressure splitter to separate olefin products from paraffin feed stocks allows for recovery of a high purity olefin product with lower energy consumption compared to prior art processes. The process is particularly suited to separation of propylene from propane.

Abstract: Processes and systems for utilizing products from DME synthesis in converting oxygenates to olefins are provided that include removing a DME-reactor effluent from a DME reactor, wherein the DME effluent includes DME, water, and methanol; separating carbon dioxide gas from the DME reactor effluent in a liquid gas separator to produce a degassed effluent stream. The processes and systems can include feeding the degassed effluent stream to an oxygenate to olefin reactor to produce an olefin containing effluent, wherein the olefin containing effluent further includes oxygenates.

Abstract: This invention, in one embodiment, is drawn to a process for forming olefin product by contacting an oxygenate with an olefin-forming catalyst under supercritical conditions to form an olefin product. This invention also relates to methods for activating molecular sieve catalyst, regenerating molecular sieve catalyst, and forming and/or disposing a co-catalyst within a molecular sieve catalyst, each under supercritical conditions.

Abstract: Processing schemes and arrangements are provided for obtaining ethylene and ethane via the catalytic cracking of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock and converting the ethylene into ethyl benzene without separating the ethane from the feed stream. The disclosed processing schemes and arrangements advantageously eliminate any separation of ethylene from ethane produced by a FCC process prior to using the combined ethylene/ethane stream as a feed for an ethyl benzene process. Further, heat from the alkylation reactor is used for one of the strippers of the FCC process and at least one bottoms stream from alkylation process is used as an absorption solvent in the FCC process.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for limiting the loss of catalyst particles through olefin product streams and regenerator flue gas streams exiting the reaction system. In particular, this invention provides for removing catalyst particles from the reactor using a water stream and from the regenerator using a two step separation process. The two step process involves the use of a catalyst fine separation unit.

Abstract: Processing schemes and arrangements are provided for obtaining ethylene and ethane via the catalytic cracking of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock and converting the ethylene into ethyl benzene without separating the ethane from the feed stream. The disclosed processing schemes and arrangements advantageously eliminate any separation of ethylene from ethane produced by a FCC process prior to using the combined ethylene/ethane stream as a feed for an ethyl benzene process. Further, heat from the alkylation reactor is used for one of the strippers of the FCC process and at least one bottoms stream from alkylation process is used as an absorption solvent in the FCC process.

Abstract: Processing schemes and arrangements are provided for obtaining propylene and propane via the catalytic cracking of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock and converting the propylene into cumene without separating the propane from the propane/propylene feed stream. The disclosed processing schemes and arrangements advantageously eliminate any separation of propylene from propane produced by a FCC process prior to using the combined propane/propane stream as a feed for a cumene alkylation process. A bottoms stream from the cumene column of the cumene alkylation process can be used and an absorption solvent in the FCC process thereby eliminating the need for a transalkylation reactor and a DIPB/TIPB column.

Abstract: A processing scheme and arrangement for enhanced olefin production involves recovering thermal energy from a reactor effluent stream resulting from the dehydrogenation of a dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon. The process involves contacting the reactor effluent stream with a circulating fluid stream in a first contact cooling zone to produce a product stream and to form a heated circulating fluid stream. Thermal energy is recovered from the heated circulating fluid stream via indirect heat exchange with a first process stream in a first heat exchange zone to form a cooled circulating fluid stream. The cooled circulating fluid stream can be subsequently cooled and at least a first portion thereof returned to the first contact cooling zone.

Abstract: Recent experimental work with currently available adsorbents indicates that operating the adsorption section at lower temperatures improves the para-xylene productivity. As a result, an aromatics complex and heat recovery network for a low temperature adsorptive separation-isomerization loop is disclosed resulting in adsorbents savings in combination with higher capacity thereby enabling smaller adsorbents chambers, a smaller total heat exchanger area and a lower heat exchanger shell count.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes for quenching a pyrolysis furnace effluent are provided. In one embodiment, a hydrocarbon stream comprising gas and oil vapor can be quenched with a first quench water stream to form a mixed vapor-liquid stream. The mixed vapor-liquid stream can be fed to a water quench tower to separate the vapor and liquid. The separated vapor can be further quenched with a second quench water stream in the quench tower to form an overhead vapor product comprising light hydrocarbons. Water and liquid hydrocarbons can be collected from the quench tower in an oil-water separator. The liquid hydrocarbons can be recovered from the oil-water separator. Water can be recovered from the oil-water separator. A portion of the recovered water can be cooled. The cooled water can be recycled to the first and second quench water streams.

Abstract: This invention is directed to methods of removing water and other condensable materials, as well as solids particles such as catalyst particles, from olefin product streams so as to reduce fouling in the liquid and vapor separation equipment. In order to reduce fouling or contamination in the condensing or quenching process, this invention includes adding a hydrocarbon to at least a portion of the condensed liquid fraction in an amount that effects separation of the liquid fraction into upper and lower fractions.

Abstract: Catalyst losses are prevented in riser reactor systems by using a low inlet velocity for the first cyclone separator in each multi-stage cyclone separator in the reactor. Catalyst particles not separated from the product output flow in an oxygenate-to-olefin reactor are also recaptured by cooling the product output flow and passing the flow through an electrostatic precipitator.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for quenching a reactor effluent stream. The reactor effluent stream comprises water, olefin product, and methanol and is further entrained with catalyst fines. The process removes water, catalyst fines, and methanol. Particularly, methanol removal from the reactor effluent stream is improved.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a process for cooling a reactor effluent stream from a methanol-to-olefins reactor. The process is efficient and recovers heat from the reactor effluent stream in one or more highly usable forms, preferably high pressure superheated steam.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for handling and/or disposing catalyst fines produced in an oxygenate-to-olefins reactor. The process enhances the way catalyst fines are separated from the liquid fraction by use of a flocculent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovering heat in an oxygenate to olefin (“OTO”) production process. The process includes removing heat while maintaining the temperature of an effluent stream that comprises solid particles (typically catalyst particles) and a gas phase comprising prime olefins from an OTO reactor above the dew point temperature of the effluent stream. The process further includes washing the effluent stream in solids wash to remove the solid particles from the gas phase into a liquid wash medium.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing temperature-sensitive polymers utilizing a heat transfer fluid comprising a hydrocarbon fluid selected from aliphatic hydrocarbons, alicyclic hydrocarbons, aliphatic- or alicyclic-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons, or mixtures thereof, the hydrocarbon fluid having a boiling point from 220° C. to 250° C. and a melting point less than 40° C., and temperature-sensitive polymer articles produced therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for handling and/or disposing catalyst fines produced in an oxygenate-to-olefins reactor. The process enhances the way catalyst fines are separated from the liquid fraction by use of a flocculent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for adding heat to a reactor system used to convert oxygenates to olefin, in which supplemental heat is added with a heating fuel, e.g., a torch oil, having low autoignition temperature, low sulfur, and low nitrogen content.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovering heat in an oxygenate to olefin (“OTO”) production process. The process includes removing heat while maintaining the temperature of an effluent stream that comprises solid particles (typically catalyst particles) and a gas phase comprising prime olefins from an OTO reactor above the dew point temperature of the effluent stream. The process further includes washing the effluent stream in solids wash to remove the solid particles from the gas phase into a liquid wash medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for catalytically converting a feedstock comprising an oxygenate to olefins utilizing a heat exchange device to transfer heat from at least a portion of an effluent of an oxygenate conversion reactor to the feedstock to cause at least a portion of the feedstock to vaporize.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing temperature-sensitive polymers utilizing a heat transfer fluid comprising a hydrocarbon fluid selected from aliphatic hydrocarbons, alicyclic hydrocarbons, aliphatic- or alicyclic-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons, or mixtures thereof, the hydrocarbon fluid having a boiling point from 220° C. to 250° C. and a melting point less than 40° C., and temperature-sensitive polymer articles produced therefrom.

Abstract: The invention is a process for recovering heat and removing impurities from a reactor effluent stream withdrawn from a fluidized exothermic reaction zone for conversion of oxygenates into light olefins from an oxygenate feedstream. The process comprises a two-stage quench tower system to remove water from the reactor effluent stream in the first tower and recover heat from the reactor effluent to at least partially vaporize the feedstream by indirect heat exchange between the oxygenate feedstream and either a first stage overhead stream or a first stage pumparound stream. A drag stream withdrawn from the first tower comprises the majority of the impurities and higher boiling oxygenates. The second stage tower further removes water and provides a purified water stream which requires minimal water stripping to produce a high purity water stream. The invention concentrates the impurities into a relatively small stream and results in significant energy and capital savings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for catalytically converting a feedstock comprising an oxygenate to olefins utilizing a heat exchange device to transfer heat from at least a portion of an effluent of an oxygenate conversion reactor to the feedstock to cause at least a portion of the feedstock to vaporize.

Abstract: A fluidized catalytic cracking process for catalytically cracking a feed to lighter products includes introducing a heated catalyst and the feed into a bottom riser of a fluidized catalytic cracking apparatus and allowing the heated catalyst and the feed to preaccelerate upwardly within the bottom riser as a mixture; flowing the mixture upwardly from the bottom riser through a plurality of microriser tubes disposed within a regenerator under conditions effective to cause a cracking reaction of the hydrocarbons and result in a mixture including coked catalyst and hydrocarbon vapors; passing the mixture from the microriser tubes through a catalyst separator for separating the coked catalyst from the hydrocarbon vapors; collecting coked catalyst in a stripper for stripping out hydrocarbon vapors carried along with the coked catalyst and introducing the coked catalyst collected into a regenerator; simultaneous with flowing the mixture, combusting the coked catalyst within the regenerator under conditions effectiv

Abstract: Apparatus and process are disclosed for the distillation separation of styrene monomer from ethylbenzene utilizing a split feed to two distillation columns in conjunction with cascade reboiling utilizing thermal energy from the overhead of one column to supply heat to the second.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for catalytically converting a feedstock comprising an oxygenates to olefins with direct product quenching to increase heat recovery and to improve heat integration.

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: Economies in capital cost and operation of a hydrocarbon refining unit for desulfurization of diesel fuel are provided by a heat exchange sequence which eliminates the need for a fired heater on the product fractionation zone. The feed to the fractionation zone is heat exchanged twice against both the effluent bottoms stream of the fractionation zone and the reaction zone effluent stream.

Abstract: An FCC reactor and regenerator arrangement provides substantially independent control of temperature on the reactor side and regenerator side of the process. The arrangement withdraws cooled regenerated catalyst for transfer to a reactor riser and cooled regenerator catalyst for return to the regeneration zone. The process may operate with a single cooler that supplies catalyst to both the reaction side of the process and the regeneration side of the process.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of ethylene by non-catalytic oxidative cracking of ethane or ethane rich C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 paraffins with high conversion, selectivity and productivity, operating in a most energy efficient and safe manner requiring little or no external energy, in an empty tubular reactor, wherein the exothermic oxidative conversion of ethane or ethane rich C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 paraffins is coupled with the endothermic hydrocarbon cracking reactions by carrying out both the exothermic and endothermic reactions simultaneously in the reactor so that the heat produced in the exothermic reactions is used instantly in the endothermic reactions and thereby making the overall process mildly exothermic, near thermo-neutral or mildly endothermic, which comprises passing a preheated gaseous feed comprising of ethane or ethane rich C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 paraffins, oxygen and steam through an empty tubular reactor operated at the effective temperature, pressure, space velocity and hydrocarbon/O.sub.

Abstract: In a hydrotreating process a two phase flow splitter is used in combination with parallel heat exchanger trains for heat transfer stability. Flow maldistribution of liquid and vapor between heat exchanger trains is thereby avoided without more complex feedback control. The two phase flow splitter is inherently phase volume ratio stable. Prior methods of flow splitting were only phase volume ratio metastable. Improved heat recovery at lower equipment cost is thereby achieved.

Abstract: A novel, packed-bed, reverse flow reactor is provided for the endothermic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene. The catalyst bed is flanked by inert end sections to prevent the occurrence of the reverse reaction. Ethylbenzene vapor is added at one end of the reactor while superheated steam is added concurrently at a downstream location. The flow direction is periodically reversed by alternating the ethylbenzene introduction between the reactor ends and the steam introduction between axially symmetric locations away from the reactor ends. Employing a steam to ethylbenzene feed ratio of 8:1 to 10.2:1 (as compared to 12:1 to 17:1 employed during conventional adiabatic operation), it is shown that the proposed reverse flow operation produces reactor temperatures that are hundreds of degrees higher than the mixing cup temperature of the feed streams.

Abstract: A reactor arrangement and process for indirectly contacting a reactant stream with a heat exchange stream uses an arrangement of heat exchange plates to control temperature conditions by varying the heat transfer factor in different portions of a continuous channel defined by the heat exchange plates. The reactor arrangement and process of this invention may be used to operate a reactor under isothermal or other controlled temperature conditions. The variation in the heat transfer factor within a single heat exchange section is highly useful in maintaining a desired temperature profile in an arrangement having a cross-flow of heat exchange medium relative to reactants. The corrugations arrangement eliminates or minimizes the typical step-wise approach to isothermal conditions.