Control of reaction zone severity by response to octane number of effluent liquid at reaction pressure

Claim 2

The system of claim 2 further characterized in the provision of means to sense conversion zone temperature, temperature control means connecting with said temperature sensing means with such control means having an adjustable setpoint and developing a temperature output signal, and means transmitting said temperature output signal to the setpoint of said flow controller, with said means (c) transmitting said analyzer output signal to said temperature control means setpoint whereby the latter is adjusted responsive to liquid phase octane number.

Claim 3

The system of claim 3 wherein said temperature sensing means comprises first means sensing the temperature of an inlet sEction of said conversion zone and second means sensing the temperature of an outlet section of said conversion zone, whereby said temperature output signal provides a measure of temperature difference between said inlet and outlet sections.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 further characterized in the provision of first means to sense a first temperature of said conversion zone, first temperature control means connecting with said first temperature sensing means with such control means having an adjustable setpoint and developing a first temperature output signal, means transmitting said first temperature output signal to the setpoint of said flow controller, second means to sense a second temperature of an inlet section of said conversion zone, third means to sense a third temperature of an outlet section of said conversion zone, second temperature control means connecting with said second and third temperature sensing means with such control means having an adjustable setpoint and developing a second temperature output signal which provides a measure of temperature difference between said inlet and outlet sections, and means transmitting said second temperature output signal to the setpoint of said first temperature control means, with said means (c) transmitting said analyzer output signal to said second temperature control means setpoint whereby the latter is adjusted responsive to liquid phase octane number.

Claim 5

In a continuous flow hydrocarbon conversion process wherein a hydrocarbon charge stock is passed through a conversion zone at conversion conditions comprising elevated temperature and a first elevated pressure, and the resulting conversion product effluent is separated into a vapor phase and into a liquid phase comprising gasoline boiling range hydrocarbon components, said conversion process having charge stock preheating means, said conversion zone, a vapor-liquid phase separation zone maintained at a second elevated pressure, means for passing charge stock to said preheating means, means for passing charge stock from said preheating means to said conversion zone, means for passing conversion product effluent from said conversion zone to said separation zone, and means for supplying heat to said preheating means from an external source, the improved control system for said conversion process which comprises in combination: a. operatively associated with said heat supplying means, means to vary the heat input to said preheating means: b. a hydrocarbon analyzer comprising a stabilized cool flame generator with a servo-positioned flame front, continuously receiving a sample of said liquid phase from said separation zone substantially at said second elevated pressure, and developing an output signal which in turn provides a measure of sample octane number; and, c. means transmitting said analyzer output signal to said heat input varying means whereby the heat input to said preheating means is regulated responsive to octane number of said liquid phase and said octane number is thereby maintained at a constant predetermined level.

Claim 6

The system of claim 6 wherein said heat input varying means comprises a flow control loop including a flow controller having an adjustable setpoint regulating the flow of heating medium through said preheating means, whereby said setpoint is adjusted in response to said analyzer output signal.

Claim 7

The system of claim 7 further characterized in the provision of means to sense conversion zone temperature, temperature control means connecting with said temperature sensing means with such control means having an adjustable setpoint and developing a temperature output signal, and means transmitting said temperature output signal to the setpoint of said flow controller, with said means (c) transmitting said analyzer output signal to said temperature control means setpoint whereby the latter is adjusted responsive to liquid phase octane number.

Claim 8

The system of claim 8 wherein said temperature sensing means comprises first Means sensing the temperature of an inlet section of said conversion zone and second means sensing the temperature of an outlet section of said conversion zone, whereby said temperature output signal provides a measure of temperature difference between said inlet and outlet sections.

Claim 9

The system of claim 7 further characterized in the provision of first means to sense a first temperature of said conversion zone, first temperature control means connecting with said first temperature sensing means with such control means having an adjustable setpoint and developing a first temperature output signal, means transmitting said first temperature output signal to the setpoint of said flow controller, second means to sense a second temperature of an inlet section of said conversion zone, third means to sense a third temperature of an outlet section of said conversion zone, second temperature control means connecting with said second and third temperature sensing means with such control means having an adjustable setpoint and developing a second temperature output signal which provides a measure of temperature difference between said inlet and outlet sections, and means transmitting said second temperature output signal to the setpoint of said first temperature control means, with said means (c) transmitting said analyzer output signal to said second temperature control means setpoint whereby the latter is adjusted responsive to liquid phase octane number.

Claim 10

In a continuous flow hydrocarbon conversion process wherein a hydrocarbon charge stock is passed through a conversion zone at conversion conditions comprising elevated temperature, and the resulting conversion product effluent is separated into a vapor phase and into a liquid phase comprising gasoline boiling range hydrocarbon components, said conversion process having charge stock preheating means, said conversion zone, a vapor-liquid phase separation zone, means for passing charge stock to said preheating means, means for passing charge stock from said preheating means to said conversion zone, and means for passing conversion product effluent from said conversion zone to said separation zone, the improved control system for said conversion process which comprises in combination: a. operatively associated with said conversion zone, means to vary the severity of conversion conditions therein; b. a hydrocarbon analyzer comprising a stabilized cool flame generator with a servo-positioned flame front, continuously receiving a sample of said liquid phase from said separation zone without intervening depressurization, and developing an output signal which in turn provides a measure of sample octane number; and, c. means transmitting said analyzer output signal to said means (a) whereby the severity of said conversion conditions is regulated responsive to octane number of said liquid phase and said octane number is thereby maintained at a constant predetermined level.

Claim 11

The system of claim 11 wherein said means (a) varies temperature within said conversion zone.

Claim 12

The system of claim 11 wherein said means (a) varies the flow of at least one reactant within said conversion zone.

Claim 13

The system of claim 11 wherein said conversion process comprises a fluidized catalytic cracking process, and said means (a) varies the flow of fluidized catalyst within said conversion zone.