Fluidized solids apparatus

Claim 2

In an apparatus for carrying out a chemical reaction in the presence of fluidized solids comprising a vessel adapted to contain a dense phase of fluidized solid particles in its lower portion and a dilute phase in the upper portion, inlet means for introducing fluidizing gas into the lower portion of said vessel, outlet means for removing product vapors from the upper portions of said vessel, at least one centrifugal gas-solids separator in association with said outlet means and adapted to remove solid particles from said product vapors, a conduit in association with said separator for returning separated solid particles downward into said vessel, and a unidirectional valve means positioned at the end of said conduit which comprises a pivotally mounted valve closure means having a pivotal mounting attached to the exterior of said conduit, the improvement which comprises a conical body surrounding and attached to the lower end of said conduit with its base directed downward, wherein said conical body extends laterally at its base a distance from the wall of said conduit which is further than the lateral distance between a vertical line passing through any portion of the valve closure means when in a closed position and the wall of said conduit, and wherein the base of said conical body is situated above the top of said valve closure means by a distance which is less than about the diameter of said base.

Claim 3

In an apparatus for the fluidized catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons comprising a reactor vessel defining a dense phase of fluidized cracking catalyst particles in its lower portion and a dilute phase in its upper portion for disengaging hydrocarbon vapors and fluidizing gas from spent cracking catalyst, inlet means for introducing fluidizing gas into the lower portion of said dense phase, outlet means for removing hydrocarbon vapors and fluidizing gas from the upper portions of said vessel, at least one centrifugal gas-solids separator in association with said outlet means and adapted to remove entrained catalyst particles from said hydrocarbon vapors and fluidizing gas, a conduit in association with said separator for returning separated catalyst particles downward into said vessel, a unidirectional valve means positioned at the end of said conduit which comprises a pivotally mounted valve closure means having a pivotal mounting attached to the exterior of said conduit, and a transfer line extending into said vessel for discharging catalyst particles and hydrocarbon vapors downwardly into said vessel from above the unidirectional valve means, the improvement which comprises a conical body surrounding and attached to the lower end of said conduit with its base directed downward, wherein said conical body extends laterally at its base a distance from the wall of said conduit which is further than the lateral distance between a vertical line passing through any portion of the valve closure means when in a closed position and the wall of said conduit, and wherein the base of said conical body is situated above the top of said valve closure means by a distance which is less than about the diameter of said base.

Claim 4

In an apparatus for the fluidized catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons comprising a reactor vessel defining a dense phase of fluidized cracking catalyst particles in its lower portion and a dilute phase in its upper portion for disengaging hydrocarbon vapors and fluidizing gas from spent cracking catalyst, inlet means for introducing fluidizing gas into the lower portion of said dense phase, outlet means for removing hydrocarbon vapors and fluidizing gas from the upper portions of said vessel, at least one centrifugal gas-solids separator in association with said outlet means and adapted to remove entrained catalyst particles from said hydrocarbon vapors and fluidizing gas, a conduit in association with said separator for returning separated catalyst particles downward into said vessel, a unidirectional valve means positioned at the end of said conduit which comprises a pivotally mounted valve closure means having a pivotal mounting attached to the exterior of said conduit, and a transfer line extending into said vessel for discharging catalyst particles and hydrocarbon vapors downwardly into said vessel from above the unidirectional valve means, the improvement which comprises a conical body surrounding and attached to the lower end of said conduit with its base directed downward, wherein said conical body extends laterally at its base a distance from the wall of said conduit which is further than the lateral distance between a vertical line passing through any portion of the valve closure means when in a closed position and the wall of said conduit, and wherein the base of said conical body is situated above the top of said valve closure means by a distance which is less than about the diameter of said base.

Claim 5

The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said conical body has the shape of a right circular cone.

Claim 6

The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said conduit has a circular cross section and said conical body has a diameter at its base which is from about 2 to about 5 times that of the conduit.

Claim 7

The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said conical body is coaxial with said conduit.

Claim 8

The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the angle formed by the wall of said conduit and said conical body is less than about 50°.

Claim 9

The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the angle formed by the wall of said conduit and said conical body is about 45°.

Claim 10

The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the base of said conical body is situated above the top of said valve closure means by a distance which is less than about one half of the diameter of said base.

Claim 11

The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said conical body is nonperforated.