Abstract A continuous process for the alkylation of an alkylatable hydrocarbon with an alkylating agent in the presence of an acid-type catalyst, including; contacting an alkylatable hydrocarbon with an alkylating agent in the presence of an acid-type catalyst at a temperature and pressure and for a time sufficient to alkylate the alkylatable hydrocarbon; separating the reaction effluent stream into an alkylate product phase and a catalyst phase containing catalyst-soluble oil; cooling the catalyst phase to a temperature essentially equal to the alkylation reaction temperature; recycling the cooled catalyst phase to the alkylation reaction; contacting a diolefinic hydrocarbon with an acid-type catalyst at a temperature and pressure sufficient to form additional catalyst-soluble oil and combining the additional catalyst-soluble oil with the circulating catalyst phase. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a quantity selected from the amount of catalyst-soluble oil, water and/or the total of the amount of catalyst-soluble oil and water in the catalyst phase is controlled, within specific limits. A start-up procedure and apparatus for carrying out the process are also included.
Apparatus for producing a hydrocarbon alkylate product, comprising; alkylation reactor means adapted to alkylate an alkylatable hydrocarbon with an alkylating agent in the presence of an acid-type catalyst; separator-surge vessel means adapted to receive alkylation reactor effluent from said alkylation reactor and separate said effluent into an alkylate product phase and a recycled catalyst phase; first conduit means for recycling said separated catalyst phase to said alkylation reactor; cooling means in said first conduit means; hydroisomerization reactor means; second conduit means adapted to introduce an alkylating agent to said hydroisomerization means; third conduit means adapted to receive effluent product from said hydroisomerization reactor and introduce said effluent to said alkylation reactor; and bypass conduit means adapted to at least periodicially bypass at least a portion of the alkylating agent around said hydroisomerization reactor and directly to said alkylation reactor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for producing a hydrocarbon alkylate product, comprising; alkylation reactor means adapted to alkylate an alkylatable hydrocarbon with an alkylating agent in the presence of an acid-type catalyst; separator-surge vessel means adapted to receive alkylation reactor effluent from said alkylation reactor and separate said effluent into an alkylate product phase and a recycled catalyst phase; first conduit means for recycling said separated catalyst phase to said alkylation reactor; cooling means in said first conduit means; hydroisomerization reactor means; second conduit means adapted to introduce an alkylating agent to said hydroisomerization means; third conduit means adapted to receive effluent product from said hydroisomerization reactor and introduce said effluent to said alkylation reactor; and bypass conduit means adapted to at least periodicially bypass at least a portion of the alkylating agent around said hydroisomerization reactor and directly to said alkylation reactor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the bypass conduit means includes a control valve means adapted to control the amount of the alkylating agent passing through said bypass conduit means directly to the alkylation reactor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes detector means operatively connected to the first conduit means and adapted to at least periodically determine the amount of catalyst soluble oil in the recycled catalyst phase and control means operatively connected to the bypass conduit means for adjusting the amount of alkylating agent bypassed around the hydroisomerization reactor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the alkylation reactor is adapted to contact the alkylatable hydrocarbon with the alkylating agent in the presence of the catalyst in a liquid phase.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein the detector means includes means for sampling the recycled catalyst phase, separating means adapted to separate catalyst-soluble oil from the sample of recycled catalyst phase and measuring means for measuring the amount of separated catalyst-soluble oil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein the control means is a flow control means.