Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A process for converting olefins to heavier liquid hydrocarbons comprising contacting an olefinic liquid hydrocarbon feedstream containing oxygenated hydrocarbons with a polar solvent under liquid extraction conditions and recovering a polar extract phase containing the oxygenated hydrocarbons and an olefinic liquid raffinate stream substantially free of oxygenated hydrocarbons; contacting the olefinic liquid stream in a first catalyst reactor zone with oligomerization catalyst at elevated pressure and moderate temperature under conditions favorable for conversion of olefins to a first reactor effluent stream rich in distillate range hydrocarbons; flashing the distillate-rich stream and separating the first reactor effluent stream into a liquid product stream rich in distillate and a vapor stream containing lower hydrocarbons; separating oxygenated hydrocarbons from the polar extract phase; and contacting at least a portion of the vapor stream from the flashing step and recovered oxygenated hydrocarbons in a second catalyst reactor zone with oligomerization catalyst at moderate pressure and elevated temperature under conditions favorable for conversion of lower olefins and oxygenates to a second reactor effluent stream rich in heavier hydrocarbons.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A process for converting olefins to heavier liquid hydrocarbons comprising contacting an olefinic liquid hydrocarbon feedstream containing oxygenated hydrocarbons with a polar solvent under liquid extraction conditions and recovering a polar extract phase containing the oxygenated hydrocarbons and an olefinic liquid raffinate stream substantially free of oxygenated hydrocarbons; contacting the olefinic liquid stream in a first catalyst reactor zone with oligomerization catalyst at elevated pressure and moderate temperature under conditions favorable for conversion of olefins to a first reactor effluent stream rich in distillate range hydrocarbons; flashing the distillate-rich stream and separating the first reactor effluent stream into a liquid product stream rich in distillate and a vapor stream containing lower hydrocarbons; separating oxygenated hydrocarbons from the polar extract phase; and contacting at least a portion of the vapor stream from the flashing step and recovered oxygenated hydrocarbons in a second catalyst reactor zone with oligomerization catalyst at moderate pressure and elevated temperature under conditions favorable for conversion of lower olefins and oxygenates to a second reactor effluent stream rich in heavier hydrocarbons.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the olefinic feedstream is rich in C 3 + mono-olefins and contains a minor amount of C 2 -C 6 oxygenates, and wherein the polar soluent consists essentially of water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein byproduct water is recovered from at least one reactor zone and recycled as extraction solvent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the first and second effluent streams are fractionated to provide a gasoline-range hydrocarbon stream, and at least a portion of the gasoline stream is recycled to the first reactor zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 4 wherein effluent is fractionated to provide a C 3 -C 4 rich stream for recycle to the second reactor zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 5 wherein at least a portion of the first effluent flashed vapor stream is partially condensed to provide a pressurized liquid for recycle to the first reactor zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the first and second reactor zones contain an acid ZSM-5 type catalyst.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the catalyst reactor zones comprise a fixed bed down flow pressurized reactor having a porous bed of ZSM-5 type catalyst particles with an acid activity of about 160 to 200.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the first reactor zone is maintained at a pressure of about 4200 to 7000 kPa and a temperature of about 190° C. to 315° C.; and wherein the second reactor zone is maintained at a presure of about 400 to 3000 kPa and a temperature of about 285° C. to 375° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
96 words
In the process for oligomerizing olefinic Fischer-Tropsch liquids to produce heavier hydrocarbons by converting olefinic feedstock containing oxygenated hydrocarbons over an acidic zeolite catalyst, the improvement which comprises: extracting oxygenates from the feedstock; converting the extracted feedstock in a primary stage distillate mode catalytic reactor system under low severity conditions at high pressure and moderate pressure; and recovering the oxygenates and light hydrocarbons from the primary stage for conversion in a secondary stage reactor system under high severity conditions at substantially higher temperature than the primary stage, thereby converting oxygenates and light hydrocarbons to heavier hydrocarbons.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
In the process for oligomerizing olefinic Fischer-Tropsch liquids to produce heavier hydrocarbons by converting olefinic feedstock containing oxygenated hydrocarbons over an acidic zeolite catalyst, the improvement which comprises: extracting oxygenates from the feedstock; converting the extracted feedstock in a primary stage distillate mode catalytic reactor system under low severity conditions at high pressure and moderate pressure; and recovering the oxygenates and light hydrocarbons from the primary stage for conversion in a secondary stage reactor system under high severity conditions at substantially higher temperature than the primary stage, thereby converting oxygenates and light hydrocarbons to heavier hydrocarbons.