Patent US6814941B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6814941B1
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US
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Separation process and apparatus
Assignee: Honeywell UOP LLC
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Filing: 2001-08-09
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Granted: 2004-11-09
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Expires: 2021-08-09
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and process is disclosed for the separation of solids from gases and a mixture which is most particularly applicable to an FCC apparatus. The mixture of solids and gases are passed through a conduit and exit through a swirl arm that imparts a swirl motion to centrifugally separate the heavier solids from the lighter gases. The mixture then enters a cyclone through an inlet that has a long, straight sidewall that gradually transitions with a curved outer wall that defines a cyclone barrel and a short, straight sidewall that abruptly transitions with the curved outer wall. The short, straight sidewall is substantially tangentially disposed with respect to a gas recovery conduit which transports a mixture of solids and gases from a reactor conduit. This arrangement provides greater clearance between cyclones and a reactor vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher Naunheimer
- 👤 Timothy J. Herppich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:07
CPC Classifications
B; B04; B04C; B04C7/00; B01; B01J; B01J8/00; B01J8/005; B01J8/0055; B01J8/18; B01J8/24; B01J8/26; C; C10; C10G; C10G11/00; C10G11/14; C10G11/18; B01J38/00; B01J38/04; B01J38/12; B01J38/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A process for the fluidized catalytic cracking of a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising: passing a hydrocarbon feedstock and solid catalyst particles into a reaction conduit to produce a mixture of solid catalyst particles and gaseous fluids; inducing said mixture of said catalyst particles and gaseous fluids to swirl to decrease a catalyst particle concentration and increase a gaseous fluids concentration in said mixture; transporting said mixture through a gas recovery conduit; passing said mixture from said gas recovery conduit to at least one cyclone through a cyclone inlet having a short side and a long side, said short side being substantially tangential to a cross-sectional profile of said gas recovery conduit and said mixture passing from said gas recovery conduit into said at least one cyclone while swirling toward said long side of said cyclone inlet; inducing said mixture in said cyclone to swirl to further decrease the catalyst particle concentration and further increase the gaseous fluids concentration in said mixture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A process for the fluidized catalytic cracking of a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising: passing a hydrocarbon feedstock and solid catalyst particles into a reaction conduit to produce a mixture of solid catalyst particles and gaseous fluids; inducing said mixture of said catalyst particles and gaseous fluids to swirl to decrease a catalyst particle concentration and increase a gaseous fluids concentration in said mixture; transporting said mixture through a gas recovery conduit; passing said mixture from said gas recovery conduit to at least one cyclone through a cyclone inlet having a short side and a long side, said short side being substantially tangential to a cross-sectional profile of said gas recovery conduit and said mixture passing from said gas recovery conduit into said at least one cyclone while swirling toward said long side of said cyclone inlet; inducing said mixture in said cyclone to swirl to further decrease the catalyst particle concentration and further increase the gaseous fluids concentration in said mixture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said mixture exits said reaction conduit through a swirl arm to induce swirling.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said cyclone directly communicates with said gas recovery conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said mixture exits from said reaction conduit into a separation vessel and said gas recovery conduit directly communicates with said separation vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The process of claim 1 further including depositing catalyst particles removed from said mixture in said cyclone into a stripping zone, contacting said catalyst particles with a stripping gas in said stripping zone, recovering stripped catalyst particles from said stripping zone and collecting gaseous fluids from said stripping zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said mixture continues to swirl while it is transported to the cyclone.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for the fluidized catalytic cracking of a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising: a reaction conduit for contacting a hydrocarbon feedstock and solid catalyst particles to produce a mixture of solid catalyst particles and gaseous fluids; a gas recovery conduit in communication with said reaction conduit; a cyclone in communication with said gas recovery conduit, said cyclone having an inlet comprising a short side and a long side, said short side being substantially tangential to a cross sectional profile of said gas recovery conduit and said short side and said long side being parallel to each other.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for the fluidized catalytic cracking of a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising: a reaction conduit for contacting a hydrocarbon feedstock and solid catalyst particles to produce a mixture of solid catalyst particles and gaseous fluids; a gas recovery conduit in communication with said reaction conduit; a cyclone in communication with said gas recovery conduit, said cyclone having an inlet comprising a short side and a long side, said short side being substantially tangential to a cross sectional profile of said gas recovery conduit and said short side and said long side being parallel to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said reaction conduit has a swirl exit configured to induce the solid catalyst particles and gaseous fluids to swirl.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said swirl exit comprises a tubular swirl arm with one end connective with the reaction conduit and an opening at the opposite end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said swirl arm curves about an axis that is parallel to said reaction conduit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the swirl exit is positioned in a separation vessel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein a gas recovery conduit communicates the swirl exit of the reaction conduit with the cyclone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said cyclone includes a centrally disposed gas outlet, and the swirl exit of the gas recovery conduit induces a first angular direction of swirl that is primarily toward said long side of said cyclone inlet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 8 which is a part of an entire fluidized catalytic cracking unit.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for the fluidized catalytic cracking of a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising: a reaction conduit for contacting a hydrocarbon feedstock and solid catalyst particles to produce a mixture of solid catalyst particles and gaseous fluids; a gas recovery conduit in communication with said reaction conduit for transporting said mixture; and a cyclone in communication with said gas recovery conduit, said cyclone having a curved outer wall and an inlet comprising a first side and a second side, a first side of said inlet being contiguous with said curved outer wall and not substantially tangential to a cross sectional profile of said gas recovery conduit and said second side of said inlet being substantially tangential to a cross sectional profile of said gas recovery conduit.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for the fluidized catalytic cracking of a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising: a reaction conduit for contacting a hydrocarbon feedstock and solid catalyst particles to produce a mixture of solid catalyst particles and gaseous fluids; a gas recovery conduit in communication with said reaction conduit for transporting said mixture; and a cyclone in communication with said gas recovery conduit, said cyclone having a curved outer wall and an inlet comprising a first side and a second side, a first side of said inlet being contiguous with said curved outer wall and not substantially tangential to a cross sectional profile of said gas recovery conduit and said second side of said inlet being substantially tangential to a cross sectional profile of said gas recovery conduit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said reaction conduit has a swirl exit configured to induce the solid catalyst particles and gaseous fluids to swirl.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said swirl arm curves in an angular orientation counter to the angular orientation in which said outer wall of the cyclone curves.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said swirl arm curves about an axis that is parallel to said reaction conduit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the swirl exit end is positioned in a separation vessel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 16 which is a part of an entire fluidized catalytic cracking unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-11-09 | 2008-05-10 | 2008-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-11-09 | 2012-05-10 | 2012-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-11-09 | 2016-05-10 | 2016-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |