Petroleum resid processing

This section covers recent advances in the application of three-phase fluidization systems in the petroleum and chemical process industries. These areas encompass many of the important commercial applications of three-phase fluidized beds. The technology for such applications as petroleum resid processing and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis have been successfully demonstrated in plants throughout the world. Overviews and operational considerations for recent improvements in the hydrotreating of petroleum resids, applications in the hydrotreating of light gas-oil, and improvements and new applications in hydrocarbon synthesis will be discussed. 

Heck, R.H. Rankel, L.A. DiGuiseppi, F. T. Conversion of petroleum resid from Maya crude Effects of H-donors, hydrogen pressure and catalyst. Fuel Process. TechnoL, 1992, 30,69-81. 

In addition to scale-up difficulties, there are a number of problems related to the stable operation of a bubble column associated with hydrodynamics. For example, consider the important commercial application of bubble columns in hydroprocessing of petroleum resids, heavy oils and synthetic crudes. Hydrodynamic cold flow and hot flow studies on the Exxon Donor Solvent coal liquefaction process (Tarmy et al., 1984) showed that much of the literature correlations for the hydrodynamic parameters (holdup, interfacial area and dispersion coefficients) obtained with cold flow units, at ambient conditions, are not applicable for commercial units operating at relatively higher pressures. In addition, the flow pattern in commercial units was considerably different. In the hydroprocessing of petroleum residues by the H-Oil and LC-Fining processes, refinery operations have experienced problems with nonuniform distribution of gas and liquid reactants across the distributor, maintaining stable fluidization and preventing temperature excursions (Beaton et al., 1986, Fan, 1989 and Embaby, 1990). Catalyst addition, withdrawal and elutriation have also been identified as problems in these hydrotreaters. 

Mariette, L., A. Billon and T. Descourieres (1988), Hyvahl process for high conversion of resids . Japanese Petroleum Institute Conference, Tokyo. 

Olefins are produced primarily by thermal cracking of a hydrocarbon feedstock which takes place at low residence time in the presence of steam in the tubes of a furnace. In the United States, natural gas Hquids derived from natural gas processing, primarily ethane [74-84-0] and propane [74-98-6] have been the dominant feedstock for olefins plants, accounting for about 50 to 70% of ethylene production. Most of the remainder has been based on cracking naphtha or gas oil hydrocarbon streams which are derived from cmde oil. Naphtha is a hydrocarbon fraction boiling between 40 and 170°C, whereas the gas oil fraction bods between about 310 and 490°C. These feedstocks, which have been used primarily by producers with refinery affiliations, account for most of the remainder of olefins production. In addition a substantial amount of propylene and a small amount of ethylene ate recovered from waste gases produced in petroleum refineries. 

Thermal Cracking. Heavy petroleum fractions such as resid are thermally cracked in delayed cokers or flexicokers (44,56,57). The main products from the process are petroleum coke and off-gas which contain light olefins and butylenes. This stream also contains a considerable amount of butane. Process conditions for the flexicoker are more severe than for the delayed coker, about 550°C versus 450°C. Both are operated at low pressures, around 300—600 kPa (43—87 psi). Flexicokers produce much more linear butenes, particularly 2-butene, than delayed cokers and about half the amount of isobutylene (Table 7). This is attributed to high severity of operation for the flexicoker (43). 

Solvent extraction may also be used to reduce asphaltenes and metals from heavy fractions and residues before using them in catalytic cracking. The organic solvent separates the resids into demetallized oil with lower metal and asphaltene content than the feed, and asphalt with high metal content. Figure 3-2 shows the IFP deasphalting process and Table 3-2 shows the analysis of feed before and after solvent treatment. Solvent extraction is used extensively in the petroleum refining industry. Each process uses its selective solvent, but, the basic principle is the same as above. 

When the first edition of Chemistry of Petrochemical Processes was written, the intention was to introduce to the users a simplified approach to a diversified subject dealing with the chemistry and technology of various petroleum and petrochemical process. It reviewed the mechanisms of many reactions as well as the operational parameters (temperature, pressure, residence times, etc.) that directly effect products yields and composition. To enable the readers to follow the flow of the reactants and products, the processes were illustrated with simplified flow diagrams. 

Coyle, C. L. Ferrughelli, D. T. Logan, M. S. P., et al., Biological activation of aromatics for chemical processing and/or upgrading of aromatic compounds, petroleum, coal, resid, bitumen and other petrochemical streams. Patent No. US6156946. 2000, Dec. 05. 

Biological activation of aromatics for chemical processing and/or upgrading of aromatic compounds, petroleum, coal, resids, bitumen and other petrochemical streams [79],... 

Gulf Resid A process for desulfurizing petroleum residues, developed by Gulf Oil Corporation. 

RESID-fining [Residuum refining] A hydrodesulfurization process adapted for petroleum residues. Developed by Esso Research Engineering Company and licensed by them... 

Reactions involving gaseous and liquid reactants are carried out in various types of equipment. Packed columns, spray columns and bubble columns, as well as agitated tanks are all used (Fig. 2). Trickle-bed reactors are widely used in the petroleum industry for hydrodesulphurisation and related processes. In this type of reactor, liquid and gas both flow down through a bed of catalyst particles. The liquid flows around the particles as a thin film, thereby keeping the liquid residence time short and reducing undesirable side reactions. 

Generally speaking, resid FCC (RFCC) catalysts should be very effective in bottoms cracking, be metals tolerant, and coke and dry gas selective. Based on many years of fundamental research and industrial experiences, a series of RFCC catalysts, such as Orbit, DVR, and MLC, have been developed by the SINOPEC Research Institute of Petroleum Processing (RIPP) and successfully commercialized [1]. These catalysts are very effective in paraffinic residue cracking. However, in recent years more and more intermediate-based residue has been introduced into FCC units, and the performances of conventional RFCC catalysts are now unsatisfactory. Therefore, novel zeolites and matrices have been developed to formulate a new generation of RFCC catalysts with improved bottoms cracking activity and coke selectivity. 

This process is used to produce light gases, naphtha, distillate fuel, heavy fuel oil, and petroleum coke by cracking heavy residual products such as atmospheric and vacuum resids. Both delayed coking and fluid coking processes are utilized. 

The terms residual fuel or sometimes resid are used to describe high boiling fractions obtained from crude oil distillation and processing. The following petroleum fractions are often described as residual oils ... 

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