Method for metering catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst injection system

• US 20060000748A1
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Matthey Process Technologies Inc. (Johnson Matthey PLC)
• Original Assignee: Intercat Equipment, Inc.
• Inventors: Evans, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,632,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 208/113
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00539 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00619 Controlling the weight
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00752 Feeding
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00198 at the reactor inlet
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00231 at the reactor inlet
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/0015 Feeding of the particles in the reactor; Evacuation of the particles out of the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/18 with fluidised particles combustion apparatus with fluidised bed in general F23C10/00; furnaces with fluidised bed F27B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 11/18 according to the "fluidised-bed" technique
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 11/187 Controlling or regulating

Abstract

A method and apparatus for metering catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst injection system are provided. In one embodiment, apparatus for metering catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst injection system includes a low pressure storage vessel coupled to a pressure vessel that defines a high pressure side of the apparatus, where the determination of the amount of catalyst transferred is made on the low pressure side of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for metering catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst injection system, the method comprising:

metering catalyst from a low pressure storage vessel to a pressure vessel using a metering device, wherein the metering device determines the quantity of catalyst dispensed with respect to the storage vessel;

pressurizing the pressure vessel to at least about 10 pounds per square inch; and

injecting the pressurized catalyst from the pressure vessel into a fluid catalytic cracking unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressurizing step further comprises:

increasing the pressure within the pressure vessel from substantially atmospheric pressure to a pressure in the range of from about 10 to about 100 pounds per square inch.

3. The method of claim 1, herein the metering step further comprises:

obtaining data from one or more load cells coupled to the low pressure vessel; and

calculating a change in the amount of catalyst disposed in the low pressure vessel using the data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the calculating step further comprises:

determining a first weight of the storage vessel prior to metering; and

comparing the first weight to a second weight of the storage vessel after the metering.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the metering step further comprises:

sensing a first level of the catalyst present in the storage vessel prior to the metering; and

comparing the first level to a second level of catalyst present in the storage vessel after metering.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first and second level of catalyst present in the storage vessel is sensed by the use of one of an optical transducer, a capacitance device, or a sonic transducer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the metering step further comprises:

sensing the flow of the catalyst flowing through at least one of the storage vessel, the metering device, or a conduit coupling the storage vessel to the pressure vessel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the catalyst flow is sensed by at least one of a sonic flow meter, capacitance device, or mass flow controller.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

metering catalyst from a second low pressure storage vessel to the pressure vessel using a second metering device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of metering from the second low pressure storage vessel occurs after the injecting step.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

pressurizing the pressure vessel to at least about 10 pounds per square inch; and

injecting the pressurized catalyst from the pressure vessel into a fluid catalytic cracking unit.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of metering from the first low pressure storage vessel and the step of metering from a second low pressure storage vessel are performed prior to the injecting step.

13. A method for metering catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst injection system, the method comprising:

determining a first quantity of catalyst disposed in a low pressure storage vessel;

transferring catalyst to a pressure vessel;

determining a second quantity of catalyst disposed in the low pressure storage vessel;

resolving a net transferred quantity of catalyst utilizing the first and second quantity of catalyst;

pressurizing the pressure vessel; and

injecting the pressurized catalyst into a fluid catalytic cracking unit.

14. A method for metering catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst injection system having two low pressure storage vessels coupled to a pressure vessel, the method comprising:

transferring a first catalyst from a first low pressure storage vessel to a pressure vessel;

determining a quantity of the first catalyst transferred into the pressure vessel from the first low pressure storage vessel;

pressurizing the pressure vessel to at least about 10 pounds per square inch;

injecting the pressurized first catalyst from the pressure vessel into a fluid catalytic cracking unit;

transferring catalyst from a second low pressure storage vessel to the pressure vessel;

determining a quantity of a second catalyst transferred into the pressure vessel from the second low pressure vessel;

pressurizing the pressure vessel to at least about 10 pounds per square inch; and

injecting the pressurized second catalyst from the pressure vessel into the fluid catalytic cracking unit.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining the quantity of the first catalyst transferred into the pressure vessel from the first low pressure storage vessel further comprises:

metering the amount of catalyst transferred.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining the quantity of the first catalyst transferred into the pressure vessel from the first low pressure storage vessel further comprises:

determining a weight of catalyst transferred.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of determining the weight of the catalyst transferred further comprises:

weighing the first low pressure storage vessel.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining the quantity of the first catalyst transferred into the pressure vessel from the first low pressure storage vessel further comprises:

determining a change in an amount of catalyst disposed in the first low pressure storage vessel.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of determining the change in the amount of catalyst disposed in the first low pressure storage vessel further comprises:

sensing a level of catalyst disposed in the first low pressure storage vessel.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining the quantity of the first catalyst transferred into the pressure vessel from the first low pressure storage vessel further comprises:

sensing a metric of flow of catalyst being transferred between the the first low pressure storage vessel and the pressure vessel.