MULTI-CATALYST INJECTION SYSTEM

• US 20060140824A1
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Matthey Process Technologies Inc. (Johnson Matthey PLC)
• Original Assignee: Intercat Equipment, Inc. (Johnson Matthey PLC)
• Inventors: Evans, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,438,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/145
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00752 Feeding
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00769 Details of feeding or discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/004 by means of a nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/24 according to "fluidised-bed" technique B01J8/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 11/187 Controlling or regulating

Abstract

The invention is a multi-catalyst injection system. In one embodiment, the system comprises a plurality of catalyst storage regions associated with a vessel and a metering device associated with the vessel. The metering device is configured to provide a metric indicative of an amount of catalyst dispensed from a selected one of the catalyst storage regions.

Claims

1. Apparatus for loading catalyst to a fluid catalyst cracking unit, comprising:

a vessel;

a plurality of catalyst storage regions associated with the vessel;

a metering device associated with the vessel and configured to provided a metric indicative of an amount of catalyst dispensed from a selected one of the catalyst storage regions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a pressure control system coupled to the vessel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metering device further comprises:

a sensor configured to provide a metric indicative of a weight of the vessel and catalyst disposed therein.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sensor further comprises:

a load cell.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metering device further comprises:

a sensor configured to determine a change in volume of catalyst within the vessel or a rate of catalyst movement.

6. Apparatus for loading catalyst to a fluid catalyst cracking unit, comprising:

a vessel configured to selectively provide a plurality of catalysts to a fluid catalyst cracking unit (FCCU), the vessel having a plurality of catalyst inlet ports for loading different catalysts into the vessel;

a metering system configured to determine amounts of catalysts welded to the FCCU;

a controller coupled to the metering system and containing instructions that, when executed, causes a selective one of the plurality of catalysts to be delivered to the FCCU through the vessel.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the metering system further comprises:

a valve coupled to the vessel and configured to control the flow of at least one catalyst within the vessel.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the controller and configured to provide a metric indicative of an amount of catalyst within the vessel.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sensor further comprises:

a load cell.

10. A method of providing catalyst to a fluid catalyst cracking unit, comprising:

providing an injection apparatus having a plurality of separate catalyst storage regions to a fluid catalyst cracking unit (FCCU);

selectively delivering catalyst through the injection apparatus to the FCCU; and

determining an amount of catalyst delivered to the FCCU through the injection apparatus.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the amount of catalyst delivered further comprises:

detecting a change in a weight.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein selectively delivering catalyst through the injection apparatus further comprises:

opening a valve that allows catalyst to flow within the injection apparatus.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the amount of catalyst delivered further comprises:

detecting a change in catalyst level within the injection apparatus.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of determining further comprises:

detecting a weight.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the weight is indicative of an amount of catalyst passing through the vessel to the FCCU.

14. A method of providing catalyst to a fluid catalyst cracking unit, comprising:

flowing a plurality of catalysts into an injection apparatus coupled to a fluid catalyst cracking unit (FCCU); and

pressurizing the injection apparatus prior to injecting a selected one of the catalysts to the FCCU.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein flowing the plurality of catalysts further comprises:

flowing each of the plurality of catalysts into the injection apparatus through a separate port defined in the injection apparatus.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

determining an amount of catalyst delivered to the FCCU through the injection apparatus.

19. A method of providing catalyst to a fluid catalyst cracking unit, comprising:

providing a change in weight measuring system coupled to a fluid catalyst cracking unit (FCCU);

automatically providing catalyst to the FCCU through the system selectively from a plurality of catalyst storage regions.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

tracking an amount of catalyst provided to the FCCU from each catalyst storage region.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of tracking the amount of catalyst provided to the FCCU further comprises:

detecting a weight of a vessel through which the catalyst passes.