APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR ISOMERIZING A HYDROCARBON STREAM

• US 20110315166A1
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UOP Llc (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: UOP Llc (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Shecterle, David J., Garney, Bryan S., Shawley, James M., Daguio, Jocelyn C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,313,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/22.18
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00006 Large-scale industrial plants
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0004 Processes in series
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/4081 Recycling aspects
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 35/04 Catalytic reforming
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 45/58 to change the structural skeleton of some of the hydrocarbon content without cracking the other hydrocarbons present, e.g. lowering pour point; Selective hydrocracking of normal paraffins C10G32/00 takes precedence; improving or increasing the octane number or aromatic content of naphtha C10G35/00

Abstract

One exemplary embodiment can be an apparatus for isomerizing a hydrocarbon stream rich in a C4 hydrocarbon and/or at least one of a C5 and C6 hydrocarbon. The apparatus can include: a vessel containing a fluid including at least one reactant; a fluid transfer device receiving the fluid including at least one reactant from the vessel; at least one drier receiving the fluid including at least one reactant from the fluid transfer device; and a reactor communicating with the at least one drier to receive the fluid including at least one reactant. In addition, the at least one drier may communicate with the vessel at least by sending the fluid including at least one reactant or the regenerant through a fluid tapering device for at least one of regulating the flow and reducing the pressure of the regenerant to the vessel.

Claims

1. A process for regenerating at least one drier for an apparatus for isomerizing a hydrocarbon stream rich in a C4 hydrocarbon and/or rich in at least one of a C5 and C6 hydrocarbon, comprising:

A) regenerating the at least one drier with a regenerant wherein the at least one drier contains a used regenerant; and

B) recycling the used regenerant upstream of the at least one drier to mix over a period of time sufficient to dilute the used regenerant with a fluid comprising at least one reactant to be dried to minimize upsets in one or more downstream operations.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a liquid rich in a C4 hydrocarbon and/or a liquid rich in at least one C5 and C6 hydrocarbon.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a gas rich in hydrogen.

4. The process according to claim 3, wherein the at least one drier is a liquid feed drier and the used regenerant is recycled upflow through the at least one liquid feed drier.

5. The process according to claim 3, wherein the at least one drier is a liquid feed drier and the used regenerant is recycled downflow through the at least one liquid feed drier.

6. The process according to claim 4, wherein the at least one drier is a gas drier.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the period of time is calculated to dilute the used regenerant with the fluid comprising at least one reactant to minimize upsets in at least one of a downstream reaction zone and a fractionation zone.

8. A process for regenerating at least one drying zone for an apparatus isomerizing a hydrocarbon stream, comprising:

recycling a used regenerant rich in a C4 hydrocarbon and/or at least one of a C5 and C6 hydrocarbon upstream of the at least one drying zone to mix over a period of time sufficient to dilute the used regenerant with a fluid comprising at least one reactant to be dried for minimizing upsets in one or more downstream operations.