Vacuum powered addition system

• US 7,605,333 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2006
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Matthey Process Technologies Inc. (Johnson Matthey PLC)
• Original Assignee: Intercat Equipment, Inc. (Johnson Matthey PLC)
• Inventors: Evans, Martin, Elliott, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Randy W
• Application Number:
  US11/462,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20080029433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 73/13.6, 222/55, 222/56, 222/77, 141/83, 177/116, 208/152, 422/145
• US Class Current: 177/116
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 11/05 Crystalline alumino-silicates, e.g. molecular sieves
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 11/187 Controlling or regulating

Abstract

A method for adding material to an FCC unit is provided. In one embodiment, a method for adding material to an FCC unit includes providing a first vessel under low pressure containing a first material, moving the material through a first eductor to the FCC unit, and determining an amount of material moved dispensed from the vessel through the eductor.

Claims

1. A method for adding material to an FCC unit, comprising:

providing a first vessel under low pressure containing a first material;

moving the material through a first eductor to the FCC unit; and

determining an amount of material moved from the vessel through the eductor.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

reading information associated with the vessel; and

updating information associated with the vessel after determining the amount of material dispensed through the eductor.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

reading information associated with the vessel;

checking the read information associated with the vessel against a predefined criteria; and

setting a flag in response to the checked information.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

checking a pressure downstream of the eductor; and

opening a valve to allow material to through the eductor in response to the checked pressure.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

moving the material from an outlet of the first eductor through a second eductor.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a second vessel under low pressure containing a second material, the second vessel selectively coupled to the eductor;

coupling either the first or second vessel to the eductor in response to a signal; and

moving material from the selected vessel through the first eductor to the FCC unit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining further comprises,

detecting a change in volume of material within the vessel or a change in flow rate of material exiting the vessel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining further comprises,

detecting change in weight of the vessel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the material further comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of Y-Zeolite containing catalyst, ZSM-5 containing catalyst, SOx reduction catalyst, catalyst fines and NOx reduction catalyst.

10. A method for adding material to an FCC unit, comprising:

providing a plurality of vessels maintained at low or atmospheric pressure coupled to a selection system;

actuating the selection system to selectively couple one of the plurality of vessels to the FCC unit; and

activating an eductor to pull material from the selected vessel through the eductor to the FCC unit.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

determining a change in weight of the selected vessel; and

deactivating the eductor to stop of the flow of material to the FCC unit in response to the change in weight.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

deactivating the eductor to stop of the flow of material to the FCC unit; and

determining a change in weight of the selected vessel.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

actuating the selection system to selectively couple a second vessel of the plurality of vessels to the FCC unit; and

activating the eductor to pull material from the selected vessel through the eductor to the FCC unit.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

actuating the selection system to selectively couple a second vessel of the plurality of vessels to the FCC unit; and

activating a second eductor to pull material from the selected vessel through second eductor to the FCC unit.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

moving the material from an outlet of the first eductor through a second eductor.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

disconnecting one of the plurality of vessels from the selection system;

replacing the disconnected vessel with a new vessel; and

connecting the new vessel to the selection system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the new vessel is a shipping tote.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the material further comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of Y-Zeolite containing catalyst, ZSM-5 containing catalyst, SOx reduction catalyst, catalyst fines and NOx reduction catalyst.

19. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

filling at least one of the plurality of vessels with fines recovered from the FCC unit.

20. A method for adding material to an FCC unit, comprising:

selectively coupling one or more of a plurality of vessels maintained at or near atmospheric pressure to one or more eductors;

transferring additives from the selected vessel or vessels to the FCC through the one or more eductors; and

determining an amount of additives transferred by a change in weight of the vessel.