The present invention is directed to a method for the prediction of coke morphology from feed characteristics using cross-polarized light optical microscopy, image segmentation, and statistical analysis.

A method for utilizing the heating value of clarified shiny oil (CSO) by in which clarified slurry oil from the settler of a fluid catalytic cracking unit is introduced as feed to the gasifier of a Flexicoking unit where it is reacted at high temperature with the air and steam to produce additional heat. In this way, the heating value of the CSO is better utilized as refinery fuel gas and plant economics are enhanced.

Provided are petroleum coke having a sufficiently small coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and yielding sufficiently suppressed puffing phenomenon and a method for stably producing the petroleum coke. Specifically, the method for producing the petroleum coke comprises the step of coking feedstock oil comprising light oil having an end point of distillation of 380° C. or less, and heavy oil having an initial boiling point of 200° C. or more and comprising 50% by mass or more of an aromatic component, sulfur content of 0.5% by mass or less, and nitrogen content of 0.2% by mass or less.

The present invention utilizes mechanical vapor compression and/or thermal vapor compression integrating compression loops across multiple process stages. A sequential network of compressors is utilized to increase the pressure and condensing temperature of the vapors within each process stage, as intra-vapor flow, and branching between process stages, as inter-vapor flow. Because the vapors available are shared among and between compressor stages, the number of compressors can be reduced, improving economics. Balancing vapor mass flow through incremental compressor stages which traverse multiple process stages by splitting vapors between compressor stages enables the overall vapor-compression system to be tailored to individual process energy requirements and to accommodate dynamic fluctuations in process conditions.

The present invention utilizes mechanical vapor compression and/or thermal vapor compression integrating compression loops across multiple process stages. A sequential network of compressors is utilized to increase the pressure and condensing temperature of the vapors within each process stage, as intra-vapor flow, and branching between process stages, as inter-vapor flow. Because the vapors available are shared among and between compressor stages, the number of compressors can be reduced, improving economics. Balancing vapor mass flow through incremental compressor stages which traverse multiple process stages by splitting vapors between compressor stages enables the overall vapor-compression system to be tailored to individual process energy requirements and to accommodate dynamic fluctuations in process conditions.

Provided are a method for producing artificial graphite through a vertical graphitization furnace with easy circulation of inert gas, uniform heating and no damage to the furnace; and particulates used therefor. The method comprises steps of: introducing graphitizable particulates having average particle diameter of 3 to 30 mm into an inside of the furnace from upper part thereof, heating the particulates at 2200° C. to 3200° C. while making inert gas flow from lower part toward upper part thereof to graphitize the particulates, and removing the graphite through lower part thereof. The particulates have average particle diameter of 3 to 30 mm and are obtained by granulating mixture comprising 100 wt parts of graphitizable carbonaceous substance powder having average particle diameter of 10 to 20 μm, 3 to 20 wt parts of binder decomposable at lower than 1000° C., and 5 to 30 wt parts of liquid which can dissolve the binder.

Provided are a method for producing artificial graphite through a vertical graphitization furnace with easy circulation of inert gas, uniform heating and no damage to the furnace; and particulates used therefor. The method comprises steps of: introducing graphitizable particulates having average particle diameter of 3 to 30 mm into an inside of the furnace from upper part thereof, heating the particulates at 2200° C. to 3200° C. while making inert gas flow from lower part toward upper part thereof to graphitize the particulates, and removing the graphite through lower part thereof. The particulates have average particle diameter of 3 to 30 mm and are obtained by granulating mixture comprising 100 wt parts of graphitizable carbonaceous substance powder having average particle diameter of 10 to 20 μm, 3 to 20 wt parts of binder decomposable at lower than 1000° C., and 5 to 30 wt parts of liquid which can dissolve the binder.

To provide low CTE and low puffing needle coke more stably while dealing with changes in the properties of a feedstock. The low CTE and low puffing needle coke is obtained by mixing and coking a needle coke main feedstock of a coal tar-based heavy oil or petroleum-based heavy oil having a weak hydrogen donating property with a PDQI value expressed by equation (1) of less than 5.0, with a secondary feedstock having a strong hydrogen donating property with a PDQI value expressed by equation (1) of 5.0 or more, and calcining the obtained raw coke. [Equation (1)] PDQI=H %×10×(HNβ/H), wherein H % is a hydrogen amount (% by weight) obtained by elemental analysis, and HNβ/H is a ratio of β naphthenic hydrogen to total hydrogen measured by .sup.1H-NMR.

To provide low CTE and low puffing needle coke more stably while dealing with changes in the properties of a feedstock. The low CTE and low puffing needle coke is obtained by mixing and coking a needle coke main feedstock of a coal tar-based heavy oil or petroleum-based heavy oil having a weak hydrogen donating property with a PDQI value expressed by equation (1) of less than 5.0, with a secondary feedstock having a strong hydrogen donating property with a PDQI value expressed by equation (1) of 5.0 or more, and calcining the obtained raw coke. [Equation (1)] PDQI=H %×10×(HNβ/H), wherein H % is a hydrogen amount (% by weight) obtained by elemental analysis, and HNβ/H is a ratio of β naphthenic hydrogen to total hydrogen measured by .sup.1H-NMR.

Processes and systems are provided for converting a carbonaceous feedstock into a reaction gas and a syngas, involving a step of pyrolysing and methanating the feedstock in a pyrolysis chamber to produce the reaction gas and a step of gasifying unconverted feedstock in the presence of a reactant to produce a syngas.