Optimizing power generation from waste heat in large industrial facilities such as petroleum refineries by utilizing a subset of all available hot source streams selected based, in part, on considerations for example, capital cost, ease of operation, economics of scale power generation, a number of ORC machines to be operated, operating conditions of each ORC machine, combinations of them, or other considerations are described. Recognizing that several subsets of hot sources can be identified from among the available hot sources in a large petroleum refinery, subsets of hot sources that are optimized to provide waste heat to one or more ORC machines for power generation are also described. Further, recognizing that the utilization of waste heat from all available hot sources in a mega-site such as a petroleum refinery and aromatics complex is not necessarily or not always the best option, hot source units in petroleum refineries from which waste heat can be consolidated to power the one or more ORC machines are identified.

The invention concerns a process for fractionating hydrocarbon feeds employing at least one fractionation zone provided with separation contact means, and at least two switchable bottom zones which can be connected to the bottom of the fractionation zone in a manner such that at least a first of the bottom zones operates with said fractionation zone, in alternation, for a period at most equal to a plugging period, in a manner such that when at least the first of the bottom zones becomes plugged or before it becomes plugged, it is disconnected from the fractionation zone in order to be cleaned while the feed fractionation process continues with at least one other of the bottom zones.

The invention concerns a process for fractionating hydrocarbon feeds employing at least one fractionation zone provided with separation contact means, and at least two switchable bottom zones which can be connected to the bottom of the fractionation zone in a manner such that at least a first of the bottom zones operates with said fractionation zone, in alternation, for a period at most equal to a plugging period, in a manner such that when at least the first of the bottom zones becomes plugged or before it becomes plugged, it is disconnected from the fractionation zone in order to be cleaned while the feed fractionation process continues with at least one other of the bottom zones.

A treated oil, such as a treated heavy oil, which has a viscosity which is lower than the viscosity of the oil prior to the treatment thereof (i.e., the initial oil). The temperature at which 80 mass % of the treated oil has boiled is within 25 C. of temperature at which 80 mass % of the oil prior to the treatment thereof has boiled. Thus, the treated oil and the oil prior to the treatment thereof, have distillation curves or boiling point curves which are the same as or approximate to each other.

A treated oil, such as a treated heavy oil, which has a viscosity which is lower than the viscosity of the oil prior to the treatment thereof (i.e., the initial oil). The temperature at which 80 mass % of the treated oil has boiled is within 25 C. of temperature at which 80 mass % of the oil prior to the treatment thereof has boiled. Thus, the treated oil and the oil prior to the treatment thereof, have distillation curves or boiling point curves which are the same as or approximate to each other.

Optimizing power generation from waste heat in large industrial facilities such as petroleum refineries by utilizing a subset of all available hot source streams selected based, in part, on considerations for example, capital cost, ease of operation, economics of scale power generation, a number of ORC machines to be operated, operating conditions of each ORC machine, combinations of them, or other considerations are described. Recognizing that several subsets of hot sources can be identified from among the available hot sources in a large petroleum refinery, subsets of hot sources that are optimized to provide waste heat to one or more ORC machines for power generation are also described. Further, recognizing that the utilization of waste heat from all available hot sources in a mega-site such as a petroleum refinery and aromatics complex is not necessarily or not always the best option, hot source units in petroleum refineries from which waste heat can be consolidated to power the one or more ORC machines are identified.

Optimizing power generation from waste heat in large industrial facilities such as petroleum refineries by utilizing a subset of all available hot source streams selected based, in part, on considerations for example, capital cost, ease of operation, economics of scale power generation, a number of ORC machines to be operated, operating conditions of each ORC machine, combinations of them, or other considerations are described. Subsets of hot sources that are optimized to provide waste heat to one or more ORC machines for power generation are also described. Further, recognizing that the utilization of waste heat from all available hot sources in a mega-site such as a petroleum refinery and aromatics complex is not necessarily or not always the best option, hot source units in petroleum refineries from which waste heat can be consolidated to power the one or more ORC machines are identified.

Improved alkylation catalysts, alkylation methods, and methods of making alkylation catalysts are described. The alkylation method comprises reaction over a solid acid, zeolite-based catalyst and can be conducted for relatively long periods at steady state conditions. The alkylation catalyst comprises a crystalline zeolite structure, a Si/Al molar ratio of 20 or less, less than 0.5 weight percent alkali metals, and further having a characteristic catalyst life property. Some catalysts may contain rare earth elements in the range of 10 to 35 wt %. One method of making a catalyst includes a calcination step following exchange of the rare earth element(s) conducted at a temperature of at least 575 C. to stabilize the resulting structure followed by an deammoniation treatment. An improved method of deammoniation uses low temperature oxidation.

A drag reducing agent for a water-in-oil emulsion is provided. The agent comprises a water-soluble powder component and a fat-soluble powder component. The weight ratio of the water-soluble powder component to the fat-soluble powder component in the agent ranges from 1:2 to 1:4. The water-soluble powder component is made of polyacrylamide, and the fat-soluble powder component is made of polyacrylate. By using the powder form of the water-soluble and fat-soluble components, it is possible to mix them into the water-in-oil emulsion, which may significantly reduce the hydrodynamic drag of the water-in-oil emulsion. In a preferred embodiment, the fat-soluble powder component is made of polyacrylate latex. In an optional embodiment, the agent may further comprise an anti-agglomeration agent to prevent the fat-soluble and water-soluble powder components from agglomerating with each other.

A drag reducing agent for a water-in-oil emulsion is provided. The agent comprises a water-soluble powder component and a fat-soluble powder component. The weight ratio of the water-soluble powder component to the fat-soluble powder component in the agent ranges from 1:2 to 1:4. The water-soluble powder component is made of polyacrylamide, and the fat-soluble powder component is made of polyacrylate. By using the powder form of the water-soluble and fat-soluble components, it is possible to mix them into the water-in-oil emulsion, which may significantly reduce the hydrodynamic drag of the water-in-oil emulsion. In a preferred embodiment, the fat-soluble powder component is made of polyacrylate latex. In an optional embodiment, the agent may further comprise an anti-agglomeration agent to prevent the fat-soluble and water-soluble powder components from agglomerating with each other.