A method of producing a composite product is provided. The method includes providing a fluidized bed of metal oxide particles in a fluidized bed reactor, providing a catalyst or catalyst precursor in the fluidized bed reactor, providing a carbon source in the fluidized bed reactor for growing carbon nanotubes, growing carbon nanotubes in a carbon nanotube growth zone of the fluidized bed reactor, and collecting a composite product comprising metal oxide particles and carbon nanotubes.

A method for testing catalysts in a fluidized bed reactor comprises enclosing catalyst material in capsules having pores or holes smaller than the catalyst material, inserting the capsules filled with catalyst material to into a port of the fluidized bed reactor and recovering at least a portion of the catalyst capsules from the fluidized bed reactor after use through an additional port of the fluidized bed reactor, wherein the capsules move with a flow of uplifted fluid and gas in the fluidized bed reactor.

A method for testing catalysts in a fluidized bed reactor comprises enclosing catalyst material in capsules having pores or holes smaller than the catalyst material, inserting the capsules filled with catalyst material to into a port of the fluidized bed reactor and recovering at least a portion of the catalyst capsules from the fluidized bed reactor after use through an additional port of the fluidized bed reactor, wherein the capsules move with a flow of uplifted fluid and gas in the fluidized bed reactor.

Systems for separating a contaminant trapping additive from a cracking catalyst may include a contaminant removal vessel having one or more fluid connections for receiving contaminated cracking catalyst, contaminated contaminant trapping additive, fresh contaminant trapping additive, and a fluidizing gas. In the contaminant removal vessel, the spent catalyst may be contacted with contaminant trapping additive, which may have an average particle size and/or density greater than the cracking catalyst. A separator may be provided for separating an overhead stream from the contaminant removal vessel into a first stream comprising cracking catalyst and lifting gas and a second stream comprising contaminant trapping additive. A recycle line may be used for transferring contaminant trapping additive recovered in the second separator to the contaminant removal vessel, allowing contaminant trapping additive to accumulate in the contaminant removal vessel. A bottoms product line may provide for recovering contaminant trapping additive from the contaminant removal vessel.

Systems for separating a contaminant trapping additive from a cracking catalyst may include a contaminant removal vessel having one or more fluid connections for receiving contaminated cracking catalyst, contaminated contaminant trapping additive, fresh contaminant trapping additive, and a fluidizing gas. In the contaminant removal vessel, the spent catalyst may be contacted with contaminant trapping additive, which may have an average particle size and/or density greater than the cracking catalyst. A separator may be provided for separating an overhead stream from the contaminant removal vessel into a first stream comprising cracking catalyst and lifting gas and a second stream comprising contaminant trapping additive. A recycle line may be used for transferring contaminant trapping additive recovered in the second separator to the contaminant removal vessel, allowing contaminant trapping additive to accumulate in the contaminant removal vessel. A bottoms product line may provide for recovering contaminant trapping additive from the contaminant removal vessel.

Apparatus and processes herein provide for converting hydrocarbon feeds to light olefins and other hydrocarbons. The processes and apparatus include a conventional riser reactor in combination with a mixed flow (e.g., including both counter-current and co-current catalyst flows) fluidized bed reactor designed for maximizing light olefins production. The effluents from the riser reactor and mixed flow reactor are processed in a catalyst disengagement vessel, and the catalysts used in each reactor may be regenerated in a common catalyst regeneration vessel. Further, integration of the two-reactor scheme with a catalyst cooler provides a refinery the flexibility of switching the operation between the two-reactor flow scheme, a catalyst cooler only flow scheme, or using both simultaneously.

Apparatus and processes herein provide for converting hydrocarbon feeds to light olefins and other hydrocarbons. The processes and apparatus include a conventional riser reactor in combination with a mixed flow (e.g., including both counter-current and co-current catalyst flows) fluidized bed reactor designed for maximizing light olefins production. The effluents from the riser reactor and mixed flow reactor are processed in a catalyst disengagement vessel, and the catalysts used in each reactor may be regenerated in a common catalyst regeneration vessel. Further, integration of the two-reactor scheme with a catalyst cooler provides a refinery the flexibility of switching the operation between the two-reactor flow scheme, a catalyst cooler only flow scheme, or using both simultaneously.

Apparatus and processes herein provide for converting hydrocarbon feeds to light olefins and other hydrocarbons. The processes and apparatus include, in some embodiments, feeding a hydrocarbon, a first catalyst and a second catalyst to a reactor, wherein the first catalyst has a smaller average particle size and is less dense than the second catalyst. A first portion of the second catalyst may be recovered as a bottoms product from the reactor, and a cracked hydrocarbon effluent, a second portion of the second catalyst, and the first catalyst may be recovered as an overhead product from the reactor. The second portion of the second catalyst may be separated from the overhead product, providing a first stream comprising the first catalyst and the hydrocarbon effluent and a second stream comprising the separated second catalyst, allowing return of the separated second catalyst in the second stream to the reactor.

Apparatus and processes herein provide for converting hydrocarbon feeds to light olefins and other hydrocarbons. The processes and apparatus include, in some embodiments, feeding a hydrocarbon, a first catalyst and a second catalyst to a reactor, wherein the first catalyst has a smaller average particle size and is less dense than the second catalyst. A first portion of the second catalyst may be recovered as a bottoms product from the reactor, and a cracked hydrocarbon effluent, a second portion of the second catalyst, and the first catalyst may be recovered as an overhead product from the reactor. The second portion of the second catalyst may be separated from the overhead product, providing a first stream comprising the first catalyst and the hydrocarbon effluent and a second stream comprising the separated second catalyst, allowing return of the separated second catalyst in the second stream to the reactor.

An apparatus and method for the dry separation of bulk particulate material, especially coarse particles, is provided. The apparatus comprises a chamber, a screen adjacent the chamber and a fluidising device fluidly connected to the chamber. The screen has a screen surface, a plurality of apertures and an opening larger in size than the aperture. A mixture of the coarse particles and a fine particulate medium is fed into the chamber. The fluidising device directs a fluidising fluid to fluidise a fine particulate medium and create a fluidised bed directed towards the screen. The fine particulate medium and the coarse particles pass from the chamber through the openings. The fine particulate medium passes back through the apertures to the chamber. Relatively high density coarse particles also pass back through the openings to the chamber. Relatively low density coarse particles are retained on the screen surface. Vibrations may also be used.