Systems, devices, and methods for a reactor feed distribution system. In some aspects, a multi-section pipe and an orifice plate. The multi-section pipe includes a first pipe section that defines a first channel and a second pipe section that defines a second channel. Second pipe section includes a first portion extending along a first longitudinal axis, a second portion extending along a second longitudinal axis that is angularly disposed relative to the first longitudinal axis, and a curved portion connecting the first portion to the second portion. The orifice plate is configured to be positioned at an inlet or a first outlet of the first pipe section. The orifice plate includes a maximum transverse dimension that is less than a minimum transverse dimension of each of the first and second channel.

A process for converting C2-5 alkanes to higher value C5-24 hydrocarbon fuels and blendstocks. The C2-5 alkanes are converted to olefins by thermal olefination, without the use of a dehydrogenation catalyst and without the use of steam. The product olefins are fed to an oligomerization reactor containing a zeolite catalyst to crack, oligomerize and cyclize the olens to the fuel products which are then recovered. Optionally, hydrogen and methane are removed from the product olefin stream prior to oligomerization. Further optionally, C2-5 alkanes are removed from the product olefin stream prior to oligomerization.

A process for converting C2-5 alkanes to higher value C5-24 hydrocarbon fuels and blendstocks. The C2-5 alkanes are converted to olefins by thermal olefination, without the use of a dehydrogenation catalyst and without the use of steam. The product olefins are fed to an oligomerization reactor containing a zeolite catalyst to crack, oligomerize and cyclize the olens to the fuel products which are then recovered. Optionally, hydrogen and methane are removed from the product olefin stream prior to oligomerization. Further optionally, C2-5 alkanes are removed from the product olefin stream prior to oligomerization.

A method for processing a chemical stream includes contacting a feed stream with a catalyst in a reactor portion of a reactor system that includes a reactor portion and a catalyst processing portion. The catalyst includes platinum, gallium, or both and contacting the feed stream with the catalyst causes a reaction which forms an effluent stream. The method includes separating the effluent stream from the catalyst, passing the catalyst to the catalyst processing portion, and processing the catalyst in the catalyst processing portion. Processing the catalyst includes passing the catalyst to a combustor, combusting a supplemental fuel in the combustor to heat the catalyst, treating the heated catalyst with an oxygen-containing gas to produce a reactivated catalyst, and passing the reactivated catalyst from the catalyst processing portion to the reactor portion. The supplemental fuel may include a molar ratio of hydrogen to other combustible fuels of at least 1:1.

A method for processing a chemical stream includes contacting a feed stream with a catalyst in a reactor portion of a reactor system that includes a reactor portion and a catalyst processing portion. The catalyst includes platinum, gallium, or both and contacting the feed stream with the catalyst causes a reaction which forms an effluent stream. The method includes separating the effluent stream from the catalyst, passing the catalyst to the catalyst processing portion, and processing the catalyst in the catalyst processing portion. Processing the catalyst includes passing the catalyst to a combustor, combusting a supplemental fuel in the combustor to heat the catalyst, treating the heated catalyst with an oxygen-containing gas to produce a reactivated catalyst, and passing the reactivated catalyst from the catalyst processing portion to the reactor portion. The supplemental fuel may include a molar ratio of hydrogen to other combustible fuels of at least 1:1.

A method for steam cracking of a hydrocarbon feed is disclosed. The method can include heating a hydrocarbon feed stream with a first quench water stream to form a heated hydrocarbon feed stream and a second quench water stream having a temperature lower than the first quench water stream, steam cracking the heated hydrocarbon feed stream to form a cracked stream comprising cracked gases, contacting the cracked stream with a quench water to form a gaseous stream comprising quenched cracked gases and a crude water stream comprising heated quench water and pyrolysis gasoline, and separating the crude water stream to form the first quench water stream.

A method for steam cracking of a hydrocarbon feed is disclosed. The method can include heating a hydrocarbon feed stream with a first quench water stream to form a heated hydrocarbon feed stream and a second quench water stream having a temperature lower than the first quench water stream, steam cracking the heated hydrocarbon feed stream to form a cracked stream comprising cracked gases, contacting the cracked stream with a quench water to form a gaseous stream comprising quenched cracked gases and a crude water stream comprising heated quench water and pyrolysis gasoline, and separating the crude water stream to form the first quench water stream.

The present disclosure provides a method of preparing unsaturated hydrocarbons by black body photocatalytic (thermal radiative catalytic) conversion of saturated hydrocarbons. In this method, a saturated hydrocarbon reaction gas is introduced into a reaction furnace, and the saturated hydrocarbon is catalyzed to convert under heating and illumination conditions to prepare the unsaturated hydrocarbons. The photocatalysis is combined to the conventional thermal catalysis to improve the catalytic performance, accelerate the reaction speed, increase the conversion rate, and/or improve the selectivity of the catalytic reaction.

The present disclosure provides a method of preparing unsaturated hydrocarbons by black body photocatalytic (thermal radiative catalytic) conversion of saturated hydrocarbons. In this method, a saturated hydrocarbon reaction gas is introduced into a reaction furnace, and the saturated hydrocarbon is catalyzed to convert under heating and illumination conditions to prepare the unsaturated hydrocarbons. The photocatalysis is combined to the conventional thermal catalysis to improve the catalytic performance, accelerate the reaction speed, increase the conversion rate, and/or improve the selectivity of the catalytic reaction.

Methods and systems for heating a reactor feed in a multi reactor hydrocarbon dehydrogenation process. The methods and systems are advantageously employed for the production of styrene by the catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene. The catalytic dehydrogenation process employs heating steam operating at a steam to oil ratio of about 1.0 or less and relatively low steam superheater furnace temperature, such that all components exposed to steam in the process (outside of the fired heaters) can be constructed with standard metallurgy.