Systems and methods are provided for performing slurry hydroconversion of feeds that include substantial amounts of 1050° F+ (566° C+) components. The productivity of the slurry hydroconversion reaction is improved by recycling slurry hydroconversion pitch or bottoms back to the slurry hydroprocessing reaction system. The mass flow rate of the recycle stream can correspond to 50% or more of the mass flow rate of the fresh feed to the reaction system, and the recycle stream can include more than 50 wt % of 566° C+ components. It has been discovered that using a substantial recycle stream composed of a majority of unconverted 566° C+ bottoms can increase the productivity of the slurry hydroprocessing reaction system when operating at a net conversion relative to 524° C (975° F) of less than 90 wt %. Additionally, by using a recycle stream composed of a majority of 566° C+ components, the amount of lower boiling components (in the heavy hydrocarbon feed and/or in the recycle stream) that are exposed multiple times to the slurry hydroprocessing environment is reduced or minimized This can allow for formation of slurry hydroconversion products with increased amounts of vacuum gas oil boiling range components.

A method for upgrading heavy oil by using a coke production byproduct comprises the steps of: producing a mixed solution by mixing a coke production byproduct and heavy oil; and hydrogenating the mixed solution under a hydrogenation catalyst, wherein the present disclosure is economical and effective by being able to reduce the amount of coke formation and significantly reduce the partial pressure of added hydrogen by using the coke production byproduct as a hydrogen donor.

Method for maximizing the reaction volume in a slurry phase reactor by determining the ratio (f) between the height of the foams (H.sub.f) and the height of the reactor (H.sub.R) through an algorithm defining the gas hold-up in three zones, a first lower zone in which a bubble regime is established, a second intermediate zone where there can be the presence of foams, a third zone situated in the upper hemispherical part in which the multiphase mixture is accelerated until it reaches outlet conditions, the average gas hold-up being given by the weighted average of each of the three gas hold-ups of the three zones, characterized in that it uses nuclear densimeters positioned inside the reactor at different heights and comprises: measuring, for each nuclear densimeter used, gas density values, relating to different gas and/or slurry velocities, which correspond through said algorithm to calculated gas hold-up values, revealing, with a calculated gas hold-up of less than 40%, the absence of foams at least up to the height at which the densimeter is positioned, whose density measured corresponds to said gas hold-up, with a calculated gas hold-up higher than 70%, the presence of foams starting at least from the height of the reactor in which the densimeter is positioned, whose density measured corresponds to said gas hold-up, finally, determining through said algorithm, the ratio f and the extension in height of the possible presence of foams, calculating the consequent height H.sub.f.

Method for maximizing the reaction volume in a slurry phase reactor by determining the ratio (f) between the height of the foams (H.sub.f) and the height of the reactor (H.sub.R) through an algorithm defining the gas hold-up in three zones, a first lower zone in which a bubble regime is established, a second intermediate zone where there can be the presence of foams, a third zone situated in the upper hemispherical part in which the multiphase mixture is accelerated until it reaches outlet conditions, the average gas hold-up being given by the weighted average of each of the three gas hold-ups of the three zones, characterized in that it uses nuclear densimeters positioned inside the reactor at different heights and comprises: measuring, for each nuclear densimeter used, gas density values, relating to different gas and/or slurry velocities, which correspond through said algorithm to calculated gas hold-up values, revealing, with a calculated gas hold-up of less than 40%, the absence of foams at least up to the height at which the densimeter is positioned, whose density measured corresponds to said gas hold-up, with a calculated gas hold-up higher than 70%, the presence of foams starting at least from the height of the reactor in which the densimeter is positioned, whose density measured corresponds to said gas hold-up, finally, determining through said algorithm, the ratio f and the extension in height of the possible presence of foams, calculating the consequent height H.sub.f.

An ebullated bed hydroprocessing system is upgraded using a dual catalyst system that includes a heterogeneous catalyst and dispersed metal sulfide particles to improve the quality of vacuum residue. The improved quality of vacuum residue can be provided by one or more of reduced viscosity, reduced density (increased API gravity), reduced asphaltene content, reduced carbon residue content, reduced sulfur content, and reduced sediment. Vacuum residue of improved quality can be produced while operating the upgraded ebullated bed reactor at the same or higher severity, temperature, throughput and/or conversion. Similarly, vacuum residue of same or higher quality can be produced while operating the upgraded ebullated bed reactor at higher severity, temperature, throughput and/or conversion.

Systems and methods for producing olefins and/or aromatics are disclosed. Methods disclosed includes aqua-processing hydro-processing of crude oils and/or heavy oils and/or residue, in an aqua-processing hydro-processing unit, to produce intermediate products, which can then be used to make valuable chemicals such as olefins and aromatics.

System and corresponding process for the hydroconversion of heavy oils essentially comprising a reactor, a liquid-vapor separator and a section for stripping conversion products outside the reactor comprising an inlet conduit for the stripping gases located at a point on the conduit providing a connection between the head of the reactor and the liquid-vapor separator inclined, at least from the point of entry, upwards with a gradient of between 2% and 20%, preferably between 3% and 12%, with respect to a horizontal plane. The inlet conduit for the stripping gases is inclined with respect to the axis of the conduit providing a connection between the reactor head and the liquid-vapor separator through an angle of between 20° and 65°, more preferably between 30° and 60°, even more preferably between 40° and 50°. The stripping gas delivered to the connection conduit between the head of the reactor and the separator flows in a downward direction.

Processes herein may be used to thermally crack various hydrocarbon feeds, and may eliminate the refinery altogether while making the crude to chemicals process very flexible in terms of crude. In embodiments herein, crude is progressively separated into at least light and heavy fractions. Depending on the quality of the light and heavy fractions, these are routed to one of three upgrading operations, including a fixed bed hydroconversion unit, a fluidized catalytic conversion unit, or a residue hydrocracking unit that may utilize an ebullated bed reactor. Products from the upgrading operations may be used as feed to a steam cracker.

Processes herein may be used to thermally crack various hydrocarbon feeds, and may eliminate the refinery altogether while making the crude to chemicals process very flexible in terms of crude. In embodiments herein, crude is progressively separated into at least light and heavy fractions. Depending on the quality of the light and heavy fractions, these are routed to one of three upgrading operations, including a fixed bed hydroconversion unit, a fluidized catalytic conversion unit, or a residue hydrocracking unit that may utilize an ebullated bed reactor. Products from the upgrading operations may be used as feed to a steam cracker.

Processes herein may be used to thermally crack various hydrocarbon feeds, and may eliminate the refinery altogether while making the crude to chemicals process very flexible in terms of crude. In embodiments herein, crude is progressively separated into at least light and heavy fractions. Depending on the quality of the light and heavy fractions, these are routed to one of three upgrading operations, including a fixed bed hydroconversion unit, a fluidized catalytic conversion unit, or a residue hydrocracking unit that may utilize an ebullated bed reactor. Products from the upgrading operations may be used as feed to a steam cracker.