The present invention is based on the use of a two-step hydrocracking process comprising a step of hydrogenation placed upstream of the second hydrocracking step, the hydrogenation step treating the unconverted liquid fraction separated in the distillation step in the presence of a specific hydrogenation catalyst. Furthermore, the hydrogenation step and second hydrocracking step are carried out under specific operating conditions and in particular under very specific temperature conditions.

An improved process for making a base oil and for improving base oil yields by combining an atmospheric resid feedstock with a base oil feedstock and forming a base oil product via hydroprocessing. The process generally involves subjecting a base oil feedstream comprising the atmospheric resid to hydrocracking and dewaxing steps, and optionally to hydrofinishing, to produce a light and heavy grade base oil product. A process is also disclosed for making a base oil having a viscosity index of 120 or greater from a base oil feedstock having a viscosity index of about 100 or greater that includes a narrow cut-point range vacuum gas oil. The invention is useful to make Group II and/or Group III/III+ base oils, and, in particular, to increase the yield of a heavy base oil product relative to a light base oil product produced in the process.

Systems and methods are provided for partial upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feeds to meet transport specifications, such as pipeline transport specifications. The systems and methods can allow for one or more types of improvement in heavy hydrocarbon processing prior to transport. In some aspects, the systems and methods can produce a partially upgraded heavy hydrocarbon product that satisfies one or more transport specifications while incorporating an increased amount of vacuum gas oil and a reduced amount of pitch into the partially upgraded heavy hydrocarbon product. In other aspects, the systems and methods can allow for increased incorporation of hydrocarbons into the fraction upgraded for transport, thereby reducing or minimizing the amount of hydrocarbons requiring an alternative method of disposal or transport. In still other aspects, the systems and methods can allow for reduced incorporation of external streams into the final product for transport while still satisfying one or more target properties.

Systems and methods are provided for partial upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon feeds to meet transport specifications, such as pipeline transport specifications. The systems and methods can allow for one or more types of improvement in heavy hydrocarbon processing prior to transport. In some aspects, the systems and methods can produce a partially upgraded heavy hydrocarbon product that satisfies one or more transport specifications while incorporating an increased amount of vacuum gas oil and a reduced amount of pitch into the partially upgraded heavy hydrocarbon product. In other aspects, the systems and methods can allow for increased incorporation of hydrocarbons into the fraction upgraded for transport, thereby reducing or minimizing the amount of hydrocarbons requiring an alternative method of disposal or transport. In still other aspects, the systems and methods can allow for reduced incorporation of external streams into the final product for transport while still satisfying one or more target properties.

The present disclosure relates to a processes and systems for producing fuels from biomass with high carbon conversion efficiency. The processes and systems described herein provide a highly efficient process for producing hydrocarbons from biomass with very low Green House Gas (GHG) emissions using a specific combination of components, process flows, and recycle streams. The processes and systems described herein provide a carbon conversion efficiency greater than 95% with little to no GHG in the flue gas due to the novel arrangement of components and utilizes renewable energy to provide energy to some components. The system reuses water and carbon dioxide produced in the process flows and recycles naphtha and tail gas streams to other units in the system for additional conversion to syngas to produce hydrocarbon-based fuels.

The process and apparatus of the disclosure utilize a heater between a hydroprocessing reactor and a hydroisomerization reactor. A hydroprocessing feed exchanger cools hydroprocessed effluent to effect turndown of heated hydroprocessed effluent so as to not feed the hydroprocessed effluent to the hydroisomerization reactor at a higher temperature than necessary.

The process and apparatus of the disclosure utilize a heater between a hydroprocessing reactor and a hydroisomerization reactor. A hydroprocessing feed exchanger cools hydroprocessed effluent to effect turndown of heated hydroprocessed effluent so as to not feed the hydroprocessed effluent to the hydroisomerization reactor at a higher temperature than necessary.

A process of producing a distillate fuel from coal includes: preparing a biomass-derived coal solvent; dissolving the coal in the biomass-derived solvent; and separating undissolved coal and mineral matter to produce a syncrude. In certain embodiments, the process further includes subjecting the syncrude to a hydrotreatment/hydrogenation process to produce a distillate fuel. In certain embodiments, the biomass-derived solvent is a hydrogen-donor solvent. A method to improve direct coal liquefaction includes: using a non-hydrogenated lipid in a direct coal liquefaction process to facilitate coal depolymerization. In certain embodiments, the lipid is a polyunsaturated biobased oil. A method for using a biomass-derived feedstock as a hydrogen donor includes: providing a biomass-derived feedstock; modifying the feedstock to improve its usefulness as a hydrogen donor; and conducting a transfer hydrogenation process using the modified feedstock as a hydrogen donor. In certain embodiments, the transfer hydrogenation process is a direct coal liquefaction process.

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.

This application relates to methods and systems that utilize catalytic methods to produce jet fuel such as hydrocarbons with carbons numbers from C9 to C16. Disclosed herein is an example method of producing renewable jet fuel. Examples embodiments of the method include hydrocracking a biofeedstock by reaction with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrocracking catalyst to form a hydrocracked biofeedstock. Examples embodiments of the method further include isomerizing at least a portion of the hydrocracked biofeedstock in the presence of a dewaxing catalyst to form a dewaxed effluent. Examples embodiments of the method further include separating the dewaxed effluent to form a renewable jet fuel product.