A process for operating a reforming system by operating a reforming section containing a plurality of reactors, wherein each of the plurality of reactors containing a reforming catalyst capable of catalyzing the conversion of at least a portion of the hydrocarbons in a treated hydrocarbon stream into a reactor effluent comprising aromatic hydrocarbons, and operating a sulfur guard bed (SGB) to remove sulfur and sulfur-containing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon feed to provide the treated hydrocarbon stream, where the SGB contains at least a layer of a SGB catalyst comprising the same catalyst as the reforming catalyst, and where each reactor of the plurality of reactors within the reforming section may be operated at a higher operating temperature than an operating temperature of the SGB. A system for carrying out the process is also provided.

A coke catching apparatus for use in hydrocarbon cracking to assist in the removal of coke and the prevention of coke build up in high coking hydrocarbon processing units. The apparatus includes a grid device for preventing large pieces of coke from entering the outlet of the process refining equipment while allowing small pieces of coke to pass through and be disposed of The coke catching apparatus can be easily disassembled to be removed from the refining process equipment and cleaned.

The present invention relates to a sequential thermo-chemical treatment along with adsorption-based pre-treatment process for residual oils having a very high naphthenic acid content. First stage of the process is a thermal pre-treatment step which results into generation of hydrocarbon stream with a reduced naphthenic acid content due to high temperature. In second stage of pre-treatment, generated hydrocarbon stream from stage-1 is subjected to esterification reaction with alcohol, such as methanol, to further reduce the TAN of hydrocarbon stream. After recovery of alcohol from the reaction mixture, depending on TAN reduction required reaction mixture may be subjected to an adsorption stage, third stage pre-treatment, where an adsorbent mixture comprising of FCC spent catalyst is used to adsorb the TAN of feed hydrocarbon stream. The treated hydrocarbon stream is then co-processed with DCU feed stock for producing lighter hydrocarbons.

A method for starting a slurry bubble column reactor that includes a reactor vessel holding a settled or slumped bed of particles and a liquid phase from which the particles have settled includes introducing a flow of a re-suspension liquid into the settled or slumped bed to loosen the settled or slumped bed. The introduction of the re-suspension liquid takes place before the introduction of any gas into the settled or slumped bed, or together with feeding of gas into the settled or slumped bed, provided that, if gas is fed together with the re-suspension liquid into the settled or slumped bed before the settled or slumped bed has been loosened, the gas has a superficial gas velocity in the reactor below 10 cm/s. Once the settled or slumped bed has been loosened by at least the re-suspension liquid, gas is passed at a superficial gas velocity above 10 cm/s through the liquid phase.

A coke catching apparatus for use in hydrocarbon cracking to assist in the removal of coke and the prevention of coke build up in high coking hydrocarbon processing units. The apparatus includes a grid device for preventing large pieces of coke from entering the outlet of the process refining equipment while allowing small pieces of coke to pass through and be disposed of. The coke catching apparatus can be easily disassembled to be removed from the refining process equipment and cleaned.

The disclosed invention relates to a method for restarting a synthesis gas conversion process which has stopped. The synthesis gas conversion process may be conducted in a conventional reactor or a microchannel reactor. The synthesis gas conversion process may comprise a process for converting synthesis gas to methane, methanol or dimethyl ether. The synthesis gas conversion process may be a Fischer-Tropsch process.

The present invention relates to a sequential thermo-chemical treatment along with adsorption-based pre-treatment process for residual oils having a very high naphthenic acid content. First stage of the process is a thermal pre-treatment step which results into generation of hydrocarbon stream with a reduced naphthenic acid content due to high temperature. In second stage of pre-treatment, generated hydrocarbon stream from stage-1 is subjected to esterification reaction with alcohol, such as methanol, to further reduce the TAN of hydrocarbon stream. After recovery of alcohol from the reaction mixture, depending on TAN reduction required reaction mixture may be subjected to an adsorption stage, third stage pre-treatment, where an adsorbent mixture comprising of FCC spent catalyst is used to adsorb the TAN of feed hydrocarbon stream. The treated hydrocarbon stream is then co-processed with DCU feed stock for producing lighter hydrocarbons.

In chemical processes for cracking hydrocarbons, reactors are subject to coking During the decoke process carburization of the metal substrate can occur, negatively impacting reactor life. Decokes are also costly due to down-time where costs are incurred without production of commercial products. Reducing the frequency of decokes provides an opportunity to reduce the financial impacts of downtimes. A start-up procedure is described herein that limits initial coke deposition, leading to a reduced tendency for carburization of the metal substrate, improving reactor life, and more importantly, extending reactor run length.

A start-up method for contacting a feed stream with fluidized catalyst is disclosed. The start-up method comprises reacting a feed stream over a catalyst to produce a gas stream and spent catalyst. The gas stream is separated from the spent catalyst. The separated gas stream is passed to a compressor. The operating condition associated with the compressor is measured. Based on the measured operating condition associated with the compressor, one or both of a supplemental hydrocarbon stream and a supplemental hydrogen gas stream is provided to the compressor to meet a predetermined operating condition associated with the compressor.

Hydrocarbon-containing fluids are provided for use during solvent-assisted hydroprocessing of pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar. The hydrocarbon-containing fluids can be used at any convenient time, such as during start-up of a pyrolysis process when recycled liquid pyrolysis product is not available; when the amount of liquid pyrolysis product available for recycle is not sufficient to maintain desired hydroprocessing conditions; and/or when the changes to the quality of the liquid pyrolysis product reduce the suitability of the recycle stream for use as a utility fluid.