System and process for injecting catalyst and/or additives into a fluidized catalytic cracking unit

{
  "publication_number": "US8967919B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "System and process for injecting catalyst and/or additives into a fluidized catalytic cracking unit",
  "abstract": "A preferred embodiment of a system for loading catalyst and/or additives into a fluidized catalytic cracking unit includes a bin for storing at least one of the catalyst and/or additives, and a loading unit in fluid communication with the storage bin and the fluidized catalytic cracking unit on a selective basis. The loading unit is capable of being evacuated so that a resulting vacuum within the loading unit draws the catalyst and/or additive from the bin. The loading unit is also capable of being pressurized so that the catalyst and/or additive is transferred from the loading unit to the fluidized catalytic cracking unit.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A conveying process, comprising: generating a vacuum within a loading unit, the loading unit capable of being in fluid communication with two or more storage bins and capable of drawing from said two or more storage bins; drawing a particulate material from at least one storage bin and into the loading unit in response to the vacuum so that the particulate material enters the loading unit; monitoring weight of particulate material drawn into the loading unit through input from load cells connected to the loading unit and transmitting the input to a controller; when a predetermined target value of the particulate material drawn into the loading unit is detected as the input to the controller, pressurizing the loading unit in response to a control input received from the controller; and discharging the particulate material from the loading unit into piping of an equipment unit in response to the pressurization of the loading unit.",
    "2. The process of claim 1, further comprising: drawing a second particulate material from a second storage bin and into the loading unit in response to the vacuum so that the second particulate material enters the loading unit; monitoring weight of the second particulate material drawn into the loading unit through input from the load cells and transmitting the input to the controller; re-pressurizing the loading unit in response to input received from the controller; and discharging the second particulate material from the loading unit in response to the re-pressurization of the loading unit.",
    "3. The process of claim 1, wherein the particulate material is selected from a group consisting of a hygroscopic material, a pyrophoric material, a catalyst, and an additive.",
    "4. The process of claim 1, wherein the vacuum is generated in a dust collector of the loading unit, wherein the dust collector is in fluid connection with a transfer pot and the particulate is drawn into the transfer pot via the dust collector.",
    "5. The process of claim 4, wherein the transfer pot is connected to the load cells, and pressurization of the loading unit and discharging of particulate from the loading unit is via the transfer pot.",
    "6. The process of claim 2, wherein said particulate material and said second particulate material are different.",
    "7. The process of claim 1, wherein the equipment unit is an FCC unit.",
    "8. The process of claim 1, wherein the equipment unit is regenerator of an FCC unit."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to equipment used in fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) operations and, more particularly, to systems and processes for injecting catalyst and/or additives into equipment units employed to conduct FCC operations.\n\nFCC units commonly include a circulating inventory of bulk catalyst. The bulk catalyst is typically used to perform a primary function, such as producing naptha from petroleum feedstock, the naptha being further processed into gasoline. Additives, which are often in the same fluidizable and particulated form as the catalyst, are often introduced into the circulating inventory of bulk catalyst to perform a secondary function such as reducing certain types of emissions, e.g., SOx or NOx, produced by the FCC unit. These emissions are produced in the catalyst regenerator of the FCC unit where coke deposits from the cracked petroleum are burned off and the regenerated catalyst returned to the circulating catalyst inventory, These additives are usually introduced into the regenerator using an injection device commonly referred to as a “loader.” Loaders are also used to add catalyst to the bulk inventory as additional catalyst becomes necessary due to factors such as attrition and deactivation.\n\nLoaders used for catalyst and/or additive injection typically comprise a transfer pot, and a storage hopper or silo located above or proximate the transfer pot. The catalyst and/or additive is usually transferred to the storage hopper from a storage bin using a suitable technique such as vacuum transfer.",
  "cpc": [
    "C10G 11/18",
    "B01J 2208/00548",
    "B01J 2208/00752",
    "B01J 2208/00761",
    "B01J 2208/00769",
    "B01J 8/0015",
    "B01J 8/0025",
    "B01J 8/003",
    "B01J 8/0035",
    "B01J 8/004",
    "B01J 8/006",
    "B01J 8/06",
    "B01J 8/18",
    "B01J 8/24",
    "C10G 2300/80"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B67D 7/06",
    "B01J 8/00",
    "B01J 8/18",
    "C10G 11/18",
    "B01J 8/06",
    "B01J 8/24",
    "B65G 53/66"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "WR Grace and Co Conn"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "George Yaluris",
    "Lenny Albin",
    "Alfred Jordan"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2011-07-28",
  "publication_date": "2015-03-03",
  "grant_date": "2015-03-03",
  "priority_date": "2004-03-23",
  "application_number": "US-201113193012-A",
  "family_id": "34963542",
  "cited_by_count": 29,
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