Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Company

Mobil Oil Corporation

Other

Exxon Research and Engineering Company

Berne K Stober

John Scott Buchanan

Limin Song

Yibing Zhang

Benjamin S Umansky

Brian D Albert

Michael Louis Hergenrother

Patricia H Kalamaras

Geoff Keiser

Stuart S Shih

Vikram Singh

Raymond M Sowiak

Timothy Lee Hilbert

Robert J Chimenti

Arun K Sharma

William J Tracy, Iii

Alvin U Chen

Carlos N Lopez

Christopher J Wolfe

Theodore Sideropoulos

Paul W Kamienski

Mark Sheldon Ross

Andre T Sims

Akira Murata

Chris J Wolfe

Systems and methods for detecting coking in a wash bed of a vacuum pipe still with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element disposed in the vessel. An optical signal interrogator is configured to measure a first temperature profile at a plurality of sensor locations to determine a flow distribution. An excitation source is configured to propagate at least one heat pulse through the heating element and the optical signal interrogator is configured to measure a second temperature profile corresponding to the heat pulse at the sensor locations. A control unit is configured to detect coking by determining one or more properties of the media exposed to the sensing cable at each of the plurality of sensor locations based on the second temperature profile corresponding thereto.

Method and system for detecting coking growth and maldistribution in refinery equipment

Systems and methods for detecting a deposit in a vessel with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element disposed in the vessel. An excitation source is configured to propagate at least one heat pulse through the heating element along at least a portion of the sensing cable to affect an exchange of thermal energy between the heating element and media exposed to the sensing cable. An optical signal interrogator is adapted to receive a signal from a plurality of sensor locations and configured to measure, a temperature profile corresponding to the heat pulse at the sensor locations. A control unit is configured to detect a deposit by determining one or more properties of the one or more media exposed to the sensing cable at each of the plurality of sensor locations based on the temperature profile corresponding thereto.

Method and system for detecting deposits in a vessel

Systems and methods for determining the flow distribution of a fluid through a component with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element disposed in the component. An excitation source is configured to propagate at least one heat pulse through the heating element along at least a portion of the sensing cable to affect an exchange of thermal energy between the heating element and the fluid exposed to the sensing cable. An optical signal is adapted to receive a signal from each of a plurality of sensor locations and measure a temperature profile corresponding to the heat pulse at the sensor locations. A control unit is configured to determine a flow of the fluid by determining one or more properties of the fluid exposed to the sensing cable at each of the plurality of sensor locations based on the temperature profile corresponding thereto. The present invention can be effective in accurate and high spatial resolution of flow distributions through vessel components, such as a particulate bed (such as a reactor catalyst bed), a wash bed including packing material, an absorbent bed, a structured bed, a filter, or the like.

Method and system for determining flow distribution through a component

System to detect coking in at least one component of refinery equipment is provided. The system includes a fiber optic assembly having at least one optical fiber operably coupled with the component, the fiber optic assembly further including a light source to transmit light having a known parameter through the optical fiber and a receiver to receive the light from the optical fiber, and a processor in communication with the fiber optic assembly to identify a shift in the parameter received by the receiver, the shift corresponding to an operating characteristic of the component. Method also provided for detecting coking using the system to detect coking disclosed herein.

Method to optimize run lengths and product quality in coking processes and system for performing the same

A feed device for a distillation tower has an annular, open-bottomed channel located around the periphery of the feed zone of the tower with an inner wall spaced from the inner curved wall of the tower and a top covering the channel to confer a generally inverted-U shape to the cross section of the channel. One or more tangential feed inlets are provided to admit a heated, mixed phase feed to the tower and direct the feed into and along the channel. One or more vapor scoops are provided for each feed inlet with the scoop(s) located on the inner wall of the channel at a sufficient distance along the channel from the inlet to permit cyclonic separation of vapor and liquid before the vapor in the feed from the inlet enters the scoop(s) and passes through a vapor exit port into the central core of the tower.

Distillation tower feed device

Systems and methods are provided for producing at least one low sulfur distillate fuel product with improved low temperature properties. A potential distillate fuel feed is initially hydrotreated to reduce sulfur and nitrogen levels in the feed to desired amounts. The hydrotreated effluent is then fractionated to form several fractions, including a light diesel/distillate fraction and a heavy diesel fraction. The heavy diesel fraction is then dewaxed to improve the cold flow properties of the heavy diesel fraction. The dewaxed heavy diesel fraction can be combined with the light diesel fraction, or the dewaxed heavy diesel fraction can be fractionated as well. Optionally, the heavy diesel fraction is dewaxed under conditions effective for producing a dewaxed fraction with a cloud point that is less than or equal to the cloud point of the light diesel/distillate fraction.

Production of low cloud point distillates

A divided wall column allows for fractionation of multiple streams while maintaining separate product qualities. Effluents from multiple stages of a reaction system can be processed in a single divided wall column. The divided wall column can produce multiple cuts from each separated area, as well as at least one output from a common area.

Two stage hydroprocessing with divided wall column fractionator

A de-entrainment device separates entrained liquid from vapor in a fluid stream that flows through a chimney tray in a distillation tower. The separated liquid is collected and shielded from the fluid stream to prevent re-entrainment of the liquid in the vapor flowing upward into the tower. The chimney tray includes risers with hats that have gutters to guide liquid toward the tray deck, channels to collect and drain liquid from the top of the hats to the tray deck, and baffles extending from the risers to shield the liquid collected on the tray deck from the vapor flow.

De-entrainment tray for high capacity operation

This invention is directed to a cyclonic vapor/liquid contacting device and distillation or related mass transfer or heat transfer processes employing its use, such as fluid catalytic cracking. Liquid feed is introduced near the floor of the cyclone via downcomer or plenum. Vapor enters through sieve holes in the bottom of the cyclonic device. Near the floor are angled tabs or vanes that impart a spin to the vapor rising up through the floor. The tabs or vanes mix the liquid and vapor. The liquid is then thrown toward the cyclone wall, where it exits through slots in the wall. A second set of tabs or vanes, located about in the middle of the cyclone, imparts additional spin to the vapor and entrained liquid rising through the cyclone. This improves liquid collection by the cyclone, especially in cases where a heavy liquid load dampens the spin action of the vapor in the base of the cyclone. In another embodiment, there is a non-spinning zone at the floor of the cyclone barrel which permits improved heat transfer between the liquid and vapor. If a non-spinning zone is used, the two sets of vanes or tabs are located at higher elevations within the barrel.

Vapor/liquid contacting cyclone with secondary vanes

This concept concerns a vapor/liquid contacting tray which is useful in distillation and related mass transfer or heat transfer applications where liquid flows down and gas or vapor flows up through a vessel. In this device, the perforated area is relatively small, so the liquid is entrained upward. The liquid flow is then directed downward into a large disengaging area. The downward momentum of the liquid and the large disengaging allow for high liquid and vapor rates without overloading the vapor/liquid disengaging capacity of the device.

High-capacity vapor/liquid contacting device

This invention is directed to a cyclonic vapor/liquid contacting device, wherein liquid exiting the cyclonic device is directed primarily to one side, and distillation or related mass transfer or heat transfer processes employing its use, such as fluid catalytic cracking. Liquid feed is introduced near the floor of the cyclone via downcomer or plenum. Vapor enters through sieve holes in the bottom of the cyclonic device. Near the floor are angled tabs or vanes that impart a spin to the vapor rising up through the floor. The tabs or vanes mix the liquid and vapor. The liquid is then thrown toward the cyclone wall, where it exits through slots in the wall. Preferably, a second set of tabs or vanes, located about in the middle of the cyclone, imparts additional spin to the vapor and entrained liquid rising through the cyclone. This improves liquid collection by the cyclone, especially in cases where a heavy liquid load dampens the spin action of the vapor in the base of the cyclone. Means to direct liquid flow primarily to one side include a shroud around the top of the cyclone, vanes to direct fluid flow downward and baffles between the cyclone barrels.

Vapor/liquid contacting cyclone with device to prevent backmixing and

Tray designs for use in a separation column for distilling or fractionating a feed stream are provided that incorporate co-current contact of the liquid and vapor streams and their subsequent separation on each tray. In one embodiment, located on the trays are a plurality of co-current vapor and liquid contacting sections including a volume of the tray in which vapors and liquid can be in co-current contact. Also located on the trays are a plurality of de-entrainment devices for separating entrained liquids from a vapor stream, the de-entrainment devices having an inner and an outer side, the inner side being adjacent to the co-current contacting sections. The tray design further incorporates a plurality of liquid downcomers, having an upper portion and a lower portion, where the upper portion of the liquid downcomer is capable of accepting liquid from the outer or bottom side of the de-entrainment device of a first tray, and the lower portion of the liquid downcomer is located within the co-current contacting section of a second tray that is vertically lower in the column from the first tray. The trays further contain vapor openings located through the bottom of the trays at a point beneath the co-current contacting sections through which vapors can pass into the co-current contacting section of a tray. In another embodiment, the liquid from some of the de-entrainment devices is directed through conduits to co-current contacting sections that are located horizontally adjacent on the same tray, thereby providing multiple contacts of the liquid with the vapor on a given tray before the liquid is passed down via a downcomer to a lower tray in the column.

Co-current contacting separation tray design and methods for using same

De-entrainment devices are provided for separating an entrained liquid from a vapor stream exiting a flash zone in a separation column. Methods for utilizing the de-entrainment devices are also provided. In one embodiment, the de-entrainment device of the present invention is embodied in a de-entrainment tray that has a tray deck and a plurality of risers extending vertically up from the tray deck. The risers are provided with devices for imparting rotational movement to the fluid stream, which have the vapor stream and entrained liquid, entering the riser. The rotational movement imparted to the fluid stream causes the liquid to separate from the vapor stream and to flow upward along the riser walls. The de-entrained liquid is then transported from above the separation tray back into the flash zone by way of a liquid downcomer. The vapor stream separates from the liquid within the riser and flows out of the riser upward through the column. A riser hat is used to prevent a wash liquid from entering the riser and preferably also from entering the liquid downcomer.

De-entrainment tray and method of operation

A tray design for use in a separation column for distilling or fractionating a feed stream is provided that incorporates co-current contact of the liquid and vapor streams and their subsequent separation on each tray. Located on the trays are a plurality of co-current vapor and liquid contacting sections including a volume of the tray in which vapors and liquid can be in co-current contact. Also located on the trays are a plurality of de-entrainment devices for separating entrained liquids from a vapor stream, the de-entrainment devices having an inner and an outer side, the inner side being adjacent to the co-current contacting sections. The tray design further incorporates a plurality of liquid downcomers, having an upper portion and a lower portion, where the upper portion. of the liquid downcomer is capable of accepting liquid from the outer side of the de-entrainment device of a first tray, and the lower portion of the liquid downcomer is located within the co-current contacting section of a second tray that is vertically lower in the column from the first tray. The trays further contain vapor openings located through the bottom of the trays at a point beneath the co-current contacting sections through which vapors can pass into the co-current contacting section of a tray.

Growing community of inventors

Esmont, VA, United States of America

Berne K Stober