Conocophillips Company

Oluwaseyi A Odueyungbo

Rafael Luis Espinoza

Sergio R Mohedas

Doug S Jack

Joe D Allison

Keith Henry Lawson

James Dale Ortego, Jr

Steven R McDonald

Priya Rangarajan

Jianping Zhang

Beatrice C Ortego

Ralph T Goodwin, Iii

Todd H Harkins

The invention relates to methods for improving the octane number of a synthetic naphtha stream and optionally for producing olefins and/or solvents. In one embodiment, the method comprises aromatizing at least a portion of a synthetic naphtha stream to produce an aromatized hydrocarbon stream; and isomerizing at least a portion of the aromatized hydrocarbon stream to produce an isomerized aromatized hydrocarbon stream having a higher octane rating than the synthetic naphtha stream. Alternatively, the method comprises providing at least three synthetic naphtha cuts comprising a C-Cstream; a C-Cstream and a C-Cstream; aromatizing some of the C-Cstream to form an aromatized hydrocarbon stream with a higher octane number; steam cracking some of the C-Cstream and optionally the C-Cstream to form olefins; and selling some portions of C-Cstream as solvents. In preferred embodiments, the synthetic naphtha is derived from Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.

Octane improvement of a hydrocarbon stream

A method for selecting maximum and minimum catalyst particle sizes for use in a multiphase reactor that reflects optimum operating conditions of the reactor is based on a maximum Archimedes number for estimating the maximum particle size and a property of a separation system linked to the reactor to determine the minimum particle size. The maximum Archimedes number could be selected based on a maximum catalyst non-uniformity in the reactor. Additionally, a method for producing hydrocarbons from syngas in a slurry bubble column reactor comprises the use of a plurality of fresh catalyst particles with an optimum size distribution based on a range of Archimedes numbers between about 0.02 and 250 or alternatively based on an average Reynolds number less than about 0.1.

Optimized particle distribution for slurry bubble column reactors

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for separating liquid products and catalyst particles from a slurry used in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor system. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are characterized by a separation system that uses a sedimentation chamber, which contains at least one inclined channel that enhances the settling of particles within the slurry. The enhanced settling separates the slurry into a catalyst-rich bottom stream and a catalyst-lean overhead stream. The catalyst-rich bottom product stream is preferably recycled to the reactor, while the catalyst-lean overhead stream can be further processed by a secondary separation system to produce valuable synthetic fuels. The inclined channel may be provided by a structure selected from the group consisting of tube, pipe, conduit, sheets, trays, walls, plates, and combinations thereof.

Systems and methods for catalyst/hydrocarbon product separation

Methods and apparatus for removing wax products from a slurry used in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are characterized by a solid/liquid separation system that removes liquid products from a slurry by drawing the fluid across a filter medium composed of a filter cake disposed on a substrate. In the preferred embodiments, the filter cake is desirable and performs the majority of the filtration. In certain embodiments, the filter medium is disposed in a filter housing where slurry flows parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter medium from and inlet to an outlet. The characteristics or properties of the cake, which will effect the performance of the solid/liquid separation system, can be controlled by regulating the velocity of the slurry flowing across the cake, where the velocity may be regulated by adjusting the slurry flow through the filter housing or may be self-regulated by changing slurry velocities influenced by the design of the filter housing.

Solid/liquid separation system for multiphase converters

Growing community of inventors

Ponca City, OK, United States of America

Oluwaseyi A Odueyungbo