Phillips 66 Company

Robert M Walston

Neal Donald McDaniel

Anthony O Baldridge

Bruce B Randolph

Jianhua Yao

Steven E Lusk

James Anthony Suttil

Soumen Kundu

Maziar Sardashti

Matthew J Wulfers

Edward C Weintrob

Hong Xie

The present disclosure relates generally to processes and systems for producing liquid transportation fuels by converting a feed stream that predominantly comprises isobutane. The feed stream is catalytically-activated in two separate reaction zones arranged in series in a manner that minimizes the production of C1-C3 light paraffins and is tolerant to the presence of typical catalyst poisons. The first reaction zone is selective for conversion of the feed stream to predominantly olefins and some aromatics. The second reaction zone is maintained at a lower temperature and a higher pressure and is selective for converting olefins to monocyclic aromatics which facilitates further feed stream olefination. Certain embodiments contact the activation effluent with an alkylation catalyst to provide enhanced yields of upgraded hydrocarbon products that meet specifications for a transportation fuel blend component.

Systems for isobutane to transportation fuel

Isobutane to transportation fuel

The present disclosure relates generally to processes and systems for producing liquid transportation fuels by converting a feed stream that comprises both isopentane and n-pentane, and optionally, some C6+ hydrocarbons. Isopentane and smaller hydrocarbons are separated to form a first fraction while n-pentane and larger components of the feed stock form a second fraction. Each fraction is then catalytically-activated in a separate reaction zone with a separate catalyst, where the conditions maintained in each zone maximize the conversion of each fraction to olefins and aromatics, while minimizing the production of C1-C4 light paraffins. In certain embodiments, the first fraction is activated at a lower temperature than the second fraction. Certain embodiments additionally comprise mixing at least a portion of the two effluents and contacting with either an oligomerization catalyst or alkylation catalyst to provide enhanced yields of upgraded hydrocarbon products that are suitable for use as a blend component of liquid transportation fuels or other value-added chemical products.

Light alkanes to transportation fuel

The present disclosure relates generally processes and systems for converting a C2-C7 light alkanes feed to liquid transportation fuels or value-added chemicals. The feed is contacted with an aromatization catalyst at a temperature and pressure that selectively converts C4 and larger alkanes to an intermediate product comprising monocyclic aromatics and olefins. Following separation of the aromatics and C5+ hydrocarbons from the intermediate product, unconverted C2-C3 alkanes are thermally-cracked to produce olefins that are subsequently oligomerized to produce a liquid transportation fuel blend stock or value-added chemicals.

Light alkanes to liquid fuels

The present disclosure relates to processes that catalytically convert a hydrocarbon feed stream predominantly comprising both isopentane and n-pentane to yield upgraded hydrocarbon products that are suitable for use either as a blend component of liquid transportation fuels or as an intermediate in the production of other value-added chemicals. The hydrocarbon feed stream is isomerized in a first reaction zone to convert at least a portion of the n-pentane to isopentane, followed by catalytic-activation of the isomerization effluent in a second reaction zone with an activation catalyst to produce an activation effluent. The process increases the conversion of the hydrocarbon feed stream to olefins and aromatics, while minimizing the production of C1-C4 light paraffins. Certain embodiments provide for further upgrading of at least a portion of the activation effluent by either oligomerization or alkylation.

Isomerization and catalytic activation of pentane-enriched hydrocarbon mixtures

The present disclosure relates to systems operable to catalytically convert a hydrocarbon feed stream predominantly comprising both isopentane and n-pentane to yield upgraded hydrocarbon products that are suitable for use either as a blend component of liquid transportation fuels or as an intermediate in the production of other value-added chemicals. The hydrocarbon feed stream is isomerized in a first reaction zone to convert at least a portion of the n-pentane to isopentane, followed by catalytic-activation of the isomerization effluent in a second reaction zone with an activation catalyst to produce an activation effluent. The process increases the conversion of the hydrocarbon feed stream to olefins and aromatics, while minimizing the production of C1-C4 light paraffins. Certain embodiments provide for further upgrading of at least a portion of the activation effluent by either oligomerization or alkylation.

Systems for the catalytic activation of pentane-enriched hydrocarbon mixtures

The present disclosure relates generally to processes and systems for producing liquid transportation fuels by converting a feed stream that comprises both isopentane and n-pentane, and optionally, some C6+ hydrocarbons. Isopentane and smaller hydrocarbons are separated to form a first fraction while n-pentane and larger components of the feed stock form a second fraction. Each fraction is then catalytically-activated in a separate reaction zone with a separate catalyst, where the conditions maintained in each zone maximize the conversion of each fraction to olefins and aromatics, while minimizing the production of C1-C4 light paraffins. In certain embodiments, the first fraction is activated at a lower temperature than the second fraction. Certain embodiments additionally comprise mixing at least a portion of the two effluents and contacting with an alkylation catalyst to provide enhanced yields of mono-alkylated aromatics that are suitable for use as a blend component of liquid transportation fuels or other value-added chemical products.

Catalytic activation and alkylation of isopentane-enriched mixtures

The present disclosure relates generally to processes and systems for producing liquid transportation fuels by converting a feed stream that comprises both isopentane and n-pentane, and optionally, some C6+ hydrocarbons. Isopentane and smaller hydrocarbons are separated to form a first fraction while n-pentane and larger components of the feed stock form a second fraction. Each fraction is then catalytically-activated in a separate reaction zone with a separate catalyst, where the conditions maintained in each zone maximize the conversion of each fraction to olefins and aromatics, while minimizing the production of C1-C4 light paraffins. In certain embodiments, the first fraction is activated at a lower temperature than the second fraction. The process provides increased yields of upgraded hydrocarbon products that possess the characteristics of a liquid transportation fuel or a blend component thereof.

Catalytic activation of isopentane-enriched mixtures

The present disclosure relates generally to processes and systems for producing liquid transportation fuels by converting a feed stream that comprises both isopentane and n-pentane, and optionally, some C6+ hydrocarbons. Isopentane and smaller hydrocarbons are separated to form a first fraction while n-pentane and larger components of the feed stock form a second fraction. Each fraction is then catalytically-activated in a separate reaction zone with a separate catalyst, where the conditions maintained in each zone maximize the conversion of each fraction to olefins and aromatics, while minimizing the production of C1-C4 light paraffins. In certain embodiments, the first fraction is activated at a lower temperature than the second fraction. Certain embodiments additionally comprise mixing at least a portion of the two effluents and contacting with an oligomerization catalyst to provide enhanced yields of aliphatic hydrocarbons that possess the characteristics of a blend component of a liquid transportation fuel or other value-added chemical products.

Catalytic activation and oligomerization of isopentane-enriched mixtures

Systems operable to produce liquid transportation fuels by converting a hydrocarbon feed stream that comprises both isopentane and n-pentane. The system separates the hydrocarbon feed stream to form a first fraction comprising isopentane and smaller hydrocarbons, and a second fraction comprising n-pentane and larger components of the hydrocarbon feeds stream. Each fraction is then catalytically-activated in a separate activation reactor containing a separate activation catalyst, where the conditions maintained in each reactor are selected to maximize the conversion of each fraction to olefins and aromatics, while minimizing the production of C1-C4 light paraffins. Optionally, the first activation reactor is maintained at a lower temperature than the second activation reactor. Certain embodiments are operable to combine at least a portion of the first and second activation effluents and convert the mixed effluent by either oligomerization or alkylation to produce a liquid transportation fuel or a blend component thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Skiatook, OK, United States of America

Robert M Walston