Process for producing diesel fuel and aviation fuel from renewable feedstocks having improving yields

Abstract

A process for producing aviation fuel and diesel from renewable feedstock is described. This process involves introducing the renewable feedstock into a hydrogenation and deoxygenation zone, and separating the hydrocarbon effluent from the hydrogenation and deoxygenation zone into an aviation boiling range fraction and a diesel boiling range fraction. The aviation boiling range fraction and diesel boiling range fraction are alternately sent to the isomerization and selective hydrocracking zone. This allows for lower severity isomerization and selective hydrocracking zone operating conditions when processing oils that naturally contain medium and long carbon chains (C-C), such as coconut or palm kernel oil. The lower severity operation results in decreased cracking, increasing the yield of aviation fuel product.