# US 10,119,082 B2 · Hydrocracking process utilizing aqueous ammonia > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,082 B2 - Document ID: US10119082B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/568,854 - Filed: 2014-12-12 - Published: 2016-06-16 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-12 - Assignees: Uop LLC - Applicants: Uop LLC - Inventors: Vernon L. Mallett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119082B2 ## CPC - C10G 47/36: Controlling or regulating - B01J 8/0453: {the beds being superimposed one above the other} - C10G 47/12: Inorganic carriers - C10G 47/16: Crystalline alumino-silicate carriers - C10G 2300/70: Catalyst aspects - C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS ## Abstract A process for controlling hydrocracking reactions in a hydrocracking reactor by passing aqueous ammonia to the hydrocracking reactor. The aqueous ammonia is injected into the process at various locations at a low pressure, typically between approximately 0.17 to approximately 2.07 MPa (25 to 300 psi). A wash fluid can be used to lower the concentration of ammonia in the hydrocracking reactor, and thus, increase the catalytic activity of the hydrocracking catalyst. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for controlling an activity of a hydrocracking catalyst in a hydrocracking reaction zone, the process comprising: passing an aqueous ammonia stream into a hydrocracking reaction zone having an acidic hydrocracking catalyst, wherein a pressure of the aqueous ammonia stream when injected is between approximately 0.17 to approximately 2.07 MPa (25 to 300 psi) and reducing an ammonia concentration in the hydrocracking reaction zone with a wash fluid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the aqueous ammonia stream is mixed with a feed stream to form a combined stream, wherein the combined stream is passed into the hydrocracking reaction zone. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein a pressure of the aqueous ammonia stream is between approximately 0.34 to approximately 1.7 MPa (50 to 250 psi). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous ammonia stream comprises between 15 to 25 wt % of ammonia. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 further comprising: passing a feed stream into the hydrocracking reaction zone; and, operating the hydrocracking reaction zone under hydrocracking conditions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 further comprising: monitoring for ammonia in an effluent from the hydrocracking reaction zone; and, reducing an amount of the ammonia passed to the hydrocracking reaction zone upon a detection of ammonia in the effluent. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The process of claim 6 further comprising: increasing a temperature in the hydrocracking reaction zone after the amount of ammonia passed to the hydrocracking reaction zone is reduced. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7 wherein the wash fluid comprises water. ### Claim 9 A process for maintaining a temperature of a hydrocracking reaction zone, the process comprising: hydrocracking hydrocarbons in the presence of hydrogen and an acidic hydrocracking catalyst in a hydrocracking reaction zone; inhibiting the hydrocracking of the hydrocracking reaction zone by inhibiting acid sites on the acidic hydrocracking catalyst with ammonia, wherein the ammonia is an aqueous ammonia having an initial pressure of between approximately 0.17 to approximately 2.07 MPa (25 to 300 psi); and reducing an ammonia concentration in the hydrocracking reaction zone with a wash fluid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The process of claim 9 further comprising: passing a stream of the aqueous ammonia to the hydrocracking reaction zone. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The process of claim 10 wherein the initial pressure of the aqueous ammonia is between approximately 0.34 to approximately 1.7 MPa (50 to 250 psi). ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The process of claim 9 further comprising: mixing a feed stream with the aqueous ammonia to form a combined stream; and, passing the combined stream to the hydrocracking reaction zone. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The process of claim 9 wherein the catalyst comprises a fresh catalyst. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The process of claim 9 wherein the wash fluid is water. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The process of claim 9 further comprising: increasing the hydrocracking catalytic activity in the hydrocracking reaction zone by reducing an ammonia concentration in the hydrocracking reaction zone. ### Claim 16 A process for hydrocracking hydrocarbons, the process comprising: hydrocracking a portion of hydrocarbons in a feed stream in the presence of hydrogen and an acidic hydrocracking catalyst in a hydrocracking reaction zone; passing a stream of aqueous ammonia having an initial pressure between approximately 0.17 to approximately 2.07 MPa (25 to 300 psi) to the hydrocracking reaction zone; and decreasing an amount of aqueous ammonia passed to the hydrocracking reaction zone to increase the hydrocracking reactions by reducing an ammonia concentration to the hydrocracking reaction zone with a wash fluid. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16 further comprising: mixing the aqueous ammonia with the feed stream upstream of the hydrocracking reaction zone. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16 further comprising: vaporizing the aqueous ammonia within the hydrocracking reactor.