Reverse acid and hydrocarbon cascading in alkylation

A system for the alkylation of olefins, the system comprising:

• a first alkylation zone comprising a reaction section and a separation section, the reaction section configured for receiving a second partially spent sulfuric acid and for contacting an isoparaffin feed and a C5 olefin-containing feed with the second partially spent sulfuric acid under alkylation conditions, the separation section configured to separate an effluent from the reaction section to form a spent acid phase and a first hydrocarbon phase comprising alkylate and unreacted isoparaffin;
• a second alkylation zone comprising a reaction section and a separation section, the reaction section configured for receiving a first partially spent sulfuric acid and for contacting the first hydrocarbon phase and a C4 olefin with the first partially spent sulfuric acid under alkylation conditions, and the separation configured to separate an effluent from the reaction zone to form a second hydrocarbon phase, comprising alkylate and unreacted isoparaffin, and the second partially spent sulfuric acid fed to the first alkylation zone;
• a third alkylation zone comprising a reaction section and a separation section, the reaction section configured for receiving a fresh sulfuric acid feed and for contacting the second hydrocarbon phase and the C3 olefin with the fresh sulfuric acid feed under alkylation conditions, and the separation section configured to separate an effluent from the reaction section to form a third hydrocarbon phase, comprising alkylate and unreacted isoparaffin, and the first partially spent sulfuric acid fed to the second alkylation zone;
• and
• a separator for separating the third hydrocarbon phase to recover an isoparaffin fraction and an alkylate product fraction.

A system for the alkylation of olefins, the system comprising:

• a flow line for providing a C5 olefin-containing feed to a first alkylation zone;
• a flow line for providing a C4 olefin-containing feed to a second alkylation zone;
• a flow line for providing a C3 olefin-containing feed to a third alkylation zone;
• a first alkylation zone comprising a reaction section and a separation section, the reaction section configured for receiving a first partially spent sulfuric acid and for contacting an isoparaffin and the C5 olefin with the first partially spent sulfuric acid under alkylation conditions, the separation section configured to separate an effluent from the reaction section to form a second partially spent acid phase and a first hydrocarbon phase comprising alkylate and unreacted isoparaffin;
• a second alkylation zone comprising a reaction section and a separation section, the reaction section configured for receiving the second partially spent sulfuric acid and for contacting the first hydrocarbon phase and the C4 olefin with the second partially spent sulfuric acid under alkylation conditions, the separation section configured to separate an effluent from the reaction section to form a second hydrocarbon phase, comprising alkylate and unreacted isoparaffin, and a spent sulfuric acid fed;
• a third alkylation zone comprising a reaction section and a separation section, the reaction section configured for receiving a fresh sulfuric acid feed and for contacting the second hydrocarbon phase and the C3 olefin with the fresh sulfuric acid feed under alkylation conditions, and the separation section configured to separate an effluent from the reaction section to form a third hydrocarbon phase, comprising alkylate and unreacted isoparaffin, and the first partially spent sulfuric acid fed to the first alkylation zone;
• and
• a separator for separating the third hydrocarbon phase to recover an isoparaffin fraction and an alkylate product fraction.

A system for the alkylation of olefins, the system comprising:

• a flow line for providing a first olefin to a first alkylation zone;
• a flow line for providing a second olefin to a second alkylation zone, wherein the second olefin may be the same or different than the first olefin;
• a flow line for providing a third olefin to a third alkylation zone, wherein the third olefin may be the same or different than the first and/or second olefin;
• a flow line for providing an isoparaffin to the first alkylation zone;
• the first alkylation zone, comprising a reaction section and a separation section, configured for receiving and for contacting the isoparaffin and the first olefin with a second partially spent sulfuric acid under alkylation conditions and to form a spent acid phase and a first hydrocarbon phase comprising alkylate and unreacted isoparaffin;
• the second alkylation zone, comprising a reaction section and a separation section, configured for receiving and for contacting the first hydrocarbon phase and the second olefin with a first partially spent sulfuric acid feed under alkylation conditions and to form a second hydrocarbon phase, comprising alkylate and unreacted isoparaffin, and the second partially spent sulfuric acid fed to the first alkylation zone;
• the third alkylation zone, comprising a reaction section and a separation section, configured for receiving and for contacting the second hydrocarbon phase and the third olefin with a sulfuric acid feed under alkylation conditions and to form a third hydrocarbon phase, comprising alkylate and unreacted isoparaffin, and the first partially spent sulfuric acid fed to the second alkylation zone;
• and
• a separator for separating the third hydrocarbon phase to recover an isoparaffin fraction and an alkylate product fraction.

A system for the alkylation of olefins, the system comprising:

• a flow line for providing a first olefin to a first alkylation zone;
• a flow line for providing a second olefin to a second alkylation zone, wherein the second olefin may be the same or different than the first olefin;
• a flow line for providing a third olefin to a third alkylation zone, wherein the third olefin may be the same or different than the first and/or second olefin;
• a flow line for providing an isoparaffin to the first alkylation zone;
• the first alkylation zone, comprising a reaction section and a separation section, configured for receiving and for contacting the isoparaffin and the first olefin with a first partially spent sulfuric acid under alkylation conditions and to form a second partially spent acid phase and a first hydrocarbon phase comprising alkylate and unreacted isoparaffin;
• the second alkylation zone, comprising a reaction section and a separation section, configured for receiving and for contacting the first hydrocarbon phase and the second olefin with the second partially spent sulfuric acid feed under alkylation conditions and to form a second hydrocarbon phase, comprising alkylate and unreacted isoparaffin, and a spent sulfuric acid phase;
• the third alkylation zone, comprising a reaction section and a separation section, configured for receiving and for contacting the second hydrocarbon phase and the third olefin with a sulfuric acid feed under alkylation conditions and to form a third hydrocarbon phase, comprising alkylate and unreacted isoparaffin, and the first partially spent sulfuric acid fed to the first alkylation zone;
• and
• a separator for separating the third hydrocarbon phase to recover an isoparaffin fraction and an alkylate product fraction.