Downflow lipid conversion with upflow catalyst regeneration
AssigneeChevron U.S.A. Inc.
InventorSven Ivar Hommeltoft
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reactor system includes a reactor that treats a lipid feedstock using a metal oxide catalyst to produce a treated stream comprising a bio-oil. The reactor system includes a catalyst zone in which the metal oxide catalyst reacts with the lipid feedstock to produce the treated stream. The reactor system operates in a reaction mode, during which the lipid feedstock flows in a downward direction through the metal oxide catalyst to produce the treated stream. Alternately, the reactor also operates in a regeneration mode, during which coke is burned from the metal oxide catalyst thereby regenerating the metal oxide catalyst. In one aspect, a regeneration mode pressure is less than a reaction mode pressure within the reactor to fluidize the catalyst.
Claims15
A process for converting a lipid feedstock to a treated stream wherein the treated stream comprises a condensable oil fraction having a lower content of oxygen and impurities than the lipid feedstock, and the process comprises alternating an operation of a reactor between a reaction mode and a regeneration mode,
- wherein the reaction mode comprises:
- a. providing an input of the lipid feedstock into a top portion of the reactor such that the lipid feedstock flows downward through a bed of catalyst particles comprising a metal oxide on an oxide support;
- b. operating the reactor at a reaction mode temperature of from 450° C. to 550° C. and a reaction mode pressure of from 30 psi to 1,450 psi;
- and
- c. withdrawing the treated stream from the bottom portion of the reactor;
- and
- discontinuing the operation of the reactor in the reaction mode and commencing operation of the reactor in the regeneration mode, wherein the regeneration mode comprises:
- d. providing an input of air optionally diluted with steam or inert gas into a bottom portion of the reactor such that the air flows upward through the catalyst particles;
- e. maintaining a temperature of 400° C. to 800° C., thereby causing combustion of combustible solids on the catalyst particles and thereby regenerating the catalyst particles;
- and
- f. withdrawing a flue gas from the top portion of the reactor wherein the flue gas comprises dust particles derived from the impurities in the lipid feedstock.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.