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.
Claims14
A reactor system 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, wherein the reactor system operates alternating between a reaction mode and a regeneration mode, the reactor system comprising:
- a reactor having a top portion and a bottom portion and configured to contain at least one bed of catalyst particles comprising a metal oxide on an oxide support;
- a lipid feedstock inlet in the top portion of the reactor for feeding the lipid feedstock in a downward flow and an outlet in the bottom portion of the reactor for removing the treated stream when operating in the reaction mode;
- a temperature control for operating the reactor at a reaction mode temperature of from 450° C. to 550° C. and a regeneration mode temperature of from 400° C. to 800° C., the regeneration mode temperature causing combustion of combustible solids on the catalyst particles thereby regenerating the catalyst particles;
- a pressure control for operating the reactor at a reaction mode pressure of from 30 psi to 1,450 psi and a regeneration mode pressure of from 10 psi to 200 psi;
- an inlet in the bottom portion of the reactor for providing air in an upward flow;
- an outlet in the top portion of the reactor for removing flue gas from the combustion when operating in the regeneration mode, and
- a fractionator to fractionate the treated stream after it leaves the reactor to obtain a gaseous fraction and a liquid fraction, wherein the liquid fraction comprises a bio-oil having a lower oxygen content when compared to the lipid feedstock.
A reactor system 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, wherein the reactor system operates alternating between a reaction mode and a regeneration mode, the reactor system comprising:
- a reactor having a top portion and a bottom portion and configured to contain at least one bed of catalyst particles comprising a metal oxide on an oxide support;
- a lipid feedstock inlet in the top portion of the reactor for feeding the lipid feedstock in a downward flow and an outlet in the bottom portion of the reactor for removing the treated stream when operating in the reaction mode;
- a control system for alternating the reactor between a reaction mode and a regeneration mode, the control system comprising a temperature control and a pressure control,
- the temperature control for operating the reactor at a reaction mode temperature of from 450° C. to 550° C. and a regeneration mode temperature of from 400° C. to 800° C., the regeneration mode temperature causing combustion of combustible solids on the catalyst particles thereby regenerating the catalyst particles;
- the pressure control for operating the reactor at a reaction mode pressure of from 30 psi to 1,450 psi and a regeneration mode pressure of from 10 psi to 200 psi;
- an inlet in the bottom portion of the reactor for providing air in an upward flow;
- and
- an outlet in the top portion of the reactor for removing flue gas from the combustion when operating in the regeneration mode,
- the control system configured to purge the reactor with steam or inert gas provided into the top portion of the reactor after discontinuing the operation of the reactor in the reaction mode and before commencing operation of the reactor in the regeneration mode.
A reactor system 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, wherein the reactor system operates alternating between a reaction mode and a regeneration mode, the reactor system comprising:
- a reactor having a top portion and a bottom portion and configured to contain at least one bed of catalyst particles comprising a metal oxide on an oxide support;
- a lipid feedstock inlet in the top portion of the reactor for feeding the lipid feedstock in a downward flow and an outlet in the bottom portion of the reactor for removing the treated stream when operating in the reaction mode;
- a temperature control for operating the reactor at a reaction mode temperature of from 450° C. to 550° C. and a regeneration mode temperature of from 400° C. to 800° C., the regeneration mode temperature causing combustion of combustible solids on the catalyst particles thereby regenerating the catalyst particles;
- a pressure control for operating the reactor at a reaction mode pressure of from 30 psi to 1,450 psi and a regeneration mode pressure of from 10 psi to 200 psi;
- an inlet in the bottom portion of the reactor for providing air in an upward flow;
- and
- an outlet in the top portion of the reactor for removing flue gas from the combustion when operating in the regeneration mode, wherein the lipid feedstock comprises at least one fatty acid glycerol ester.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.