# US 2013/0156650 A1 · Systems and methods for distributing particulate material into a particulate vessel and fcc units including the systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0156650 A1 - Document ID: US20130156650A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/330,481 - Filed: 2011-12-19 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-19 - Assignees: Uop LLC - Inventors: Patrick D. Walker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156650A1 ## CPC - B01J 8/0015: {Feeding of the particles in the reactor; Evacuation of the particles out of the reactor} - B01J 8/003: {in a downward flow} - C10G 11/182: {Regeneration} - B01J 2208/0061: Controlling the level - B01J 2208/00752: Feeding - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - 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 ## Abstract A system for distributing particulate material into a particulate vessel includes a particulate material distributor for introducing the particulate material into the particulate vessel. The particulate material distributor includes a declined header that defines a plurality of orifices that are spaced along a length of the declined header for accommodating flow of particulate material from the declined header. The system also includes a vessel level controller for controlling a level of the particulate material in the particulate vessel. The vessel level controller controls flow of the particulate material through one or more of the orifices in the declined header through adjustment of the level of particulate material in the particulate vessel between the plurality of orifices in the declined header. A FCC unit including the system is also provided, along with a method for distributing particulate material into a particulate vessel using the system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for distributing particulate material into a particulate vessel, said system comprising: a particulate material distributor for introducing the particulate material into the particulate vessel, said particulate material distributor comprising a declined header defining a plurality of orifices spaced along a length of said declined header for accommodating flow of particulate material from said declined header; a vessel level controller for controlling a level of the particulate material in the particulate vessel, said vessel level controller controlling flow of the particulate material through one or more of said orifices in said declined header through adjustment of the level of particulate material in the particulate vessel between said plurality of orifices in said declined header. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said declined header comprises a trough and header sidewalls extending from said trough, wherein at least one of said header sidewalls defines said plurality of orifices. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said declined header has a U-shaped cross-sectional profile on a plane extending through said trough and header sidewalls. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said declined header has a rise to run ratio of from about −0.5:10 to about −2:10. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said declined header has a static rise to run ratio during operation of said system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said declined header comprises an aeration lance extending along said length of said declined header, said aeration lance comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with particulate material therein for fluidizing the particulate material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said particulate material distributor further comprises a fluidized hopper in fluid communication with said declined header for providing fluidized particulate material to said declined header. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system as set forth in claim 7, further comprising an additional declined header in fluid communication with said fluidized hopper. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a particulate material makeup rate controller including a particulate material makeup valve for adding particulate material to the vessel separate from the particulate material distributor. ### Claim 10 A fluidized catalytic cracking unit for the fluidized catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons, said fluidized catalytic cracking unit comprising: a reaction zone in which particulate catalyst is contacted with a hydrocarbon feed; a separator vessel in fluid communication with said reaction zone for receiving an effluent comprising entrained particulate catalyst from said reaction zone and separating particulate catalyst from the effluent; a regeneration zone in fluid communication with said separator vessel for receiving particulate catalyst from said separator vessel and with said reaction zone for passing regenerated catalyst from said regeneration zone to said reaction zone, said regeneration zone comprising: a particulate vessel for receiving the particulate catalyst; and a particulate material distributor for introducing the particulate catalyst into said particulate vessel, said particulate material distributor comprising a declined header defining a plurality of orifices spaced along a length of said declined header for accommodating flow of particulate catalyst from said declined header into said particulate vessel; and a vessel level controller for controlling a level of the particulate catalyst in said particulate vessel, said vessel level controller controlling flow of the particulate catalyst through one or more of said orifices in said declined header through adjustment of the level of particulate catalyst in said particulate vessel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fluidized catalytic cracking unit as set forth in claim 10, wherein said declined header comprises a trough and header sidewalls extending from said trough, wherein at least one of said header sidewalls defines said plurality of orifices. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fluidized catalytic cracking unit as set forth in claim 11, wherein said declined header has a U-shaped cross-sectional profile on a plane extending through said trough and header sidewalls. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The fluidized catalytic cracking unit as set forth in claim 10, wherein said declined header has a rise to run ratio of from about −0.5:10 to about −2:10. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The fluidized catalytic cracking unit as set forth in claim 10, wherein said declined header has a static rise to run ratio during operation of said fluidized catalytic cracking unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The fluidized catalytic cracking unit as set forth in claim 10, wherein said declined header comprises an aeration lance extending along said length of said declined header, said aeration lance comprising a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with particulate material therein for fluidizing the particulate material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The fluidized catalytic cracking unit as set forth in claim 10, wherein said particulate material distributor further comprises a fluidized hopper in fluid communication with said declined header for providing fluidized particulate material to said declined header. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The fluidized catalytic cracking unit as set forth in claim 16, further comprising an additional declined header in fluid communication with said fluidized hopper. ### Claim 18 A method for distributing particulate material into a particulate vessel, said method comprising the steps of: introducing particulate material into the particulate vessel with a particulate material distributor comprising a declined header defining a plurality of orifices spaced along a length of the declined header for accommodating flow of particulate material from the declined header; sensing a level of particulate material in the particulate vessel with a vessel level controller; and adjusting the level of particulate material in the particulate vessel between the plurality of orifices in the declined header based upon the sensed level of particulate material in the particulate vessel to control flow of the particulate material through one or more of the plurality of orifices in the declined header. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the step of adjusting the level of particulate material in the particulate vessel comprises controlling flow rates of particulate material into and out of the particulate vessel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the declined header has a static rise to run ratio during introduction of particulate material into the particulate vessel.