# US 7,407,572 B2 · Feed injector

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- Number: US 7,407,572 B2
- Document ID: US7407572B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/145,102
- Filed: 2005-06-03
- Published: 2006-01-26
- Granted: 2008-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2004-07-23
- Assignees: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
- Inventors: Todd R. Steffens; Thomas E. Hewitt; Rathna P. Davuluri; Enrique Feliz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7407572B2

## CPC

- B01J 4/002: {Nozzle-type elements (nozzle-type reactors B01J19/26)}
- B01J 8/1809: {Controlling processes}
- B01J 8/1827: {the fluidising gas being a reactant}
- B01J 19/26: Nozzle-type reactors, i.e. the distribution of the initial reactants within the reactor is effected by their introduction or injection through nozzles
- B05B 1/04: in flat form, e.g. fan-like, sheet-like
- C10G 11/18: according to the "fluidised-bed" technique
- C10G 11/187: {Controlling or regulating}
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- 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

This invention relates to an apparatus and process for atomizing a petroleum feed. More particularly, a liquid petroleum feed is atomized with an atomization apparatus in which the apparatus has an orifice that produces a generally flat spray pattern of finely dispersed feed prior to contacting catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking zone. The orifice has a general aspect ratio greater than 1.0 and a ratio of perimeter length-to-cross-sectional area greater than 1.5 relative to a perimeter-to-cross-sectional area ratio of a circular orifice of equivalent area. The apparatus can be used to atomize feed injected into the cracking zone of a fluid catalytic cracker.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A feed injector for atomizing a petroleum feed comprising: a conduit containing at least one inlet, at least one outlet and a passageway within said conduit connecting the inlet with the outlet, said passageway containing an orifice wherein the orifice has a general aspect ratio greater than 1.0 and a ratio of perimeter length-to-cross-sectional area greater than 1.5 relative to a perimeter-to-cross-sectional area ratio of a circular orifice of equivalent area, and the orifice includes at least one member protruding inwardly from the perimeter of the orifice.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the orifice is elliptical or rectangular in shape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2)

The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein the at least one inwardly protruding member comprises at least one pointed, square-edged or rounded member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the at least one inwardly protruding member is square-edged.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the orifice is rectangular in shape.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the orifice contains a plurality of square-edged protrusions protruding inwardly from the rectangular shape.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the orifice produces a fan-shaped spray pattern.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the general aspect ratio is greater than 1.5.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ratio of perimeter length-to-cross-sectional area is greater than 2.0.

### Claim 10

A process for injecting a petroleum feed into a reaction zone of a fluid catalytic cracking reactor which comprises: injecting the feed into the reaction zone through a feed injector for atomizing the feed, said injector comprising a conduit containing at least one inlet, at least one outlet and a passageway within said conduit connecting the inlet with the outlet, said passageway containing an orifice wherein the orifice has a general aspect ratio greater than 1.0 and a ratio of perimeter length-to-cross-sectional area greater than 1.5 relative to a perimeter-to-cross-sectional area ratio of a circular artifice of equivalent area, and the orifice includes at least one member protruding inwardly from the perimeter of the orifice.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The process of claim 10 wherein the orifice is elliptical or rectangular in shape.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10, 11)

The process of claim 10 or 11 wherein the at least one inwardly protruding member comprises at least one pointed, square-edged or rounded member.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The process of claim 12 wherein the at least one inwardly protruding member is square-edged.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The process of claim 10 wherein the orifice produces a fan-shaped spray pattern.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The process of claim 10 wherein the general aspect ratio is greater than 1.5.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The process of claim 10 wherein the ratio of perimeter length-to-cross-sectional area is greater than 2.0.