Application: The IsoTherming process provides refiners an economical means to upgrade gasoil, heavy gasoil, coker gasoils, deasphalted oil and FCC cycle oils.
Products: Low-sulfur, low-nitrogen FCC feed, low-sulfur gasoline-kerosine type products, and low-nitrogen fuels and/or downstream feedstocks.
Description: This process uses a novel approach to introduce hydrogen in excess of reaction requirements into the reactor. It enables much higher space velocities than conventional hydrocracking reactors. The IsoTherming process eliminates problems associated with flow mal-distribution, gas-liquid mass transfer and catalyst wetting. The process eliminates the need for some of the equipment in conventional hydrotreating thereby lowering cost.
Fresh feed, after heat exchange, is combined with recycle product and hydrogen in a mixer internal to the reactor. The liquid feed with soluble hydrogen is fed to IsoTherming reactor/bed one where partial desulfurization, removal of metals or mild hydrocracking occurs. The stream is combined with additional hydrogen in a second mixer and fed to the second IsoTherming reactor/bed where further mild hydrocracking takes place. The treated oil from the second IsoTherming bed may then be fed to additional IsoTherming beds to achieve the desired level of conversion. At this time the technology is recommended for maximum feed conversion of approximately 65%.
Treated oil is recycled back to the inlet of reactor one. This recycle stream delivers more hydrogen to the reactors and also acts as a heat sink; thus, a nearly isothermal reactor operation is achieved.
Licensor: DuPont
