METHOD FOR OLEFIN PRODUCTION FROM BUTANES AND CRACKING REFINERY HYDROCARBONS

1 ) A process for making propylene, comprising:

dehydrogenating a feed comprising butane to provide a first product comprising butene;

bypassing an etherification reactor for converting isobutylene to methyl tert-butyl ether;

cracking at least a portion of the first product to provide a second product comprising propylene, ethylene, and butane; and

cracking a refinery hydrocarbon comprising gas oil, full range gas oil, resid, or a combination thereof to provide a cracked hydrocarbon comprising ethylene, propylene, or a combination thereof.

2 ) The process of claim 1 , further comprising:

selectively separating at least a portion of the second product to provide an olefinic mixture comprising ethylene, propylene, or a combination thereof;

cooling the cracked hydrocarbon to provide a quenched effluent;

combining the olefinic mixture and quenched effluent to provide a hydrocarbon mixture;

selectively separating the hydrocarbon mixture to provide a third product comprising propylene and a first recycle comprising butane; and

recycling at least a portion of the first recycle to the first product prior to cracking the first product.

3 ) The process of claim 1 , further comprising:

selectively separating at least a portion of the second product to provide an olefinic mixture comprising ethylene, propylene, or a combination thereof;

cooling the cracked hydrocarbon to provide a quenched effluent;

combining the olefinic mixture and quenched effluent to provide a hydrocarbon mixture;

selectively separating the hydrocarbon mixture to provide a third product comprising propylene and a first recycle comprising butane; and

recycling at least a portion of the first recycle to the feed prior to dehydrogenation of the feed.

4 ) The process of claim 1 , wherein cracking at least a portion of the first product occurs at a temperature of t from about 590° C. to about 675° C., and a pressure of from about 40 kPa to about 700 kPa when the first product comprises light olefinic hydrocarbons.

5 ) The process of claim 1 , wherein the feed comprises a mixture having of from about 40% to about 95% by weight paraffin hydrocarbons having 4 or more carbon atoms and about 5% to about 60% by weight olefins having 4 or more carbon atoms.

6 ) The process of claim 1 , wherein the first product comprises a mixture having of from about 40% to about 95% by weight olefins having 4 or more carbon atoms and about 5% to about 60% by weight paraffins having 4 or more carbon atoms.

7 ) A process for making propylene, comprising:

dehydrogenating a feed comprising butane to provide a first product comprising butene;

bypassing an etherification reactor for converting isobutylene to methyl tert-butyl ether;

cracking at least a portion of the first product in a first zone to provide a second product comprising propylene, ethylene, and butane;

cracking a refinery hydrocarbon comprising gas oil, full range gas oil, resid, or a combination thereof in a second zone to provide a cracked hydrocarbon comprising ethylene, propylene, or a combination thereof;

selectively separating at least a portion of the second product to provide an olefinic mixture comprising ethylene, propylene, or a combination thereof;

cooling the cracked hydrocarbon to provide a quenched effluent;

combining the olefinic mixture and quenched effluent to provide a hydrocarbon mixture;

selectively separating the hydrocarbon mixture to provide a third product comprising propylene and a first recycle comprising butane; and

recycling at least a portion of the first recycle to the first product; and

recycling at least a portion of the first recycle to the feed.

8 ) The process of claim 7 , wherein the first product is heated to a temperature of about 90° C. to about 370° C.

9 ) The process of claim 7 , wherein the temperature in the first zone ranges from about 590° C. to about 675° C., and the pressure in the first zone ranges from about 40 kPa to about 700 kPa when the first product comprises light olefinic hydrocarbons.

10 ) The process of claim 7 , wherein the first zone and the second zone are operated independently.

11 ) The process of claim 7 , wherein the first zone and the second zone are located in different crackers that are operated independently.

12 ) The process of claim 7 , wherein the feed comprises a mixture having of from about 40% to about 95% by weight paraffins having 4 or more carbon atoms and about 5% to about 60% by weight olefins having 4 or more carbon atoms.

13 ) The process of claim 7 , wherein the first product comprises a mixture having from about 40% to about 95% by weight olefins having 4 or more carbon atoms and about 5% to about 60% by weight paraffins having 4 or more carbon atoms.

14 ) A process for retrofitting a methyl tert-butyl ether process, comprising:

bypassing at least a portion of a first product around an existing etherification reactor for converting isobutylene to methyl tert-butyl ether, the first product comprising butene;

cracking at least a portion of the bypassed first product in a first cracking zone to provide a second product comprising propylene, ethylene, and butane; and

cracking a refinery hydrocarbon in a second cracking zone to provide a cracked hydrocarbon comprising ethylene, propylene, or a combination thereof.

15 ) The process of claim 14 , further comprising:

selectively separating at least a portion of the second product to provide an olefinic mixture comprising ethylene, propylene, or a combination thereof;

cooling the cracked hydrocarbon to provide a quenched effluent;

selectively separating at least a portion of the combined olefinic mixture and quenched effluent to provide a hydrocarbon mixture comprising propylene and a first recycle comprising butane; and

recycling at least a portion of the first recycle to the first product.

16 ) The process of claim 14 , further comprising:

selectively separating at least a portion of the second product to provide an olefinic mixture comprising ethylene, propylene, or a combination thereof;

cooling the cracked hydrocarbon to provide a quenched effluent;

selectively separating at least a portion of the combined olefinic mixture and quenched effluent to provide a hydrocarbon mixture comprising propylene and a first recycle comprising butane; and

recycling at least a portion of the first recycle to a the feed.

17 ) The process of claim 14 , further comprising:

selectively separating at least a portion of the second product to provide an olefinic mixture comprising ethylene, propylene, or a combination thereof;

cooling the cracked hydrocarbon to provide a quenched effluent;

selectively separating at least a portion of the combined olefinic mixture and quenched effluent to provide a hydrocarbon mixture comprising propylene and a first recycle comprising butane;

recycling at least a portion of the first recycle to the feed; and

recycling at least a portion of the first recycle to the first product.

18 ) The process of claim 14 , wherein the temperature in the first cracking zone is from about 590° C. to about 675° C. when the first product comprises light olefinic hydrocarbons.

19 ) The process of claim 14 , wherein the pressure in the first cracking zone is from about 40 kPa to about 700 kPa when the first product comprises light olefinic hydrocarbons.

20 ) The process of claim 14 , wherein the first product comprises a mixture having of from about 40% to about 95% by weight olefins having 4 or more carbon atoms and about 5% to about 60% by weight paraffins having 4 or more carbon atoms.