Fluid catalytic cracking system with fines addition system

1. A method for adding recovered fines a fluid catalyst cracking (FCC) unit, comprising:

recovering fines having an average size of from about 20 to about 40 microns and average temperature from about 100° C. to 600° C. from the FCC unit;

determining an amount of recovered fines;

transferring the recovered fines to a fines addition system; and

injecting the transferred fines into the FCC unit.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein recovering the fines further comprises:

separating fines from an effluent stream exiting the fluid catalytic cracking unit.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of recovering further comprises:

storing the collected fines in a container.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

periodically transferring fines from the container to the fines addition system.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transferring new fines to the addition system.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

adding new fines in response to the determined recovered fines amount.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining an amount of fines being lost from the FCC unit; and

replenishing fines to the FCC unit in response to the determined lost amount.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sensing a metric inactive of an amount of injected fines.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein sensing further comprises:

sensing a metric indicative of a weight of fines passing through the fines addition system.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

automatically injecting the fines in response to a metric indicative of fines within the FCC unit.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

pressurizing the fines addition system;

transferring the pressurized fines to the FCC unit;

depressurizing the fines addition system; and

adding fines to the depressurized fines addition system.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

venting the internal volume of the fines addition system to an effluent stream of the FCC unit.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

separating fines from fluid vented from the fines addition system.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

returning separated fines to the fines addition system.

15. An apparatus for injecting fines into an fluid catalyst cracking (FCC) unit, comprising:

pressure vessel suitable for high temperature operation;

a fill port formed in the pressure vessel;

a vent port formed in the pressure vessel;

a fines removal device coupled to the vent port;

a first discharge port formed in a lower section of the pressure vessel;

a metering device coupled to the first discharge port;

a heat dissipater positioned to cool fines entering the pressure vessel; and

a sensor coupled to the pressure vessel arranged to provide a metric indicative of fines passing through the pressure vessel.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

a second discharge port formed in a lower section of the pressure vessel.

17. A fluid catalyst cracking (FCC) system, comprising:

a FCC unit having a regenerator and a reactor;

a catalyst addition system coupled to the FCC unit;

a fines recovery system interfaced with an effluent stream of the regenerator; and

a fines addition system coupled between the fines recovery system and the FCC unit.

18. The FCC system of claim 17 , wherein the fines addition system further comprises:

a sensor configured to provide a metric indicative of fines injected in to the FCC unit by the fines addition system.

19. The FCC system of claim 18 , wherein the sensor provides a metric indicative of a change in weight.

20. The FCC system of claim 17 further comprising:

a tote adapted to contain fines coupled to the fines addition system.

21. The FCC system of claim 17 further comprising:

a heat dissipater positioned to remove heat from fines passing between the fines recovery system and the fines addition system.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein injecting the transferred fines into the FCC unit further comprises:

injecting fines having an average size of 20-40 microns into the FCC unit.