Fluid catalytic cracking apparatus and methods for cracking hydrocarbons
Methods and FCC apparatuses are provided for cracking hydrocarbons. An FCC apparatus includes a riser with a riser outlet positioned within a reactor catalyst collection area. A stripper is coupled to the reactor catalyst collection area, where the riser extends through the stripper, and where the stripper includes a stripper exterior wall. A sleeve is positioned within the stripper between the riser and the stripper exterior wall.
1. A fluid catalytic cracking apparatus comprising:
a riser comprising a riser outlet;
a reactor catalyst collection area, wherein the riser outlet is positioned within the reactor catalyst collection area;
a stripper coupled to the reactor catalyst collection area, wherein the riser extends through the stripper, and wherein the stripper comprises a stripper exterior wall;
a sleeve positioned within the stripper between the riser and the stripper exterior wall; and
a refractory material, ceramic fiber blanket and/or other non-reactive packing material positioned between the sleeve and the stripper exterior wall.
2. The fluid catalytic cracking apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a refractory material positioned between the sleeve and the stripper exterior wall.
3. The fluid catalytic cracking apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a ceramic fiber blanket positioned between the sleeve and the stripper exterior wall.
4. The fluid catalytic cracking apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a purge inlet positioned between the sleeve and the stripper exterior wall.
5. The fluid catalytic cracking apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:
a steam supply fluidly coupled to the purge inlet.
6. The fluid catalytic cracking apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:
a barrier wall affixed to the stripper exterior wall such that the barrier wall and the sleeve define a sleeve bottom gap; and
a purge outlet defined in the barrier wall.
7. The fluid catalytic cracking apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a purge outlet positioned between the sleeve and the stripper exterior wall.
8. The fluid catalytic cracking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is affixed to the reactor catalyst collection area.
9. The fluid catalytic cracking apparatus of claim 8 wherein the sleeve comprises a sleeve bottom end, and wherein the sleeve bottom end floats within the stripper.
10. The fluid catalytic cracking apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a barrier wall affixed to the stripper exterior wall, wherein the barrier wall is positioned such that the barrier wall and the sleeve define a sleeve bottom gap.
11. The fluid catalytic cracking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sleeve comprises a sleeve sloped section affixed to the reactor catalyst collection area and a sleeve vertical section coupled to the sleeve sloped section, the fluid catalytic cracking apparatus further comprising:
a perforated hole defined in the sleeve sloped section.
12. The fluid catalytic cracking apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a flow aid positioned between the riser and the sleeve.
13. The fluid catalytic cracking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reactor catalyst collection area comprises a catalyst collection area sloped wall, and wherein the sleeve comprises a sleeve sloped section affixed to the catalyst collection area sloped wall, and wherein a slope of the catalyst collection area sloped wall is within about 5 degrees of the slope of the sleeve sloped section.
14. The fluid catalytic cracking apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a regenerator fluidly coupled to the stripper and to the riser, wherein the regenerator is configured to receive a catalyst from the stripper and transfer the catalyst to the riser.
15. A fluid catalytic cracking apparatus comprising:
a riser comprising a riser outlet;
a reactor catalyst collection area, wherein the riser outlet is positioned within the reactor catalyst collection area, and wherein the reactor catalyst collection area comprises a catalyst collection area sloped wall;
a stripper coupled to the catalyst collection area sloped wall, wherein the stripper comprises a stripper exterior wall;
a sleeve positioned within the stripper exterior wall; and
a barrier wall affixed to the stripper exterior wall, such that the barrier wall and the sleeve define a sleeve bottom gap.
16. The fluid catalytic cracking apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:
a sleeve vertical section coupled to the sleeve sloped section, wherein the sleeve vertical section is positioned between the riser and a stripper exterior wall.
17. The fluid catalytic cracking apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:
a stripper gas distributor positioned between the riser and the stripper exterior wall, wherein the stripper gas distributor is configured to direct a stripping gas between the riser and the sleeve vertical section.
18. The fluid catalytic cracking apparatus of claim 15 wherein a slope of the sleeve sloped section is within about 5 degrees of the slope of the catalyst collection area sloped wall.
19. The fluid catalytic cracking apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:
a regenerator; and
a spent catalyst transfer line fluidly coupling the stripper to the regenerator.
20. A method of cracking hydrocarbons comprising the steps of:
contacting a hydrocarbon stream with a catalyst in a riser at cracking conditions to produce a riser effluent;
separating the riser effluent from the catalyst in a reactor catalyst separator;
collecting the catalyst in a reactor catalyst collection area; and
stripping hydrocarbons from the catalyst in a stripper, wherein the stripper comprises a space between a sleeve and a stripper exterior wall, the space containing a refractory material, ceramic fiber blanket and/or other non-reactive packing material positioned between the sleeve and the stripper exterior wall.