Multiphase oligomerization process for converting olefins to jet
A process for oligomerizing olefin streams comprising sending olefin streams comprising a C2− olefin vapor stream and a C3+ olefin liquids stream to a first stage oligomerization reactor containing a solid acid oligomerization catalyst to produce a first stage oligomerized stream; oligomerizing said first-stage oligomerization stream in a second stage oligomerization reactor containing a metal catalyst to provide a second stage oligomerized stream.
1. A process for oligomerizing an olefin stream comprising:
charging a C 2 vapor olefin stream and a C 3+ liquid olefin stream to a first-stage oligomerization reactor, comprising a first-stage oligomerization catalyst, to produce a first-stage oligomerized stream; and
oligomerizing said first-stage oligomerized stream in a second-stage oligomerization reactor, comprising a second-stage oligomerization catalyst, to produce a second-stage oligomerized stream,
wherein said first-stage oligomerization catalyst is different from said second-stage oligomerization catalyst.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein said C 2 olefin vapor stream and said C 3+ olefin liquid stream are mixed with a paraffinic liquid diluent to produce a mixed vapor-liquid stream to be sent to said first stage oligomerization reactor.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein a preliminary C 2 olefin vapor stream is separated to provide said C 2 olefin vapor stream and a liquefied olefin stream.
4. The process of claim 3 further comprising taking a recycle olefin stream from said second-stage oligomerized stream and separating said recycle olefin stream with said preliminary C 2 olefin vapor stream.
5. The process of claim 3 wherein the liquefied olefin stream is mixed with a preliminary C 3+ olefin liquid stream to provide said C 3+ olefin liquid stream.
6. The process of claim 1 further comprising compressing said C 2 olefin vapor stream before charging it to the first-stage oligomerization catalyst bed.
7. The process of claim 1 wherein said C 2 olefin vapor stream, C 3+ olefin liquid stream, and a paraffinic liquid diluent stream are charged to the first stage oligomerization reactor to produce a first stage oligomerized stream in a mixed vapor-liquid phase, where the vapor phase predominantly comprises ethylene.
8. The process of claim 3 wherein said first stage oligomerized stream is oligomerized in the second stage oligomerization reactor in a mixed vapor-liquid phase to produce said second stage oligomerized stream which is predominantly C4+ olefins.
9. The process of claim 7 wherein said C4+ olefin stream is sent to an olefin splitter column that separates a C4-C8 olefin stream from a C8+ olefin stream.
10. The process of claim 1 wherein said C8+ stream is hydrogenated to produce a distillate fuel stream.
11. The process of claim 1 wherein said C 3+ olefin liquid stream contains propylene and/or butene.
12. The process of claim 1 wherein the first-stage oligomerization reactor and the second-stage oligomerization reactor utilize vapor-liquid distribution trays to mix and disperse the ethylene vapor with liquid olefin and liquid paraffin to promote heat transfer and manage the exotherm.
13. The process of claim 9 wherein first stage and second stage oligomerization reactors are operated in downflow configuration.
14. A process for oligomerizing an olefin stream comprising:
separating a preliminary C 2 olefin vapor stream to provide a C 2 olefin vapor stream and a liquefied olefin stream;
charging said C 2 olefin vapor stream and a C 3+ olefin liquid stream to a first-stage oligomerization reactor to produce a first-stage oligomerized stream; and
oligomerizing said first-stage oligomerized stream in a second-stage oligomerization reactor to produce a second-stage oligomerized stream,
wherein said C 2 olefin vapor stream and said C 3+ olefin liquid stream are mixed with a paraffinic liquid diluent to produce a mixed vapor-liquid stream to be sent to said first-stage oligomerization reactor.
15. The process of claim 14 further comprising taking a recycle olefin stream from said second-stage oligomerized stream and separating said recycle olefin stream with said preliminary C 2 olefin vapor stream.
16. The process of claim 14 further comprising compressing said C 2 olefin vapor stream before charging it to the first-stage oligomerization catalyst bed.
17. The process of claim 14 wherein the liquefied olefin stream is mixed with a preliminary C 3+ olefin liquid stream to provide said C 3+ olefin liquid stream.
18. The process of claim 14 further comprising taking a recycle olefin stream from said second-stage oligomerized stream and separating said recycle olefin stream with said preliminary C 2 olefin vapor stream.
19. The process of claim 14 further comprising compressing said C 2 olefin vapor stream before charging it to the first-stage oligomerization catalyst bed.
20. A process for oligomerizing an olefin stream comprising:
separating a preliminary C 2 olefin vapor stream to provide a C 2 olefin vapor stream and a liquefied olefin stream;
mixing the liquefied olefin stream with a preliminary C 3+ olefin liquid stream to provide a C 3+ olefin liquid stream;
charging said C 2 olefin vapor stream and said C 3+ olefin liquid stream to a first-stage oligomerization reactor, comprising a first-stage oligomerization catalyst, to produce a first-stage oligomerized stream; and
oligomerizing said first-stage oligomerized stream in a second-stage oligomerization reactor, comprising a second-stage oligomerization catalyst, to produce a second-stage oligomerized stream,
wherein said first-stage oligomerization catalyst is different from said second-stage oligomerization catalyst.