Patent ID: 8012422
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: B01J,C10G

Abstract:
1. A system for injecting catalyst and/or additives into a fluidized catalytic cracking unit, comprising: a dust collector adapted to be in fluid communication with at least one storage bin holding one of the catalyst and/or additives; a vacuum producer in fluid communication with the dust collector so that the vacuum producer generates a vacuum within the dust collector that draws the one of the catalyst and/or additives into the dust collector; and a transfer pot in fluid communication with the dust collector for receiving the one of the catalyst and/or additives from the dust collector, the transfer pot adapted to be in fluid communication with the fluidized catalytic cracking unit and with a source of pressurized air so that the one of the catalyst and/or additives can be transferred to the fluidized catalytic cracking unit in response to a pressure differential between the transfer pot and the fluidized catalytic cracking unit; a plurality of load cells for measuring a weight of the dust collector, the transfer pot, and the one of the catalyst and/or additives drawn into the dust collector; where the vacuum producer is adapted to be in fluid communication with the source of pressurized air, the system further comprising: a first valve for isolating the vacuum producer from the source of pressurized air on a selective basis; a second valve for isolating the transfer pot from the source of pressurized air on a selective basis; a third valve for isolating the transfer pot from the fluidized catalytic cracking unit on a selective basis; a fourth valve for isolating the dust collector from the storage bin on a selective basis; and a controller electrically coupled to the load cells and respective actuators of the first, second, third, and fourth valves for controlling the operation of the first, second, third, and fourth valves.