Patent ID: 6630066
Filing Date: 2003-10-07
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
An integrated hydroconversion process employing at least two reactors, each reactor possessing one or more reaction zones within it, in which the effluent stream from each reactor is maintained separately, the process comprising:(a) combining a first refinery stream with a first hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to form a first feedstock; (b) passing the first feedstock to a first reactor having one or more reaction zones, at least one of which is maintained at conditions sufficient to effect a boiling range conversion, to form a first reactor effluent comprising normally liquid phase components and normally gaseous phase components; (c) passing the entire effluent of step (b) to a separation zone, where it is separated into at least one distillate fraction and a second hydrogen-rich gaseous stream; (d) recycling at least a portion of the second hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to either one or both of the reactors; (e) passing the distillate fraction of step (d) to a fractionator, where it is separated into at least one middle distillate stream and a bottoms product; (f) passing the bottoms product of step (e) to a second reactor having a first reaction zone which is maintained at conditions sufficient to effect a boiling range conversion, to form a first reaction zone effluent comprising normally liquid phase components and normally gaseous phase components; (g) combining the entire first reaction zone effluent of the second reactor with a second refinery stream which comprises at least a portion of the middle distillate stream of step (f), the second refinery stream having a boiling point range below the boiling point range of the first refinery stream, to form a second feedstock; (h) passing the second feedstock to a second reaction zone maintained at conditions sufficient for converting at least a portion of the aromatics present in the second refinery stream, to form a second reaction zone effluent; (i) passing the entire effluent of step (h) to a separation zone, where it is separated into at least one distillate fraction and a second hydrogen-rich gaseous stream; (j) recycling at least a portion of the second hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to either one or both of the reactors; (k) passing the distillate fraction of step (j) to a fractionator, where it is separated into at least one middle distillate stream and a bottoms product; and (l) recycling at least a portion of the bottoms product of step (k) to step (g).