SYSTEM FOR SEALING A CYCLONE LEG

Abstract: A cyclone leg sealing system is composed of one or more intermediate solids-accumulation chambers (21) delimited by two sealing valves (10 and 12) in series, the function of the valves being to prevent the back-flow of particulate material towards the inside of the separating cyclones in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) processes, thereby ensuring the maximum efficiency of the separating effected by the cyclone.

Description: 'SVST€M FOΛ S€fUING tl CVCLON€ L€G*. FI€LD OF TH€ INVENTION The present invention relates to a system for sealing die leg of a cyclone for separating out solids from a particulate suspension. More specifically, the present invention presents an arrangement of valves at the ends of the legs of cyclones to promote improved sealing of die system. More particυlariy, the present invention presents a system for sealing the legs of separation cyclones which are used in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) processes. BflCKGROUND OF TH€ INV€NTION In the field of separating out solid particles in gaseous suspension it is customary to use cyclones as die mechanism for separating out the suspended solids. Such cyclones normally have a valve at their ends where die solid material is discharged or, as is more well-known, at die ends ofthe legs ofthe cyclones. This valve acts as a sealing element, preventing a gaseous coυnterflow current towards die inside ofthe cyclone, which would considerably reduce its separation efficiency . Oi die other hand, however well the valve is designed, it is mechanically impossible for a single valve to eliminate completely die draw-back of solid pa/tides due to d e coυnterflow of die gaseous current in die interval between the opening and subsequent closing of die valve. In die specific case of fluid catalytic σacking (FCC) processes, it is known that d e internal pressure in the cyclone is always below the pressure of me separating vessel surrounding it, which requires me use of sealing valves at the lower end ofthe legs ofthe cyclones. Next, a σitical point, which directly influences the efficiency ofthe FCC process, is the seal provided by d e sealing valves in the cyclone legs, fls they have to operate under fairly harsh conditions, such as temperatures in excess o ' 500' and a solids charge rate ofthe order of 20-50 t/min, these valves do not normally provide a perfect seal, so they permit to some extent the passage of gas from the separating vessel towards the inside ofthe leg of me cyclone, fi flow in excess of 0.5% of me total volume fed into the inlet port of die cyclone causes draw-back of the fine solid particles, which disrupts me operation ofthe cyclone and thereby reduces its separation efficiency. fls an alternative solution, Gβ-fi-2,212,248 proposes the use of a deadweight valve which provides a virtually total seal through die pressure ofa conical section installed between the base ofthe valve and the seat ofthe leg of me cyclone. However, it is important to remember mat a small amount of gas passing through the sealing valve, ofthe order of 0.01 to 0.5% of me total volume fed into the port of me cyclone, is beneficial since it causes flυidification ofthe solid which will have accumulated in the leg of the cyclone, which promotes its discharge. In mis way, an attempt to prevent die passage ofthe gas flow through the valve, as proposed by the aforementioned patent, may give rise to the loss of flυidification ofthe solid whi has accumulated in die leg of the cyclone, principally in the second phase of separation when the charge of solids is fairly dilute, e.g. of the order of 0.2 to 1.5 grams of particulate per cubic meter of gas. Under such operating conditions me accumulation of solids, leading to a balance in pressure and resulting discharge ofthe solids, may require a period in excess of eight hours to effect adequate bυi/d-υp and, if there is not a minimum flow of gas through the valve, me dense bed of particulates may become "packed down", with the consequent risk of complete obstruction ofthe leg of die cyclone and a drop in the efficiency ofthe cyclone. OβJ€σ OF TH€ INV€NTION The present invention aims to solve diese problems involving draw- back of particulates during the opening cycle of me cyclone-leg sealing valve, thus maintaining the high operating efficiency ofthe cyclone, in a simple, inexpensive and safe manner. It is a further object of die present invention to provide a system for sealing the legs of separation cyclones used in fluid catalytic σacking (FCC) processes whidi totally prevents a coυnterflow of gas towards the inside ofthe leg of die cyclone wit no risk ofthe dense bed of particulates "packing down'. SUMMRRY OF TH€ INV€NTION Accordingly die present invention provides a sealing system for me leg ofa cyclone for separating out solids in particulate suspension, characterized in that, at the lower end of me leg of die cyclone, mere is an arrangement of two or more sealing valves mounted in series with an intermediate solids-accumulation chamber between two successive said sealing valves; in that an upper said valve is intended to promote sealing between the inside of me leg ofthe cyclone and me inside of me intermediate solids-accumulation chamber; and in diat a lower said valve is intended to promote sealing between die inside ofthe intermediate solids- accumulation chamber and me inside ofa separating vessel. BHI€F D€SCΛIPTION OF TH€ DRMINGS The invention will now be desσibed in greater detail with reference to the drawings which accompany this specification and in which: Figure 1 is a typical diagrammatic view of die reaction/separation assembly ofa standard FCC unit; Figures 2a and 2b are, respectively, a plan view and an elevational view, both showing a conventional deadweight valve; Figure 3a and 3b are, respectively, a side profile view and a front profile view ofa conventional drip valve; and Figure 4 is a side profile view of the preferred arrangement of the present invention, which includes two sealing valves mounted in series and an intermediate chamber for the accumulation of particles. D€SCRIPTION OF l PR€F€RR€D €MBODIM€NT Figure 7 shows a standard reaction/separation unit for an FCC process. Sum a unit consists of an ascending-flow tubular reactor ('RIS€R") 1, a separating vessel 2 and me cyclone separators 6 and 7 in series. The daditional technique, familiar to those skilled in die field of petroleum refining, consists in promoting cracking reactions in a charge of hydrocarbons, in gaseous phase in suspension wim catalyst particles along die entire length of me riser 1. fis a result ofthe reactions, a carbonaceous deposit is formed on the surface ofthe catalyst. fit the end of the riser 1, the suspended coked catalyst particles are rapidly separated from the cracked hydrocarbons. The effluent current from die reaction tiierefore enters the first cyclone separator 6 where me greater part ofthe suspended catalyst is separated out and flows, under gravity, in free fall to the leg 9 of die cyclone 6 where it is retained by the sealing valve 10, which is shown, by way of example, as a drip valve. Figure 3 shows the sealing valve 10, called the drip valve, in greater detail. Sum a valve consists basically ofa metal plate 19 of approximately elliptical shape secured to the end of the leg 9 ofthe cyclone by means of an articulation 20. The valve is sealed by the actual weight of the plate 19, which forms an angle of from 4 to 7 degrees with die vertical plane when it bears on the inclined end ofthe cyclone leg 9. Returning to a description ofthe conventional unit shown in Figure 1, the cracked hydrocarbons separated out in the first cyclone 6, also drawing along finer particles of catalyst, penetrate into e second cyclone 7 where they are completely separated out, de gaseous phase passing onward to external systems for fractionating the entrained cracked products. The finer particles of catalyst, just as occurred earlier in de cyclone 6, descend to the leg 11 of me cyclone 7, and are there retained in the sealing valve 12, which is shown, by way of example, as a deadweight valve. Figure 2 shows in greater detail this sealing valve 12, called a deadweight valve. Such a valve consists ofa sealing disc 15 whose entire surface area bears on and covers me annular end ofthe disdiarge section ofthe leg 11 of me cyclone, and closes the leg. The disc 15 is secured to the leg by means of an articulation 16 mounted on an arm 17, whi carries a counterweight 18 but enables the valve to open in accordance with the quantity of solid particles present inside die leg 11 ofthe cyclone. The valve is closed and sealed by means ofthe action of the counterweight 78, which may be secured in any position on die arm 17, to adjust the closing force, die arm being arranged in the manner ofa lever. Returning once again to a desσiption of me conventional unit shown in Figure 1, the columns of catalyst particles which accumulate on the lids ofthe sealing valves 10, 12 give rise, at a specific instant in the process, to a pressure balance between die inner, lower part of die legs 9, 11 of me cyclones 6, 7 and the interior of me separating vessel 2, normally at a pressure higher than those prevailing inside de cyclones. The closure 15 or 19 of the valve is dierefore opened through the equalization in pressures, and the column of solids which has " ό - accumulated in the leg of me respective cyclone flows towards the fluidized bed 13 which accumulates in the lower part ofthe separating vessel 2. The conditions of a balance in pressures now cease and the lid of the valve returns to the closed position. This is the most critical moment of the separating phase and, owing to a virtually inevitable gas-current coυnterflow tiiroυgh die leg ofthe cyclone due to die time interval which is necessary for me sealing valve to close completely, it is virtually impossible to prevent some draw-back of catalyst particles towards me inside of he cyclone. In this manner, conventional cyclone-type separating systems virtually always operate under conditions of efficiency and profitability which are not ideal. Figure 4 shows a design for me sealing system according to die present invention, whose innovative solution uses two or more sealing valves mounted in series in one and me same cyclone leg to incorporate one or more intermediate solids-accumulation diambers. filthough Figure 4 presents a drip valve and a deadweight valve in series, any other combination in terms of number or of type is also possible, and this shown arrangement may not in any way be regarded as a factor which limits me invention. Using the sealing system shown in Figure 4, at the start of die σacking process the inside of e intermediate solids-accυmυlation chamber 21 is empty and is isolated from die separating vessel by means ofthe lower, deadweight valve 12 which is maintained in the closed position by the thrust of the sealing disc 15 against die lower discharge end 22 of d e diamber 21. This occurs because, at that instant, me combined effect ofthe internal pressure ofthe separating vessel and die action ofthe counterweight 18 via the arm 17 and the articulation 16 is greater than die effect of die internal pressure ofthe solids-accυmυlation chamber 21. The inside ofthe chamber 21 is also isolated from die cyclone by means of die upper, drip valve 10. fis the process for separating out the solid particles ofthe catalyst, which takes place in die cydone-type separator, proceeds, the particulate material will be deposited at the bottom of die end of the leg of the cyclone, pressing on the metal plate 19 of the upper valve 10 until, on account of die pressure of die column of accumulated particulate material, the valve finally opens and enables die deposit of accumulated particulate material to flow and to occupy me lower disdiarge end 22 of me intermediate solids-accυmυlation chamber 21. Immediately after die accumulated particulate material has flowed out, me upper valve 10 closes again through (i) its own weight and (ii) the inclination of the plate 19 relative to the vertical plane. This process is repeated a number of times, the column of particulate inside the chamber 21 growing until me weight of that column is sufficient to open the lower valve 12, overcoming the counterweight 18 and die closure force ofthe sealing disc 15 resulting from the internal pressure of me separating vessel over the outer surface ofthe disc. fit the instant when the lower valve 12 opens, the particulate catalyst which has accumulated in the chamber 21 is able to enter me separating vessel and to flow towards the fluidized bed at its bottom. Virtually simultaneously, the pressure inside die dιamber21 is equalized with the pressure of die surrounding separating vessel and this prevents opening of me upper valve 10 until, through me action of the counterweight 18, die lid 15 ofthe lower valve 12 closes again, completing the cycle of discharging the particulate catalyst from its separating-oυt in the cyclone up to its deposition on the bottom ofthe separating vessel. fis may be readily observed when, throughout the cycle, one ofthe valves in the sealing system is open the other remains closed. This resdicts the back-flow of particulate material into the inside of die intermediate solids- accυmυlation chamber 21, thereby totally preventing draw-back of me catalyst particles towards the cyclone and ensuring its satisfactory operation and maximum efficiency. In addition, by reducing the residence time of the particulate column inside the leg ofthe cyclone, and by producing good fluidization of me bed of solid whim has accumulated in the intermediate solids-accumulation chamber, the system minimizes de risk of die beds of accumulated solid 'packing down'.

Claims: CLRIMS 1.- fi sealing system for the leg of a cyclone for separating out solids in particulate suspension, characterized in that, at the lower end ofthe leg ofthe cyclone, there is an arrangement of two or more sealing valves mounted in series with an intermediate solids-accυmυlation chamber between two successive said sealing valves; in diat an upper said valve is intended to promote sealing between me inside of me leg of the cyclone and the inside of die intermediate solids-accυmυlation diamber; and in that a lower said valve is intended to promote sealing between the inside ofthe intermediate solids-accυmυlation cfiamberand die inside ofa separating vessel. 2- fi system according to Claim 1, characterized in that said sealing valves mounted in series will not open simultaneously, by virtue of me inter¬ relationship between the closure areas and by virtue of die pressure differential whidi exists in the interior of the cyclone leg, the intermediate solids-accumulation chamber and die separating vessel. 3.- fi system according to eitiier of the preceding claims, diaracterized in diat said sealing valves mounted in series are ofthe drip type, the deadweight type, or both in any combination.

Inventors: CARDOSO DE MELO GUERRA EDUARDO, MOZART FUSCO JOSE, NEVES VIEIRA VALMOR, CARDOSO DE MELO GUERRA, EDUARDO, MOZART FUSCO, JOSE, NEVES VIEIRA, VALMOR
Applicants: CARDOSO DE MELO GUERRA EDUARDO, MOZART FUSCO JOSE, NEVES VIEIRA VALMOR, PETROLEO BRASILEIRO SA, CARDOSO DE MELO GUERRA, EDUARDO, MOZART FUSCO, JOSE, NEVES VIEIRA, VALMOR, PETROLEO BRASILEIRO S.A. - PETROBRAS
Application year: 1996
Main classification: C10G11
IPC codes: B01J8, B01J38, B04C5, C10G11