Catalytic cracking process comprising recracking of cat naphtha to increase light olefins yields

Abstract: The described invention comprises a process for increasing the yield of C 3 and C 4 olefins by injecting light cat naphtha (22) together with steam (24) into an upstream reaction zone (30) of a FCC riser reactor (32). The products of the upstream reaction zone (34) are conducted to a downstream reaction zone (36) and combined with fresh feed (30) in the downstream reaction zone.

Description: Field of the Invention This invention relates to a fluid catalytic cracking process. More particularly, a light cat naphtha and steam are added to the reaction zone to improve yields of light olefins. Background of the Invention Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) is a well-known method for converting high boiling hydrocarbon feedstocks to lower boiling, more valuable products. In the FCC process, the high boiling feedstock is contacted with a fluidized bed of catalyst particles in the substantial absence of hydrogen at elevated temperatures. The cracking reaction typically occurs in the riser portion of the catalytic cracking reactor. Cracked products are separated from catalyst by means of cyclones and coked catalyst particles are steam-stripped and sent to a regenerator where coke is burned off the catalyst. The regenerated catalyst is then recycled to contact more high boiling feed at the beginning of the riser. Typical FCC catalysts contain active crystalline aluminosilicates such as zeolites and active inorganic oxide components such as clays of the kaolin type dispersed within an inorganic metal oxide matrix formed from amorphous gels or sols which bind the components together on drying. It is desirable that the matrix be active, attrition resistant, selective with regard to the production of hydrocarbons without excessive coke make and not readily deactivated by metals. Current FCC catalysts may contain in excess of 40 wt.% zeolites. There is a growing need to utilize heavy streams as feeds to FCC units because such streams are lower cost as compared to more conventional FCC feeds such as gas oils and vacuum gas oils. However, these types of heavy feeds have not been considered desirable because of their high Conradson Carbon (con carbon) content together with high levels of metals such as sodium, iron, nickel and vanadium. Nickel and vanadium lead to excessive "dry gas" production during catalytic cracking. Vanadium, when deposited on zeolite catalysts can migrate to and destroy zeolite catalytic sites. High con carbon feeds lead to excessive coke formation. These factors result in FCC unit operators having to withdraw excessive amounts of catalyst to maintain catalyst activity. This in turn leads to higher costs from fresh catalyst make-up and deactivated catalyst disposal. U.S. 4,051,013 describes a cat cracking process for simultaneously cracking a gas oil feed and upgrading a gasoline-range feed to produce high quality motor fuel. The gasoline-range feed is contacted with freshly regenerated catalyst in a relatively upstream portion of a short-time dilute-phase riser reactor zone maintained at first catalytic cracking conditions and the gas oil feed is contacted with used catalyst in a relatively downstream portion of the riser reaction zone which is maintained at second catalytic cracking conditions. U.S. 5,043,522 relates to the conversion of paraffinic hydrocarbons to olefins. A saturated paraffin feed is combined with an olefin feed and the mixture contacted with a zeolite catalyst. The feed mixture may also contain steam. U.S. 4,892,643 discloses a cat cracking operation utilizing a single riser reactor in which a relatively high boiling feed is introduced into the riser at a lower level in the presence of a first catalytic cracking catalyst and a naphtha charge is introduced at a higher level in the presence of a second catalytic cracking catalyst. It would be desirable to have an FCC process which can increase the yield of desirable lower olefins while at the same time increase the octane rating of motor gasoline produced by the FCC process. FR-A-2658833 describes and claims a process for the fluid-state thermal or catalytic cracking of a hydrocarbon feedstock in a tubular reaction zone, the process being characterized in that it comprises a preliminary step of placing a fluid, comprising at least 50 to 100 % by weight of a petroleum fraction whose boiling point is preferably between 40 and 220 C, in a rising-flow or descending-flow contact in one end of the tubular reaction zone, in a diluted fluidized bed of heat-exchanged particles and steam, the said process being carried out as follows: (a) the said preliminary step is carried out by injecting, into one end of the tubular reaction zone, a mixture of solid heat-exchange particles (whose temperature is between 600 and 900 C) and steam, which represents about 15 to 60% by weight relative to the said fluid, and by injecting, via at least one pipe, downstream of the mixture of solid particles and steam, the said fluid, at a temperature below 700 C, in order to produce olefins: (b) a sprayed cracking feedstock is injected downstream of the pipe for introducing the said fluid, so as to lower the temperature in the tubular reaction zone, at the point of introduction of the said feedstock, to between 450 and 600 C, this lowering in temperature resulting in the production of olefins carried out in step (a) being stopped; (c) the heaviest constituents of the said feedstock are thermally or catalytically cracked, the said cracking generating the amounts of coke required to make it possible subsequently, by combostion of the solid particles onto which most of this coke is deposited, to obtain the heat required to keep the heat-exchange particles used in step (a) at a temperature between 600 and 900 C. EP-A-0 323 297 and its US counterpart, US-A-5,264,115, disclose and claim a process for the conversion of petroleum hydrocarbons in the presence of catalyst particles in a fluidized phase in an essentially upflow or downflow tubular reaction zone, said process comprising the steps of: steam cracking of a light feedstock having at least one fraction of light hydrocarbons, including at least ethane or propane, in a first, upstream portion of said reaction zone, said steam cracking being carried out by contacting the light hydrocarbons and a quantity of steam equal to at least 20 percent by weight of the quantity of said light hydrocarbons in a fluidized bed of the catalyst particles, the temperature resulting from said contacting ranging from 650 to 850 C and whereby said contacting results in a hydrocarbon-containing effluent from said first portion which contains olefins including ethylene or propylene, and said olefins are obtained in excess of alkanes present in the light feedstock; atomizing and injecting a heavy feedstock of at least one fraction of a heavy hydrocarbon in a second portion of the reaction zone into the effluents from the first, upstream steam-cracking portion of said reaction zone, which effluents include the fluidized catalyst particles, in such a way that the temperature of the resulting mixture ranges from 560 to 650 C and wherein said temperature on contact is sufficient to vaporize the heavy feedstock; immediately downstream of the injection and vaporization of said heavy feedstock in the second portion of the reaction zone, atomizing and injecting into the effluents from said second portion of the reaction zone in a third portion of the reaction zone a hydrocarbon fraction that is completely vaporized under conditions existing at the exit of the reaction zone so as rapidly to reduce the temperature of the resulting mixture to a more effective cracking temperature ranging from 475 to 550 C in the resulting third downstream portion of said reaction zone, therafter, catalytically cracking at least said vaporized heavy hydrocarbons in said third, downstream portion of said reaction zone; ballistically separating spent catalyst particles emanating from said third, downstream catalytic cracking portion of said reaction zone; Regenerating the separated catalyst particles in at least one zone for combustion of the coke deposited on such particles; and Recycling the regenerated particles to the intake of the first, upstream cracking portion of said reaction zone. The applicant has discovered that adding a light cat naphtha ("LCN") and steam to the reaction zone in an FCC process results in improved yields of light olefins. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a fluid catalytic cracking process for upgrading feedstocks to increase yields of C 3 and C 4 olefins while increasing the octane number of naphtha which comprises: (a) conducting hot regenerated catalyst to a riser reactor containing a downstream and an upstream reaction zone, (b) introducing a mixture containing light cat naphtha and steam into contact with hot catalyst in the upstream reaction zone at a temperature of from 620 to 775°C and a vapor residence time of naphtha and steam of less than 1.5 sec. wherein the light cracked naphtha has a final boiling point below 140°C and contains olefins in the C 5 to C 9 range, and cracking at least a portion of the C 5 to C 9 olefins present in the light cat naphtha to C 3 and C 4 olefins, (c) contacting the catalyst, cracked naphtha products and steam from the upstream reaction zone with a heavy feedstock in the downstream reaction zone at an initial temperature of from 600 to 750° C with vapor residence times of less than about 20 seconds, (d) conducting spent catalyst, cracked products and steam from the upstream and downstream reaction zones to a separation zone, (e) separating cracked products including light cat naphtha and steam from spent catalyst and recycling at least a portion of the light cat naphtha product to the upstream reaction zone in step (b), (f) conducting spent catalyst to a stripping zone and stripping spent catalyst under stripping conditions, and (g) conducting stripped spent catalyst to a regeneration zone and regenerating spent catalyst under regeneration conditions. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a flow diagram showing the two zone feed injection system in the riser reactor. Detailed Description of the Invention The catalytic cracking process of this invention provides a method for increasing the production of C 3 and C 4 olefins while increasing the motor octane rating of naphtha produced from the cat cracking process. These results are achieved by using a two zone injection system for a light cat naphtha and a conventional FCC feedstock in the riser reactor of an FCC unit. The riser reactor of a typical FCC unit receives hot regenerated catalyst from the regenerator. Fresh catalyst may be included in the catalyst feed to the riser reactor. A lift gas such as hydrocarbon vapors or steam may be added to the riser reactor to assist in fluidizing the hot catalyst particles. In the present process, light cat naphtha and steam are added in an upstream zone of the riser reactor. Light cat naphtha refers to a hydrocarbon stream having a final boiling point less than about 140° C (300° F) and containing olefins in the C 5 to C 9 range, single ring aromatics (C 6 - C 9 ) and paraffins in the C 5 to C 9 range. Light cat naphtha (LCN) is injected into the upstream reactor zone together with 2 to 50 wt. %, based on total weight of LCN, of steam. The LCN and steam have a vapor residence time in the upstream zone of less than about 1.5 sec., preferably less than about 1.0 sec with cat/oil ratios of 75 - 150 (wt/wt) at gauge pressures of 100 to 400 kPa and temperatures in the range of 620 - 775° C. The addition of steam and LCN in this upstream zone results in increased C 3 and C 4 olefins yields by cracking of C 5 to C 9 olefins in the LCN feed and also results in reduced volume of naphtha having increased octane value. At least about 5 wt.% of the C 5 to C 9 olefins are converted out of the LCN boiling range to C 3 and C 4 olefins. Conventional heavy FCC feedstocks having a boiling point in the 220 - 575° C range such as gas oils and vacuum gas oils are injected in the downstream riser reaction zone. Small amounts (1-15 wt. %) of higher boiling fractions such as vacuum resids may be blended into the conventional feedstocks. Reaction conditions in the downstream reaction zone include initial temperatures of from 600-750 °C and average temperatures of 525 - 575° C at gauge pressures of from 100 - 400 kPa and cat/oil ratios of 4 - 10 (wt/wt) and vapor residence times of 2 - 20 seconds, preferably less than 6 seconds. The catalyst which is used in this invention can be any catalyst typically used to catalytically "crack" hydrocarbon feeds. It is preferred that the catalytic cracking catalyst comprise a crystalline tetrahedral framework oxide component. This component is used to catalyze the breakdown of primary products from the catalytic cracking reaction into clean products such as naphtha for fuels and olefins for chemical feedstocks. Preferably, the crystalline tetrahedral framework oxide component is selected from the group consisting of zeolites, tectosilicates, tetrahedral aluminophosphates (ALPOs) and tetrahedral silicoaluminophosphates (SAPOs). More preferably, the crystalline framework oxide component is a zeolite. Zeolites which can be employed in accordance with this invention include both natural and synthetic zeolites. These zeolites include gmelinite, chabazite, dachiardite, clinoptilolite, faujasite, heulandite, analcite, levynite, erionite, sodalite, cancrinite, nepheline, lazurite, scolecite, natrolite, offretite, mesolite, mordenite, brewsterite, and ferrierite. Included among the synthetic zeolites are zeolites X, Y, A, L. ZK-4, ZK-5, B, E, F, H, J, M, Q, T, W, Z, alpha and beta, ZSM-types and omega. In general, aluminosilicate zeolites are effectively used in this invention. However, the aluminum as well as the silicon component can be substituted for other framework components. For example, the aluminum portion can be replaced by boron, gallium, titanium or trivalent metal compositions which are heavier than aluminum. Germanium can be used to replace the silicon portion. The catalytic cracking catalyst used in this invention can further comprise an active porous inorganic oxide catalyst framework component and an inert catalyst framework component. Preferably, each component of the catalyst is held together by attachment with an inorganic oxide matrix component. The active porous inorganic oxide catalyst framework component catalyzes the formation of primary products by cracking hydrocarbon molecules that are too large to fit inside the tetrahedral oxide component. The active porous inorganic oxide catalyst framework component of this invention is preferably a porous inorganic oxide that cracks a relatively large amount of hydrocarbons into lower molecular weight hydrocarbons as compared to an acceptable thermal blank. A low surface area silica (e.g., quartz) is one type of acceptable thermal blank. The extent of cracking can be measured in any of various ASTM tests such as the MAT (microactivity test, ASTM #D3907-8). Compounds such as those disclosed in Greensfelder, B. S., et al. , Industrial and Engineering Chemistry , pp. 2573-83, Nov. 1949, are desirable. Alumina, silica-alumina and silica-alumina-zirconia compounds are preferred. The inert catalyst framework component densifies, strengthens and acts as a protective thermal sink. The inert catalyst framework component used in this invention preferably has a cracking activity that is not significantly greater than the acceptable thermal blank. Kaolin and other clays as well as α-alumina, titania, zirconia, quartz and silica are examples of preferred inert components. The inorganic oxide matrix component binds the catalyst components together so that the catalyst product is hard enough to survive interparticle and reactor wall collisions. The inorganic oxide matrix can be made from an inorganic oxide sol or gel which is dried to "glue" the catalyst components together. Preferably, the inorganic oxide matrix will be comprised of oxides of silicon and aluminum. It is also preferred that separate alumina phases be incorporated into the inorganic oxide matrix. Species of aluminum oxyhydroxides γ-alumina, boehmite, diaspore, and transitional aluminas such as α-alumina, β-alumina, γ-alumina, δ-alumina, ε-alumina, κ-alumina, and ρ-alumina can be employed. Preferably, the alumina species is an aluminum trihydroxide such as gibbsite, bayerite, nordstrandite, or doyelite. Coked catalyst particles and cracked hydrocarbon products from the upstream and downstream reaction zones in the riser reactor are conducted from the riser reactor into the main reactor vessel which contains cyclones. The cracked hydrocarbon products are separated from coked catalyst particles by the cyclone(s). Coked catalyst particles from the cyclones are conducted to a stripping zone where strippable hydrocarbons are stripped from coked catalyst particles under stripping conditions. In the stripping zone, coked catalyst is typically contacted with steam. Stripped hydrocarbons are combined with cracked hydrocarbon products for further processing. After the coked catalyst is stripped of strippable hydrocarbon, the catalyst is then conducted to a regenerator. Suitable regeneration temperatures include a temperature ranging from about 1100 to about 1500° F (593 to about 816° C), and a pressure ranging from about 0 to about 150 psig (101 to about 1136 kPa). The oxidizing agent used to contact the coked catalyst will generally be an oxygen-containing gas such as air, oxygen and mixtures thereof. The coked catalyst is contacted with the oxidizing agent for a time sufficient to remove, by combustion, at least a portion of the carbonaceous deposit and thereby regenerate the catalyst. Referring now to Fig. 1, hot catalyst 10 from the regenerator (not shown) is conducted through regenerated catalyst standpipe 12 and slide valve 14 into the "J" bend pipe 16 which connects the regenerator standpipe 12 to the riser reactor 32. Lift gas 20 is injected into pipe 16 through injection nozzle 18 thereby fluidizing hot catalyst particles 10. Steam 24 and light cat naphtha 22 are injected into upstream reaction zone 34 through nozzle 26; multiple injection nozzles may be employed. In reaction zone 34, C 5 to C 9 olefins are cracked to C 3 and C 4 olefins. This reaction is favored by short residence times and high temperatures. Cracked hydrocarbon products, partially deactivated catalyst and steam from reaction zone 34 are conducted to downstream reaction zone 36. In reaction zone 36, conventional heavy FCC feedstocks 28 are injected through multiple injection nozzles 30 and combined with the cracked hydrocarbon products, catalyst and steam from reaction zone. Residence times in zone 36 are longer which favor conversion of feed 28. Cracked products from zone 34 and 36 together with coked catalyst and steam are then conducted to the reactor vessel containing cyclones (not shown) where cracked products are separated from coked catalyst particles. The invention will now be further understood by reference to the following examples. Example 1 This example is directed to the FCC unit operating conditions including reactor and regenerator parameters. The data reported have been adjusted for constant catalyst:oil ratio and to a constant riser outlet temperature. The regenerator was operated in full burn mode. Table 1 summarizes the base line operating conditions. Fresh Feed Rate, T/hr 125-154 Feed Specific Gravity 0.90-0.92 % 565° C+ in Feed 2 LCN Recycle, T/hr 7.0-10.6 Reactor Temperature,° C 520-530 Catalyst Circulation Rate, T/hr 13.8-15.6 Regen Air Rate, km 3 /hr 83.5-88.4 Regen Bed Temperature, ° C 698-708 Coke Burning Rate, T/hr 6.5-7.7 221° C- conversion, wt.% 67.2-71.8 Table 2 contains analytical data on the commercial zeolite catalyst used to gather base line data and in the examples to follow. MAT Activity 59 Surface Area, m 2 /g 111 Pore Volume, cc/g 0.40 Average Bulk Density, cc/g 0.80 Al 2 O 3 , wt.% 51.3 Na, wt.% 0.66 Fe, wt.% 0.47 Ni, wppm 2030 V, wppm 4349 RE 2 O 3 , wt.% 1.27 Average Particle Size, microns 84 Example 2 This example demonstrates the results of injecting light cat naphtha (LCN) together with conventional heavy feedstock in the downstream reaction zone of a riser reactor. This corresponds to injecting LCN through one of the injectors 30 into reaction zone 36 in Fig. 1. The other injectors 30 are used to inject only the conventional feedstock which is a vacuum gas oil containing 2 wt. % of resid having a boiling point of 565°C+. The reaction conditions are those set forth in Example 1 for a fresh feed rate of 153.9 T/hr and 10.6 T/hr of LCN. The results shown in Table 3 are adjusted to equivalent reactor temperature and catalyst:oil ratio on a total feed basis. Yields, wt.% FF BASE LCN Recycle With FCC Feed H 2 S 0.38 0.39 H 2 0.12 0.12 C 1 1.20 1.22 C 2 1.09 1.11 C 2 = 0.94 0.97 C 2- (ex H 2 S) 3.35 3.42 C 3 1.13 1.18 C 3 = 3.55 3.72 C 4 2.48 2.71 C 4 = 5.12 5.64 LCN (RON/MON) 19.60 (93.0/79.7) 17.89 (93.1/79.4) ICN 12.40 12.52 HCN 8.24 8.44 LCO 6.19 6.50 MCO 3.65 3.82 HCO 18.60 17.99 BTMS 10.78 10.76 Coke 4.55 5.01 221°C- conv., wt.% 67.0 67.4 As can be seen from the data in Table 3, injection of LCN into zone 36 results in an increase in both C 3 and C 4 olefins over the base case in which no LCN was injected into zone 36. However, C 2- dry gas yield increased slightly with LCN recycle into zone 36. LCN from the recycle operation shows a slight RON advantage but a MON debit. Example 3 This example according to the invention demonstrates that the yield of C 3 (propylene) olefin can be increased by injection of LCN together with steam into upstream reaction zone 34 in Fig. 1. 124.5 T/hr of fresh feed was injected into reaction zone 36 through nozzles 30. 7.0 T/hr of LCN in admixture with 1.4 T/hr of steam was injected into zone 34 through injection nozzle 26. Comparative yields shown in Table 4, are adjusted as in Example 1 to common reactor temperature and catalyst:oil ratio on a total feed basis. Yields, wt.% FF BASE LCN Recycle Upstream of FCC Feed H 2 S 0.56 0.55 H 2 0.16 0.14 C 1 1.79 1.81 C 2 1.62 1.59 C 2 = 1.40 1.36 C 2- (ex H 2 S) 4.97 4.90 C 3 1.44 1.49 C 3 = 4.31 4.72 C 4 2.56 2.86 C 4 = 6.50 6.95 LCN (RON/MON) 20.04 (94.2/79.3) 18.19 (93.2/79.8) ICN 12.39 12.33 HCN 8.02 8.32 LCO 5.90 6.03 MCO 3.47 3.51 HCO 15.75 16.09 BTMS 8.56 8.60 Coke 5.54 5.46 221° C- conv., wt.% 72.2 71.8 Example 3 shows a 10% increase in propylene yield and 7% increase in butylene yield can be achieved without the expected increases in C 2- dry gas. Recycled LCN composition shifts to higher concentrations of isoparaffins and aromatics resulting in lower RON and higher MON compared to base operation. Example 4 Similar to Example 3, a base operation with 129.2 T/hr of fresh feed was switched to LCN recycle to the upstream reaction zone 34 in Fig. 1. LCN recycle rate was 6.8 T/hr in admixture with 2.95 T/hr of steam injected through injection nozzle 26, and the fresh feed rate was maintained nearly constant. Comparative yields are shown in Table 5 and adjusted to common reactor temperature and catalyst:oil ratio on a total feed basis. Yields, wt. % FF BASE LCN Recycle H 2 S 0.49 0.49 H 2 0.12 0.10 C 1 1.44 1.27 C 2 1.24 1.08 C 2 = 1.11 0.99 C 2 - (ex H 2 S) 3.91 3.44 C 3 1.23 1.26 C 3 = 4.16 4.48 C 4 2.89 3.40 C 4 = 6.24 6.56 LCN 20.64 19.34 RON 93.0 92.8 MON 79.5 80.0 ICN 12.87 13.17 HCN 8.29 8.65 LCO 6.11 6.33 MCO 3.64 3.70 HCO 15.77 16.06 BTMS 7.81 8.04 Coke 5.94 5.08 221° C- Conv, wt 72.8 72.2 In this example an 8% increase in propylene yield and 5% increase in butylene yield were achieved relative to the base case without LCN recycle, accompanied by a decrease in coke and dry gas which is larger than expected based upon the difference in 221° C- conversion between the two cases. A significant 0.5 MON boost for the LCN was also observed with a slight debit in RON. The advantages of LCN recycle of Examples 3 and 4 to the upstream reaction zone as compared to Example 2 where LCN is injected with conventional feed are summarized in Table 6. A LCN Recycle to Fd Inj B LCN Recycle to Up Inj C LCN Recycle to Up Inj LCN Recycled wt.% FF 6.9 5.6 5.3 Equiv. Inject Stream/LCN wt. ratio 0.09 0.19 0.43 LCN Converted, wt.% 25 33 25 Delta Propylene/LCN Conv, wt.% 10 22 24 Delta Butylenes/LCN Conv, wt.% 30 24 24 Delta LPG Sats/LCN Conv, wt.% 16 19 27 Delta Dry Gas/LCN Conv, wt.% 4 -4 -36 Delta Regenerator Bed Temp, ° C +1 -9 -23 As shown in Table 6, the process according to the invention can more selectively convert recycled LCN to propylene with a relative decrease in undesirable dry gas make and a decrease in regenerator temperature. Increasing steam admixed with LCN injected upstream of base FCC significantly reduces C 2 -dry gas yield while improving propylene selectivity. The decrease in regenerator temperature permits increased resid in the FCC fresh feed, particularly in those FCC units operating near maximum regenerator bed temperature, and also improves catalyst activity maintenance.

Claims: A fluid catalytic cracking process for upgrading feedstocks to increase yields of C 3 and C 4 olefins while increasing the motor octane number of naphtha which comprises: (a) conducting hot regenerated catalyst to a riser reactor having a downstream reaction zone and an upstream reaction zone, (b) introducing a mixture containing light cat naphtha and steam into contact with hot catalyst in the upstream reaction zone at a temperature in a range of from 620 to 775° C and a vapor residence time of naphtha and steam of less than 1.5 sec. wherein the light cracked naphtha has a final boiling point below 140° C and contains olefins in the C 5 to C 9 range, an cracking at least a portion of the C 5 to C 9 olefins present in the light cat naphtha to C 3 and C 4 olefins, (c) contacting the catalyst, cracked naphtha products and steam from the upstream reaction zone with a heavy feedstock in the downstream reaction zone at a temperature of from 600 to 750° C with vapor residence times of less than about 20 sec., (d) conducting spent catalyst, cracked products and steam from the upstream and downstream reaction zones to a separation zone, (e) separating cracked products including light cat naphtha and steam from spent catalyst and recycling at least a portion of the light cat naphtha product to the upstream reaction zone for use in step (b), (f) conducting spent catalyst to a stripping zone and stripping spent catalyst under stripping conditions, and (g) conducting stripped spent catalyst to a regeneration zone and regenerating spent catalyst under regeneration conditions. The process of claim 1 wherein the amount of steam in the upstream reaction zone is in a range of from 2 to 50 wt.%, based on total weight of light cat naphtha. The process of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the residence time of naphtha and steam in the upstream reaction zone is less than about 1 sec. The process of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein process conditions in step (b) include a catalyst/oil ratio in a range of from 75 - 150 (wt/wt). The process of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the process conditions in step (b) include a gauge pressure in a range of from 100 to 400 kPa. The process of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein process conditions in step (c) include catalyst/oil ratios in a range of from 4 - 10. The process of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the process conditions in step (c) include gauge pressures in a range of from 100 to 400 kPa. The process of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the process conditions in step (c) include a vapor residence time in a range of from 2 to 20 seconds. The process of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the feedstock in step (c) includes from 1 to 15 wt.%, based on feedstock, of a higher boiling fraction with initial boiling point greater than 565 °C. The process of any one of claims 1 to 9 comprising employing at least some regenerated catalyst from step (g) in step (a).

Inventors: CHALLIS STEPHEN DENIS, SWAN GEORGE ALEXANDER, CHALLIS, STEPHEN DENIS, SWAN, GEORGE ALEXANDER
Applicants: EXXONMOBIL RES & ENG CO, EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
Application year: 1997
Main classification: C10G11
IPC codes: B01J29, C10G11, C10G35