Patent ID: 7344634

Claim:
A process for the contacting of hydrocarbons with catalyst, said process comprising: (a) contacting a fluidizable catalyst with a fluidizing agent to fluidize the fluidizable catalyst; (b) feeding the catalyst and a feed to a plurality of tubular reactors, the plurality of tubular reactors being part of a single hydrocarbon conversion apparatus; (c) contacting the feed with the catalyst in the plurality of tubular reactors under conditions effective to convert the feed to a product; (d) consolidating the output of at least two of the tubular reactors in a conduit for transport into a separation zone; and (e) separating the catalyst from the product in the separation zone, the separation zone being in fluid communication with at least two of the tubular reactors through the conduit; (f) returning the catalyst from the separation zone to the plurality of tubular reactors; and (g) repeating steps (a) to (f).