Patent ID: 7273961

Claim:
A process for quenching a reactor effluent stream from an oxygenate to olefins reactor, the process comprising the steps of: (a) quenching the reactor effluent stream in a first quench stage with a first quench medium comprising an aqueous solution to form a first liquid fraction and a first effluent stream, wherein catalyst fines are washed from the reactor effluent stream into the first liquid fraction; (b) quenching the first effluent stream in a second quench stage wit the first quench medium producing a second liquid fraction and a second effluent stream, wherein the second liquid fraction is cooled to form the first quench medium; (c) settling catalyst fines entrained in the first liquid fraction in a first settling vessel; (d) removing at least a portion of the first liquid fraction from the first settling vessel, wherein the first quench stage comprises a quench fitting and a first settling vessel, the first settling vessel having a top end, a bottom end, a first passage at the top end, a first outlet at the bottom end, and a second outlet between the top end and the bottom end; (e) withdrawing the first effluent stream through the first passage; (f) separating, in the first settling vessel, a first portion of catalyst fines in the first liquid fraction from a partially clarified first liquid fraction, the partially clarified first liquid fraction comprising a second portion of the catalyst fines; (g) withdrawing first concentrated fines stream comprising the first portion or catalyst fines from the first outlet; (h) withdrawing the partially clarified first liquid fraction from the second outlet, wherein the partially clarified liquid fraction is directed to a second settling vessel, the partially clarified liquid stream further comprises a hydrocarbon phase; (i) withdrawing a second concentrated fines stream from the second sealing vessel, the second concentrated fines stream comprises substantially all of the second portion of catalyst fines from the second settling vessel; (j) combining the second concentrated fines stream with the first concentrated fines stream; (k) withdrawing a clarified aqueous stream; and (l) withdrawing a non-aqueous stream.