Patent ID: 8491706

Claim:
A process for separating solids from a vapor, the process comprising: feeding a vapor mixture comprising hydrocarbons and entrained solids to an inlet of a solids separation device, the solids separation device comprising: a cylindrical portion on top of an angled portion, wherein the inlet is located in the cylindrical portion for introducing a solid-vapor mixture tangentially to the cylindrical portion; an indirect heat exchange device disposed concentrically within the cylindrical portion, thereby providing an annulus for flow of the mixture; a heat exchange device disposed at an exterior of the angled portion; at least one inlet nozzle disposed in a top of the solids separation device; an outlet located at a bottom of the angled portion; spraying a hydrocarbon fluid through the at least one inlet nozzle into the vessel, thereby forming a thin film of hydrocarbon fluid on the indirect heat exchange device; condensing at least a portion of the hydrocarbons in at least one of the cylindrical portion and the angled portion, thereby forming a film of hydrocarbon fluid on an interior surface of at least one of the cylindrical portion and the conical portion; contacting the solids with at least one of the hydrocarbon film on the cylindrical portion, the hydrocarbon film on the angled portion and the hydrocarbon film on the indirect heat exchange device; recovering a vapor having a reduced solids content and a hydrocarbon-solid mixture via the outlet located at the bottom of the angled portion.