Conversion of high carbon refinery by-products. Quarterly technical report, April 1--June 30, 1996

The overall objective of the project is to demonstrate that a partial oxidation system, which utilizes a transport reactor, is a viable means of converting refinery wastes, byproducts, and other low value materials into valuable products. The primary product would be a high quality fuel gas, which could also be used as a source of hydrogen. The concept involves subjecting the hydrocarbon feed to pyrolysis and steam gasification in a circulating bed of solids. Carbon residues formed during pyrolysis, and metals in the feed, are captured by the circulating solids which are returned to the bottom of the transport reactor. Air or oxygen is introduced in this lower zone and sufficient carbon is burned, sub-stoichiometrically, to provide the necessary heat for the endothermic pyrolysis and gasification reactions. The hot solids and gases leaving this zone pass upward to contact the feed material and continue the gasification process. Tests were conducted in the Transport Reactor Test Unit (TRTU) to study gasification and combustion of Rose Bottoms using the spent FCC (Fluid Catalytic Cracker) catalyst as the circulating medium at temperature of 1,690 F. The Rose (Residuum Oil Supercritical Extraction) bottoms was produced in the Kellogg`s Rose unit. Studies were done in the Bench Scale Reactor Unit (BRU) to characterize petroleum coke with respect to pyrolysis and agglomeration tendency upon heating to 1,800 F. Studies were conducted in the CFS (Cold Flow Simulator) to determine the various aeration flowrates required for satisfactory circulation of petroleum coke in the TRTU. Results from these studies are presented in this report. A dry solid feed system was developed and tested for use in the fourth quarter