Abstract: A ceramic heater includes a ceramic plate having a wafer placement surface on which a wafer is to be placed, and incorporating a resistance heating element therein, and a ceramic tubular shaft having one end joined to a rear surface of the plate. The tubular shaft has a vertical sectional shape including an S-like portion or a curved portion having an inflection point in at least one position, and includes a through-hole penetrating the tubular shaft from the one end to the other end with an axis extending along the vertical sectional shape of the tubular shaft.

Abstract: The present invention provides low profile, thick (“stubby”) longitudinal fins having a cross section which is a parallelogram, trapezoid or a triangle extending from 10% to 100% of a coil pass and comprising from 3 to 45 weight % of a coil in a radiant section of a furnace for thermally cracking one or more of paraffins and naphtha. The fins provide an additional surface through which heat may be transferred to the coil making the coil more efficient reducing greenhouse emissions.

Abstract: The present invention provides low profile, thick (“stuby”) longitudinal fins having a cross section which is a parallelogram, trapezoid or a triangle extending from 10% to 100% of a coil pass and comprising from 3 to 45 weight % of a coil in a radiant section of a furnace for thermally cracking one or more of paraffins and naphtha. The fins provide an additional surface through which heat may be transferred to the coil making the coil more efficient reducing greenhouse emissions.

Abstract: An ethylene cracking furnace is provided. The ethylene cracking furnace includes at least one radiant section. The at least one radiant section includes bottom burners and/or sidewall burners, and at least one radiant coil arranged in the radiant section. The radiant coil includes at least an upstream pass tube and a downstream pass tube, the upstream pass tube being configured as an inner tube, and the downstream pass tube being configured as an outer tube surrounding the inner tube and having a closed end. The inner tube defines an inner space forming an upstream flow path. A gap defined between the inner tube and the outer tube forms an downstream flow path.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for vacuum distillation of a hydrocarbon stream comprising i) passing a hydrocarbon stream into a preflash vessel maintained under conditions to separate the hydrocarbon stream into a preflash liquid and a preflash vapor, ii) passing the preflash liquid into a vacuum furnace maintained under conditions to heat and partly vaporize the preflash liquid, iii) passing the heated furnace effluent into a zone located in the lower part of a vacuum distillation column maintained under fractionating conditions, and iv) passing the preflash vapor into the vacuum distillation column into a further zone located in the lower part of the vacuum distillation column.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fluidized bed reactor (1) made up of tubed membrane walls (2) cooled by a coolant fluid, the said walls surrounding a combustion chamber (10) and comprising tubed extension panels (3) through which flows a coolant fluid by single pass forced circulation. According to the invention the extension panels (3) are paired two by two.

Abstract: A thermal power boiler includes a furnace enclosed by two short side walls and two long side walls, flue gas channels arranged above the furnace, a back pass and a supporting structure. The supporting structure includes a stationary bearing structure supported from below. The bearing structure includes multiple vertical pillars and a parallel main supporting beams supported by the vertical pillars, and a suspension structure, so that the furnace hangs from the bearing structure. The main supporting beams and the flue gas channels arranged above the furnace are parallel with each other and parallel with the short side walls. The main supporting beams are preferably arranged at least partially between the flue gas channels extending over the roof of the furnace.

Abstract: Furnace tubes for cracking hydrocarbons that in an embodiment have a longitudinal array of pins having i) a maximum height from about 2 to about 4.8 cm; ii) a contact surface with the tube, having an area from about 0.1% to about 10% of the tube external cross section area iii) a uniform cross section along the length of the pin. (i.e., they are typically not tapered); and iv) a length to diameter ratio from about 4:1 to about 2:1 have an improved heat transfer over bare fins and reduced stress relative to a fined tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ethylene cracking furnace having a multi-pass radiant coil, comprising at least one radiant section. In the radiant section there are provided with bottom burners and/or sidewall burners, and at least one set of multi-pass radiant coil longitudinally arranged in the radiant section. The multi-pass radiant coil is a four- to ten-pass type radiant coil. At least one tube of the multi-pass radiant coil is arranged to be spatially adjacent to a tube which is not consecutive to said at least one tube. With this arrangement, the thermal radiation influence between tubes with high temperature can be reduced, so that the tubes with low temperature can absorb the radiation heat from the tubes with high temperature. Therefore, the surface temperature of the tubes with high temperature can be reduced, thus extending the lifetime of the radiant coil and the operational cycle of the cracking furnace.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present techniques include a heat exchange apparatus including: a) a body comprising an interior cavity, the body including: a first surface and a second surface defining at least a portion of the body and the first surface positioned exterior with respect to the second surface and the interior cavity, and the second surface positioned exterior with respect to the interior cavity and interior with respect to the first surface; b) a first conduit for conveying a fluid to the body; c) a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit wherein the second conduit is positioned at least partially within the interior cavity of the body; and d) a joint between the first conduit and the second conduit, wherein the joint moves between a first location and a second location based on the temperature within the interior cavity, wherein at least one of said first location and said second location is positioned intermediate the first surface and the second surface.

Abstract: An apparatus designed to completely vaporize an intake of heavy hydrocarbon feedstock is described. The apparatus, a so-called heavy feed mixer, is comprised of pipes being disposed coaxially about a common longitudinal axis. The inner tubular section delivers a two-phase liquid-vapor mixture of hydrocarbon feedstock and dilution steam to the apparatus. The converging/diverging tubular section has a unique structure which converges to a throat section and then diverges to an outlet section. The converging section directs a uniform shroud of superheated steam onto the hydrocarbon stream delivered by the inner tubular section. Impingement of the superheated steam with the intake stream initiates mixing and further vaporization within the throat section. The mixture traverses the converging/diverging tubular section and passes into the outlet section where vaporization is complete. The completely vaporized stream is directed out of the apparatus for further processing downstream.

Abstract: A vacuum dehydrator for processing an oil containing entrained contaminants such as water, air, and particulates comprises a tower enclosing upper and lower chambers. A random packing is contained in the upper chamber. The oil is preheated to a temperature above the boiling point of water and is introduced into the upper chamber for downward flow through the random packing into the lower chamber. Entrained air and water is retained as water vapor in the upper chamber, and particulates are retained in the random packing. Heated ambient air is introduced into the lower chamber for upward flow through the random packing into the upper chamber, and the upper chamber is cooled to condense the water vapor. Oil and condensed water are pumped respectively from the lower and upper chambers.

Abstract: A cracking furnace having a firebox provided with cracking coils is described. The cracking coils have at least one inlet, at least one inlet section, at least one outlet and at least one outlet section, and burners, and the parts of the coils are shielded. A process for cracking hydrocarbon feeds, and making use of a furnace with the thermal shielding are also described.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for cracking a hydrocarbon feed in a steam cracking furnace by withdrawing a resid-rich stream from a resid knockout vessel and recycling the resid-rich stream through a convection heating section of the furnace.

Abstract: The invention relates to piping for use as a pyrolysis tube in a cracking furnace. The tube is formed such that it has at least one section whose centreline curves in three dimensions, to induce swirl flow in the tube. Preferably, the tube is formed as a helix.

Abstract: An efficient fluid cleaning system. The efficient system includes a first mechanism for changing the pressure of a fluid from a first pressure to a second pressure, the second pressure being lower than the first pressure. A second mechanism distributes the fluid within an evaporation chamber at the second pressure. The evaporation chamber includes an evaporation surface having capillary channels for dispersing oil about the evaporation surface via capillary action to facilitate evaporation of contaminants from within the fluid. In a specific embodiment, the capillary channels are spiral capillary channels, and the system further includes a vent through a ceiling of the evaporation chamber. The vent includes a valve biased in an open position and lacking a cracking pressure. The valve prevents the escape of the fluid from the system but allows gases to escape from the system unencumbered. The evaporation surface has perforations through which fluid passes onto the evaporation surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a furnace and process that relies on a multiplicity of radiant heating tubes, each in the form of a U-shaped coil, that are mounted within a furnace firebox such that an inlet leg of any one of the plural tubes is immediately adjacent and spaced apart from an outlet leg of another one of the plural tubes within the firebox of a thermal cracking furnace. This spacial pairing of an inlet leg of one tube with an outlet leg of another tube of the plural radiant heating tubes of the cracking furnace maximizes utilization of the available radiant heat within the firebox of a thermal cracking furnace while reducing the likelihood of localized hot spotting that could produce coke-tar plugging of a tube.

Abstract: A liquid distributor includes a principal container with a perforated bottom, as well as transport members to transmit, by gravity, the liquid from at least one opening in the perforated bottom, to a supply point not in vertical alignment with this opening.

Abstract: A heater includes a radiant section having a wall and a roof, the roof having a longitudinal opening. A radiant heat exchange tube is disposed in the radiant section, and the tube has an inlet and outlet through which a process fluid can be carried respectively into and out of the radiant section. The tube between the inlet and outlet is arranged in generally horizontal tube lengths. A plurality of burners is provided, at least two of the burners being disposed on opposing sides of the tube. A plurality of tube supports is releasably positioned at longitudinal intervals along the tube lengths and define tube seats on which the tube lengths rest. The tube and tube supports are liftable as a unit through the longitudinal opening of the roof of the radiant section.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating vaporous mixtures of hydrocarbons, water and emulsifier derived from the remediation of wellbore fluid, such as a mud containing solid particulate material in which the vaporous mixture is quenched with a hydrocarbon stream which is at a temperature above the boiling point of water and below the boiling point of the hydrocarbons in the vaporous stream. Most of the hydrocarbons in the vaporous stream and substantially all of the emulsifier are condensed into the hydrocarbon quench to form an oil stream. The water is recovered from the hydrocarbon quench as a vaporous stream and quenched with water. The quenched water and any residual heavier hydrocarbons are separated by phase separation.

Abstract: A technique of preparing oil from waste plastics, especially the one to which a mechanism of an extrusion molding machine is applied, is provided wherein an effective control of a decomposition process is conducted in order to effectively prevent the generation of carbon and to efficiently obtain recovered products having a desired composition. For this purpose, reactors 1a, 1b, and 1c having built in carrying means 3a, 3b, and 3c, respectively are used as connected in stages, in which reactors waste plastics are heated and decomposed into oil as carried. One or a series of reactors are used as a unit to form a melting zone and a decomposing zone in the carrying direction.

Abstract: A method for reducing the viscosity of a liquid heavy hydrocarbon feedstock comprising the steps of bringing said feedstock to a temperature capable of cracking of at least a portion of the hydrocarbons present in said feedstock and introducing said feedstock into a bottom portion of a maturation device (i.e. a "soaker"), where the feedstock is displaced from the bottom upwards, to get evacuated from a top portion of the soaker towards a fractioning unit. The invention also relates to an apparatus comprising a soaker in which are located, transversely to the direction of displacement of the feedstock to be treated, a plurality of annular discs spaced apart from one another, each disc comprising a circular central passage substantially coaxial to the soaker, the treated feedstock circulating from the bottom portion upwards in the soaker through the central passages of the various annular discs.

Abstract: There is provided a process and a device with a convection zone (A) and a radiation zone (B) in a furnace (10), whereby the process includes: a first stage of precracking a feedstock of light hydrocarbons (1) and a second stage of final co-cracking of the mixture that is composed of this precracked light feedstock (7) and a feedstock of heavy hydrocarbons (2). The process further includes: separate heating of the two feedstock streams (1 and 2) in the convection zone (A), in which the preheating temperature of each feedstock stream remains below the initial cracking temperature in each case; precracking (5) of the preheated light hydrocarbons; mixing of precracked light hydrocarbon stream (8) while a mixed stream (9) is formed; intense heating of mixed stream (9) to a temperature that is higher than the initial cracking temperature by virtue of the fact that the mixture is introduced into the radiation zone (B) of the furnace (10); and cooling (15) of cracked gases outside the furnace (10).

Abstract: An enhanced hydrocarbon pyrolysis reactor for the production of olefins. The reactor provides enhanced heat transfer, reduced pressure drop, and reduced energy requirements while increasing selectivity and olefin yield. The radiant section tubes of the reactor, according to the invention, are shaped to provide a continuously increasing volume per unit length from inlet to outlet of the reactor. This increase in volume may be achieved by either expanding the effective inside radius of the reactor tube and/or increasing the outside radius of the tube while increasing the inside effective radius. Alternatively, since embodiments of reactors according to the invention have internal fins, the fin size and shape may be modified to provide the required increasing volume per unit length.

Abstract: In a pyrolytic furnace for the thermal cracking of hydrocarbons, cracking tubes are combined into uniformly arranged groups in the radiation zone of the pyrolytic furnace. The cracking tubes in the radiation zone consist of straight, vertically extending tube sections, manifold tube sections, and tube elbows. The cracking tubes of one group are joined, in the throughflow direction, via manifold tube sections and terminate in an outlet tube. The cracking tubes are arranged in the radiation zone in one plane, except for the juts of the tube elbows. The straight tube sections, subjected to a throughflow from the bottom toward the top and combined in the outlet tube, are located between the straight tube sections subjected to a throughflow from the top toward the bottom and leading into the tube elbows. The curvatures of respectively one-half of the tube elbows of one group extend in the same direction, the direction of curvature of the halves of the tube elbows being in opposition.

Abstract: An installation for steam cracking hydrocarbons comprises at least one hydrocarbon cracking furnace, an indirect quench heat exchanger for the effluents leaving the furnace, direct quench means for said effluent, and means (36, 38) for injecting erosive solid particles into the installation for decoking purposes. The installation also includes a cyclone (10) placed at the outlet from the indirect quench heat exchanger to separate the solid particles from the gaseous effluent, with the solid particle outlet (14) from said cyclone being connected to storage tanks (20, 30) connected in series with isolating valves (16, 28, 34), a source (38) of gas under pressure being provided to raise the pressure in one of the tanks and to inject the solid particles into the installation.

Abstract: A pyrolysis furnace for cracking hydrocarbons comprising a furnace; a pair of inlet tubes extending generally vertically within the furnace and connected to an outlet tube having a larger diameter than either of the inlet tubes and extending generally vertically within the furnace to an outlet; and burners for imparting radiant heat adjacent to the inlet tubes and adjacent to the outlet tube. The inlet tubes and the outlet tube define a single pass configuration through the furnace.

Abstract: A thermal cracking furnace comprising horizontally disposed and vertically disposed radiant tube sections.

Abstract: An improved hydrocarbon pyrolysis process and apparatus for the production of ethylene comprising a novel furnace comprised of an unfired superheater radiant section and a fired radiant section, adiabatic tube reactor and quench boiler is provided.

Abstract: Apparatus for the cracking of hydrocarbons in the presence of steam for the production of olefins and diolefins which includes a thermal radiation enclosure enclosing at least one cracking tube having an inlet to which the hydrocarbons and steam are supplied and having an outlet for the cracking products. The internal diameter of the tube diminishes continuously or discontinuously from the inlet to the outlet and the ratio between the internal diameters of the tube at the inlet and the outlet is between 1.2 and 3. The ratio of the length of the tube within the enclosure to the mean internal diameter of the tube is between 200 and 600. Heat is supplied to the tube by burners within the enclosure so that the thermal power applied along the length of the tube increases in the direction from the inlet to the outlet and so that the ratio between the thermal power applied to the half of the tube extending from the inlet to the thermal power applied to the remaining half of the tube is between 40/60 and 15/85.

Abstract: A cracking furnace for thermal cracking of hydrocarbon feedstocks has a central burner provided vertically at the center of the ceiling of a combustion chamber, side burners provided vertically at both sides of the central burner, and reaction tubes vertically arranged between the central burner and resepctive side burners. The reaction tubes are arranged in rows along the longitudinal direction of the chamber and form arch bands at the lower part of the combustion chamber. A combustion gas-inducting duct is provided at the bottom of the chamber, a quenching heat exchanger is provided at the upper part of the chamber, and a reaction tube exit header is provided for connecting a plurality of exits of the reaction tubes to the quenching heat exchanger.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of olefins by the cracking of hydrocarbons consisting in passing a mixture of hydrocarbons and steam flowing in a cracking tube disposed inside a radiation zone of a furnace. The process is characterized in that an increase of the cracking temperature of the mixture between the inlet and the outlet of the radiation zone is associated to a non-homogeneous distribution of the thermal power of the furnace, greater at the beginning of the cracking tube than at the end, and to a reaction volume which is greater in the second half of the length tube than in the first one. The present invention relates also to a cracking furnace in which between the inlet and the outlet of the radiation zone the diameter of the cracking tube increases and the thermal power of the burners used to heat the cracking tube decreases.

Abstract: The invention is a pyrolysis furnace for cracking heavy oils to olefins. The furnace includes a convection zone and a radiation zone. In parallel streams, the heavy stream and a stream diluent are heated in the convection zone to the point of partial thermal cracking while in the other stream a lighter oil and steam are cracked to produce olefins. The hot, olefinic light stream is then mixed with the heated heavy stream and further cracked in the radiation zone.

Abstract: A cracking furnace for naphtha and other hydrocarbons or, in general, for the rapid heating of a fluid feed stack has one or more tubular elements satisfying the following conditions: d.sub.h 32 F/U.ltoreq.40mm, and D/d.gtoreq.2, wherein: d.sub.h =the hydraulic diameter of the flow passage defined as the ratio of the flow cross-sectional area to the inner peripheral dimension therearound; F=the flow cross-sectional area; U=the inner peripheral dimension of the flow cross section; d=the cross-sectional height of the flow cross section; and D=the width of the flow cross section.

Abstract: In a technique for recovering hydrocarbon values from a heavy hydrocarbon-water mixture, the mixture is first delivered through a sub-assembly to remove solid particulates. Then the mixture is delivered through a series of heat exchanger--kettle arrangements in which the mixture is heated above the boiling point of water. Some of the steam formed is allowed to escape through steam removal devices in the heat exchanger. The inside of the heat exchanger includes a plurality of discrete baffles which are unconnected to the heat exchanger and which can be readily removed therefrom. Heating of the mixture continues in the kettles where the bulk of the water is boiled off the mixture. A heavy hydrocarbon oil is recovered in the liquid outlet from the last kettle. The vapors boiled off are recovered and condensed to recover a light hydrocarbon oil and quite pure water.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon converter furnace has an upper convection heating zone and a lower radiant heating zone, and tubing extends in those zones to convey a fluid hydrocarbon feed and steam in sequence through the convection and radiant heating zones. The tubing includes a feed section and branches therefrom in the radiant section of the furnace, the feed section and branches arranged so that the hydrocarbon and steam flow from the feed section to said branches; also provided is valving for controlling the relative rates of flow in the branches to reduce differential coking in the branches.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for improving the transportability of a hydrocarbon composition by passing an influent feed stream of composition into a downcomer to provide a hydrostatic column of fluid. The influent stream is heated by heat exchange with an effluent product stream wherein at least one of the streams is in turbulent flow. The feed stream is pressurized by the hydrostatic pressure head to a reaction pressure of at least about 1000 psi. The heated and pressurized feed stream is contacted with an active heat source in a reaction zone to increase the temperature of the feed stream to a reaction temperature of between about 300.degree. C. and the coking temperature of the hydrocarbon composition. The temperature differential between the active heat source and the feed stream in the reaction zone is maintained at less than about 30.degree. C. to provide a treated effluent stream which is brought into heat exchange contact with the influent stream.

Abstract: A reaction tube system of a steam reformer, more generally referred to as tubular cracking furnace, for the indirect heating of cracking feedstock, such as the catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons, includes a plurality of reaction tubes and headers, the reaction tubes penetrating through the bottom of the steam reformer and being extended to the associated header by low-alloy tube sections attached to the tubes by circumferential welds. The reaction tubes are surrounded in the area of the weld(s) by a coaxial protective tube having one open end and defining a free annular space around the reaction tube. The protective tube prevents deterioration by corrosion of the weld(s) joining the tube sections of high-alloy steel with low-alloy extension sections with unalloyed steel extension section.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for substantially blocking the "line-of-sight" between a radiant section of a furnace and a convection section positioned above the radiant section, while at the same time permitting flue gases from the radiant section to travel substantially freely through the shield. The shield may be composed of a plurality of staggered bodies. In a preferred embodiment the bodies are staggered plates, composed of insulating material. The staggered plates are supported by hangers that are hung from convection tubes in the convection section. In another embodiment the staggered bodies are tubes or rods.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a continuous still and a continuous process for separating a volatile organic material from a fibrous material of plant origin. The fibrous material of plant origin is simultaneously agitated and steam is introduced to heat the fibrous material. The volatile organic material is vaporized to form a vaporous mixture of the volatile organic material and steam. This vaporous mixture can be condensed to a liquid mixture of the liquid organic material and water. Then, the liquid organic material and the water can be separated. An example of fibrous material of plant origin is mint hay. The liquid organic material is mint oil.

Abstract: Combustion gas passes upwardly through the radiant section of a fired process heater having vertical tubes in such manner that the gas is in predominantly back-mixed flow condition in the lower portion of the radiant section and predominantly plug-flow condition in the upper portion of the radiant section.

Abstract: A bench scale hydrocarbon reactor simulator accurately simulating full scale reactor coking conditions wherein the rate of coking may be measured by maintaining constant temperature of the reactor simulator exit gas by a temperature responsive circuit varying power supplied to a heater, the increase in power to the heater being proportional to deposition of coke on the heater sheath.

Abstract: Improved method and apparatus for distributing a fluid, e.g., a liquid-vapor mixture, through a conduit, e.g., a tube in a direct fired heater, involving at least one reduction means located inside the conduit to abruptly reduce the inside cross-sectional area of the conduit available for flow of the fluid, provided that the inside cross-sectional area of the conduit is substantially the same both before and after the reduction means.

Abstract: A tube furnace for the cracking of organic feed stock, e.g. naphtha to ethylene, comprises a chamber traversed by at least one conduit system for the organic feed stock. The conduit system in the region of the inlet comprises a plurality of pipes which are united at an intermediate location and communicate jointly with a single pipe forming the discharge portion of the duct system. Preferably the flow cross section of the duct system increases from the inlet to the outlet end. Burners are provided in the wall of the chamber.

Abstract: A tube furnace for the cracking of organic feed stock, e.g. naphtha to ethylene, comprises a chamber traversed by at least one conduit system for the organic feed stock. The conduit system in the region of the inlet comprises a plurality of pipes which are united at an intermediate location and communicate jointly with a single pipe forming the discharge portion of the duct system. Preferably the flow cross section of the duct system increases from the inlet to the outlet end. Burners are provided in the wall of the chamber.

Abstract: A tube furnace, especially for the cracking of hydrocarbons, comprises a heat and combustion chamber in which the hydrocarbons are passed through a plurality of tube coils lying in planes parallel to the walls of the chamber and having predominantly vertical stretches. Preferably, a plurality of tube coils is provided and lies along respective walls of the vessel with each pair of tube coils communicating with a common tube coil of larger cross section extending into the interior of the chamber.

Abstract: A heater tube for use in a fluid heating device, which is used, for example, as a thermal decomposing device of hydrocarbons. The heater tube has a dumbbell shape in cross section.

Abstract: Vertical tube type cracking furnace in which a convection-heating section for preheating the process fluid is provided above the combustion chamber, and gas passages connecting the convection-heating section and the combustion chamber are symmetrically provided.