EP3310743A2 - Systèmes et procédés de conversion d'éthylène en liquides - Google Patents

Systèmes et procédés de conversion d'éthylène en liquides

Info

Publication number
EP3310743A2
EP3310743A2 EP16812367.7A EP16812367A EP3310743A2 EP 3310743 A2 EP3310743 A2 EP 3310743A2 EP 16812367 A EP16812367 A EP 16812367A EP 3310743 A2 EP3310743 A2 EP 3310743A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
stream
etl
reactor
olefin
hydrocarbons
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP16812367.7A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3310743A4 (fr
Inventor
Bipinkumar PATEL
Greg Nyce
Peter CZERPAK
Jarod Mccormick
Guido Radaelli
Erik C. Scher
Joel Cizeron
Rahul Iyer
Carlos FAZ
William MICHALAK
Tim A. Rappold
Ron RUNNEBAUM
Aihua Zhang
Peter Bergstrom
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Lummus Technology LLC
Original Assignee
Siluria Technologies Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US14/789,957 external-priority patent/US9328297B1/en
Application filed by Siluria Technologies Inc filed Critical Siluria Technologies Inc
Priority claimed from PCT/US2016/037687 external-priority patent/WO2016205411A2/fr
Publication of EP3310743A2 publication Critical patent/EP3310743A2/fr
Publication of EP3310743A4 publication Critical patent/EP3310743A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G57/00—Treatment of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by at least one cracking process or refining process and at least one other conversion process
    • C10G57/02—Treatment of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by at least one cracking process or refining process and at least one other conversion process with polymerisation
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07C2/00—Preparation of hydrocarbons from hydrocarbons containing a smaller number of carbon atoms
    • C07C2/76—Preparation of hydrocarbons from hydrocarbons containing a smaller number of carbon atoms by condensation of hydrocarbons with partial elimination of hydrogen
    • C07C2/82—Preparation of hydrocarbons from hydrocarbons containing a smaller number of carbon atoms by condensation of hydrocarbons with partial elimination of hydrogen oxidative coupling
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G2400/00—Products obtained by processes covered by groups C10G9/00 - C10G69/14
    • C10G2400/02—Gasoline
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G2400/00—Products obtained by processes covered by groups C10G9/00 - C10G69/14
    • C10G2400/04—Diesel oil
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G2400/00—Products obtained by processes covered by groups C10G9/00 - C10G69/14
    • C10G2400/06—Gasoil
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G2400/00—Products obtained by processes covered by groups C10G9/00 - C10G69/14
    • C10G2400/30—Aromatics

Definitions

  • Methane may provide an attractive alternative feedstock for the production of hydrocarbon intermediates and liquid fuels due to its widespread availability and relatively low cost when compared to crude oil.
  • Worldwide methane reserves may be in the hundreds of years at current consumption rates and new production stimulation technologies may make formerly unattractive methane deposits commercially viable.
  • Ethylene is an important commodity chemical intermediate. It may be used in the production of polyethylene plastics, polyvinyl chloride, ethylene oxide, ethylene chloride, ethylbenzene, alpha-olefins, linear alcohols, vinyl acetate, and fuel blendstocks such as, but not limited to, aromatics, alkanes and alkenes.
  • fuel blendstocks such as, but not limited to, aromatics, alkanes and alkenes.
  • ethylene is produced through the cracking of ethane derived either from crude oil distillates, called naphtha, or from the relatively minor ethane component of natural gas.
  • Ethylene production is primarily limited to high volume production as a commodity chemical in a relatively large steam cracker or other petrochemical complexes that also process the large number of other hydrocarbon byproducts generated in the crude oil cracking process.
  • Producing ethylene from far more abundant and significantly less expensive methane in natural gas provides an attractive alternative to ethylene derived from ethane in natural gas or crude oil.
  • the higher molecular weight hydrocarbons can be produced from methane in an integrated process that converts methane to ethylene and the ethylene to the higher molecular weight compounds.
  • OCM organic compound
  • methane can be oxidized to yield products comprising C 2+ compounds, including alkanes (e.g., ethane, propane, butane, pentane, etc.) and alkenes (e.g., ethylene, propylene, etc.).
  • alkanes e.g., ethane, propane, butane, pentane, etc.
  • alkenes e.g., ethylene, propylene, etc.
  • Unsaturated chemical compounds, such as alkenes (or olefins) may be more preferable for use in downstream processes.
  • Such compounds may be polymerized to yield polymeric materials, which may be employed for use in various commercial settings.
  • Oligomerization processes can be used to further convert ethylene into longer chain hydrocarbons useful as polymer components for plastics, vinyls, and other high value polymeric products. Additionally, these oligomerization processes may be used to convert ethylene to other longer hydrocarbons, such as C 6 , C 7 , C 8 and longer hydrocarbons useful for fuels like gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and blendstocks for these fuels, as well as other high value specialty chemicals.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method comprising: (a) directing an olefin feed stream comprising (i) ethylene (C 2 H 4 ) at a concentration of at least about 0.5 mole percent (mol%), (ii) C 2 H 4 and propylene (C 3 H 6 ) at a combined concentration of at most about 10 mol% and (ii) carbon monoxide (CO) or carbon dioxide (C0 2 ), into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor, wherein the ETL reactor comprises an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of C 2 H 4 to higher hydrocarbon products, and wherein the olefin feed stream is at a first temperature; (b) in the ETL reactor, conducting an ETL process to convert the C 2 H 4 in the olefin feed stream to yield a product stream at a second temperature, which second temperature is higher than the first temperature, the product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products, and wherein the ETL process liberates heat; and (c) recovering from the product
  • the higher hydrocarbon products include (i) at least 5 compounds having 5 different carbon numbers, the 5 carbon numbers selected from 4 through 20, wherein each of the 5 carbon numbers is at a concentration of at least 5 weight percent (wt%) of the liquid stream, and (ii) a paraffin compound, an isoparaffin compound, and a naphthene compound, where at least about 80% of the heat liberated in the ETL process provides a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature of between about 50 °C and about 150 °C.
  • the 5 carbon numbers are selected from 4 through 12. In some embodiments, the 5 carbon numbers are selected from 12 through 20.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products further comprise an olefin compound or an aromatic compound.
  • the recovering comprises cooling the product stream.
  • the method further comprises, prior to (a), directing the olefin feed stream into an treatment unit, and in the treatment unit reducing the concentration in the olefin feed stream of (i) compounds having triple bonds or (ii) compounds having more than one double bond, wherein the reducing is accomplished by a separations process or a reaction process.
  • the olefin feed stream comprises less than about 500 parts per million (ppm) of acetylene.
  • the method further comprises, prior to (a), directing the olefin feed stream into an treatment unit, and in the treatment unit reducing the concentration in the olefin feed stream of compounds having sulfur to less than about 300 parts per million (ppm).
  • the olefin feed stream comprises less than about 10 mol% carbon monoxide (CO).
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are generated at a single pass conversion of at least about 40%.
  • the ETL reactor is operated at a temperature greater than or equal to about 200 °C.
  • the ETL reactor is operated at a pressure greater than or equal to about 50 psi.
  • the product stream comprises less than about 50 weight percent (wt%) water.
  • the ETL reactor operates substantially adiabatically.
  • Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: (a) an ethyl ene- to-li quids (ETL) reactor that (i) receives an olefin feed stream at a first temperature, the olefin feed stream comprising (1) ethylene (C 2 H 4 ) at a concentration of at least about 0.5 mole percent
  • the 5 carbon numbers are selected from 4 through 12. In some embodiments, the 5 carbon numbers are selected from 12 through 20. In some embodiments, the higher hydrocarbon products further comprise an olefin compound or an aromatic compound. In some embodiments, the recovering comprises cooling the product stream. In some embodiments, the system further comprises, upstream of the ETL reactor, a treatment unit in fluid
  • the treatment unit reduces the concentration in the olefin feed stream of (i) compounds having triple bonds or (ii) compounds having more than one double bond, wherein the reducing is accomplished by a separations process or a reaction process.
  • the olefin feed stream comprises less than about 500 parts per million (ppm) of acetylene.
  • the system further comprises, upstream of the
  • the ETL reactor a treatment unit in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, wherein the treatment unit reduces the concentration in the olefin feed stream of compounds having sulfur to less than about 300 parts per million (ppm).
  • the olefin feed stream comprises less than about 10 mol% carbon monoxide (CO).
  • the ETL reactor generates the higher hydrocarbon products at a single pass conversion of at least about
  • the ETL reactor operates at a temperature greater than or equal to about 200 °C. In some embodiments, the ETL reactor operates at a pressure greater than or equal to about 50 psi. In some embodiments, the product stream comprises less than 50 weight percent
  • the ETL reactor operates substantially adiabatically.
  • Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method, comprising: (a) in an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor, reacting oxygen (0 2 ) with methane (CH 4 ) in an OCM reactor, reacting oxygen (0 2 ) with methane (CH 4 ) in an OCM reactor, reacting oxygen (0 2 ) with methane (CH 4 ) in an
  • OCM process to yield an OCM product stream comprising (i) compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ compounds), including ethylene (C 2 H 4 ), and (ii) carbon monoxide (CO) or carbon dioxide (C0 2 ), wherein the OCM process liberates heat; (b) directing the OCM product stream from the OCM reactor into a cracking vessel, and in the cracking vessel, cracking ethane (C 2 H 6 ) with the aid of the heat liberated in (a), thereby increasing a concentration of C 2 H 4 and hydrogen (H 2 ) in the OCM product stream; (c) directing the OCM product stream from the cracking vessel into a treatment unit, and in the treatment unit reducing the concentration in the product stream of (i) compounds having triple bonds or (ii) compounds having more than one double bond, wherein the reducing is accomplished by a separations process or a reaction process; (d) directing the OCM product stream from the treatment unit into an ethylene-to- liquids (ETL) reactor, and
  • the method further comprises directing the CH 4 from the methanation reactor into a sales gas pipeline. In some embodiments, the method further comprises directing the CH 4 from the methanation reactor into the OCM reactor.
  • the OCM reactor has a reactor inlet temperature between about 450 °C and about 600 °C and a pressure between about 15 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) and about 225 psig, and wherein the OCM process has a C 2+ selectivity of at least about 50%.
  • the product stream, when directed into the ETL reactor in (d) comprises less than about 500 parts per million (ppm) of acetylene.
  • the product stream when directed into the ETL reactor in (d), comprises less than or equal to about 10 mol% CO.
  • the treatment unit comprises an acetylene hydrogenation catalyst with a lifetime of at least about 6 months.
  • the treatment unit comprises a guard bed.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are generated at a single pass conversion of at least about 40%.
  • at least a portion of the C 2 H 6 that is cracked in (b) is produced in the OCM reactor.
  • at least a portion of the C 2 H 6 that is cracked in (b) is input to the cracking vessel along a stream external to the OCM reactor.
  • the cracking vessel is integrated with the OCM reactor.
  • the ETL reactor is operated at a temperature greater than or equal to about 200 °C. In some embodiments, the ETL reactor is operated at a pressure greater than or equal to about 50 psi. In some embodiments, the ETL product stream in (d) comprises less than 25 weight percent (wt%) water.
  • Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: (a) an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor that reacts oxygen (0 2 ) with methane (CH 4 ) in an OCM process to yield an OCM product stream comprising (i) compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ compounds), including ethylene (C 2 H 4 ), and (ii) carbon monoxide (CO) or carbon dioxide (C0 2 ), wherein the OCM process liberates heat; (b) a cracking vessel that receives the
  • (H 2 ) in the OCM product stream (c) a treatment unit that receives the OCM product stream from the cracking vessel, wherein the treatment unit reduces the concentration in the product stream of (i) compounds having triple bonds or (ii) compounds having more than one double bond, wherein the reducing is accomplished by a separations process or a reaction process; (d) an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor that receives the OCM product stream from the treatment unit, wherein the ETL reactor converts the C 2 H 4 in the OCM product stream yield an ETL product stream comprising higher hydrocarbon products; (e) a separations module that receives the ETL product stream from the ETL reactor, wherein the separations module recovers from the ETL product stream a liquid stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products and a gas stream comprising H 2 and CO or C0 2 ; and (f) a methanation reactor that receives the gas stream, wherein the methanation reactor reacts the H 2 with the CO or the C0 2 to form CH 4 .
  • the CH 4 from the methanation reactor is directed to a sales gas pipeline. In some embodiments, the CH 4 from the methanation reactor is directed into the OCM reactor. In some embodiments, the OCM reactor operates with a reactor inlet temperature between about 450 °C and about 600 °C and a pressure between about 15 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) and about 225 psig, and wherein the OCM process has a C 2+ selectivity of at least about 50%. In some embodiments, the product stream, when received by the ETL reactor in (d), comprises less than about 500 parts per million (ppm) of acetylene. In some embodiments, the product stream, when received by the ETL reactor in (d), comprises less than or equal to about
  • the treatment unit comprises an acetylene hydrogenation catalyst with a lifetime of at least about 6 months. In some embodiments, the treatment unit comprises a guard bed. In some embodiments, the higher hydrocarbon products are generated at a single pass conversion of at least about 40%. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the
  • C 2 H 6 that is cracked by the cracking vessel is produced in the OCM reactor.
  • At least a portion of the C 2 H 6 that is cracked by the cracking vessel is inputted to the cracking vessel along a stream external to the OCM reactor.
  • the cracking vessel is integrated with the OCM reactor.
  • the ETL reactor operates at a temperature greater than or equal to about 200 °C.
  • the ETL reactor operates at a pressure greater than or equal to about 50 psi.
  • the ETL product stream in (d) comprises less than 25 weight percent (wt%) water.
  • Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method, comprising: (a) directing an olefin feed stream comprising ethylene (C 2 H 4 ), propylene (C 3 H 6 ), methane, and inert species into a treatment unit, and in the treatment unit reducing the concentration in the olefin feed stream of (i) compounds having triple bonds or (ii) compounds having more than one double bond, wherein the reducing is accomplished by a separations process or a reaction process; (b) directing the olefin feed stream from the treatment unit into a fixed bed ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor, and in the ETL reactor conducting an ETL process to convert the C 2 H 4 or the C 3 H 6 in the olefin feed stream to higher hydrocarbon products, thereby producing a product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; and (c) directing the product stream from the ETL reactor and recovering from the product stream a liquid stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; where the olefin feed stream
  • the olefin feed stream is directed into the treatment unit from a refinery.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products comprise at least 5 compounds having different carbon numbers, the carbon numbers are selected from 4 through 20, wherein each of the at least 5 compounds is at a concentration of at least 5 weight percent (wt%) of the product stream.
  • the carbon numbers are selected from 4 through 12 or from 12 through 20.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products comprise a paraffin compound, an isoparaffin compound, and a naphthene compound.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products further comprise an olefin compound or an aromatic compound.
  • the ETL reactor operates substantially adiabatically.
  • the olefin feed stream, when directed into the ETL reactor in (b), comprises less than about 500 parts per million (ppm) of acetylene. In some embodiments, the olefin feed stream, when directed into the ETL reactor in (b), comprises less than or equal to about 10 mol% carbon monoxide (CO).
  • the treatment unit comprises an acetylene hydrogenation catalyst with a lifetime of at least about 6 months. In some embodiments, the treatment unit comprises a guard bed. In some embodiments, the higher hydrocarbon products are generated at a single pass conversion of at least about 40%. In some embodiments, the ETL reactor is operated at a temperature greater than or equal to about 200 °C.
  • the ETL reactor is operated at a pressure greater than or equal to about 50 psi. In some embodiments, the product stream comprises less than 25 weight percent (wt%) water.
  • a treatment unit that receives an olefin feed stream comprising ethylene (C 2 H 4 ), propylene (C 3 H 6 ), methane, and inert species, wherein the treatment unit reduces the concentration in the olefin feed stream of (i) compounds having triple bonds or (ii) compounds having more than one double bond, wherein the reducing is accomplished by a separations process or a reaction process;
  • a fixed bed ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor that receives the olefin feed stream from the treatment unit, wherein the ETL reactor reacts the C 2 H 4 or the C 3 H 6 in the olefin feed stream in an ETL process to yield a product stream comprising higher hydrocarbon products; and
  • the olefin feed stream is directed into the treatment unit from a refinery.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products comprise at least 5 compounds having different carbon numbers, the carbon numbers are selected from 4 through 20, wherein each of the at least 5 compounds is at a concentration of at least 5 weight percent (wt%) of the product stream.
  • the carbon numbers are selected from 4 through 12 or from 12 through 20.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products comprise a paraffin compound, an isoparaffin compound, and a naphthene compound.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products further comprise an olefin compound or an aromatic compound.
  • the ETL reactor operates substantially adiabatically.
  • the olefin feed stream, when received by the ETL reactor in (b), comprises less than about 500 parts per million (ppm) of acetylene. In some embodiments, the olefin feed stream, when received by the ETL reactor in (b), comprises less than or equal to about 10 mol% carbon monoxide (CO).
  • the treatment unit comprises an acetylene hydrogenation catalyst with a lifetime of at least about 6 months. In some embodiments, the treatment unit comprises a guard bed. In some embodiments, the higher hydrocarbon products are produced at a single pass conversion of at least about 40%.
  • the ETL reactor operates at a temperature greater than or equal to about 200 °C. In some embodiments, the ETL reactor operates at a pressure greater than or equal to about 50 psi. In some embodiments, the product stream comprises less than 25 weight percent (wt%) water.
  • Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for oligomerizing olefins, the method comprising: (a) directing an olefin feed stream comprising ethylene (C 2 H 4 ) or propylene
  • the olefin stream can have a total olefin concentration of less than about 10 wt%.
  • the olefin stream can have (i) a hydrogen (H 2 ) to olefin molar ratio of less than about 3 : 1, or at least one of (ii) a water to olefin molar ratio of at least 0.01 : 1 when the H 2 to olefin molar ratio is at least about 3 : 1, and (iii) a concentration of carbon oxides (COx) of at least about 1 mol% when the H 2 to olefin molar ratio is at least about 3 : 1.
  • H 2 hydrogen
  • COx carbon oxides
  • the olefin stream can have (iv) a concentration of COx of less than about 1%, or at least one of (v) a water to olefin molar ratio of at least 0.01 : 1 when the concentration of COx is at least about 1%, and (vi) a H 2 to olefin molar ratio of at least about 1 : 1 when the concentration of COx is at between about 1% and about 5%.
  • the carbon oxides (COx) comprise carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (C0 2 ).
  • the ETL catalyst is a zeolite.
  • the olefin stream is provided by combining a first stream comprising at least about 10 wt% olefins with a second stream comprising less than about 10 wt% olefins.
  • the second stream comprises inert species such as nitrogen (N 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), ethane (C 2 H 6 ), and propane (C 3 H 8 ).
  • N 2 nitrogen
  • CH 4 methane
  • C 2 H 6 ethane
  • propane C 3 H 8
  • the method of Claim 5 wherein the second stream has a hydrogen (H 2 ) concentration of less than about 5 wt%.
  • the second stream is high purity steam.
  • Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a catalyst for converting olefins to liquid hydrocarbons, the catalyst comprising: (a) a zeolite base material; (b) a binder; and (c) a dopant material, where the catalyst has an active site density of at least about 400 micro-moles ( ⁇ ) of active sites per gram (g) of catalyst as measured by ammonia temperature
  • TPD programmed desorption
  • the catalyst is capable of converting at least about 99% of olefins to liquid hydrocarbons at an olefin weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of at least about 0.7 at a reaction temperature of about 300 °C.
  • WHSV weight hourly space velocity
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) system, comprising: (a) an OCM subsystem that (i) takes as input a feed stream comprising methane (CH 4 ) and a feed stream comprising an oxidizing agent, and (ii) generates from the methane and the oxidizing agent a product stream comprising C 2+ compounds and non-C 2+ impurities; (b) at least one separations subsystem downstream of, and fluidically coupled to, the
  • the separations subsystem comprises a first heat exchanger, a de- methanizer unit downstream of the first heat exchanger, and a second heat exchanger downstream of the de-methanizer unit, wherein (i) the first heat exchanger cools the product stream, (ii) the de-methanizer unit accepts the product stream from the first heat exchanger and generates an overhead stream comprising at least a portion of the non-C 2+ impurities, and (iii) at least a portion of the overhead stream is cooled in the second heat exchanger and is subsequently directed to the first heat exchanger to cool the product stream; and (c) an olefin to liquids subsystem downstream of the OCM subsystem, wherein the olefin to liquids subsystem is configured to generate higher hydrocarbon(s) from one or more olefins included in the C 2+ compounds.
  • the oxidizing agent is 0 2 . In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the 0 2 is provided by air.
  • the OCM subsystem comprises at least one OCM reactor. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the OCM subsystem comprises at least one post-bed cracking unit downstream of the at least one OCM reactor, which post-bed cracking unit is configured to convert at least a portion of alkanes in the product stream to alkenes. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises a non-OCM process upstream of the OCM subsystem. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the non- OCM process is a natural gas liquids process.
  • the post-bed cracking unit is configured to receive an additional stream comprising propane, separately from the product stream.
  • the non- C 2+ impurities comprise one or more of nitrogen (N 2 ), oxygen (0 2 ), water (H 2 0), argon (Ar), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (C0 2 ), hydrogen (H 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ).
  • the higher hydrocarbon is a higher molecular weight hydrocarbon.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) system, comprising: (a) an OCM subsystem that (i) takes as input a feed stream comprising methane (CH 4 ) and a feed stream comprising an oxidizing agent, and (ii) generates from the methane and the oxidizing agent a product stream comprising C 2+ compounds and non-C 2+ impurities; (b) at least one methanation subsystem downstream of, and fluidically coupled to, the OCM subsystem, wherein the methanation subsystem reacts CO, C0 2 and H 2 included in the non-C 2+ impurities to generate methane; and (c) an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) subsystem downstream of the OCM subsystem, wherein the ETL subsystem is configured to generate higher hydrocarbon(s) from ethylene included in the C 2+ compounds.
  • OCM oxidative coupling of methane
  • the OCM subsystem comprises at least one OCM reactor. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the OCM subsystem comprises at least one post-bed cracking unit downstream of the at least one OCM reactor, which post-bed cracking unit is configured to convert at least a portion of alkanes in the product stream to alkenes.
  • the system further comprises a non-OCM process upstream of the OCM subsystem.
  • the non-OCM process is a natural gas liquids process.
  • the post-bed cracking unit is configured to receive an additional stream comprising propane, separately from the product stream.
  • the higher hydrocarbon(s) comprise aromatics.
  • the non-C 2+ impurities comprise one or more of nitrogen (N 2 ), oxygen (0 2 ), water (H 2 0), argon (Ar), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (C0 2 ), hydrogen (H 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ).
  • the methanation subsystem comprises at least one methanation reactor.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products, the method comprising: (a) introducing methane and a source of oxidant into an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor system capable of converting methane to ethylene at reactor inlet temperatures of between about 450 °C and 600 °C and reactor pressures of between about 15 psig and 225 psig, with C 2+ selectivity of at least about 50%, under conditions for the conversion of methane to ethylene; (b) converting methane to a product gas comprising ethylene; (c) introducing separate portions of the product gas into at least a first and second integrated ethylene conversion reaction systems, each integrated ethylene conversion reaction system being configured for converting ethylene into a different higher hydrocarbon product; and (d) converting the ethylene into different higher hydrocarbon products.
  • OCM oxidative coupling of methane
  • the first and second integrated ethylene conversion systems are selected from the group consisting of selective and full range ethylene conversion systems.
  • the method further comprises introducing a portion of the product gas into a third integrated ethylene conversion system.
  • the method further comprises introducing a portion of the product gas into a fourth integrated ethylene conversion systems.
  • the at least first and second integrated ethylene conversion systems are selected from the group consisting of linear alpha olefin (LAO) systems, linear olefin systems, branched olefin systems, saturated linear hydrocarbon systems, branched hydrocarbon systems, saturated cyclic hydrocarbon systems, olefinic cyclic hydrocarbon systems, aromatic hydrocarbon systems, oxygenated hydrocarbon systems, halogenated hydrocarbon systems, alkylated aromatic systems, and hydrocarbon polymer systems.
  • the first and second ethylene conversion systems are selected from the group consisting of LAO systems that produce one or more of 1-butene, 1- hexene, 1-octene and 1-decene.
  • the LAO systems is configured for performing a selective LAO process.
  • the first or second integrated ethylene conversion systems comprises a full range ethylene oligomerization system configured for producing higher hydrocarbons in the range of C 3 to C 30 .
  • the OCM reactor system comprises nanowire OCM catalyst material.
  • the product gas comprises less than 5 mol% of ethylene. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the product gas comprises less than 3 mol% of ethylene.
  • the product gas further comprises one or more gases selected from the group consisting of C0 2 , CO, H 2 , H 2 0, C 2 H 6 , CH 4 and C 3+ hydrocarbons.
  • the method further comprises enriching the product gas for ethylene prior to introducing the separate portions of the product gas into the at least first and second integrated ethylene conversion reaction systems.
  • the method further comprises introducing an effluent gas from the first or second integrated ethylene conversion reaction systems into the OCM reactor system.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of liquid hydrocarbon products, the method comprising: (a) catalytically converting methane to a product gas comprising ethylene; and (b) processing separate portions of the product gas with at least two discrete catalytic reaction systems selected from the group consisting of linear alpha olefin (LAO) systems, linear olefin systems, branched olefin systems, saturated linear hydrocarbon systems, branched hydrocarbon systems, saturated cyclic hydrocarbon systems, olefinic cyclic hydrocarbon systems, aromatic hydrocarbon systems, oxygenated hydrocarbon systems, halogenated hydrocarbon systems, alkylated aromatic systems, and hydrocarbon polymer systems.
  • LAO linear alpha olefin
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a processing system, comprising: (a) an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor system comprising an OCM catalyst, the OCM reactor system being fluidly connected at an input to a source of methane and a source of oxidant, wherein the OCM reactor system (i) takes as input the methane and the oxidant and (ii) generates from the methane and the oxidant a product stream comprising C 2+ compounds; (b) at least a first catalytic ethylene conversion reactor systems and a second catalytic ethylene conversion reactor system downstream of the OCM reactor system, the first catalytic ethylene reactor system being configured to convert ethylene to a first higher hydrocarbon, and the second catalytic ethylene reactor system being configured to convert ethylene to a second higher hydrocarbon different from the first higher hydrocarbon; and (c) a selective coupling unit between the OCM reactor system and the first and second catalytic ethylene reactor systems, which selective coupling unit is configured to selectively direct at
  • the first and second ethylene conversion systems are selected from the group consisting of linear alpha olefin (LAO) systems, linear olefin systems, branched olefin systems, saturated linear hydrocarbon systems, branched hydrocarbon systems, saturated cyclic hydrocarbon systems, olefinic cyclic hydrocarbon systems, aromatic hydrocarbon systems, oxygenated hydrocarbon systems, halogenated hydrocarbon systems, alkylated aromatic systems, ethylene copolymerization systems, and hydrocarbon polymer systems.
  • the OCM catalyst comprises a nanowire catalyst.
  • the system further comprises an ethylene recovery system between the OCM reactor system and the first and second catalytic ethylene conversion reactor systems, the ethylene recovery system configured to enrich the product gas for ethylene.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a chemical production system, comprising: an OCM subsystem that includes an OCM reactor, wherein the OCM reactor (i) takes as input a feed stream comprising methane (CH 4 ) and a feed stream comprising an oxidizing agent and (ii) generates from the methane and the oxidizing agent C 2+ compounds and non-C 2+ impurities; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) subsystem downstream of the OCM subsystem that includes an ETL reactor, wherein the ETL reactor converts at least a portion of the C 2+ compounds to a product stream comprising C 3+ compounds, which C 3+ compounds are generated at a single pass conversion of at least about 40%.
  • an OCM subsystem that includes an OCM reactor, wherein the OCM reactor (i) takes as input a feed stream comprising methane (CH 4 ) and a feed stream comprising an oxidizing agent and (ii) generates from the methane and the oxidizing agent C 2+ compounds and non-
  • the methane is from a non-OCM process.
  • the ETL reactor operates at a pressure between about 4 bar and 50 bar.
  • the single pass conversion is at least about 40% without recycle.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for generating hydrocarbons, comprising: (a) directing a feed stream comprising methane (CH 4 ) and a feed stream comprising an oxidizing agent to an OCM reactor; (b) in the OCM reactor, generating an OCM product stream comprising C 2+ compounds and non-C 2+ impurities from the methane and the oxidizing agent; (c) directing at least a portion of the C 2+ compounds to an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) subsystem downstream of the OCM subsystem, wherein the ETL subsystem has an ETL reactor that converts at least a portion of the C 2+ compounds in the OCM product stream to an ETL product stream comprising C 3+ compounds; and (d) recycling less than 25% of ethylene in the product stream to the ETL subsystem.
  • ETL ethylene-to-liquids
  • the OCM and ETL subsystems generate the C 3+ compounds at a single pass conversion efficiency of at least about 40%. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the single pass conversion efficiency is at least about 40% without recycle. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the methane is from a non-OCM process. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the ETL reactor operates at a pressure between about 10 bar and 50 bar.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for generating a catalyst, comprising: (a) providing a catalyst base material having a first set of pores, wherein the base material comprises an active component that facilitates the conversion of olefins to a first set of hydrocarbons, at least some of which is in liquid form at room temperature and atmospheric pressure; (b) introducing a second set of pores into the base material having an average diameter of at least about 10 nanometers as measured by BET isotherms; and (c) providing one or more dopants on one or more surfaces of the base material, wherein the one or more dopants facilitate the conversion of olefins to a second set of hydrocarbons, at least some of which are in liquid form at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, wherein the second set of hydrocarbons has a different product distribution than the first set of hydrocarbons.
  • the first set of pores have an average diameter from at least about 4 Angstroms to 10 Angstroms.
  • the base material comprises a zeolite. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, (b) is subsequent to (c). In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, (b) and (c) are performed simultaneously. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the base material has a surface area from about 100 m 2 /g to 1000 m 2 /g. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, (c) comprises providing dopants selected from the group consisting of Ga, Zn, Al, In, Ni, Mg, B and Ag.
  • the catalyst base material is H- Al-ZSM-5, H-Ga-ZSM-5, H-Fe-ZSM-5, H-B-ZSM-5, or any combination thereof.
  • the second set of hydrocarbons has a narrower product distribution than the first set of hydrocarbons.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system for generating hydrocarbons, comprising: an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) unit comprising one or more ETL reactors, wherein an individual ETL reactor accepts ethylene from a non-ETL process and generates a product stream comprising higher hydrocarbons through an oligomerization process, wherein at least some of the higher hydrocarbons are in liquid form at room temperature and atmospheric pressure; and at least one separations unit downstream of, and fluidically coupled to, the ETL unit, wherein the separations unit separates the product stream into individual streams, each comprising a subset of the higher hydrocarbons.
  • ETL ethylene-to-liquids
  • the ETL reactor comprises a catalyst having an active material and one or more dopants on surfaces of the active material.
  • the system further comprises an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) unit upstream of the ETL unit, wherein the OCM unit comprises one or more OCM reactors, each of which (i) takes as input a feed stream comprising methane (CH 4 ) and a feed stream comprising an oxidizing agent, (ii) generates from the methane and the oxidizing agent C 2+ compounds and non-C 2+ impurities, and (iii) directs at least a subset of ethylene in the C 2+ compounds to the ETL unit.
  • OCM methane
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a catalyst for the conversion of ethylene to liquid hydrocarbon fuels, the catalyst comprising: (a) a ZSM-5 base material; (b) a binder material; and (c) a dopant material; wherein the catalyst has a cycle lifetime of at least about 1 week when in contact with up to about 100 parts per million (ppm) acetylene, and wherein the catalyst has a replacement lifetime of at least about 1 year when in contact with up to about 100 ppm acetylene.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a catalyst for hydrogenation of acetylene in an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) and ethylene to liquids (ETL) process comprising at least one elemental metal, wherein the catalyst is capable of decreasing the concentration of acetylene to less than about 100 parts per million (ppm) in an OCM effluent prior to flowing the OCM effluent into an ETL process.
  • OCM methane
  • ETL ethylene to liquids
  • the catalyst is capable of decreasing the concentration of acetylene to less than about 10 ppm in the OCM effluent. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the catalyst is capable of decreasing the concentration of acetylene to less than about 1 ppm in the OCM effluent. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the at least one elemental metal includes palladium. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the at least one elemental metal is part of a metal oxide. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the catalyst is capable of providing an OCM effluent that comprises at least about 0.5% carbon monoxide.
  • the catalyst is capable of providing an OCM effluent that comprises at least about 1% carbon monoxide. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the catalyst is capable of providing an OCM effluent that comprises at least about 3% carbon monoxide. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the catalyst has a lifetime of at least about 1 year. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the catalyst is capable of providing an OCM effluent that comprises at least about 0.1% acetylene. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the catalyst is capable of providing an OCM effluent that comprises at least about 0.3% acetylene.
  • the catalyst is capable of providing an OCM effluent that comprises at least about 0.5% acetylene.
  • the ETL process converts ethylene in the OCM effluent into higher
  • the at least one metal comprises a plurality of metals.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a catalyst for converting carbon monoxide (CO) and/or carbon dioxide (C0 2 ) into methane (CH 4 ) in an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) and ethylene to liquids (ETL) process, wherein the catalyst comprises at least one elemental metal, and wherein the catalyst converts CO and/or C0 2 into CH 4 at a selectivity for the formation of methane that is at least about 10-fold greater than the selectivity of the catalyst for formation of coke in an ETL effluent.
  • CO carbon monoxide
  • C0 2 carbon dioxide
  • ETL ethylene to liquids
  • the catalyst has a selectivity for the formation of methane that is at least about 100-fold greater than the selectivity of the catalyst for formation of coke. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the catalyst has a selectivity for the formation of methane that is at least about 1000-fold greater than the selectivity of the catalyst for formation of coke. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the catalyst has a selectivity for the formation of methane that is at least about 10000-fold greater than the selectivity of the catalyst for formation of coke. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the ETL effluent comprises at least about 3% olefin and/or acetylene compounds.
  • the ETL effluent comprises at least about 5% olefin and/or acetylene compounds. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the ETL effluent comprises at least about 10% olefin and/or acetylene compounds. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the at least one elemental metal includes nickel. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the at least one elemental metal is part of a metal oxide.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for preventing coke formation on a methanation catalyst in an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) and ethylene to liquids (ETL) process, the method comprising: (a) providing an ETL effluent comprising carbon monoxide (CO) and/or carbon dioxide (C0 2 ); and (b) using a methanation catalyst to perform a
  • (iii) is performed using absorption or adsorption.
  • the methanation reaction forms at least about 1,000-fold more methane than coke. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the methanation reaction forms at least about 10,000-fold more methane than coke. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the methanation reaction forms at least about 100,000-fold more methane than coke.
  • the method further comprises any two of (i), (ii) and (iii). In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the method further comprises all of (i), (ii) and (iii).
  • C 5+ compounds are removed from the ETL effluent prior to performing the methanation reaction with the methanation catalyst.
  • C 4+ compounds are removed from the ETL effluent prior to performing the methanation reaction with the methanation catalyst.
  • C 3+ compounds are removed from the ETL effluent prior to performing the methanation reaction with the methanation catalyst.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products, comprising: (a) in an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor, reacting methane and an oxidant in an OCM process to yield heat and an OCM product stream comprising hydrocarbon compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ compounds), including ethylene; (b) directing the OCM product stream from the OCM reactor to a post-bed cracking (PBC) unit downstream of the OCM reactor; (c) in the PBC unit, subjecting the OCM product stream to thermal cracking under conditions that are suitable to crack ethane to ethylene, wherein the thermal cracking is conducted at least in part with the heat from (a), thereby producing a PBC product stream comprising ethylene and hydrogen (H 2 ) at concentrations that are increased relative to the respective concentrations of ethylene and H 2 in the OCM product stream; (d) directing the PBC product stream from the PBC unit to an ethylene-to-liquids (ET
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products, comprising: directing ethylene and hydrogen (H 2 ) into an ethylene-to- liquids (ETL) reactor, wherein the ETL reactor is configured to convert hydrocarbon compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ compounds), including ethylene, into higher hydrocarbons; and in the ETL reactor, converting the ethylene into higher hydrocarbons in the presence of the H 2 , wherein the converting results in less coke formation than if the converting is conducted in the absence of the H 2 .
  • ETL ethylene-to- liquids
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products, comprising: directing ethylene and water (H 2 0) into an ethylene-to- liquids (ETL) reactor, wherein the ETL reactor is configured to convert hydrocarbon compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ compounds), including ethylene, into higher hydrocarbons; and in an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor, converting the ethylene into higher hydrocarbons in the presence of the H 2 0, wherein the converting results in less coke formation than if the converting is conducted in the absence of the H 2 0.
  • ETL ethylene-to- liquids
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products, comprising: (a) introducing a feed stream comprising ethylene and ethane into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor, wherein the ETL reactor is configured to convert hydrocarbon compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ compounds) into higher hydrocarbons, and wherein the ethylene to ethane molar ratio in the feed stream is at least about
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products, comprising: directing ethylene to an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor, wherein the ETL reactor is configured to convert hydrocarbon compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ compounds) into higher hydrocarbons; in the ETL reactor, converting the ethylene into the higher hydrocarbons; and separating the higher hydrocarbons into at least two product streams, at least one of which product streams is characterized by five or more characteristics selected from the group consisting of: (a) no more than 1.30 vol% benzene; (b) no more than 50 vol% aromatics; (c) no more than 25 vol% olefins; (d) a motor octane number
  • MON of at least 82;
  • e a total octane number of at least 87;
  • RVP Reid vapor pressure
  • h a 50% boiling point of no more than 121 °C;
  • i a 90% boiling point of no more than 190 °C;
  • j a final boiling point
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products, comprising: directing ethylene into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor, wherein the ETL reactor is configured to convert hydrocarbon compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ compounds), including ethylene, into higher hydrocarbons; and in the ETL reactor, converting ethylene into higher hydrocarbon products in an ETL product stream that comprises less than 60% water.
  • ETL ethylene-to-liquids
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products, comprising: (a) directing ethylene into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor, wherein the ETL reactor comprises an ETL catalyst that is configured to convert hydrocarbon compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ compounds), including ethylene, into higher hydrocarbons; (b) in the ETL reactor, converting the ethylene into higher
  • hydrocarbons to provide an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbons, and forming coke on the ETL catalyst; (c) contacting the ETL catalyst with an oxidant to regenerate the ETL catalyst by burning the coke on the ETL catalyst; and (d) repeating (b)-(c) for at least 20 cycles, wherein a composition of the ETL product stream from a first cycle differs from a composition of the ETL product stream from a twentieth cycle by no more than 0.1%.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products, comprising: (a) introducing a feed stream comprising hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising an FCC catalyst, wherein the FCC catalyst is configured to crack the hydrocarbons into lower molecular weight hydrocarbons; (b) in the cracking reactor, (i) cracking the hydrocarbons into the lower molecular weight hydrocarbons and (ii) generating coke on the FCC catalyst; (c) transferring at least a portion of the FCC catalyst into a
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products, comprising: (a) in a first oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor, reacting methane and a first oxidant in an OCM process to yield a first OCM product stream comprising unreacted methane and hydrocarbon compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ compounds), including ethylene; (b) introducing the first OCM product stream into an ethylene- to-liquids (ETL) reactor that is configured to convert C 2+ compounds into higher hydrocarbons; (c) in the ETL reactor, converting at least a portion of the ethylene in the first OCM product stream into higher hydrocarbons to provide an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbons and the unreacted methane; (d) introducing a second oxidant stream and at least a portion of the ETL product stream into a second OCM reactor; and (e) in the second OCM reactor, reacting the unreacted methane and the
  • the method further comprises, prior to the introducing of (e), removing at least a portion of the higher hydrocarbons from the ETL product stream.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products, comprising: (a) directing a feed stream comprising ethylene to an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor, wherein the ETL reactor is configured to convert hydrocarbon compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ compounds) into higher hydrocarbons; (b) converting the ethylene to an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbons; (c) directing the ETL product stream to a separations system and, in the separations system, separating the ETL product stream into a higher hydrocarbon stream and a light olefin stream comprising propylene and butene; (d) introducing the light olefin stream into an oligomerization reactor, wherein the oligomerization reactor includes an oligomerization catalyst that
  • oligomerizes C 2+ compounds into higher hydrocarbons and (e) in the oligomerization reactor, oligomerizing the propylene and butene in the light olefin stream to produce an oligomerization product stream comprising oligomerization products of propylene and butene.
  • the oligomerization product stream comprises olefins with carbon numbers from 6 to 16.
  • a temperature within the oligomerization reactor during the oligomerizing increases by about 50 °C to 200 °C.
  • the oligomerization catalyst comprises a solid acid catalyst.
  • the oligomerization reactor is of a form selected from the group consisting of a slurry bed reactor, a fixed bed reactor, a tubular isothermal reactor, a moving bed reactor, and a fluidized bed reactor.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products, comprising: (a) in an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor, reacting methane and an oxidant in an OCM process to yield an OCM product stream
  • ETL ethylene-to-liquids
  • the ETL reactor is configured to convert the unreacted methane and at least a portion of the C 2+ compounds into aromatic hydrocarbons
  • the ETL reactor comprises an ETL catalyst doped with one or more dopants selected from the group consisting of molybdenum (Mo), gallium (Ga), and tungsten (W); and (c) in the ETL reactor, converting the unreacted methane and the at least the portion of the C 2+ compounds into an aromatic product stream comprising the aromatic hydrocarbons.
  • Mo molybdenum
  • Ga gallium
  • W tungsten
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products, comprising: (a) directing hydrogen (H 2 ) and a low octane stream comprising n-hexane to an isomerization reactor that is configured to isomerize n-hexane to i- hexane, wherein the low octane stream is characterized by an octane number of no more than 62; and (b) reacting the H 2 and the n-hexane to produce an isomerization product stream comprising i-hexane, wherein the isomerization product stream is characterized by an octane number of at least 73.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products, comprising: (a) in a natural gas liquids (NGL) system, producing from natural gas an NGL product stream comprising hydrocarbon compounds with four or more carbon atoms (C 4+ compounds), including butanes; (b) introducing the first NGL product stream into an isomerization reactor configured to isomerize the C 4+ compounds); and (c) in the isomerization reactor, isomerizing at least a portion of the C 4+ compounds to form isomerization products, thereby producing an isomerate stream comprising the isomerization products.
  • NGL natural gas liquids
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products, comprising: (a) in an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor, reacting methane and an oxidant in an OCM process to yield an OCM product stream
  • hydrocarbon compounds with at least 3, 4 ,or 5 carbon atoms.
  • the methane is supplied at least in part from a natural gas pipeline, and wherein the method further comprises outputting the gas stream to the natural gas pipeline.
  • the methane is supplied at least in part from a cryogenic separations system, and wherein the method further comprises directing the gas stream to a re-compressor unit.
  • the methane is supplied at least in part from a cryogenic separations system, and wherein the method further comprises compressing the gas stream in a compressor to produce a compressed stream and directing the compressed stream to the cryogenic separations unit.
  • the methane is supplied at least in part from a cryogenic separations unit, and the method further comprises: compressing the gas stream in a compressor to produce a compressed stream; directing the compressed stream to the cryogenic separations unit; in the cryogenic separations unit, removing any C 2+ compounds from the gas stream along a C 2+ product stream.
  • the gas stream may be directed to a re-compressor unit.
  • Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products including hydrocarbon compounds with two carbon atoms (C 2
  • the method further comprises, prior to the directing of (b), directing the natural gas stream from the gas treatment system into a pre- cooling system, and, in the pre-cooling system, removing a first fuel gas stream comprising methane from the natural gas stream.
  • the method further comprises directing the liquid natural gas stream into a nitrogen rejection unit, and, in the nitrogen rejection unit, removing a stream comprising nitrogen from the liquid natural gas stream.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products including hydrocarbon compounds with two carbon atoms (C 2
  • C 3 compounds hydrocarbon compounds with three carbon atoms
  • C 4 compounds hydrocarbon compounds with four carbon atoms
  • C 5+ compounds comprising: (a) directing a natural gas stream into a natural gas liquids (NGL) extraction system that produces from the natural gas stream a first stream comprising methane and a second stream comprising C 2 compounds, C 3 compounds, C 4 compounds, and C 5+ compounds; (b) removing a first portion of the first stream as a pipeline gas product stream; (c) directing the second stream into an NGL fractionation system that separates the second stream into at least (i) a C 2 -C 3 stream comprising C 2 compounds and C 3 compounds, (ii) a C 4 stream comprising C 4 compounds, and (iii) a C 5+ stream comprising C 5+ compounds; (d) directing a second portion of the first stream, the C 2 -C 3 stream, and an oxidant into an oxidative coupling of methane
  • NGL natural gas liquids
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products including hydrocarbon compounds with two carbon atoms (C 2
  • C 3 compounds hydrocarbon compounds with three carbon atoms
  • C 4 compounds hydrocarbon compounds with four carbon atoms
  • C 5+ compounds comprising: (a) introducing a first natural gas stream comprising methane into a gas treatment system that removes from the first natural gas stream at least one of mercury, water, and acid gases; (b) introducing a second natural gas stream comprising methane into a gas conditioning system that removes from the second natural gas stream at least one sulfur compound; (c) directing the first natural gas stream from the gas treatment system and a first portion of the second natural gas stream from the gas conditioning system into a natural gas liquids (NGL) extraction system that produces from the first natural gas stream and the first portion of the second natural gas stream (i) a first stream comprising methane, (ii) a second stream comprising C 2 compounds, and (iii) a third stream comprising C 2 compounds, C 3 compounds, C 4 compounds, and C 5+ compounds, wherein a portion
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products including hydrocarbon compounds with two carbon atoms (C 2
  • the method further comprises directing the C 2 stream from the heat exchanger to the ETL reactor.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products including hydrocarbon compounds with two carbon atoms (C 2 compounds), hydrocarbon compounds with three carbon atoms (C 3 compounds), hydrocarbon compounds with four carbon atoms (C 4 compounds), and hydrocarbon compounds with five or more carbon atoms (C 5+ compounds), comprising: (a) directing a first stream including ethylene from a refinery gas plant into a demethanizer that removes a first methane stream including methane from the first stream, wherein the first stream is subjected to sulfur removal prior to being directed to the demethanizer; (b) directing the first methane stream, a second methane stream comprising methane, and an oxidant into an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) system that converts methane in the in an OCM process to yield an OCM product stream including ethylene; (c) directing the first stream and the OCM product stream into an ethylene- to-li quids (ETL
  • the method further comprises directing at least a portion of the C 2 -C 3 stream from the heat exchanger to the OCM reactor system. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the method further comprises directing at least a portion of the C 2 -C 3 stream from the heat exchanger to the ETL reactor.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products including hydrocarbon compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ compounds), comprising: (a) directing methane and an oxidant to an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor that is upstream of a post-bed cracking (PBC) unit, wherein the OCM reactor is configured to facilitate an OCM reaction using the methane and the oxidant to generate the C 2+ compounds including ethylene and one or more alkanes, and wherein the PBC unit is configured to convert the one or more alkanes, including ethane, to one or more alkenes, including ethylene; (b) in the OCM reactor, reacting the methane and the oxidant in the OCM reaction to generate an OCM product stream and heat, wherein the OCM product stream comprises ethylene and one or more alkanes; (c) directing the OCM product stream to the PBC unit; (d) in the PBC unit, subjecting
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; a first separations unit in fluid
  • the first separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the first separations unit, wherein the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; a de-propanizer in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, wherein the de-propanizer separates the higher hydrocarbon products in the ETL product stream into a bottoms stream comprising C 4+ compounds and an overhead stream comprising C 3 compounds; and a second separations unit in fluid communication with the de-propanizer, wherein the second separations unit (i) condenses the C 3 compounds in the overhead stream to yield a diluent stream comprising the C 3
  • ETL ethylene-to
  • the second separations unit includes a partial condenser in fluid communication with a drum.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the first separations unit.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the first separations unit and the ETL reactor.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the de-propanizer.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the de-propanizer and the second separations unit.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method, comprising: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream into a first separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; (c) directing the olefin in the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products in the ETL product stream into a de-propanizer that separates the higher hydrocarbon products
  • the second separations unit includes a partial condenser in fluid communication with a drum.
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the first separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin-containing stream is directed from the first separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the de-propanizer through one or more additional units.
  • the overhead stream is directed from the de-propanizer to the second separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; a first separations unit in fluid
  • the first separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the first separations unit, wherein the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; a second separations unit in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, wherein the second separations unit separates the ETL product stream into a liquid stream comprising C 3+ compounds and a gas stream comprising C 3- compounds; a de-propanizer in fluid communication with the second separations unit, wherein the de-propanizer separates the C 3+ compounds and the C 3- compounds into a de-propanizer bottoms stream comprising C 4+ compounds and a de-propanizer
  • the second separations unit comprises a high-pressure separator.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the first separations unit.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the first separations unit and the ETL reactor.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the second separations unit.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the second separations unit and the de-propanizer.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the de-propanizer and the accumulator.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method, comprising: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a first separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products into a second separations unit that separates the higher hydrocarbon products into a liquid stream comprising C 3+ compounds and a gas stream comprising C 3- compounds; (e) directing the
  • the second separations unit comprises a high-pressure separator.
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the first separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin-containing stream is directed from the first separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the second separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the liquid stream is directed from the second separations unit to the de-propanizer through one or more additional units.
  • the de-propanizer overhead stream is directed from the de-propanizer to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, wherein the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, wherein the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; a high-pressure separator in fluid communication
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the separations unit.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the high-pressure separator. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the high-pressure separator and the secondary recovery unit.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method, comprising: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products into a high-pressure separator that separates the higher hydrocarbon products into a liquid stream comprising C 3+ compounds and a gas stream comprising C 3- compounds; (e) directing the
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin-containing stream is directed from the separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the high-pressure separator through one or more additional units.
  • the gas stream is directed from the high-pressure separator to the secondary recovery unit through one or more additional units.
  • the secondary recovery bottoms stream is directed from the secondary recovery unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, wherein the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, wherein the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; a cold box in fluid communication with the ETL
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the separations unit.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the cold box. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cold box and the phase separator. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the phase separator and the adsorber. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the adsorber and the stabilizer.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method, comprising: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids
  • (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products into a cold box that cools the higher hydrocarbon products; (e) directing the higher hydrocarbon products from the cold box into a phase separator that separates the higher hydrocarbon products into a liquid stream and a gas stream; (f) directing the liquid stream and the gas stream into an adsorber that separates the liquid stream and the gas stream into an (i) adsorber overhead stream and (ii) an adsorber bottom stream comprising Ci compounds, C 2 compounds, and C 3+ compounds; and (g) directing the adsorber bottom stream into a stabilizer that separates the adsorber bottom stream into (i) a stabilizer overhead stream comprising the Ci compounds and the C 2 compounds and (ii) a stabilizer bottom stream comprising the C 3+ compounds.
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin-containing stream is directed from the separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the cold box through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the cold box to the phase separator through one or more additional units.
  • the liquid stream and/or the gas stream are directed from the phase separator to the adsorber through one or more additional units.
  • the adsorber bottom stream is directed from the adsorber to the stabilizer through one or more additional units.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, wherein the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, wherein the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; and an adsorber in fluid communication with the
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the separations unit. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the adsorber.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method, comprising: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products and a lean sponge oil stream into an adsorber that separates the higher hydrocarbon products and the lean sponge oil stream into an adsorber overhead stream and a rich sponge oil stream.
  • ETL
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin-containing stream is directed from the separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the adsorber through one or more additional units.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, wherein the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, wherein the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; an adsorber in fluid communication with the E
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the separations unit.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the adsorber. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the hydrogen removal unit.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method, comprising: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products and a lean sponge oil stream into an adsorber that separates the ETL product stream and the lean sponge oil stream into an adsorber overhead stream and a rich sponge oil stream; (ETL)
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin-containing stream is directed from the separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the adsorber through one or more additional units.
  • the adsorber overhead stream is directed from the adsorber to the hydrogen removal unit through one or more additional units.
  • the recycle stream is directed from the hydrogen removal unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; a first separations unit in fluid
  • the first separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the first separations unit, wherein the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; a cooling unit in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, wherein the cooling unit cools the higher hydrocarbon products; a phase separator in fluid communication with the cooling unit, wherein the phase separator separates the higher hydrocarbon products into a liquid stream and a gas stream; a de-propanizer in fluid communication with the phase separator, wherein the de-propanizer separates the liquid stream into (i) a de-propanizer overhead stream and (ii) a de
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the first separations unit. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the first separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the cooling unit. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cooling unit and the phase separator. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the phase separator and the de-propanizer. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the de-propanizer and the second separations unit.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method, comprising: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a first separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products into a cooling unit that cools the higher hydrocarbon products; (e) directing the higher hydrocarbon products from the cooling unit into a phase separator that separates the higher hydrocarbon products into
  • de-propanizer overhead stream and (ii) a de-propanizer bottom stream comprising C 4+ compounds (i) de-propanizer overhead stream and (ii) a de-propanizer bottom stream comprising C 4+ compounds; (g) directing at least a portion of the de-propanizer overhead stream to the ETL reactor; (h) directing the gas stream into a second separations unit that separates the gas stream into (i) a small molecular weight compound stream comprising Ci compounds and hydrogen and
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the first separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin-containing stream is directed from the first separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the cooling unit through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the cooling unit to the phase separator through one or more additional units.
  • the liquid stream is directed from the phase separator to the de-propanizer through one or more additional units.
  • the at least a portion of the de-propanizer overhead stream is directed from the de-propanizer to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the gas stream is directed from the phase separator to the second separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the recycle stream is directed from the second separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, wherein the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, wherein the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; a product recovery unit in fluid communication with the
  • methanation unit reacts the hydrogen in the light gas stream with CO and/or C0 2 to produce a methanation stream comprising methane.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the first separations unit. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the first separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the product recovery unit. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the the product recovery unit and the methanation unit.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method, comprising: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products into a product recovery unit that separates the higher hydrocarbon products into (i) a liquid stream and (ii) a light gas stream comprising hydrogen, nitrogen, Ci compounds, and C 2
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the first separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin-containing stream is directed from the first separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the product recovery unit through one or more additional units.
  • the light gas stream is directed from the product recovery unit to the
  • methanation unit through one or more additional units.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, wherein the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, wherein the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; a de-butanizer in fluid communication
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the first separations unit. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the first separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the de-butanizer. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the de-butanizer and the de-pentanizer.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method, comprising: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products into a de-butanizer that separates the higher hydrocarbon products into a C 4 compound stream comprising C 4 compounds and a C 5+ compound stream comprising C 5+ compounds; and
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the first separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin-containing stream is directed from the first separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the de-butanizer through one or more additional units.
  • the C 5+ compounds are directed from the de-butanizer to the de-pentanizer through one or more additional units.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, wherein the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, wherein the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; and an isostripper in fluid communication with
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the first separations unit. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the first separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the isostripper.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method, comprising: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; and (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products and an alkylation feed stream into an isostripper that separates the higher hydrocarbon products and the alkylation feed stream into (i) a C 3 compound stream, (ii)
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the first separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin-containing stream is directed from the first separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the isostripper through one or more additional units.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, wherein the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, wherein the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; a de-butanizer in fluid communication
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the first separations unit. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the first separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the de-butanizer. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the de-butanizer and the de-isobutanizer.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method, comprising: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products into a de-butanizer that separates the higher hydrocarbon products into (i) a de-butanizer bottom stream comprising C 5+ compounds and (ii) a de-
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the first separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin-containing stream is directed from the first separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the de-butanizer through one or more additional units.
  • the C 4 compounds are directed from the de-butanizer to the de-isobutanizer through one or more additional units.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, wherein the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, wherein the ETL reactor (i) receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and additional olefin in an additional olefin-containing stream, and (ii) and converts the olefin and the additional olefin to higher
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the separations unit.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the separations unit and the ETL reactor.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method, comprising: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; and (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream and an additional olefin- containing stream comprising additional olefin into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of the olefin and the additional olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products.
  • ETL ethylene-to-liquids
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin-containing stream is directed from the separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, wherein the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including a first olefin-containing stream comprising olefin a guard bed unit in fluid communication with the separations unit, wherein the guard bed unit (i) receives the first olefin-containing stream and a second olefin-containing stream comprising olefin and (ii) removes at least one component from the first olefin-containing stream and/or the second olefin-containing stream to yield
  • the at least one component decreases a lifetime and/or an activity of the ETL catalyst.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the separations unit. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the separations unit and the guard bed unit. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the guard bed unit and the ETL reactor.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method, comprising: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including a first olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the first olefin-containing stream and a second olefin- containing stream comprising olefin into a guard bed unit that removes at least one component from the first olefin-containing stream and/or the second olefin-containing stream to create a third olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and (d) into the third olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquid
  • the at least one component decreases a lifetime and/or an activity of the ETL catalyst.
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the first olefin- containing stream is directed from the separations unit to the guard bed unit through one or more additional units.
  • the third olefin-containing stream is directed from the guard bed unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, wherein the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including a first olefin-containing stream comprising olefin a guard bed unit in fluid communication with the separations unit which removes at least one component from the first olefin-containing stream to yield a second olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the guard bed unit, wherein the ETL reactor (i) receives the olefin
  • the system further comprises a compressor downstream of the separations unit and upstream of the guard bed. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the at least one component decreases a lifetime and/or an activity of the ETL catalyst. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the separations unit. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the separations unit and the guard bed unit. In some embodiments of aspects provided herein, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the guard bed unit and the ETL reactor.
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method, comprising: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, wherein the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including a first olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; (c) directing the first olefin-containing stream into a guard bed unit that removes at least one component from the first olefin-containing stream to create a second olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and (d) directing the second olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydro
  • the method further comprises directing the first olefin-containing stream from the separations unit to the guard bed unit through a compressor.
  • the at least one component decreases a lifetime and/or an activity of the ETL catalyst.
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the first olefin-containing stream is directed from the separations unit to the guard bed unit through one or more additional units.
  • the second olefin- containing stream is directed from the guard bed unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • An aspect of the disclosure provides a system.
  • the system comprises a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons.
  • the cracked hydrocarbons can have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons.
  • the system can also comprise a first separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the first separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefins; and an ethyl ene- to-li quids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the first separations unit, where the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream
  • a first separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the first separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefins; and an ethyl ene- to-li quids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the first separation
  • the system can also comprise a de-propanizer in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, where the de-propanizer separates the higher hydrocarbon products in the ETL product stream into a bottoms stream comprising C 4+ compounds and an overhead stream comprising C 3 compounds; and a second separations unit in fluid communication with the de-propanizer, where the second separations unit (i) condenses the C 3 compounds in the overhead stream to yield a diluent stream comprising the C 3 compounds, and (ii) directs at least a portion of the diluent stream into the ETL reactor.
  • a de-propanizer in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, where the de-propanizer separates the higher hydrocarbon products in the ETL product stream into a bottoms stream comprising C 4+ compounds and an overhead stream comprising C 3 compounds
  • a second separations unit in fluid communication with the de-propanizer, where the second separations unit (i) condenses the C 3 compounds in the overhead stream to yield a diluent stream comprising
  • the second separations unit includes a partial condenser in fluid communication with a drum.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the first separations unit.
  • system further comprises one or more additional units between the first separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the de-propanizer. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the de-propanizer and the second separations unit.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream into a first separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin;
  • the second separations unit includes a partial condenser in fluid communication with a drum.
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the first separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin-containing stream is directed from the first separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the de-propanizer through one or more additional units.
  • the overhead stream is directed from the de-propanizer to the second separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a system.
  • the system comprises a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons.
  • the system can also comprise a first separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the first separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the first separations unit, where the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an
  • the system can further comprise a second separations unit in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, where the second separations unit separates the ETL product stream into a liquid stream comprising C 3+ compounds and a gas stream comprising C 3- compounds; a de-propanizer in fluid
  • the de-propanizer separates the C 3+ compounds and the C 3- compounds into a de-propanizer bottoms stream comprising C 4+ compounds and a de-propanizer overhead stream comprising C 3 compounds; and an accumulator in fluid communication with the de-propanizer, where the accumulator directs at least a portion of the C 3 compounds to the ETL reactor.
  • the second separations unit comprises a high-pressure separator.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the first separations unit.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the first separations unit and the ETL reactor.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the second separations unit.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the second separations unit and the de- propanizer.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the de-propanizer and the accumulator.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a first separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products into a second separations unit that separates the higher hydrocarbon products into a liquid stream comprising C 3+ compounds and a gas stream comprising C 3- compounds; (e) directing the
  • the second separations unit comprises a high-pressure separator.
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the first separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin- containing stream is directed from the first separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the second separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the liquid stream is directed from the second separations unit to the de-propanizer through one or more additional units.
  • the de-propanizer overhead stream is directed from the de-propanizer to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a system.
  • the system comprises a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons.
  • the system can also comprise a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, where the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream
  • a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, where the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream
  • the system can further comprise a high- pressure separator in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, where the high-pressure separator separates the higher hydrocarbon products into a liquid stream comprising C 3+ compounds and a gas stream comprising C 3- compounds; and a secondary recovery unit in fluid communication with the high-pressure separator, where the secondary recovery unit separates the C 3- compounds into a secondary recovery overhead stream and a secondary recovery bottoms stream, and directs at least a portion of the secondary recovery bottoms stream to the ETL reactor.
  • a high- pressure separator in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, where the high-pressure separator separates the higher hydrocarbon products into a liquid stream comprising C 3+ compounds and a gas stream comprising C 3- compounds
  • a secondary recovery unit in fluid communication with the high-pressure separator, where the secondary recovery unit separates the C 3- compounds into a secondary recovery overhead stream and a secondary recovery bottoms stream, and directs at least a portion of the secondary recovery bottoms stream to the ETL reactor.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the separations unit. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the high-pressure separator. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the high-pressure separator and the secondary recovery unit.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products into a high-pressure separator that separates the higher hydrocarbon products into a liquid stream comprising C 3+ compounds and a gas stream comprising C 3- compounds; (e) directing the gas
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin- containing stream is directed from the separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the high-pressure separator through one or more additional units.
  • the gas stream is directed from the high-pressure separator to the secondary recovery unit through one or more additional units.
  • the secondary recovery bottoms stream is directed from the secondary recovery unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a system.
  • the system comprises a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons.
  • the system can also comprise a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, where the
  • ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream
  • the system can further comprise a cold box in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, where the cold box cools the higher hydrocarbon products; a phase separator in fluid communication with the cold box, where the phase separator separates the higher hydrocarbon products into a liquid stream and a gas stream; an adsorber in fluid communication with the phase separator, where the adsorber separates the liquid stream and the gas stream into (i) an adsorber overhead stream and (ii) an adsorber bottom stream comprising Ci compounds, C 2 compounds, and C 3+ compounds; and a stabilizer in fluid communication with the adsorber, where the stabilizer separates the adsorber bottom stream into (i) a stabilizer overhead stream comprising the Ci compounds and the C 2 compounds and (ii) a stabilizer bottom stream comprising the C 3+ compounds.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the separations unit. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the cold box. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cold box and the phase separator. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the phase separator and the adsorber. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the adsorber and the stabilizer.
  • the method comprises (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin- containing stream is directed from the separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the cold box through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the cold box to the phase separator through one or more additional units.
  • the liquid stream and/or the gas stream are directed from the phase separator to the adsorber through one or more additional units.
  • the adsorber bottom stream is directed from the adsorber to the stabilizer through one or more additional units.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a system.
  • the system comprises a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons.
  • the system can also comprise a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; an ethylene- to-li quids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, where the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; and an adsorber in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, where the adsorber separates the higher hydrocarbon products and a lean sponge oil stream into an adsorber overhead stream and a rich sponge oil stream.
  • a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an ole
  • system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the separations unit. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the adsorber.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; and (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products and a lean sponge oil stream into an adsorber that separates the higher hydrocarbon products and the lean sponge oil stream into an adsorber overhead stream and a rich sponge oil stream.
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin- containing stream is directed from the separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the adsorber through one or more additional units.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a system.
  • the system comprises a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons.
  • the system can also comprise a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, where the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream
  • a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, where the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream
  • the system can further comprise an adsorber in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, where the adsorber separates the higher hydrocarbon products and a lean sponge oil stream into an adsorber overhead stream and a rich sponge oil stream; and a hydrogen removal unit in fluid communication with the adsorber, where the hydrogen removal unit separates the adsorber overhead stream into (i) a fuel gas stream comprising hydrogen and (ii) a recycle stream comprising C 2 compounds and C 3 compounds, and directs the recycle stream to the ETL reactor.
  • the system comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the separations unit. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the adsorber. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the hydrogen removal unit.
  • Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products and a lean sponge oil stream into an adsorber that separates the ETL product stream and the lean sponge oil stream into an adsorber overhead stream and a rich sponge oil stream; (e
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin- containing stream is directed from the separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the adsorber through one or more additional units.
  • the adsorber overhead stream is directed from the adsorber to the hydrogen removal unit through one or more additional units.
  • the recycle stream is directed from the hydrogen removal unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the system comprises a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons.
  • the system can also comprise a first separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the first separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the first separations unit, where the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products.
  • a first separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the first separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the first separations unit, where the ETL reactor receives the
  • the system can further comprise a cooling unit in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, where the cooling unit cools the higher hydrocarbon products; a phase separator in fluid communication with the cooling unit, where the phase separator separates the higher hydrocarbon products into a liquid stream and a gas stream; a de-propanizer in fluid communication with the phase separator, where the de- propanizer separates the liquid stream into (i) a de-propanizer overhead stream and (ii) a de- propanizer bottom stream comprising C 4+ compounds, and directs at least a portion of the de- propanizer overhead stream to the ETL reactor; and a second separations unit in fluid
  • the second separations unit separates the gas stream into (i) a small molecular weight compound stream comprising Ci compounds and hydrogen and (ii) a recycle stream comprising C 2+ compounds, and directs the recycle stream to the ETL reactor.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the first separations unit. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the first separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the cooling unit. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cooling unit and the phase separator. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the phase separator and the de-propanizer. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the de-propanizer and the second separations unit.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a first separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products into a cooling unit that cools the higher hydrocarbon products; (e) directing the higher hydrocarbon products from the cooling unit into a phase separator that separates the higher hydrocarbon products into
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the first separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin- containing stream is directed from the first separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the cooling unit through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the cooling unit to the phase separator through one or more additional units.
  • the liquid stream is directed from the phase separator to the de-propanizer through one or more additional units.
  • the at least a portion of the de-propanizer overhead stream is directed from the de- propanizer to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the gas stream is directed from the phase separator to the second separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the recycle stream is directed from the second separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a system.
  • the system comprises a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons.
  • the system can also comprise a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, where the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream
  • a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, where the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream
  • the system can further comprise a product recovery unit in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, where the product recovery unit separates the higher hydrocarbon products into (i) a liquid stream and (ii) a light gas stream comprising hydrogen, nitrogen, Ci compounds, and C 2 compounds; and a methanation unit in fluid communication with the product recovery unit, where the methanation unit reacts the hydrogen in the light gas stream with CO and/or C0 2 to produce a methanation stream comprising methane.
  • a product recovery unit in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, where the product recovery unit separates the higher hydrocarbon products into (i) a liquid stream and (ii) a light gas stream comprising hydrogen, nitrogen, Ci compounds, and C 2 compounds
  • a methanation unit in fluid communication with the product recovery unit, where the methanation unit reacts the hydrogen in the light gas stream with CO and/or C0 2 to produce a methanation stream comprising methane.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the first separations unit. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the first separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the product recovery unit. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the product recovery unit and the methanation unit.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products into a product recovery unit that separates the higher hydrocarbon products into (i) a liquid stream and (ii) a light gas stream comprising hydrogen, nitrogen, Ci compounds, and C 2 compounds
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the first separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin- containing stream is directed from the first separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the product recovery unit through one or more additional units.
  • the light gas stream is directed from the product recovery unit to the methanation unit through one or more additional units.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a system.
  • the system comprises a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons.
  • the system can also comprise a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, where the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream
  • a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, where the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream
  • the system can further comprise a de- butanizer in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, where the de-butanizer separates the higher hydrocarbon products into a C 4 compound stream comprising C 4 compounds and a C 5+ compound stream comprising C 5+ compounds; and a de-pentanizer in fluid communication with the de-butanizer, where the de-pentanizer separates the C 5+ compounds into a (i) de-pentanized platformate stream, (ii) an aromatic stream, and a (iii) C 5 compound stream comprising C 5 compounds.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the first separations unit. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the first separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the de-butanizer. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the de-butanizer and the de-pentanizer.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products into a de-butanizer that separates the higher hydrocarbon products into a C 4 compound stream comprising C 4 compounds and a C 5+ compound stream comprising C 5+ compounds; and (
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the first separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin- containing stream is directed from the first separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the de-butanizer through one or more additional units.
  • the C 5+ compounds are directed from the de-butanizer to the de-pentanizer through one or more additional units.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a system.
  • the system comprises a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons.
  • the system can also comprise a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; an ethylene- to-li quids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, where the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; and an isostripper in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, where the isostripper separates the higher hydrocarbon products and an alkylation feed stream into (i) a C 3 compound stream, (ii) a normal butane stream, (iii) an isobutane stream, and (iv) an alkylation product stream comprising C5+ compounds.
  • a separations unit in fluid communication with the
  • the system comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the first separations unit. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the first separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the isostripper.
  • Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; and (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products and an alkylation feed stream into an isostripper that separates the higher hydrocarbon products and the alkylation feed stream into (i) a C 3 compound stream, (ii)
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the first separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin- containing stream is directed from the first separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the isostripper through one or more additional units.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a system.
  • the system comprises a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons.
  • the system can also comprise a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, where the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream
  • a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, where the ETL reactor receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream
  • the system can further comprise a de- butanizer in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, where the de-butanizer separates the higher hydrocarbon products into (i) a de-butanizer bottom stream comprising C 5+ compounds and (ii) a de-butanizer overhead stream comprising C 4 compounds; and a de-isobutanizer in fluid communication with the de-butanizer, where the de-isobutanizer separates the C 4 compounds into an isobutane stream and a normal butane stream.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the first separations unit. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the first separations unit and the ETL reactor. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the ETL reactor and the de-butanizer. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the de-butanizer and the de-isobutanizer.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products into a de-butanizer that separates the higher hydrocarbon products into (i) a de-butanizer bottom stream comprising C 5+ compounds and (ii) a de-
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the first separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin- containing stream is directed from the first separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are directed from the ETL reactor to the de-butanizer through one or more additional units.
  • the C 4 compounds are directed from the de-butanizer to the de-isobutanizer through one or more additional units.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a system.
  • the system comprises a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons.
  • the system can also comprise a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the separations unit, where the
  • ETL reactor (i) receives the olefin in the olefin-containing stream and additional olefin in an additional olefin-containing stream, and (ii) and converts the olefin and the additional olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products.
  • system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the separations unit. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the separations unit and the ETL reactor.
  • Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including an olefin-containing stream; and (c) directing the olefin-containing stream and an additional olefin-containing stream comprising additional olefin into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of the olefin and the additional olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products.
  • ETL ethylene-to-liquids
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin- containing stream is directed from the separations unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the system comprises a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons.
  • the system can also comprise a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including a first olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and a guard bed unit in fluid communication with the separations unit, where the guard bed unit (i) receives the first olefin-containing stream and a second olefin-containing stream comprising olefin and (ii) removes at least one component from the first olefin-containing stream and/or the second olefin-containing stream to yield a third olefin-containing stream comprising olefin.
  • a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including a first olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and a guard bed unit in
  • the system can further comprise an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the guard bed unit, where the ETL reactor (i) receives the olefin in the third olefin-containing stream and (ii) converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products.
  • ETL ethylene-to-liquids
  • the at least one component decreases a lifetime and/or an activity of the ETL catalyst.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the separations unit. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the separations unit and the guard bed unit. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the guard bed unit and the ETL reactor.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including a first olefin-containing stream; (c) directing the first olefin-containing stream and a second olefin-containing stream comprising olefin into a guard bed unit that removes at least one component from the first olefin-containing stream and/or the second olefin-containing stream to create a third olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and (d) directing the third olefin- containing stream into an ethylene-to-
  • the at least one component decreases a lifetime and/or an activity of the ETL catalyst.
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the first olefin-containing stream is directed from the separations unit to the guard bed unit through one or more additional units.
  • the third olefin-containing stream is directed from the guard bed unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a system.
  • the system comprises a cracking reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons and, with the aid of a cracking catalyst, facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons.
  • the system can also comprise a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including a first olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; a guard bed unit in fluid communication with the separations unit which removes at least one component from the first olefin-containing stream to yield a second olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor in fluid communication with the guard bed unit, where the ETL reactor (i) receives the olefin in the second olefin-containing stream and (ii) converts the olefin to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products.
  • a separations unit in fluid communication with the cracking reactor, where the separations unit receives the cracked hydrocarbons in the cracked stream and separates the cracked hydrocarbons into
  • the at least one component decreases a lifetime and/or an activity of the ETL catalyst.
  • the system further comprises one or more additional units between the cracking reactor and the separations unit. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the separations unit and the guard bed unit. In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more additional units between the guard bed unit and the ETL reactor.
  • Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises: (a) directing a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising feedstream hydrocarbons into a cracking reactor comprising a cracking catalyst that facilitates cracking of the feedstream hydrocarbons to produce a cracked stream comprising cracked hydrocarbons, where the cracked hydrocarbons have a lower molecular weight than the feedstream hydrocarbons; (b) directing the cracked stream into a separations unit that separates the cracked hydrocarbons into a plurality of streams including a first olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; (c) directing the first olefin- containing stream into a guard bed unit that removes at least one component from the first olefin-containing stream to create a second olefin-containing stream comprising olefin; and (d) directing the second olefin-containing stream into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of olefin to higher hydro
  • the at least one component decreases a lifetime and/or an activity of the ETL catalyst.
  • the cracked stream is directed from the cracking reactor to the separations unit through one or more additional units.
  • the first olefin-containing stream is directed from the separations unit to the guard bed unit through one or more additional units.
  • the second olefin-containing stream is directed from the guard bed unit to the ETL reactor through one or more additional units.
  • the olefin-containing stream contains ethylene. In some embodiments of various aspects, the olefin includes at least some propylene. In some embodiments of various aspects, the olefin is ethylene. In some embodiments of various aspects, the cracking reactor is a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) reactor. In some embodiments of various aspects, the cracking reactor is a delayed coking unit (DCU) reactor. In some embodiments of various aspects, the cracking reactor is a deep catalytic cracking (DCC) reactor.
  • FCC fluid catalytic cracking
  • DCU delayed coking unit
  • DCC deep catalytic cracking
  • a method further comprises regenerating ETL catalyst in the presence of air, nitrogen (N 2 ), carbon dioxide (C0 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), natural gas, hydrogen (H 2 ), or any combination thereof.
  • the higher hydrocarbon product comprises aromatic compounds.
  • the C 4+ compounds comprise aromatic compounds.
  • the ETL product stream is analyzed in real-time to determine the relative concentrations of the higher hydrocarbon products. In some embodiments of various aspects, the ETL product stream is analyzed at a temperature of at least about 180 °C to determine the relative concentrations of the higher hydrocarbon products.
  • the ETL product stream is analyzed to determine the relative concentrations of at least about 150 C 4+ compounds. In some embodiments of various aspects, the ETL product stream is analyzed to determine the relative concentrations of both C 4+ compounds and C 3- compounds without separating the C 4+ compounds from the C 3- compounds.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises: (a) providing a feed stream comprising dilute olefins and hydrogen (H 2 ); (b) directing the feed stream into a pressure swing adsorber (PSA) and/or a membrane separator to provide a reactor feed having a H 2 concentration of less than about 20%; (c) directing the reactor feed into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of the dilute olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products in the ETL product stream into a de-propanizer that separates the higher hydrocarbon products into a bottoms stream comprising C 4+ compounds and an overhead stream comprising C 3 compounds; and (e)directing the overhead stream into a second separations unit that (i) condenses the C 3 compounds in the overhead stream to yield a diluent stream comprising the C 3 compounds, and (i
  • the reactor feed has a H 2 concentration of less than about 15%, less than about 12.5%, less than about 10%, less than about 7.5%, less than about 5%, or less than about 2.5%.
  • the feed stream is sourced from a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process, a delayed coking unit (DCU), a deep catalytic cracking process (DCC), a thermal gasoil process, a flexi-coking process, a deep thermal conversion process, a visbreaking process, a cumene process, or any combination thereof.
  • the reactor feed has an olefin concentration of less than about 15%, less than about 12.5%, less than about 10%), less than about 7.5%, less than about 5%, or less than about 2.5%.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises: (a) providing a feed stream comprising dilute olefins and hydrogen (H 2 ); (b) diluting the feed stream to provide a reactor feed having a H 2 concentration of less than about 20%; (c) directing the reactor feed into an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor comprising an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of the dilute olefin to higher hydrocarbon products to yield an ETL product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products; (d) directing the higher hydrocarbon products in the ETL product stream into a de-propanizer that separates the higher hydrocarbon products into a bottoms stream comprising C 4+ compounds and an overhead stream comprising C 3
  • ETL ethylene-to-liquids
  • the reactor feed has a H 2 concentration of less than about 15%, less than about 12.5%, less than about 10%, less than about 7.5%, less than about 5%, or less than about 2.5%.
  • the feed stream is sourced from a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process, a delayed coking unit (DCU), a deep catalytic cracking process (DCC), a thermal gasoil process, a flexi-coking process, a deep thermal conversion process, a visbreaking process, a cumene process, or any combination thereof.
  • FCC fluid catalytic cracking
  • DCU delayed coking unit
  • DCC deep catalytic cracking process
  • thermal gasoil process a flexi-coking process
  • a deep thermal conversion process a visbreaking process
  • a cumene process or any combination thereof.
  • the reactor feed has an olefin concentration of less than about 15%, less than about 12.5%, less than about 10%), less than about 7.5%, less than about 5%, or less than about 2.5%.
  • the feed stream is diluted with natural gas.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises: (a) directing an olefin feed stream comprising (i) ethylene (C 2 H 4 ) at a concentration of at least about 0.5 mole percent (mol%), (ii) C 2 H 4 and propylene (C 3 H 6 ) at a combined concentration of at most about 10 mol% and (ii) carbon monoxide (CO) or carbon dioxide (C0 2 ), into an ethylene-to- liquids (ETL) reactor, where the ETL reactor comprises an ETL catalyst that facilitates conversion of C 2 H 4 to higher hydrocarbon products, and where the olefin feed stream is at a first temperature; (b) in the ETL reactor, conducting an ETL process to convert the C 2 H 4 in the olefin feed stream to yield a product stream at a second temperature, which second temperature is higher than the first temperature, the product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products, and where the ETL process liberates heat; and (c) recovering from the product stream
  • At least about 80% of the heat liberated in the ETL process can provide a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature of between about 50 °C and about 150 °C.
  • the 5 carbon numbers are selected from 4 through 12. In some embodiments, the 5 carbon numbers are selected from 12 through 20. In some embodiments, the higher hydrocarbon products further comprise an olefin compound or an aromatic compound. In some embodiments, the recovering comprises cooling the product stream. In some embodiments,
  • the method further comprises, prior to (a), directing the olefin feed stream into an treatment unit, and in the treatment unit reducing the concentration in the olefin feed stream of
  • the olefin feed stream comprises less than about 500 parts per million (ppm) of acetylene.
  • the method further comprises, prior to (a), directing the olefin feed stream into a treatment unit, and in the treatment unit reducing the concentration in the olefin feed stream of compounds having sulfur to less than about 300 parts per million (ppm).
  • the olefin feed stream comprises less than about 10 mol% carbon monoxide
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are generated at a single pass conversion of at least about 40%.
  • the ETL reactor is operated at a temperature greater than or equal to about 200 °C. In some embodiments, the ETL reactor is operated at a pressure greater than or equal to about 50 pounds per square inch. In some embodiments, the product stream comprises less than about 50 weight percent (wt%) water. In some embodiments, the ETL reactor operates substantially adiabatically.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a system.
  • the system comprises an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor that (i) receives an olefin feed stream at a first temperature, the olefin feed stream comprising (1) ethylene (C 2 H 4 ) at a concentration of at least about 0.5 mole percent (mol%), (2) C 2 H 4 and propylene (C 3 H 6 ) at a combined concentration of at most about 10 mol%, and (3) carbon monoxide (CO) or carbon dioxide (C0 2 ), and (ii) as part of an ETL process, facilitates conversion of C 2 H 4 to higher hydrocarbon products with the aid of an ETL catalyst to yield a product stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products that is at a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature, where the ETL process liberates heat.
  • ETL ethylene-to-liquids
  • the system can also comprise a separations module in fluid communication with the ETL reactor that recovers from the product stream a liquid stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products, where the higher hydrocarbon products include (i) at least 5 compounds having 5 different carbon numbers, the 5 carbon numbers selected from 4 through 20, where each of the at least 5 carbon numbers is at a concentration of at least 5 weight percent (wt%) of the liquid stream, and (ii) a paraffin compound, an isoparaffin compound, and a naphthene compound.
  • a separations module in fluid communication with the ETL reactor that recovers from the product stream a liquid stream comprising the higher hydrocarbon products, where the higher hydrocarbon products include (i) at least 5 compounds having 5 different carbon numbers, the 5 carbon numbers selected from 4 through 20, where each of the at least 5 carbon numbers is at a concentration of at least 5 weight percent (wt%) of the liquid stream, and (ii) a paraffin compound, an isoparaffin compound, and a naphthene compound.
  • the 5 carbon numbers are selected from 4 through 12. In some embodiments, the 5 carbon numbers are selected from 12 through 20. In some embodiments, the higher hydrocarbon products further comprise an olefin compound or an aromatic compound. In some embodiments, the recovering comprises cooling the product stream.
  • the system further comprises, upstream of the ETL reactor, a treatment unit in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, where the treatment unit reduces the concentration in the olefin feed stream of (i) compounds having triple bonds or (ii) compounds having more than one double bond, where the reducing is accomplished by a separations process or a reaction process.
  • the olefin feed stream comprises less than about 500 parts per million (ppm) of acetylene.
  • the system further comprises, upstream of the ETL reactor, a treatment unit in fluid communication with the ETL reactor, where the treatment unit reduces the concentration in the olefin feed stream of compounds having sulfur to less than about 300 parts per million (ppm).
  • the olefin feed stream comprises less than about 10 mol% carbon monoxide (CO).
  • the ETL reactor generates the higher hydrocarbon products at a single pass conversion of at least about 40%.
  • the ETL reactor operates at a temperature greater than or equal to about 200 °C.
  • the ETL reactor operates at a pressure greater than or equal to about 50 pounds per square inch.
  • the product stream comprises less than 50 weight percent (wt%) water.
  • the ETL reactor operates substantially adiabatically.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises: (a) in an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor, reacting oxygen (0 2 ) with methane (CH 4 ) in an OCM process to yield an OCM product stream comprising (i) compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C 2+ compounds), including ethylene (C 2 H 4 ), and (ii) carbon monoxide (CO) or carbon dioxide (C0 2 ), where the OCM process liberates heat; (b) directing the OCM product stream comprising (i) the C 2+ compounds, including C 2 H 4 , and (ii) carbon monoxide (CO) or carbon dioxide (C0 2 ), from the OCM reactor directly into a cracking vessel, and in the cracking vessel, cracking ethane (C 2 H 6 ) with the aid of the heat liberated in (a), thereby increasing a concentration of C 2 H 4 and hydrogen (H 2 ) in the OCM product stream; (c) directing the OCM product
  • the method further comprises directing the CH 4 from the methanation reactor into a sales gas pipeline. In some embodiments, the method further comprises directing the CH 4 from the methanation reactor into the OCM reactor.
  • the OCM reactor has a reactor inlet temperature between about 450 °C and about 600 °C and a pressure between about 15 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) and about 125 psig, and where the OCM process has a C 2+ selectivity of at least about 50%.
  • the product stream, when directed into the ETL reactor in (d) comprises less than about 100 parts per million (ppm) of acetylene. In some embodiments, the product stream, when directed into the ETL reactor in (d), comprises less than or equal to about 5 mol% CO.
  • the treatment unit comprises an acetylene hydrogenation catalyst with a lifetime of at least about 6 months.
  • the treatment unit comprises a guard bed.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products are generated at a single pass conversion of at least about 40%.
  • At least a portion of the C 2 H 6 that is cracked in (b) is produced in the
  • the OCM reactor In some embodiments, at least a portion of the C 2 H 6 that is cracked in (b) is input to the cracking vessel along a stream external to the OCM reactor. In some embodiments, the cracking vessel is integrated with the OCM reactor. In some embodiments, the ETL reactor is operated at a temperature greater than or equal to about 200 °C. In some embodiments, the ETL reactor is operated at a pressure greater than or equal to about 200 pounds per square inch. In some embodiments, the ETL product stream in (d) comprises less than 50 weight percent (wt%) water. In some embodiments, the OCM reactor is a fixed bed OCM reactor. In some embodiments, the cracking vessel is substantially adiabatic. In some embodiments, an inlet temperature of the OCM reactor is at most about 600 °C.
  • An additional aspect of the disclosure provides a method.
  • the method comprises: (a) directing an olefin feed stream comprising ethylene (C 2 H 4 ), propylene (C 3 H 6 ), methane, and inert species into a treatment unit, and in the treatment unit reducing the concentration in the olefin feed stream of (i) compounds having triple bonds or (ii) compounds having more than one double bond, where the reducing is accomplished by a separations process or a reaction process; (b) directing the olefin feed stream from the treatment unit into a fixed bed ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) reactor, where the olefin feed stream comprises less than about 10 weight percent (wt%) C 2 H 4 when directed into the ETL reactor, and where the ETL reactor operates substantially adiabatically; (c) in the ETL reactor, conducting an ETL process to convert the C 2 H 4 or the C 3 H 6 in the olefin feed stream to higher hydrocarbon products, thereby producing a product stream compris
  • the olefin feed stream is directed into the treatment unit from a refinery.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products comprise different compounds selected from compounds having carbon numbers 4 through 30.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products comprise different compounds selected from compounds having carbon numbers 4 through 19.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products comprise a paraffin compound, an isoparaffin compound, and a naphthene compound.
  • the higher hydrocarbon products comprise an olefin compound or an aromatic compound.
  • the ETL reactor operates substantially adiabatically.
  • the olefin feed stream, when directed into the ETL reactor in (b) comprises less than about 100 parts per million (ppm) of acetylene.
  • the olefin feed stream, when directed into the ETL reactor in (b) comprises less than or equal to about 5 mol% carbon monoxide (CO).
  • the treatment unit comprises an acetylene hydrogenation catalyst with a lifetime of at least about 6 months. In some embodiments, the treatment unit comprises a guard bed. In some embodiments, the higher hydrocarbon products are generated at a single pass conversion of at least about 40%.
  • the ETL reactor is operated at a temperature greater than or equal to about 200 °C. In some embodiments, the ETL reactor is operated at a pressure greater than or equal to about 200 pounds per square inch. In some embodiments, the product stream comprises less than 50 weight percent (wt%) water. In some embodiments, the olefin feed stream, when directed into the ETL reactor, comprises less than about 100 parts per million (ppm) of acetylene. In some embodiments, a process temperature of the ETL reactor is between about 200 °C and about 375 °C.
  • FIG. 1 shows an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor system
  • FIG. 2 schematically illustrates differentially cooled tubular reactor systems
  • FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a reactor system with two or more tubular reactors
  • FIG. 4A schematically illustrates an alternative approach for varying reactor volumes in order to vary residence time of reactants in a catalyst bed
  • FIG. 4B schematically illustrates an exemplary fluidized bed reactor
  • FIG. 4C schematically illustrates exemplary moving bed, fluidized bed, and slurry bed reactors
  • FIG. 5 is an example of the manner in which product distribution can change over time for an ETL catalyst
  • FIG. 6 schematically illustrates an ethylene-to-li quids (ETL) reactor system with process inlet and recycle stream combining to form a reactor inlet process stream;
  • ETL ethylene-to-li quids
  • FIG. 7A shows liquid phase hydrocarbon yield as a function of C 2 H 4 conversion by using a single pass reactor
  • FIG. 7B shows liquid phase hydrocarbon yield as a function of C 2 3 ⁇ 4 conversion by using a reactor with 5: 1 recycle:fresh feed ratio;
  • FIG. 8 is a plot showing increasing C 5+ yield (liquid condensed at about 0 °C) with increasing recycle reaction conditions
  • FIG. 9 shows an example of a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit
  • FIG. 10 schematically illustrates an integrated OCM system with integrated separations system
  • FIG. 11 shows an example of NGL extraction in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility
  • FIG. 12 shows an integrated OCM-ETL system for use in LNG production
  • FIG. 13 shows the system of FIG. 12 that has been modified for use with a diluted CI (methane) fuel gas stream;
  • FIG. 14 shows an example OCM-ETL system comprising OCM and ETL sub-systems, and a separations sub-system downstream of the ETL sub-system;
  • FIG. 15 shows an OCM-ETL system comprising OCM and ETL sub-systems, and a cryogenic cold box downstream of the ETL sub-system;
  • FIG. 16 shows another OCM-ETL in an alternative configuration to that shown in FIG. 14;
  • FIG. 17 show examples of OCM-ETL midstream integration
  • FIG. 18 show examples of OCM-ETL midstream integration
  • FIG. 19 shows OCM-ETL systems with various skimmer and recycle configurations.
  • FIG. 20 shows an example of ETL integration in a refinery
  • FIG. 21 shows another example of ETL integration in a refinery
  • FIG. 22 shows another example of ETL integration in a refinery
  • FIG. 23A schematically illustrates a natural gas liquids (NGL) system
  • FIG. 23B schematically illustrates the NGL process of FIG. 23A retrofitted with an OCM and ethylene to liquids system
  • FIG. 24 schematically illustrates an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) olefins to liquids process integrated in an NGL system, employing air in an OCM process
  • FIG. 25 schematically illustrates an OCM-ETL integration with an existing NGL system, employing oxygen (0 2 ) in an OCM process
  • FIG. 26 schematically illustrates a methanation system
  • FIG. 27 shows an example of methanation systems for OCM and ETL
  • FIG. 28 shows a separation system that may be employed for use with systems and methods of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 29 shows another separation system that may be employed for use with systems and methods of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 30 shows another separation system that may be employed for use with systems and methods of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 31 shows another separation system that may be employed for use with systems and methods of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 32 shows an example of an ethane skimmer implementation of OCM and ETL.
  • FIG. 33 shows a computer system that is programmed or otherwise configured to regulate OCM reactions
  • FIG. 34 schematically illustrates a process flow for conversion of ethylene to higher liquid hydrocarbons for use in, e.g., fuels and fuel blendstocks;
  • FIG. 35 shows a graph of exemplary product compositions over time on stream
  • FIGs. 36A-36E shows graphs of ETL products with various feedstocks.
  • FIG. 36A shows a graph of ETL product with ethylene feedstock
  • FIG. 36B shows a graph of ETL product with propylene feedstock
  • FIG. 36C shows a graph of ETL product with butyl ene feedstock
  • FIG. 36D shows a graph of ETL product with 50: 50 ethylene/propylene feedstock
  • 36E shows a graph of ETL product with 50:50 ethylene/butylene feedstock
  • FIG. 37 shows a graph of product composition versus catalyst bed peak temperature
  • FIG. 38 shows a graph of ETL product divided into a gasoline fraction and a jet fraction
  • FIG. 39 shows a graph of crush strength for various catalyst formulations
  • FIG. 40 shows a graph comparing catalyst aging under commercial and accelerated conditions
  • FIG. 41 shows a graph comparing product composition over catalyst regeneration cycles
  • FIG. 42 shows an system that includes an OCM reactor, post-bed cracking (PBC) unit, a treatment unit, an ETL reactor, a separations module, and a methanation unit;
  • PBC post-bed cracking
  • FIG. 43A shows an example of a fluidized catalytic cracker (FCC) unit
  • FIG. 43B shows an example of a separations train
  • FIG. 43C shows an example of treatment of FCC off-gas
  • FIG. 44 shows an example of various ways of preparing an ETL feed and performing an ETL reaction using olefins from the FCC;
  • FIG. 45 shows an example of separation of an ETL product to produce an LPG diluent for ETL
  • FIG. 46 shows another example of separation of an ETL product to produce an LPG diluent for ETL
  • FIG. 47 shows an example of separation of an ETL product when natural gas is used as an ETL diluent
  • FIG. 48 shows an example of a sponge oil separation without recycle when natural gas is used as an ETL diluent
  • FIG. 49 shows an example of a sponge oil recovery system where natural gas is not used as an ETL diluent
  • FIG. 50 shows an example of a refrigeration recovery system
  • FIG. 51 shows an example of methanation of recycle gas
  • FIG. 52 shows an example of product fractionation using integration with a reformer unit
  • FIG. 53 shows an example of product fractionation using integration with an alkylation unit
  • FIG. 54 shows an example of product fractionation without a pre-existing debutanizer or de-isobutanizer
  • FIG. 55 shows an example of an ETL reactor with a bypass
  • FIG. 56 shows an example of a delayed coking unit (DCU).
  • DCU delayed coking unit
  • FIG. 57 shows an example of deep catalytic cracking (DCC).
  • FIG. 58 shows an example of a thermal gasoil process
  • FIG. 59 shows an example of a flexi-coking process
  • FIG. 60 shows an example of a deep thermal conversion process
  • FIG. 61 shows an example of a visbreaking process
  • FIG. 62 shows an example of a cumene process
  • FIG. 63 shows an example of ETL with pressure swing adsorption separations
  • FIG. 64 shows an example of a fractionation train with process streams containing olefins that are suitable for production of aromatic chemicals
  • FIG. 65 shows examples of locations for a drier (e.g., a molecular sieve drier) within an ETL process flow;
  • a drier e.g., a molecular sieve drier
  • FIG. 66 shows an example of an ETL process
  • FIG. 67A shows an example of a system for removing hydrogen from an olefin- containing stream prior to an ETL reactor
  • FIG. 67B shows an example of a system having two PSA units for removing hydrogen from an olefin-containing stream prior to an ETL reactor;
  • FIG. 67C shows an example of a system having a membrane separator and a PSA for removing hydrogen from an olefin-containing stream prior to an ETL reactor.
  • OCM process generally refers to a process that employs or substantially employs an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction.
  • An OCM reaction can include the oxidation of methane to a higher hydrocarbon (e.g., higher molecular weight hydrocarbon or higher chain hydrocarbon) and water, and involves an exothermic reaction.
  • methane can be partially oxidized to one or more C 2+ compounds, such as ethylene, propylene, butylenes, etc.
  • an OCM reaction is 2CH 4 + 0 2 ⁇ C 2 H 4 + 2H 2 0.
  • An OCM reaction can yield C 2+ compounds.
  • OCM reaction can be facilitated by a catalyst, such as a heterogeneous catalyst.
  • Additional by-products of OCM reactions can include CO, C0 2 , H 2 , as well as hydrocarbons, such as, for example, ethane, propane, propene, butane, butene, and the like.
  • non-OCM process generally refers to a process that does not employ or substantially employ an oxidative coupling of methane reaction.
  • processes that may be non-OCM processes include non-OCM hydrocarbon processes, such as, for example, non-OCM processes employed in hydrocarbon processing in oil refineries, a natural gas liquids separations processes, steam cracking of ethane, steam cracking or naphtha, Fischer- Tropsch processes, and the like.
  • ETL ethylene-to-liquids
  • ETL reactor ETL catalyst
  • an ETL catalyst can convert propylene into higher hydrocarbons in an ETL reactor.
  • non-ETL process generally refers to a process that does not employ or substantially employ the conversion of an olefin to a higher molecular weight hydrocarbon through oligomerization.
  • processes that may be non-ETL processes include processes employed in hydrocarbon processing in oil refineries, a natural gas liquids separations processes, steam cracking of ethane, steam cracking or naphtha, Fischer-Tropsch processes, and the like.
  • C 2+ and C 2+ compound generally refer to a compound comprising two or more carbon atoms, e.g., C 2 , C 3 etc.
  • C 2+ compounds include, without limitation, alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatics containing two or more carbon atoms. In some cases, C 2+ compounds include aldehydes, ketones, esters and carboxylic acids. Examples of C 2+ compounds include ethane, ethene, acetylene, propane, propene, butane, butene, etc.
  • non-C 2+ impurities generally refers to material that does not include C 2+ compounds.
  • non-C 2+ impurities which may be found in certain OCM reaction product streams, include nitrogen (N 2 ), oxygen (0 2 ), water (H 2 0), argon (Ar), hydrogen (H 2 ) carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (C0 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ).
  • WHSV weight hourly space velocity
  • slate generally refers to distribution, such as product distribution.
  • oligomerization generally refers to a reaction in which hydrocarbons are combined to form larger chain hydrocarbons.
  • greenfield generally refers to an investment in a
  • brownfield generally refers to an investment at a site that was previously used for business purposes, such as a steel mill or an oil refinery, but is subsequently expanded or upgraded to achieve a return.
  • catalyst generally refers to a substance that alters the rate of a chemical reaction.
  • a catalyst may either increase the chemical reaction rate (i.e. a "positive catalyst") or decrease the reaction rate (i.e. a "negative catalyst”).
  • a catalyst can be a
  • Catalysts can participate in a reaction in a cyclic fashion such that the catalyst is cyclically regenerated.
  • Catalytic generally means having the properties of a catalyst.
  • nanowire generally refers to a nanowire structure having at least one diameter on the order of nanometers (e.g., between about 1 and 100 nanometers) and an aspect ratio greater than 10: 1.
  • the “aspect ratio” of a nanowire is the ratio of the actual length (L) of the nanowire to the diameter (D) of the nanowire. Aspect ratio is expressed as L:D.
  • polycrystalline nanowire generally refers to a nanowire having multiple crystal domains. Polycrystalline nanowires generally have different
  • the term "effective length" of a nanowire generally refers to the shortest distance between the two distal ends of a nanowire as measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in bright field mode at 5 kilo electron volt (keV). "Average effective length” refers to the average of the effective lengths of individual nanowires within a plurality of nanowires.
  • actual length of a nanowire generally refers to the distance between the two distal ends of a nanowire as traced through the backbone of the nanowire as measured by TEM in bright field mode at 5 keV.
  • Average actual length refers to the average of the actual lengths of individual nanowires within a plurality of nanowires.
  • a "diameter" of a nanowire can be measured in an axis perpendicular to the axis of the nanowire's actual length (i.e. perpendicular to the nanowires backbone).
  • the diameter of a nanowire can vary from narrow to wide as measured at different points along the nanowire backbone. As used herein, the diameter of a nanowire is the most prevalent (i.e. the mode) diameter.
  • a "ratio of effective length to actual length” can be determined by dividing the effective length by the actual length.
  • a nanowire having a "bent morphology” can have a ratio of effective length to actual length of less than one as described in more detail herein.
  • a straight nanowire can have a ratio of effective length to actual length equal to one.
  • inorganic generally refers to a substance comprising a metal element or semi-metal element. In certain embodiments, inorganic refers to a substance comprising a metal element.
  • An inorganic compound can contain one or more metals in its elemental state, or more typically, a compound formed by a metal ion (M n+ , wherein n 1, 2, 3, 4,
  • Non-limiting examples of inorganic compounds include oxides, hydroxides, halides, nitrates, sulfates, carbonates, phosphates, acetates, oxalates, and combinations thereof, of metal elements.
  • Other non-limiting examples of inorganic compounds include Li 2 C0 3 , Li 2 P0 4 , LiOH, Li 2 0, LiCl, LiBr, Lil, Li 2 C 2 0 4 , Li 2 S0 4 ,
  • KC1 KBr, KI, K 2 C 2 0 4 , K 2 S0 4 , Cs 2 C0 3 , CsP0 4 , CsOH, Cs 2 0, CsCl, CsBr, Csl, CsC 2 0 4 , CsS0 4 ,
  • MgP0 4 MgO, MgCl 2 , MgBr 2 , Mgl 2 , MgC 2 0 4 .
  • MgS0 4 Ca(OH) 2 , CaO, CaC0 3 , CaP0 4 , CaCl 2 ,
  • CaBr 2 Cal 2 , Ca(OH) 2 , CaC 2 0 4 , CaS0 4 , Y 2 0 3 , Y 2 (C0 3 ) 3 , Y 2 (P0 4 ) 3 , Y(OH) 3 , YC1 3 , YBr 3 , YI 3 ,
  • salt generally refers to a compound comprising negative and positive ions. Salts are generally comprised of cations and counter ions. Under appropriate conditions, e.g., the solution also comprises a template, the metal ion (M n+ ) and the anion (X m" ) bind to the template to induce nucleation and growth of a nanowire of M m X n on the template.
  • Anion precursor thus is a compound that comprises an anion and a cationic counter ion, which allows the anion (X m" ) to dissociate from the cationic counter ion in a solution. Specific examples of the metal salt and anion precursors are described in further detail herein.
  • oxide generally refers to a metal or semiconductor compound comprising oxygen.
  • oxides include, but are not limited to, metal oxides (M x O y ), metal oxyhalides (M x O y X z ), metal hydroxyhalides (M x OH y X z ), metal oxynitrates (M x O y (N0 3 ) z ), metal phosphates (M x (P0 4 ) y ), metal oxycarbonates (M x O y (C0 3 ) z ), metal carbonates (M x (C0 3 ) z ), metal sulfates (M x (S0 4 ) z ), metal oxysulfates (M x O y (S0 4 ) z ), metal phosphates (M x (P0 4 ) z ), metal acetates (M x (CH 3 C0 2 ) z
  • mixed oxide or “mixed metal oxide,” as used herein, generally refers to a compound comprising two or more metals and oxygen (e.g., Ml x M2 y O z , wherein Ml and M2 are the same or different metal elements, O is oxygen and x, y and z are numbers from 1 to 100).
  • a mixed oxide may comprise metal elements in various oxidation states and may comprise more than one type of metal element.
  • a mixed oxide of manganese and magnesium comprises oxidized forms of magnesium and manganese. Each individual manganese and magnesium atom may or may not have the same oxidation state.
  • Mixed oxides comprising 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more metal elements can be represented in an analogous manner.
  • Mixed oxides also include oxy-hydroxides (e.g., M x O y OH z , wherein M is a metal element, O is oxygen, x, y and z are numbers from 1 to 100 and OH is hydroxy).
  • Mixed oxides may be represented herein as M1-M2, wherein Ml and M2 are each independently a metal element.
  • crystal domain generally refers to a continuous region over which a substance is crystalline.
  • single-crystalline or “mono-crystalline,” as used herein, generally refers to a material (e.g., nanowire) having a single crystal domain.
  • dopant or "doping agent,” as used herein, generally refers to a material (e.g., impurity) added to or incorporated within a catalyst to alter (e.g., optimize) catalytic
  • a doped catalyst may increase or decrease the selectivity, conversion, and/or yield of a reaction catalyzed by the catalyst.
  • OCM catalyst generally refers to a catalyst capable of catalyzing an OCM reaction.
  • Group 1 elements include lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), and francium (Fr).
  • Group 2 elements include beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), and radium (Ra).
  • Group 3 elements include scandium (Sc) and yttrium (Y).
  • Group 4" elements include titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), halfnium (Hf), and
  • Group 5" elements include vanadium (V), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), and dubnium (Db).
  • Group 6 elements include chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), and seaborgium (Sg).
  • Group 7 elements include manganese (Mn), technetium (Tc), rhenium (Re), and bohrium (Bh).
  • Group 8 elements include iron (Fe), ruthenium (Ru), osmium (Os), and hassium (Hs).
  • Group 9 elements include cobalt (Co), rhodium (Rh), iridium (Ir), and meitnerium (Mt).
  • Group 10 elements include nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt) and
  • Group 11 elements include copper (Cu), silver (Ag), gold (Au), and roentgenium (Rg).
  • Group 12 elements include zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and copernicium (Cn).
  • Lanthanides include lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), yitterbium (Yb), and lutetium (Lu).
  • La lanthanum
  • Ce cerium
  • Pr praseodymium
  • Nd neodymium
  • promethium Pm
  • Sm samarium
  • Eu europium
  • Gd gadolinium
  • Tb terbium
  • Dy dysprosium
  • Ho holmium
  • Er erbium
  • Tm thulium
  • Yb yitterbium
  • Lu lutetium
  • Actinides include actinium (Ac), thorium (Th), protactinium (Pa), uranium (U), neptunium (Np), plutonium (Pu), americium (Am), curium (Cm), berklelium (Bk), californium (Cf), einsteinium (Es), fermium (Fm), mendelevium (Md), nobelium (No), and lawrencium (Lr).
  • Rare earth elements include Group 3, lanthanides and actinides.
  • Metal element or “metal” is any element, except hydrogen, selected from Groups 1 through 12, lanthanides, actinides, aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), indium (In), tin (Sn), thallium (Tl), lead (Pb), and bismuth (Bi).
  • Metal elements include metal elements in their elemental form as well as metal elements in an oxidized or reduced state, for example, when a metal element is combined with other elements in the form of compounds comprising metal elements.
  • metal elements can be in the form of hydrates, salts, oxides, as well as various polymorphs thereof, and the like.
  • si-metal element generally refers to an element selected from boron (B), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), tellurium (Te), and polonium (Po).
  • non-metal element generally refers to an element selected from carbon (C), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), fluorine (F), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), chlorine (CI), selenium (Se), bromine (Br), iodine (I), and astatine (At).
  • high hydrocarbon generally refers to a higher molecular weight and/or higher chain hydrocarbon.
  • a higher hydrocarbon can have a higher molecular weight and/or carbon content that is higher or larger relative to starting material in a given process (e.g., OCM or ETL).
  • a higher hydrocarbon can be a higher molecular weight and/or chain hydrocarbon product that is generated in an OCM or ETL process.
  • ethylene is a higher hydrocarbon product relative to methane in an OCM process.
  • a C 3+ hydrocarbon is a higher hydrocarbon relative to ethylene in an ETL process.
  • a C 5+ hydrocarbon is a higher hydrocarbon relative to ethylene in an ETL process.
  • a higher hydrocarbon is a higher molecular weight hydrocarbon.
  • carbon efficiency generally refers to the ratio of the number of moles of carbon present in all process input streams (in some cases including all hydrocarbon feedstocks, such as, e.g., natural gas and ethane and fuel streams) to the number of moles of carbon present in all commercially (or industrially) usable or marketable products of the process.
  • Such products can include hydrocarbons that can be employed for various downstream uses, such as petrochemical or for use as commodity chemicals.
  • Such products can exclude CO and C0 2 .
  • the products of the process can be marketable products, such as C 2+ hydrocarbon products containing at least about 99% C 2+ hydrocarbons and all sales gas or pipeline gas products containing at least about 90% methane.
  • Process input streams can include input streams providing power for the operation of the process. In some cases, power for the operation of the process can be provided by heat liberated by an OCM reaction.
  • guard bed generally refers to any unit operation that removes any component from an olefin-containing stream that, when not removed, would increase coking rate, decrease time on stream or decrease activity of the ETL catalyst.
  • Downstream communication means that at least a portion of material flowing to the component in downstream communication may operatively flow from the component with which it communicates.
  • Upstream communication means that at least a portion of the material flowing from the component in upstream communication may operatively flow to the component with which it communicates.
  • Communication means that material flow is operatively permitted between enumerated components.
  • the present disclosure is generally directed to processes and systems for use in the production of hydrocarbon compositions. These processes and systems may be characterized in that they derive the hydrocarbon compositions from ethylene that is, in turn, derived from methane, for example as is present in natural gas.
  • the disclosed processes and systems are typically further characterized in that the process for conversion of methane to ethylene is integrated with one or more processes or systems for converting ethylene to one or more higher hydrocarbon products, which, in some embodiments, comprise liquid hydrocarbon compositions.
  • processes and systems provided herein include multiple (i.e., two or more) ethylene conversion process paths integrated into the overall processes or systems, in order to produce multiple different higher hydrocarbon compositions from the single original methane source. Further advantages are gained by providing the integration of these multiple conversion processes or systems in a switchable or selectable architecture whereby a portion or all of the ethylene containing product of the methane to ethylene conversion system is selectively directed to one or more different process paths, for example two, three, four, five or more different process paths to yield as many different products. This overall process flow is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • reactants 101 enter an oxidative coupling of methane (“OCM") reactor system 100 is schematically illustrated that includes an OCM reactor train 102 coupled to a OCM product gas separation train 104, such as a cryogenic separation system.
  • OCM methane
  • the ethylene rich effluent (shown as arrow 106) from the separation train 104 is shown being routed to multiple different ethylene conversion reactor systems and processes 110, e.g., ethylene conversion systems llOa-llOe, which each produce different hydrocarbon products, e.g., products 120a-120e.
  • the fluid connection between the OCM reactor system 100 and each of the different ethylene conversion systems llOa-llOe can be a controllable and selective connection in some embodiments, e.g., a valve and control system, that can apportion the output of the OCM reactor system to one, two, three, four, five or more different ethylene conversion systems.
  • Valve and piping systems for accomplishing this may take a variety of different forms, including valves at each piping junction, multiport valves, multi -valve manifold assemblies, and the like.
  • ETL Ethylene-to-Liquids
  • Ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) systems and methods of the present disclosure can be used to form various products, including hydrocarbon products. Products and product distributions can be tailored to a given application, such as products for use as fuel (e.g., jet fuel or automobile fuels such as diesel or gasoline). ETL systems and methods are described in U.S. Patent
  • the present disclosure provides reactors for the conversion of olefins to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, which can be in liquid form.
  • Such reactors can be ETL reactors, which can be used to convert ethylene and/or other olefins to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons.
  • An ETL system (or sub-system) can include one or more reactors.
  • An ETL system can include at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 ETL reactors, which can be in a parallel, serial, or a combination of parallel and serial configuration.
  • An ETL reactor can be in the form of a tube, packed bed, moving bed or fluidized bed.
  • An ETL reactor can include a single tube or multiple tubes, such as a tube in a shell.
  • a multitubular reactor can be used for highly exothermic conversions, such as the conversion of ethylene to other hydrocarbons. Such a design can allow for an efficient management of thermal fluxes and the control of reactor and catalyst bed temperatures.
  • An ETL reactor can be an isothermal or adiabatic reactor.
  • An ETL reactor can have one or more of the following: 1) multiple cooling zones and arrangements within the reactor shell in which the temperature within each cooling zone may be independently set and controlled; 2) multiple residence times of the reactants as they traverse the tubular reactor from the inlet of the individual tubes to the outlet; and 3) multiple pass design in which the reactants may make several passes within the reactor shell from the inlet of the reactor to the outlet.
  • Multi -tubular reactors of the present disclosure can be used to convert ethylene to liquid hydrocarbons in a variety of ways.
  • the disclosed multi-tubular ETL reactors can result in smaller reactors and gas compressors compared to adiabatic ETL designs.
  • the ETL hydrocarbon reaction is exothermic and thus reaction heat management may be important for reaction control and improved product selectivity.
  • reaction heat management may be important for reaction control and improved product selectivity.
  • adiabatic ETL reactor designs there is an upper limit to the ethylene concentration that is flowed through reactor due to the amount of heat released and subsequent temperature rise inside the reactor.
  • adiabatic reactors can use a large amount of diluent gas to mitigate the temperature rise in the reactor bed.
  • the heat of reaction can be managed using multiple reactors with cooling between reactors and limited conversion between reactors (e.g., about 20%, about 30%, about 40%), about 50%>, about 60%>, or about 70%> conversion in one reactor), cooling of the product effluent, and converting the remaining feedstock in one or more subsequent reactors.
  • the use of diluent gas can result in larger catalyst beds, reactors, and gas compressors.
  • the multi-tubular reactors described herein can allow for significantly greater ethylene
  • the disclosed multi-tubular ETL reactors can result in smaller downstream liquid-gas product separation equipment due to less diluent gas needed to cool the reactor.
  • Multi -tubular ETL reactors of the present disclosure can result in more favorable process conditions toward higher carbon number hydrocarbon liquids compared to an adiabatic ETL design.
  • the disclosed multi-tubular designs can allow for more concentrated ethylene feed into the reactor while maintaining good reactor temperature control.
  • Higher ethylene concentration in the reactor can facilitate the formation for higher hydrocarbon liquids such as jet and/or diesel fuel since reactant concentration is important process parameter to yield higher hydrocarbon oligomers.
  • olefinic liquids of specific carbon number range and types can also be recycled into the reactor bed to further generate higher carbon number liquids (e.g., jet/diesel).
  • Multi -tubular reactors can have multiple temperature zones and offer multiple residence times. This can allow a wide range of process flexibility to target a particular product slate.
  • a reactor can have multiple temperature zones and/or residence times.
  • One use of this design can be to make jet and/or diesel fuel from ethylene.
  • Ethylene oligomerization can require a relatively high reaction temperature. The temperature required to react ethylene, to start the oligomerization process may not be compatible with jet or diesel products, due to the rapid cracking and/or disproportionation of these jet/diesel products at elevated temperatures.
  • Multiple reactor temperature zones can allow for a separate and higher temperature zone to start ethylene oligomerization while having another lower temperature zone to facilitate further oligomerization into jet/diesel fuel while discouraging cracking and disproportionation side reactions.
  • the use of multiple temperature zones may require different residence times within a reactor bed.
  • the residence time for the ethylene reaction can be different than the residence time for a lower temperature finishing step to form jet/diesel.
  • the ethylene oligomerization reaction bed temperature may need to be higher but with a lower residence time than the step to make jet/diesel which can require a lower temperature but higher residence time.
  • multi-temperature processes may occur over multiple reactor beds with a different temperature associated with each reactor.
  • the multi-temperature zone approach disclosed herein can obviate the need for multiple reactors, as in the adiabatic ETL case, since multiple temperature zones can be achieved within a single reactor and thus lower capital outlay for reactor deployment.
  • Catalyst aging can be an important design constraint in ETL reaction engineering. ETL catalysts can deactivate over time until the catalyst bed is no longer able to sustain high ethylene conversion. A slower catalyst deactivation rate may be desired since more ethylene can be converted per catalyst bed before the catalyst bed can need to be taken off-line and regenerated. Typically, the catalyst deactivates due to "coke", deposits of carbonaceous material, which results in decreasing catalyst performance upon coke build-up.
  • the rate of "coke” build-up is attributable to many different parameters.
  • the formation of catalyst bed “hot-spots” can play an important role in causing catalyst coking.
  • "Hot-spots” favor aromatic compound formation, which are precursors to coke formation.
  • "Hot-spots” are a result of temperature non- uniformities within the catalyst bed due to inadequate heat transfer.
  • the localized "hot-spots” increase the rate of catalyst coking/deactivation.
  • the disclosed multitubular design can decrease localized "hot-spots” due to better heat transfer properties of the multi-tubular design relative to the adiabatic design. It is anticipated that the decrease in catalyst "hot-spots” can slow catalyst deactivation.
  • the product slate of the ETL slate is a result of many factors.
  • An important factor is the catalyst bed temperature.
  • catalyst bed temperatures can skew the product slate, for some catalysts, to aromatic products.
  • controlling "hot spot" formation is challenging and inhomogeneities in the catalyst bed temperature profiles lead a wider distribution of products.
  • the proposed multi-tubular design can significantly reduce catalyst bed temperature inhomogeneities/"hot spots" due to better heat transfer characteristics relative to the adiabatic design. As a result, a narrower product distribution can be more readily achieved than with adiabatic reactor design. While the multitubular design provides excellent catalyst bed temperature uniformity, catalyst bed temperature bed uniformity can be further enhanced by injection of "trim gas" and/or "trim liquid.”
  • trim gas can be used to fine-tune the catalyst bed to a target temperature.
  • Trim gas composition can be inert/high heat capacity gas for example: ethane, propane, butane, and other high heat capacity hydrocarbons.
  • liquid hydrocarbons can be injected into the ETL reactors to take advantage of the heat of vaporization to further regulate and cool the reactor bed in order to achieve the desired temperature. Also, one can use both of them (gases and liquids) as "trim" agents in this design for ETL.
  • ETL catalysts may need to be regenerated from a state of low ethylene conversion (e.g.,
  • Regeneration can occur by heating the catalyst bed to an appropriate temperature while introducing a portion of diluted air.
  • the oxygen in air can be used to remove coke by combustion and thus renew catalyst activity. Too much oxygen can cause uncontrolled combustion, a highly exothermic process, and the resultant catalyst bed temperature rise may cause irreversible catalyst damage. As a consequence, the amount of air that is permitted during adiabatic reactor regeneration is limited and monitored.
  • the ETL catalyst can be regenerated in the presence of any suitable fluid, such as air, nitrogen (N 2 ), carbon dioxide (C0 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), natural gas, hydrogen (H 2 ), or any combination thereof.
  • air can be diluted by mixing with fresh nitrogen
  • air can be diluted by mixing with recycled nitrogen
  • air can be diluted by mixing with carbon dioxide
  • air can be diluted by mixing with methane
  • air can be diluted by mixing with natural gas, or combinations thereof.
  • the fluid can be freshly produced, or recycled from another part of the process.
  • the fluid i.e., N 2
  • the fluid i.e., N 2
  • ASU air separation unit
  • the present disclosure provides for systems and methods for regenerating the ETL catalyst using C0 2 , CH 4 , natural gas and/or H 2 .
  • the catalyst regeneration time for an adiabatic reactor can be largely dictated by the amount of oxygen that can be permitted in the reactor.
  • the greater heat transfer properties of the disclosed multi-tubular reactors can permit greater concentrations of oxygen during catalyst regeneration to hasten catalyst regeneration while ensuring that the catalyst bed temperature does not reach the point of irreversible catalyst deactivation.
  • the present disclosure also provides reactor systems for carrying out ethylene conversion processes.
  • a number of ethylene conversion processes can involve exothermic catalytic reactions where substantial heat is generated by the process.
  • the regeneration processes for the catalyst materials likewise involve exothermic reactions.
  • reactor systems for use in these processes can generally be configured to effectively manage excess thermal energy produced by the reactions, in order to control the reactor bed temperatures to most efficiently control the reaction, prevent deleterious reactions, and prevent catalyst or reactor damage or destruction.
  • Tubular reactor configurations that may present high wall surface area per unit volume of catalyst bed may be used for reactions where thermal control is desirable or otherwise required, as they can permit greater thermal transfer out of the reactor.
  • Reactor systems that include multiple parallel tubular reactors may be used in carrying out the ethylene conversion processes described herein.
  • arrays of parallel tubular reactors each containing the appropriate catalyst for one or more ethylene conversion reaction processes may be arrayed with space between them to allow for the presence of a cooling medium between them.
  • Such cooling medium may include any cooling medium appropriate for the given process.
  • the cooling medium may be air, water or other aqueous coolant formulations, steam, oil, upstream of reaction feed or for very high temperature reactor systems, molten salt coolants.
  • reactor systems include multiple tubular reactors segmented into one, two, three, four or more different discrete cooling zones, where each zone is segregated to contain its own, separately controlled cooling medium.
  • the temperature of each different cooling zone may be independently regulated through its respective cooling medium and an associated temperature control system, e.g., thermally connected heat exchangers, etc.
  • Such differential control of temperature in different reactors can be used to differentially control different catalytic reactions, or reactions that have catalysts of different age. Likewise, it allows for the real time control of reaction progress in each reactor, in order to maintain a more uniform temperature profile across all reactors, and therefore synchronize catalyst lifetimes, regeneration cycles and replacement cycles.
  • an overall reactor system 200 includes multiple discrete tubular reactors 202, 204, 206 and 208 contained within a larger reactor housing 210. Within each tubular reactor is disposed a catalyst bed for carrying out a given catalytic reaction.
  • the catalyst bed in each tubular reactor may be the same or it may be different from the catalyst in the other tubular reactors, e.g., optimized for catalyzing a different reaction, or for catalyzing the same reaction under different conditions.
  • the multiple tubular reactors 202, 206, 208 and 210 share a common manifold 212 for the delivery of reactants to the reactors and a heat exchanger 222.
  • each individual tubular reactor or subset of the tubular reactors may alternatively include a single reactant delivery conduit (214, 216, 218, 220) or manifold for delivering reactants to that tubular reactor or subset of reactors, while a separate delivery conduit or manifold is provided for delivery of the same or different reactants to the other tubular reactors or subsets of tubular reactors.
  • Residence time within a reactor can be varied through the variation of any of a number of different applied parameters, e.g., increasing or decreasing flow rates, pressures, catalyst bed lengths, etc.
  • a single reactor system may be provided with variable residence times, despite sharing a single reactor inlet, by varying the volume of different reactor tubes or reactor tube portions within a single reactor unit ("catalyst bed length").
  • reactor tubes or reactor tube portions into which reactants are being introduced at a given flow rate
  • residence times for those reactants within those varied volume reactor tubes or reactor tube portions can be consequently varied.
  • Variation of reactor volumes may be accomplished through a number of approaches.
  • varied volume may be provided by including two or more different reactor tubes into which reactants are introduced at a given flow rate, where the two or more reactor tubes each have different volumes, e.g., by providing varied diameters.
  • the residence time of gases being introduced at the same flow rate into two or more different reactors having different volumes can be different. In particular, the residence time can be greater in the higher volume reactors and shorter in the smaller volume reactors.
  • the higher volume within two different reactors may be provided by providing each reactor with different diameters.
  • one can vary the length of the reactors catalyst bed, in order to vary the volume of the catalytic portion.
  • the volume of an individual reactor tube can be varied by varying the diameter of the reactor along its length, effectively altering the volume of different segments of the reactor.
  • the residence time of gas being introduced into the reactor tube can be longer in the wider reactor segments than in the narrower reactor segments.
  • Varied volumes can also be provided by routing different inlet reactant streams to different numbers of similarly sized reactor conduits or tubes.
  • reactants e.g., gases
  • reactants introduced at the same flow rate into two or more parallel reactor tubes can have a much longer residence time within those reactors.
  • FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a reactor system 300 in which two or more tubular reactors 302 and 304 are disposed, each having its own catalyst bed, 306 and 308, respectively, disposed therein.
  • the two reactors are connected to the same inlet manifold such that the flow rate of reactants being introduced into each of reactors 302 and
  • reactor 304 are the same. Because reactor 304 has a larger volume (shown as a wider diameter), the reactants can be retained within catalyst bed 308 for a longer period. In particular, as shown, reactor 304 has a larger diameter, resulting in a slower linear velocity of reactants through the catalyst bed 308, than the reactants passing through catalyst bed 306. As noted above, one can similarly increase residence time within the catalyst bed of reactor 304 by providing a longer reactor. However, such longer reactor bed may be required to have similar back pressure as a shorter reactor to ensure reactants are introduced at the same flow rate as the shorter reactor
  • FIG. 4A schematically illustrates an alternative approach for varying reactor volumes in order to vary residence times of reactants in the catalyst bed.
  • an individual reactor unit e.g., reactor tube 400
  • the diameter of the reactor between reactor segment 404, 406 and 408 can be varied by providing a larger diameter of the reactor tube in segment 404 and 406, respectively.
  • the residence time of reactants within reactor systems can be controlled by varying the diameter of the ETL reactor along the path of fluid flow.
  • the reactor system can include multiple different reactor tubes, where each reactor tube includes a catalyst bed disposed therein. Differing residence times may be employed in catalyzing different catalytic reactions, or catalyzing the same reactions under differing conditions. In particular, one may wish to vary residence time of a given set of reactants over a single catalyst system, in order to catalyze a reaction more completely, catalyze a different or further reaction, or the like.
  • different reactors within the system may be provided with different catalyst systems that may benefit from differing residence times of the reactants within the catalyst bed to catalyze the same or different reactions from each other.
  • residence times of reactants within catalyst beds may be configured to optimize thermal control within the overall reactor system.
  • residence times may be longer at a zone in the reactor system in which removal of excess thermal energy is less critical or more easily managed, e.g., because the overall reaction has not yet begun generating excessive heat.
  • the reactor portion may only maintain the reactants for a much shorter time, by providing a narrower reactor diameter. Thermal management may become easier due to the shorter period of time that the reactants are present and reacting to produce heat.
  • the reduced volume of a tubular reactor within a reactor housing also provides for a greater volume of cooling media, to more efficiently remove thermal energy.
  • Fixed bed reactors can be adiabatic reactors.
  • Fixed bed adiabatic ETL reactors can provide for simplicity of the reactor design. No active external cooling mechanism of the reactor may be necessary.
  • the diluent gas can be any material that is non-reactive or non-poisonous to the ETL catalyst but preferably has a high heat capacity to moderate the temperature rise within the catalyst bed.
  • diluent gases include nitrogen (N 2 ), argon, methane, ethane, propane and helium.
  • the reactive part of the feedstock can be diluted directly or diluted indirectly in the reactor by recycling process gas to dilute the feedstock to an acceptable concentration.
  • Temperature profile can also be controlled by internal reactor heat exchangers that can actively control the heat within the catalyst bed. Catalyst bed temperature control can also be achieved by limiting feedstock conversion within the catalyst bed. To achieve full feedstock conversion in this scenario, fixed bed adiabatic reactors are placed in series with heat exchangers between reactors to moderate temperature rise reactor over reactor. Partial conversion occurs in each reactor with inter-stage cooling to achieve the desired conversion and selectivity for the ETL process.
  • the fixed bed reactors can be taken off-line and regenerated, such as by an oxidative or non-oxidative process, as described elsewhere herein. Once regenerated to full activity the ETL reactors can be put back on-line to process more feedstock.
  • CCRR Continuous catalyst regeneration reactors
  • moving bed reactors the pelletized catalyst bed moves along the reactor length and is removed and regenerated in a separate vessel. Once the catalyst is regenerated the catalyst pellets are put back in the ETL conversion reactor to process more feedstock.
  • the online/regeneration process can be continuous and can maintain a constant flow of active catalyst in the ETL reactor.
  • ETL catalyst particles are "fluidized" by a combination of ETL process gas velocity and catalyst particle weight. During bed fluidization, the bed expands, swirls, and agitates during reactor operation.
  • the advantages of an ETL fluidized bed reactor are excellent mixing of process gas within the reactor, uniform temperature within the reactor, and the ability to continuously regenerate the coked ETL catalyst.
  • FIG. 4B An exemplary fluidized bed reactor 410 is shown in FIG. 4B.
  • a gas inlet stream 411 enters at the bottom of the reactor and a gas outlet stream 412 exits from the top of the reactor.
  • Solid particles e.g., catalyst
  • the reactor can comprise a distributor 417 for distributing the gas flow.
  • FIG. 4C shows additional schematics of exemplary reactor configurations for co-current moving bed reactors (420), counter-current moving bed reactors (430), fluidized bed reactors (440), and slurry bed reactors (450).
  • the moving bed and fluidized bed reactors have separate gas inlet (421, 431, 434, 441), gas outlet (422, 432, 442), catalyst inlet (423, 433, 443), and catalyst outlet (424, 434, 444) configurations.
  • the slurry bed reactor has a combined gas/catalyst inlet 451 and gas/catalyst outlet 452.
  • the ETL catalyst can be regenerated with methane or natural gas.
  • the regeneration stream can have oxygen (0 2 ) or other oxidizing agent.
  • the concentration of oxygen in the regeneration stream can be below the limiting oxygen concentration (LOC), such that the mixture is not flammable.
  • LOC limiting oxygen concentration
  • the concentration of 0 2 in the regeneration stream is less than about 6%, less than about 5%, less than about 4%, less than about 3%, less than about 2%, or less than about 1%. In some cases, the concentration of 0 2 in the regeneration stream is between 0% and about 3%.
  • An advantage of regenerating the ETL catalyst with methane or natural gas is that, following flowing over the ETL catalyst for regeneration, the stream can be used in the OCM and/or ETL process (e.g., the stream can be combusted to provide energy).
  • the use of methane and/or natural gas to regenerate the ETL catalyst may not introduce any new components into the process to achieve catalyst regeneration, which can lead to an efficient use of materials.
  • the use of methane and/or natural gas makes the economics of the process insensitive, or less dependent on, the period of time that the ETL catalyst can operate between regeneration cycles.
  • the present disclosure also provides catalysts and catalyst compositions for ethylene conversion processes, in accordance with the processes described herein.
  • the disclosure provides modified zeolite catalysts and catalyst compositions for carrying out a number of desired ethylene conversion reaction processes.
  • modified zeolite catalysts useful in conversion of ethylene to higher hydrocarbons, such as gasoline or gasoline blendstocks, diesel and/or jet fuels, as well as a variety of different aromatic compounds.
  • modified ZSM catalysts such as ZSM-5 catalysts modified with Ga
  • Ga, Zn and/or Al modified ZSM-5 catalysts are preferred for use in converting ethylene to gasoline or gasoline feedstocks.
  • Modified catalyst base materials other than ZSM-5 may also be employed in conjunction with the disclosure, including, e.g., Y, ferrierite, mordenite, and additional catalyst base materials described herein.
  • ZSM catalysts such as ZSM-5 are modified with Co, Fe, Ce, or mixtures of these and are used in ethylene conversion processes using dilute ethylene streams that include both carbon monoxide and hydrogen components (See, e.g., Choudhary, et al., Microporous and Mesoporous Materials 2001, 253-267, which is incorporated herein by reference).
  • these catalysts can be capable of co-oligomerizing the ethylene and H 2 and CO components into higher hydrocarbons, and mixtures useful as gasoline, diesel or jet fuel or blendstocks of these.
  • a mixed stream that includes dilute or non-dilute ethylene concentrations along with CO/H 2 gases can be passed over the catalyst under conditions that cause the co- oligomerization of both sets of feed components.
  • ZSM catalysts for conversion of syngas to higher hydrocarbons can be described in, for example, Li, et al., Energy and Fuels 2008, 22: 1897-1901, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
  • the present disclosure provides various catalysts for use in converting olefins to liquids.
  • Such catalysts can include an active material on a solid support.
  • the active material can be configured to catalyze an ETL process to convert olefins to higher molecular weight
  • ETL reactors of the present disclosure can include various types of ETL catalysts.
  • such catalysts are zeolite and/or amorphous catalysts.
  • zeolite catalysts include ZSM-5, Zeolite Y, Beta zeolite and Mordenite.
  • amorphous catalysts include solid phosphoric acid and amorphous aluminum silicate.
  • Such catalysts can be doped, such as using metallic and/or semiconductor dopants.
  • dopants include, without limitation, Ni, Pd, Pt, Zn, B, Al, Ga, In, Be, Mg, Ca and Sr.
  • dopants can be situated at the surfaces, in the pore structure of the catalyst and/or bulk regions of such catalysts.
  • Catalyst can be doped with materials that are selected to effect a given or predetermined product distribution.
  • a catalyst doped with Mg or Ca can provide selectivity towards olefins for use in gasoline.
  • a catalyst doped with Zn or Ga e.g., Zn-doped ZSM-5 or Ga-doped ZSM-5
  • a catalyst doped with Ni e.g., Ni-doped zeolite Y
  • Ni Ni-doped zeolite Y
  • Catalysts can be situated on solid supports.
  • Solid supports can be formed of insulating materials, such as TiOx or AlOx, wherein 'x' is a number greater than zero, or ceramic materials.
  • Catalyst of the present disclosure can have various cycle lifetimes (e.g., the average period of time between catalyst regeneration cycles).
  • ETL catalysts can have lifetimes of at least about 50 hours, 100 hours, 110 hours, 120 hours, 130 hours, 140 hours, 150 hours, 160 hours, 170 hours, 180 hours, 190 hours, 200 hours, 210 hours, 220 hours, 230 hours, 240 hours, 250 hours, 300 hours, 350 hours, or 400 hours.
  • cycle lifetimes olefin conversion efficiencies less than about 90%, 85%, 80%, 75%, 70%, 65%, or 60% may be observed.
  • Catalysts of the present disclosure can be regenerated through various regeneration procedures, as described elsewhere herein. Such procedures can increase the total lifetimes of catalysts (e.g., length of time before the catalyst is disposed of).
  • An example of a catalyst regeneration process is provided in Lubo Zhou, "BP-UOP Cyclar Process," Handbook of Petroleum Refining Processes, The McGraw-Hill Companies (2004), pages 2.29-2.38, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.
  • ETL catalysts can be comprised of base materials (first active components) and dopants (second active components).
  • the dopants can be introduced to the base materials through appropriate methods and procedures, such as vapor or liquid phase deposition.
  • Dopants can be selected from a variety of elements, including metallic, non-metallic or amphoteric in forms of elementary substance, ions or compounds.
  • a few representative doping elements are Ga, Zn, Al, In, Ni, Mg, B and Ag.
  • Such dopants can be provided by dopant sources.
  • silver can be provided by way of AgCl or sputtering.
  • the selection of doping materials can depend on the target product nature, such as product distribution. For example, Ga is favorable for aromatics-rich liquid production while Mg is favorable for aromatics-poor liquid production.
  • Base materials can be selected from crystalline zeolite materials, such as ZSM-5, ZSM- 11, ZSM-22, Y, beta, mordenite, L, ferrierite, MCM-41, SAPO-34, SAPO-11, TS-1, SBA 15 or amorphous porous materials, such as amorphous silicoaluminate (ASA) and solid phosphoric acid catalysts.
  • ASA amorphous silicoaluminate
  • the cations of these materials can be H 4 + , H + or others.
  • the surface areas of these materials can be in a range of 1 m 2 /g to 10000 m 2 /g, 10 m 2 /g to 5000 m 2 /g, or 100 m 2 /g to 1000 m 2 /g.
  • the base materials can be directly used for synthesis or undergo some chemical treatment, such as desilication (de-Si) or dealumination (de-Al) to further modify the
  • the base materials can be directly used for synthesis or undergo chemical treatment, such as desilication (de-Si) or dealumination (de-Al), to get derivatives of the base materials.
  • Such treatment can improve the catalyst lifetime performance by creating larger pore volumes, such as pores having diameters greater than or equal to about 1 nanometer (nm), 2 nm, 3 nm, 4, nm, 5 nm, 10 nm, 20 nm, 30 nm, 40 nm, 50 nm, or 100 nm.
  • mesopores having diameters between about 1 nm and 100 nm, or 2 nm and 50 nm are created.
  • silica or alumina, or a combination of silica and alumina can be etched from the base material to make a larger pore structure in the base catalyst that can enhance diffusion of reactants and products into the catalyst material.
  • Pore diameter(s) and volume, in addition to porosity can be as determined by adsorption or desorption isotherms (e.g., Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) isotherm), such as using the method of Barrett- Joyner-Halenda (BJH). See Barrett E. P. et al., "The determination of pore volume and area distributions in porous substances. I. Computations from nitrogen isotherms," J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1951. V. 73.
  • IWI can include i) mixing a salt solution of the doping component with base material, for which the amount of salt is calculated based on doping level, ii) drying the mixture in an oven, and iii) calcining the product at a certain temperature for a certain time, typically 550-650°C, 6-10 hrs.
  • Ion exchange catalyst synthesis can include i) mixing a salt solution, which can contain at least 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 times excess amount of the doping component, with base material, ii) heating the mixture, such as, for example, at a temperature from about 50°C to 100°C, 60°C to 90°C, or 70°C to 80°C for a time period of at least about 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, 6 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours, 9 hours, 10 hours, 11 hours, or 12 hours, to conduct a first ion exchange, iii) separating the first ion exchange mother solution, iv) adding a new salt solution and repeating ii) and iii) to conduct a second ion exchange, v) washing the wet solid with deionized water to remove or lower the concentration of soluble components, vi) drying the raw product, such as air drying or in an oven, and vii) calcining the raw product
  • powder catalysts prepared according to methods of the present disclosure may need to be formed prior to prepared in predetermined forms (or form factors) prior to use.
  • the forms can be selected from cylinder extrudates, rings, trilobe, and pellets.
  • the sizes of the forms can be determined by reactor size. For example, for a l"-2" internal diameter (ID) reactor, 1.7 mm to 3.0 mm extrudates or equivalent size for other forms can be used. Larger forms can be used for different commercial scales (such as 5 mm forms).
  • ID can be any diameter, including ranging from 2 inches to 10 feet, from 1 foot to 6 feet, and from 3 feet to 4 feet.
  • the diameters of the catalyst can be greater than about 3 mm, greater than about 4 mm, greater than about 5 mm, greater than about 7 mm, greater than about 10 mm, greater than about 15 mm, or greater than about 20 mm.
  • Binding materials can be used for forming the catalysts and improving catalyst particle strength.
  • Various solid materials that are inert towards olefins e.g., ethylene
  • Boehmite alumina, silicate, Bentonite, or kaolin
  • a wide range of catalys binder ratio can be used, such as, from about 95:5 to 30:70, or 90: 10 to 50:50. In some cases, a ratio of 80:20 is used for bench scale and pilot reactor catalyst synthesis.
  • the crush strengths can be in the range of about 1 N/mm to 60 N/mm, 5 N/mm to 30 N/mm, or 7 N/mm to 15 N/mm.
  • Catalysts prepared according to methods of the present disclosure can be tested for the production of various hydrocarbon products, such as gasoline and/or aromatics production. In some cases, such catalysts are tested for the production of both gasoline and aromatics.
  • the long-term test (lifetime test) are also performed to obtain data of catalyst lifetime, catalyst capacity as well as average product composition over the lifetime runs.
  • the results on an initial catalytic activity test at gasoline production conditions is C 2 H 4 conversion greater than about 99%, C 5+ C mole selectivity greater than about 65% (e.g., 65%-70%), and C 5+ C mole yield greater than about 65% (e.g., 65%-70%).
  • the results on an initial catalytic activity at aromatics production conditions is C 2 H 4 conversion greater than about 99%, C 5 + C mole selectivity greater than about 75% (e.g., 75-80%)), C 5+ C mole yield greater than about 75% (e.g., 75-80%>) and aromatics in C 5+ greater than about 90%.
  • Catalyst lifetime performance in one cycle run at aromatics production conditions can be at least about 228 hours, cut at conversion down to 82%, catalyst capacity 143 g-C 2 H 4 converted/g-catalyst with average C 5+ yield around 72% and aromatics yield around 62%.
  • An ETL catalysts can have a porosity that is selected to optimize catalyst performance, including selectivity, lifetime, and product output.
  • the porosity of an ETL catalyst can be between about 4 Angstroms to about 1 micrometer, from 0.01 nm to 500 nm, from 0.1 nm to 100 nm, or from 1 nm to 10 nm as measured by pore symmetry (e.g., nitrogen porosimetry).
  • An ETL catalyst can have a base material with a set of pores that have an average pore size (e.g., diameter) from about 4 Angstroms to 100 nm, or 4 Angstroms to 10 nm, or 4 Angstroms to 10 Angstroms.
  • the catalytic materials may also be employed in any number of forms.
  • the physical form of the catalytic materials may contribute to their performance in various catalytic reactions.
  • the performance of a number of operating parameters for a catalytic reactor that impact its performance can be significantly impacted by the form in which the catalyst is disposed within the reactor.
  • the catalyst may be provided in the form of discrete particles, e.g., pellets, extrudates or other formed aggregate particles, or it may be provided in one or more monolithic forms, e.g., blocks, honeycombs, foils, lattices, etc.
  • These operating parameters include, for example, thermal transfer, flow rate and pressure drop through a reactor bed, catalyst accessibility, catalyst lifetime, aggregate strength, performance, and manageability.
  • the catalyst forms used can have crush strengths that meet the operating parameters of the reactor systems.
  • a catalyst particle crush strength should generally support both the pressure applied to that particle from the operating conditions, e.g., gas inlet pressure, as well as the weight of the catalyst bed.
  • a catalyst particle have a crush strength that is greater than about 1 N/mm 2 , and preferably greater than about 10 N/mm 2 , for example greater than 1 N/mm 2 , and preferably greater than 10 N/mm 2 .
  • Crush strength may be increased through the use of catalyst forms that are more compact, e.g., having lower surface to volume ratios. However, adopting such forms may adversely impact performance.
  • the catalytic materials are in the form of an extrudate or pellet.
  • Extrudates may be prepared by passing a semi-solid composition comprising the catalytic materials through an appropriate orifice or using molding or other appropriate techniques.
  • Pellets may be prepared by pressing a solid composition comprising the catalytic materials under pressure in the die of a tablet press.
  • Other catalytic forms include catalysts supported or impregnated on a support material or structure. In general, any support material or structure may be used to support the active catalyst.
  • the support material or structure may be inert or have catalytic activity in the reaction of interest.
  • catalysts may be supported or impregnated on a monolith support.
  • the active catalyst is actually supported on the walls of the reactor itself, which may serve to minimize oxygen concentration at the inner wall or to promote heat exchange by generating heat of reaction at the reactor wall exclusively (e.g., an annular reactor in this case and higher space velocities).
  • the stability of the catalytic materials is defined as the length of time a catalytic material can maintain its catalytic performance without a significant decrease in performance (e.g., a decrease >20%, >15%, >10%, >5%, or greater than 1% in hydrocarbon or soot combustion activity).
  • the catalytic materials have stability under conditions required for the hydrocarbon combustion reaction of >1 hr, >5 hrs, >10 hrs, >20 hrs, >50 hrs, >80 hrs, >90 hrs, >100 hrs, >150 hrs, >200 hrs, >250 hrs, >300 hrs, >350 hrs, >400 hrs, >450 hrs, >500 hrs, >550 hrs, >600 hrs, >650 hrs, >700 hrs, >750 hrs, >800 hrs, >850 hrs, >900 hrs, >950 hrs, >1,000 hrs, >2,000 hrs, >3,000 hrs, >4,000 hrs, >5,000 hrs, >6,000 hrs, >7,000 hrs, >8,000 hrs, >9,000 hrs, >10,000 hrs, >11,000 hrs, >12,000 hrs, >13,000 hrs, >14,000 hrs, >15,000 hrs, >16,000 hrs, >17,000 hrs, >18,000 hrs, >9,000 hrs, >10,000 hrs, >11,000
  • the ETL catalyst can require a high density of active sites to be effective in some cases. Low active site density can lead to poor catalyst activity or performance.
  • Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a catalyst for converting olefins to liquid hydrocarbons, the catalyst comprising: (a) a zeolite base material; (b) a binder; and (c) a dopant material, where the catalyst has an active site density of at least about 400 micro-moles ( ⁇ ) of active sites per gram (g) of catalyst as measured by ammonia temperature programmed desorption (TPD).
  • TPD is an acid- base titration that can be used to quantify the amount of active sites in a sample of catalyst and is a routinely used procedure in the field of catalysis.
  • the catalyst is capable of converting at least about 99% of olefins to liquid hydrocarbons at an olefin weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of at least about 0.7 at a reaction temperature of about 300 °C.
  • WHSV weight hourly space velocity
  • the active site density of the catalyst is about 350 micro-moles per gram ( ⁇ /g), about 375 ⁇ /g, about 400 ⁇ /g, about 425 ⁇ /g, about 450 ⁇ /g, about 500 ⁇ /g, about 525 ⁇ /g, about 550 ⁇ /g, about 575 ⁇ /g, about 600 ⁇ /g, about 650 ⁇ /g, about 700 ⁇ /g, about 750 ⁇ /g, about 800 ⁇ /g, about 900 ⁇ /g, about 1000 ⁇ /g, about 1200 ⁇ /g, about 1500 ⁇ /g, about 2000 ⁇ /g, or about 5000 ⁇ /g.
  • the active site density of the catalyst is at least about 350 micro-moles per gram ( ⁇ /g), at least about 375 ⁇ /g, at least about 400 ⁇ /g, at least about 425 ⁇ /g, at least about 450 ⁇ /g, at least about 500 ⁇ /g, at least about 525 ⁇ /g, at least about 550 ⁇ /g, at least about 575 ⁇ /g, at least about 600 ⁇ /g, at least about 650 ⁇ /g, at least about 700 ⁇ /g, at least about 750 ⁇ /g, at least about 800 ⁇ /g, at least about 900 ⁇ /g, at least about 1000 ⁇ /g, at least about 1200 ⁇ /g, at least about 1500 ⁇ /g, at least about 2000 ⁇ /g, or at least about 5000 ⁇ /g.
  • Catalysts of the present disclosure can be poisoned during the course of catalytically generating a given product.
  • ETL catalysts for instance, can be poisoned upon generating higher molecular weight hydrocarbons from olefins (e.g., ethylene).
  • olefins e.g., ethylene
  • Alkynes can be oligomerized over ETL catalysts, such as zeolites or acid catalysts.
  • the alkynes can be rapidly transformed into polyaromatic molecules, precursors to coke, which can deactivate the catalyst.
  • the selectivity for acetylene to make coke can deactivate the ETL catalyst at a faster rate than an alkene and the catalyst may need to be taken off line to be regenerated.
  • Any molecule containing an alkyne functional group can deactivate the ETL catalyst at a faster rate than an alkene group.
  • One example is acetylene, an alkyne produced in small quantities within the OCM process.
  • An approach for eliminating alkynes from feedstock to an ETL catalyst is to convert the alkynes to other material that may not poison the ETL catalyst.
  • alkynes can be selectively hydrogenated to make olefins using a variety of transition metal catalysts without hydrogenating the olefins into alkanes.
  • transition metal catalysts examples include Pd, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, and Cu containing catalysts.
  • Such catalysts can be incorporated in or more reactors upstream of ETL catalysts.
  • Dienes can be oligomerized over ETL catalysts, such as zeolites or acid catalysts.
  • dienes can be rapidly transformed into polydienes molecules, precursors to coke, which can deactivate the ETL catalyst.
  • the selectivity for dienes to make coke can rapidly deactivate the ETL catalyst and the catalyst may need to be taken off line to be regenerated.
  • Any molecule containing a diene functional group can rapidly deactivate the ETL catalyst.
  • An example is butadiene, a diene produced in small quantities within the OCM process.
  • An approach for eliminating dienes from feedstock to an ETL catalyst is to convert the dienes to other material that may not poison the ETL catalyst.
  • dienes can be selectively hydrogenated to make olefins using a variety of transition metal catalysts without hydrogenating the olefins into alkanes. Examples of these catalysts are Pd, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, and Cu containing catalysts.
  • Bases can react to neutralize the acid functionality that catalyzes ETL reactions. If enough base reacts with the ETL catalyst, the catalyst may no longer be active toward oligomerization and may need to be regenerated.
  • Bases include nitrogen containing compounds, particularly ammonia, amines, pyridines, pyroles, and other organic nitrogen containing compounds.
  • Metal hydroxide compounds such as lithium, sodium, potassium, cesium hydroxides and group IIA metal hydroxides may deactivate the catalyst as well as carbonates of group IA and IIA metals.
  • Bases can be removed from feedstock to an ETL reactor by, for example, contacting the feedstock stream with water. This can remove or decrease the concentration of bases, such as amines, carbonates, and hydroxides.
  • Sulfur-containing compounds can deactivate ETL catalysts, particularly if the catalysts are doped with transition metal compounds. Sulfur can irreversible bind to the catalyst or metal dopant to deactivate the catalyst toward oligomerization. Organic sulfur compounds such as thiols, disulfides, thiolethers, thiophenes and others mercaptan compounds can be detrimental to the ETL catalyst.
  • Sulfur-containing compounds can be removed from feedstock to an ETL reactor by gas scrubbing, such as, for example, amine gas scrubbing.
  • Amines can react with sulfur compounds (e.g., H 2 S) to remove such compounds from gas streams.
  • Other ways of removing sulfur compounds are by molecular sieves or hydrotreating. Examples of approaches for removing sulfur-containing compounds from a gas stream are provided in Nielsen, Richard B., et al. "Treat LPGs with amines,” Hydrocarbon Process 79 (1997): 49-59, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.
  • Table 1 The impact that certain non-ethylene gases can have on ETL catalysts is summarized in Table 1.
  • a catalyst e.g., ETL catalyst
  • carbon-containing material e.g., petroleum coke
  • the catalyst may need to be changed or regenerated.
  • approaches for regenerating an ETL catalyst such as oxidative regeneration and non-oxidative regeneration.
  • an oxidizing agent e.g., 0 2
  • an oxidizing agent can be directed over the ETL catalyst at elevated temperatures to remove or decrease the concentration of the carbon- containing material deposited on or over the catalyst. This can occur by combusting the carbon- containing material.
  • the catalyst prior to subjecting the catalyst to the oxidizing agent, the catalyst can be purged with and inert gas (e.g., He, Ar or N 2 ) to remove any volatile or residual hydrocarbon product on the catalyst surface. The catalyst can be subsequently exposed to the oxidizing agent.
  • the oxidizing agent is 0 2 that can be provided by air.
  • the process conditions and amount of air (or oxygen) can be predetermined to limit or control the amount of heat and water generated during the combustion process of removing the coke.
  • the amount of 0 2 can be limited to no more than 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, or 5% concentration.
  • Air can be diluted with N 2 or another gas that is inert toward combustion to dilute the concentration to less than or equal to about 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10% or 5%.
  • Process conditions can be selected to keep the increase in temperature of the ETL catalyst less than or equal to about 700°C, 650°C, 600°C, 550°C, or 500°C during the regeneration. This can help prevent catalyst damage during the regeneration process.
  • Oxidative regeneration reactor inlet temperatures can range from about 100°C to 800°C, 150°C to 700°C, or 200°C to 600°C. Inlet gas temperatures can be ramped from low to high temperatures to safely control the regeneration process. During oxidative regeneration, process gas pressures can range from about 1 bar (gauge, or "barg") to 100 barg, 1 barg to 80 barg, or 1 barg to 50 barg.
  • hydrogen (H 2 ) and/or hydrocarbons can be used to regenerate the catalyst bed to improve catalyst activity of the ETL catalyst.
  • Hydrogen or hydrocarbon gases can be directed over the catalyst bed at a temperature from about 100 °C to 800 °C, 150 °C to 600 °C, or 200 °C to 500 °C. This can aid in removing or decreasing the concentration of carbon-containing material from the catalyst.
  • Acetylene can be a poison at low levels.
  • An approach for decreasing the concentration of acetylene is to direct the acetylene to a hydrogenation reactor that hydrogenates the acetylene and butadiene to a mixture of ethylene and ethane as well as butane and/or butene.
  • the acetylene can be hydrogenated, for example, prior to being contacted with the ETL catalyst.
  • the acetylene hydrogenation reaction can be practiced over a palladium-based catalyst, such as those used to convert acetylene to ethylene in conventional steam cracking (e.g., the PRICATTM series including models PD 301/1, PD 308/4, PD 308/6, PD 508/1, PD 408/5, PD 408/7 and PD 608/1, which are commercially available as tablets or spheres supported on alumina).
  • a palladium-based catalyst can include one or more metals, including palladium.
  • the acetylene hydrogenation catalyst is a doped or modified version of a commercially available catalyst.
  • an acetylene hydrogenation catalyst to the OCM process that has been developed or optimized for another process (e.g., steam cracking separations and purification processes) can result in operational issues and/or non-optimized performance.
  • the acetylene conversion reactor can either be located on the front end (prior to cryogenic separations) or back end (after cryogenic
  • the chemical components going into the acetylene reactor can be different than for steam cracking.
  • OCM effluent can include carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
  • Carbon monoxide can be undesirable because it can compete with the acetylene for the active sites on the hydrogenation catalyst and lead to lower activity of the catalyst (e.g., by occupying those active sites).
  • Hydrogen can be desirable because it is needed for the hydrogenation reaction, however that hydrogen is present in the OCM effluent in a certain ratio and adjusting that ratio can be difficult.
  • OCM effluent gas generally refers to the effluent taken directly from an OCM reactor, or having first undergone any number of further unit operations such as changing the temperature, the pressure, or performing separations on the OCM reactor effluent.
  • the OCM effluent gas can have CO, H 2 and butadiene.
  • the catalyst decreases the acetylene concentration below about 100 parts per million (ppm), below about 80 ppm, below about 60 ppm, below about 40 ppm, below about 20 ppm, below about 10 ppm, below about 5 ppm, below about 3 ppm, below about 2 ppm, below about 1 ppm, below about 0.5 ppm, below about 0.3 ppm, below about 0.1 ppm, or below about 0.05 ppm.
  • the concentration of acetylene can be reached in the presence of carbon monoxide (CO).
  • the feed stream entering the acetylene hydrogenation reactor contains at least about 10%, at least about 9%, at least about 8%, at least about 7%, at least about 6%, at least about 5%, at least about 4%, at least about 3%, at least about 2%, or at least about 1% carbon monoxide.
  • the acetylene hydrogenation catalyst can have a lifetime of at least about 6 months, at least about 1 year, at least about 2 years, at least about 3 years, at least about 4 years, at least about 5 years, at least about 6 years, at least about 7 years, at least about 8 years, at least about 9 years, or at least about 10 years.
  • a guard bed in front of the ETL reactor may be used.
  • the guard bed can enable the ETL reactor to preferentially coke out the acetylene.
  • Can guard bed can coke relatively quickly and may need to be placed in a lead-lag configuration so that one bed can be regenerated while the other bed is being operated.
  • the guard bed can contain a catalyst, and in some cases spent ETL catalyst, to perform preferential coking.
  • the inlet temperature of guard bed can be lower than the inlet temperature for ETL, and the space velocity can be higher.
  • two guard beds are placed upstream of four or five parallel ETL reactor beds.
  • the two guard beds are designed in a lead-lag configuration.
  • the inlet temperature of the guard bed is about 40°C, about 60°C, about 80°C, or about 100°C lower than the inlet to the ETL reactors and the space velocity is at least about 5x, at least about lOx, at least about 20x or at least about 50x greater than the space velocity of the ETL reactors.
  • the ETL reactors are on a schedule where each parallel reactor is regenerated and decoked every three weeks. But the guard bed is regenerated and decoked every 36 hours.
  • the lifetime of a catalyst can be increased using activators.
  • Activators can be used with catalysts of the present disclosure, such as ETL catalysts. With the aid of activators of the present disclosure, the lifetime of a catalyst can be increased by at least about 10 hours, 20 hours, 30 hours, 40 hours, 50 hours, 100 hours, 110 hours, 120 hours, 130 hours, 140 hours, 150 hours, 160 hours, 170 hours, 180 hours, 190 hours, 200 hours, 210 hours, 220 hours, 230 hours,
  • Activators of the present disclosure can be used to increase the lifetime of a catalyst by a factor of at least about 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4,
  • Activators can be molecules included in the process flow that contacts the catalyst and/or molecules or elements contained in the catalyst itself (e.g., dopants).
  • Activators can be molecules included in the process flow that contacts the catalyst and/or molecules or elements contained in the catalyst itself (e.g., dopants).
  • Ga- doped ZSM-5 has an increased lifetime (cycle lifetime and/or replacement lifetime) relative to non-doped ZSM-5 (e.g., because the doped catalyst has a lower selectivity for coke formation).
  • the addition of water can enhance ETL catalyst lifetime by suppressing coke formation.
  • Coke formation can be suppressed by water by reacting with coke to form carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
  • water addition can be optimized to have the maximum benefit for reducing coke formation in the reactor.
  • Water can be supplied in a concentration of at least about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%), 25%o, or 30%>. In some situations, the concentration of water in feedstock into an ETL reactor is from 0% to 30%, or 1% to 25%.
  • Hydrogen gas can be directed into an ETL reactor and over an ETL catalyst, which can reduce the concentration of carbon-containing material (e.g., coke) that may be present on the catalyst and prohibit the deposition of carbon-containing material by hydrocracking reactions, for example, by breaking up larger molecules that may be eventually turned into coke and decrease catalyst activity.
  • carbon-containing material e.g., coke
  • the present disclosure provides methods for operating ETL reactors to effect a given or predetermined product distribution or selectivity.
  • the process conditions can be applied across a single or plurality of ETL reactors in series and/or parallel.
  • Hydrocarbon streams into or out of an ETL reactor can include various other non- hydrocarbon material.
  • hydrocarbon streams can include one or more elements leached from an OCM catalyst (e.g., La, Nd, Sr, W) or ETL catalyst (e.g., Ga dopant)
  • OCM catalyst e.g., La, Nd, Sr, W
  • ETL catalyst e.g., Ga dopant
  • Reactor conditions can be selected to provide a given selectivity and product distribution.
  • an ETL reactor can be operated at a temperature greater than or equal to about 300 °C, 350 °C, 400 °C, 410 °C, 420 °C, 430 °C, 440 °C, 450 °C, or 500 °C, and a pressure greater than or equal to about 250 pounds per square inch (PSI) (absolute), 200 PSI, 250 PSI, 300 PSI, 350 PSI or 400 PSI.
  • PSI pounds per square inch
  • an ETL reactor can be operated at a temperature greater than or equal to about 100 °C, 150 °C, 200 °C, 210 °C, 220 °C, 230 °C, 240 °C, 250 °C, or 300 °C, and a pressure greater than or equal to about 350 PSI, 400 PSI, 450 PSI, or 500 PSI.
  • an ETL reactor can be operated at a temperature greater than or equal to about 200 °C, 250 °C, 300 °C, 310 °C, 320 °C, 330 °C, 340 °C, 350 °C, or 400 °C, and a pressure greater than or equal to about 250 PSI, 300 PSI, 350 PSI, or 400 PSI.
  • the operating conditions of an ETL process are substantially determined by one or more of the following parameters: process temperature range, weight-hourly space velocity (mass flow rate of reactant per mass of solid catalyst), partial pressure of a reactant at the reactor inlet, concentration of a reactant at the reactor inlet, and recycle ratio and recycle split.
  • the reactant can be a (light) olefin - e.g., an olefin that has a carbon number in the range C2 - C7, C2-C6, or C2-C5.
  • Temperatures used in a gasoline process can be from about 150 to 600 °C, 220 °C to 520 °C, or 270 °C to 450 °C. Lower temperature can result in insufficient conversion while higher temperatures can result in excessive coking and cracking of product.
  • the WHSV can be between about 0.5 hr "1 and 3 hr "1
  • partial pressures can be between about 0.5 bar
  • concentrations at the reactor inlet can be between about 2% and 30%. Higher concentrations can yield difficult-to-manage temperature excursions, while lower concentrations can make it difficult to achieve sufficiently high partial pressures and separation of the products.
  • a process can achieve longer catalyst lifetime and higher average yields when a portion of the effluent is recycled.
  • the recycle can be determined by a recycle ratio (e.g., volume of recycle gas/volume of make-up feed) and the post-reactor vapor-liquid split which determines the composition of the recycle stream.
  • composition of the recycle stream may be important, which is achieved by post-reactor separation (e.g., typical carbon number/boiling point range that is recycled vs. the carbon number/boiling point ranges that are removed by product and/or secondary process streams.
  • post-reactor separation e.g., typical carbon number/boiling point range that is recycled vs. the carbon number/boiling point ranges that are removed by product and/or secondary process streams.
  • ETL can be performed at reactor operating temperatures from about 150 °C to 500 °C, 180 °C to 400 °C, or 200 °C to 350 °C.
  • the slower kinetics may suggest a lower minimum WHSV of about 0.1 hr "1 .
  • Longer chain lengths may be favored by high partial pressures, so the upper end for jet/distillates may be higher than for gasoline, in some cases as high as about 30 bar (absolute), 20 bar, 15 bar, or 10 bar.
  • More consistent production of aromatics can be achieved at high temperature ranges, such as a temperature up to about 200 °C, 250 °C, 300 °C, 350 °C, 400 °C, 450 °C, or 500 °C.
  • the ethylene/olefin feed can be diluted by an inert gas (e.g., N 2 , Ar, methane, ethane, propane, butane or He).
  • the inert gas can serve to moderate the temperature increase in the reactor bed, and maintain and stabilize contact time.
  • the olefin concentration at the reactor inlet can be less than about 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, or 10%. In some cases, the higher the molar heat capacity of the diluent, the higher the inlet concentration of olefins can be to achieve the same temperature rise.
  • a continuous process for making mixtures of hydrocarbons from (light) olefins by oligomerization comprises feeding olefinic compounds to a reaction zone of an ETL reactor.
  • the reactor zone can contain a heterogeneous catalyst.
  • One or more inert gases can be co-fed to the reactor inlet, making up from about 50% (volume %) to 99%, 60% to 98%, or 70% to 98%) of the feedstock.
  • the mixture can be comprised at least one of the following
  • the process (e.g., ETL reactor) temperature can be between about 150 °C and 600 °C, 180 °C and 550 °C, or 200 °C and 500 °C.
  • the partial pressure of olefins in the feed can be between about 0.1 bar (absolute) to 30 bar, 0.1 bar to 15 bar, or 0.2 bar to 10 bar.
  • the total pressure can be between about 1 bar (absolute) to 100 bar, 5 bar to 50 bar, or 10 bar to 50 bar.
  • the weight hourly space velocity can be between about 0.05 hr "1 to 20 hr "1 , 0.1 hr "1 to 10 hr "1 , or 0.1 hr "1 to 5 hr "1 .
  • An effluent or product stream from an ETL reactor can be characterized by low water content.
  • an ETL product stream can comprise less than 60 wt%, 56 wt%, 55 wt%, 50 wt%, 45 wt%, 40 wt%, 39 wt%, 35 wt%, 30 wt%, 25 wt%, 20 wt%, 15 wt%, 10 wt%, 5 wt%, 3 wt%, or 1 wt% water.
  • the reactor effluent is recycled to the reactor inlet.
  • the volumetric recycle ratio i.e., flow rate of the recycle gas stream divided by flow rate of the make-up gas stream (e.g., fresh feed)
  • the volumetric recycle ratio can be between about 0.1 and 30, 0.3 and 20, or 0.5 and 10.
  • a continuous process for making mixtures of hydrocarbons for use as gasoline can comprise feeding olefinic compounds to a reaction zone of an ETL reactor.
  • the ETL reactor can include a catalyst that is selected for gasoline production, as described elsewhere herein.
  • the process temperature can be between about 200 °C and 600 °C, 250 °C and 500 °C, or 300 °C and
  • the partial pressure of olefins in the feed can be between about 0.1 bar (absolute) to 10 bar, 0.3 bar to 5 bar, or 0.5 bar to 3 bar.
  • the total pressure can be between about 1 bar (absolute) to 100 bar, 5 bar to 50 bar, or 10 bar to 50 bar.
  • the weight hourly space velocity can be between about 0.1 hr "1 to 20 hr "1 , 0.3 hr "1 to 10 hr "1 , or 0.5 hr "1 to 3 hr "1 .
  • the catalyst composition can be selected as described elsewhere herein.
  • the process temperature can be between about 100 °C and 600 °C, 150 °C and 500 °C, or 200 °C and 375 °C.
  • the partial pressure of olefins in the feed can be between about 0.5 bar (absolute) to 30 bar, 1 bar to 20 bar, or 1.5 bar to 10 bar.
  • the total pressure can be between about 1 bar
  • the weight hourly space velocity can be between about 0.05 hr “1 to 20 hr “1 , 0.1 hr “1 to 10 hr “1 , or 0.1 hr “1 to 1 hr “1 .
  • the catalyst composition can be selected as described elsewhere herein.
  • the process temperature can be between about 200 °C and 800 °C, 300 °C and 600 °C, or 400 °C and 500 °C.
  • the partial pressure of olefins in the feed can be between about 0.1 bar (absolute) to 10 bar, 0.3 bar to 5 bar, or 0.5 bar to 3 bar.
  • the total pressure can be between about 1 bar (absolute) to 100 bar, 5 bar to 50 bar, or 10 bar to 50 bar.
  • the weight hourly space velocity can be between about 0.05 hr "1 to 20 hr "1 , 0.1 hr "1 to 10 hr "1 , or 0.2 hr "1 to 1 hr "1 .
  • the ETL process can generate a variety of long-chain hydrocarbons, including normal and isoparaffins, napthenes, aromatics and olefins, which may not be present in the feed to the ETL reactor.
  • the catalyst can deactivate due to the deposition of carbonaceous deposits
  • the product distribution can contain large fractions of aromatics and short-chained alkanes. Later stages can feature increased fractions of olefins. All stages can feature various amounts isoparaffins, n-paraffins, naphthenes, aromatics, and olefins, including olefins other than feed olefins.
  • the change in selectivity with time can be exploited by separating products. For example, the aromatics-rich effluent characteristic of the early stages of a reaction cycle may be readily separated from the effluent of a catalyst bed in a later stage of its cycle. This can result in high selectivities of individual products.
  • FIG. 5 is for a Ga-ZSM-5 catalyst.
  • the ETL process can generate various byproducts, such as carbon-containing byproducts (e.g., coke) and hydrogen.
  • the selectivity for coke can be on the order of at least about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, or 5% over the course of an ETL process.
  • Hydrogen production can vary with time, and the amount of hydrogen generated can be correlated with aromatics production.
  • the time-averaged product of the process can yield a liquid with a composition that meets the specification of reformulated gasoline blendstock for oxygen blending (RBOB).
  • RBOB has at least about an 93 octane rating using the (RON+MON)/2 method, has less than about 1.3 vol% benzene as measured by ASTM D3606, has less than about 50 vol% aromatics as measured by ASTM D5769, has less than about 25 vol% olefins as measured by ASTM D1319 and/or D6550, has less than 80 ppm(wt) sulfur as measured by ASTM D2622, or any combination thereof.
  • Such liquid can be employed for use as fuel or other combustion settings.
  • This liquid can be partially characterized by the content of aromatics.
  • this liquid has an aromatics content from 10% to 80%, 20% to 70%, or 30% to 60%, and an olefins content from 1% to 60%, 5% to 40%, or 10% to 30%.
  • Gasoline can comprise about 60% to 95%, 70% to 90%, or 80-90%) of such liquid, with the remainder in some cases being an alcohol, such as ethanol.
  • an ETL process is used to generate a mixture of hydrocarbons from light olefin compounds (e.g., ethylene).
  • the mixture can be liquid at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.
  • the process can be used to form a mixture of hydrocarbons having a hydrocarbon content that can be tailored for various uses. For example, mixtures typically characterized as gasoline or distillate (e.g., kerosene, diesel) blend stock, or aromatic
  • compounds can contribute at least 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, or 70% by weight to the final fuel product.
  • the product selectivity of the ETL process can change with time. With such changes in selectivity, the product can include varying distributions of hydrocarbons. Separations units can be used to generate a product distribution which can be suitable for given end uses, such as gasoline.
  • Products of ETL processes of the present disclosure can include other elements or compounds that may be leached from reactors or catalysts of the system (e.g., OCM and/or ETL reactors).
  • OCM catalysts and the elements comprising the catalyst that can be leached into the product can be found in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/689,611 or U.S.
  • Such elements can include transition metals and lanthanides. Examples include, but are not limited to Mg, La, Nd, Sr, W, Ga, Al, Ni, Co, Ga, Zn, In, B, Ag, Pd, Pt, Be, Ca, and Sr.
  • the concentration of such elements or compounds can be at least about 0.01 parts per billion
  • ppb 0.05 ppb, 0.1 ppb, 0.2 ppb, 0.3 ppb, 0.4 ppb, 0.5 ppb, 0.6 ppb, 0.7 ppb, 0.8 ppb, 0.9 ppb, 1 ppb, 5 ppb, 10 ppb, 50 ppb, 100 ppb, 500 ppb, 1 part per million (ppm), 5 ppm, 10 ppm, or 50 ppm as measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS).
  • ICPMS inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
  • the composition of ETL products from a system can be consistent over several cycles of catalyst use and regeneration.
  • a reactor system can be used and regenerated for at least about 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 cycles.
  • the composition of the ETL product stream can differ from the composition of the first cycle ETL product stream by no more than about 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7%, 0.8%, 0.9%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, or 20%.
  • the present disclosure provides various approaches for designing an ETL process.
  • a range of hydrocarbons can be formed, including C 2 H 6 and CH 4 , as well as H 2 .
  • the shorter chain hydrocarbons (e.g., C1-C4) and hydrogen in the product stream can be separated from the C 5+ liquid fraction.
  • a fraction of the process stream containing these lighter molecular weight products can be combined, or recycled, with incoming C 2 H 4 feed stream, as shown in the process 600 of FIG. 6.
  • product stream 605 can be separated, for instance by a condenser/phase separator 606.
  • the gas stream 608 from the condenser/phase separator can be partially recovered 609 and partially recycled 610 back into the reactor 604 for further contacting with the catalyst.
  • the OCM reactor effluent 601 which can have been treated and/or compressed, is then routed to the treatment unit 602 which may comprise of a water removal unit, or any other purification unit.
  • the treated ETL feed 603 reacts in the ETL reactor 604 to generate net liquid product 607 from the condenser and phase separator unit.
  • the condenser and phase separator unit also sends a recycle 608 back to the ETL reactor inlet.
  • Recycling can have various benefits, such as: 1) further reaction of shorter chain hydrocarbon products to form higher molecular weight products, 2) increasing catalyst lifetime, and 3) diluting the C 2 H 4 feed stream to control the reactor process conditions of reactant concentration and adiabatic temperature rise.
  • the conversion of a reactor inlet stream containing recycle can have a higher yield of liquids production (C 5+ ), particularly C 5+ condensable at a temperature of around 0°C, than that of a reactor inlet stream without recycle products (see FIGs. 7 and 8).
  • the use of recycle can also increase catalyst lifetime, as measured by time-on-stream and grams C 2 H 4 converted per grams of catalyst. Recycle ratios and g liquid condensed at about 0°C are shown in Table 2.
  • FIG. 7A shows liquid phase mass balance for C 2 H 4 conversion by using single pass reactor.
  • FIG. 7B shows liquid phase mass balance for C 2 H 4 conversion by using a reactor with
  • the reactors are operated at a pressure of about 30 bar, a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of about 0.7 h "1 , and an inlet temperature of about 350 °C.
  • the amounts of various hydrocarbons produced ranges from 0% to 100% for various ethylene conversions with paraffins 700, isoparaffins 705, olefins 710, napthenes 715, aromatics 720 and C u+ compounds 725 being shown.
  • FIG. 8 is a plot showing increasing C 5+ yield (liquid condensed at about 0°C) with increasing recycle.
  • Table 2 Reactor conditions characterized by product stream data shown in FIG. 8, including recycle ratios, process inlet C 2 H 4 mol%, reactor inlet C 2 H 4 mol% and grams of liquid condensed per grams of C 2 H 4 fed.
  • an inlet feed stream that is diluted with recycle product stream allows for a smaller adiabatic temperature rise in the reactor and reduced C 2 H 4 concentration into the reactor.
  • a lower adiabatic temperature rise, and therefore peak reactor temperature can alter the effluent product stream composition.
  • Higher peak reactor temperatures, for instance, can increase the yield and selectivity of aromatic products.
  • Different amounts of ethylene in an ETL product stream can be recycled. In some cases, at least about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 25%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% of ethylene in an ETL product stream is recycled. In some cases, at most about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 25%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% of ethylene in an ETL product stream is recycled.
  • An ETL process can be characterized by a single pass conversion or single pass conversion of C 2+ compounds to C 3+ compounds of at least 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.9%, or 99.99%.
  • the feedstock to an ETL reactor can have an effect on the product distribution out of the ETL reactor.
  • the product distribution can be related to the concentration of olefins into the ETL reactor, such as ethylene, propylene, butene(s) and pentene(s).
  • the feedstock concentration can impact ETL catalyst efficiency.
  • a feedstock having an olefin concentration that is greater than or equal to about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, or 40% can be efficient at generating higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. In some cases, the optimum olefin concentration can be less than about 80%, 85%, 75%, 70% or 60%.
  • the ETL feedstock can be characterized based on the ethylene to ethane molar ratio of the feedstock, which can be at least about 2: 1, 3 : 1, 4: 1, 5: 1, 6: 1, 7: 1, or 8: 1.
  • C 2+ compounds and non-C 2+ impurities can have an impact on ETL selectivity and/or product distribution.
  • C 2+ compounds and non-C 2+ impurities e.g., CO, C0 2 , H 2 0 and H 2
  • acetylene and/or dienes in a feedstock to an ETL reactor can have a significant impact on ETL selectivity and/or product distribution, since acetylene may be a deactivator and coke accelerator.
  • Separations for ETL processes of the present disclosure can be carried out in three places within the ETL scheme: before the ETL reactor, within the ETL reactor and downstream of the ETL reactor. In each of these three places, different separations technologies can be employed.
  • Flash separation can remove most of the light fractions of the hydrocarbon liquid product. This can affect product qualities like Reid Vapor
  • ETL separation can be implemented upstream of an ETL reactor.
  • Membranes used in conjunction with the ETL process can be used on the process feedstock to enrich components prior to directing the feedstock to the ETL reactor.
  • Ethylene may be a component that can be enriched.
  • Other components of the feedstock may also be enriched, such as H 2 and/or C0 2 . In some cases, CO may be rejected.
  • CO in the feedstock may be a catalyst poison. CO can be removed prior to directing the feedstock to the ETL reactor. Hydrogen may be an advantageous species to have in the feedstock because it can reduce coking rates, thus lengthening on-stream time between de- coke cycles.
  • a membrane separation unit upstream of an ETL reactor may be employed.
  • the membrane unit can remove at least about 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% or 60% of one component, or increase the amount of ethylene from at least about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% or 5% to at least about 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, or 40%.
  • ethylene can be enriched using a membrane that has a certain chemical affinity to ethylene.
  • cobalt can be used within the membranes to chemically pull oxygen through the membranes.
  • Chemically-modified membranes can be used to effect such separation.
  • PSA pressure swing adsorption
  • the PSA unit can include at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 vessels that contain an adsorbent.
  • This adsorbent may be a combination of zeolites, molecular sieves or activated carbon, for example.
  • Each vessel can contain one or more adsorbents co-mixed or layered within the vessel.
  • FIG. 9 An example of a PSA unit is shown in FIG. 9.
  • the system shown in FIG. 9 is an activated carbon based system 900 to separate oxygen from nitrogen.
  • the system comprises carbon molecular sieves 901 which receive gas streams 902 to be treated. Part of the gas streams can be released as off gas 903. Treated gas 904 can comprise produced nitrogen.
  • the activated carbon system can comprise carbon particles 905, which can interact with N 2 molecules 906 and 0 2 molecules 907. The carbon particles can have sizes for example from about 1 to about 20 micrometers, with a pore size from about 0.4 nanometers to about 25 nanometers.
  • the PSA units can operate at ETL reactor pressures (e.g., 5-50 bar) and blow down to atmospheric pressure.
  • ETL reactor pressures e.g., 5-50 bar
  • Activated carbon, 3 A, 4A, 5A molecular sieves and zeolites can be used in these beds.
  • the vessels can be operated such that the wanted gases (e.g., ethylene) pass through the beds at high pressure, and unwanted gases (e.g., CO, C0 2 or methane) are blown down out of the bed at low pressure.
  • the specific choice of sorbent can determine the species that passes through at high pressure or is exhausted at low pressure.
  • a PSA can use layered sorbents, such as to effect methane and nitrogen separation. Such layering within the bed allows methane to be the blow down gas, rather than nitrogen.
  • PSA technology can also be used in other situations. Multiple beds can be used in series to further enrich the wanted process gases. PSA units with at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, or 30 vessels may be employed. The PSA can be operated at high frequencies, which can further promote better separation.
  • TSA temperature swing adsorption
  • the present disclosure also provides in-reactor separations (product augmentation) approaches. Some of the separations goals can be achieved within the catalyst bed, or within the reactor vessel itself, using reactive separations, for example. In reactive separation, a first molecule can be reacted to form a larger or smaller molecule that may be separated from a given stream.
  • gas phase ethylene can be condensed to a liquid via reaction.
  • This augmentation can take two forms within the catalyst bed: it can augment the product to bring it to within a given specification, or it can augment the product to remove downstream equipment.
  • a hydrogenation catalyst can be co-mixed or layered within the bed, or as a second bed within a reactor vessel. This catalyst can utilize the available hydrogen to decrease the olefin content of the final product. Since fungible gasoline (and many other products) can have an olefin specification to prevent gumming, this in situ separation can remove a large amount of olefin content from the resulting liquid, bringing it to within a given specification.
  • a co-mixed bed with multiple types of different zeolite can affect the overall product composition.
  • a low-aromatic producing catalyst can be added in an 80%/20% mixture to a typical ETL catalyst.
  • the resulting product stream can be lower in aromatics, and can bring an off-spec product to within a given specification.
  • a downstream (in vessel) isomerization bed can be used to remove unwanted isomers, like durene.
  • Hydrocarbon compounds of any appropriate carbon number such as hydrocarbon compounds with four or more carbon atoms (C 4+ compounds), can be isomerized. If a downstream unit is necessary to isomerize components like durene, or remove components, such as high boiling point components, an in-bed reactor approach can be employed.
  • a mixture of zeolites that have been augmented via a process may also provide for a desirable separation. Such mixture can be used to provide for product
  • downstream separations equipment for an ETL process can be similar to equipment employed for use in refineries.
  • downstream unit operations can include flash separation, isomerization, hydrogenation and distillation, which can aid in bringing the final product to within a given specification.
  • Isomerization equipment can convert unwanted iso-durene into a more volatile form.
  • Hydrogenation equipment can reduce the amount of olefins/aromatics in the final product.
  • Distillation can separate material on the basis of boiling point. These units can be readily used to create a product having a product distribution as desired.
  • Isomerization equipment can be used to upgrade the octane rating of a hydrocarbon product composition.
  • n-hexane can be isomerized to i-hexane.
  • N-pentane (62 octane) can be isomerized to 2-methyl-butane (93 octane).
  • Hexane (25 octane) can be isomerized to 2-methyl-pentane (73 octane).
  • Alkylation and dimerization units can upgrade lighter fractions, such as butanes, into more valuable, higher octane products. If the ETL reactor produces a large amount of butenes compared to butanes, then dimerization can be used to convert the butene into
  • a catalytic reformer unit can upgrade light naphtha fraction to a reformate. This unit works by combining molecules and producing hydrogen. If well-placed, the hydrogen produced in this unit can be utilized in a downstream unit.
  • vacuum distillation can be employed to further refine the hydrocarbon product outputted by the ETL reactor. If such products are valuable as lubricants, oils and waxes, then the extra step to vacuum distill these products can be advantageous. In some cases, the amount of heavy components produced in the ETL reactor is less than 20%, 15%, 10%, 5% or 1%, but the value generated out of those products can be substantial.
  • Another approach for separating hydrocarbons is cryogenic separation. Such separation can be used to capture C4 and C 5+ compounds from an ETL reactor effluent product stream.
  • a cryogenic separation unit can include a cold box that may not use traditional deep cryogenic temperatures and may not require traditional unit operations of demethanizer and deethanizer.
  • Such cryogenic separation unit may not produce high purity methane, ethane, or propane products. However, it may produce a mixed (in some cases primarily methane) stream with impurity ethane, propane, other light hydrocarbons and inert gases that are acceptable for use in other settings, such as reinjection to pipeline gas, as residue gas, or used to meet fuel requirements for power plants or feedstocks for syngas plants for the production of methanol or ammonia.
  • a cryogenic separation unit can operate at a temperature from about - 100°C to -20°C, -90°C to -40°C, or -80°C to -50°C.
  • Such temperatures can be obtained through methods that use the turboexpansion of high pressure pipeline natural gas or turboexpansion of moderate pressure high methane content feedstock gas, which may be typical of OCM reactor inlet requirements where additional cooling may be accomplished using traditional process plant refrigeration loops, including propane refrigeration or other mixed refrigerants.
  • gas is expanded and/or additional refrigeration cooled and fed to a cryogenic cold box unit, where heat is exchanged with multiple downstream product streams. It can then be fed to an OCM reaction and heat recovery section. Pressure can be increased through multiple process gas compressors, then heated for ETL and then ETL reaction section. Unrefrigerated liquids recovery can be accomplished using air and cooling water utilities before the product gas enters the cryogenic cold box unit, where it is cooled, pressure reduced for cooling effects, and additional condensed liquids removed via a liquid-liquid separator.
  • Separated liquids can reenter the cryogenic cold box unit, where they are heat exchanged prior to being fed to a depropanizer unit which removes impurity propane and other light compounds from final C 4+ product.
  • Separated gas from the liquid-liquid separator also renter the cryogenic cold box unit where they are heat exchanged prior to being mixed with depropanizer overhead product gas and then fed to residue gas compressors based on final residue gas users.
  • the depropanizer reflux condensation is also provided by sending this gas stream through the cryogenic cold box unit.
  • a debutanizer column can be installed with bottoms product from depropanizer as feed. Its use can be to provide RVP control of final C 4+ product. In some cases, RVP control may be precluded, other purifications or chemical conversions may be employed.
  • Olefin-to-liquids (e.g., ETL) processes of the present disclosure can be performed using feedstocks comprising one or more olefins, such as pure ethylene or diluted ethylene.
  • Ethylene can be mixed with non-hydrocarbon molecules or other hydrocarbons, including olefins, paraffins, naphthenes, and aromatics.
  • an ETL catalyst such as a zeolite catalyst bed at temperatures of at least about 150°C, 200°C, 250°C, or 300°C
  • the reactants can oligomerize to form a combination of longer chain isomers of olefins and paraffins, naphthenes, and aromatics.
  • the product slate can include hydrocarbons with carbon numbers between 1 and 19 (i.e., Ci - C19).
  • the concentration of ethylene (or other olefin(s)) can be changed by adjusting the partial pressure of ethylene (or other olefin(s)) at constant total pressure by dilution with an inert gas, such as nitrogen or methane, or by adding an inert gas to increase the total pressure while keeping the partial pressure of ethylene constant.
  • an inert gas such as nitrogen or methane
  • a change in concentration due to changes in the total pressure may not lead to significant variations in the process unless the system is operated in an adiabatic mode, in which temperature spikes introduce additional variability.
  • a change in concentration via adjustments in the partial pressure of ethylene can prompt increases in liquid content and reduction of olefins at the benefit of paraffins and aromatics.
  • the changes observed in product slate and liquid formation can depend on the temperature regime and the class of molecules formed in that regime (e.g., isoparaffins and aromatics at temperatures below or above about 400 °C, respectively).
  • increasing the concentration of ethylene from 5% to 15% at a constant total pressure of 1 bar and a WHSV of 1 g ethyl ene/g catalyst / hour can result in a change from 15% to 45 % liquids at 300 °C.
  • the concentration of ethylene may result in a change in the liquid and product slate, which is coupled to the variations in temperature zones across the reactor bed.
  • the rate of heat transfer from a differential volume unit of the reactor bed is a function of the heat capacity of the catalyst and gaseous molecules in the stream - in particular the inert species.
  • decreasing the concentration of ethylene helps increase the heat dissipation and the temperature in the volume unit.
  • the concentration of ethylene is increased, the temperature in the bed can increase and the content of aromatics and net liquids can also increase at the expense of paraffins, isoparaffins, olefins, and naphthenes.
  • the temperature reaches at least about 300 °C, 350 °C, 400 °C or 450 °C, the net amount of liquid can decrease as cracking of the liquid molecules becomes more prevalent.
  • the addition of other hydrocarbons from a recycle, refinery or midstream operation combined with the ethylene feedstock may have a positive effect on the formation of liquids.
  • the ETL process is an oligomerization reaction, in which hydrocarbons are combined to form longer chain hydrocarbons.
  • introducing hydrocarbons with C 3+ olefin chain length in addition to the C 2 ethylene promotes the formation of liquid.
  • the reaction conditions or inherent nature of the catalyst itself precludes cracking ( ⁇ -scission) of the hydrocarbon
  • the addition of longer chain hydrocarbons in the feed may yield an oligomerized product that is the sum of the two molecules.
  • Gas molecules that can be co-fed with ethylene can come from a recycle stream, natural gas liquids, midstream operations, or refinery effluents comprising ethane, propylene, propane, butene isomers, and butane isomers, and other C 4+ olefins.
  • the general product slate can be more or less unchanged by introducing propylene, isobutene, and trans-2 -butene (with similar expectations for other butene isomers).
  • substitution of a longer chain hydrocarbon for a shorter chain hydrocarbon e.g., propylene replacing ethylene
  • Additional paraffins can influence may impact an ETL reaction and product distribution.
  • the introduction of n-paraffins may yield an increase in isoparaffin content due to isomerization of the molecules on the acid zeolite catalyst.
  • the impact of introduced paraffins may mirror the behavior observed by adding olefins.
  • Co-feeding C 5+ hydrocarbons with ethylene may also improve the liquid conversion performance of the ETL process due to the nature of the oligomerization process.
  • methane (CH 4 ) reacts with an oxidizing agent over a catalyst bed to generate C 2+ compounds.
  • methane can react with oxygen over a suitable catalyst to generate ethylene, e.g., 2 CH 4 + 0 2 ⁇ C 2 H 4 + 2 H 2 0 (See, e.g., Zhang, Q., Journal of Natural Gas Chem., 12:81, 2003; Olah, G. "Hydrocarbon Chemistry", Ed. 2, John Wiley & Sons (2003)).
  • Experimental evidence suggests that free radical chemistry is involved.
  • catalysts have shown activity for OCM, including various forms of iron oxide, V 2 0 5 , Mo0 3 , Co 3 0 4 , Pt-Rh, Li/Zr0 2 , Ag-Au, Au/Co 3 0 4 , Co/Mn, Ce0 2 , MgO, La 2 0 3 , Mn 3 0 4 , Na 2 W0 4 , MnO, ZnO, and combinations thereof, on various supports.
  • a number of doping elements have also proven to be useful in combination with the above catalysts.
  • An OCM reactor can include a catalyst that facilitates an OCM process.
  • the catalyst may include a compound including at least one of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, and a rare-earth metal.
  • the catalyst may be in the form of a honeycomb, packed bed, or fluidized bed.
  • at least a portion of the OCM catalyst in at least a portion of the OCM reactor can include one or more OCM catalysts and/or nanostructure- based OCM catalyst compositions, forms and formulations described in, for example, U.S.
  • the selectivity of the catalyst in converting methane to desirable C 2+ compounds can be about 10% or greater; about 20% or greater; about 30% or greater; about 40% or greater; about 50% or greater; about 60% or greater; about 65% or greater; about 70% or greater; about 75% or greater; about 80% or greater; or about 90%) or greater.
  • An OCM reactor can be sized, shaped, configured, and/or selected based upon the need to dissipate the heat generated by the OCM reaction.
  • multiple, tubular, fixed bed reactors can be arranged in parallel to facilitate heat removal.
  • At least a portion of the heat generated within the OCM reactor can be recovered, for example the heat can be used to generate high temperature and/or pressure steam.
  • At least a portion of the heat generated within the OCM reactor may be transferred, for example, using a heat transfer fluid, to the co-located processes.
  • the heat can be released to the
  • the methane feedstock for an OCM reactor can be provided from various sources, such as non-OCM processes.
  • methane is provided through natural gas, such as methane generated in a natural gas liquids (NGL) system.
  • NNL natural gas liquids
  • Methane can be combined with a recycle stream from downstream separation units prior to or during introduction into an OCM reactor.
  • methane can catalytically react with an oxidizing agent to yield C 2+ compounds.
  • the oxidizing agent can be oxygen (0 2 ), which may be provided by way of air or enriched air.
  • Oxygen can be extracted from air, for example, in a cryogenic air separation unit.
  • the methane and oxygen containing gases generally need to be brought up to appropriate reaction temperatures, e.g., typically in excess of 450 °C for preferred catalytic OCM processes, before being introduced to the catalyst, in order to allow initiation of the OCM reaction. Once that reaction begins or "lights off,” then the heat of the reaction is typically sufficient to maintain the reactor temperature at appropriate levels. Additionally, these processes may operate at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, such as in the range of about 1 to 30 bars (absolute).
  • the oxidizing agent and/or methane are pre-conditioned prior to, or during, the OCM process.
  • the reactant gases can be pre-conditioned prior to their introduction into a catalytic reactor or reactor bed, in a safe and efficient manner.
  • Such pre-conditioning can include (i) mixing of reactant streams, such as a methane-containing stream and a stream of an oxidizing agent (e.g., oxygen) in an OCM reactor or prior to directing the streams to the OCM reactor, (ii) heating or pre-heating the methane-containing stream and/or the stream of the oxidizing agent using, for example, heat from the OCM reactor, or (iii) a combination of mixing and pre-heating.
  • reactant streams such as a methane-containing stream and a stream of an oxidizing agent (e.g., oxygen) in an OCM reactor or prior to directing the streams to the OCM reactor
  • pre-conditioning can minimize, if not eliminate auto-ignition of methane and the oxidizing agent.
  • Systems and methods for pre-conditioning reactant gases are described in, for example, U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14/553,795, filed November 25, 2014, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.
  • the C 2+ compounds can include a variety of hydrocarbons, such as hydrocarbons with saturated or unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds.
  • Saturated hydrocarbons can include alkanes, such as ethane, propane, butane, pentane and hexane.
  • Unsaturated hydrocarbons may be more suitable for use in downstream non-OCM processes, such as the manufacture of polymeric materials (e.g., polyethylene).
  • alkanes in the C 2+ compounds may be converted to compounds with unsaturated moieties, such as alkenes, alkynes, alkoxides, ketones, including aromatic variants thereof.
  • C 2+ compounds can be subjected to further processing to generate desired or otherwise predetermined chemicals.
  • the alkane components of the C 2+ compounds are subj ected to cracking in an OCM reactor or a reactor downstream of the OCM reactor to yield other compounds, such as alkenes (or olefins). See, e.g., U. S. Patent Application Serial No. 14/553,795, filed November 25, 2014, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.
  • an OCM system generates ethylene that can be subjected to further processing to generate different hydrocarbons with the aid of conversion processes (or systems).
  • a process can be part of an ethylene to liquids (ETL) or ethylene, propene, butene gases to liquids.
  • the ETL process includes OCM olefins gases, ethylene, propene, butene, or other OCM gaseous products to produce liquids.
  • OCM-ETL process flow comprising one or more OCM reactors, separations units, and one or more conversion processes for generating higher molecular weight hydrocarbons.
  • the conversion processes can be integrated in a switchable or selectable manner in which at least a portion or all of the ethylene containing product can be selectively directed to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more different process paths to yield as many different hydrocarbon products.
  • An example OCM and ETL (collectively "OCM-ETL" herein) process is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, which shows an OCM reactor system 100 that includes an OCM reactor train 102 coupled to an OCM product gas separation train 104.
  • the OCM product gas separation train 104 can include various separation unit operations ("units"), such as a distillation unit and/or a cryogenic separation unit.
  • the ethylene rich effluent (shown as arrow 106) from the separation train 104 is routed to multiple different ethylene conversion reactor systems and processes 1 10, e.g., ethylene conversion systems l lOa-HOe, which each produce different hydrocarbon products, e.g., products 120a-120e.
  • Products 120a-120e can include, for example, hydrocarbons having between three and twelve carbon atoms per molecule (C3-C 12 hydrocarbons). Such hydrocarbons may be suitable for use as fuels for various machines, such as automobiles.
  • the fluid connection between the OCM reactor system 100 and each of the different ethylene conversion systems 1 lOa-1 lOe can be controllable and selective, e.g., with the aid of a valve and control system, which can apportion the output of the OCM reactor system 100 to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more different ethylene conversion systems.
  • the conversions systems 1 10a- 1 lOe can be ETL or gas to liquids (GTL) reactors.
  • Valve and piping systems for accomplishing this may take a variety of different forms, including valves at each piping junction, multiport valves, multi-valve manifold assemblies, and the like.
  • Other details of the OCM-ETL process of FIG. 1 are provided in, for example, U.S. Patent Application No.
  • the present disclosure includes processes and systems for production of various higher hydrocarbons (e.g., C 3+ ) from ethylene, and particularly liquid hydrocarbon compositions.
  • the ethylene is itself derived from methane in a methane containing feedstock, such as natural gas. Production of ethylene from methane can be accomplished through a number of different catalytic pathways, for example in some embodiments, the processes and systems of the disclosure convert methane to ethylene through OCM in an OCM reactor system.
  • the ethylene produced in the OCM reactor system is charged to one or more ethylene conversion reactor systems where it can be converted to a higher hydrocarbon, for example a different higher hydrocarbon in each of the ethylene conversion reactor systems.
  • OCM reactions, processes and systems can operate within economic and reasonable process windows.
  • catalysts, processes and reactor systems have been able to carry out OCM reactions at temperatures, pressures, selectivities and yields that are
  • an OCM process or system typically employs one or more reactor vessels that contain an appropriate OCM catalyst material, typically in conjunction with additional system components.
  • OCM catalysts have been described previously. See, e.g., U.S. Patent Nos. 5,712,217, 6,403,523, and 6,576,803, the full disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
  • Some catalysts have been developed that yield conversion and selectivity that enable economic methane conversion under practical operating conditions. These are described in, for example, Published U.S. Patent Application No. 2012-0041246, as well as Patent Application Nos. 13/479,767, filed May 24, 2012, and 13/689,611, filed November 29, 2012, the full disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
  • the disclosure provides a method of producing a hydrocarbon product, the method comprising: (a) introducing methane and a source of oxidant into an OCM reactor system capable of converting methane to ethylene at reactor inlet temperatures of between about 450 °C and 600 °C and reactor pressures of between about 15 psig and 225 psig, with C 2+ selectivity of at least 50%, under conditions for the conversion of methane to ethylene; (b) converting methane to a product gas comprising ethylene; (c) introducing at least a portion of the product gas into an integrated ethylene conversion reaction systems, the integrated ethylene conversion reaction system being configured for converting ethylene into a higher hydrocarbon product; and (d) converting the ethylene into a higher hydrocarbon product.
  • the method is for producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products.
  • the disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products, the method comprising: (a) introducing methane and a source of oxidant into an OCM reactor system capable of converting methane to ethylene at reactor inlet temperatures of between about 450 °C and 600 °C and reactor pressures of between about 15 psig and 225 psig, with C 2+ selectivity of at least 50%, under conditions for the conversion of methane to ethylene; (b) converting methane to a product gas comprising ethylene; (c) introducing separate portions of the product gas into at least first and second integrated ethylene conversion reaction systems, each integrated ethylene conversion reaction system being configured for converting ethylene into a different higher hydrocarbon product; and (d) converting the ethylene into different higher hydrocarbon products.
  • the integrated ethylene conversion systems are selected from selective and full range ethylene conversion systems.
  • the methods further comprise introducing a portion of the product gas into at least a third integrated ethylene conversion system. Some embodiments further comprise introducing a portion of the product gas into at least first, second, third and fourth integrated ethylene conversion systems.
  • the integrated ethylene conversion systems can be selected from linear alpha olefin (LAO) systems, linear olefin systems, branched olefin systems, saturated linear hydrocarbon systems, branched hydrocarbon systems, saturated cyclic hydrocarbon systems, olefinic cyclic hydrocarbon systems, aromatic hydrocarbon systems, oxygenated hydrocarbon systems, halogenated hydrocarbon systems, alkylated aromatic systems, and hydrocarbon polymer systems.
  • LAO linear alpha olefin
  • linear olefin systems linear olefin systems
  • branched olefin systems saturated linear hydrocarbon systems
  • branched hydrocarbon systems saturated cyclic hydrocarbon systems
  • olefinic cyclic hydrocarbon systems aromatic hydrocarbon systems
  • oxygenated hydrocarbon systems oxygenated hydrocarbon systems
  • halogenated hydrocarbon systems alkylated aromatic systems
  • hydrocarbon polymer systems hydrocarbon polymer systems
  • the integrated ethylene conversion systems can be selected from LAO systems that produce one or more of 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene and 1-decene.
  • LAO systems that produce one or more of 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene and 1-decene.
  • at least one of the LAO systems is configured for performing a selective LAO process.
  • At least one of the integrated ethylene conversion systems comprises a full range ethylene oligomerization system configured for producing higher hydrocarbons in the range of C 4 to C 30 .
  • the OCM reactor system comprises nanowire OCM catalyst material.
  • the product gas comprises less than 5 mol% of ethylene.
  • the product gas comprises less than 3 mol % of ethylene.
  • the product gas can further comprise one or more gases selected from C0 2 , CO, H 2 , H 2 0, C 2 H6, CH 4 and C 3+ hydrocarbons.
  • the method further comprises enriching the product gas for ethylene prior to introducing the separate portions of the product gas into the at least first and second integrated ethylene conversion reaction systems.
  • the method further comprises introducing an effluent gas from the first or second integrated ethylene conversion reaction systems into the OCM reactor system.
  • the method further comprises converting methane present in the effluent gas to ethylene and charging the ethylene to one or more of the integrated ethylene conversion systems.
  • the disclosure is directed to a method of producing a plurality of hydrocarbon products, the method comprising: (a) introducing methane and a source of oxidant into an OCM reactor system capable of converting methane to ethylene at reactor inlet temperatures of between about 450 °C and 600 °C and reactor pressures of between about 15 psig and 225 psig, with C 2+ selectivity of at least 50%, under conditions for the conversion of methane to ethylene; (b) recovering ethylene from the OCM reactor system; and (c) introducing separate portions of the ethylene recovered from the OCM reactor system into at least two integrated, but discrete and different catalytic ethylene conversion reaction systems for converting ethylene into at least two different higher hydrocarbon products.
  • the at least two ethylene conversion systems are selected from selective and full range ethylene conversion systems.
  • the at least two ethylene conversion systems comprise at least three ethylene conversion systems.
  • the at least two ethylene conversion systems comprise at least four ethylene conversion systems.
  • the at least two ethylene conversion systems are selected from linear alpha olefin (LAO) systems, linear olefin systems, branched olefin systems, saturated linear hydrocarbon systems, branched hydrocarbon systems, saturated cyclic hydrocarbon systems, olefinic cyclic hydrocarbon systems, aromatic hydrocarbon systems, oxygenated hydrocarbon systems, halogenated hydrocarbon systems, alkylated aromatic systems, and hydrocarbon polymer systems.
  • LAO linear alpha olefin
  • the at least two ethylene conversion systems are selected from LAO systems that produce one or more of 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene and 1-decene.
  • at least one of the at least two LAO processes comprises a selective LAO process
  • at least one of the at least two ethylene conversion systems comprises a full range ethylene oligomerization system for producing higher
  • the OCM reactor system comprises nanowire OCM catalyst material.
  • the disclosure provides a method of producing a plurality of liquid hydrocarbon products, comprising: (a) converting methane to a product gas comprising ethylene using a catalytic reactor process; and (b) contacting separate portions of the product gas with at least two discrete catalytic reaction systems selected from linear alpha olefin (LAO) systems, linear olefin systems, branched olefin systems, saturated linear hydrocarbon systems, branched hydrocarbon systems, saturated cyclic hydrocarbon systems, olefinic cyclic hydrocarbon systems, aromatic hydrocarbon systems, oxygenated hydrocarbon systems, halogenated hydrocarbon systems, alkylated aromatic systems, and hydrocarbon polymer systems.
  • LAO linear alpha olefin
  • a method of producing a plurality of liquid hydrocarbon products comprises: (a) converting methane to ethylene using a catalytic reactor process; (b) recovering ethylene from the catalytic reactor process; and (c) contacting separate portions of the ethylene recovered from the OCM reactor system with at least two discrete catalytic reaction systems selected from linear alpha olefin (LAO) systems, linear olefin systems, branched olefin systems, saturated linear hydrocarbon systems, branched hydrocarbon systems, saturated cyclic hydrocarbon systems, olefinic cyclic hydrocarbon systems, aromatic
  • LAO linear alpha olefin
  • hydrocarbon systems oxygenated hydrocarbon systems, halogenated hydrocarbon systems, alkylated aromatic systems, and hydrocarbon polymer systems.
  • Some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a processing system for preparation of C 2+ hydrocarbon products from methane.
  • the disclosure provides a processing system comprising: (a) an OCM reactor system comprising an OCM catalyst, the OCM reactor system being fluidly connected at an input, to a source of methane and a source of oxidant; (b) an integrated ethylene conversion reactor system, the ethylene reactor system being configured to convert ethylene to a higher hydrocarbon; and (c) a selective coupling between the OCM reactor system and the ethylene reactor system, the selective coupling configured to selectively direct a portion or all of the product gas to the ethylene conversion reactor system.
  • the disclosure provides a processing system comprising: (a) an OCM reactor system comprising an OCM catalyst, the OCM reactor system being fluidly connected at an input, to a source of methane and a source of oxidant; (b) at least first and second catalytic ethylene conversion reactor systems, the first catalytic ethylene reactor system being configured to convert ethylene to a first higher hydrocarbon, and the second catalytic ethylene reactor system being configured to convert ethylene to a second higher hydrocarbon different from the first higher hydrocarbon; and (c) a selective coupling between the OCM reactor system and the first and second catalytic ethylene reactor systems configured to selectively direct a portion or all of the product gas to each of the first and second catalytic ethylene reactor systems.
  • the ethylene conversion systems are selected from linear alpha olefin (LAO) systems, linear olefin systems, branched olefin systems, saturated linear hydrocarbon systems, branched hydrocarbon systems, saturated cyclic hydrocarbon systems, olefinic cyclic hydrocarbon systems, aromatic hydrocarbon systems, oxygenated hydrocarbon systems, halogenated hydrocarbon systems, alkylated aromatic systems, ethylene
  • LAO linear alpha olefin
  • the OCM catalyst comprises a nanowire catalyst.
  • the system further comprises an ethylene recovery system fluidly coupled between the OCM reactor system and the at least first and second catalytic ethylene conversion reactor systems, the ethylene recovery system configured for enriching the product gas for ethylene.
  • the disclosure is directed to a processing system, the processing system comprising: (a) an OCM reactor system comprising an OCM catalyst, the OCM reactor system being fluidly connected at an input, to a source of methane and a source of oxidant; (b) an ethylene recovery system fluidly coupled to the OCM reactor system at an outlet, for recovering ethylene from an OCM product gas; (c) at least first and second catalytic ethylene conversion reactor systems, the first catalytic ethylene reactor system being configured to convert ethylene to a first higher hydrocarbon composition, and the second catalytic ethylene reactor system being configured to convert ethylene to a second higher hydrocarbon composition different from the first higher hydrocarbon composition; and (d) a selective coupling between the outlet of the ethylene recovery system and the first and second catalytic ethylene reactor systems to selectively direct a portion or all of the ethylene recovered from the OCM product gas to each of the first and second catalytic ethylene reactor systems.
  • two or more of the at least two ethylene conversion systems are selected from linear alpha olefin (LAO) systems, linear olefin systems, branched olefin systems, saturated linear hydrocarbon systems, branched hydrocarbon systems, saturated cyclic hydrocarbon systems, olefinic cyclic hydrocarbon systems, aromatic hydrocarbon systems, oxygenated hydrocarbon systems, halogenated hydrocarbon systems, alkylated aromatic systems, ethylene copolymerization systems, and hydrocarbon polymer systems.
  • the OCM catalyst comprises a nanowire catalyst.
  • the catalyst systems used in any of the above described OCM reaction comprise nanowire catalysts.
  • Such nanowire catalysts can include substantially straight nanowires or nanowires having a curved, twisted or bent morphology.
  • the actual lengths of the nanowire catalysts may vary.
  • the nanowires have an actual length of between 100 nm and 100 ⁇ .
  • the nanowires have an actual length of between 100 nm and 10 ⁇ .
  • the nanowires have an actual length of between 200 nm and 10 ⁇ .
  • the nanowires have an actual length of between 500 nm and 5 ⁇ . In other embodiments, the actual length is greater than 5 ⁇ .
  • the nanowires have an actual length of between 800 nm and 1000 nm. In other further embodiments, the nanowires have an actual length of 900 nm. As noted below, the actual length of the nanowires may be determined by TEM, for example, in bright field mode at 5 keV.
  • the diameter of the nanowires may be different at different points along the nanowire backbone. However, the nanowires comprise a mode diameter (i.e., the most frequently occurring diameter). As used herein, the diameter of a nanowire refers to the mode diameter. In some embodiments, the nanowires have a diameter of between 1 nm and 10 ⁇ , between 1 nm and 1 ⁇ , betweenl nm and 500 nm, between 1 nm and 100 nm, between 7 nm and 100 nm, between 7 nm and 50 nm, between 7 nm and 25 nm, or between 7 nm and 15 nm. On other embodiments, the diameter is greater than 500 nm. As noted below, the diameter of the nanowires may be determined by TEM, for example, in bright field mode at 5 keV.
  • the nanowire catalysts may have different aspect ratios. In some embodiments, the nanowires have an aspect ratio of greater than 10: 1. In other embodiments, the nanowires have an aspect ratio greater than 20: 1. In other embodiments, the nanowires have an aspect ratio greater than 50: 1. In other embodiments, the nanowires have an aspect ratio greater than 100: 1.
  • the nanowires comprise a solid core while in other embodiments, the nanowires comprise a hollow core.
  • the morphology of a nanowire can be determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
  • TEM Transmission electron microscopy
  • TEM is a technique whereby a beam of electrons is transmitted through an ultra-thin specimen, interacting with the specimen as it passes through.
  • An image is formed from the interaction of the electrons transmitted through the specimen. The image is magnified and focused onto an imaging device, such as a fluorescent screen, on a layer of photographic film or detected by a sensor such as a CCD camera.
  • the nanowire catalysts comprise one or multiple crystal domains, e.g., monocrystalline or polycrystalline, respectively.
  • the average crystal domain of the nanowires is less than 100 nm, less than 50 nm, less than 30 nm, less than 20 nm, less than 10 nm, less than 5nm, or less than 2 nm. Crystal structure, composition, and phase, including the crystal domain size of the nanowires, can be determined by XRD.
  • the nanowire catalytic material comprises a plurality of nanowires.
  • the plurality of nanowires form a mesh of randomly distributed and, to various degrees, interconnected nanowires, that presents a porous matrix.
  • the total surface area per gram of a nanowire or plurality of nanowires may have an effect on the catalytic performance. Pore size distribution may affect the nanowires catalytic performance as well. Surface area and pore size distribution of the nanowires or plurality of nanowires can be determined by BET (Brunauer, Emmett, Teller) measurements. BET techniques utilize nitrogen adsorption at various temperatures and partial pressures to determine the surface area and pore sizes of catalysts. There are BET techniques for determining surface area and pore size distribution currently available.
  • the nanowires have a surface area of between 0.0001 and 3000 m 2 /g, between 0.0001 and 2000 m 2 /g, between 0.0001 and 1000 m 2 /g, between 0.0001 and 500 m 2 /g, between 0.0001 and 100 m 2 /g, between 0.0001 and 50 m 2 /g, between 0.0001 and 20 m 2 /g, between 0.0001 and 10 m 2 /g or between 0.0001 and 5 m 2 /g.
  • the nanowires have a surface area of between 0.001 and 3000 m 2 /g, between 0.001 and 2000 m 2 /g, between 0.001 and 1000 m 2 /g, between 0.001 and 500 m 2 /g, between 0.001 and 100 m 2 /g, between 0.001 and 50 m 2 /g, between 0.001 and 20 m 2 /g, between 0.001 and 10 m 2 /g or between 0.001 and 5 m 2 /g.
  • the nanowires have a surface area of between 2000 and 3000 m 2 /g, between 1000 and 2000 m 2 /g, between 500 and 1000 m 2 /g, between 100 and 500 m 2 /g, between 10 and 100 m 2 /g, between 5 and 50 m 2 /g, between 2 and 20 m 2 /g or between 0.0001 and 10 m 2 /g.
  • the nanowires have a surface area of greater than about 2000 m 2 /g, greater than about 1000 m 2 /g, greater than about 500 m 2 /g, greater than about 100 m 2 /g, greater than about 50 m 2 /g, greater than about 20 m 2 /g, greater than about 10 m 2 /g, greater than about 5 m 2 /g, greater than about 1 m 2 /g, greater than about 0.0001 m 2 /g.
  • the nanowire catalysts and catalyst compositions used in conjunction with the processes and systems of some embodiments of the disclosure may have any number of compositions and/or morphologies. These nanowire catalysts may be inorganic and either polycrystalline or mono-crystalline.
  • the nanowires are inorganic and polycrystalline.
  • the nanowire catalysts comprise one or more elements from any of Groups 1 through 7, lanthanides, actinides or combinations thereof.
  • the catalysts comprise an inorganic catalytic polycrystalline nanowire, the nanowire having a ratio of effective length to actual length of less than one and an aspect ratio of greater than ten as measured by TEM in bright field mode at 5 keV, wherein the nanowire comprises one or more elements from any of Groups 1 through 7, lanthanides, actinides or combinations thereof.
  • the nanowire catalysts comprise one or more metal elements from any of Groups 1-7, lanthanides, actinides or combinations thereof, for example, the nanowires may be mono-metallic, bi-metallic, tri-metallic, etc. (i.e., contain one, two, three, etc. metal elements), where the metal elements may be present in the nanowires in elemental or oxidized form, or in the form of a compound comprising a metal element.
  • the metal element or compound comprising the metal element may be in the form of oxides, hydroxides,
  • the metal element or compound comprising the metal element may also be in the form of any of a number of different polymorphs or crystal structures.
  • metal oxides may be hygroscopic and may change forms once exposed to air, may absorb carbon dioxide, may be subjected to incomplete calcination or any combination thereof. Accordingly, although the nanowires are often referred to as metal oxides, in some embodiments the nanowires also comprise hydrated oxides, oxyhydroxides, hydroxides, oxycarbonates (or oxide carbonates), carbonates or combinations thereof.
  • the nanowires comprise one or more metal elements from Group 1, Group
  • the nanowires comprise hydroxides, sulfates, carbonates, oxide carbonates, acetates, oxalates, phosphates (including hydrogen phosphates and dihydrogenphosphates), oxy-carbonates, oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides,
  • nanowire materials include, but are not limited to nanowires comprising, e.g., Li 2 C0 3 ,
  • MgS0 4 Ca(OH) 2 , CaO, CaC0 3 , CaC 2 0 4 , CaS0 4 , Y 2 0 3 , Y 2 (C0 3 ) 3 , Y(OH) 3 , Y 2 (C 2 04) 3 , Y 2 (S0 4 ) 3 , Zr(OH) 4 , ZrO(OH) 2 , Zr02, Zr(C 2 0 4 ) 2 ,
  • praseodymium hydroxides praseodymium carbonates, praseodymium oxalates, praseodymium sulfates, rhenium oxides, rhenium hydroxides, rhenium oxalates, rhenium sulfates, chromium oxides, chromium hydroxides, chromium oxalates, chromium sulfates, potassium molybdenum oxides/silicon oxide or combinations thereof.
  • nanowire materials include, but are not limited to, nanowires comprising, e.g., Li 2 0, Na 2 0, K 2 0, Cs 2 0, BeO MgO, CaO, ZrO(OH) 2 , Zr0 2 , Ti0 2 ,
  • Mn 2 0 3 , Mn 3 0 manganese oxides, vanadium oxides, tungsten oxides, neodymium oxides, rhenium oxides, chromium oxides, or combinations thereof.
  • Products produced from these catalytic reactions typically include CO, C0 2 , H 2 0, C 2+ hydrocarbons, such as ethylene, ethane, and larger alkanes and alkenes, such as propane and propylene.
  • the OCM reactor systems operate to convert methane into desired higher hydrocarbon products (ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, butanes, pentanes, etc.), collectively referred to as C 2+ compounds, with high yield.
  • the progress of the OCM reaction is generally discussed in terms of methane conversion, C 2+ selectivity, and C 2+ yield.
  • methane conversion generally refers to the percentage or fraction of methane introduced into the reaction that is converted to a product other than methane.
  • C 2+ selectivity generally refers to the percentage of all non-methane, carbon containing products of the OCM reaction that are the desired C 2+ products, e.g., ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, etc. Although primarily stated as C 2+ selectivity, selectivity may be stated in terms of any of the desired products, e.g., just C2, or just C2 and C3.
  • C 2+ yield generally refers to the amount of carbon that is incorporated into a C 2+ product as a percentage of the amount of carbon introduced into a reactor in the form of methane.
  • C 2+ yield is typically additive of the yield of the different C 2+ components included in the C 2+ components identified, e.g., ethane yield + ethylene yield + propane yield + propylene yield etc.).
  • Exemplary OCM processes and systems typically provide a methane conversion of at least 10% per process pass in a single integrated reactor system (e.g., single isothermal reactor system or integrated multistage adiabatic reactor system), with a C 2+ selectivity of at least 50%, but at reactor inlet temperatures of between 400 and 600°C and at reactor inlet pressures of between about 15 psig and about 150 psig.
  • the catalysts employed within these reactor systems are capable of providing the described conversion and selectivity under the described reactor conditions of temperature and pressure.
  • the reactor inlet or feed temperatures may substantially correspond to the minimum "light-off or reaction initiation temperature for the catalyst or system.
  • the feed gases are contacted with the catalyst at a temperature at which the OCM reaction is able to be initiated upon introduction to the reactor. Because the OCM reaction is exothermic, once light-off is achieved, the heat of the reaction can be expected to maintain the reaction at suitable catalytic temperatures, and even generate excess heat.
  • the OCM reactors and reactor systems when carrying out the OCM reaction, operate at pressures of between about 15 psig and about 225 psig at the above described temperatures, while providing the conversion and selectivity described herein, and in even more embodiments, at pressures less than 100 psig, e.g., between about 15 psig and about 100 psig.
  • the catalysts comprise bulk catalyst materials, e.g., having relatively undefined morphology or, in certain embodiments, the catalyst material comprises, at least in part, nanowire containing catalytic materials.
  • the catalysts used in accordance with the present disclosure may be employed under the full range of reaction conditions described above, or in any narrower described range of conditions.
  • the catalyst materials may be provided in a range of different larger scale forms and formulations, e.g., as mixtures of materials having different catalytic activities, mixtures of catalysts and relatively inert or diluent materials, incorporated into extrudates, pellets, or monolithic forms, or the like. Ranges of exemplary catalyst forms and formulations are described in, for example, U.S. Patent Application No. 13/901,319 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/051,779, the full disclosures of which are
  • the reactor vessels used for carrying out the OCM reaction in the OCM reactor systems of the disclosure may include one or more discrete reactor vessels each containing OCM catalyst material, fluidly coupled to a methane source and a source of oxidant as further discussed elsewhere herein.
  • Feed gas containing methane e.g., natural gas
  • the OCM reactor system comprises one or more staged reactor vessels operating under isothermal or adiabatic conditions, for carrying out OCM reactions.
  • the reactor systems may include one, two, three, four, five or more staged reactor vessels arranged in series, which are fluidly connected such that the effluent or "product gas" of one reactor is directed, at least in part, to the inlet of a subsequent reactor.
  • staged serial reactors provide higher yield for the overall process, by allowing catalytic conversion of previously unreacted methane.
  • These adiabatic reactors are generally characterized by the lack of an integrated thermal control system used to maintain little or no temperature gradient across the reactor. With no integrated temperature control system, the exothermic nature of the OCM reaction results in a temperature gradient across the reactor indicative of the progress of the reaction, where the inlet temperature can range from about 450
  • such temperature gradients can range from about 100 °C to about 450 °C.
  • methane-containing feed gas is introduced into the inlet side of a reactor vessel, e.g., the first reactor in a staged reactor system. Within this reactor, the methane is converted into C 2+ hydrocarbons, as well as other products, as discussed above. At least a portion of the product gas stream is then cooled to an appropriate temperature and introduced into a subsequent reactor stage for continuation of the catalytic reaction.
  • the effluent from a preceding reactor which in some cases may include unreacted methane, can provide at least a portion of the methane source for a subsequent reactor.
  • An oxidant source and a methane source separate from the unreacted methane from the first reactor stage, are also typically coupled to the inlet of each subsequent reactor.
  • the reactor systems include one or more 'isothermal' reactors, that maintain a relatively low temperature gradient across the overall reactor bed, e.g., between the inlet gas and outlet or product gas, through the inclusion of integrated temperature control elements, such as coolant systems that contact heat exchange surfaces on the reactor to remove excess heat, and maintain a flat or insignificant temperature gradient between the inlet and outlet of the reactor.
  • integrated temperature control elements such as coolant systems that contact heat exchange surfaces on the reactor to remove excess heat, and maintain a flat or insignificant temperature gradient between the inlet and outlet of the reactor.
  • coolant systems that contact heat exchange surfaces on the reactor to remove excess heat, and maintain a flat or insignificant temperature gradient between the inlet and outlet of the reactor.
  • Such reactors utilize molten salt or other coolant systems that operate at temperatures below 593 °C.
  • isothermal reactor systems may include one, two, three or more reactors that may be configured in serial or parallel orientation. Reactor systems for carrying out these catalytic reactions are also described in U.S. Patent Application No.
  • the OCM reactor systems used in certain embodiments of the present disclosure also typically include thermal control systems that are configured to maintain a desired thermal or temperature profile across the overall reactor system, or individual reactor vessels.
  • the thermal control systems can include, for example, heat exchangers disposed upstream, downstream or between serial reactors within the overall system in order to maintain the desired temperature profile across the one or more reactors.
  • such thermal control systems may include control systems for modulating flow of reactants, e.g., methane containing feed gases and oxidant, into the reactor vessels in response to temperature information feedback, in order to modulate the reactions to achieve the thermal profiles of the reactors within the desired temperature ranges.
  • thermal control systems include the foregoing, as well as integrated heat exchange components, such as integrated heat exchangers built into the reactors, such as tube/shell reactor/heat exchangers, where a void space is provided surrounding a reactor vessel or through which one or more reactor vessels or tubes pass. A heat exchange medium is then passed through the void to remove heat from the individual reactor tubes. The heat exchange medium is then routed to an external heat exchanger to cool the medium prior to recirculation into the reactor.
  • integrated heat exchangers built into the reactors such as tube/shell reactor/heat exchangers
  • ethylene may be recovered from the OCM product gas using an ethylene recovery process that separates ethylene present in the product gas from other components, such as residual (e.g., unreacted) methane, ethane, and higher hydrocarbons, such as propane, butanes, pentanes and the like.
  • the OCM product gas is used in subsequent reactions, as described below, without further purification or separation of the ethylene.
  • the OCM product gas is enriched for ethylene before being used in subsequent reactions.
  • "enriched" includes, but is not limited to, operations which increases the overall mol% of ethylene in the product gas.
  • ethylene derived from methane is further processed into higher hydrocarbon compositions, and particularly liquid hydrocarbon compositions.
  • OCM processes and systems when referring to their inclusion in an overall process flow, from methane to higher hydrocarbon compositions, may include intermediate process steps involved in purification of ethylene from an OCM product gas, e.g., recycling of product gases through the OCM reactor system, separations of methane and higher hydrocarbons, e.g., NGLs and other C 2+ compounds, from the OCM product gas, and the like.
  • cryogenic or lean oil separation systems include temperature swing adsorption (TSA), pressure swing adsorption (PSA), and membrane separations, for separation of different hydrocarbon and other components from ethylene, e.g., CO, C0 2 , water, nitrogen, residual methane, ethane, propane, and other higher hydrocarbon compounds, potentially present in the OCM product gas.
  • TSA temperature swing adsorption
  • PSA pressure swing adsorption
  • membrane separations for separation of different hydrocarbon and other components from ethylene, e.g., CO, C0 2 , water, nitrogen, residual methane, ethane, propane, and other higher hydrocarbon compounds, potentially present in the OCM product gas.
  • ethylene e.g., CO, C0 2
  • nitrogen residual methane, ethane, propane, and other higher hydrocarbon compounds
  • FIG. 10 schematically illustrates an exemplary OCM system with integrated separations system component or components.
  • FIG. 10 is an exemplary process flow diagram depicting a process 1000 for methane based C 2 production, in a product gas from an
  • the OCM product gas from the OCM reactor(s) 1002 is compressed through compressor 1026.
  • the temperature of the compressed OCM product gas 1050 is reduced using one or more heat exchangers 1010.
  • the temperature of the compressed OCM product gas 1050 may be reduced through the use of an external provided cooling media, introduction of or thermal exchange with a cool process stream, or combinations of these.
  • Reducing the temperature of the OCM product gas 1050 can typically condense at least a portion of the higher boiling point components in the compressed OCM product gas 1050, including at least a portion of the C 2 and heavier hydrocarbon components present in the compressed OCM product gas 1050.
  • At least a portion of the condensed high boiling point components can be separated from the compressed OCM product gas 1050 using one or more liquid gas separators, such as knockout drums 1012 to provide an OCM product gas condensate 1054 and a compressed OCM product gas 1056.
  • the OCM product gas condensate 1054 is introduced to the first separator 1006 and at least a portion 1058 of the compressed OCM product gas 1056 can be introduced to one or more turboexpanders 1014.
  • the isentropic expansion of the compressed OCM product gas 1058 within the turboexpanders 1014 can produce shaft work useful for driving one or more compressors or other devices in the separation unit 1004.
  • the isentropic expansion of the compressed OCM product gas 1058 with the turboexpanders reduces the temperature of the compressed OCM product gas 1060 that exits from the one or more turboexpanders.
  • the compressed OCM product gas 1060 from the one or more turboexpanders 1014 is introduced to the first separator 1006.
  • the first separator 1006 can be any system, device or combination of systems and devices suitable for promoting the separation of C 2 and heavier hydrocarbons from a gas stream that includes methane and nitrogen. For example, cryogenic distillation at a relatively high temperature may be used to promote separation of the C 2 and heavier hydrocarbons from the methane and nitrogen components in the gas stream.
  • the C 2 -rich effluent 1052 is withdrawn from the first separator 1006 and a mixed nitrogen and methane containing gas mixture 1074 is also withdrawn from the first separator 1054.
  • the nitrogen content of the nitrogen/methane containing gas mixture 1074 withdrawn from the first separator 1006 can be about 95 mol% or less; about 85 mol% or less; about 75 mol% or less; about 55 mol% or less; about 30 mol% or less.
  • the balance of the nitrogen/methane gas mixture 1054 comprises principally methane with small quantities of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and inert gases such as argon.
  • the first separator functions as a "demethanizer" based upon its ability to separate methane from the C 2 and heavier hydrocarbon components.
  • An exemplary first separator 1006 includes a vertical distillation column operating at below ambient temperature and above ambient pressure. In particular, the operating temperature and pressure within the first separator 1006 can be established to improve the recovery of the desired C 2 hydrocarbons in the C 2 -rich effluent 1052.
  • the first separator 1006 can have an overhead operating temperature of from about -260 °F (-162 °C) to about -180 °F (- 118 °C); about -250 °F (-157 °C) to about -190 °F (-123 °C); about -240 °F (-151 °C) to about - 200 °F (-129 °C; or even from about -235 °F (-148 °C) to about -210 °F (-134 °C) and a bottom operating temperature of from about -150 °F (-101 °C) to about -50 °F (-46 °C); about -135 °F (- 93 °C) to about -60 °F (-51 °C); from about -115 °F (-82 °C) to about -70 °F (-57 °C); or about - 100 °F (-73 °C) to about -80
  • the first separator 1006 may operate at pressures of from about 30 psig (205 kPa) to about 130 psig (900 kPa); about 40 psig (275 kPa) to about 115 psig (790 kPa); about 50 psig (345 kPa) to about 95 psig (655 kPa); or about 60 psig (415 kPa) to about 80 psig (550 kPa).
  • the temperature of at least a portion of the C 2 -rich effluent 1052 from the first separator 1006 can be increased in one or more heat exchangers 1016, again using an externally supplied heat transfer medium, introduction of, or thermal contact, with a warmer process flow stream, or a combination of these, or other heating systems.
  • the one or more heat exchanger devices 1016 may include any type of heat exchange device or system, including but not limited to one or more plate and frame, shell and tube or similar heat exchanger system.
  • the heated C 2 -rich effluent 1052 may be at temperatures of 50 °F (10 °C) or less; 25 °F (-4 °C) or less; about 0 °F (-18 °C) or less; about -25 °F (-32 °C) or less; or about -50 °F (-46 °C) or less.
  • the pressure may be about 130 psig (900 kPa) or less; about 115 psig (790 kPa or less; about 100 psig (690 kPa) or less; or about 80 psig (550 kPa) or less.
  • a portion 1062 of the OCM product gas 1056 removed from the knockout drum 1012 and not introduced into the one or more turboexpanders 1014 can be cooled using one or more heat exchangers 1018.
  • the heat exchangers may include any type of heat exchanger suitable for the operation.
  • the temperature of the portion 1062 of the OCM product gas 1056 can be decreased using one or more refrigerants, one or more relatively cool process flows, or combinations of these.
  • the cooled portion 1064 of the OCM product gas 1056 containing a mixture of nitrogen and methane is introduced into the second separator 1008.
  • the second separator 1008 may include any system, device or combination of systems and devices suitable for separating methane from nitrogen.
  • cryogenic distillation at a relatively low temperature can be used to promote the separation of liquid methane from gaseous nitrogen within the second separator 1008.
  • An exemplary second separator 1008 may include another vertical distillation column operating significantly below ambient temperature and above ambient pressure, and also generally below the temperature of a cryogenic distillation column operating as the first separator, e.g., as described above.
  • the second separator 1008 may have an overhead operating temperature of from about -340 °F (-210 °C) to about -240 °F (-151 °C); from about -330 °F (-201 °C) to about -250 °F (-157 °C); about -320 °F (-196 °C) to about -260 °F (-162 °C); about -310 °F (-190 °C) to about -270 °F (-168 °C); or about 300 °F (-184 °C) to about -280 °F (-173 °C); and a bottom operating temperature of from about -280 °F (-173 °C) to about -170 °F (1 12 °C); about -270 °F (-168 °C) to about -180 °F (- 1 18 °C); about -260 °F (-162 °C) to about -190 °F (-123 °C);
  • the second separator 1008 can typically operate at pressures of from about 85 psig (585 kPa) or less; about 70 psig (480 kPa) or less; about 55 psig (380 kPa) or less; or about 40 psig (275 kPa) or less.
  • the temperature of at least a portion of the methane-rich effluent 1066 from the second separator 1008 can be increased using one or more heat exchangers 1020, as described above. After exiting the one or more heat exchangers 1020, in exemplary embodiments the temperature of the methane-rich effluent 1066 may be about 125 °F (52 °C) or less; about 100 °F (38 °C) or less; or about 90 °F (32 °C) or less, while the pressure of the effluent 1066 may be about 150 psig (1035 kPa) or less; about 100 psig (690 kPa) or less, or about 50 psig (345 kPa) or less.
  • At least a portion of the methane-rich effluent 1066 may be recycled back into the feedstock gas 1068 for the OCM reactor(s) 1002, the feedstock gas/oxygen mixture 1070 the compressed oxygen containing gas 1072 (from compressor 1028) or directly to the one or more OCM reactors 1002.
  • the temperature of at least a portion of the nitrogen-rich effluent 1068 from second separator 1008 can be increased using one or more heat exchangers 1024 like those described above, such that the temperature may be raised to about 125 °F (52 °C) or less; 100 °F (38 °C) or less; or about 90 °F (32 °C) or less, with a pressure of about 150 psig (1035 kPa) or less; about 100 psig (690 kPa) or less; or about 50 psig (345 kPa) or less.
  • heat exchangers 1020, 1022 and 1024 are illustrated as separate heat exchange devices, such heat exchangers may be integrated into one or more integrated systems, where the different temperature process flows may be provided in thermal contact, e.g., as heat exchange media for each other, with in the heat exchange device or system.
  • a cooled process flow that is desired to be heated may be passed through an opposing portion of a heat exchanger from a heated process flow that is desired to be cooled, such that the heat from the heated flow heats the cooler flow, and is, as a result, itself cooled.
  • Ethylene products of these processes are then subjected to additional processing to yield the desired higher hydrocarbon compositions.
  • ethylene conversion processes and systems A number of exemplary processes for ethylene conversion are described in greater detail herein.
  • the conversion of methane to ethylene, as well as the conversion of ethylene to higher hydrocarbon compositions, can be carried out in integrated processes. In some cases, conversion of ethylene to higher hydrocarbons is performed without conversion of methane to ethylene.
  • integrated processes refers to two or more processes or systems that are fluidly integrated or coupled together. Thus, the process for conversion of methane to ethylene can be fluidly connected to one or more processes for ethylene conversion to one or more higher hydrocarbon compounds.
  • Fluid integration or fluid coupling generally refers to a persistent fluid connection or fluid coupling between two systems within an overall system or facility. Such persistent fluid communication typically refers to an interconnected pipeline network coupling one system to another.
  • Such interconnected pipelines may also include additional elements between two systems, such as control elements, e.g., heat exchangers, pumps, valves, compressors, turbo-expanders, sensors, as well as other fluid or gas transport and/or storage systems, e.g., piping, manifolds, storage vessels, and the like, but are generally entirely closed systems, as distinguished from two systems where materials are conveyed from one to another through any non-integrated component, e.g., rail car or truck transport, or systems that are not co- located in the same facility or immediately adjacent facilities.
  • control elements e.g., heat exchangers, pumps, valves, compressors, turbo-expanders, sensors
  • other fluid or gas transport and/or storage systems e.g., piping, manifolds, storage vessels, and the like, but are generally entirely closed systems, as distinguished from two systems where materials are conveyed from one to another through any non-integrated component, e.g., rail car or truck transport, or systems that are not co-
  • fluid connection and/or fluid coupling includes complete fluid coupling, e.g., where all effluent from a given point such as an outlet of a reactor, is directed to the inlet of another unit with which the reactor is fluidly connected. Also included within such fluid connections or couplings are partial connections, e.g., where only a portion of the effluent from a given first unit is routed to a fluidly connected second unit. Further, although stated in terms of fluid connections, connections may include connections for conveying either or both of liquids and/or gas.
  • a methane to ethylene conversion process is not just integrated with a single ethylene conversion process, but instead, is integrated with multiple (i.e., two or more) different ethylene conversion processes or systems.
  • ethylene produced from a single methane feed stream may be converted to multiple different products using multiple different ethylene conversion processes.
  • a single OCM reactor system is fluidly connected to one, two, three, four, five or more different catalytic or other reactor systems for further conversion of the ethylene containing product of the OCM reactor system (also referred to herein as the "ethylene product”) to multiple different higher hydrocarbon compositions.
  • the ethylene product is selectively directed in whole or in part to any one or more of the various ethylene conversion processes or systems integrated with the OCM reactor system. For example, at any given time, all of the ethylene product produced through an OCM reactor system may be routed through a single process. Alternatively, a portion of the ethylene product may be routed through a first ethylene conversion process or system, while some or all of the remaining ethylene product is routed through one, two, three, four or more different ethylene conversion systems.
  • those ethylene streams may be relatively dilute ethylene streams, e.g., that contain other components in addition to ethylene, such as other products of the OCM reaction, unreacted feed gases, or other by products.
  • such other components may include additional reaction products, unreacted feedgases, or other reactor effluents from an ethylene production process, e.g., OCM, such as methane, ethane, propane, propylene, CO, C0 2 , 0 2 , N 2 , H 2 , and/or water.
  • OCM ethylene production process
  • the use of dilute ethylene streams, and particularly those containing other hydrocarbon components can be particularly advantageous in the ethylene conversion processes.
  • the incoming ethylene streams may not be required to go through as stringent a separations process or processes as may be required for other processes intended to produce higher purity ethylene, e.g., cryogenic separations systems, lean oil separators, TSA and PSA based separations processes.
  • These separations processes typically have relatively high capital costs that scale, at least in part, based upon the volume of incoming gases.
  • separation processes for highly dilute ethylene streams can have substantially high capital and operating costs associated with them. By providing less stringent separations requirements on these ethylene streams, one can substantially reduce the capital costs.
  • the ethylene conversion processes used in conjunction with the disclosure typically result in the production of desired liquid hydrocarbons, subsequent separation of gas co-products, or unreacted feed gases is made much simpler.
  • ethylene streams that comprise additional hydrocarbon components can enhance the product slate emanating from the ethylene conversion processes through which those ethylene streams are routed.
  • the presence of higher order hydrocarbons, C 3 , C 4 , C 5 , etc. in the ethylene streams entering into the ethylene conversion processes can improve the overall efficiency of those processes, by providing enriched starting materials, and also affects the overall carbon efficiency of the OCM and ethylene conversion processes, by ensuring that a greater fraction of the carbon input is converted to higher hydrocarbon products.
  • ethylene streams being routed to the ethylene conversion processes of the disclosure may range anywhere from trace concentrations of ethylene to pure or substantially pure ethylene, e.g., approaching 100% ethylene
  • the dilute ethylene streams described herein may generally be characterized as having anywhere from about 1% to about 50% ethylene, preferably, between about 5% and about 25% ethylene, and in further preferred aspects, between about 10%) and about 25% ethylene, in addition to other components.
  • the ethylene feed gas comprises less than about 5% ethylene, for example less than about 4%, less than about 3%, less than about 2% or even less than about 1% ethylene.
  • the dilute ethylene product gases employed in the ethylene conversion processes further comprise one or more gases which are either produced during the OCM reaction or are unreacted during the OCM process.
  • the product gas comprises ethylene at any of the foregoing concentrations and one or more gas selected from C0 2 , CO, H 2 , H 2 0, C 2 3 ⁇ 4, CH 4 and C 3+ hydrocarbons.
  • such dilute ethylene feed gasses which may include one or more of the foregoing gases are advantageous for use in reactions comprising conversion of ethylene to higher olefins and/or saturated hydrocarbons, for example conversion of ethylene to liquid fuels such as gasoline diesel or jet fuel at higher efficiencies (e.g., from methane) than previously attainable.
  • the direct passage may avoid any hydrocarbon fractionation, including removal of any of Ci, C 2 , C 3 , C 4
  • fractionation may include separation of methane and or ethane from the OCM effluent gas to recycle back to the OCM process.
  • additional components such as C0 2 , H 2 0 and H 2 in the feed streams may also be expected to improve catalyst lifetime in the ethylene conversion processes by reducing deactivation, thereby requiring fewer catalyst regeneration cycles.
  • Other components of these dilute ethylene streams may include co-products of the ethylene production processes, e.g., OCM reactions, such as other C 2+ hydrocarbons, like ethane, propane, propylene, butane, pentane, and larger hydrocarbons, as well as other products such as CO, C0 2 , H 2 , H 2 0, N 2 , and the like.
  • OCM reactions such as other C 2+ hydrocarbons, like ethane, propane, propylene, butane, pentane, and larger hydrocarbons, as well as other products such as CO, C0 2 , H 2 , H 2 0, N 2 , and the like.
  • a variety of different ethylene conversion processes may be employed in the various aspects of the present disclosure to produce higher hydrocarbon materials for use in, e.g., chemical manufacturing, polymer production, fuel production, as well as a variety of other products.
  • the ethylene produced using the OCM processes may be oligomerized and/or reacted by a variety of different processes and reactor systems for producing linear alpha- olefins (LAOs), olefinic linear and/or olefinic branched hydrocarbons, saturated linear and/or branched hydrocarbons, saturated and/or olefinic cyclic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, oxygenated hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, alkylated aromatics, and/or hydrocarbon polymers.
  • LAOs linear alpha- olefins
  • olefinic linear and/or olefinic branched hydrocarbons saturated linear and/or branched hydrocarbons
  • saturated and/or olefinic cyclic hydrocarbons
  • an ETL sub-system configured to perform an ethylene conversion process (e.g., oligomerization) can be located between two OCM sub-systems.
  • a first OCM sub-system produces a first OCM effluent comprising ethylene and other olefins (e.g., propylene).
  • This first OCM effluent can be fed into the ETL sub-system, wherein olefins (e.g., ethylene, propylene) are oligomerized and converted into higher hydrocarbon products. These higher hydrocarbon oligomerization products can be recovered from the ETL effluent.
  • the ETL effluent can be fed into a second OCM sub-system, where unreacted methane can be converted into ethylene and other olefins (e.g., propylene) in a second OCM process.
  • the reduced content of C 2 and C 3 compounds in the second OCM feed stream (due to the consumption of C 2 and C 3 compounds in the ETL or oligomerization process) can result in decreased OCM side reactions and increased C 2 selectivity in the second OCM sub-system.
  • the effluent from the second OCM sub-system can be processed in a variety of ways, including by separation in a separations system (e.g., a 3- way cryogenic separations system).
  • a separations system can be used to recover methane, which can be recycled to the first or second OCM system, olefin products (e.g., ethylene, propylene), and gases such as N 2 , CO, and H 2 .
  • ETL processes can result in products such as C 3 and C 4 products, including olefins. Rather than being flared or used for fuel value, these light olefins can be oligomerized into higher-value products.
  • C 3 olefins, C 4 olefins, or a combination thereof can be recovered from an ETL product stream as a light olefin fraction. This light olefin fraction can be reacted in a separate oligomerization reactor to produce higher molecular weight olefins, such as those in the C 6 to Ci6 range.
  • the molecular weight range of the oligomerization products can be tuned by appropriate choice of catalyst and process parameters.
  • This approach provides the benefit of increased yield of higher molecular weight products, including products that are non-aromatic and mostly olefinic.
  • This oligomerization process can result in little or no coke formation or other deactivation mechanisms.
  • This oligomerization process can operate at a temperature of at least about 50 °C.
  • This oligomerization process can operate at a temperature of at most about 200 °C.
  • This oligomerization process can operate at a temperature from about 50 °C to about 200 °C.
  • Oligomerization catalysts useful for this process include strong Lewis acid catalysts, AlCl 3 /water solutions, solid superacids, and other solid acid catalysts capable of oligomerizing C3 and C4 olefins.
  • C4 olefins in this process can also be used with an alkylation process to generate iso- octane.
  • Reactor configurations useful for this process include slurry bed, fixed bed,
  • tubular/isothermal, moving bed, and fluidized bed reactors including those disclosed herein (e.g., FIG. 4).
  • OCM processes, ETL processes, and combinations thereof can result in methane (e.g., unreacted methane), ethane, and C 3+ non-olefinic hydrocarbon compounds.
  • methane e.g., unreacted methane
  • ethane e.g., propane, and combinations thereof
  • aromatic hydrocarbons e.g., excess methane and ethane from an OCM process
  • Such catalysts can be doped with compounds including but not limited to molybdenum (Mo), gallium (Ga), tungsten (W), and combinations thereof.
  • the present disclosure provides methods for integrating ETL sub-systems (or modules) with OCM sub-systems. Such integration can advantageously enable the formation of products that can be tailored for various uses, such as, for example fuel. Such integration can enable the conversion of ethylene in a C 2+ product stream from an OCM reactor to be converted to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons.
  • OCM, ETL and OCM-ETL methods and systems of the present disclosure can be used in greenfield and brownfield contexts.
  • an OCM-ETL system can be installed in an old oil refinery.
  • an OCM-ETL system can be installed in a new parcel of round that has access to natural gas. Brownfield and greenfield initiatives of OCM can be used to meet world scale production of ethylene.
  • LNG liquefied natural gas
  • Liquefied natural gas can be used to enable simplified transport of natural gas with its volume reduced by at least about lOOx, 200x, 300x, 400x, 500x, or 600x as enabled by cooling from a vapor to a liquid.
  • LNG facilities can include several main process areas - gas treatment area where natural gas has acid gases, water, and mercury removed; NGL extraction area; NGL fractionation area; and LNG liquefaction and storage areas. C 4+ products from raw natural gas are typically recovered in the fractionation area.
  • Substantial capital reduction and improved mixed C 4 and C 5+ yields can be realized by integrating an OCM/ETL process train into the traditional LNG facility.
  • An OCM-ETL process may be added to LNG facility such that it utilizes a portion of the main gas stream that has passed through gas treatment and NGL extraction.
  • Additional feedstock to the post-bed reactor section of the OCM may include ethane and propane both fed from high purity streams generated in the NGL fractionation area.
  • the generated additional mixed C 4 and C 5+ products can be recovered though using available capacity in the NGL fractionation process area.
  • the C 4 and C 5+ products can be referred to as "SBOB," which may be any composition similar to RBOB but not meeting one or more ASTM standards.
  • the process may utilizes the above gas streams (main gas stream, ethane and propane from fractionation area) in addition to a dilute methane containing stream produced by the nitrogen rejection unit in the LNG liquification area.
  • LNG plants can utilize this stream as low BTU fuel gas for internal energy generation.
  • the product gas from the OCM-ETL process area can be fed back into precool portion of the NGL extraction thus enabling proper extraction of the C 3+ components as well as generation of a similar low BTU fuel gas.
  • the mixed C 4 and C 5+ (SBOB) products can be recovered though using available capacity in the NGL fraction process area.
  • an OCM-ETL process area can include OCM reaction and heat recovery areas, process gas compression, ETL guard bed and reaction section. Steam generated in the OCM heat recovery area can be effectively used in a refrigerant compressor area to reduce external power usage.
  • An OCM-ETL system can be integrated with an LNG facility.
  • any heavy hydrocarbon (HHC) e.g., butanes, pentanes and higher molecular weight
  • HHC heavy hydrocarbon
  • an LNG plant may require some HHC removal process.
  • liquids from an ETL system can be extracted in the pre-cooling process section of the LNG plant, requiring little to no additional investment. This may eliminate any additional NGL recovery system that may be required in a standalone OCM/ETL facility.
  • a large amount of steam can be produced in the OCM/ETL system which can be effectively utilized as shaft power for the refrigerant compressors.
  • FIG. 11 shows an example of NGL extraction in an LNG facility.
  • the front-end NGL extraction unit 1100 can take natural gas 1105 and separate out the natural gas liquids (NGLs) 1110. The remaining methane
  • LNG liquified natural gas
  • FIG. 12 shows an integrated OCM-ETL system for use in LNG production.
  • the system includes a gas treatment unit, a downstream NGL extraction unit, a liquefaction unit, and an
  • OCM/ETL sub-system that generates olefins, such as ethylene.
  • the direction of fluid flow is indicated by the arrows.
  • the system of FIG. 12 can provide increased C 5+ and mixed C 4 production.
  • the system of FIG. 12 is exemplary of a typical gas processing plant 1200, with an
  • the system contains a gas treatment unit 1202 which takes the incoming natural gas feed stream 1201.
  • the gas treatment unit can comprise one or more of an acid gas removal unit, a dehydration unit, mercury removal unit, sulfur removal unit, or other treatment units.
  • the acid gas removal unit is an amine unit, a pressure swing adsorption
  • the dehydration unit can be a glycol based water removal unit, a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit and may include a series of separators.
  • a mercury removal unit can comprise a molecular sieve or an activated carbon based system.
  • the gas treatment unit can also comprise a nitrogen removal unit (NRU).
  • An NRU can employ a cryogenic process or an absorption or an adsorption based process.
  • the treated natural gas feed 1203 is fed to the NGL extraction unit 1204, which separates the NGL stream 1205 and a condensate stream containing heavier hydrocarbons 1210.
  • the heavier hydrocarbons may be C 4+ hydrocarbons.
  • the NGL extraction unit can comprise an adsorption process unit, a cooling unit (cooling achieved, for example, either by Joule Thompson expansion, methanol or glycol refrigeration, or a turboexpander), or a lean oil absorption unit.
  • a portion of the stream 1205 is fed to the OCM-ETL reactor system 1207 as stream 1208, where the methane contained in the stream 1208 is converted to heavier liquid hydrocarbons via OCM and subsequent ETL conversion in the reactor system 1207.
  • the liquid hydrocarbons are fed along stream 1209 back to the NGL extraction unit to recover the unconverted methane, and separate the heavier condensates and route them along stream 1210 to NGL ETL fractionation unit 1211.
  • the NGL ETL fractionation unit can comprise a series of fractionation tower units, including but not limited to a depropanizer and a debutanizer to generate a mixed C 4 product 1214, a C 5+ product 1215.
  • the liquefaction unit 1206 produces LNG product 1213.
  • the advantage of integrating an OCM-ETL reactor system with an existing natural gas processing plant is envisaged in this case to generate much more valuable mixed C 4 and C 5+ products.
  • the C 2 and C 3 lighter hydrocarbons 1212 from the fractionation unit 1211 can be recycled to the post bed cracking (PBC) section of the OCM reactor.
  • PBC post bed cracking
  • the system of FIG. 12 can be modified for use with a diluted Ci (methane) fuel gas stream, as shown in FIG. 13.
  • the system 1300 of FIG. 13 includes a pre-cooling system 1320 upstream of the NGL extraction unit to extract C 3+ compounds, as well as a nitrogen rejection unit 1316 downstream of the liquefaction unit.
  • the system in FIG. 13 recycles a stream 1319 to the OCM-ETL reactor system to utilize more of the methane contained in the natural gas feed.
  • the stream 1319 can comprise a high level of methane and inerts such as nitrogen.
  • a fuel gas stream 1321 (and/or 1318) is purged from the precooling section to avoid the buildup of inerts in the system.
  • the nitrogen rejection unit can comprise a cryogenic based, absorption based or adsorption based system.
  • FIG. 14 shows an example OCM-ETL system 1400, comprising OCM 1401 and ETL
  • 1437 is a secondary gas compressor, and 1439 is a low temperature separator.
  • FIG. 14 takes in a treated natural gas feed stream 1410 and oxygen 1411 from an air separation unit (ASU) or pipeline, and reacts them in the OCM reactor 1413 to generate an olefin rich stream 1414 which is then sent to an ETL reactor 1425 to be converted to higher hydrocarbons.
  • the system can use additional ethane 1412 as a reactant. Additional components can include high pressure super-heated steam 1416, condensates 1419, boiler feed water 1429, knock-out 1434, sales gas 1440, C 4 1443, C 5+ RBOB 1444.
  • the system shows the various subsystems as the compressors, heat recovery systems utilizing the high heat of reaction to generate steam and run the compressors on the steam produced.
  • the system can comprise a methanation reactor 1427 to convert any CO and C0 2 produced back to methane, hence adding to the methane content of the sales gas.
  • the separation subsystem 1403 can comprise a low temperature separator 1439 to generate lighter methane rich components.
  • the debutanizer 1442 separates the heavy hydrocarbon condensate to a C 4 and C 5+ product.
  • FIG. 15 shows an OCM-ETL system 1500, comprising OCM 1506 and ETL 1507 subsystems, and a cryogenic cold box 1504 downstream of the ETL sub-system.
  • the OCM-ETL system includes various separations units for separating C 3 1521 and C 4 1524 components from an ETL product out of the ETL sub-system.
  • the depropanizer 1521 generates a C 2- rich stream which is recycled back to the sales gas export 1509.
  • the C 2 recycle may also be added to the OCM-ETL reactor subsystem via a recycle stream 1522.
  • the debutanizer produces a C 4 product 1525 and a C 5+ product 1526.
  • Refrigeration for the cryogenic cold box can be provided by natural gas expansion 1502 from at least about 500 PSI, 600 PSI, 700 PSI, 800 PSI, 900 PSI, 1000 PSI, 1500 PSI, or 2000 PSI.
  • the system can also have a methanation reactor (not shown) to further increase the methane concentration of the sales gas product.
  • FIG. 15 indicates an approach to thermally integrate the different streams in the unit.
  • the system can have an external refrigeration system to provide for the cryogenic requirements of the unit. Additional components include natural gas feed 1501, sales gas 1513, first stage compressor 1510, second stage compressor 1512, expander 1502, separator 1517, ETL product 1508.
  • FIG. 16 shows another OCM-ETL system 1600, in an alternative configuration 1601 that converts natural gas 1610 to sales gas 1618, which is another embodiment to that shown in FIG. 14.
  • the system allows for the recycle of various streams to the OCM reactor to improve the overall conversion.
  • the methane rich stream 1648 from the low temperature separation unit 1437 and a C 2 rich stream 1412 from the deethanizer 1619 are recycled to the sales gas compressor 1617 and the OCM reactor 1413 respectively.
  • the incoming natural gas feed 1610 is treated (to remove one or more of sulfur, mercury, water, or other components) in a treatment unit 1611 and then sent to the cryogenic unit 1613 to separate the heavier NGL liquids 1614 which are fed to the deethanizer 1619.
  • the deethanizer 1619 separates the lighter LNG product 1620 from heavier C 2+ stream 1412. Feed to OCM is drawn after the cryogenic unit. As in the systems of FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the separations subsystem generates a C 4 and C 5+ product. [0583] It may be noted that the systems of FIG. 14, FIG. 15, and FIG. 16 can be integrated with an existing gas processing plant where one or more of the existing subsystems can be utilized. The utilization may arise from the fact that the existing subsystems are no longer used, or have an additional capacity available to allow for the integration.
  • OCM-ETL systems of the present disclosure can be integrated into and combined into conventional NGL extraction and NGL fractionation sections of a midstream gas plant. Where NGLs in the gas stream are declining (or gas is dry), the deployment of OCM-ETL can utilize an existing facility to produce additional liquid streams. The implementation of OCM-ETL can allow for the generation of on specification "pipeline gas.” The products from the facility can be suitable for use (or on specification or "spec") as pipeline gas, gasoline product, hydrocarbon (HC) stream with high aromatic content and mixed C 4 product.
  • HC hydrocarbon
  • An OCM-ETL integrated facility can reduce ethane and propane product quantities to alleviate pipeline (sales-gas) specification and liquid handling constraints. Utilities and off-sites facilities can be effectively utilized. For example steam produced in the process can offset other shaft power requirements.
  • the capacity of the OCM-ETL Facility can be varied and can be selected to best fit specific requirements.
  • FIGs. 17-18 show examples of OCM-ETL midstream integration.
  • natural gas 1701 from upstream can be fed to a gas treatment system 1702 and the treated natural gas can be fed to an NGL extraction unit 1704.
  • C 2 and C 3 products 1705 from the NGL extraction unit 1704 can be directed to an OCM-ETL system 1707 to generate olefins (e.g., ethylene) and liquids 1709 from the olefins. Any excess or extracted methane can be directed for use as pipeline gas 1713.
  • olefins e.g., ethylene
  • C 4+ hydrocarbons 1710 from the NGL extraction unit can be directed to an NGL product fractionation unit for separation in a separations system 1711 into mixed C 4 1714 and C 5+ 1715 product streams, with light hydrocarbons 1712 recycled to the OCM-ETL system 1707.
  • methane from other natural gas sources 1816 is directed to a gas conditioning unit 1817 (e.g., to remove sulfur compounds) and subsequently directed to the OCM-ETL system 1707.
  • Excess methane 1808 can be used as pipeline gas 1713, as an additional feed 1806 into the OCM-ETL system, or both.
  • Oxygen feed for an OCM unit in the OCM-ETL system can be provided from air, such as using an air separation unit (e.g., cryogenic air separation unit), or from an oxygen source, such as pipeline oxygen.
  • air separation unit e.g., cryogenic air separation unit
  • oxygen source such as pipeline oxygen.
  • OCM-ETL systems provided herein can be integrated into a pipeline NG source, or as part of a new gas processing plant installation that may provide a source of NG.
  • NG can be provided from a NG pipeline and/or from a non-OCM process.
  • gas that has been depleted of recoverable hydrocarbon liquids can be recompressed to a pressure from about 700 PSI to 1500 PSI, or 800 PSI to 1300 PSI, or 900 PSI to 1200 PSI and returned to the pipeline from which it was initially skimmed.
  • gas that has been depleted of recoverable hydrocarbon liquids can be recompressed as needed and piped to downstream of cryogenic gas processing plant.
  • gas that has been depleted of recoverable hydrocarbon liquids may not be recompressed and is piped to power plant.
  • gas that has been depleted of recoverable hydrocarbon liquids can be recompressed as needed and is piped to ammonia plant for use as synthesis gas blending feedstock.
  • gas that has been depleted of recoverable hydrocarbon liquids can be recompressed as needed and piped to a methanol plant for use as synthesis gas feedstock blending.
  • FIG. 19 shows OCM-ETL systems with various skimmer and recycle configurations, including a standalone skimmer (top left), a hosted skimmer (bottom left), a standalone recycle (top right), and a hosted recycle (bottom right).
  • operation is a once-through process (feed moves forward) where all feed streams exit the system as product or effluent without recycle.
  • recycle configurations some or all of the NG feed stream is exposed to the OCM catalyst multiple times (feed moves backward).
  • Such configurations can be employed in stand-alone settings, in which all or substantially all unit operations are for OCM/ETL purposes, or hosted settings, in which the unit operations of an existing non-OCM system at least partially support the OCM-ETL system.
  • the configurations of FIG. 19 can be used to with a NG feed of at least about 10 millions of cubic feet per day (mmcfd), 20 mmcfd, 30 mmcfd, 40 mmcfd, 50 mmcfd, 100 mmcfd, 200 mmcfd, 300 mmcfd, 400 mmcfd, 500 mmcfd, or 1000 mmcfd.
  • process gas that remains after a primary liquid recovery section is not further processed and is returned.
  • process gas that remains after primary liquid recovery is fed to a Low Temperature Separator (LTS) unit where additional hydrocarbon liquids are recovered, such as C 4+ . Effluent gas from this LTS is then returned, such recycled as described elsewhere herein.
  • LTS Low Temperature Separator
  • process gas that remains after primary liquid recovery can be fed to a coldbox -based cryogenic unit where additional hydrocarbon liquids are recovered, such as C 4+ .
  • This coldbox -based cryogenic unit may not utilize deep cryogenic temperatures and may not require traditional unit operations of demethanizer and deethanizer. Effluent gas from this unit may then be returned as described elsewhere herein.
  • a debutanizer column may be installed to provide RVP control of final C 4+ product and the additional C 4 stream.
  • gas from a midstream system can be burned due to operating constraints, production gas fluctuations that may result in capacity limitations of gas gathering and processing facilities, feed gas conditions that may prevent the gas being processed and meet the gas specifications, and/or process gas conditions that may not allow co-processing in a gas facility.
  • ETL systems of the present disclosure can be integrated in various existing systems, such as petroleum refineries and/or petrochemical complexes. Such integration can be with or without OCM systems.
  • Petroleum refineries and petrochemical complexes may generate a significant amount and number of purge and other waste gas streams that may be burned for power generation at fuel value due to their inability to further process or recover the hydrocarbons.
  • waste gas streams may contain a mixture of inert gases and hydrocarbons, such as olefinic species.
  • An ETL process can be integrated into a refinery or petrochemical complex such that it consumes one or several of these olefinic streams and chemically converts them to higher value oligomers, such as mixed C4 and C 5+ mixtures.
  • a wide range of these ETL feedstocks can be generated within a refinery complex.
  • waste gas streams with suitable olefins include, without limitation, absorber tower overhead product gas stream containing ethylene and propylene at moderate levels generated in the light ends recovery process area or the deethanizer overhead stream containing similar olefins. Streams can be reacted individually or blended as desired to meet ETL reactor inlet gas requirements.
  • An ETL process can include feedstock gas treatment, process gas compression, ETL reaction and heat recovery sections and units.
  • the ETL reactor effluent can be returned to the refinery separations units if existing unit operations and capacity are available. If no such capacity is available, a small ETL separations sub-system may be provided to recover the effluent C 4 and C 5+ product streams using a range of process intensity separations methods - cooling water or refrigerated condensation recovery, sponge oil systems, and shallow-grade cryogenic units for the deepest recovery. Additional process units may be added for further chemical recovery benefits, including membrane separations to recovered hydrogen from the ETL reactor effluent post hydrocarbon recovery.
  • FIGs. 20-22 show various examples of ETL integration in refineries. Such systems can employ existing fractionation systems of refineries to effect product separation.
  • gas from cracking or other units 2001 is, in a refinery gas plant 2002, generated into C 3 and C 4 products 2004 that are directed to an ETL system 2005, which generates higher molecular weight hydrocarbons 2006 that are directed to a product separation system 2007.
  • the product separation system 2007 can employ an existing separation system of the refinery.
  • the direction of fluid flow and separations systems can be selected to effect a given product distribution, such as a C 2- fuel gas 2008, a C 3 product 2009, and a C 4+ stream 2010.
  • the products 2013 from the fractionation unit 2011 can be treated to produce a gasoline blend component 2017 and the heavier products 2012 can be sent to the refinery aromatics separation unit 2016.
  • the system can produce C 4+ or C 5+ products 2003 for further processing.
  • the system of FIG. 20 can include a heat exchange ethane cracker (HXEC) 2119, as shown in the system 2100 of FIG. 21.
  • the HXEC can use heat from flue-gas (C 2- ) 2118 to crack ethane to ethylene.
  • the HXEC can utilize one or more waste heat stream (as during FCC regeneration stage) to thermally crack the ethane to generate an additional olefin rich stream as a feed to the ETL reactor.
  • the concept can be used to crack propane feed to produce an olefin rich stream.
  • removal of coke from catalyst by combustion can generate a hot flue gas, in some cases with the use of a co-boiler.
  • Flue gas can reach temperatures of 1600 °F (-870 °C), 1800 °F (-980 °C), or higher.
  • Heat can be transferred to a stream comprising ethane, propane, or a combination thereof, for example in a heat exchanger. This heat can be used to crack the ethane to ethylene or the propane to propylene.
  • These olefin products can be used in other processes, such as in ETL.
  • a refinery gas plant 2202 receiving gas 2201 from cracking or other units, can be retrofitted with an OCM-ETL system 2200, as shown in FIG. 22.
  • the OCM reactor 2212 includes a post-bed cracking (PBC) unit.
  • PBC post-bed cracking
  • the OCM reactor 2212 accepts methane through a natural gas feed 2211 and generates a product stream 2213 that is directed to a Ci separator 2207 that removes methane (Ci) 2208 from the product stream to provide C 2+ compounds 2214.
  • the methane can be recycled to the OCM reactor 2210 or directed for use as refinery fuel 2209.
  • C 2+ compounds 2214 directed to the ETL reactor 2215 are used to generate higher molecular weight hydrocarbons 2216, which are directed to the refinery gas plant 2202.
  • C 3+ compounds 2204 from the refinery gas plant are directed to a production fractionation system 2217 for separation.
  • the system of FIG. 22 can include an HXEC 2223 coupled with the ETL reactor 2215.
  • the HXEC can ethane 2222 to ethylene 2224, which can then be directed to the ETL reactor 2215. In some situations, the HXEC is precluded.
  • the system can include a sulfur guard 2205, kerosene or jet fuel 2218, gasoline 2219, i-C4 2220, and C2 and C3 compounds 2225.
  • the integration of an ETL system into a refinery or petrochemical facility can include a cracker and in some cases be performed without OCM. This can enable polymer grade ethylene to be turned into gasoline, for example.
  • An ETL reactor system including an OCM-ETL reactor system, can be a versatile system with a wide range of configurations to achieve economic value from the refinery off gases, waste gases and additional natural gas feed(s).
  • ETL Ethylene-to-liquids
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides olefin-to-liquids systems and methods.
  • An olefin-to-liquids process can be integrated in a non-OCM process, such as a natural gas liquids (NGL) system.
  • the olefin-to-liquids process can be an ethylene-to-liquids (ETL) process.
  • the ETL process can be part of an OCM system, which can generate olefins (e.g., ethylene) from methane and an oxidizing agent (e.g., 0 2 ), as described elsewhere herein.
  • the olefins can be used as feedstock to one or more ETL reactors for the conversion of olefins to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, which can be in liquid form.
  • Natural-gas processing is typically a complex industrial process for cleaning raw natural gas by separating impurities and various non-methane hydrocarbons and fluids to produce pipeline quality dry natural gas.
  • Most extracted natural gas can contain, to varying degrees, low molecular weight hydrocarbon compounds. Examples of such compounds include methane
  • NGL NGL
  • Natural-gas processing plants may purify raw natural gas from (a) underground gas fields and/or (b) from well heads with associated gas by removing common contaminates, such as water, carbon dioxide (C0 2 ) and hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S). Some of the substances which contaminate natural gas have economic value and are further processed or sold. A fully operational plant can deliver pipeline-quality dry natural gas that can be used as fuel by residential, commercial and industrial consumers.
  • common contaminates such as water, carbon dioxide (C0 2 ) and hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S).
  • existing NGL processing and/or fractionation systems can be integrated with OCM and ETL processes to produce various hydrocarbons (which may be liquids), such as alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alkoxides, aldehydes, ketones, acids (e.g., carboxylic acids), aromatics, paraffins, iso-paraffins, higher olefins, oligomers or polymers.
  • hydrocarbons which may be liquids
  • such hydrocarbons include liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), reformulated gasoline blendstock for oxygen blending (RBOB), and/or gasoline (e.g., natural gasoline or premium gasoline), and/or other hydrocarbon blendstocks commonly fed to refineries or blending terminals (e.g., condensate or diluent).
  • LPG can include propane and butane, and can be employed as fuel in heating appliances and vehicles.
  • ETL can be used to generate hydrocarbons for various end uses, such as gasoline for use in machinery (e.g., automobiles and aircraft). Products of ETL processes of the present disclosure can be employed for use as gasoline or jet fuel blend stock, for example. In some examples, ETL can be used to generate benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX).
  • BTEX xylenes
  • An ETL-gasoline process can have a heat of reaction from about 80 KJ/mole to 100 KJ/mol.
  • An adiabatic ETL reactor can have an inlet temperature of at least about 200 °C, 210 °C, 220 °C, 230 °C, 240 °C, 250 °C, 260 °C, 270 °C, 280 °C, 290 °C, 300 °C, 310 °C, 320 °C, 330 °C, 340 °C, 350 °C, 360 °C, 370 °C, 380 °C, 390 °C, 400 °C, or 500 °C.
  • temperature can increase by at least about 50 °C to 150 °C, 60 °C to 120 °C, or 75 °C to 100 °C
  • process pressure can increase by at least about 1 bar, 2 bars, 3 bars, 4 bars, 5 bars, 6 bars, 7 bars, 8 bars, 9 bars, 10 bars, 20 bars, 30 bars, 40 bars or 50 bars (absolute).
  • the primary products out of an ETL reactor are olefins, such as a pentene, hexene or heptene.
  • other secondary products are possible, such as aromatics and paraffins.
  • an ETL product has a liquids distribution that is selective towards C5- C10 hydrocarbons with a substantially low content of benzene and durene. Such a product may be employed for use as gasoline.
  • an ETL product has a liquids distribution that is selective towards BTEX.
  • a raw natural gas (NG) feed stock can be directed to an OCM-ETL system to generate C 2+ compounds for use in generating higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, such as hydrocarbon products described in the context of FIG. 1.
  • hydrocarbons products can be further processed for various end uses.
  • the hydrocarbon products can include the constituents of gasoline, and can be combined with ethanol for use as automobile fuel.
  • OCM-ETL systems of the present disclosure can be integrated with NGL systems to produce NGLs and premium quality gasoline, as well as NGL associated with natural gas feed or any other hydrocarbon gas feed stocks.
  • NGL processing and/or fractionation or midstream gas facilities or systems can be integrated with an OCM reactor system, an ETL reactor system, separations units, compression units, methanation units and or other processing units, such as those described in U.S. Patent Application No. 14/099,614, filed on December 6, 2013, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.
  • OCM-ETL systems of the present disclosure can advantageously enable existing NGL processing systems to be retrofitted for use in producing various hydrocarbons in an efficient and economical fashion as compared to other systems presently available.
  • existing NGL processing and/or fractionation plants are integrated with OCM-ETL systems provided herein, in addition to other systems that may be required for further processing.
  • OCM- ETL Integration with NGL processing may include a retrofit of recycle split vapor (RSV), gas sub-cooled process (GSP) processes or any gas processing technology.
  • the OCM-ETL plant can include other systems that may be required for further processing.
  • Existing NGL systems can be retrofitted with OCM-ETL systems provided herein and configured, for example, to yield a given product distribution and/or yield.
  • the OCM-ETL system can be designed to accommodate any spare capacity of the NGL processing plant, or to accommodate the NGL plant operating as an OCM/ETL plant at maximum capacity.
  • the feed (or input) to the OCM-ETL may be a quantity of fresh natural gas, residue gas, or sales gas (sales gas and pipeline gas are referring to the same natural gas which means pipeline specification) that meets the OCM inlet gas specifications and the spare capacity of the NGL plant.
  • a requisite amount of an oxidizing agent e.g., air or oxygen
  • air or oxygen can be used in the OCM reactor(s) of the OCM-ETL system.
  • the quantity of the NGL products from OCM-ETL systems of the present disclosure is at least about 0.3, 0.5, 0.1, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 gallons per 1000 standard cubic feet (SCF) of inlet natural gas of inlet gas.
  • the quantity of the NGL products from OCM-ETL systems of the present disclosure is at least about 0.3, at least about 0.5, at least about 0.1, at least about 1, at least about 1.5, at least about 2, at least about 3, at least about 4, at least about 5, at least about 6, at least about 7, at least about 8, at least about 9, or at least about 10 gallons per 1000 standard cubic feet (SCF) of inlet natural gas of inlet gas.
  • the quantity of the NGL products from OCM-ETL systems of the present disclosure is at most about 0.3, at most about 0.5, at most about 0.1, at most about 1, at most about 1.5, at most about 2, at most about 3, at most about 4, at most about 5, at most about 6, at most about 7, at most about 8, at most about 9, or at most about 10 gallons per 1000 standard cubic feet (SCF) of inlet natural gas of inlet gas.
  • the quantity of the NGL products from OCM-ETL systems of the present disclosure is in the range of 0.8 gallons to 1.5 gallons per 1000 standard cubic feet (SCF) of inlet natural gas of inlet gas.
  • FIG. 23 A shows an NGL process.
  • the NGL system comprises a raw natural gas feed stream 2301, an NGL system 2302 and a product stream 2303.
  • the raw natural gas feed stream 2301 comprises methane (CH 4 ) in addition to other chemicals (e.g., H 2 0, C0 2 and H 2 S).
  • the NGL system 2302 can comprise various processing equipment for refining the feed stream 2301 to generate the product stream 2303 comprising one or more hydrocarbon products, such as methane, ethane, propane and/or butane.
  • processing equipment can include separations units, such as distillation columns.
  • the product stream 2303 comprises methane at a concentration (or purity) that is higher as compared to the feed stream 2301.
  • the product stream 2303 can be directed to a natural gas pipeline for distribution of natural gas to end users.
  • FIG. 23B shows the feed stream 2301 directed into NGL system 2304.
  • the NGL system 2304 can include at least a subset or all of the equipment of the NGL system 2302 described in the context of FIG. 23A.
  • the NGL system 2304 is the NGL system 2302.
  • the NGL system 2304 yields the product stream 2303 and an additional product stream 2305.
  • the additional product stream 2305 is directed to an OCM-ETL system 2306.
  • the OCM-ETL system 2306 generates product stream 2307, which can include C 2+ compounds.
  • the product stream comprises C 3 -Ci 2 hydrocarbons.
  • FIG. 23B shows an NGL process retrofitted with an OCM-ETL system
  • other non-OCM processes may be retrofitted with the OCM-ETL system.
  • the OCM- ETL system can be integrated in an oil refinery, and products from crude oil refining may be directed to the OCM-ETL system for further processing.
  • FIG. 24 shows a system 2400 comprising an existing gas plant 2401 that has been retrofitted with an OCM-ETL system 2402.
  • the OCM-ETL system 2402 may be used with ethylene or other olefins.
  • a raw natural gas (NG) feed 2403 is directed into the existing gas plant 2401, which comprises a treatment unit 2404, NGL extraction unit 2405, compression unit 2406 and fractionation unit 2407.
  • the NGL extraction unit 2405 can be a demethanizer unit, in some cases a demethanizer unit incorporated with a recycle split vapor (RSV) retrofit or standalone unit.
  • the treatment unit 2404 removes water and C0 2 from the NG feed 2403 and directs natural gas to the NGL extraction unit 2405.
  • the treatment unit removes sulfur from the NG feed.
  • the NGL extraction unit 2405 removes methane, ethane, C0 2 and N 2 from the NG feed 2403, and directs methane, ethane, C0 2 and N 2 to the compression unit 2406 along fluid stream 2408. At least a portion of the methane from the fluid stream 2408 is directed along stream 2409 to an OCM reactor 2410 of the OCM-ETL system 2402.
  • the compression unit 2406 compresses methane in the fluid stream 2408 and directs compressed methane to a natural gas pipeline 2411 for distribution of methane to end users.
  • C 2+ compounds from the NGL extraction unit 2405 are directed to the fractionation unit 2407, which can be a distillation column.
  • the fractionation unit 2407 splits the C 2+ compounds into streams comprising various C 2+ compounds, such as a C 2 stream 2412 along with C 3 2423, C 4 and C 5 streams.
  • the C 2 stream 2412 and/or C 3 stream 2423 can be directed to a post-bed cracking (PBC) unit 2413 of the OCM-ETL system 2402.
  • PBC post-bed cracking
  • C 3 , C 4 and/or C 4+ compounds are directed to the PBC unit. Examples of post-bed cracking is described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14/553,795, filed November 25, 2014, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.
  • methane from the stream 2409 and air 2414 are directed to the OCM reactor 2410.
  • the OCM reactor 2410 generates an OCM product stream comprising C 2+ compounds in an OCM process, as discussed elsewhere herein.
  • C 2+ alkanes e.g., ethane
  • C 2 alkanes in the C 2 stream 2412 may be cracked to C 2+ alkenes (e.g., ethylene) in the post-bed cracking (PBC) unit 2413 (which can be a downstream component of the OCM reactor 2410).
  • PBC post-bed cracking
  • the product stream is then directed to a condenser 2415, which removes water from the product stream.
  • the product stream is then directed to a compression unit 2416 and subsequently a pressure swing absorption (PSA) unit 2417.
  • PSA pressure swing absorption
  • the PSA separates N 2 , CO, C0 2 , H 2 0, H 2 and some methane from C 2+ compounds in the product stream, and directs the C 2+ compounds to one or more ETL reactors 2418 of the OCM-ETL system 2402.
  • the stream comprising nitrogen 2424 (and in some cases 03 ⁇ 4, C0 2 , H 2 0, H 2 and/or CO) can be fed into a fuel gas stream for use in generating power, burning, use as a thermal oxidizer.
  • the C 2+ compounds directed into the ETL reactor 2418 can include ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, along with methane, CO, C0 2 , H 2 , N 2 and water.
  • the ETL reactor 2418 generates higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, such as C 4 -C 12 (e.g., C 4+ or C 5+ ) compounds (e.g., butane, butylenes, pentane, hexane, etc.).
  • a product stream from the ETL reactor 2418 is directed to another compression unit 2419 and subsequently a vapor-liquid separator (or knockout drum) 2420, which separates liquids (e.g., the C5+ compounds) from vapors (e.g., methane) in the product stream and provides a product stream 2421 comprising the C 5+ compounds.
  • a vapor-liquid separator or knockout drum
  • Remaining compounds including vapors (e.g., methane), are recycled to the feed stream 2403 along recycle stream 2422.
  • Methane directed along stream 2422 can be directed to the OCM reactor 2410 for further C 2+ product generation.
  • the OCM-ETL 2402 system can include one or more OCM reactor 2410.
  • the OCM reactor 2410 can be an OCM reactor train comprising multiple OCM reactors.
  • the OCM-ETL system 2402 can include one or more ETL reactor 2418.
  • the ETL reactor 2418 can be multiple ETL reactors in parallel, with each ETL reactor configured to generate a given hydrocarbon (see, e.g., FIG. 1).
  • C 3 and/or C 4 compounds can be taken from the fractionators and fed into a further downstream region of a post-bed cracking (PBC) reactor for olefin production.
  • PBC post-bed cracking
  • the compression units 2406, 2416 and 2419 can each be a multistage gas compression unit. Each stage of such multistage gas compression unit can be followed by cooling and liquid hydrocarbon and water removal.
  • the OCM-ETL system 2402 can be operated with other oxidizing agents, such as previously separated 0 2 such as 0 2 from a pipeline or as a product from an air separation unit (ASU).
  • ASU air separation unit
  • an 0 2 feed stream 414 is directed to the OCM reactor 2410.
  • the 0 2 feed stream 2514 can be generated, for example, using a cryogenic air separation unit (not shown), which separates air into individual streams comprising 0 2 and N 2 .
  • the system of FIG. 25 further includes a methanation system 2523 (see below) that converts CO, C0 2 and H 2 from the vapor-liquid separator to methane, which can be recycled along stream 2422.
  • Fluid may be directed from one unit to another with the aid of valves and a fluid flow system.
  • a fluid flow system can include compressors and/or pumps, as well as a control system for regulating fluid flow, as described elsewhere herein.
  • Oxidative Coupling of Methane is a process that may convert natural gas (or methane) to ethylene and other longer hydrocarbon molecules via reaction of methane with oxygen.
  • side reactions can include reforming and combustion, which can lead to the presence of significant amounts of H 2 , CO and C0 2 in the effluent stream.
  • Typical H 2 content in the effluent stream can range between about 5% and about
  • CO and C0 2 can each range between about 1% and about 5%, between about 1% and about 3%, or between about 3% and about 5% (molar basis).
  • the ethylene and all the other longer hydrocarbon molecules contained in the effluent stream are separated and purified to yield the final products of the process. This can leave an effluent stream containing the unconverted methane, hydrogen, CO and C0 2 and several other compounds, including low amounts of the product themselves depending on their recovery rates.
  • this effluent stream needs to be recycled to the OCM reactor.
  • CO and H 2 are recycled to the OCM reactor along with methane, they can react with oxygen to produce C0 2 and H 2 0, causing various negative consequences to the process including, but not limited to: (a) an increase of the natural gas feed consumption (e.g., because a larger portion of it can result in C0 2 generation instead of product generation); (b) a decrease of the OCM per-pass methane conversion (e.g., because a portion of the allowable adiabatic temperature increase can be exploited by the H 2 and CO combustion reactions instead of the OCM reactions); and an increase of the oxygen consumption (e.g., because some of the oxygen feed can react with CO and H 2 instead of methane).
  • the effluent stream is exported to a natural gas pipeline (e.g., to be sold as sales gas into the natural gas infrastructure). Given that specifications can be in place for natural gas pipelines, the concentrations of CO, C0 2 and H 2 in the effluent can need to be reduced to meet the pipeline requirements.
  • the effluent stream may also be used as a feedstock for certain processes that may require lower concentrations of H 2 , CO and C0 2 .
  • Described herein are systems and methods for reducing CO, C0 2 and H 2 concentration in a methane stream.
  • the method comprises reacting these compounds to form methane in a reaction called methanation.
  • C0 2 and/or sulfur-containing compounds can be separated via a C0 2 removal unit, such as, for example, an amine-based system, a caustic system or any other physical or chemical absorption or adsorption unit.
  • C0 2 removal unit such as, for example, an amine-based system, a caustic system or any other physical or chemical absorption or adsorption unit.
  • CO and H 2 can be separated together with the methane in a cryogenic separator.
  • CO and H 2 are recycled to an OCM reactor along with methane, they can react with oxygen (e.g., pure 0 2 or 0 2 in air) to produce C0 2 and H 2 0, causing various negative consequences to the process, including, without limitation: (i) increase in natural gas feed consumption and a decrease in C 2+ product generation; (ii) decrease of the OCM per-pass methane conversion; and (iii) increase in oxygen consumption.
  • oxygen e.g., pure 0 2 or 0 2 in air
  • oxygen e.g., pure 0 2 or 0 2 in air
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a methanation system that can be employed to reduce the concentration of CO, C0 2 and H 2 in a given stream, such as an OCM product stream as well as improve carbon efficiency. This can advantageously minimize the
  • concentration of CO, C0 2 and H 2 in any stream that may be ultimately recycled to an OCM reactor concentration of CO, C0 2 and H 2 in any stream that may be ultimately recycled to an OCM reactor.
  • the methanation system can be employed for use with any system of the present disclosure, such as the OCM-ETL system described herein.
  • CO reacts with H 2 to yield methane via CO + 3 H 2 ⁇ CH 4 + H 2 0.
  • C0 2 can react with H 2 to yield methane via C0 2 + 4 H 2 -) CH 4 + 2 H 2 0.
  • Such processes are exothermic and generate heat that may be used as heat input to other process units, such as heating an OCM reactor of a PBC reactor, or pre-heating reactants, such as methane and/or an oxidizing agent (e.g., 0 2 ) prior to an OCM reaction.
  • methanation can be conducted on streams that contain CO, C0 2 , H 2 and a suitable carrier gas.
  • the carrier gas can include an inert gas, such as, e.g., N 2 , He or Ar, or an alkane (e.g., methane, ethane, propane and/or butane).
  • the carrier gas can add thermal heat capacity and significantly reduce the adiabatic temperature increase resulting from the methanation reactions.
  • methane and higher carbon alkanes e.g., ethane, propane and butane
  • nitrogen are employed as carrier gases in a methanation process.
  • These molecules can be present in an OCM process, such as in an OCM product stream comprising C 2+ compounds.
  • Downstream separation units such as a cryogenic separation unit, can be configured to produce a stream that contains any (or none) of these compounds in combination with CO and H 2 . This stream can then be directed to the methanation system.
  • a methanation system can include one or more methanation reactors and heat
  • CO, C0 2 and H 2 can be added along various streams to the one or more
  • a compressor can be used to increase the C0 2 stream pressure up to the methanation operating pressure, which can be from about 2 bar (absolute) to 60 bar, or 3 bar to
  • C0 2 can be added to the inlet of the system in order to create an excess of C0 2 compared to the amount stoichiometrically required to consume all the available H 2 . This is done in order to minimize H 2 recycled to OCM, which may not be preferable.
  • a methanation system can include various methanation reactors for performing methanation.
  • a methanation reactor is an adiabatic reactor, such as an adiabatic fixed bed reactor.
  • the adiabatic reactor can be in one stage or multiple stages, depending, for example, on the concentration of CO, C0 2 and H 2 in the feed stream to the methanation system. If multiple stages are used, inter-stage cooling can be performed by either heat exchangers (e.g., a stage effluent can be cooled against the feed stream or any other colder stream available in the plant, such as boiler feed water) or quenching via cold shots, i.e.
  • a methanation reactor can be an isothermal reactor.
  • reaction heat can be removed by the isothermal reactor by, for example, generating steam, which can enable a higher concentration of CO, C0 2 and H 2 to be used with the isothermal reactor.
  • other types of reactors may be used for methanation.
  • FIG. 26 shows an example methanation system 2600.
  • the system 2600 comprises a first reactor 2601, second reactor 2602 and a heat exchanger 2603.
  • the first reactor 2601 and second reactor 2602 can be adiabatic reactors.
  • a recycle stream 2604 comprising methane, CO and H 2 (e.g., from a cryogenic separation unit) is directed to the heat exchanger 2603.
  • the recycle stream 2604 comprises between about 65% and 90% (molar basis) methane, between about 5% and 15% H 2 , between 1% and 5% CO, between about 0% and 0.5% ethylene, and the balance inert gases (e.g., N 2 , Ar and He).
  • the recycle stream 2604 can have a temperature from about 20°C to 30°C, and a pressure from about 2 bar to 60 bar (absolute), or 3 bar to 30 bar.
  • the recycle stream 2604 can be generated by a separation unit downstream of an OCM reactor, such as a cryogenic separation unit.
  • the temperature of the recycle stream 2604 is increased to about 100 °C to 400 °C, or 200 °C to 300 °C.
  • the heated recycle stream 2604 is then directed to the first reactor 2601.
  • CO and H 2 in the recycle stream 2604 react to yield methane. This reaction can progress until all of the H 2 is depleted and/or a temperature approach to equilibrium of about 0 to 30 °C, or 0 to 15 °C is achieved.
  • the methanation reaction in the first reactor 2601 can result in an adiabatic temperature increase of about 20 °C to 300 °C, or 50 °C to 150 °C.
  • products from the first reactor including methane and unreacted CO and/or H 2
  • heat from the first product stream 2603 is removed and directed to the recycle stream 2604, prior to the recycle stream 2604 being directed to the first reactor 2601.
  • a portion of the heated first product stream is mixed with a C0 2 stream 2605 to yield a mixed stream that is directed to the second reactor 2602.
  • the C0 2 stream 2605 can be generated by a separation unit downstream of an OCM reactor, such as a cryogenic separation unit. This can be the same separation unit that generated the recycle stream 2604.
  • the methods described herein increase carbon efficiency compared to methods that do not use methanation.
  • the amount of CO and/or C0 2 can be reduced by at least about 5%, at least about 10%, at least about 20%, at least about 50%, at least about 75% or at least about 80%.
  • CO and C0 2 react with H 2 to yield a second product stream 2606 comprising methane.
  • the reaction(s) in the second reactor 2602 can progress until substantially all of the H 2 is depleted and/or a temperature approach to equilibrium of about 0 to 30 °C, or 0 to 15 °C is achieved.
  • the proportions of CO, C0 2 and H 2 in the mixed stream can be selected such that the second product stream 2606 is substantially depleted in CO and H 2 .
  • the second product stream 2606 is fed back into the natural gas feed of a natural gas to liquids facility.
  • the first reactor 2601 and the second reactor 2602 can be two catalytic stages in the same reactor vessel or can be arranged as two separate vessels.
  • the first reactor 2601 and second reactor 2602 can each include a catalyst, such as a catalyst comprising one or more of ruthenium, cobalt, nickel and iron.
  • the first reactor 2601 and second reactor 2602 can be fluidized bed or packed bed reactors.
  • the system 2600 comprises two reactors 2601 and 2602, the system 2600 can include any number of reactors in series and/or in parallel, such as at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 reactors.
  • C0 2 stream 2605 is shown to be directed to the second reactor 2602 and not the first reactor 2601, in an alternative configuration, at least a portion or the entire C0 2 stream
  • the proportions of CO, C0 2 and H 2 can be selected such that the methanation product stream is substantially depleted in CO and H 2 .
  • Methane generated in the system 2600 can be employed for various uses.
  • at least a portion of the methane can be recycled to an OCM reactor (e.g., as part of an OCM-
  • At least a portion of the methane can be directed to a non-OCM process, such as a natural gas stream of a natural gas plant (see, e.g., FIGs. 3 and 4).
  • a non-OCM process such as a natural gas stream of a natural gas plant (see, e.g., FIGs. 3 and 4).
  • at least a portion of the methane can be directed to end users, such as along a natural gas pipeline.
  • the methanation reaction can be practiced over a nickel-based catalyst, such as those used to produce SNG (Substitute Natural Gas or Synthetic Natural Gas) from syngas or used to purify streams containing CO and C0 2 (e.g., to remove CO and C0 2 present in the make-up feed to an ammonia synthesis unit).
  • a nickel-based catalyst such as those used to produce SNG (Substitute Natural Gas or Synthetic Natural Gas) from syngas or used to purify streams containing CO and C0 2 (e.g., to remove CO and C0 2 present in the make-up feed to an ammonia synthesis unit).
  • KATALCOTM series including models 1 1-4, 1 1-4R, 1 1-4M and 1 1-4MR
  • the HTC series including NI 500 RP 1.2
  • Type 146 having ruthenium supported on alumina.
  • Additional methanation catalysts include models PK-7R and METH-134.
  • the methanation catalyst can be tableted or an extrudate.
  • the shapes of such catalysts can be, for example, cylindrical, spherical, or ring structures, or partial shapes and/or combinations thereof.
  • ring structures are advantageous due to their reduced pressure drop across the reactor bed relative to cylindrical and spherical commercial forms.
  • the methanation catalyst is a doped or modified version of a commercially available catalyst.
  • a methanation catalyst to the OCM and/or ETL process that has been developed or optimized for another process (e.g., SNG production or gas purification) can result in operational problems and/or non-optimal performance, including carbon formation (or coking) over the methanation catalyst. Coking can lead to de-activation of the catalyst and, eventually, to loss of conversion through the methanation reactor, thus making the methanation process ineffective, severely limiting the performances of the overall OCM and/or ETL -based process and, possibly, preventing the final products from achieving the required specifications.
  • the selectivity and/or conversion produced by an existing and/or commercially available methanation catalyst at a given process condition may not be ideal for OCM and/or ETL implementations.
  • ammonia plants can have between about 100 ppm and 1% CO with a molar excess of H 2 (e.g., 2, 5, 10, 50, 100-fold or more excess) that drives equilibrium in favor of complete methanation.
  • Methanation systems in ammonia plants have a small temperature difference between inlet and outlet of the adiabatic methanation reactor (e.g., 20 to 30 °C) and can be sized for catalyst lifetime. SNG production does not have a vast molar excess of H 2 in some cases.
  • Methanation in SNG processes can have an inlet versus outlet temperature difference of greater than 100 °C and be performed in multiple stages. Furthermore, the purpose of methanation can be different for OCM and/or ETL. Ammonia and SNG processes typically perform methanation primarily to eliminate CO and/or C0 2 (although H 2 can also be eliminated or substantially reduced in concentration), while methanation is performed in OCM and/or ETL processes primarily to eliminate H 2 (although CO and/or C0 2 can also be eliminated or substantially reduced in concentration).
  • a methanation catalyst and/or catalytic process is described herein that can prevent or reduce carbon formation in the methanation reactor or other operational inefficiencies.
  • the catalyst and/or catalytic process can be achieved through any combination of: (a) removing chemical species that can contribute to coke formation from the methanation inlet feed; (b) introducing chemical species into the methanation feed that eliminate or reduce the rate of coke formation; and (c) using the methanation catalyst described herein that reduces or eliminates coke formation and/or is designed to operate at the process conditions of OCM and/or ETL effluent or OCM and/or ETL process streams (e.g., gas-hourly space velocity, molar
  • the species present in the OCM and/or ETL effluent stream that can lead to carbon formation in the methanation reactor are removed or reduced in concentration using a separations or reactive process.
  • the typical operating conditions of a methanation reactor can be between about 3 and about 50 bar pressure and between about 150 and about 400 °C temperature. Any hydrocarbon species containing carbon-carbon double or triple bonds is sufficiently reactive to form carbon deposits (e.g., coke). Examples of these species are acetylene, all olefins and aromatic compounds.
  • Removal or significant reduction of these species can be achieved via different methods including, but not limited to: (a) hydrogenation (e.g., reaction of these species with the hydrogen present in the effluent stream itself to produce alkanes) over suitable catalysts prior to the methanation reactor; (b) condensation and separation of these species from methane prior to the methanation reactor; (c) absorption or adsorption of these species; (d) by utilizing suitable membranes; or (d) any combination thereof.
  • hydrogenation e.g., reaction of these species with the hydrogen present in the effluent stream itself to produce alkanes
  • An aspect of the present disclosure provides a methanation catalyst for an OCM and/or ETL process. Coke formation is typically the product of surface driven reactions. Therefore, the methanation catalyst for OCM and/or ETL alters the local electronic environment around the active site of the catalyst.
  • syntheses include; nanowires of the same material, nanoparticles coated on a support, and vapor deposition of the active material on a support material.
  • Additional modifications to the surface may result from post synthetic processing steps, such as etching of the surface, oxidizing and reducing the metal to create a different surface
  • the methanation process and/or methanation catalyst operates with OCM and/or ETL product gas, either directly or after one or more heat exchangers or separation operations.
  • the methanation feed stream can have the following composition on a molar basis: CH 4 between about 65% and about 90%; H 2 between about 5% and about 15%; CO between about 1%) and about 5% (molar basis); C 2 H 4 between about 0% and about 0.5%; and C 2 H 2 between about 0% and about 0.1%.
  • the ETL effluent can contain C 2+ compounds including propane, propylene, butane, butylene, and C 5+ compounds. These C 2+ compounds can be present in the stream entering the methanation reactor in any concentration.
  • the balance of the feed stream can be inert gases such as N 2 , Ar and He.
  • the methanation feed stream typically has a temperature close to ambient temperature and a pressure ranging between about 3 and about 50 bar.
  • the entire ETL product stream and/or all of the C 2+ compounds present in the ETL effluent and/or any or all of the olefins present in the ETL effluent are fed into the methanation reactor, such as via the methanation feed.
  • the temperature of the ETL product stream and/or all of the C 2+ compounds present in the ETL effluent and/or any or all of the olefins present in the ETL effluent are fed into the methanation reactor, such as via the methanation feed.
  • the temperature of the methanation reactor such as via the methanation feed.
  • ETL effluent is not reduced, or not substantially reduced before being fed into the methanation reactor such that all or most (at least about 70%, at least about 80%, at least about 90%, at least about 95%), or at least about 99%) of the C 2+ compounds and/or olefins remain in the methanation reactor.
  • the temperature of the ETL effluent is reduced to separate some of the C 2+ compounds and/or olefins from the stream before being fed into the methanator.
  • the temperature can be reduced to a temperature sufficiently low to remove most (at least about 70%, at least about 80%, at least about 90%, at least about 95%, or at least about 99%) of the C 5+ compounds (e.g., about 40 °C), to remove most (at least about 70%, at least about 80%, at least about 90%), at least about 95%, or at least about 99%) of the C 4+ compounds (e.g., about 10 °C), or to remove most (at least about 70%, at least about 80%, at least about 90%, at least about 95%), or at least about 99%) of the C 3+ compounds (e.g., about -40 °C).
  • the methanation reaction can produce water and/or have water in the methanation effluent. In some cases, it can be desirable to remove this water prior to recycling the
  • methanation effluent to the OCM reactor This can be accomplished by lowering the temperature of the methanation effluent or performing any separation procedure that removes the water.
  • at least about 70%, at least about 80%, at least about 70%, at least about 90%), at least about 95%, or at least about 99% of the water is removed from the methanation effluent prior to the OCM reactor. Removing the water can increase the lifetime and/or performance of the OCM catalyst.
  • the ETL process can be designed to use a methanation catalyst that is not optimized for the ETL process.
  • the OCM or OCM-ETL process can be designed to produce gasoline or distillates or aromatics (or any combination thereof) from natural gas.
  • the effluent of the OCM reactor is fed to an ETL reactor where all short olefins (e.g., ethylene and propylene) are converted to longer chain hydrocarbons over a suitable oligomerization catalyst.
  • An example of such a catalyst is the zeolite ZSM-5.
  • oligomerization products paraffins, isoparaffins, olefins and aromatics
  • the concentration of the oligomerization products in the methanation feed stream can vary depending on the type and extent of separation conducted prior to the methanation step.
  • the methanation feed stream typically has a temperature close to or below ambient temperature and a pressure ranging between 3 and 50 bar.
  • the methanation system can be designed to use a catalyst that is not necessarily optimized for the OCM and/or ETL process streams.
  • the methanation feed stream 2700 is first sent to a first heat exchanger 2705 where its temperature is increased to the methanation reactor inlet temperature, typically between 150 and 300 °C. Steam is injected 2710 immediately downstream of the heat exchanger to increase water concentration in the methanation feed stream. Then the heated stream is fed to a first adiabatic reactor 2715 where ethylene, acetylene and any other hydrocarbon that presents multiple carbon-carbon bonds are hydrogenated via reaction with the H 2 present in the stream itself.
  • the effluent from 2715 is then fed to a second reactor 2720, where CO and C0 2 react with H 2 until a desired approach to equilibrium is achieved, typically 0 - 15 °C to equilibrium.
  • the adiabatic temperature increase that results from CO and C0 2 methanation can depend on the composition of the feed stream, and is typically in the 50 - 150 °C range.
  • the effluent from the second reactor 2720 is then sent to the first heat exchanger 2705 and a second heat exchanger 2725 where it is cooled down to a temperature below water condensation.
  • the stream is then fed to a phase separator 2730 where the condensed water and a portion of the longer hydrocarbons is separated from the vapors.
  • the vapor stream from the phase separator 2735 is sent to the final product purification and recovery section or injected into a natural gas pipeline, depending on its concentration.
  • the vapor stream 2735 from the phase separator 2730 can be further methanated in a second methanation reactor to further reduce CO, C0 2 and H 2 concentration (not shown).
  • the liquid stream from the phase separator 2740 is re-injected into the methanation feed stream alongside the steam. Alternatively, it can be first vaporized and then re-injected, or it can be sent to a water treatment system for water recovery and purification (not shown).
  • the reactors 2715, 2720 (and a third reactor, if present) or any combination of them can be physically situated in the same vessel or can be arranged in separate individual vessels.
  • a Fischer- Tropsch (F-T) reactor can be used to replace a methanation reactor, for example in a methane recycle stream.
  • CO and H 2 such as that found in a methane recycle stream, can be converted to a variety of paraffinic linear hydrocarbons, including methane, in an F-T reaction.
  • Higher levels of linear hydrocarbons, such as ethane, can improve OCM process efficiency and economics.
  • effluent from an OCM reactor can be directed through a cooling/compression system and other processes before removal of a recycle stream in a de-methanizer.
  • the recycle stream can comprise CH 4 , CO, and H 2 , and can be directed into an F-T reactor.
  • the F-T reactor can produce CH 4 and C 2+ paraffins for recycling into the OCM reactor.
  • a range of catalysts including any suitable F-T catalyst, can be employed.
  • Reactor designs including those discussed in the present disclosure, can be employed.
  • F-T reactor operation conditions, including temperature and pressure, can be optimized. This approach can reduce H 2 consumption compared to a methanation reactor.
  • methane In natural gas processing plants, methane can be separated from ethane and higher carbon-content hydrocarbons (conventionally called natural gas liquids or NGLs) to produce a methane-rich stream that can meet the specifications of pipelines and sales gas. Such separation can be performed using cryogenic separation, such as with the aid of one or more cryogenic units.
  • the raw natural gas fed to gas processing plants can have a molar composition of 70% to 95% methane and 4% to 20% NGLs, the balance being inert gas(ses) (e.g., C0 2 and N 2 ).
  • the ratio of methane to ethane can be in the range of 5-25 : 1.
  • at least some or substantially all of the cooling duty required for the separation is provided by a variety of compression and expansion steps performed on the feed stream and the methane product stream. None or a limited portion of the cooling duty can be supplied by external refrigeration units.
  • alkenes e.g., ethylene
  • OCM product stream comprising methane
  • a limited recovery e.g., provide less than 95% recovery
  • Hydrogen can display a negative or substantially low Joule-Thomson coefficient, which can cause a temperature increase or a substantially low temperature decrease in temperature when a hydrogen-reach stream is expanded.
  • the design of a cryogenic separation system of an OCM-based plant can feature a different combination of compression / expansion steps for internal refrigeration and, in some cases, external refrigeration.
  • the present disclosure provides a separation system comprising one or more cryogenic separation units and one or more de- methanizer units. Such a system can maximize alkene recovery (e.g., provide greater than 95% recovery) from a stream comprising a mixture of alkanes, alkenes, and other gases (e.g., H 2 ), such as in an OCM product stream (see FIGs. 24 and 25 and the associated text).
  • the cooling duty can be supplied by a combination of expansion of the OCM effluent (feed stream to the cryogenic section) when the OCM effluent pressure is higher than a de-methanizer column; expansion of at least a portion or all of the de- methanizer overhead methane-rich stream; compression and expansion of a portion of the de- methanizer overhead methane-rich stream; and/or external propane, propylene or ethylene refrigeration units.
  • FIGs. 28-33 show various separation systems, as can be employed with various systems and methods of the present disclosure. Such systems can be employed for use in the OCM-ETL systems described herein, such as used as the vapor-liquid separator 320 described above in the context of FIGs. 3 and 4.
  • FIG. 28 shows a separation system 2800 comprising a first heat exchanger 2801, a second heat exchanger 2802, a de-methanizer 2803, and a third heat exchanger 2804.
  • the direction of fluid flow is shown in the figure.
  • the de-methanizer 2803 can be a distillation unit or multiple distillation units (e.g., in series).
  • the de-methanizer can include a reboiler and a condenser, each of which can be a heat exchanger.
  • An OCM effluent stream 2805 is directed to the first heat exchanger 2801 at a pressure from about 10 to 100 bar (absolute), or 20 to 40 bar.
  • the OCM effluent stream 2805 can include methane and C 2+ compounds, and may be provided in an OCM product stream from an OCM reactor (not shown).
  • the OCM effluent stream 2805 is then directed from the first heat exchanger 2801 to the second heat exchanger 2802.
  • the OCM effluent stream 2805 is cooled upon heat transfer to a de-methanizer overhead stream 2806, a de- methanizer reboiler stream 2807, a de-methanizer bottom product stream 2808, and a refrigeration stream 2809 having a heat exchange fluid comprising propane or an equivalent cooling medium, such as, but not limited to, propylene or a mixture of propane and propylene.
  • the cooled OCM effluent 2805 can be directed to the de-methanizer 2803, where light components, such as CH 4 , H 2 and CO, are separated from heavier components, such as ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and any other less volatile component present in the OCM effluent stream 2805.
  • the light components are directed out of the de-methanizer along the overhead stream 2806.
  • the heavier components are directed out of the de-methanizer along the bottom product stream 2808.
  • the de-methanizer can be designed such that at least about 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 95% of the ethylene in the OCM effluent stream 2805 is directed to the bottom product stream 2808.
  • the de-methanizer overhead stream 2806 can contain at least 60%, 65%, or 70% methane.
  • the overhead stream 2806 can be expanded (e.g., in a turbo-expander or similar machine or flashed over a valve or similar device) to decrease the temperature of the overhead stream 2806 prior to directing the overhead stream 2806 to the second heat exchanger 2802 and subsequently the first heat exchanger 2801.
  • the overhead stream 2806 can be cooled in the third heat exchanger 2804, which can be cooled using a reflux stream and a hydrocarbon-containing cooling fluid, such as, for example, ethylene.
  • the overhead stream 2806 which can include methane, can be recycled to an OCM reactor and/or directed for other uses, such as a natural gas pipeline.
  • the bottom product stream which can contain C 2+ compounds (e.g., ethylene), can be directed to an ETL system.
  • FIG. 29 shows another separation system 2900 that may be employed for use with systems and methods of the present disclosure.
  • the direction of fluid flow is shown in the figure.
  • the system 2900 comprises a first heat exchanger 2901, de-methanizer 2902 and a second heat exchanger 2903.
  • the de-methanizer 2902 can be a distillation unit or multiple distillation units (e.g., in series).
  • An OCM effluent stream 2904 is directed into the first heat exchanger 2901.
  • the OCM effluent stream 2904 can include methane and C 2+ compounds, and may be provided in an OCM product stream from an OCM reactor (not shown).
  • the OCM effluent stream 2904 can be provided at a pressure from about 10 bar (absolute) to 100 bar, or 40 bar to 70 bar.
  • the OCM effluent stream 2904 can be cooled upon heat transfer to a de- methanizer overhead streams 2905 and 2906 from the second heat exchanger 2903, a de- methanizer reboiler stream 2907 and 2908, and a refrigeration stream having a cooling fluid comprising, for example, propane or an equivalent cooling medium, such as, but not limited to, propylene or a mixture of propane and propylene.
  • the de-methanizer overhead streams 2905 and 2906 are combined into an output stream 2912 before or after passing through the first heat exchanger 2901.
  • the OCM effluent stream 2904 can be expanded in a turbo-expander or similar device or flashed over a valve or similar device to a pressure of at least about 5 bar, 6 bar, 7 bar, 8 bar, 9 bar, or 10 bar.
  • the cooled OCM effluent stream 2904 can then be directed to the de-methanizer 2902, where light components
  • lighter components e.g., ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and any other less volatile component present in the OCM effluent stream 2904.
  • the light components are directed to an overhead stream 2909 while the heavier components (e.g.,
  • a portion of the overhead stream 2909 is directed to second heat exchanger 2903 and subsequently to the first heat exchanger 2901 along stream 2906.
  • a remainder of the overhead stream 2909 is pressurized in a compressor and directed to the second heat exchanger 2903.
  • the remainder of the overhead stream 2909 is then directed to a phase separation unit 2911 (e.g., distillation unit or vapor-liquid separator). Liquids from the phase separation unit 2911 are directed to the second heat exchanger 2903 and subsequently returned to the de-methanizer 2902.
  • a phase separation unit 2911 e.g., distillation unit or vapor-liquid separator
  • Vapors from the phase separation unit 2911 are expanded (e.g., in a turbo-expander or similar device) and directed to the second heat exchanger 2903, and thereafter to the first heat exchanger along stream 2905.
  • the de- methanizer 2902 can be designed such that at least about 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 95% of the ethylene in the OCM effluent stream 2904 is directed to the bottom product stream 2910.
  • FIG. 30 shows another separation system 3000 that may be employed for use with systems and methods of the present disclosure.
  • the direction of fluid flow is shown in the figure.
  • the system 3000 comprises a first heat exchanger 3001, a de-methanizer 3002, a second heat exchanger 3003 and a third heat exchanger 3004.
  • the system 3000 may not require any external refrigeration.
  • the de-methanizer 3002 can be a distillation unit or multiple distillation units (e.g., in series).
  • An OCM effluent stream 3005 is directed to the first heat exchanger 3001 at a pressure from about 10 bar (absolute) to 100 bar, or 40 bar to 70 bar.
  • the OCM effluent stream 3005 can be cooled upon heat transfer to de- methanizer overhead streams 3006 and 3007, a de-methanizer reboiler stream 3008 and a de- methanizer bottom product stream 3009.
  • the de-methanizer overhead streams 3006 and 3007 are combined into a common stream 3015 before or after they are passed through the first heat exchanger 3001.
  • the OCM effluent stream 3005 is then expanded to a pressure of at least about 5 bar, 6 bar, 7 bar, 8 bar, 9 bar, or 10 bar, such as, for example, in a turbo-expander or similar machine or flashed over a valve or similar device.
  • the cooled OCM effluent stream 3005 is then directed to the de-methanizer 3002, where light components (e.g., CH 4 , H 2 and CO) are separated from heavier components (e.g., ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and any other less volatile component present in the OCM effluent stream 3005).
  • the light components are directed to an overhead stream 3010 while the heavier components are directed along the bottom product stream 3009.
  • the de-methanizer 3002 can be designed such that at least about 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 95% of the ethylene in the OCM effluent stream 3005 is directed to the bottom product stream 3009.
  • the de-methanizer overhead stream 3010 which can contain at least 50%, 60%, or 70% methane, can be divided into two streams.
  • a first stream 3011 is compressed in compressor 3012 and cooled in the second heat exchanger 3003 and phase separated in a phase separation unit 3013 (e.g., vapor-liquid separator or distillation column).
  • Vapors from the phase separation unit 3013 are expanded (e.g., in a turbo-expander or similar device) to provide part of the cooling duty required in heat exchangers 3001, 3003 and 3004.
  • Liquids from the phase separation unit 3013 are sub-cooled in the third heat exchanger 3004 and recycled to the de- methanizer 3002.
  • a second stream 3014 from the overhead stream 3010 can be expanded (e.g., in a turbo-expander or similar device) to decrease its temperature and provide additional cooling to the heat exchangers 3001, 3003 and 3004.
  • FIG. 31 shows another separation system 3100 that may be employed for use with systems and methods of the present disclosure.
  • the direction of fluid flow is shown in the figure.
  • the system 3100 comprises a first heat exchanger 3101, a de-methanizer 3102, and a second heat exchanger 3103.
  • An OCM effluent stream 3104 is directed to the first heat exchanger 3101 at a pressure from about 2 bar (absolute) to 100 bar, or 3 bar to 10 bar.
  • the first heat exchanger 3101 can interface with a propane refrigeration unit 3115 and/or an ethylene refrigeration unit 3116.
  • the OCM effluent stream 3104 can be cooled upon heat transfer to de-methanizer overhead streams 3105 and 3106, a de-methanizer reboiler stream, a de-methanizer pump-around stream, and various levels of external
  • the de-methanizer overhead streams 3105 and 3106 are combined into a single stream 3114 before or after they are cooled.
  • the cooled OCM effluent stream 3104 is then directed to the de- methanizer 3102, where light components (e.g., CH 4 , H 2 and CO) are separated from heavier components (e.g., ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and any other less volatile component present in the OCM effluent stream 3104).
  • the light components are directed to an overhead stream 3107 and the heavier components are directed along a bottom product stream 3108.
  • the de-methanizer 3102 can be designed such that at least about 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 95% of the ethylene in the OCM effluent stream 3104 is directed to the bottom product stream 3108.
  • the de-methanizer overhead stream which can contain at least about 50%, 60%, or 70% methane, can be divided into two streams.
  • a first stream 3113 can be compressed in a compressor 3109, cooled in the second heat exchanger 3103 and phase-separated in a phase separation unit 3110 (e.g., distillation column or vapor-liquid separator). Vapors from the phase separation unit 3110 can be expanded (e.g., in a turbo-expander or similar device) to provide part of the cooling duty required for the heat exchanger 3101 and 3103.
  • a phase separation unit 3110 e.g., distillation column or vapor-liquid separator
  • Liquids from the phase separation unit 3110 can be sub-cooled and flashed (e.g., over a valve or similar device), and the resulting two-phase stream is separated in an additional phase separation unit 3111. Liquids from the additional phase separation unit 3111 are recycled to the de-methanizer 3102 and vapors from the additional phase separation unit are mixed with expanded vapors from the phase separation unit 3110 prior to being directed to the second heat exchanger 3103.
  • a second stream 3112 from the overhead stream 3107 can be expanded (e.g., in a turbo- expander or similar device) to decrease its temperature and provide additional cooling for the heat exchanger 3101 and 3103.
  • Any additional cooling that may be required for the second heat exchanger 3103 can be provided by an external refrigeration system, which may employ a cooling fluid comprising ethylene or an equivalent cooling medium.
  • recycle split vapor (RSV) separation can be performed in combination with de-methanization.
  • the methane undergoes an OCM and/or ETL process to produce liquid fuel or aromatic compounds (e.g., higher hydrocarbon liquids) and contains molecules that have gone through methanation.
  • the compounds have been through a recycle split vapor (RSV) separation process.
  • alkanes e.g., ethane, propane, butane
  • a post-bed cracker e.g., a post-bed cracker.
  • Systems above and elsewhere herein are not limited to ethylene and may be configured to operate with other olefins, such as propylene, butenes, pentene, or other alkenes.
  • olefins such as propylene, butenes, pentene, or other alkenes.
  • an OCM reactor may generate an OCM effluent stream comprising propylene and/or one or more butenes, which may be used to provide one or more streams comprising higher molecular weight hydrocarbons.
  • Systems of the present disclosure may be suitable for generating liquids at less than or equal to about 250 kilotons per annum (KTA) ("small scale"), or generating liquids at greater than about 250 KTA ("world scale”).
  • KTA kilotons per annum
  • a world scale OCM-ETL system generates at least about 1000, 1 100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, or 1600 KTA of liquids.
  • the systems and methods described herein can process natural gas into gas that is suitable for sale (e.g., "sales gas” that meets the specifications required for transportation by pipeline).
  • the systems and methods of the present disclosure can convert methane and/or ethane (e.g., from natural gas) to sales gas as well as products such as LPG, gasoline, distillate fuels, and/or aromatic chemicals.
  • methane and/or ethane e.g., from natural gas
  • sales gas as well as products such as LPG, gasoline, distillate fuels, and/or aromatic chemicals.
  • ethane skimmer Such a system or method is referred to as an "ethane skimmer”.
  • Ethane can be fed directly into a post-bed cracker (PBC), which can be a portion of an OCM reactor downstream of the OCM catalyst, where the heat generated in the OCM reaction can be used to crack the ethane to ethylene.
  • PBC post-bed cracker
  • the PBC can be a unit that is separate from the OCM reactor and in some cases in thermal communication with the OCM reactor.
  • the ethane feed stream to the OCM reactor can include (a) ethane recycled to the OCM reactor from an OCM reactor effluent stream, which can be separated in at least one downstream separation module and recycled to the OCM reactor, (b) ethane present in other feed streams (e.g., natural gas), which can be separated in at least one separation module and recycled to the OCM reactor, and (c) any additional (e.g., fresh) ethane feed.
  • ethane recycled to the OCM reactor from an OCM reactor effluent stream, which can be separated in at least one downstream separation module and recycled to the OCM reactor
  • ethane present in other feed streams e.g., natural gas
  • the maximum amount of ethane that can be converted in the PBC can be limited by the flow rate of material exiting the OCM catalyst and/or its temperature. It can be advantageous to utilize a high proportion of the maximum amount of PBC. In some cases, the amount of ethane converted to ethylene is about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, about 85%, about 90%, about 95%), or about 99% of the maximum amount of ethane that can be converted to ethylene in the PBC.
  • the amount of ethane converted to ethylene is at least about 50%, at least about 60%, at least about 70%, at least about 80%, at least about 85%, at least about 90%, at least about 95%, or at least about 99% of the maximum amount of ethane that can be converted to ethylene in the PBC.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Production Of Liquid Hydrocarbon Mixture For Refining Petroleum (AREA)
  • Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne des systèmes intégrés pour la production de compositions d'hydrocarbure supérieur, par exemple des compositions d'hydrocarbure liquide, à partir du méthane par couplage oxydatif d'un système méthane pour convertir le méthane en éthylène, puis par la conversion de l'éthylène en produits hydrocarbures supérieurs pouvant être sélectionnés. L'invention concerne des systèmes intégrés et des procédés qui permettent de traiter le méthane pour obtenir ces produits hydrocarbures supérieurs.
EP16812367.7A 2015-06-16 2016-06-15 Systèmes et procédés de conversion d'éthylène en liquides Withdrawn EP3310743A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201562180502P 2015-06-16 2015-06-16
US14/789,957 US9328297B1 (en) 2015-06-16 2015-07-01 Ethylene-to-liquids systems and methods
US201562190204P 2015-07-08 2015-07-08
US201562220870P 2015-09-18 2015-09-18
US201562249039P 2015-10-30 2015-10-30
US201662309898P 2016-03-17 2016-03-17
US15/076,436 US20160368834A1 (en) 2015-06-16 2016-03-21 Ethylene-to-liquids systems and methods
PCT/US2016/037687 WO2016205411A2 (fr) 2015-06-16 2016-06-15 Systèmes et procédés de conversion d'éthylène en liquides

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020244639A1 (fr) * 2019-06-06 2020-12-10 中国石化工程建设有限公司 Procédé et dispositif de traitement d'huile et de gaz

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US4511747A (en) * 1984-02-01 1985-04-16 Mobil Oil Corporation Light olefin conversion to heavier hydrocarbons with sorption recovery of unreacted olefin vapor
US4891457A (en) * 1985-09-13 1990-01-02 Hartley Owen Multistage process for converting olefins to heavier hydrocarbons
EP2029504B1 (fr) * 2006-06-07 2016-08-10 Basf Se Procede de co-dimerisation d'olefines
EP2295474A1 (fr) * 2009-09-11 2011-03-16 Total Petrochemicals Research Feluy Procédé de recyclage de flux de produits séparés d'un flux d'alimentation comprenant des hydrocarbures
US9969660B2 (en) * 2012-07-09 2018-05-15 Siluria Technologies, Inc. Natural gas processing and systems

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020244639A1 (fr) * 2019-06-06 2020-12-10 中国石化工程建设有限公司 Procédé et dispositif de traitement d'huile et de gaz

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