Oxygenate conversion reactor catalyst coolers

Abstract

A process of converting oxygenates to light olefins is disclosed including an oxygenate feedstream with contacting catalyst inside a reactor and converting the oxygenate feedstream to said light olefins. The catalyst becomes spent as deposits from the reaction clog up pores on the catalyst surface. A portion of the spent catalyst is regenerated in a regenerator and a portion is circulated back to contact more of the oxygenate feedstream. A catalyst cooler attached to the reactor can cool the spent catalyst circulated through the cooler before the spent catalyst contacts more of the oxygenate feedstream. In an embodiment, all of the spent catalyst that enters the catalyst cooler is withdrawn from the bottom of the catalyst cooler.

1 . A process of converting oxygenates to light olefins comprising: 
 contacting an oxygenate feedstream with catalyst and converting said oxygenate feedstream to said light olefins while spending said catalyst;    regenerating a first portion of said spent catalyst and returning said first portion to contact said oxygenate feedstream; and    cooling a second portion of said spent catalyst and returning said second portion to contact said oxygenate feedstream.    
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said second portion is cooled in a catalyst cooler by indirect heat exchange.  
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 2  wherein a heat exchange fluid is introduced into the catalyst cooler from near a top of the catalyst cooler.  
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 2  wherein spent catalyst exits the catalyst cooler from near the bottom of the catalyst cooler.  
   
   
       5 . The process according to  claim 2  further comprising introducing a fluidizing medium is introduced into said catalyst cooler.  
   
   
       6 . A process for converting oxygenates to light olefins comprising: 
 charging a lower region of a reactor with catalyst;    introducing said oxygenates into said lower region and contacting said catalyst;    converting said oxygenates into said light olefins while spending said catalyst;    transporting said light olefins and a spent catalyst into an upper region of said reactor;    separating said spent catalyst from said light olefins in said upper region;    splitting said spent catalyst into a first portion and a second portion;    regenerating said first portion in a regenerator and returning said first portion to said lower region;    cooling a second portion in a catalyst cooler having a bottom; and    withdrawing said second portion from said bottom and returning said second portion to said lower region.    
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 6  wherein said second portion is cooled in a catalyst cooler by indirect heat exchange.  
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 7  wherein a heat exchange fluid is introduced into the catalyst cooler from near a top of the catalyst cooler and spent catalyst exits the catalyst cooler from near the bottom of the catalyst cooler.  
   
   
       9 . A catalyst cooler comprising: 
 a vessel having a bottom and a catalyst inlet;    a plurality of cooling tubes located within said vessel;    a fluidizing gas distributor located below said cooling tubes; and    a catalyst outlet located at said bottom of said vessel.    
   
   
       10 . The catalyst cooler of  claim 9  wherein each one of said plurality of cooling tubes comprises an inner tube and an outer tube.  
   
   
       11 . The catalyst cooler of  claim 9  including an inlet manifold in fluid communication with said inner tubes and an outlet manifold in fluid communication with said outer tubes and said inner tubes fluidly communicating with said outer tubes.  
   
   
       12 . The catalyst cooler of  claim 10  wherein said inlet manifold is located near a top of said catalyst cooler.  
   
   
       13 . The catalyst cooler of  claim 10  further including a catalyst outlet at the bottom of said catalyst cooler.  
   
   
       14 . The catalyst cooler of  claim 12  further including a catalyst inlet above said catalyst outlet.  
   
   
       15 . The catalyst cooler of  claim 14  further including a catalyst outlet at the bottom of said catalyst cooler.  
   
   
       16 . The catalyst cooler of  claim 15  further including a catalyst inlet above said catalyst outlet.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for converting oxygenates to light olefins comprising: 
 a reactor for contacting an oxygenate feed stream with catalyst and converting said feed stream to olefin product;    a separator for separating spent catalyst from said olefin product;    a regenerator for regenerating a first portion of said spent catalyst; and    a catalyst cooler for cooling a second portion of said spent catalyst, said catalyst cooler including an inlet for heat exchange fluid near the top of said catalyst cooler.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said cooler includes an inlet manifold for distributing heat exchange fluid, said inlet manifold in fluid communication with inner tubes and an outlet manifold in fluid communication with outer tubes and said inner tubes fluidly communicating with said outer tubes.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said inlet manifold is located near a top of said catalyst cooler.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further including a distributor for distributing fluidizing medium located below said outer tubes.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said inlet tubes are suspended from above said catalyst inlet.