Processes for producing a fuel from a renewable feedstock

Abstract

Processes for the production of transportation fuel from a renewable feedstock. A gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen is used to deoxygenate and hydrogenate the glycerides to produce long chain hydrocarbons. Water is also introduced into the reaction zone to increase the amount of hydrogen and to increase the utilization of carbon monoxide within the reaction zone. Synthesis gas may also be used to supply at least a portion of the gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The amount of hydrogen equivalents in the reaction zone is at least 100% of a stoichiometric hydrogen demand within the reaction zone.

1 . A process for converting a renewable feedstock to a transportation fuel, the process comprising:
 deoxygenating a renewable feedstock in a reaction zone having a catalyst;   passing a gaseous stream to the reaction zone, wherein the gaseous stream comprises a mixture carbon monoxide and hydrogen; and,   passing water into the reaction zone to promote deoxygenation and to produce hydrogen.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the water is passed into the reaction zone by mixing a stream comprising water with the renewable feedstock to form a combined feed stream that is passed into the reaction zone. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the water comprises steam. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising:
 heating water to provide a high pressure steam; which is passed into the reaction zone. 
 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4  wherein the high pressure steam is combined with the renewable feedstock before the high pressure steam is passed into the reaction zone. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein an amount of hydrogen equivalents in the reaction zone comprises at least 100% of a stoichiometric hydrogen demand within the reaction zone. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein an amount of hydrogen equivalents in the reaction zone comprises at least 125% of a stoichiometric hydrogen demand within the reaction zone. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein an amount of hydrogen equivalents in the reaction zone comprises at least 150% of a stoichiometric hydrogen demand within the reaction zone. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the gaseous stream comprises syngas. 
     
     
         10 . A process for converting a renewable feedstock to a transportation fuel, the process comprising:
 passing a renewable feedstock into a deoxygenation zone having a vessel with a catalyst and being configured to deoxygenate oxygenated hydrocarbons;   passing a gaseous stream to the deoxygenation zone, wherein the gaseous stream comprises a mixture carbon monoxide and hydrogen;   passing a water stream into the deoxygenation zone to promote deoxygenation and to produce hydrogen; and,   recovering an effluent stream from the deoxygenation zone.   
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10  wherein the molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide to water in the deoxygenation zone is approximately 1:1:0.9. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 10  wherein an amount of hydrogen equivalents in the deoxygenation zone comprises at least 100% of a stoichiometric hydrogen demand within the deoxygenation zone. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 10  wherein an amount of hydrogen equivalents in the deoxygenation zone comprises between about 125 and 180% of a stoichiometric hydrogen demand within the deoxygenation zone. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 10  further comprising:
 heating a stream of water to provide a high pressure steam, wherein the high pressure steam is passed to the deoxygenation zone. 
 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14  wherein the high pressure steam is combined with the renewable feedstock before being passed into the deoxygenation zone. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 10  further comprising:
 generating a syngas stream; and, 
 passing at least a portion of the syngas stream to the deoxygenation zone as the gaseous stream. 
 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 10  wherein a molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide of the gaseous stream comprises between 50:50 to 80:20. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 10  wherein at least a portion of the gaseous stream is combined with the renewable feedstock before being passed into the deoxygenation zone. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18  at least a portion of the gaseous stream is injected directly into the deoxygenation zone. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 18  wherein a high pressure steam is combined with the renewable feedstock before being passed into the deoxygenation zone.