Apparatus for conversion of oils to hydrocarbon products

Claim 2

Apparatus for enhancing catalytic conversion of an oil feedstock stream in combination with a reactor, comprising: means for separating an oil feedstock stream into a vapor stream and a liquid stream; means in fluid communication with said separating means for atomizing said liquid stream prior to contact by said vapor stream in said reactor; and means in fluid communication with said atomizing means for introducing the separated streams into said reactor for catalytic conversion.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the oil feedstock stream is predominantly hydrocarbon and wherein said apparatus further comprises means for heating the hydrocarbon feedstock stream, said heating means being in fluid communication with said separating means upstream therefrom.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said apparatus further comprises means for mixing the hydrocarbon feedstock with steam, said mixing means being located upstream from said heating means and in fluid communication therewith.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said atomizing means comprises a venturi nozzle.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said apparatus further comprises a pump operatively connected to and in fluid communication with said venturi nozzle for supplying the liquid stream to the throat thereof.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said apparatus further comprises means for supplying a carrier gas to said venturi nozzle.

Claim 8

Apparatus for processing an oil feedstock stream prior to mixing the same with catalyst for catalytic conversion, said apparatus comprising: a reactor; a separator having input means, liquid output means, and a vapor output means, said separator being operable to receive an oil feedstock stream in said separator input means and separate the same into a liquid stream which is emitted from said liquid output means and a vapor stream which is emitted from said vapor output means; means operatively connected to and in fluid communication with said liquid output means for atomizing said liquid stream prior to contact with said vapor stream in said reactor; and means in fluid communication with said atomizing means for introducing said atomized liquid stream and said vapor stream into said reactor for catalytic conversion.

Claim 9

Apparatus for processing an oil feedstock stream prior to mixing the same with catalyst for catalytic conversion, said apparatus comprising: a reactor; a separator having input means, liquid output means, and a vapor output means, said separator being operable to receive an oil feedstock stream in said separator input means and separate the same into a liquid stream which is emitted from said liquid output means and a vapor stream which is emitted from said vapor output means; means operatively connected to and in fluid communication with said liquid output means for atomizing said liquid stream prior to contact with said vapor stream in said reactor; and means in fluid communication with said atomizing means for introducing said atomized liquid stream and said vapor stream into said reactor for catalytic conversion.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said apparatus further includes a pump having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being operatively connected to said separator liquid output means and said outlet being operatively connected to said atomizing means.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said apparatus further includes a heater having input means and output means and being operable to receive said feedstock stream in said heater input means, heat the same, and emit the heated feedstock stream from said heater output means, said heater having the output means thereof operatively connected to said separator input means.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said apparatus further includes means for mixing steam with said feedstock stream, said mixing means being operatively connected to and in fluid communication with said heater input means thereby providing a mixture of steam and feedstock to said heater input means when said apparatus is in operative condition.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said atomizing means comprises a venturi nozzle.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said venturi nozzle includes input means and output means for accommodating a stream of carrier gas therethrough.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said venturi nozzle includes an opening in the throat thereof for receiving said liquid stream therethrough.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said apparatus further includes a cavity in which said venturi nozzle is received, said liquid stream being provided under pressure to said cavity when said apparatus is in operative condition.

Claim 17

Apparatus for enhancing conversion of a feedstock stream in combination with a reactor, comprising: means for separating a feedstock stream into a vapor stream and a liquid stream; means in fluid communication with said separating means for atomizing said liquid stream prior to contact by said vapor stream in said reactor; and means in fluid communication with said atomizing means for introducing the separated streams into said reactor for conversion.

Claim 18

Apparatus for enhancing conversion of a feedstock stream in combination with a reactor, comprising: means for separating a feedstock stream into a vapor stream and a liquid stream; means in fluid communication with said separating means for atomizing said liquid stream prior to contact by said vapor stream in said reactor; and means in fluid communication with said atomizing means for introducing the separated streams into said reactor for conversion.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said apparatus further comprises means for heating the feedstock stream, said heating means being in fluid communication with said separating means upstream therefrom.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said atomizing means comprises a venturi nozzle.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said apparatus further comprises a pump operatively connected to and in fluid communication with said venturi nozzle for supplying the liquid stream to the throat thereof.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said apparatus further comprises means for supplying a carrier gas to said venturi nozzle.