Method and apparatus for reducing decomposition byproducts in a methanol to olefin reactor system

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for reducing the amount of metal catalyzed side-reaction byproducts formed in the feed vaporization and introduction system of a methanol to olefin reactor system by monitoring and/or maintaining the temperature of at least a portion of the feed vaporization and introduction system and/or of the feedstock contained therein below about 400° C., 350° C., 300° C., 250° C., 200° C. or below about 150° C. The temperature can be maintained in the desired range by jacketing at least a portion of the feed vaporization and introduction system, such as at least a portion of the feed introduction nozzle, with a thermally insulating material or by implementing a cooling system.

1 - 30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . A feed introduction nozzle for an MTO reactor, comprising: 
 a generally tubular member including an exterior portion oriented externally to the MTO reactor and adapted to receive an oxygenate-containing feedstock, and an interior portion oriented within the MTO reactor and adapted to deliver the feedstock to the MTO reactor; and    a jacket formed at least in part of a thermally insulating material covering at least a portion of the generally tubular member.    
   
   
       32 . The nozzle of  claim 31 , wherein the thermally insulating material is selected from the group consisting of fire brick, alumina bricks, silica bricks, magnesite bricks, chrome bricks, silicon carbide bricks, zircon, zirconia, forsterite, high temperature calcium silicate, alumina and silica-alumina ceramics, diatomaceous silica, cements, fillers, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, concrete, glass, granite, marble, mineral wool, porcelain, portland cement, Pumice stone, and gunnite.  
   
   
       33 . The nozzle of  claim 32 , wherein the jacket covers at least a portion of the interior portion of the generally tubular member.  
   
   
       34 . The nozzle of  claim 33 , wherein the jacket covers at least a portion of the exterior portion of the generally tubular member.  
   
   
       35 . A feed introduction nozzle for an MTO reactor, comprising: 
 a first generally tubular member adapted to receive a feedstock from a heating device and to deliver the feedstock to the MTO reactor; and    a cooling system covering at least a portion of the first generally tubular member and adapted to cool the nozzle to a temperature effective to substantially eliminate the production of metal catalyzed side-reaction byproducts.    
   
   
       36 . The nozzle of  claim 35 , wherein the cooling system includes a second generally tubular member of larger diameter than the first generally tubular member, the first and second members being coaxially oriented about a central axis thereby defining inner and outer conduits, and wherein the inner conduit is adapted to receive the feedstock and the outer conduit is adapted to receive the cooling medium.  
   
   
       37 . The nozzle of  claim 36 , wherein the nozzle includes an outlet inside the MTO reactor adapted to direct the cooling medium into the MTO reactor.  
   
   
       38 . The nozzle of  claim 35 , further comprising: 
 a jacket layer formed at least in part of a thermally insulating material.    
   
   
       39 . The nozzle of  claim 38 , wherein the jacket layer covers at least a portion of the cooling system.  
   
   
       40 . The nozzle of  claim 38 , wherein the thermally insulating material is selected from the group consisting of fire brick, alumina bricks, silica bricks, magnesite bricks, chrome bricks, silicon carbide bricks, zircon, zirconia, forsterite, high temperature calcium silicate, alumina and silica-alumina ceramics, diatomaceous silica, cements, fillers, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, concrete, glass, granite, marble, mineral wool, porcelain, portland cement, Pumice stone, and gunnite.