BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The field of the invention is power recovery from a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC)
unit.
[0002] FCC technology, now more than 50 years old, has undergone continuous improvement
and remains the predominant source of gasoline production in many refineries. This
gasoline, as well as lighter products, is formed as the result of cracking heavier
(i.e. higher molecular weight), less valuable hydrocarbon feed stocks such as gas
oil.
[0003] In its most general form, the FCC process comprises a reactor that is closely coupled
with a regenerator, followed by downstream hydrocarbon product separation. Hydrocarbon
feed contacts catalyst in the reactor to crack the hydrocarbons down to smaller molecular
weight products. During this process, the catalyst tends to accumulate coke thereon,
which is burned off in the regenerator.
[0004] The heat of combustion in the regenerator typically produces flue gas at temperatures
of 677° to 788°C (1250° to 1450°F) and at a pressure range of 138 to 276 kPa (20 to
40 psig). Although the pressure is relatively low, the extremely high temperature,
high volume of flue gas from the regenerator contains sufficient kinetic energy to
warrant economic recovery.
[0005] To recover energy from a flue gas stream, flue gas may be fed to a power recovery
unit, which for example may include an expander turbine. The kinetic energy of the
flue gas is transferred through blades of the expander to a rotor coupled either to
a main air blower, to produce combustion air for the FCC regenerator, and/or to a
generator to produce electrical power. Because of the pressure drop of 138 to 207
kPa (20 to 30 psi) across the expander turbine, the flue gas typically discharges
with a temperature drop of approximately 125° to 167°C (225 to 300°F). The flue gas
may be run to a steam generator for further energy recovery. A power recovery train
may include several devices, such as an expander turbine, a generator, an air blower,
a gear reducer, and a let-down steam turbine.
[0006] In order to reduce damage to components downstream of the regenerator, it is also
known to remove flue gas solids. This is commonly accomplished with first and second
stage separators, such as cyclones, located in the regenerator. Some systems also
include a third stage separator (TSS) or even a fourth stage separator (FSS) to remove
further fine particles, commonly referred to as "fines".
[0007] The FCC process produces around 30% of the dry gas produced in a refinery. Dry gas
comprises mainly methane, ethane and other light gases. Dry gas is separated from
other FCC products at high pressures. FCC dry gas is heavily olefinic and typically
used as fuel gas throughout a refinery. Olefinic dry gas, such as dry gas having over
10 wt-% olefins is not viable for use in gas turbines in which the olefins can cause
internal fouling particularly due to the presence of diolefins. In some cases, FCC
units produce more dry gas than the refinery consumes. The excess dry gas can be flared
which is an environmental concern. To make less dry gas, the riser temperature can
be reduced, adversely affecting the product slate, or throughput can be reduced, adversely
affecting productivity. Olefinic dry gas can also be obtained from other unit operations
such as those that are hydrogen deficient like cokers and steam crackers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] We have discovered a process and apparatus for improving power recovery from an FCC
unit. The process and apparatus involve combusting product gas with oxygen before
being combined with an FCC regenerator flue gas stream to heat the flue gas stream.
The combined flue gas is then expanded to recover power or heat exchanged to recover
heat. The process and apparatus may involve expanding the high pressure product gas
obtained from an FCC product stream to lower pressure to recover power before combustion.
The preferred product gas is dry gas which may be obtained from many hydrocarbon processing
reactions which are hydrogen deficient.
[0009] Advantageously, the process and apparatus can enable the FCC unit to utilize a low
value product stream to produce gasses that are more environmentally friendly.
[0010] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description
of the invention, figures and claims provided herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an FCC unit, a power recovery train and an FCC product
recovery system in a refinery.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic of an alternate embodiment of the invention of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Now turning to the figures, wherein like numerals designate like components, FIG.
1 illustrates a refinery complex 100 that is equipped for processing streams form
an FCC unit for power recovery. The refinery complex 100 generally includes an FCC
unit section 10, a power recovery section 60 and a product recovery section 90. The
FCC unit section 10 includes a reactor 12 and a catalyst regenerator 14. Process variables
typically include a cracking reaction temperature of 400° to 600°C and a catalyst
regeneration temperature of 500° to 900°C. Both the cracking and regeneration occur
at an absolute pressure below 5 atmospheres. FIG. 1 shows a typical FCC process unit
of the prior art, where a heavy hydrocarbon feed or raw oil stream in a line 16 is
contacted with a newly regenerated cracking catalyst entering from a regenerated catalyst
standpipe 18. This contacting may occur in a narrow riser 20, extending upwardly to
the bottom of a reactor vessel 22. The contacting of feed and catalyst is fluidized
by gas from a fluidizing line 24. Heat from the catalyst vaporizes the oil, and the
oil is thereafter cracked to lighter molecular weight hydrocarbons in the presence
of the catalyst as both are transferred up the riser 20 into the reactor vessel 22.
The cracked light hydrocarbon products are thereafter separated from the cracking
catalyst using cyclonic separators which may include a rough cut separator 26 and
one or two stages cyclones 28 in the reactor vessel 22. Product gases exit the reactor
vessel 10 through a product outlet 31 to line 32 for transport to a downstream product
recovery section 90. Inevitable side reactions occur in the riser 20 leaving coke
deposits on the catalyst that lower catalyst activity. The spent or coked catalyst
requires regeneration for further use. Coked catalyst, after separation from the gaseous
product hydrocarbon, falls into a stripping section 34 where steam is injected through
a nozzle to purge any residual hydrocarbon vapor. After the stripping operation, the
coked catalyst is fed to the catalyst regenerator 14 through a spent catalyst standpipe
36.
[0014] FIG. 1 depicts a regenerator 14 known as a combustor. However, other types of regenerators
are suitable. In the catalyst regenerator 14, a stream of oxygen-containing gas, such
as air, is introduced through an air distributor 38 to contact the coked catalyst,
burn coke deposited thereon, and provide regenerated catalyst and flue gas. A main
air blower 50 is driven by a driver 52 to deliver air or other oxygen containing gas
from line 51 into the regenerator 14 through line 30. The driver 52 may be, for example,
a motor, a steam turbine driver, or some other device for power input. The catalyst
regeneration process adds a substantial amount of heat to the catalyst, providing
energy to offset the endothermic cracking reactions occurring in the reactor conduit
16. Catalyst and air flow upwardly together along a combustor riser 40 located within
the catalyst regenerator 14 and, after regeneration, are initially separated by discharge
through a disengager 42. Finer separation of the regenerated catalyst and flue gas
exiting the disengager 42 is achieved using first and second stage separator cyclones
44, 46, respectively within the catalyst regenerator 14. Catalyst separated from flue
gas dispenses through a diplegs from cyclones 44, 46 while flue gas relatively lighter
in catalyst sequentially exits cyclones 44, 46 and exits the regenerator vessel 14
through flue gas outlet 47 in line 48. Regenerated catalyst is recycled back to the
reactor riser 12 through the regenerated catalyst standpipe 18. As a result of the
coke burning, the flue gas vapors exiting at the top of the catalyst regenerator 14
in line 48 contain CO, CO
2 and H
2O, along with smaller amounts of other species.
[0015] Hot flue gas exits the regenerator 14 through the flue gas outlet 47 in a line 48
and enters the power recovery section 60. The power recovery section 60 is in downstream
communication with the flue gas outlet 47 via line 48. "Downstream communication"
means that at least a portion of the fluid from the upstream component flows into
the downstream component. Many types of power recovery configurations are suitable,
and the following embodiment is very well suited but not necessary to the present
invention. Line 48 directs the flue gas to a heat exchanger 62, which is preferably
a high pressure steam generator (e.g., a 4137 kPa (gauge) (600 psig)). Arrows to and
from the heat exchanger 62 indicate boiler feed water in and high pressure steam out.
The heat exchanger 62 may be a medium pressure steam generator (e.g., a 3102 kPa (gauge)
(450 psig)) or a low pressure steam generator (e.g., a 345 kPa (gauge) (50 psig))
in particular situations. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, a boiler feed water
(BFW) quench injector 64 may be provided to selectively deliver fluid into conduit
48.
[0016] A supplemental heat exchanger 63 may also be provided downstream of the heat exchanger
62. For example, the supplemental temperature reduction would typically be a low pressure
steam generator for which arrows indicate boiler feed water in and low pressure steam
out. However, the heat exchanger 63 may be a high or medium pressure steam generator
in particular situations. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, conduit 66 provides fluid communication
from heat exchanger 62 to the supplemental heat exchanger 63. Flue gas exiting the
supplemental heat exchanger 63 is directed by conduit 69 to a waste flue gas line
67 and ultimately to an outlet stack 68, which is preferably equipped with appropriate
environmental equipment, such as an electrostatic precipitator or a wet gas scrubber.
Typically, the flue gas is further cooled in a flue gas cooler 61 to heat exchange
with a heat exchange media which is preferably water to generate high pressure steam.
Arrows to and from flue gas cooler 61 indicate heat exchange media coming in and heated
heat exchange media exiting, which is preferably boiler feed water coming in and steam
going out. The illustrated example of FIG. 1 further provides that conduit 69 may
be equipped to direct the flue gas through a first multi-hole orifice (MHO) 71, a
first flue gas control valve (FGCV) 74, and potentially a second FGCV 75 and second
MHO 76 on the path to waste flue gas line 67 all to reduce the pressure of the flue
gas in conduit 69 before it reaches the stack 68. FGCV's 74, 75 are typically butterfly
valves and may be controlled based on a pressure or temperature reading from the regenerator
14.
[0017] In order to generate electricity, the power recovery section 60 further includes
a power recovery expander 70, which is typically a steam turbine, and a power recovery
generator ("generator") 78. More specifically, the expander 70 has an output shaft
that is typically coupled to an electrical generator 78 by driving a gear reducer
77 that in turn drives the generator 78. The generator 78 provides electrical power
that can be used as desired within the plant or externally. Alternatively, the expander
70 may be coupled to the main air blower 50 to serve as its driver, obviating driver
52, but this arrangement is not shown.
[0018] In an embodiment, the power recovery expander 70 is located in downstream communication
with the heat exchanger 62. However, a heat exchanger may be upstream or downstream
of the expander 70. For example, a conduit 79 feeds flue gas through an isolation
valve 81 to a third stage separator (TSS) 80, which removes the majority of remaining
solid particles from the flue gas. Clean flue gas exits the TSS 80 in a flue gas line
82 which feeds a flue gas stream to a combine line 54 which drives the expander 70.
[0019] To control flow flue gas between the TSS 80 and the expander 70, an expander inlet
control valve 83 and a throttling valve 84 may be provided upstream of the expander
70 to further control the gas flow entering an expander inlet. The order of the valves
83, 84 may be reversed and are preferably butterfly valves. Additionally, a portion
of the flue gas stream can be diverted in a bypass line 73 from a location upstream
of the expander 70, through a synchronization valve 85, typically a butterfly valve,
to join the flue gas in the exhaust line 86. After passing through an isolation valve
87, the clean flue gas in line 86 joins the flowing waste gas downstream of the supplemental
heat exchanger 63 in waste flue gas line 67 and flows to the outlet stack 68. An optional
fourth stage separator 88 can be provided to further remove solids that exit the TSS
80 in an underflow stream in conduit 89. After the underflow stream is further cleaned
in the fourth stage separator 88, it can rejoin the flue gas in line 86 after passing
through a critical flow nozzle 72 that sets the flow rate therethrough.
[0020] In the product recovery section 90, the gaseous FCC product in line 32 is directed
to a lower section of an FCC main fractionation column 92. Several fractions may be
separated and taken from the main column including a heavy slurry oil from the bottoms
in line 93, a heavy cycle oil stream in line 94, a light cycle oil in line 95 and
a heavy naphtha stream in line 96. Any or all of lines 93-96 may be cooled and pumped
back to the main column 92 to cool the main column typically at a higher location.
Gasoline and gaseous light hydrocarbons are removed in overhead line 97 from the main
column 92 and condensed before entering a main column receiver 99. An aqueous stream
is removed from a boot in the receiver 99. Moreover, a condensed light naphtha stream
is removed in line 101 while a gaseous light hydrocarbon stream is removed in line
102. Both streams in lines 101 and 102 may enter a vapor recovery section 120 of the
product recovery section 90.
[0021] The vapor recovery section 120 is shown to be an absorption based system, but any
vapor recovery system may be used including a cold box system. To obtain sufficient
separation of light gas components the gaseous stream in line 102 is compressed in
compressor 104. More than one compressor stage may be used, but typically a dual stage
compression is utilized. The compressed light hydrocarbon stream in line 106 is joined
by streams in lines 107 and 108, chilled and delivered to a high pressure receiver
110. An aqueous stream from the receiver 110 may be routed to the main column receiver
99. A gaseous hydrocarbon stream in line 112 is routed to a primary absorber 114 in
which it is contacted with unstabilized gasoline from the main column receiver 99
in line 101 to effect a separation between C
3+ and C
2-. A liquid C
3+ stream in line 107 is returned to line 106 prior to chilling. An off-gas stream in
line 116 from the primary absorber 114 may be used as a selected product stream of
the plurality of product streams separated from the FCC product in the present invention
or optionally be directed to a secondary absorber 118, where a circulating stream
of light cycle oil in line 121 diverted from line 95 absorbs most of the remaining
C5
+ and some C
3-C
4 material in the off-gas stream. Light cycle oil from the bottom of the secondary
absorber in line 119 richer in C
3+ material is returned to the main column 92 via the pump-around for line 95. The overhead
of the secondary absorber 118 comprising dry gas of predominantly C
2- hydrocarbons with hydrogen sulfide, amines and hydrogen is removed in line 122 and
may be used as a selected product stream of the plurality of product streams separated
from the FCC product in the present invention. It is contemplated that another stream
may also comprise a selected product stream of the plurality of product streams separated
from the FCC product in the present invention
[0022] Liquid from the high pressure receiver 110 in line 124 is sent to a stripper 126.
Most of the C
2- is removed in the overhead of the stripper 126 and returned to line 106 via overhead
line 108. A liquid bottoms stream from the stripper 126 is sent to a debutanizer column
130 via line 128. An overhead stream in line 132 from the debutanizer comprises C
3-C
4 olefinic product while a bottoms stream in line 134 comprising stabilized gasoline
may be further treated and sent to gasoline storage.
[0023] A selected product stream line, preferably line 122 comprising the secondary absorber
off-gas containing dry gas may be introduced into an amine absorber unit 140. A lean
aqueous amine solution is introduced via line 142 into absorber 140 and is contacted
with the flowing dry gas stream to absorb hydrogen sulfide, and a rich aqueous amine
absorption solution containing hydrogen sulfide is removed from absorption zone 140
via line 144 and recovered. A selected product stream line preferably comprising a
dry gas stream having a reduced concentration of hydrogen sulfide is removed from
absorption zone 140 via line 146. Any of lines carrying product from the FCC reactor
12 including lines 116 or 122 and 146 may serve as selected product lines in communication
with the downstream power recovery section 60 to transport a selected product stream
from the gas recovery section 120 of the product recovery section 90 to the power
recovery section 60. Additionally, dry gas may be delivered to the power recovery
section 60 from any other source in the refinery 100 such as a coker unit or a steam
cracker unit.
[0024] The selected FCC product gas from the product recovery section 90 in line 146 can
be used in the power recovery section 60 in a continuous process and in the same refinery
complex. The power recovery section 60 is in downstream communication with the vapor
recovery section of the product recovery section 90 via line 146. As an alternative
to sending the selected gas in line 146 to the refinery fuel gas header, the selected
product gas may be let down in pressure at a volume increase across an expander 150
to recover pressure energy from the gas. The selected gas is still at the high pressure
utilized in the vapor recovery section 120 of the product recovery section 90 when
delivered to the expander 150 due to operation of the compressor 104. The selected
gas exits expander 150 in exhaust line 152. The expander is connected by a shaft 154
to an electrical generator 78 for generating electrical power that can be used in
the refinery or exported. Beside connection by shaft 154 to the electrical generator,
the expander 150 may alternatively or additionally be connected by a shaft (not shown)
to the main air blower 50 for blowing air to the regenerator 14 obviating the need
for driver 52. A gear reducer may be provided on the shaft 154 between the expander
150 and the generator 78 in which case the gear reducer (not shown) would connect
two shafts of which shaft 154 is one. The expander 150 may be in downstream communication
with the selected product line 146 and with vapor recovery section 120 of the product
recovery section 90 via line 146.
[0025] It is also contemplated that an additional steam expander (not shown) may be connected
by an additional shaft or the same shaft 154 to further turn electrical generator
78 and produce additional electrical power or power the main air blower 50. The additional
steam expander would be fed by surplus steam in the refinery. The additional expander
could be either an extraction or induction turbine. In the latter case, the additional
expander could take the form of an additional chamber in expander 150 or 70 with the
surplus steam feeding the additional chamber (not shown). The additional expander
may be coupled by a gear reducer (not shown) to the additional shaft or the same shaft
154. It is also contemplated that expanders 70 and 150 could be the same expander
with induction feed from line 82, 54 or 146, respectively, introducing a stream to
an intermediate chamber of the expander.
[0026] The selected product gas may be used as a flue gas reheating media. Selected product
lines 116, 122, 146 and/or 152 communicate the product recovery section 90 with a
downstream flue gas heater 156. After, before or instead of power recovery in expander
150 from the selected gas, the selected gas is routed to the flue gas heater 156 in
expander exhaust line 152 if the expander 150 is utilized. For example, steam generation
in the upstream flue gas power recovery section 60 may have allowed for the majority
of the flue gas system to be designed of lower class metallurgy. While this can dramatically
reduce the total installed cost of the flue gas power recovery system, it can also
reduce the power generation capability across the flue gas expander 70. To regain
the electrical power generating capability of the flue gas, selected gas from the
product recovery section 90 and suitably from the gas recovery section 120 can be
used to re-heat the flue gas on temperature control to a maximum permissible inlet
temperature of the expander 70. An oxygen-containing gas such as air may be added
to the selected product stream in exhaust line 152 from line 158. The oxygen and the
selected gas are ignited continuously to combust the selected gas in the flue gas
heater 156 and achieve an elevated temperature. The flue gas heater 156 may be in
downstream communication with the expander 150.
[0027] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, combust line 160 communicates with and carries hot combusted
selected product gas to join line 82 carrying flue gas downstream from the regenerator
14, thus raising the temperature of the flue gas in flue gas line 82 on entering combine
line 54. Combust line 160 may deliver hot combusted selected product gas to combine
with flue gas stream in flue gas line 82 in downstream communication with the flue
gas outlet 47 to line 48 to provide a combined selected product and flue gas stream
in combine line 54. Combine line 54 is in downstream communication with the flue gas
line 82 and the combust line 160. Combine line 54 communicates lines 82 and 160 with
the downstream expander 70. The combine stream of at least a portion of the combusted
selected product gas stream with at least a portion of a flue gas stream of elevated
temperature are then carried to the expander 70 in line 54 at a higher temperature
than in line 82 to produce an even greater quantity of power in the expansion. The
expander 70 is in downstream communication with the selected product line 146 and
with vapor recovery section 120 of the product recovery section 90 and with line 152.
The expander 70 is also in downstream communication with the flue gas heater 156 via
lines 160 and 54.
[0028] This arrangement is economically attractive as it may maximize utilization of existing
assets, but it also allows for the burning of olefin rich dry gas from the FCC reactor
12 or other reactor in which hydrogen is deficient, which is not viable for use in
gas turbines in which the olefins can cause internal fouling. The reheated flue gas
is processed through the expander 70 for maximum power generation. The outlet line
86 from the expander 70 communicates with a downstream heat exchanger 61 which may
be a steam generator via line flue gas lines 69 and 67. The heat exchanger 61 is in
downstream communication with the expander 70. The heat exchanger 61 is also in downstream
communication with the flue gas heater 156 via lines 160, 54, 86, 69 and 67. The residual
heat energy may be recovered by directing the combined selected product and flue gas
stream in line 86 to the downstream flue gas cooler 61 via lines 66 and 67. In the
flue gas cooler 61, heat exchange media is heat exchanged with the combine stream
preferably for steam generation. The power generation capacity of the flue gas in
expander 70 may increase by a factor of 1.8 to 2.2 by combining combusted selected
product gas from combust line 160 with the flue gas stream in line 82. The selected
product gas may be used to reheat the flue gas whether or not it is routed through
expander 150, but prior recovery of the pressure energy may be preferable.
[0029] FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment in which most elements are the same as in
FIG. 1 indicated by like reference numerals but with differences in configuration
indicated by designating the reference numeral with a prime symbol ("'"). The combust
line 160' from the flue gas heater communicates with a downstream heat exchanger 61,
preferably a steam generator, via a combine line 56. Line 160' feeds combusted selected
product gas to join waste flue gas line 67 carrying flue gas downstream of the flue
gas outlet 47 of the regenerator 14 to provide a combined combusted selected product
and flue gas stream in combine line 56. Line 67 is in downstream communication with
the turbine exhaust line 86. Combine line 56 carries the combined selected product
and flue gas stream at a higher temperature than the flue gas in waste flue gas line
67 to the flue gas cooler heat exchanger 61 to obtain an even greater heat exchange
or recovery of high quality steam. Combine line 56 is in downstream communication
with combust line 160' and flue gas line 67. The heat exchanger 61 is in downstream
communication with the flue gas heater 156 and lines 160' and 56. It is also contemplated
that exhaust line 160' feed lines 48 or 66 to immediately improve steam generation
in downstream steam generators 62 or 63, respectively. Therefore, if a refiner has
a greater demand for steam than for power, the embodiment of FIG. 2 may be more advantageous
than that of FIG. 1.
EXAMPLE
[0030] For example, per the following data inputs and calculated output, the dry gas production
from an FCC unit would be used to generate a rather substantial 2.05 MW through an
expander.
| Dry Gas Stream Property |
| Mass flow rate |
69380 kg/hr |
152,636 lb/hr |
| Pressure to expander inlet |
13.2 kg/cm2g |
202.4 psia |
| Pressure from expander outlet |
2.5 kg/cm2g |
50.26 psia |
| Temperature at expander inlet |
38°C |
100°F |
| Molecular weight |
21.7 |
| UOP K value |
1.22 |
| Critical temperature |
427°C |
801°F |
| Critical Pressure |
687 kg/cm2g |
9771 psia |
[0031] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best
mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. It should be understood
that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting
the scope of the invention.
1. A process for processing streams from a fluid catalytic cracking unit comprising:
contacting cracking catalyst with a hydrocarbon feed stream to crack the hydrocarbons
to gaseous product hydrocarbons having lower molecular weight and deposit coke on
the catalyst to provide coked catalyst;
separating said coked catalyst from said gaseous product hydrocarbons;
adding oxygen to said coked catalyst;
combusting coke on said coked catalyst with oxygen to regenerate said catalyst and
provide flue gas;
separating said catalyst from said flue gas to provide a flue gas stream;
separating said gaseous product hydrocarbons to obtain a plurality of product streams
including a selected product stream; and
combining at least a portion of said selected product stream with at least a portion
of said flue gas stream to provide a combined stream.
2. The process of claim 1 further including:
adding oxygen to said selected product stream;
combusting said selected product stream with oxygen; and
combining said combusted selected product stream with said flue gas stream to provide
said combined stream.
3. The process of claim 1 or claim 2 further including:
delivering said combined stream to an expander;
expanding the volume of said combined stream in said expander; and
recovering power from said combined stream in said expander.
4. The process of any one of the preceding claims further including indirectly exchanging
heat from said combined stream with a heat exchange media.
5. The process of any one of the preceding claims further including:
delivering said selected product stream to an expander;
expanding the volume of said selected product stream in said expander; and
recovering power from said selected product stream in said expander.
6. The process of claim 5 further including:
delivering said combined stream to a second expander; and
recovering power from said combined stream in said second expander.
7. An apparatus for processing streams from a fluid catalytic cracking unit comprising:
a fluid catalytic cracking reactor for contacting cracking catalyst with a hydrocarbon
feed stream to crack the hydrocarbons to gaseous product hydrocarbons having lower
molecular weight and deposit coke on the catalyst to provide coked catalyst;
a product outlet for discharging said gaseous product hydrocarbons from said reactor;
a regenerator for combusting coke from said coked catalyst by contact with oxygen;
a flue gas outlet for discharging flue gas from said regenerator;
a product recovery section in downstream communication with said product outlet,
said product recovery section for separating said gaseous products into a plurality
of product streams including a selected product stream;
a power recovery section in downstream communication with said flue gas outlet;
and said power recovery section in downstream communication with said product recovery
section.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a selected product line communicates said product
recovery section with a downstream flue gas heater in which the selected product gas
is combusted with oxygen and a combust line communicates said flue gas heater with
said flue gas line.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein a combine line in downstream communication with said
combust line and said flue gas line communicates with a downstream expander for power
recovery.
10. The apparatus of any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein a combine line in downstream communication
with said combust line and said flue gas line communicates with a downstream heat
exchanger.