Chapter 2
ISOALKY ™ Technology:
Next-Generation Alkylate Gasoline
Manufacturing Process Technology
Using Ionic Liquid Catalyst
Hye Kyung Timken, Huping Luo, Bong-Kyu Chang, Elizabeth Carter
and Matthew Cole
Abstract Chevron and Honeywell UOP have developed a next-generation alkylate
gasoline manufacturing process, ISOALKY Technology, which has performance
benefits (yield, product octane number, safety, and environmental) over the conventional acid-based processes, while the economical costs for capital plant construction
and operation are comparable to the conventional processes. The ISOALKY Catalyst is a non-volatile ionic liquid that operates efficiently via on-line regeneration.
ISOALKY Technology is for greenfield plants as well as for retrofit and expansion
of existing alkylation plants. Chevron has entered into an alliance agreement with
Honeywell UOP, proven experts in alkylation technology, to license this technology
to the industry. UOP is the exclusive licensor of the ISOALKY Technology. Chevron
made the final investment decision to retrofit and convert its approximately 5,000
barrel per day (BPD), that is, 190 kton/year, alkylate production plant in its refinery
from a hydrofluoric acid technology to the ISOALKY Technology. Construction for
the conversion project began in 2018, with the ISOALKY Plant due for startup in
2020. Chevron will own the first ISOALKY Plant in the world.
Keywords Alkylation · Commercialization · Ionic liquid catalyst · ISOALKY
™
Technology · Refinery
2.1 Introduction
Worldwide, oil refineries produce over two million barrels of alkylate gasoline per
day as a part of their gasoline production. Alkylate gasoline is a desirable blending
component for cleaner-burning motor gasoline, with its high octane number, low
sulfur and nitrogen levels, and near-zero olefin and aromatic contents. Table 2.1
H. K. Timken (B) · H. Luo · B.-K. Chang
Chevron Energy Technology Company, Richmond, CA, USA
e-mail: htimken@chevron.com
E. Carter · M. Cole
Honeywell UOP, Des Plaines, IL, USA
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
M. B. Shiflett (ed.), Commercial Applications of Ionic Liquids, Green Chemistry
and Sustainable Technology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35245-5_2
33
ISOALKY ™ Technology:
Next-Generation Alkylate Gasoline
Manufacturing Process Technology
Using Ionic Liquid Catalyst
Hye Kyung Timken, Huping Luo, Bong-Kyu Chang, Elizabeth Carter
and Matthew Cole
Abstract Chevron and Honeywell UOP have developed a next-generation alkylate
gasoline manufacturing process, ISOALKY Technology, which has performance
benefits (yield, product octane number, safety, and environmental) over the conventional acid-based processes, while the economical costs for capital plant construction
and operation are comparable to the conventional processes. The ISOALKY Catalyst is a non-volatile ionic liquid that operates efficiently via on-line regeneration.
ISOALKY Technology is for greenfield plants as well as for retrofit and expansion
of existing alkylation plants. Chevron has entered into an alliance agreement with
Honeywell UOP, proven experts in alkylation technology, to license this technology
to the industry. UOP is the exclusive licensor of the ISOALKY Technology. Chevron
made the final investment decision to retrofit and convert its approximately 5,000
barrel per day (BPD), that is, 190 kton/year, alkylate production plant in its refinery
from a hydrofluoric acid technology to the ISOALKY Technology. Construction for
the conversion project began in 2018, with the ISOALKY Plant due for startup in
2020. Chevron will own the first ISOALKY Plant in the world.
Keywords Alkylation · Commercialization · Ionic liquid catalyst · ISOALKY
™
Technology · Refinery
2.1 Introduction
Worldwide, oil refineries produce over two million barrels of alkylate gasoline per
day as a part of their gasoline production. Alkylate gasoline is a desirable blending
component for cleaner-burning motor gasoline, with its high octane number, low
sulfur and nitrogen levels, and near-zero olefin and aromatic contents. Table 2.1
H. K. Timken (B) · H. Luo · B.-K. Chang
Chevron Energy Technology Company, Richmond, CA, USA
e-mail: htimken@chevron.com
E. Carter · M. Cole
Honeywell UOP, Des Plaines, IL, USA
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
M. B. Shiflett (ed.), Commercial Applications of Ionic Liquids, Green Chemistry
and Sustainable Technology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35245-5_2
33