Patent ID: 8951407
Filing Date: 2015-02-10
Classification: B01J,C10G,C10L

Abstract:
1. A method for breaking large chain hydrocarbon molecules found in crude oil and crude fractions into smaller chain hydrocarbon molecules, and for separating contaminants and impurities therefrom, comprising: combining one or more gases with a crude oil or crude fraction feedstock in a turbulent manner at temperatures between 200 to 450° F. and pressures ranging from 5 psi to 40 psi within a self-contained network of raw material inflow and product outflow to create numerous localized high energy collisions of gas molecules with liquid hydrocarbon molecules and ongoing collisions of these molecules within a sustained turbulent environment; with a recirculation pump, pumping said feedstock to a circulation heater to heat said feedstock, wherein said circulation heater comprises any of, an internal heater relative to an upgrader vessel, an external heater relative to the upgrader vessel, and a heating of one or more processing gases prior to infusion into upgrader vessel; using nozzles, selected nozzle placements, and nozzle alignments to create said collisions within said processing vessel by turbulently combining said gases with said crude oil or crude fraction feedstock to force direct high energy collisions of said gas molecules with said liquid hydrocarbon molecules, and to sustain an ongoing turbulent interaction of said gas and said liquid hydrocarbon molecules as said gas molecules rise through said liquid hydrocarbon molecules; generating a gaseous off-flow from a top of a liquid that rises to a top of said vessel, said gaseous off-flow escaping via one or more outlets located at said vessel top; drawing said gaseous off-flow through said outlets with a vacuum and into and through one or more heat exchangers in which said gases are cooled; as the gases cool, depositing portions thereof that condense to liquids into a product tank containing an end product; drawing gases that do not condense in said cooling step out of the top of the product tank, channeling said gases back into a first stage of said processing vessel, and combining said gases with said liquid crude oil or crude fraction; and periodically removing from said processing tank those liquid hydrocarbon molecules that are not effectively broken down, contaminates, and impurities that settle to a bottom of said processing tank.