Patent ID: 9150794
Filing Date: 2015-10-06
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
1. An improved continuous process for producing enhanced refinery feedstock and dry thermally-affected asphaltene solids from heavy hydrocarbon, said process comprising: (a) pre-heating the heavy hydrocarbon as a process fluid in a heater to a designed temperature; (b) moving the pre-heated process fluid to a reactor, and optimally converting asphaltenes in the process fluid within the reactor to produce a stream of thermally affected asphaltene-rich fraction(s), and a stream of non-condensable vapour and lighter liquid hydrocarbon(s); (c) deasphalting the thermally affected asphaltene-rich stream with a solvent extraction process into a stream of heavy deasphalted oil (DAO) and a second stream containing concentrated asphaltene; (d) separating dry thermally-affected asphaltene solids from the second stream in a separation unit, recovering the process solvent; (e) the refinery feedstock comprising of at least one of the produced streams; where the reactor is a single thermal conversion reactor with an overhead partial condenser operating within the following parameters: (a) a uniform heat flux of between 7000-12000 BTU/hr sqft introduced to the process fluid within the reactor; (b) a sweep gas of between 20-80 scf/bbl (gas/process fluid) is introduced within the reactor; (c) residence time of the process fluid within the reactor of between 40-180 minutes; (d) a substantially uniform operating temperature of between 675-775° F. in the reactor; (e) a near atmospheric operating pressure of <50 psig in the reactor.