Patent ID: 8715488

Claim:
A method for breaking large chain hydrocarbon molecules found in crude oil and crude fractions into smaller chain hydrocarbon molecules, for molecularly combining gas hydrocarbon molecules with liquid 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 low temperatures and pressures 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; using one or more nozzles, selected nozzle placements, and nozzle alignments to create said collisions within a processing vessel; turbulently combining said gases with said crude oil or crude fraction feedstock to force direct high energy collisions of said small chain gas molecules with said larger chain 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 feedstock 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 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.