Patent ID: 7727377

Claim:
A system for the treatment of a multiphase residue of water, oil and solid, for obtaining hydrocarbons and other products, wherein said multiphase residue is a water-containing feed having as low as 15% wt solids, the system comprising: (a) a tubular reactor ( 40 ), working in a sealed mode under inert atmosphere and vacuum/reduced-pressure, made up of a single chamber having an inner carrier helicoid ( 42 ) and three independent sets of heating elements around a refractory steel outer sleeve ( 41 ) so as to create three gradient heating zones along said chamber, and in the upper part being provided with three exits ( 45 , 46 , 47 ) for generated gas and a gas inlet ( 48 ) while in the lower part being provided with an inlet ( 43 ) for feeding the multiphase residue and an exit ( 44 ) for generated solids; (b) a feed system ( 10 ) made up of a positive displacement pump ( 11 ) adapted to a hopper ( 13 ) for feeding and displacing the multiphase residue in a controlled way via a line ( 12 ) towards the chamber, keeping a vertical column filled in to work as a vacuum seal; (c) a vacuum/reduced-pressure system ( 30 ) made up of a high flow rate vacuum pump able to impart a depression around 400 to 1000 mbar below atmospheric in the system; d) an inert gas system ( 20 ) for introducing inert gas into the system so as to render inert atmosphere; (e) a solids discharge sealed system ( 50 ) for produced solids, made up of an upper valve ( 51 ) and a lower valve ( 52 ) and an intermediate silo ( 53 ) connected to the inert gas system ( 20 ); (f) a gas condensation system ( 60 ) for generated gases, made up of three condensers ( 61 , 62 , 63 ) under vacuum and each being connected to each of the three exits ( 45 , 46 , 47 ) of the reactor; (g) a scrubbers system ( 70 ) for trapping generated gases that leave the gas condensation system ( 60 ), made up of three bubbling vessels ( 71 , 72 , 73 ) containing chemical, in series, connected to the vacuum/reduced-press system ( 30 ); (h) a control system ( 80 ) for controlling the process conditions; and (i) a post treatment system ( 90 ) for the collected solids in the silo ( 53 ).