Process to remove asphaltene from heavy oil by solvent

A method for deasphalting a hydrocarbon feed, the method comprising the steps of:

• pressurizing the hydrocarbon feed to a pressure ranging between 2 MPa and 4 MPa;
• heating the hydrocarbon feed to a temperature ranging between 150 deg. C and about 350 deg. C;
• pressurizing a first solvent to a pressure ranging between 2 MPa and 4 MPa;
• combining the hydrocarbon feed and the first solvent using a Taylor-Couette (TC) mixer to form a mixed stream, wherein the hydrocarbon feed comprises asphaltenes, wherein the mixed stream has a solvent-to-oil volume ratio ranging between 0.2 and 2, wherein the mixed stream has a reduced Taylor number of greater than about 1,000, wherein the TC mixer comprises:
• an inner cylinder;
• and
• an outer cylinder,
• wherein the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are concentric,
• wherein the outer cylinder is stationary and includes an inlet and an outlet, the inlet configured to receive the hydrocarbon feed and the first solvent, the outlet configured to exit the mixed stream,
• wherein the inner cylinder is rotating at a predetermined angular velocity,
• wherein the ratio of inner cylinder radius (r1) to outer cylinder radius (r2) is between about 0.75 to about 0.95,
• wherein the length aspect ratio (Lr/d) is greater than about 40, wherein the gap aspect ratio (d/r1) is between about 0.075 and about 0.277;
• introducing the mixed stream and a second solvent to an extractor to produce a first deasphalted oil stream and a pitch stream, wherein the first deasphalted oil stream is substantially in the absence of the asphaltenes, wherein the pitch stream comprises the asphaltenes;
• and
• introducing the first deasphalted oil stream to a solvent recovery unit to recover the first solvent and the second solvent via a recovered solvent stream and to produce a second deasphalted oil stream, wherein the second deasphalted oil stream is substantially in the absence of the first solvent and the second solvent.