Automatic separation apparatus for four fractions of heavy oil and separation method thereof

An automatic separation apparatus for four fractions of heavy oil, comprising:

• (a) a solvent reservoir tank;
• (b) a separation unit for the four fractions of heavy oil, comprising:
• (i) a filter disc having one end in communication with the solvent reservoir tank, and an opposing end in communication with a first inlet of a pre-column flow path switching valve;
• (ii) a chromatographic column having an inlet in communication with a first outlet of the pre-column flow path switching valve, and an outlet in communication with a first inlet of a post-column flow path switching valve;
• and
• (iii) a bypass pipeline having one end in communication with a second outlet of the pre-column flow path switching valve, and an opposing end in communication with a second inlet of the post-column flow path switching valve;
• (c) a receiving apparatus in communication with an outlet of the post-column flow path switching valve;
• wherein a number of the separation unit for the four fractions of heavy oil is n, wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and the separation unit for the four fractions of heavy oil is used to perform automatic separation processes of the four fractions of heavy oil simultaneously in parallel;
• wherein the automatic separation apparatus for the four fractions of heavy oil further comprises:
• a liquid splitting apparatus comprising a heating element and being arranged between the solvent reservoir tank and the separation unit for the four fractions of heavy oil;
• the liquid splitting apparatus comprising a splitter and n paths of metal pipes with equal back pressures, the number of the metal pipes being equal to the number of separation units for the four fractions of heavy oil, and liquid outlet ends of respective metal pipes being in communication with liquid inlet ends of respective separation units for the four fractions of heavy oil in a one-to-one correspondence;
• wherein the receiving apparatus is an automatic receiving apparatus for eluent which is made of aluminum-plastic materials, comprising a box, a receiving container arranged in the box a transmission apparatus, and a liquid channel;
• and
• wherein the receiving container is arranged at a bottom of the box, the transmission apparatus is arranged above the receiving container, the transmission apparatus is provided with the liquid channel, and an outlet of the liquid channel faces the receiving container.