Field enhanced separation of hydrocarbon fractions

A method for separating a lubricant boiling range feedstock, comprising:

• passing a feedstock with a T5 boiling point of at least 350° C. into a gap between a first surface and a second surface in a thermal diffusion separator;
• performing thermal diffusion separation by maintaining the feedstock in the gap with a temperature differential between the first surface and the second surface of at least 5° C. for a residence time;
• withdrawing a plurality of fractions from the thermal diffusion separator including a first fraction, a second fraction, a third fraction, and a fourth fraction withdrawn from a height between the first fraction and the third fraction, the first fraction having a first value for a first property;
• and
• blending at least a portion of the second fraction and at least a portion of the third fraction to form a blended fraction, the blended fraction excluding at least a portion of the fourth fraction, the blended fraction having a second value for the first property that differs from the first value by 2.5% or less,
• wherein a yield of product for a combination of the first fraction plus the blended fraction is greater than a yield for a contiguous blend of fractions from the plurality of fractions that has a value for the first property that differs from the first value by 2.5% or less.

A system for performing hydroprocessing comprising:

• a separation volume formed by a first surface and a second surface aligned to face each other and define a separation volume width of the separation volume, the separation volume having a separation volume height defined by a top surface and a bottom surface and a separation volume length, the separation volume width being from 0.25 mm to 6.0 mm, the separation volume height being at least 0.25 m, and a ratio of the separation volume width to the separation volume height being less than 500;
• one or more heating elements configured to maintain the first surface at a temperature;
• one or more first electrodes associated with the first surface and one or more second electrodes associated with the second surface;
• an input manifold in fluid communication with the separation volume;
• and
• a plurality of output channels in fluid communication with the separation volume, the plurality of output channels being at two or more different heights relative to the height of the separation volume.