Catalyst preparation unit for use in processing of heavy hydrocarbons

Abstract

A catalyst preparation unit for producing an activated hydrocarbon-catalyst mixture. The catalyst preparation unit includes one or more catalyst reactant input conduits; a hydrocarbon input conduit; a water input conduit; one or more catalyst reactant mixing and conveyance systems for receiving and mixing catalyst reactants from the catalyst component input conduits and water provided by the water input conduit to provide one or more catalyst reactant solutions; one or more hydrocarbon mixing and conveyance systems for receiving and mixing the catalyst reactant solutions and hydrocarbons provided by the hydrocarbon input conduit to produce a hydrocarbon-catalyst reactant mixture; at least one reactor located downstream of the mixers, for receiving and activating the hydrocarbon-catalyst reactant mixture, thereby producing the activated hydrocarbon catalyst mixture; a gas/liquid separator located downstream of the reactor, for removing vapors and gas from the activated hydrocarbon-catalyst mixture; and an output conduit for transporting the activated hydrocarbon-catalyst mixture away from the catalyst preparation unit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.