# US 2020/0399547 A1 · Integrated Desolidification for Solid-Containing Residues > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0399547 A1 - Document ID: US20200399547A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/909,700 - Filed: 2020-06-23 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-24 - Assignees: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC - Inventors: Cassandra Schoessow; Douglas Piotter; Anand Subramanian - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200399547A1 ## CPC - C10G 67/04: including solvent extraction as the refining step in the absence of hydrogen - B01D 3/10: Vacuum distillation (B01D3/12 takes precedence) - B01D 3/143: {by two or more of a fractionation, separation or rectification step} - B01D 3/34: with one or more auxiliary substances - B01D 11/0492: {Applications, solvents used} - C10G 49/10: with moving solid particles - C10G 49/22: Separation of effluents - C10G 67/0445: {The hydrotreatment being a hydrocracking} - C10G 67/049: {The hydrotreatment being a hydrocracking} - C10G 67/14: including at least two different refining steps in the absence of hydrogen - B01D 11/0446: {Juxtaposition of mixers-settlers} - C10G 2300/1077: Vacuum residues - C10G 2300/301: Boiling range - C10G 2300/302: Viscosity - C10G 2300/308: Gravity, density, e.g. API - C10G 2300/80: Additives - C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract A desolidification process enables the isolation and extraction of solid additives from an unreacted petroleum residue stream. In a hydrocracking process that mixes a solid additive with a petroleum residue feedstock to convert the petroleum residue to higher-value distillates, the desolidification process enables the recovery of the unreacted petroleum residue for conversion to a saleable product. The desolidification process involves the mixture of one or more solvents with a slurry in which solids are integrated in the petroleum residue to generate a mixture having a decreased density and viscosity as compared to the slurry, which facilitates removal of the solids. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: mixing a solid additive with a petroleum residue; cracking the petroleum residue in a reactor containing hydrogen; receiving a first portion of an effluent from the reactor, wherein the first portion comprises unreacted petroleum residue and solid additive; mixing the first portion with a solvent to form a mixture that has a lower density and viscosity than the first portion; and allowing the mixture to separate into a liquid portion containing the solvent and the unreacted feedstock material and a solid portion containing the solid additive. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the solid additive is an activated carbon material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the solid additive is a metal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the solid additive is a catalyst. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the solvent comprises one of vacuum gas oil, FCC light cycle oil, FCC heavy cycle oil, naphtha, diesel, and toluene. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the petroleum residue comprises vacuum distillation residue from a crude oil refining process. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising routing the liquid portion to a separation column. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein mixing the first portion with the solvent comprises mixing the first portion and the solvent in a mix drum with an agitator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: routing the mixture from the mix drum to a solid separation drum; and allowing the solid additive material to fall to the bottom of the solid separation drum. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising extracting the solid additive material from the bottom of the solid separation drum. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein extracting the solid additive material comprises extracting the solid additive material at a rate to maintain a solid-liquid interface level in the solid separation drum. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: drying the solid additive material in a drier; and cooling the dried solid additive material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein cooling the dried solid additive material comprises exposing the dried solid additive material to a cooling gas flow in a rotating cooler. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the cooling gas is nitrogen. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein cooling the dried solid additive material comprises exposing the dried solid additive material to a cooling water bath. ### Claim 16 A method, comprising: receiving a first portion of a first hydrocracker reactor effluent, wherein the first portion is a slurry stream comprising unreacted petroleum residue and a solid additive material; mixing the first portion with a first solvent to form a first mixture that has a lower density and viscosity than the first portion; and allowing the first mixture to separate into a first solid portion and a first liquid portion in a first solid separation vessel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the solid additive material is a mixture of an activated carbon material, a metal, and a salt. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the first solvent is vacuum gas oil. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: mixing the first liquid portion with a second solvent to form a second mixture; and allowing the second mixture to separate into a second solid portion and a second liquid portion in a second solid separation vessel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the second solvent has a lower atmospheric pressure boiling point than the first solvent. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the first liquid portion comprises the unreacted petroleum residue and the first solvent and further comprising routing the first liquid portion to a separation column that operates at less than atmospheric pressure to separate the first solvent from the unreacted petroleum residue. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein mixing the first portion with the first solvent comprises mixing the first portion with the first solvent in a mix drum with an agitator. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising extracting the first solid portion from the first solid separation vessel at a rate to maintain a solid-liquid interface level in the first solid separation vessel.