Energy efficient process for separating hydrocarbonaceous materials into various fractions

A process comprising:

• introducing a hydrocarbonaceous material feed comprising asphaltenes, resins and oils and a solvent into a first separation zone maintained at an elevated temperature level and pressure level to effect a separation of the mixture into a first light phase and a first heavy phase comprising asphaltenes and some solvent;
• introducing said first heavy phase into a second separation zone maintained at a temperature level above the temperature level in the first separation zone and at an elevated pressure level to effect a separation of said first heavy phase into a second light phase comprising solvent and a second heavy phase comprising asphaltenes;
• withdrawing said second light phase from the second separation zone for recycle without substantial pressure reduction to said first separation zone to provide at least a portion of the solvent introduced therein;
• and
• recovering the first light phase and second heavy phase.

A process comprising:

• introducing a hydrocarbonaceous material feed and a first portion of a solvent into a first separation zone maintained at an elevated temperature and pressure to effect a separation of the mixture into a first light phase comprising solvent and at least a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous material feed and some solvent;
• introducing said first heavy phase into a second separation zone maintained at a temperature level above the temperature level in the first separation zone and at an elevated pressure to effect a separation of said first heavy phase into a second light phase comprising solvent and a second heavy phase comprising at least a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous material feed;
• introducing said first light phase and a second portion of solvent into a third separation zone maintained at a temperature level above the temperature level in the first separation zone to effect a separation of the mixture into a third light phase comprising solvent and at least a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous material feed in said first light phase and a third heavy phase comprising the remainder of the hydrocarbonaceous material feed in said first light phase and some solvent;
• introducing said third heavy phase into a fourth separation zone maintained at a temperature level above the temperature level in the third separation zone and at an elevated pressure level to effect a separation of said third heavy phase into a fourth light phase comprising solvent and a fourth heavy phase comprising at least a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous material feed in said third heavy phase;
• recycling at least a portion of at least one member selected from the group consisting of the second light phase and the fourth light phase without substantial pressure reduction to provide at least a portion of at least one member selected from the group consisting of the first portion of solvent and the second portion of solvent;
• and
• recovering said second heavy phase and fourth heavy phase.

A process comprising:

• introducing a hydrocarbonaceous material feed and a first portion of a solvent into a first separation zone maintained at an elevated temperature and pressure to effect a separation of the mixture into a first light phase comprising solvent and at least a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous material feed and some solvent;
• introducing said first heavy phase into a second separation zone maintained at a temperature level above the temperature level in the first separation zone and at an elevated pressure to effect a separation of said first heavy phase into a second light phase comprising solvent and a second heavy phase comprising at least a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous material feed;
• introducing said first light phase into a third separation zone maintained at a temperature level above the temperature level in the first separation zone to effect a separation of said first light phase into a third light phase comprising solvent and at least a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous material feed in said first light phase and a third heavy phase comprising the remainder of the hydrocarbonaceous material feed in said first light phase and some solvent;
• introducing said third heavy phase into a fourth separation zone maintained at a temperature level above the temperature level in the third separation zone and at an elevated pressure level to effect a separation of said third heavy phase into a fourth light phase comprising solvent and a fourth heavy phase comprising at least a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous material feed in said third heavy phase;
• introducing said third light phase and a second portion of solvent into a fifth separation zone maintained at a temperature level above the temperature level in the third separation zone to effect a separation of said third light phase into a fifth light phase comprising solvent and a fifth heavy phase comprising at least a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous feed material in said third light phase;
• recycling at least a portion of at least one member selected from the group consisting of the second light phase and the fourth light phase without substantial pressure reduction to provide at least a portion of at least one member selected from the group consisting of the first portion of solvent and the second portion of solvent;
• and
• recovering said second heavy phase, fourth heavy phase and fifth heavy phase.

A process comprising:

• introducing a hydrocarbonaceous material feed comprising asphaltenes, resins and oils and a solvent into a first separation zone maintained at an elevated temperature level and pressure level to effect a separation of the mixture into a first light phase comprising resins, oils and solvent and a first heavy phase comprising asphaltenes and some solvent;
• introducing said first heavy phase into a second separation zone maintained at a temperature level above the temperature level in the first separation zone and at an elevated pressure level to effect a separation of said first heavy phase into a second light phase comprising solvent and a second heavy phase comprising asphaltenes;
• withdrawing said second light phase from the second separation zone for recycle without substantial pressure reduction to said first separation zone to provide at least a portion of the solvent introduced therein;
• introducing said first light phase into a third separation zone maintained at a temperature level above the temperature level in the first separation zone and at an elevated pressure level to effect a separation of said first light phase into a third light phase and a third heavy phase comprising resins and some solvent;
• introducing said third heavy phase into a fourth separation zone maintained at a temperature level above the temperature level in the third separation zone and at an elevated pressure level to effect a separation of said third heavy phase into a fourth light phase comprising solvent and a fourth heavy phase comprising resins;
• withdrawing said fourth light phase from the fourth separation zone for recycle without substantial pressure reduction to said first separation zone to provide at least a portion of the solvent introduced therein;
• and
• recovering said third light phase and fourth heavy phase.