Process for upgrading crude oil and residual fractions thereof by vaporizing the charge in a falling curtain of contact particles
AssigneeEngelhard Corporation
InventorsDavid B. Bartholic, Robert L. Flanders
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for upgrading a petroleum charge of crude oil or residual fractions thereof, in which the charge is dispersed into a descending curtain of heated, substantially inert contact material. This contact material preferably has a conversion rate not substantially greater than 10% in the CAT D test. The vapors generated on contact of the charge with the curtain are collected on the side of the curtain opposite from where the charge is dispersed. The recovered product has a substantially reduced metals content and Conradson Carbon number and is suitable for catalytic cracking or use as heavy fuel or a heavy fuel precursor.
Claims16
A process for upgrading a petroleum charge of a crude oil or a residual fraction thereof to provide a product with reduced heavy metal and Conradson Carbon content comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting said charge with a substantially inert heated contact material for a period of time less than three seconds and less than that which induces substantial thermal cracking of said charge by dispersing said charge into a curtain of descending contact material to vaporize the charge;
- (b) removing immediately the vaporized hydrocarbon product generated thereby through means on the opposite side of said curtain of contact material from which said charge is dispersed without subjecting said product vapor to additional contact with said inert heated contact material before said removal;
- and
- (c) reducing the temperature of said vapors below that at which substantial thermal cracking of the product occurs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.