Electrodynamic-chemical processing for beneficiation of petroleum residue
AssigneeOCET Corporation
InventorsErnest P. Esztergar, John L. Remo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and system for converting petroleum residue ("resid") into a liquid product and a solid product. The resid is first mixed with a solvent having a generally nonpolar molecular character. A strong electric field is then applied to the mixture to agglomerate the asphaltenes and other large molecules in the resid. The agglomerates are then separated from the remaining liquid, thereby producing liquid and solid products. The liquid product is useful as a feedstock for petrochemicals and transportation fuels, and the solid product is suitable for combustion as a coal substitute. A portion of the liquid product may be recycled as the solvent.
Claims48
A process for separating heavy residuum oil from petroleum refining ("resid") into a solid product and a liquid product, said resid comprising asphaltenes in combination with condensable hydrocarbon molecules, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) combining resid with a solvent for the resid to form a resid-solvent mixture;
- (b) applying a uniform electric field to the resid-solvent mixture, the electric field having sufficient intensity to induce agglomeration of the asphaltenes in the resid, thereby producing an electroprocessed mixture comprising the agglomerated asphaltenes, condensable hydrocarbon molecules, and the solvent;
- (c) separating the electroprocessed mixture into a solid product comprising large aromatic molecules and the agglomerated asphaltenes, and a liquid product comprising the condensable hydrocarbon molecules and the solvent.
A process for rearranging the physical arrangement of asphaltenes in a mixture of resid and solvent, by applying a uniform electric field to the mixture so as to cause the asphaltenes to agglomerate, thereby producing solid agglomerates comprising the asphaltenes.
A process for separating heavy residuum oil from petroleum refining ("resid") into a solid product and a liquid product, said resid comprising asphaltenes in combination with condensable hydrocarbon molecules, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) combining resid with a solvent for the resid to form a resid-solvent mixture;
- (b) applying a uniform electric field to the resid-solvent mixture, the electric field having sufficient intensity to induce an electric dipole moment on the asphaltenes in the resid-solvent mixture and cause the asphaltenes to mutually attract and agglomerate, thereby producing an electroprocessed mixture comprising the agglomerated asphaltenes, condensable hydrocarbon molecules, and the solvent;
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- (c) separating the electroprocessed mixture into a solid product comprising large aromatic molecules and the agglomerated asphaltenes, and a liquid product comprising the condensable hydrocarbon molecules and the solvent.
A process for separating heavy residuum oil from petroleum refining ("resid") into a solid product and a liquid product, said resid comprising asphaltenes in combination with condensable hydrocarbon molecules, said process comprising the steps of:
- (a) combining resid with a solvent for the resid to form a resid-solvent mixture;
- (b) applying a uniform electric field to the resid-solvent mixture, the electric field having an intensity in the range of about 100 volts per centimeter to about the dielectric breakdown of the resid-solvent mixture, the electric field inducing agglomeration of the asphaltenes in the resid, thereby producing an electroprocessed mixture comprising the agglomerated asphaltenes, condensable hydrocarbon molecules, and the solvent;
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- (c) separating the electroprocessed mixture into a solid product comprising large aromatic molecules and the agglomerated asphaltenes, and a liquid product comprising the condensable hydrocarbon molecules and the solvent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.