Method for changing the qualitative and quantitative composition of a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons based on the effects of cavitation

A method for changing the qualitative and quantitative composition of a mixture of only liquid hydrocarbons, comprising the steps of:

• establishing a flow-through passage using a baffle body that provides a first local constriction;
• passing said mixture of only liquid hydrocarbons through said flow-through passage at a velocity that establishes a hydrodynamic cavitation field downstream from said baffle body;
• controlling said hydrodynamic cavitation field to maintain a degree of cavitation of at least one, and,
• initiating chemical transformations within said mixture of only liquid hydrocarbons in the form of microcracking produced by collapsing cavitation bubbles within said hydrodynamic cavitation field thereby changing the qualitative and quantitative composition of said mixture of only liquid hydrocarbons without the use of a catalyst.

A method for changing the qualitative and quantitative composition of a mixture of only liquid hydrocarbons, comprising the steps of:

• establishing a flow-through passage using a baffle body that provides a first local constriction having a coefficient of restriction equal to at least 0.1 located at or close to a center of said first flow-through passage;
• passing said mixture of only liquid hydrocarbons through said flow-through passage at a temperature with the range of 10.degree. C. and 500.degree. C. and at a velocity that establishes a hydrodynamic cavitation field downstream from said baffle body;
• controlling said hydrodynamic cavitation field to maintain a degree of cavitation of at least one;
• and,
• initiating chemical transformations within said mixture of only liquid hydrocarbons within said hydrodynamic cavitation field thereby changing the qualitative and quantitative composition of said mixture of only liquid hydrocarbons without the use of a catalyst and without pre-heating said mixture of only liquid hydrocarbons.