Method of and means for upgrading hydrocarbons containing metals and asphaltenes

A method for upgrading a hydrocarbon source feed comprising the steps of:

• a) deasphalting said hydrocarbon source feed using a solvent deasphalting unit utilizing a solvent having a critical temperature Tc with an atmospheric boiling temperature greater than about Tf °F. that receives said hydrocarbon source feed for producing a substantially solvent-free asphaltene product, and a substantially solvent-free nonasphaltene product in response to input heat of at least about Tf° F., and wherein Tf is greater than about Tc−50° F.;
• b) generating power using a prime mover that generates power and produces waste heat;
• and
• c) utilizing said waste heat to provide said input heat.

Apparatus for upgrading a hydrocarbon source feed, comprising:

• a) a fractionator for receiving a first hydrocarbon input stream and separating the same into fractions with an atmospheric equivalent boiling temperature less than about Tf °F. (Tf− fractions) thereby producing a product stream that consists of Tf− fractions, and a residue stream (Tf+ stream);
• b) a solvent deasphalting (SDA) unit utilizing a solvent having a critical temperature Tc for receiving a second hydrocarbon input stream which includes said residue stream for producing a first product stream of substantially solvent-free asphaltenes, and a second product stream containing substantially solvent-free deasphalted oil (DAO), and wherein Tf is greater than about Tc−50° F., such that said source feed is included in said first or second input streams;
• c) a thermal cracker for thermally cracking the DAO in said second product stream for producing an output stream that includes thermally cracked fractions and by-product asphaltenes produced by thermally cracking the DAO, whereby at least some of said thermally cracked fractions are fed back to said first input stream;
• and
• d) a combustor for combusting the solvent-free asphaltenes from the solvent deasphalting unit, thereby producing hot products of combustion and generating heat for use in producing steam.

A method for upgrading a hydrocarbon source feed comprising the steps of:

• a) deasphalting said hydrocarbon source feed using a solvent deasphalting unit utilizing a solvent having a critical temperature Tc with an atmospheric boiling temperature greater than about Tf °F. that receives said hydrocarbon source feed for producing a substantially solvent-free asphaltene product, and a substantially solvent-free nonasphaltene product in response to input heat of at least Tf °F., and wherein Tf is greater than about Tc−50° F.;
• b) generating power using a prime mover that generates power and produces waste heat;
• and
• c) combusting the solvent-free asphaltenes from the deasphalting step in a combustor, thereby producing hot products of combustion and generating heat for use in producing steam.