US 7,172,686 B1 · Method of increasing distillates yield in crude oil distillation

Abstract

Methods of separating components of a mixture, such as crude oil, are disclosed which increase the yield of individual components while decreasing the yield of residue. In one method, a heated mixture is fed to a column, a vapor stream is withdrawn from the column and separated, and a portion of the vapor stream is recycled back to the column. In another method, a mixture is separated into streams composed substantially of components having light, intermediate or heavy molecular weight and/or low, intermediate or high boiling point, respectively, and the streams are fed into the column at different positions. In both methods, individual light, intermediate and/or heavy molecular weight and/or low, intermediate and/or high boiling point component streams are then selectively withdrawn from the column.

Claims57

Dependent claims

A method of separating components of a mixture comprising:

providing a mixture comprising at least one first component, at least one second component and at least one intermediate component;
heating the mixture to a temperature sufficient to permit separation of the mixture into a first stream rich in the at least one first component and a second stream rich in the at least one intermediate component upon passage through a column, thereby leaving a heavy residue in a bottom of the column, wherein the heavy residue is rich in the at least one second component;
feeding the heated mixture to a column having a flash zone;
withdrawing a vapor stream from the column at a position below the flash zone of the column;
separating the vapor stream into a condensate and a resultant vapor stream;
and
recycling at least one of the resultant vapor stream and the condensate to the column;
and
selectively withdrawing at least one of the first stream rich in the at least one first component and the second stream rich in the at least one intermediate component from the column such that the yield of at least one of the at least one first component and the at least one intermediate components component is increased and the yield of residue is decreased.

6 more elements

A method of separating components of a mixture comprising:

providing an initial mixture comprising at least one individual component having light molecular weight and/or low boiling point, at least one individual component having intermediate molecular weight and/or intermediate boiling point, and at least one individual component having heavy molecular weight and/or high boiling point;
separating the initial mixture into a first stream composed substantially of intermediate molecular weight and/or intermediate boiling point components and a second stream composed substantially of light molecular weight and/or low boiling point and heavy molecular weight and/or high boiling point components;
feeding the second stream into a flash zone of a column capable of separating the initial mixture into at least one light molecular weight and/or low boiling point component stream, at least one intermediate molecular weight and/or intermediate boiling point component stream and at least one heavy molecular weight and/or high boiling point component stream, wherein the second stream is substantially free of intermediate molecular weight and/or intermediate boiling point components, thereby utilizing a carrier effect of light molecular weight and/or low boiling point components such that a larger portion of the heavy molecular weight and/or high boiling point components are vaporized in the flash zone of the column;
and
selectively withdrawing at least one light molecular weight and/or low boiling point component stream, at least one intermediate molecular weight and/or intermediate boiling point component stream or at least one heavy molecular weight and/or high boiling point component stream from the column such that the yield of individual components of the initial mixture is increased.

2 more elements

A method of separating components of a mixture comprising:

providing an initial mixture comprising at least one individual component having light molecular weight and/or low boiling point, at least one individual component having intermediate molecular weight and/or intermediate boiling point, and at least one individual component having heavy molecular weight and/or high boiling point;
separating the initial mixture into a first stream rich in light molecular weight and/or low boiling point components, a second stream rich in heavy molecular weight and/or high boiling point components and a third stream rich in intermediate molecular weight and/or intermediate boiling point components;
feeding the first, second and third streams into a column such that the first stream is fed into a first position on the column, the second stream is fed into a second position on the column, and the third stream is fed into a third position on the column, wherein the first and second positions are in a flash zone of the column, and wherein the third position is in a location different from the flash zone of the column, thereby utilizing a carrier effect of light molecular weight and/or low boiling point components such that a larger portion of the heavy molecular weight and/or high boiling point components are vaporized in the flash zone of the column, and wherein the column is capable of separating the initial mixture into at least one stream composed substantially of one individual light molecular weight and/or low boiling point component, at least one stream composed substantially of one individual intermediate molecular weight and/or intermediate boiling point component and at least one stream composed substantially of one individual heavy molecular weight and/or high boiling point component;
and
selectively withdrawing at least one individual light molecular weight and/or low boiling point component stream, at least one individual intermediate molecular weight and/or intermediate boiling point component stream or at least one individual heavy molecular weight and/or high boiling point component stream from the column such that the yield of individual components of the initial mixture is increased.

2 more elements

A method of separating components of crude oil comprising:

providing crude oil comprising naphtha, kerosene, diesel, gas oil and residue;
heating the crude oil to a temperature sufficient to permit separation of the crude oil into a vapor stream and a liquid stream;
feeding the heated crude oil to a first flash drum and separating the crude oil into the vapor stream and the liquid stream;
cooling the vapor stream and feeding the cooled vapor stream to a second flash drum to separate the vapor stream into condensate and a remaining vapor stream, wherein the condensate comprises gas oil components and the remaining vapor stream comprises light components;
feeding the condensate into a distillation column whereby the column is capable of separating the crude oil into a naphtha stream, a kerosene stream, a diesel stream and a gas oil stream, the condensate being fed into the distillation column above a flash zone of the distillation column;
mixing the liquid stream from the first flash drum and the remaining vapor stream from the second flash drum to provide a mixture and heating the mixture;
feeding the mixture into the flash zone of the distillation column;
and
selectively withdrawing at least one of the naphtha stream, the kerosene stream, the diesel stream and the gas oil stream from the column such that the yield of at least one of naphtha, kerosene, diesel and gas oil is increased and residue yield is decreased.

6 more elements

A method of separating components of a mixture comprising:

providing an initial mixture comprising at least one individual component having light molecular weight and/or low boiling point, at least one individual component having intermediate molecular weight and/or intermediate boiling point, and at least one individual component having heavy molecular weight and/or high boiling point;
separating the initial mixture into a first stream rich in light molecular weight and/or low boiling point components, a second stream rich in heavy molecular weight and/or high boiling point components and a third stream rich in intermediate molecular weight and/or intermediate boiling point components;
feeding the first, second and third streams into a column such that the first stream is fed into a first position on the column, the second stream is fed into a second position on the column, and the third stream is fed into a third position on the column, wherein the first and second positions are in a flash zone of the column, and wherein the third position is in a location different from the flash zone of the column, thereby utilizing a carrier effect of light molecular weight and/or low boiling point components such that a larger portion of the heavy molecular weight and/or high boiling point components are vaporized in the flash zone of the column, and wherein the column is capable of separating the initial mixture into at least one stream composed substantially of one individual light molecular weight and/or low boiling point component, at least one stream composed substantially of one individual intermediate molecular weight and/or intermediate boiling point component and at least one stream composed substantially of one individual heavy molecular weight and/or high boiling point component;
and
selectively withdrawing at least one individual light molecular weight and/or low boiling point component stream, at least one individual intermediate molecular weight and/or intermediate boiling point component stream or at least one individual heavy molecular weight and/or high boiling point component stream from the column such that energy consumption is decreased.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of increasing distillates yield in crude oil distillation

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Method of increasing distillates yield in crude oil distillation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims57