# US 8,540,870 B2 · Process for separating pitch from slurry hydrocracked vacuum gas oil > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,870 B2 - Document ID: US8540870B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/491,439 - Filed: 2009-06-25 - Published: 2010-12-30 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2009-06-25 - Assignees: Uop LLC - Applicants: James F. McGehee; David N. Myers; Mark Van Wees; Paul R. Zimmerman; Ruth Buskus Kleinworth - Inventors: James F. McGehee; David N. Myers; Mark Van Wees; Paul R. Zimmerman; Ruth Buskus Kleinworth - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540870B2 ## CPC - C10G 47/00: Cracking of hydrocarbon oils, in the presence of hydrogen or hydrogen- generating compounds, to obtain lower boiling fractions (C10G15/00 takes precedence; destructive hydrogenation of non-melting solid carbonaceous or similar materials C10G1/06) - C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES ## Abstract A process is disclosed for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products. The heavy hydrocarbon feed is slurried with a particulate solid material to form a heavy hydrocarbon slurry and hydrocracked in a slurry hydrocracking unit to produce vacuum gas oil (VGO) and pitch. A first vacuum column separates VGO from pitch, and a second vacuum column further separates VGO from pitch. As much as 15 wt-% of VGO can be recovered by the second vacuum column and recycled to the slurry hydrocracking unit. A pitch composition is obtained which can be made into particles and transported without sticking together. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products comprising: hydrocracking said heavy hydrocarbon feed slurried with a particulate solid material in the presence of hydrogen in a hydrocracking reactor to produce a hydrocracked stream including vacuum gas oil (VGO) and pitch; separating at least a portion of said hydrocracked stream in a first vacuum column to provide a first pitch stream and a first VGO stream; and separating at least a portion of said first pitch stream in a second vacuum column to provide a second pitch stream and a second VGO stream; and recycling the second VGO stream to the hydrocracking step. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the entry pressure in the first vacuum column is greater than the entry pressure in the second vacuum column. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 further comprising forming pitch in said second pitch stream into non-sticking solid particles at temperatures up to 66° C. (150° F). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein a slop wax stream taken below an HVGO cut is recycled back to the hydrocracking reactor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the pitch from the second vacuum column has a concentration of VGO boiling below about 538° C. (1000° F.) of less than 14 wt-%. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the pitch from the second vacuum column has an onset of softening point temperature of at least 66° C. (150° F.). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 further comprising recycling a portion of said first pitch stream to the hydrocracking step. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 further comprising heating the portion of the hydrocracked stream to a temperature at or below about 370° C. and feeding said portion of the hydrocracked stream to the first vacuum column. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein said second vacuum column is a film generating evaporator. ### Claim 10 A process for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products comprising: hydrocracking said heavy hydrocarbon feed slurried with a particulate solid material in the presence of hydrogen in a hydrocracking reactor to produce a hydrocracked stream including vacuum gas oil (VGO) and pitch; separating at least a portion of said hydrocracked stream in a first vacuum column to provide a first pitch stream and a first VGO stream; separating at least a portion of said first pitch stream in a second vacuum column to provide a second pitch stream and a second VGO stream; and forming pitch in said second pitch stream into non-sticky solid particles at temperatures up to 66° C. (150° F.). ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The process of claim 10 wherein the entry pressure in the first vacuum column is greater than the entry pressure in the second vacuum column. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The process of claim 10 wherein said forming step comprises emitting pitch through openings in a perforated wall to form particles, cooling said particles on a conveyor belt and collecting said particles. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The process of claim 10 wherein said forming step includes indirect cooling said solid particles with cooling media. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The process of claim 10 wherein the pitch from the second vacuum column has an onset of softening point temperature of at least 66° C. (150° F.). ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The process of claim 10 further comprising recycling at least a portion of said first pitch stream to the hydrocracking step. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The process of claim 10 further comprising recycling the second VGO stream to the hydrocracking step. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16 further comprising emitting pitch through openings in a perforated wall to form particles, cooling said particles on a conveyor belt by indirect heat exchange, collecting said particles from said conveyor belt and transporting said particles without further indirect heat exchange. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The process of claim 10 wherein said second vacuum column is a film generating evaporator. ### Claim 19 A process for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products comprising: hydrocracking said heavy hydrocarbon feed slurried with a particulate solid material in the presence of hydrogen in a hydrocracking reactor to produce a hydrocracked stream including vacuum gas oil (VGO) and pitch; separating at least a portion of said hydrocracked stream in a first vacuum column to provide a first pitch stream and a first VGO stream; and separating at least a portion of said first pitch stream in a second vacuum column to provide a second pitch stream and a second VGO stream; wherein a slop wax stream taken below an HVGO cut is recycled back to the hydrocracking reactor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The process of claim 19 further comprising heating the portion of the hydrocracked stream to a temperature at or below about 370° C. and feeding said portion of the hydrocracked stream to the first vacuum column.