# US 8,771,481 B2 · Hydrocarbon resource processing apparatus including a load resonance tracking circuit and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,481 B2 - Document ID: US8771481B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/349,644 - Filed: 2012-01-13 - Published: 2013-07-18 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-13 - Assignees: Harris Corporation - Applicants: Francis Eugene Parsche - Inventors: Francis Eugene Parsche - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771481B2 ## CPC - H05B 6/60: Arrangements for continuous movement of material - B01J 19/129: {Radiofrequency} - C10G 1/02: by distillation - C10G 15/08: by electric means or by electromagnetic or mechanical vibrations - H05B 6/52: Feed lines - H05B 6/62: Apparatus for specific applications - H05B 2214/03: Heating of hydrocarbons - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - 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 device for processing a hydrocarbon resource may include a hydrocarbon processing container configured to receive the hydrocarbon resource therein and having a pair of opposing ends with an enlarged width medial portion therebetween. The device may also a spirally wound electrical conductor surrounding the hydrocarbon processing container, and a radio frequency (RF) circuit coupled to the spirally wound electrical conductor and configured to supply RF power to the hydrocarbon resource while tracking a load resonance of the RF circuit. The RF circuit may be configured to generate magnetic fields within the hydrocarbon processing container parallel with an axis thereof. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for processing a hydrocarbon resource comprising: a hydrocarbon processing container configured to receive the hydrocarbon resource therein and having a pair of opposing ends with an enlarged width medial portion therebetween; a spirally wound electrical conductor surrounding said hydrocarbon processing container; and a radio frequency (RF) circuit coupled to said spirally wound electrical conductor and configured to supply RF power to the hydrocarbon resource while tracking a load resonance of said RF circuit, said RF circuit comprising an RF amplifier having an input and an output, a first electrical conductor adjacent said hydrocarbon processing container and coupled to the input of said RF amplifier, and a second electrical conductor coupled to said spirally wound electrical conductor and the output of said RF amplifier. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first electrical conductor comprises a first ring; and wherein said second electrical conductor comprises a second ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said RF circuit is configured to generate magnetic fields within said hydrocarbon processing container parallel with an axis thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said hydrocarbon processing container has an ellipsoidal shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said hydrocarbon processing container has a spherical shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said hydrocarbon processing container further has a port therein aligned with a corresponding end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said hydrocarbon processing container comprises a dielectric material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reactance element coupled to said spirally wound electrical conductor. ### Claim 9 An apparatus for processing a hydrocarbon resource comprising: a spherically shaped hydrocarbon processing container configured to receive the hydrocarbon resource therein and having a pair of opposing ends with an enlarged width medial portion therebetween; a spirally wound electrical conductor surrounding said spherically shaped hydrocarbon processing container; and a radio frequency (RF) circuit coupled to said spirally wound electrical conductor and configured to supply RF power to the hydrocarbon resource while tracking a load resonance thereof, said RF circuit being configured to generate magnetic fields within said spherically shaped hydrocarbon processing container parallel with an axis of said RF circuit, said RF circuit comprising an RF amplifier having an input and an output, a first electrical conductor adjacent said spherically shaped hydrocarbon processing container and coupled to the input of said RF amplifier, and a second electrical conductor coupled to said spirally wound electrical conductor and the output of said RF amplifier. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first electrical conductor comprises a first ring; and wherein said second electrical conductor comprises a second ring. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said spherically shaped hydrocarbon processing container further has a port therein aligned with a corresponding end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said spherically shaped hydrocarbon processing container comprises a dielectric material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a reactance element coupled to said spirally wound electrical conductor.