Solids management in slurry hydroprocessing
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsLorenz J. Bauer, Tom N. Kalnes, James F. McGehee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The recovery of solids, and particularly solid particulates used as catalysts in slurry hydroprocessing, from asphaltene containing hydrocarbons is improved by controlling asphaltene precipitation. The formation of agglomerates of the solid particulates, having an increased diameter, results in the presence of precipitated asphaltenes, possibly due to flocculation. Asphaltene precipitation is controlled by varying process parameters or introducing additional diluent or flush streams that change the polarity of an asphaltene containing liquid product recovered from an effluent of a slurry hydroprocessing reaction zone.
Claims18
A slurry hydroprocessing method comprising:
- (a) passing a slurry comprising a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock containing asphaltenes and a solid particulate through a reaction zone to provide a slurry effluent;
- (b) filtering a liquid product through a filter, recovered from the slurry effluent in combination with the solid particulate, to provide a filtration retentate comprising precipitated asphaltenes and further comprising a retained portion of the solid particulate;
- (c) recycling the filtration retentate to the reaction zone;
- (d) the liquid product has a solubility blending number :
- insolubility number ratio that is less than about 1.4;
- and
- wherein the filter has a pore size exceeding the average particle size of the solid particulate.
A method for upgrading a hydrocarbon distillation residue, the method comprising:
- (a) passing a slurry comprising the hydrocarbon distillation residue and a solid particulate through hydroprocessing reaction zone in the presence of hydrogen to provide a slurry effluent, wherein the hydrocarbon distillation residue contains asphaltenes,
- (b) subjecting the slurry effluent to one or more flash separation or distillation stages to recover a liquid product in combination with the solid particulate,
- (c) filtering the liquid product through a filter to provide (i) a filtered liquid product having a reduced content of both the solid particulate and asphaltenes and (ii) a retentate comprising a retained fraction of the solid particulate and asphaltenes;
- (d) continuously or periodically flushing the filter with a flush liquid to provide a flush effluent slurry comprising the retained fraction of the solid particulate and the asphaltenes;
- (e) recycling the retentate to the reaction zone;
- wherein the liquid product has a solubility blending number:
- insolubility number ratio that is less than about 1.4;
- and
- wherein the filter has a pore size exceeding the average particle size of the solid particulate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.