WO2002102746A1 - Procede d'enrichissement de melanges d'hydrocarbures - Google Patents

Procede d'enrichissement de melanges d'hydrocarbures Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2002102746A1
WO2002102746A1 PCT/US2002/019300 US0219300W WO02102746A1 WO 2002102746 A1 WO2002102746 A1 WO 2002102746A1 US 0219300 W US0219300 W US 0219300W WO 02102746 A1 WO02102746 A1 WO 02102746A1
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Prior art keywords
hydrocarbon mixture
hydrocarbon
treated
energy
mixture
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PCT/US2002/019300
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English (en)
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Douglas P. Austin
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PETRONETICS LC
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PETRONETICS LC
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J19/08—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor
    • B01J19/10—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor employing sonic or ultrasonic vibrations
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J19/008—Processes for carrying out reactions under cavitation conditions
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G15/00—Cracking of hydrocarbon oils by electric means, electromagnetic or mechanical vibrations, by particle radiation or with gases superheated in electric arcs
    • C10G15/08—Cracking of hydrocarbon oils by electric means, electromagnetic or mechanical vibrations, by particle radiation or with gases superheated in electric arcs by electric means or by electromagnetic or mechanical vibrations
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G32/00—Refining of hydrocarbon oils by electric or magnetic means, by irradiation, or by using microorganisms
    • C10G32/02—Refining of hydrocarbon oils by electric or magnetic means, by irradiation, or by using microorganisms by electric or magnetic means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2219/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J2219/08—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor
    • B01J2219/0873—Materials to be treated
    • B01J2219/0877—Liquid
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G2300/00—Aspects relating to hydrocarbon processing covered by groups C10G1/00 - C10G99/00
    • C10G2300/10—Feedstock materials
    • C10G2300/107—Atmospheric residues having a boiling point of at least about 538 °C
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G2400/00—Products obtained by processes covered by groups C10G9/00 - C10G69/14
    • C10G2400/06—Gasoil

Definitions

  • This invention relates to petroleum mixtures, and, more specifically, to hydrocarbon mixtures and a cavitational method for separating various hydrocarbon fractions from the same.
  • Petroleum products are used in the manufacture of goods utilized in residential and commercial construction, automobiles, fibers for clothing, holiday decorations, food processing and packaging, medical devices, and the synthesis of pharmaceuticals.
  • the route from crude oil to sweaters, CD's, car bumpers, roofing shingles, etc., is a long one involving refining and reforming.
  • the products which can be derived from an average barrel of crude oil, which contains 42 gallons, include gasoline to power our vehicles; kerosene used as a jet fuel and used around the world for cooking and space heating; liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) used as fuel and as an intermediate material in the manufacture of petrochemicals; diesel fuels and domestic heating oils; residual fuels or combinations of residual and distillate fuels for heating and processing; coke used as briquets; asphalt used for roads and roofing materials; solvents such as benzene, toluene, and xylene; petrochemical feedstocks used in the production of plastics, synthetic fibers, synthetic rubbers, and other products; and lubricating oil base stocks such as motor oils, industrial greases, lubricants, and cutting oils.
  • LPG liquefied petroleum gas
  • Crude oil is comprised of hydrocarbon fractions of varying chain lengths, as seen in Table 1.
  • the longer chain lengths have progressively higher boiling points, and therefore the varying chain lengths can be separated out by distillation.
  • crude oil is progressively heated and the constituent components are largely vaporized according to their boiling points corresponding to the pressure existing in the column at that point.
  • the various components may then be drawn from the column at points of differing temperatures and pressures.
  • the heavier fractions recovered, such as heavy lubricating oils and residuums generally have significantly less commercial value than the lighter fractions.
  • This invention provides an improved method for upgrading heavy hydrocarbon fractions.
  • Treatment using the method of the present invention can improve the separability of various hydrocarbon fractions from crude oils and other hydrocarbon mixtures.
  • this invention also has utility for the production of more valuable hydrocarbon products from what were previously considered very low value heavy hydrocarbon mixtures.
  • a completely new source of feedstock for the production of valuable petroleum products can be made available for use by petroleum refiners to expand the range of feedstock currently available.
  • the method of the present invention involves upgrading a hydrocarbon mixture.
  • the hydrocarbon mixture is treated with cavitational energy sufficient to cause cracking.
  • the various resulting hydrocarbon fractions may then be separated using any number of separation technologies, most often distillation.
  • the cavitational energy may be provided using ultrasonic, electromagnetic, propeller, impeller, venturi methods, or combinations thereof.
  • An advantage of the method of the present invention is that a wide variety of hydrocarbon mixtures can be used as feedstock.
  • Non-limiting examples include crude oil, atmospheric tower refining bottoms, used motor oil, vacuum gas oils, refining residuums, fuel oil, vacuum tower bottoms, residual fuel oils and mixtures of these feedstocks.
  • the hydrocarbon mixture further includes components containing nitrogen, chlorine, sulfur or oxygen. Still another more detailed aspect of the present invention is to treat heavy hydrocarbon mixtures containing predominantly hydrocarbons having a boiling point greater than that of diesel. In another more detailed aspect of the present invention the hydrocarbon mixture is treated at a temperature between about 300° F and 500° F.
  • the hydrocarbon mixture is treated in the absence of a substantial aqueous phase or additives.
  • a cup-shaped flow tube is used to direct flow of the hydrocarbon mixture toward the ultrasonic energy source and accelerate flow to the turbulent flow regime.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the method steps of the process of the present invention for applying cavitational energy to treat hydrocarbon mixtures
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a system for treating hydrocarbon mixtures accordmg to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing one possible flow configuration past an ultrasonic energy source of the system shown in FIG. 2.
  • hydrocarbon fuel As used herein, "hydrocarbon fuel”, “hydrocarbon mixture” and “hydrocarbon product” are used interchangeably and refer to any petroleum or hydrocarbon mixture such as crude oil, used motor oil, vacuum gas oils, refining residuums, cat cracker bottoms, fuel oil, vacuum tower bottoms, atmospheric tower refining bottoms, residual fuel oils and mixtures thereof. Frequently, the hydrocarbon product has previously undergone more traditional separation and/or distillation processes or is a residual product of other processes. Further, many hydrocarbon mixtures of interest also contain complex mixtures of heterocyclic and heteroatom hydrocarbon compounds, aromatics, cyclic hydrocarbons, trace elements and hydrocarbons having non-carbon constituent groups which include but are not limited to sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen and various combinations of these. Examples of such compounds include but are not limited to quinolines, pyrrols, cresols, alcohols and phenols.
  • heavy hydrocarbon mixture refers to hydrocarbon containing mixtures containing predominantly components having a boiling point above that of the diesel range.
  • hydrocarbon fraction is intended to refer generally to a portion of a hydrocarbon mixture which, if isolated, exhibits a bounded range of boiling points at a given pressure distinct from the remainder of the hydrocarbon mixture or other existing hydrocarbon fractions. This definition includes both hydrocarbon fractions which may not actually distill prior to treatment according to the present invention and those fractions which distill without treatment.
  • cavitation refers to the result of stresses induced in a liquid by the passing of a sound wave through the liquid.
  • a sound wave consists of compression and decompression/rarefaction cycles. These waves may be produced by a variety of methods such as when an alternating current voltage is applied to a crystal, the crystal expands and contracts in phase with the electric field according to the piezoelectric effect, or expansion and contraction of a magnetorestrictive alloy. If the pressure during the decompression cycle is low enough, localized areas of vaporized liquid form to leave small bubbles based on the uneven ultrasonic excitation of molecules.
  • cavitation bubbles are at the heart of ultrasonic cavitation or sonochemistry systems. This series of sound wave cycles causes the bubbles to grow during a decompression phase, and contract or implode during a compression phase. Thus the size, and resulting temperatures and pressures upon implosion, of the bubbles is related to the frequency and intensity of the sound waves. Each one of these imploding bubbles can therefore be seen as a microreactor, with temperatures reaching over an estimated 5000° C, and pressures of over several hundred atmospheres. Cavitation is therefore the production of cavities or bubbles in a fluid using ultrasound followed by an implosion of the cavity.
  • cavitational energy refers to energy which is sufficient to cause cavitation to occur in a liquid.
  • the cavitational energy may be provided using various methods known to those skilled in the art.
  • upgrading refers to any process by which the quality or properties of the hydrocarbon mixture is improved and is meant to include both physical and chemical changes to composition. Further, upgrading of hydrocarbon mixtures according to the present invention will involve the chemical change of cracking of a portion of the hydrocarbons into shorter chain lengths.
  • the "pour point" of a fluid is the lowest temperature at which a fluid is observed to flow, when cooled under conditions prescribed by test method ASTM D 97.
  • the pour point is 3° C (5° F) above the temperature at which the fluid in a test vessel shows no movement when the container is held horizontally for five seconds.
  • hydrocarbon mixtures 102 are selected for treatment to improve their utility and value. As shown in FIG. 1, the selected hydrocarbon mixtures 102 are then processed via a system for treating with cavitational energy 104 which results in an treated hydrocarbon mixture 106 containing a higher content of distillable and more valuable recoverable hydrocarbons. The lighter hydrocarbons may then be recycled for further treatment at step 108 or recovered and separated at step 110 from the heavier hydrocarbons using traditional techniques such as distillation.
  • ultrasonic methods offer many benefits in providing cavitational energy such as space, cost and efficiency, other methods of causing cavitation could be used in the method of the present invention. These other methods include but are not limited to propellers, impellers, venturi, electromagnetic waves, or any other method sufficient to cause cavitation of the hydrocarbon mixture.
  • the hydrocarbon mixtures 102 may include a broad range of hydrocarbon containing mixtures.
  • hydrocarbon mixtures which may benefit from application of the present invention are crude oil, atmospheric tower refining bottoms, used motor oil, vacuum gas oils, refining residuums, fuel oils, vacuum tower bottoms, residual fuel oils, #6 fuel oils and mixtures of these hydrocarbons.
  • the significant amounts of heavy hydrocarbons in these mixtures decreases both their utility and value as commercial products.
  • Traditional processes for cracking these heavy hydrocarbon molecules require catalysts, usually heat, and suffer from the production of coke, fouling and pyrolysis.
  • These hydrocarbon mixtures also often contain lighter hydrocarbons that do not distill during traditional separations processes.
  • hydrocarbon mixtures and petroleum products in particular contain a complex mixture of straight chain hydrocarbons, branched and cyclic hydrocarbons, aromatics, heterocyclic compounds and often include various non-carbon-containing constituent groups. It is the presence of these heterocyclic and heteroatom compounds that often cause problems in traditional refining processes such as fouling and discoloring and require hydrotreating or use of additional processes to remove or reduce these effects.
  • One important aspect of the present invention is the absence of the requirement to add additional agents prior to treatment. However, it should be noted that the presence of additives or an aqueous phase does not preclude use of the present invention.
  • feedstocks may require pretreatment to remove troublesome components, however the process has proven very versatile and no pretreatment is normally required.
  • Additional is not intended to include components normally found in the subject feedstock or are added during prior processing or use.
  • Treatment of crude oil in accordance with the present invention prior to the distillation process will increase the yields of lighter hydrocarbon fractions and reduce the need for further processing such as cracking or other upgrading.
  • Treatment of #6 fuel oil according to the method of the present invention produces both diesel boiling range fractions and the residual is a high quality asphalt product.
  • the hydrocarbon mixture does not require heating for practice of the present mvention and may even be practiced at ambient temperatures or below. Although not required for practice of the present invention, the mixture can be heated to allow flow to occur. Frequently the mixture will be pumped through a continuous system which requires a degree of flowability in the feedstock. Temperatures below about 300° F typically provide the desired flowability and temperatures less than about 20° F above the pour point of the fluid should suffice for most applications of the present invention depending on other factors, discussed below, which may necessitate heating between about 300° F and less than 500° F.
  • Another advantage of the present invention is that, because ultrasonic cavitation equipment is significantly less expensive than thermal or catalytic cracking equipment, processing of small volume streams of hydrocarbon mixtures is economically feasible. Another advantage of the invention is that the method produces no substantial environmental emissions or off gases. Further the method is a totally self-contained process which may be easily moved to different locations and occupies minimal space. Another advantage of the present invention is that the method can be performed without requiring the formation of emulsions either before or during the process of exposing the hydrocarbon mixture to cavitational energy.
  • the method steps in accordance with the present invention begins by selecting 102 an appropriate hydrocarbon mixture for treatment.
  • the process of the present invention is applied to petroleum or hydrocarbon mixtures having a substantial concentration of heavy hydrocarbons.
  • processing continues to the cavitational energy treatment step 104.
  • the hydrocarbon mixture is treated by applying cavitational energy wherein the hydrocarbon mixture is directly exposed to cavitational energy.
  • the preferred system for applying cavitational energy is described in greater detail below and one embodiment is described hereinafter.
  • the sound waves cycle at a rate sufficient to induce cavitation and implosion of the cavitation cavities in the hydrocarbon mixture and cause cracking of at least a portion of the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon mixture.
  • the desire will be to crack the heavy hydrocarbons within the mixture to produce lighter more valuable hydrocarbon fractions.
  • Ultrasonic cavitation tends to crack the largest molecules first at the center of the molecule. This advantageously reduces the amount of off-gases produced.
  • the mixture is subjected to any frequency which is functional to obtain the desired degree of cracking is acceptable for practice of the present invention. Sound waves having a frequency of about 5 kHz to about 500 kHz are useful.
  • frequencies from about 40 kHz to about 100 kHz are particularly beneficial to cracking the carbon- carbon bond.
  • other variables will affect the occurrence of cracking within the mixture such as increased power, exposure, amplitude, dwell-time, pressure and temperature.
  • the exposure time varies and is a function of the flow rate of the hydrocarbon mixture past the ultrasonic energy source, e.g., an ultrasonic horn 306. Exposure is based on the desired degree of cracldng and the properties of the feedstock. Exposure up to 500 W/ cm 2 maybe necessary to achieve the desired results. Further, exposure in the range of less than 500 W/cm 2 may work in combination with increased temperatures, pressures or dwell-time. Increasing the temperature of the hydrocarbon mixture between about 300° F and less than 500° F will aid in cracking of the mixture.
  • pressures up to about 150 psi may be used.
  • ultrasonic energy sources may be used in accordance with the present invention such as magnetorestrictive alloys, such as terfenol, or any other ultrasonic generators known to those skilled in the art.
  • magnetorestrictive alloys such as terfenol
  • other sources may produce the energy needed to produce cavitation within the hydrocarbon mixture.
  • These cavitational energy sources include not only ultrasonic horns and probes, but also propellers, impellers, venturi, electromagnetic waves and combinations of these sources.
  • an ultrasonic horn is used as the cavitational energy source and the hydrocarbon mixture is directed past the ultrasonic horn in a continuous process. Another important factor is the dwell-time, which may be increased to assist in cracking of hydrocarbons in the mixture.
  • the hydrocarbon mixture is provided at a flow rate which depends on the quality and viscosity of the feedstock but may vary from about 1 to about 20 gallons per minute while a flow rate of about 1 to about 5 gallons per minute for a 1.5" ultrasonic horn are expected to yield good results. Further discussion of the flow past the ultrasonic energy source is provided in more detail below in relation to the "cup-shaped" flow tube.
  • the hydrocarbon mixture may be recycled through the cavitational treatment step as shown in step 108.
  • the treated hydrocarbon mixture can be tested at this point and recycled until the desired characteristics are achieved.
  • several passes through the treatment step maybe necessary.
  • a fixed amount of hydrocarbon mixture instead of continuously feeding a hydrocarbon mixture past an ultrasonic horn, a fixed amount of hydrocarbon mixture maybe placed in a container along with ultrasonic energy inducing probes in a batch process.
  • a batch treatment according to this method would be particularly suited for mixtures containing highly viscous hydrocarbons, residuums or heavy waxes but is less efficient than continuous flow processing.
  • the chemical effects of ultrasound are to enhance reaction rates because of the formation of highly reactive radical species formed during cavitation and the cleavage of covalent bonds.
  • the scission of covalent bonds may cleave carbon-carbon bonds and/or bonds between heteroatoms and their neighbors.
  • the method of the present invention affects a reduction in van der Waals, polar attractive forces, hydrogen bonding and other attractive forces as a result of both physical and/or chemical changes.
  • the currently preferred method uses ultrasonic horns containing piezo-electric crystals as the ultrasonic energy source
  • the hydrocarbon mixture is delivered to the ultrasonic energy source using any number of flow cell 204 configurations which define a containment space and direct the flow of fluid for exposure to the ultrasonic energy.
  • a particularly effective flow cell for delivering the hydrocarbon mixture to the ultrasonic energy source is shown in FIG. 3.
  • a "U" or cup-shaped flow tube 304 is placed to direct the flow of feedstock approaching the ultrasonic horns 206.
  • the cup-shaped flow tube due to its reduced diameter and "U" shape, enhances the effectiveness of the system. It is thought that this improved performance is the result of increasing the velocity of the feedstock resulting in turbulent, rather than laminar flow, as the feedstock approaches the ultrasonic horns.
  • a gap of about 1/4" should assist in obtaining cracking and maybe a strong factor in intensifying the ultrasonic cavitation conditions among the other factors of temperature, pressure, exposure power and dwell-time.
  • the resulting turbulent flow and high pressures cause more of the feedstock to come into close contact with the ultrasonic horns resulting in increased cavitation of the feedstock.
  • the flow tube also directs the feedstock across the full diameter of the ultrasonic horn and increases the exposure of the fluid to cavitational energy.
  • the cup-shaped flow tube 304 as used in one embodiment of the present invention, advantageously and unexpectedly increases the cavitation of the hydrocarbon mixtures used as feedstock thereby increasing the effectiveness of the process.
  • a cup-shape flow tube which is effective in providing the discussed results is a commercially available product available as a high pressure process cell assembly and is available in a range of sizes. Using the 1.5" flow tube and the above configuration produces an exposure of between about 40 W/cm 2 and 100 W/cm 2 when using a
  • the optimal flow rate past the ultrasonic horns will depend on a variety of factors such as feedstock viscosity, temperature, pressure, composition and flow tube characteristics delivering feedstock past the ultrasonic horns. Feedstocks containing highly viscous components will require lower flow rates or repeated exposure to cavitational energy.
  • Heavy hydrocarbon products of various processes such as atmospheric tower bottoms, residuums, asphalts and #6 fuel oil contain significant amounts of heavy hydrocarbons, i.e. above the diesel fuel range, which significantly impair their use and value.
  • the high pressures and high temperatures from ultrasonic cavitation result in cracking, which splits carbon-carbon (C-C) bonds of large hydrocarbon molecules found in heavy hydrocarbon mixtures.
  • C-C carbon-carbon
  • a portion of the heavy hydrocarbon molecules are split into lighter hydrocarbon fractions typically found in the diesel fuel range or lighter. It is known that ultrasonic cavitation of water produces an H 1" ion and an OH " ion.
  • the presence of water during cavitation provides a free hydroxyl radical to facilitate the cracking of the hydrocarbon molecule
  • the H + ion provides hydrogenation of the newly divided hydrocarbon molecule and further improves its utility and helps to avoid polymerization, alkylation, or other undesirable side reactions.
  • the presence of heterocyclic and heteroatom hydrocarbon compounds, aromatics, trace elements and hydrocarbons having non- carbon constituent groups result in various reactions which improve the properties of the treated hydrocarbon mixture.
  • the treated mixture may be stored or shipped without recovering or separating the various hydrocarbon fractions and the later performed separation exhibits essentially the same improvements in distillation yields as separations performed immediately after treatment with cavitational energy. Referring again to FIG.
  • step 108 the system determines whether the treatment is complete. For efficient processing, the hydrocarbon mixture should reach a predefined fractionation value. If at step 108 the predefined threshold has not been reached, processing returns to step 104 for treatment with additional cavitational energy. If step 108 determines that the predefined threshold, such as fractionation value, has been reached, processing continues to step 110. Most often a single pass through the system is sufficient if the optimal conditions are chosen as discussed previously.
  • a system of the present invention for applying ultrasonic energy to hydrocarbon mixtures and generating a treated hydrocarbon product having more distillable lighter hydrocarbons is shown in Figure 2.
  • the system for applying ultrasonic energy shown is a continuous feed system.
  • the hydrocarbon mixture 202 is continuously fed through an incoming feed line 208 which is operatively connected to one or more ultrasonic sub-systems 212.
  • the number of sub-systems will depend on the desired capacity and may be arranged in series or parallel based on basic process design principles for either processing or reliability factors.
  • a plurality of ultrasonic sub-systems are shown in FIG. 2 only a single ultrasonic sub-system is labeled for convenience.
  • the treated hydrocarbon mixture is removed from the ultrasonic sub-system(s) 212 of the system through a processed product return line 210.
  • a sample ultrasonic sub-system 212 is shown in Figure 3.
  • the hydrocarbon mixture enters the flow cell 204 which defines a containment space directing the flow of the hydrocarbon mixture.
  • the ultrasonic subsystem applies ultrasonic energy to the hydrocarbon mixture by using an ultrasonic energy source 206.
  • One embodiment of the flow cell 204 is the "U" or cup-shaped flow tube 304 depicted in FIG. 3 and is particularly effective in delivering the hydrocarbon mixture to the ultrasonic horn although other flow cells and configurations would suffice for practice of the present invention.
  • the gap 308 between the ultrasonic energy source and the flow tube 304 is an experimentally determined distance and may depend on a variety of factors. For the configuration shown where the flow tube inlet is 3/8" diameter and the ultrasonic energy source is
  • the treated hydrocarbon mixture exits the ultrasonic sub-system 212 via the processed product return line 210.
  • the treated hydrocarbon mixture may then be stored or processed further via distillation or other refining processes.

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  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
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Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé d'enrichissement de mélanges (102) d'hydrocarbures sans qu'il soit nécessaire de recourir à des additifs, à des catalyseurs ni au chauffage, par utilisation de cavitation aux ultrasons. L'énergie des ultrasons est fournie à un débit suffisant pour induire une cavitation (104) dans le mélange d'hydrocarbures. Les hautes températures et les hautes pressions résultant de la cavitation entraînent le craquage d'une partie des hydrocarbures contenus dans le mélange créant ainsi des hydrocarbures plus légers dans la gamme diesel ou simplement plus légers en vue d'une récupération (108) via des technologies de séparation plus classiques, telles que la distillation. Le pétrole enrichi résultant présente des courbes de distillation plus basses et moins de composants polluants. Par ailleurs, on peut traiter une grande variété de substrats avec le procédé de cette invention.
PCT/US2002/019300 2001-06-18 2002-06-18 Procede d'enrichissement de melanges d'hydrocarbures Ceased WO2002102746A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

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US29910701P 2001-06-18 2001-06-18
US60/299,107 2001-06-18
US10/174,303 2002-06-17
US10/174,303 US20030019791A1 (en) 2001-06-18 2002-06-17 Method to upgrade hydrocarbon mixtures

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