Petroleum Upgrading and Desulfurizing Process
First Claim
1. A method of upgrading a hydrocarbon feedstock, the method comprising the steps of:
- supplying a mixed stream comprising the hydrocarbon feedstock and water to a hydrothermal reactor, wherein the mixed stream is maintained at a pressure between about 22.06 and 25 MPa and a temperature of between about 372°
C. and about 425°
C., wherein the hydrothermal reactor does not include a catalyst;
maintaining the mixed stream in the hydrothermal reactor at said pressure and temperature for a period of at least about 10 minutes to produce a first product stream, said first product stream comprising a higher concentration of lighter hydrocarbons than the hydrocarbon feedstock;
supplying the first product stream from the hydrothermal reactor to an adsorptive reaction stage to produce an trimmed stream;
separating the trimmed stream into a gas-phase stream and a liquid-phase stream; and
separating the liquid stream into a water stream and an upgraded hydrocarbon product stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A petroleum feedstock upgrading method is provided. The method includes supplying a mixed stream that includes hydrocarbon feedstock and water to a hydrothermal reactor where the mixed stream is maintained at a temperature and pressure greater than the critical temperatures and pressure of water in the absence of catalyst for a residence time sufficient to convert the mixed stream into a modified stream having an increased concentration of lighter hydrocarbons and/or concentration of sulfur containing compounds. The modified stream is then supplied to an adsorptive reaction stage charged with a solid adsorbent operable to remove at least a portion of the sulfur present to produce a trimmed. The trimmed stream is then separated into a gas and a liquid streams, and the liquid stream is separated into a water stream and an upgraded hydrocarbon product stream.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of upgrading a hydrocarbon feedstock, the method comprising the steps of:
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supplying a mixed stream comprising the hydrocarbon feedstock and water to a hydrothermal reactor, wherein the mixed stream is maintained at a pressure between about 22.06 and 25 MPa and a temperature of between about 372°
C. and about 425°
C., wherein the hydrothermal reactor does not include a catalyst;maintaining the mixed stream in the hydrothermal reactor at said pressure and temperature for a period of at least about 10 minutes to produce a first product stream, said first product stream comprising a higher concentration of lighter hydrocarbons than the hydrocarbon feedstock; supplying the first product stream from the hydrothermal reactor to an adsorptive reaction stage to produce an trimmed stream; separating the trimmed stream into a gas-phase stream and a liquid-phase stream; and separating the liquid stream into a water stream and an upgraded hydrocarbon product stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of upgrading a hydrocarbon feedstock, the method comprising the steps of:
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supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock stream to a pump to produce a pressurized hydrocarbon feedstock having a pressure of between about 24 MPa and about 26 MPa; supplying the pressurized hydrocarbon feedstock to a first pre-heater to produce a pre-heated pressurized hydrocarbon feedstock, wherein the pressurized hydrocarbon feedstock is pre-heated to a temperature of between about 200°
C. and 250°
C.;supplying a water stream to a pump to produce a pressurized water stream having a pressure of between about 24 MPa and about 26 MPa; supplying the pressurized water stream to a second pre-heater to produce a pre-heated pressurized water stream, wherein the pressurized water stream is preheated to a temperature of between about 400°
C. and about 550°
C.;combining the pre-heated pressurized hydrocarbon feedstock and pre-heated pressurized water stream to a mixing device to produce a pre-heated pressurized hydrocarbon feedstock, supplying the pre-heated pressurized hydrocarbon feedstock to a hydrothermal reactor, wherein the hydrothermal reactor is catalyst-free and is maintained at a temperature of between about 22.06 MPa and about 25 MPa and a temperature of between about 372°
C. and about 425°
C., wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock is maintained in the hydrothermal reactor for a residence time of between about 30 seconds and about 10 minutes to produce a first product stream, wherein the first product stream has a lower sulfur content and a higher content of light hydrocarbons than the hydrocarbon feedstock;reducing the temperature and pressure of the first product stream to produce a product stream having a temperature of less than about 372°
C. and a pressure of less than about 22.06 MPa;supplying the product stream to an adsorptive reaction stage charged with a solid adsorbent to produce an trimmed stream, wherein the trimmed stream has a lower sulfur content than the first product stream; separating the trimmed stream into a gas-phase stream and a liquid-phase stream; and separating the liquid stream into a water stream and an upgraded hydrocarbon product stream, wherein the upgraded hydrocarbon product stream has at least one of a higher API gravity, a higher middle distillate yield, or a lower sulfur content than the hydrocarbon feedstock. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification