SUPERCRITICAL WATER PROCESS TO UPGRADE PETROLEUM
First Claim
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1. A method for upgrading a petroleum feedstock with supercritical water while preventing plugging in equipment process lines, the method comprising the steps of:
- priming an upgrading reactor to receive the petroleum feedstock, the priming of the apparatus comprising the steps of;
supplying a heated and pressured water stream to a first mixing device, wherein the water stream is heated and pressurized to a temperature and pressure greater than the critical point of water;
supplying a heated and pressurized start-up hydrocarbon stream to the first mixing device, wherein the start-up hydrocarbon stream is heated and pressurized to a temperature of between about 10 and 250°
C.;
mixing the heated and pressurized water stream and the heated and pressurized start-up hydrocarbon stream in the first mixing device to produce a water and start-up hydrocarbon containing primer stream;
supplying the water and start-up hydrocarbon containing primer stream to the upgrading reactor, said reactor being maintained at a temperature that is between about 380 and 550°
C. to produce a treated primer stream, wherein the primer stream has a residence time in the upgrading reactor of between about 10 seconds and 60 minutes;
cooling the treated primer stream to a temperature of less than about 150°
C.,depressurizing the cooled treated primer stream;
separating the cooled treated primer stream into treated primer gas and treated primer liquid phase streams;
separating the treated primer liquid phase into a recycle start-up hydrocarbon stream and a recycle water stream;
continuing the priming step until the temperature of the streams within the heater, supercritical upgrading reactor and cooling devices are maintained to within 5% of their set point for a period of at least 10 minutes;
stopping the flow of the start-up hydrocarbon containing primer stream to the upgrading reactor and then supplying a heated and pressurized petroleum feedstock to the first mixing device, wherein the heated and pressurized petroleum feedstock is maintained at a temperature of between about 10 and 250°
C.;
mixing the heated and pressurized water stream and the heated and pressurized petroleum feedstock in the first mixing device to produce a mixed water and start-up petroleum feedstock stream;
supplying the mixed water and start-up petroleum feedstock stream to the upgrading reactor, said reactor being maintained at a temperature that is between about 380 and 550°
C. to produce an upgraded petroleum containing stream, wherein the mixed water and start-up petroleum feedstock stream has a residence time in the upgrading reactor of between about 10 seconds and 60 minutes;
cooling the upgraded petroleum containing stream to a temperature of less than about 150°
C.,depressurizing the cooled upgraded petroleum containing stream;
separating the cooled upgraded petroleum containing stream into a gaseous phase upgraded and desulfurized petroleum containing stream and liquid phase upgraded and desulfurized petroleum containing stream;
separating the liquid phase upgraded and desulfurized petroleum containing stream into an upgraded and desulfurized petroleum product stream and a recycle water stream.
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Abstract
Provided is a process for the supercritical upgrading of petroleum feedstock, wherein the process includes the use of a start-up agent, wherein the use of the start-up agent facilitates mixing of the petroleum feedstock and water, thereby reducing or eliminating the production of coke, coke precursor, and sludge.
31 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for upgrading a petroleum feedstock with supercritical water while preventing plugging in equipment process lines, the method comprising the steps of:
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priming an upgrading reactor to receive the petroleum feedstock, the priming of the apparatus comprising the steps of; supplying a heated and pressured water stream to a first mixing device, wherein the water stream is heated and pressurized to a temperature and pressure greater than the critical point of water; supplying a heated and pressurized start-up hydrocarbon stream to the first mixing device, wherein the start-up hydrocarbon stream is heated and pressurized to a temperature of between about 10 and 250°
C.;mixing the heated and pressurized water stream and the heated and pressurized start-up hydrocarbon stream in the first mixing device to produce a water and start-up hydrocarbon containing primer stream; supplying the water and start-up hydrocarbon containing primer stream to the upgrading reactor, said reactor being maintained at a temperature that is between about 380 and 550°
C. to produce a treated primer stream, wherein the primer stream has a residence time in the upgrading reactor of between about 10 seconds and 60 minutes;cooling the treated primer stream to a temperature of less than about 150°
C.,depressurizing the cooled treated primer stream; separating the cooled treated primer stream into treated primer gas and treated primer liquid phase streams; separating the treated primer liquid phase into a recycle start-up hydrocarbon stream and a recycle water stream; continuing the priming step until the temperature of the streams within the heater, supercritical upgrading reactor and cooling devices are maintained to within 5% of their set point for a period of at least 10 minutes; stopping the flow of the start-up hydrocarbon containing primer stream to the upgrading reactor and then supplying a heated and pressurized petroleum feedstock to the first mixing device, wherein the heated and pressurized petroleum feedstock is maintained at a temperature of between about 10 and 250°
C.;mixing the heated and pressurized water stream and the heated and pressurized petroleum feedstock in the first mixing device to produce a mixed water and start-up petroleum feedstock stream; supplying the mixed water and start-up petroleum feedstock stream to the upgrading reactor, said reactor being maintained at a temperature that is between about 380 and 550°
C. to produce an upgraded petroleum containing stream, wherein the mixed water and start-up petroleum feedstock stream has a residence time in the upgrading reactor of between about 10 seconds and 60 minutes;cooling the upgraded petroleum containing stream to a temperature of less than about 150°
C.,depressurizing the cooled upgraded petroleum containing stream; separating the cooled upgraded petroleum containing stream into a gaseous phase upgraded and desulfurized petroleum containing stream and liquid phase upgraded and desulfurized petroleum containing stream; separating the liquid phase upgraded and desulfurized petroleum containing stream into an upgraded and desulfurized petroleum product stream and a recycle water stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification