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Title: Using supercritical fluids to refine hydrocarbons

Abstract

A system and method for reactively refining hydrocarbons, such as heavy oils with API gravities of less than 20 degrees and bitumen-like hydrocarbons with viscosities greater than 1000 cp at standard temperature and pressure, using a selected fluid at supercritical conditions. A reaction portion of the system and method delivers lightweight, volatile hydrocarbons to an associated contacting unit which operates in mixed subcritical/supercritical or supercritical modes. Using thermal diffusion, multiphase contact, or a momentum generating pressure gradient, the contacting unit separates the reaction products into portions that are viable for use or sale without further conventional refining and hydro-processing techniques.

Inventors:
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1183937
Patent Number(s):
9051521
Application Number:
13/838,746
Assignee:
LANL
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION
C - CHEMISTRY C10 - PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES C10G - CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS; 02 PETROLEUM

Citation Formats

Yarbro, Stephen Lee. Using supercritical fluids to refine hydrocarbons. United States: N. p., 2015. Web.
Yarbro, Stephen Lee. Using supercritical fluids to refine hydrocarbons. United States.
Yarbro, Stephen Lee. Tue . "Using supercritical fluids to refine hydrocarbons". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1183937.
@article{osti_1183937,
title = {Using supercritical fluids to refine hydrocarbons},
author = {Yarbro, Stephen Lee},
abstractNote = {A system and method for reactively refining hydrocarbons, such as heavy oils with API gravities of less than 20 degrees and bitumen-like hydrocarbons with viscosities greater than 1000 cp at standard temperature and pressure, using a selected fluid at supercritical conditions. A reaction portion of the system and method delivers lightweight, volatile hydrocarbons to an associated contacting unit which operates in mixed subcritical/supercritical or supercritical modes. Using thermal diffusion, multiphase contact, or a momentum generating pressure gradient, the contacting unit separates the reaction products into portions that are viable for use or sale without further conventional refining and hydro-processing techniques.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2015},
month = {6}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Process and plant for purifying spent oil
patent, June 1998


Reactor and process for upgrading heavy hydrocarbon oils
patent-application, May 2008


Extraction of solid fuels with sub- and supercritical water
journal, November 1994