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Title: Using supercritical fluids to refine hydrocarbons

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1183937

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.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
Assignee:
LANL
Patent Number(s):
9,051,521
Application Number:
13/838,746
OSTI ID:
1183937
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (8)

Process for recovering and upgrading hydrocarbons from oil shale and tar sands patent April 1976
Process for recovering and upgrading hydrocarbons from oil shale and tar sands patent April 1976
Upgrading heavy hydrocarbons with supercritical water and light olefins patent November 1984
Process and plant for purifying spent oil patent June 1998
Method and apparatus for continuous separation and reaction using supercritical fluid patent November 2004
Deep separation method and processing system for the separation of heavy oil through granulation of coupled post-extraction asphalt residue patent-application January 2007
Reactor and process for upgrading heavy hydrocarbon oils patent-application May 2008
Extraction of solid fuels with sub- and supercritical water journal November 1994

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