Abstract:
Provided is a process for cracking a hydrocarbon feedstock. The process having the steps of (a) continuously passing the feedstock through a vapor-liquid separator in which the feedstock is separated into a volatile stream and a non-volatile stream; (b) continuously passing the non-volatile stream to a cracker; and (c) continuously recycling a portion of the volatile stream to the feedstock. There is also an apparatus for cracking a hydrocarbon feedstock.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for determining an asphaltene solubility distribution for a petroleum sample and/or other hydrocarbon sample. A vessel for performing the method can include both packing material(s) and sidewall(s) that correspond to substantially inert materials. The vessel can initially contain a precipitating solvent suitable for causing precipitation of asphaltenes from a hydrocarbon sample. Examples of a precipitating solvents can correspond to n-heptane, toluene, and mixtures of n-heptane and toluene. The petroleum sample is then introduced into the vessel, along with a carrier solvent. The volume of the precipitating solvent can be large relative to the sample, so that the solubility of asphaltenes in the sample becomes dependent on the properties of the precipitating solvent. If asphaltenes are precipitated, the asphaltenes can be washed out of the column using a dissolution solvent. The asphaltenes washed out using the dissolution solvent can then be characterized to determine a total asphaltene content.
Abstract:
Methods are provided for predicting the properties of an asphalt fraction that contains two or more asphalt components based on measurements of the viscosity versus temperature profile for the components of the asphalt fraction. The viscosity versus temperature profile for each component can be used to determine characteristic (such as limiting) values for the viscosity and temperature for a components. Examples of characteristic values for an asphalt component are the asymptotic values of viscosity at infinite temperature (ηinf) and the finite temperature at which the viscosity diverges (T0). Once these characteristic values are determined, the characteristic values for each component can be combined in a weighted average to determine ηinf and T0 for the asphalt blend. Based on this ability to determine characteristic values for an asphalt blend based on the properties of individual blend components, appropriate blends of asphalts can be selected in order to arrive at an asphalt blend with desired properties.
Abstract:
Methods are provided for reducing or minimizing the temperature dependence of a pitch feed or fraction for use in carbon fiber production, such as a mesophase pitch feed or fraction or an isotropic pitch feed or fraction. A pitch sample can be characterized to determine a characteristic temperature and a characteristic viscosity for the sample. One or more solvent extraction processes can also be performed on the pitch and/or the extract and raffinate fractions formed by the solvent extraction(s). The resulting raffinate and extract fractions are then used to form a modified pitch fraction with a T0 value that is lower than the T0 value of the original pitch. The modified pitch fraction can optionally also have a different ηinf value relative to the original pitch.
Abstract:
Methods are provided for predicting the properties of an asphalt fraction that contains two or more asphalt components based on measurements of the viscosity versus temperature profile for the components of the asphalt fraction. The viscosity versus temperature profile for each component can be used to determine characteristic (such as limiting) values for the viscosity and temperature for a component. Based on this ability to determine characteristic values for an asphalt blend based on the properties of individual blend components, appropriate blends of asphalts can be selected in order to arrive at an asphalt blend with desired properties.
Abstract:
Provided is a process for cracking a hydrocarbon feedstock. The process having the steps of (a) continuously passing the feedstock through a vapor-liquid separator in which the feedstock is separated into a volatile stream and a non-volatile stream; (b) continuously passing the non-volatile stream to a cracker; and (c) continuously recycling a portion of the volatile stream to the feedstock. There is also an apparatus for cracking a hydrocarbon feedstock.