Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for separation of particles and/or asphaltenes from heavy hydrocarbon fractions. The heavy hydrocarbon fraction can correspond to a feed including particles or a processing effluent that includes particles. If the heavy hydrocarbon fraction is mixed with lower boiling fractions, a separation can be performed to reduce or minimize the amount of hydrocarbons that are present in the heavy hydrocarbon fraction. The heavy hydrocarbon fraction can then be mixed with a sufficient amount of a separation solvent to cause a phase separation. One phase can correspond to the separation solvent plus a portion of the hydrocarbons. The other phase can correspond to hydrocarbons rejected by the separation solvent plus the particles from the heavy hydrocarbon fraction. The phases can then be separated from each other using a solids-liquid centrifugal separator.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for producing upgraded raffinate and extract products from lubricant boiling range feeds and/or other feeds having a boiling range of 400°F (204°C) to 1500°F (816°C) or more. The upgraded raffinate and/or extract products can have a reduced or minimized concentration of sulfur, nitrogen, metals, or a combination thereof. The reduced or minimized concentration of sulfur, nitrogen, and/or metals can be achieved by hydrotreating a suitable feed under hydrotreatment conditions corresponding to relatively low levels of feed conversion. Optionally, the feed can also dewaxed, such as by catalytic dewaxing or by solvent dewaxing. Because excessive aromatic saturation is not desired, the pressure for hydrotreatment (and optional dewaxing) can be 500 psig (∼3.4 MPa) to 1200 psig (∼8.2 MPa).
Abstract:
A method for producing pitch can include: hydroprocessing a challenged feed from a refinery operation to produce a hydroprocessed product; distilling the hydroprocessed product to yield one or more upgraded fractions and a resid fraction; and solvent deasphalting the resid fraction to yield a deasphalted oil stream and a hydroprocessed pitch stream. The resultant pitch can have a micro carbon residue (MCR) of 50 wt% or greater, a solubility in toluene of 95 wt% or greater, and a softening point of 200°C or less. The pitch can optionally be fluxed with a fluxing solvent.
Abstract:
Methods are provided for forming lubricant base stocks from feeds such as vacuum resid or other 510°C+ feeds. A feed can be deasphalted and then catalytically and/or solvent processed to form lubricant base stocks, including bright stocks. The catalytic processing can correspond to processing in at least two stages. The amount of conversion performed in each stage can be varied to produce bright stocks with various properties.
Abstract:
Methods are provided for forming lubricant base stocks from feeds such as vacuum resid or other 510°C+ feeds. A feed can be deasphalted and then catalyticaliy and/or solvent processed to form lubricant base stocks, including bright stocks that are resistant to haze formation.
Abstract:
Provided is a process for increasing the softening temperature of asphalts by use of liquid jet ejector technology, which is used as both an air compressor and an air/oil mixer. The liquid jet ejector motive fluid is hot asphalt and the entrained vapor is air.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for upgrading catalytic slurry oil. The upgrading can be performed by deasphalting the catalytic slurry oil to form a deasphalted oil and a residual or rock fraction. The deasphalted oil can then be hydroprocessed to form an upgraded effluent that includes fuels boiling range products.
Abstract:
Methods are provided for processing deasphalted gas oils derived from thermally cracked resid fractions to form Group I, Group II, and/or Group III lubricant base oils. The yield of lubricant base oils (optionally also referred to as base stocks) can be increased by thermally cracking a resid fraction at an intermediate level of single pass severity relative to conventional methods. By performing thermal cracking to a partial level of conversion, compounds within a resid fraction that are beneficial for increasing both the viscosity and the viscosity index of a lubricant base oil can be retained, thus allowing for an improved yield of higher viscosity lubricant base oils from a thermally cracked resid fraction.
Abstract:
Provided are multiple correlations for relationships between MI value for a brightstock extract and the distillation cut point temperature used for separation of the vacuum resid that is used to form the brightstock extract. Based on these correlations, a BSE having a desired MI value can be formed based on an adjustment of the distillation cut point temperature. A first correlation establishes a relationship between a fractional weight boiling temperature for a vacuum resid fraction and a distillation cut point temperature for separating the vacuum resid fraction from at least one distillate fraction in a feedstock. A second correlation establishes a relationship between a fractional weight boiling temperature for a brightstock extract derived from the vacuum resid fraction, and the fractional weight boiling temperature for the vacuum resid fraction. A third correlation has been established between the fractional weight boiling temperature for the brightstock extract and a mutagenicity index value.
Abstract:
A method for producing pitch can include: hydroprocessing a challenged feed from a refinery operation to produce a hydroprocessed product; distilling the hydroprocessed product to yield one or more upgraded fractions and a resid fraction; and solvent deasphalting the resid fraction to yield a deasphalted oil stream and a hydroprocessed pitch stream. The resultant pitch can have a micro carbon residue (MCR) of 50 wt% or greater, a solubility in toluene of 95 wt% or greater, and a softening point of 200°C or less. The pitch can optionally be fluxed with a fluxing solvent.