Inhibitor enhanced thermal upgrading of heavy oils via mesophase suppression using oil soluble polynuclear aromatics
a technology of mesophase suppression and inhibitor, which is applied in thermal non-catalytic cracking, fuels, colloidal chemistry, etc., can solve the problems of limiting the effectiveness of thermal upgrading of heavy oils, undesirable presence of ti material in upgrading oils, and formation of toluene insoluble (ti) materials, etc., to achieve the effect of suppressing mesophas
Inactive Publication Date: 2005-12-01
EXXON RES & ENG CO
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Benefits of technology
The patent describes a method for upgrading heavy oil by adding an inhibitor additive made of polynuclear aromatic compounds. The inhibitor additive prevents the formation of mesophase, a substance that causes the heavy oil to solidify. The inhibitor additized heavy oil is then thermally treated at a high temperature to upgrade it. The upgraded heavy oil has improved properties, such as higher viscosity and lower viscosity. The polynuclear aromatic compounds used in the invention include 2 to 8 aromatic rings and can be selected from the group consisting of 1-methyl naphthalene, 2-methyl naphthalene, 2-ethyl naphthalene, isoquinoline, triphenylene, and perylene.
Problems solved by technology
However, the main drawback of thermal treatment of heavy oils is that with increased conversion there is the formation of toluene insoluble (TI) material.
Thus, the formation of TI materials limits the effectiveness of thermal upgrading of heavy oils.
Presence of TI material in upgrading oils is undesirable because such TI materials can cause fouling of storage, transportation and processing equipment.
In addition, the TI materials can also induce incompatibility when blended with other crude oils.
Method used
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[0019] The following examples are included herein for illustrative purposes and are not meant to be limiting.
[0020] In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the oil soluble inhibitors of the present invention three model compounds that are known and reported to form mesophases at temperatures in the range of 100° C. to 350° C. were used. These model PNA mesogens and their temperature range of mesophase were: triphenylene discotic mesophase (68° C.-100° C.); triphenylene discotic mesophase (147° C.-239° C.); and perylene discotic mesophase (140° C.-315° C.). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and optical microscopy were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the inhibitors to inhibit the mesophases of these compounds.
[0021] The crystalline triphenylene PNA mesogen compound shows a crystalline to mesophase transition at 67° C. At 99° C. the mesophase to isotropic phase change is observed. From 67° C. to 99° C. is the mesophase range. Each phase change is associated with a heat ...
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Abstract
A method for upgrading heavy oils by contacting the heavy oil with an inhibitor additive and then thermally treating the inhibitor additized heavy oil. The inhibitor is selected from oil soluble polynuclear aromatic compounds. The invention also relates to the upgraded product from the inhibitor enhanced thermal treatment process.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 571,308 filed May 14, 2004.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a method for upgrading heavy oils by contacting the heavy oil with an inhibitor additive and then thermally treating the inhibitor additized heavy oil. The inhibitor is selected from oil soluble polynuclear aromatic compounds that are capable of suppressing mesophases formed by hydrocarbon compounds present in heavy oil. The invention also relates to the upgraded product from the inhibitor enhanced thermal treatment process. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Heavy oils are generally referred to those hydrocarbon comprising oils with high viscosity or API gravity less than about 20. Crude oils and crude oil residuum obtained after atmospheric or vacuum distillation of crude oils that exhibit an API gravity less than about 20 are examples of heavy oils. Upgrading of...
Claims
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IPC IPC(8): C10G9/00C10G9/16C10G11/00C10G29/06C10G45/00C10G47/00C10G47/22C10G49/00C10G75/04
CPCC10G9/007C10N2260/10C10G11/00C10G29/06C10G45/00C10G47/00C10G47/22C10G49/00C10G75/04C10M135/10C10M169/04C10M175/0016C10M177/00C10M2203/1085C10M2219/044C10G9/16C10N2060/10Y10S516/909
Inventor VARADARAJ, RAMESHBROWN, LEO D.SISKIN, MICHAELBRONS, CORNELIUS H.
Owner EXXON RES & ENG CO