Delayed Coking Feedstock Modification for Diesel Yield

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional delayed coking processes struggle to maximize diesel oil production while minimizing coke production, as they often result in excessive coke formation and reduced diesel oil yields due to inefficient feedstock modification in Delayed Coking Units.

Innovation Solution

Modifying the feedstock by adding a fraction of heavy vacuum gas oil to the vacuum residuum within the Delayed Coking Unit, which is then processed without a heavy gas oil recycle, to optimize thermal cracking reactions and reduce coke formation, thereby increasing diesel oil yield and decreasing coke production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional delayed coking process is used with vacuum residuum feedstock, then coke production is maintained, but diesel oil production is reduced and yield is suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediesel oil productionVSAvoidcoke production
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the compositional parameters of the feedstock by blending vacuum residuum with a specific fraction of heavy vacuum gas oil (boiling range 300-500°C). This parameter modification optimizes the thermal cracking behavior to increase diesel oil yield while reducing coke formation, directly resolving the contradiction between maximizing diesel production and minimizing coke loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite feedstock by combining two different petroleum fractions: vacuum residuum and heavy vacuum gas oil. This composite material has optimized properties for delayed coking, achieving better diesel oil production and reduced coke formation compared to using vacuum residuum alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If heavy gas oil recycle is used in delayed coking, then operational flexibility is maintained, but diesel oil yield is reduced and process efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediesel oil yieldVSAvoidprocess flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the heavy gas oil recycle stream from the conventional delayed coking process. By removing this recycle loop and instead using a controlled blend of fresh heavy vacuum gas oil fraction with vacuum residuum, the process achieves higher diesel oil yield while maintaining operational control through the defined blending ratio.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If thermal cracking reactions are intensified to increase diesel oil production, then diesel yield improves, but coke formation increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediesel oil productionVSAvoidcoke formation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention modifies the feedstock composition parameters by adding a controlled fraction of heavy vacuum gas oil (10-40% by volume) to vacuum residuum. This compositional change optimizes the thermal cracking reactions to produce more diesel oil while suppressing excessive coke formation, effectively resolving the contradiction between intensifying cracking for higher diesel yield and controlling harmful coke generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach significantly increases diesel oil production and reduces coke production, as demonstrated by pilot unit examples showing improved volume and mass yields, indicating a more efficient conversion process.

Implementation Method 1

the thermal cracking reactions can be initiated and the formation of coke in the furnace tubes be minimised

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal cracking: Pyrolysis

Implementation Method 2

the thermal cracking and coking or carbonisation reactions are completed. These reactions generate hydrocarbons lighter than those in the combined feedstock and coke

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal cracking: Pyrolysis

Implementation Method 3

The reactions which take place in a coke drum are endothermic and the temperature of the effluents from the drum lie within a band of values from 425 °C to 455 °C

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEndothermic reaction: Endothermic Reaction

Data Source

PatentEP2049619B1Delayed coking process with modified feedstock
Publication Date: 2019.04.03 PETROLEO BRASILEIRO SA PETROBRAS
  • EP2049619B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2049619B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A process of delayed coking with modified feedstock is described maximising the volume of diesel oil and minimising the volume of coke produced by means of feedstock which comprises, in a first embodiment of the invention: the bottom product (8) of the vacuum distillation tower (6), known in the prior art as vacuum residuum, and a fraction (7') of heavy vacuum gas oil (7) obtained in the aforesaid vacuum distillation. In a second embodiment of the present invention the bottom residuum (5) proceeding from the atmospheric distillation tower (2), known in the prior art as atmospheric residuum, is employed as feedstock of a Delayed Coking Unit (9) .