Deoiled Asphalt Hydrotreating for Longer Fixed-Bed Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high content of asphaltenes and metals in residual oil limits the operation period and efficiency of fixed bed hydrogenation processes, hindering the production of clean fuels and low-sulfur petroleum coke, and the implementation of new fuel standards poses a technical challenge.
Innovation Solution
A process and system for hydrotreating deoiled asphalt involving a fixed bed hydrogenation unit, followed by fractionation and reaction in hydrocracking, catalytic cracking, and delayed coking units, utilizing mineral-rich precursor materials and hydrogenation catalysts to convert deoiled asphalt into valuable products like gasoline, diesel, BTX feedstock, and low-sulfur petroleum coke.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed bed hydrogenation is used to process residual oil, then product quality is good and the process is mature, but the high content of asphaltenes and metals limits the operation period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by conducting solvent deasphalting before fixed bed hydrogenation to remove asphaltenes and metals from the residual oil. This pre-treatment step prevents the asphaltenes and metals from poisoning the catalyst during hydrogenation, thereby extending the operation period while maintaining good product quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the processing into multiple stages: solvent deasphalting followed by fixed bed hydrogenation. This segmentation allows the removal of harmful components (asphaltenes and metals) in the first stage, and then performs the main hydrogenation reaction in the second stage, solving the contradiction between product quality and operation period
2Duration of action of stationary object
If solvent deasphalting is applied to remove asphaltenes, then the operation period is extended, but the deoiled asphalt has high softening point making transportation and utilization difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the softening point of the deoiled asphalt through adjusted solvent deasphalting conditions. By optimizing parameters such as solvent type, temperature, and pressure, the softening point is reduced to a range that enables easy transportation and utilization while maintaining the removal of asphaltenes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by selectively removing asphaltenes while preserving other beneficial components in the deoiled asphalt. The solvent deasphalting process is optimized to target specifically the harmful asphaltenes, leaving the base oil with improved flow properties and easier handling characteristics
3Object-generated harmful factors
If hydrogenation is used to convert residual oil, then clean fuels can be produced, but the high content of asphaltenes and metals reduces the hydrogen content and shortens the operation period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by removing asphaltenes and metals through solvent deasphalting before the hydrogenation reaction. This pre-removal step ensures that the hydrogenation process can proceed efficiently with higher hydrogen content and longer operation period, as the catalyst is not poisoned by asphaltenes and metals
4Productivity
If deep catalytic cracking is used to produce propylene, then propylene yield increases, but the high content of asphaltenes and metals limits the operation period and reduces economic benefit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the process into solvent deasphalting followed by deep catalytic cracking. This segmentation removes asphaltenes and metals in the first stage, allowing the second stage to focus on propylene production with extended operation period and improved economic benefit
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
The process achieves high-value utilization of deoiled asphalt, producing high-quality fuels and low-sulfur petroleum coke, extending the operation period and meeting stringent fuel standards.
Implementation Method 1
the mineral-rich precursor material is a material capable of adsorbing at least one metal selected from V, Ni, Fe, Ca and Mg
Implementation Method 2
the hydrogenation catalyst can catalyze at least one reaction selected from hydrodemetallization reaction, hydrodesulfurization reaction, hydrodeasphalting reaction and hydrodecarbonization reaction
Implementation Method 3
introducing a deoiled asphalt and an aromatics-containing stream into a first reaction unit to for hydrogenation reaction
Implementation Method 4
fractionating a liquid-phase product from the first reaction unit to provide a first light component and a first heavy component
Data Source
AI summary
Described are a process and a system for hydrotreating a deoiled asphalt. The process includes: (2) introducing a deoiled asphalt and an aromatics-containing stream into a first reaction unit for hydrogenation reaction, wherein the first reaction unit comprises a mineral-rich precursor material and/or a hydrogenation catalyst, and the first reaction unit is a fixed bed hydrogenation unit; (21) fractionating the liquid-phase product from the first reaction unit to provide a first light component and a first heavy component; (31) introducing the first light component into a second reaction unit for reaction, to provide a gasoline component, a diesel component and/or a BTX feedstock component; and (32) introducing the first heavy component to a delayed coking unit for reaction; or using the first heavy component as a low sulfur ship fuel oil component.