Organ Solvent Nanofiltration Membrane Diluent Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high viscosity and density of heavy crude oil pose challenges in transportation and production, leading to increased costs due to the need for diluents, which are often vaporized and combusted, resulting in inefficiencies and higher expenses.

Innovation Solution

A process using organic solvent nanofiltration membranes to separate diluents into light and heavy components, where the heavy diluent component is enriched in the retentate, reducing the amount needed for viscosity reduction and enhancing oil-water separation, thereby minimizing vaporization and combustion losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If diluent is added to heavy crude oil to reduce viscosity for transportation, then the crude oil becomes easier to transport, but the amount of diluent required increases operational costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransportability of heavy crude oilVSAvoidamount of diluent required

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the diluent into two distinct streams through nanofiltration: a light diluent stream (C3-C6 hydrocarbons) and a heavy diluent stream (C7+ hydrocarbons). The light stream is used for viscosity reduction to enable transportation, while the heavy stream is retained for enhancing oil-water separation. This segmentation allows each component to be used for its optimal function, reducing the total diluent quantity needed while improving overall process efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If diluent is vaporized and combusted to enhance oil-water separation, then separation efficiency improves, but energy is lost and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil-water separation efficiencyVSAvoidenergy lost to vaporization and combustion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent recovers the heavy diluent components (C7+ hydrocarbons) that would otherwise be vaporized and combusted. Through nanofiltration, these heavy components are retained and reused as a separate stream for enhancing oil-water separation in the separator. This recovery eliminates the need to discard them through combustion, thereby reducing energy loss and production costs while maintaining reliable separation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Productivity

If more diluent is added to reduce viscosity, then transportation becomes easier, but the cost of diluent consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransportation efficiency of heavy crude oilVSAvoiddiluent consumption cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a multi-functional diluent system where the separated light diluent stream serves the primary function of viscosity reduction for transportation, while the heavy diluent stream serves the secondary function of enhancing oil-water separation. This multi-functionality ensures that diluent is used efficiently for its primary transportation purpose without requiring excess amounts, thereby reducing overall diluent consumption costs while maintaining high transportation productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 process reduces the amount of diluent required for viscosity reduction and enhances oil-water separation, leading to cost savings and improved efficiency in heavy crude oil transportation and production by utilizing the enriched diluent components effectively.

Implementation Method 1

applying the feed diluent to a feed side of an organic solvent nanofiltration membrane; causing the light diluent component in the diluent to preferentially pass through the membrane in comparison to the heavy diluent component in the feed diluent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNanofiltration: Semipermeable Membrane

Data Source

PatentUS10597588B2Process and system to separate diluent

Publication Date: 2020.03.24 FCCL PARTNERSHIP

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a process and system for treating a feed diluent to produce a retentate product that is enriched in a heavy diluent component. The process includes: applying the feed diluent to a feed side of an organic solvent nanofiltration membrane; causing the light diluent component in the diluent to preferentially pass through the membrane in comparison to the light diluent component in the feed diluent; and producing the retentate product that is enriched in the heavy diluent component in comparison to the heavy diluent component in the feed diluent.