Renewable Jet Fuel Processing With Aromatic and Paraffin Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sustainable aviation fuels derived from biomass lack the required aromatic content to meet jet fuel standards and those derived from fats, oils, and greases are too paraffinic, leading to blending issues, necessitating the inclusion of mineral-oil-based jet fuel to achieve the necessary aromatic content.
Innovation Solution
A process involving slurry hydrocracking, hydrotreating, and hydroisomerization of solid biomass and liquid feedstocks comprising fats, oils, and greases to produce a liquid hydrocarbon product with controlled aromatic and n-paraffin contents, followed by fractionation to obtain sustainable aviation fuels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If sustainable aviation fuel is derived from biomass, then the fuel is renewable and environmentally friendly, but the aromatic content is insufficient to meet jet fuel standards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines biomass-derived fuel (renewable, low emissions) with fossil-derived jet fuel (high aromatic content) in a blended product. This merging allows the final fuel to simultaneously achieve renewable credentials and meet aromatic content specifications for jet fuel performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the aromatic content parameter of biomass-derived fuel through controlled degradation processes and blending ratios. By modifying the aromaticity parameter during processing and in the final blend, the fuel meets jet fuel standards while maintaining renewable characteristics
2Ease of manufacture
If sustainable aviation fuel is derived from fats, oils, and greases, then the fuel production process is simplified, but the n-paraffin content becomes too high causing blending issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the n-paraffin content parameter through controlled isomerization processes that convert n-paraffins to iso-paraffins and aromatics. This parameter adjustment reduces excessive n-paraffin content while maintaining the simplified production pathway from fats, oils, and greases
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces simple mechanical mixing with catalytic chemical processes (isomerization, aromatization) to transform the molecular structure of the fuel. This substitution allows precise control over composition parameters while maintaining process efficiency
3Manufacturing precision
If mineral-oil-based jet fuel is blended with renewable fuel to achieve required aromatic content, then jet fuel standards are met, but the renewable content and environmental benefits are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the blending ratio parameter to maximize renewable content while meeting minimum aromatic content requirements. By precisely controlling this parameter, the fuel achieves compliance with jet fuel standards while minimizing fossil fuel content and associated emissions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing treatments to different components of the fuel blend. The renewable portion undergoes specific degradation and isomerization treatments to develop appropriate aromatic characteristics locally, while the fossil portion provides baseline aromatic content, creating a heterogeneous blend with optimized local properties
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 sustainable aviation fuels with the desired aromatic content, reducing the need for mineral-oil-based jet fuel and enhancing fuel quality.
Implementation Method 1
processing a solid biomass feedstock in a renewable liquid carrier in the presence of a slurry hydrocracking catalyst and hydrogen in a slurry hydrocracking zone
Implementation Method 2
in the presence of a slurry hydrocracking catalyst
Implementation Method 3
coprocessing the liquid biomass effluent and a liquid feedstock comprising one or more of fats, oils and greases in the presence of a hydrotreating catalyst
Implementation Method 4
under hydrotreating conditions
Implementation Method 5
processing the liquid hydrotreating effluent in the presence of a hydroisomerization catalyst and under hydroisomerization reaction conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A process includes processing a solid biomass feedstock in a renewable liquid carrier in the presence of a slurry hydrocracking catalyst and hydrogen in a slurry hydrocracking zone and under slurry hydrocracking conditions, thereby producing a liquid biomass effluent having a first aromatic content, coprocessing the liquid biomass effluent and a liquid feedstock comprising one or more of fats, oils and greases in the presence of a hydrotreating catalyst and under hydrotreating conditions, thereby producing a liquid hydrotreating effluent having a first n-paraffin content and the first aromatic content, and processing the liquid hydrotreating effluent in the presence of a hydroisomerization catalyst and under hydroisomerization reaction conditions, thereby producing a liquid hydrocarbon product having a second n-paraffin content less than the first n-paraffin content and a second aromatic content less than the first aromatic content.