Process for separating hydrocarbon materials

Claim 2

A CONTINUOUS PROCESS FOR SEPARATING AT LEAST ONE HYDROCARBON, FRACTION OF HIGH DEFINITION OUT OF A LIQUID HYDROCARBON MATERIAL, WHICH COMPRISES CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCING THE LIQUID HYDROCARBON MATERIAL INTO A FLOW PATH OF WHICH A PORTION IN CROSS-SECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE FLOW OF THE LIQUID HYDROCARBON MATERIAL THERETHROUGH IS ELONGATED IN ONE DIRECTION AND RELATIVELY NARROW IN A GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR DIRECTION PASSING THE LIQUID HYDROCARBON MATERIAL THROUGH THE FLOQ PATH WHILE SUPPLYING HEAT AT LEAST ALONG THE PORTION OF THE FLOW PATH TO CAUSE THE VOLTALIZATION OF PART OF THE LIQUID HYDROCARBON MATERIAL IN THE PORTION OF THE FLOW PATH; CONTINUING TO PASS A MIXTURE OF CONCENTRATED LIQUID HYDROCARBON MATERIAL AND VAPORS RELEASE THEREFROM THROUGH THE PORTION OF THE FLOW PATH WHILE CONTINUING TO SUPPLY HEAT THERETO, THEREBY TO EFFECT A HIGH RATE OF VAPOR RELEASE AND IMPART A HIGH VELOCITY TO THE MIXTURE ASIT PASSES THRUGH THE PORTION OF THE FLOW PATH; DISCHARGING THEEMIXTURE FROM THE FLOW PATH, WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL ADDITION RELEASE OF VAPORS FROM THE CONCENTRATES LIQUID HYDROCARBON MATERIAL AND WITHOUT A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN PRESURE, AND PERMITTING THE RELEASE VAPORS RAPIDLY TO SEPARATE AND BECOME ISOLATED FROM THE CONCENTRATED LIQUID HYDROCARBON MATERIAL , THE CONCENTRATED LIQUID HYDROCARBON MATERIAL INCLUDING SAID AT LEAST ONE HYDROCARBON FRACTION AND THE RELEASE VAPORS INCLUDING A SECOND HYDROCARBON FRACTION.

Claim 3

A process according to claim 1, wherein steam is continuously introduced into the flow path to strip a third hydrocarbon fraction from the liquid hydrocarbon material.

Claim 4

A process according to claim 1, wherein the released vapors are separated and isolated from the concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material at a pressure below atmospheric pressure.

Claim 5

A process according to claim 3, wherein the liquid hydrocarbon material and the mixture are passed through the portion of the flow path at a pressure below atmospheric pressure.

Claim 6

A process according to claim 1, wherein the liquid hydrocarbon material is heated before being introduced into the flow path.

Claim 7

A process according to claim 1, wherein the released vapors are permitted rapidly to separate and become isolated from the concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material by moving upwardly relative to the concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material and wherein the upwardly moving vapors are spiralled outwardly relative to the axis of upward movement, thereby to separate centrifugally liquid entrained in the vapors.

Claim 8

A process according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material is continuously introduced into a second flow path of which a portion in cross-section transverse to the flow of the concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material therethrough is elongated in one direction and relatively narrow in a generally perpendicular direction, the process steps of claim 1 being repeated to produce additional released vapors and a more concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material, the more concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material including a third hydrocarbon fraction.

Claim 9

A process according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the released vapors are condensed and introduced into a second flow path of which a portion in cross-section transverse to the flow of the condensed vapors therethrough is elongated in one direction and relatively narrow in a generally perpendicular direction, the process steps of claim 1 being repeated to produce re-released vapors and concentrated condensed vapors, the concentrated condensed vapors including a third hydrocarbon fraction.

Claim 10

A process according to claim 1, wherein the liquid hydrocarbon material includes liquid hydrocarbons and water mixed therewith as an emulsion, the water being volatilized in the flow path to form a part of the released vapors.

Claim 11

A process according to claim 1, wherein the liquid hydrocarbon material includes liquid hydrocarbons, water mixed therewith as an emulsion, and insoluble solids, the water being volatilized in the flow path to form a part of the released vapors and the insoluble solids being included in the concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material.

Claim 12

A continuous process for separating a liquid hydrocarbon material into two distinct fractions of high definition, which comprises continuously introducing the liquid hydrocarbon material into a flow path of which a portion in cross-section transverse to the flow of the liquid hydrocarbon material therethrough is elongated in one direction and relatively narrow in a generally perpendicular dirEction; passing the liquid hydrocarbon material through the flow path while supplying heat at least along the portion of the flow path to cause the volatilization of the fraction having the lowest boiling point in the portion of the flow path; continuing to pass a mixture of concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material and vapors released therefrom through the portion of the flow path while continuing to supply heat thereto, thereby to effect a high rate of vapor release and impart a high velocity to the mixture as it passes through the portion of the flow path; discharging the mixture from the flow path, without substantial additional release of vapors from the concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material and without a substantial change in pressure, and permitting the released vapors rapidly to separate and become isolated from the concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material, the released vapors including one of said two distinct fractions and the concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material including the other of said two distinct fractions.

Claim 13

A continuous process for separating a liquid hydrocarbon material into two distinct fractions of high definition, which comprises continuously introducing the liquid hydrocarbon material into a flow path of which a portion in cross-section transverse to the flow of the liquid hydrocarbon material therethrough is elongated in one direction and relatively narrow in a generally perpendicular dirEction; passing the liquid hydrocarbon material through the flow path while supplying heat at least along the portion of the flow path to cause the volatilization of the fraction having the lowest boiling point in the portion of the flow path; continuing to pass a mixture of concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material and vapors released therefrom through the portion of the flow path while continuing to supply heat thereto, thereby to effect a high rate of vapor release and impart a high velocity to the mixture as it passes through the portion of the flow path; discharging the mixture from the flow path, without substantial additional release of vapors from the concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material and without a substantial change in pressure, and permitting the released vapors rapidly to separate and become isolated from the concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material, the released vapors including one of said two distinct fractions and the concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material including the other of said two distinct fractions.

Claim 14

A process according to claim 11, wherein steam is continuously introduced into the flow path to strip the fraction having the lowest point from the liquid hydrocarbon material.

Claim 15

A process according to claim 11, wherein the released vapors are separated and isolated from the concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material at a pressure below atmospheric pressure.

Claim 16

A process according to claim 13, wherein the liquid hydrocarbon material and the mixture are passed through the portion of the flow path at a pressure below atmospheric pressure.

Claim 17

A process according to claim 11, wherein the liquid hydrocarbon material is heated before being introduced into the flow path.

Claim 18

A process according to claim 11, wherein the released vapors are permitted rapidly to separate and become isolated from the concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material by moving upwardly relative to the concentrated liquid hydrocarbon material and wherein the upwardly moving vapors are spiralled outwardly relative to the axis of upward movement, thereby to separate centrifugally liquid entrained in the vapors.

Claim 19

A continuous process for separating a reconstituted crude oil, formed by combining two distinct petroleum fractions, into said two distinct fractions, which comprises continuously introducing the reconstituted crude oil into a flow path of which a portion in cross-section transverse to the flow of the reconstituted crude oil therethrough is elongated in one direction and relatively narrow in a generally perpendicular direction; passing the reconstituted crude oil through the flow path while supplying heat at least along the portion of the flow path to cause the volatilization of the fraction having the lowest boiling point in the portion of the flow path, continuing to pass a mixture of concentrated reconstituted crude oil and vapors released therefrom through the portion of the flow path while continuing to supply heat thereto, thereby to effect a high rate of vapor release and impart a high velocity to the mixture as it passes through the portion of the flow path; discharging the mixture from the flow path, without substantial additional release of vapors from the concentrated reconstituted crude oil and without a substantial change in pressure, and permitting the released vapors rapidly to separate and become isolated from the concentrated reconstituted crude oil, the released vapors including one of said two distinct fractions and the concentrated reconstituted crude oil including the other of said two distinct fractions.

Claim 20

A continuous process for separating a reconstituted crude oil, formed by combining two distinct petroleum fractions, into said two distinct fractions, which comprises continuously introducing the reconstituted crude oil into a flow path of which a portion in cross-section transverse to the flow of the reconstituted crude oil therethrough is elongated in one direction and relatively narrow in a generally perpendicular direction; passing the reconstituted crude oil through the flow path while supplying heat at least along the portion of the flow path to cause the volatilization of the fraction having the lowest boiling point in the portion of the flow path, continuing to pass a mixture of concentrated reconstituted crude oil and vapors released therefrom through the portion of the flow path while continuing to supply heat thereto, thereby to effect a high rate of vapor release and impart a high velocity to the mixture as it passes through the portion of the flow path; discharging the mixture from the flow path, without substantial additional release of vapors from the concentrated reconstituted crude oil and without a substantial change in pressure, and permitting the released vapors rapidly to separate and become isolated from the concentrated reconstituted crude oil, the released vapors including one of said two distinct fractions and the concentrated reconstituted crude oil including the other of said two distinct fractions.

Claim 21

A process according to claim 17, wherein steam is continuously introduced into the flow path to strip the fraction having the lowest boiling point from the reconstituted crude oil.

Claim 22

A process according to claim 17, wherein the released vapors are separated and isolated from the concentrated reconstituted crude oil at a pressure below atmospheric pressure.

Claim 23

A process according to claim 19, wherein the reconstItuted crude oil and the mixture are passed through the portion of the flow path at a pressure below atmospheric pressure.

Claim 24

A process according to claim 17, wherein the reconstituted crude oil is heated before being introduced into the flow path.

Claim 25

A process according to claim 17, wherein the released vapors are permitted rapidly to separate and become isolated from the concentrated reconstituted crude oil by moving upwardly relative to the concentrated reconstituted crude oil and wherein the upwardly moving vapors are spiralled outwardly relative to the axis of upward movement, thereby to separate centrifugally liquid entrained in the vapors.