US4448665A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Use of ammonia to reduce the viscosity of bottoms streams produced in hydroconversion processes
Assignee: Exxon Mobil Corp
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Filing: 1982-12-30
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Granted: 1984-05-15
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Expires: 2002-12-30
Abstract
Abstract Coal, petroleum residuum and similar carbonaceous feed materials are subjected to hydroconversion in the presence of molecular hydrogen to produce a hydroconversion effluent which is then subjected to one or more separation steps to remove lower molecular weight liquids and produce a heavy bottoms stream containing high molecular weight liquids and unconverted carbonaceous material. The viscosity of the bottoms streams produced in the separation step or steps is prevented from increasing rapidly by treating the feed to the separation step or steps with ammonia gas prior to or during the separation step or steps. The viscosity of the heavy bottoms stream produced in the final separation step is also controlled by treating these bottoms with ammonia gas. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the effluent from the hydroconversion reactor is subjected to an atmospheric distillation followed by a vacuum distillation and the feeds to these distillations are contacted with ammonia during the distillations.
Inventors
- 👤 Sioma Zaczepinski
- 👤 Rustom M. Billimoria
- 👤 Frank Tao
- 👤 Christopher G. Lington
- 👤 Karl W. Plumlee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 10:43
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G1/00; C10G1/04; C10G1/045; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S208/00; Y10S208/951
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
In a process for the hydroconversion of a carbonaceous feed in the presence of molecular hydrogen wherein a hydroconversion effluent containing liquids and unconverted carbonaceous material is produced, and said effluent is subjected to one or more separation steps to remove lower molecular weight liquids from said effluent and thereby produce a heavy bottoms stream containing high molecular weight liquids and unconverted carbonaceous material, the improvement which comprises contacting the feed stream to said separation step or steps at a temperature between about 300° F. and about 700° F. with sufficient added ammonia gas such that the weight ratio of said ammonia gas to said feed stream rangers between about 0.01 and about 0.6 prior to or during said separation step or said separation steps, thereby reducing and controlling the viscosity of said heavy bottoms stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a process for the hydroconversion of a carbonaceous feed in the presence of molecular hydrogen wherein a hydroconversion effluent containing liquids and unconverted carbonaceous material is produced, and said effluent is subjected to one or more separation steps to remove lower molecular weight liquids from said effluent and thereby produce a heavy bottoms stream containing high molecular weight liquids and unconverted carbonaceous material, the improvement which comprises contacting the feed stream to said separation step or steps at a temperature between about 300° F. and about 700° F. with sufficient added ammonia gas such that the weight ratio of said ammonia gas to said feed stream rangers between about 0.01 and about 0.6 prior to or during said separation step or said separation steps, thereby reducing and controlling the viscosity of said heavy bottoms stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as defined by claim 1 wherein said carbonaceous feed comprises carbonaceous solids and said solids are hydroconverted in the presence of molecular hydrogen and a hydrocarbon solvent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process as defined by claim 2 wherein said carbonaceous solids comprise coal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as defined by claim 1 wherein said carbonaceous feed comprises petroleum residuum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as defined by claim 1 wherein said separation step or steps comprise distillations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as defined by claim 1 wherein said feed stream to said separation step or steps is contacted with said ammonia gas during said separation step or steps.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as defined by claim 1 wherein said effluent is subjected to an atmospheric distillation followed by a vacuum distillation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process as defined by claim 7 wherein said effluent is contacted with said added ammonia gas during said atmospheric distillation and the resultant bottoms is treated with said added ammonia gas during said vacuum distillation to produce said heavy bottoms stream.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as defined by claim 1 wherein said carbonaceous feed comprises petroleum residuum and said residuum is hydroconverted in the presence of molecular hydrogen and a hydrocarbon solvent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as defined by claim 9 wherein said solvent comprises a nonhydrogen-donor solvent and said residuum is hydroconverted in the presence of an added catalyst.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
165 words
A process for the liquefaction of coal which comprises: (a) contacting said coal with a hydrocarbon solvent under liquefaction condition in the presence of molecular hydrogen in a liquefaction zone to produce a liquefaction effluent; (b) separating said liquefaction effluent into a vapor stream and a slurry stream, said slurry stream comprising a high molecular weight fraction including mineral matter, heavy liquids and unconverted carbonaceous constituents, and a lower molecular weight liquid fraction; (c) subjecting said slurry stream to an atmospheric distillation in the presence of added gaseous ammonia, thereby separating said slurry stream into one or more lower molecular weight liquid fractions and a higher molecular weight fraction containing said mineral matter, said heavy liquids and said unconverted carbonaceous constituents; and (d) subjecting said higher molecular weight fraction from step (c) to a vacuum distillation in the presence of added gaseous ammonia to produce a heavy bottoms stream having improved rheological properties and containing high molecular weight liquids, mineral matter, and unconverted carbonaceous constituents.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
165 words
A process for the liquefaction of coal which comprises: (a) contacting said coal with a hydrocarbon solvent under liquefaction condition in the presence of molecular hydrogen in a liquefaction zone to produce a liquefaction effluent; (b) separating said liquefaction effluent into a vapor stream and a slurry stream, said slurry stream comprising a high molecular weight fraction including mineral matter, heavy liquids and unconverted carbonaceous constituents, and a lower molecular weight liquid fraction; (c) subjecting said slurry stream to an atmospheric distillation in the presence of added gaseous ammonia, thereby separating said slurry stream into one or more lower molecular weight liquid fractions and a higher molecular weight fraction containing said mineral matter, said heavy liquids and said unconverted carbonaceous constituents; and (d) subjecting said higher molecular weight fraction from step (c) to a vacuum distillation in the presence of added gaseous ammonia to produce a heavy bottoms stream having improved rheological properties and containing high molecular weight liquids, mineral matter, and unconverted carbonaceous constituents.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as defined by claim 11 wherein said hydrocarbon solvent comprises a hydrogen-donor solvent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as defined by claim 11 wherein said solvent comprises a nonhydrogen-donor solvent and said liquefaction is carried out in the presence of an added catalyst.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as defined by claim 11 wherein said heavy bottoms stream produced in step (d) is contacted with added gaseous ammonia prior to being subjected to a subsequent processing step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a process for the hydroconversion of a carbonaceous feed in the presence of molecular hydrogen wherein a hydroconversion effluent containing liquids and unconverted carbonaceous material is produced, said effluent is subjected to one or more separation steps to remove lower molecular weight liquids from said effluent and thereby produce a heavy bottoms stream containing high molecular weight liquids and unconverted carbonaceous material, and said heavy bottoms is further processed to recover hydrocarbon values, the improvement which comprises contacting said heavy bottoms at a temperature above about 300° F. with added ammonia gas prior to said further processing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a process for the hydroconversion of a carbonaceous feed in the presence of molecular hydrogen wherein a hydroconversion effluent containing liquids and unconverted carbonaceous material is produced, said effluent is subjected to one or more separation steps to remove lower molecular weight liquids from said effluent and thereby produce a heavy bottoms stream containing high molecular weight liquids and unconverted carbonaceous material, and said heavy bottoms is further processed to recover hydrocarbon values, the improvement which comprises contacting said heavy bottoms at a temperature above about 300° F. with added ammonia gas prior to said further processing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as defined by claim 15 wherein said carbonaceous feed comprises coal and said coal is hydroconverted in the presence of molecular hydrogen and a hydrocarbon solvent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as defined by claim 15 wherein said carbonaceous feed comprises petroleum residuum.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as defined by claim 15 wherein the feed stream to said separation step or steps is contacted with added ammonia gas prior to or during said separation step or steps.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as defined by claim 15 wherein said heavy bottoms is contacted with said added ammonia gas at a temperature between about 300° F. and about 700° F.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as defined by claim 15 wherein said effluent is subjected to an atmospheric distillation followed by a vacuum distillation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as defined by claim 20 wherein the feed streams to said atmospheric distillation and said vacuum distillation steps are contacted with added ammonia gas during said distillations.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-05-15 | 1987-11-14 | 1988-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-05-15 | 1991-11-14 | 1992-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-05-15 | 1995-11-14 | 1996-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |