EP0291504A1 - Method and apparatus for treating asphaltene bearing fuels - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for treating asphaltene bearing fuelsInfo
- Publication number
- EP0291504A1 EP0291504A1 EP87900417A EP87900417A EP0291504A1 EP 0291504 A1 EP0291504 A1 EP 0291504A1 EP 87900417 A EP87900417 A EP 87900417A EP 87900417 A EP87900417 A EP 87900417A EP 0291504 A1 EP0291504 A1 EP 0291504A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- conduit
- array
- asphaltene
- helical
- flow path
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
- C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
- C10G31/00—Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by methods not otherwise provided for
Definitions
- U.S. Patents 4,109,318 to Hutchins discloses an in-line blender having propellor-like blades of graduated configuration placed along a central shaft of a flow conduit. The blades form continuous spiral mixing channels which extend well into the center of the conduit.
- U.S. Patent 4,123,178 to Salzman et al discloses a similar in-line blender.
- a number of propellor-like blades are mounted on a central shaft to impart a general swirl-type motion to a liquid travelling therethrough. Reversal of the direction of swirl is recognized as a mixing expedient.
- Numerous other static devices, usually mixers are disclosed in the art as contributing some desirable property to a liquid flowing therethrough. See for example, U.S. Patents 4,441,832; 3,582,048; 4,427,030 and the like.
- An additional aspect of the commercial background of the invention is the fact that heavy fuel oils have had varying increasing amounts of asphaltene therein and the quantity of quality of asphaltene can vary considerably shipment-to-shipment.
- a further object of the invention is to provide a one-pass process for treating asphaltene-bearing fuel oils to reduce the size of asphaltene particles.
- a further object of the invention is to provide a process and apparatus which may be varied in configuration quickly and inexpensively to meet the requirement of a specific shearing problem presented by various heavy fuels carrying asphaltene of different characteristics.
- a fluid processing element comprising a conduit, the flow path of which is obstructed with stationary shearing edges designed to cause intensive shearing of the liquid being processed. It is also advantageous that the apparatus have a substantial mixing characteristic to assure that all liquid is treated during passage through the apparatus.
- the same elements that carry the shearing edges can also act as mixing means. This is particularly true when small sharp-edged blades are used as the shearing means.
- the shearing edges are carried on groups of closely-packed, propellor-like elements. Groups of the elements with similar pitch relative to the fluid flow are spaced at short distances from one another to assure some mixing and that all of the liquid is processed by the blades.
- the inner wall of the conduit in which the blades are placed are sufficiently close to the other periphery of the blade elements that a substential amount of flow occurs in helix-like paths formed by the elements.
- the desired cominuting action can be achieved in a short length of reactor and in a single pass, a major advance over the shear-processing of asphaltene heretofore known to the art.
- the shearing elements are divided into a variety of processing zones. Some such zones are described below.
- a flow-orientation zone These zones provide a swirl to the liquid. Preferably, they are formed of shearing elements. However, because of relatively great spacing, the shearing elements are generally less effective in the flow-orienting zones than in the more compact particle-shear zones. Typically, there are about 1.5 to 3 swirls (i.e. 306° - helical turns) initiated per inch of length of the flow-orientation zone when a 1-inch diameter restraining conduit is used.
- a particle-shear zone is a relatively compact arrangement of shearing edges, typically about 3.0 to about 6 helical "swirls" initiated per inch when a 1-inch restraining conduit is used.
- Still another shear type zone is a baffled-shear zone one which provides a baffled-swirl flow path.
- the centerline of the flow path is generally helical but follows a zig-zag pattern.
- the spacing of the swirl flow paths are about the same as those in the primary particle-shear zone.
- the baffled-shear zone serves as an effective particle shearing device but contributes more pressure drop to the system than do the other zones.
- conduit baffling as narrowing means, to direct the liquid inwardly toward the shearing elements to avoid any undesirable bypassing.
- the flow configurations are desirably formed of small stamped propellors which, when mounted adjacent to one another on a shaft, leave small gaps between propellors, simulating what would be small V-shaped slits in a one- piece helical element.
- the propellors sufficiently irregular (inherent in a stamping process of manufacture for propellors as shown) that the propellor surfaces are somewhat and irregularly offset from one another along what would otherwise be an idealized helical flow path. Of course this offset condition is inherent, and relatively severe, in the baffled-swirl flow path.
- a typical asphaltene-shearing application according to the invention can include a series of elements mounted in parallel one with the other, each one adapted to handle a proportion only of the total flow of petroleum product depending on the design parameters of a given facility several dozen of the devices may be utilized to condition fuel.
- asphaltene- bearing oils such as No. 6 and No. 10 fuel oil
- the term "asphaltene” can refer to material of substantially different characteristics depending upon the source of petroleum and its treatment after withdrawal from its source.
- the "asphaltene” can comprise some very small particles of brittle solids although much of it will be more in the nature of small globules of a pitch-like substance.
- Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an apparatus of the invention showing a restraining conduit and the asphaltene shearing arrays mounted in the conduit.
- Figure 2 is a plan view of a "right-bend" element used in the apparatus of Figure 1.
- Figure 3 is a plan view of a "left-bend" element used in the apparatus of Figure 1.
- Figure 4 is a side view of a typical "right-bend" shear-edge-bearing element useful with the invention.
- Figure 5 is analagous to Figure 4 but shows a "left-bend" element. Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that petroleum entering the conduit 11 will meet an initial array 12 of right-bend elements 14 and generally directed in a helical clockwise path into the con- duit.
- the spacing of elements in zone 12 is achieved by having the appropriate face out and rotating the shaft 15, 90 degrees counterclockwise as each element is dropped onto the shaft from the right end of Figure 1. It will be clear that the polygonal central shaft and element bores provides means to position the elements with precision relative to one another.
- the lateral edges 16 and side edges 18 of the blades 20 tend to tear at the oil as it rushes past, acting to tear at the oil as it rushes past, acting to tear apart minute asphaltene particles, or globules, which are carried in the oil. In practice about a dozen elements of about an inch in diameter are utilized to form this so-called "right bend” processing section.
- the side designated as "21" in Figure 4 is facing left in Figure 1.
- processing section 24 which is similar to initial array 12 excepting that it is formed of "left-bend" elements 26 and, consequently forces a counter clockwise helical flow of the oil.
- the side designated as 25 in Figure 5 is facing left in Figure 1.
- the spacing of elements of section, or zone, 24 is achieved by having the appropriate face out and rotating shaft 50, 90 degrees clockwise as each element is dropped onto the shaft from the right end in Figure 1.
- This element consists of an array of twenty-two right bend elements 14 as shown in Figures 2 and 4 with face 21 out as is the case with array 12 of the first processing zone; however, in section 24 they have been placed on the shaft differently, i.e. they are placed with the same side up, but with the propellors offset from each other to achieve closer packing.
- a narrower processing helix is formed on about twice as many propellor blades as can be forced into processing section 34.
- the helical flow path of the fuel being processed is generally clockwise and into the conduit.
- the spacing of elements of section 32 is achieved by having the appropriate face out and rotating the shaft 90 degrees clockwise as each element is dropped onto the shaft from the right end in Figure 1.
- the spacing of elements of section 32 is achieved by having the appropriate face out and rotating the shaft 90 degrees counterclockwise as. each element is dropped onto the shaft from the right end in Figure 1.
- the fifth shearing section on the shaft is formed by placing alternating members of Figures 2 and 3 on the shaft alternately with sides 21 and 25 facing to the left in Figure 1.
- the spacing of elements of section 50 is achieved by having the appropriate face out and rotating the shaft 90 degrees counterclockwise after each element is dropped onto the shaft from the right end of Figure 1.
- This array 50 if inspected closely, is also seen to have a generally helical flow path 52.
- the centerline of the helical flow path follows a zig-zag course providing a particularly severe treatment of the oil before it exits from the device.
- the relatively high pressure drop through this array provides a mechanism to fine-tune the flow characteristics of a particular liquid by adding and substracting a number of blade-bearing elements from the shaft.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Production Of Liquid Hydrocarbon Mixture For Refining Petroleum (AREA)
Abstract
Les appareils connus de traitement de combustible contenant de l'asphaltène présentent des avantages de ne pas pouvoir réduire suffisamment la taille des particules d'asphaltène indésirablement grandes dans des huiles de pétrole lourdes. Le problème sus-mentionné est résolu par l'utilisation d'un appareil comprenant une série de lames de cisaillement serrées les unes par rapport aux autres qui sont en contact avec l'écoulement de liquide. Les lames sont portées par des pièces en forme d'hélices (14, 26) et sont montées sur un arbre axial (15) dans un conduit (11). Des groupes (12, 24, 35, 40 et 50) des pièces portant les lames de cisaillement sont prévues axialement le long de l'arbre. Les pièces de chaque groupe ont une orientation et configuration uniques par rapport aux pièces d'un autre groupe. Du mazout contenant des particules d'asphaltène s'écoule le long de l'arbre (15). Le mazout est mis en contact et conditionné par les lames de cisaillement. Les particules d'asphaltène sont réduites jusqu'à avoir une taille extrêmement petite de manière à être brûlées facilement dans une chaudière et retrouver des matières particulaires de taille réduite dans l'effluent sortant par la cheminée.Known asphaltene fuel treatment devices have the advantages of not being able to sufficiently reduce the size of the undesirably large asphaltene particles in heavy petroleum oils. The above-mentioned problem is solved by the use of an apparatus comprising a series of shear blades clamped relative to one another which are in contact with the flow of liquid. The blades are carried by propeller-shaped parts (14, 26) and are mounted on an axial shaft (15) in a conduit (11). Groups (12, 24, 35, 40 and 50) of the parts carrying the shear blades are provided axially along the shaft. The pieces of each group have a unique orientation and configuration compared to the pieces of another group. Fuel oil containing asphaltene particles flows along the tree (15). The fuel oil is brought into contact and conditioned by the shear blades. The asphaltene particles are reduced to an extremely small size so that they can easily be burned in a boiler and find reduced particulate matter in the effluent leaving the chimney.
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1986/002541 WO1988003836A1 (en) | 1986-11-28 | 1986-11-28 | Method and apparatus for treating asphaltene bearing fuels |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0291504A1 true EP0291504A1 (en) | 1988-11-23 |
EP0291504A4 EP0291504A4 (en) | 1991-06-05 |
Family
ID=22195723
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19870900417 Withdrawn EP0291504A4 (en) | 1986-11-28 | 1986-11-28 | Method and apparatus for treating asphaltene bearing fuels |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0291504A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH01501452A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1988003836A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2004161943A (en) * | 2002-11-15 | 2004-06-10 | Kyoto Tool Co Ltd | Emulsion production apparatus |
JP5709387B2 (en) * | 2009-12-26 | 2015-04-30 | 京セラ株式会社 | Rotating member and apparatus for stirring or crushing using the same |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2384536A1 (en) * | 1977-03-21 | 1978-10-20 | Gen Signal Corp | IMPROVEMENTS TO MIXING DEVICES FOR FLUIDS AND / OR FLOWING SOLIDS |
JPS6026086A (en) * | 1983-07-23 | 1985-02-08 | Mitsuhisa Matsuoka | Equipment for improvement of fuel oil |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1959712A (en) * | 1930-08-08 | 1934-05-22 | Laval Separator Co De | Process for refining mineral oil |
US3059862A (en) * | 1958-05-16 | 1962-10-23 | Improved Machinery Inc | Coaxial breaker conveyor and feeder |
NL125080C (en) * | 1964-01-14 | |||
US3923288A (en) * | 1973-12-27 | 1975-12-02 | Komax Systems Inc | Material mixing apparatus |
US4258782A (en) * | 1979-06-28 | 1981-03-31 | Modine Manufacturing Company | Heat exchanger having liquid turbulator |
US4344580A (en) * | 1980-04-14 | 1982-08-17 | Hoshall Thomas C | Fibrous material apparatus |
US4479805A (en) * | 1983-09-12 | 1984-10-30 | Columbia Chase Corporation | Treating-high asphaltene fuel oils |
-
1986
- 1986-11-28 WO PCT/US1986/002541 patent/WO1988003836A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1986-11-28 JP JP50039487A patent/JPH01501452A/en active Pending
- 1986-11-28 EP EP19870900417 patent/EP0291504A4/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2384536A1 (en) * | 1977-03-21 | 1978-10-20 | Gen Signal Corp | IMPROVEMENTS TO MIXING DEVICES FOR FLUIDS AND / OR FLOWING SOLIDS |
JPS6026086A (en) * | 1983-07-23 | 1985-02-08 | Mitsuhisa Matsuoka | Equipment for improvement of fuel oil |
Non-Patent Citations (2)
Title |
---|
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, vol. 9, no. 138 (C-286)[1861], 13th June 1985; & JP-A-60 26 086 (MITSUHISA MATSUOKA) 08-02-1985 * |
See also references of WO8803836A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPH01501452A (en) | 1989-05-25 |
WO1988003836A1 (en) | 1988-06-02 |
EP0291504A4 (en) | 1991-06-05 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19881201 |
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RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: PSALTOPOULOS, EMMANUEL |
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A4 | Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched |
Effective date: 19910417 |
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RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: HYDRO-ENERGY SYSTEMS INC. (AN ISLE OF MAN COMPANY) |
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17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19921103 |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19930315 |