Solids management in slurry hydroprocessing

摘要

The recovery of solids, and particularly solid particulates used as catalysts in slurry hydroprocessing, from asphaltene containing hydrocarbons is improved by controlling asphaltene precipitation. The formation of agglomerates of the solid particulates, having an increased diameter, results in the presence of precipitated asphaltenes, possibly due to flocculation. Asphaltene precipitation is controlled by varying process parameters or introducing additional diluent or flush streams that change the polarity of an asphaltene containing liquid product recovered from an effluent of a slurry hydroprocessing reaction zone.

主权项

1. A slurry hydroprocessing method comprising:
(a) passing a slurry comprising a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock containing asphaltenes and a solid particulate through a reaction zone to provide a slurry effluent; (b) filtering a liquid product through a filter, recovered from the slurry effluent in combination with the solid particulate, to provide a filtration retentate comprising precipitated asphaltenes and further comprising a retained portion of the solid particulate; (c) recycling the filtration retentate to the reaction zone; (d) the liquid product has a solubility blending number : insolubility number ratio that is less than about 1.4; and wherein the filter has a pore size exceeding the average particle size of the solid particulate.