FIELD ENHANCED SEPARATION APPARATUS

摘要

Systems and methods are provided for performing field enhanced separations on a feed, such as a petroleum feed, a refinery feed, or another type of hydrocarbonaceous feed. The system can allow for increased throughput of feed per volume of the separation device or system while performing a desired amount of field enhanced separation. The field enhanced separation can include separation by thermal diffusion, optionally enhanced by the presence of an electric field in the channel for performing the separation by thermal diffusion.

主权项

1. A system for performing a field enhanced separation comprising:
a heating fluid channel comprising:
heating fluid channel parallel plates separated by a heating fluid channel width, the heating fluid channel parallel plates each having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surfaces of the heating fluid channel parallel plates defining a heating fluid channel volume, the heating fluid channel parallel plates corresponding to a first heating plate and second heating plate;a first open cell framework structure within the heating fluid channel volume, the first open cell framework structure contacting the interior surfaces of the first heating plate and the second heating plate at a plurality of points;at least one heating fluid inlet; andat least one heating fluid outlet, the first open cell framework structure providing fluid communication between the at least one heating fluid inlet and the at least one heating fluid outlet; a cooling fluid channel comprising:
cooling fluid channel parallel plates separated by a cooling fluid channel width, the cooling fluid channel parallel plates each having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surfaces of the cooling fluid channel parallel plates defining a cooling fluid channel volume, the cooling fluid channel parallel plates corresponding to a first cooling plate and second cooling plate;a second open cell framework structure within the cooling fluid channel volume, the second open cell framework structure contacting the interior surfaces of the first cooling plate and the second cooling plate at a plurality of points;at least one cooling fluid inlet; andat least one cooling fluid outlet, the second open cell framework structure providing fluid communication between the at least one heating fluid inlet and the at least one heating fluid outlet; a process fluid channel formed by the exterior surface of the first heating plate and the exterior surface of the first cooling plate, the exterior surface of the first heating plate and the exterior surface of the first cooling plate being substantially parallel, the process fluid channel having a process fluid channel width of from 0.25 mm to 6.0 mm, at least one process fluid input in fluid communication with the process fluid channel; and a plurality of process fluid output ports in fluid communication with the process fluid channel, the plurality of process fluid output ports being at two or more different heights relative to a height of the process fluid channel.