METHOD FOR PRODUCING UPGRADED OIL, AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING UPGRADED OIL

摘要

[Problem] Upon producing an upgraded oil by utilizing supercritical water, provided include a method for producing an upgraded oil and an apparatus for producing an upgraded oil, which are capable of providing an upgraded oil with a high yield. [Means for Resolution] A reactor 1 is maintained to a temperature and a pressure that are higher than a critical point of water, and while thermal cracking of the heavy oil is occurred by making the heavy oil and the supercritical water in contact with each other, a first phase containing a heavy oil component obtained by thermal cracking of the heavy oil and the supercritical water dissolved in the heavy oil component is formed at a lower part, whereas a second phase containing the supercritical water and a light oil component extracted by the supercritical water is formed at an upper part. A effluent from the first phase is withdrawn from the first phase through the lower part of the reactor, for suppressing formation of coke in the heavy oil component, and a effluent from the second phase is withdrawn from the second phase through the upper part of the reactor, for suppressing formation of gas in the light oil component. In a mixing part 2, the heavy oil component of the effluent from the first phase is mixed into the light oil component of the effluent from the second phase, thereby providing an upgraded oil.