Process for upgrading crude oil and residual fractions thereof by vaporizing the charge in a falling curtain of contact particles

摘要

A process for upgrading a petroleum charge of crude oil or residual fractions thereof, in which the charge is dispersed into a descending curtain of heated, substantially inert contact material. This contact material preferably has a conversion rate not substantially greater than 10% in the CAT D test. The vapors generated on contact of the charge with the curtain are collected on the side of the curtain opposite from where the charge is dispersed. The recovered product has a substantially reduced metals content and Conradson Carbon number and is suitable for catalytic cracking or use as heavy fuel or a heavy fuel precursor.