Hydrocracking of heavy oils - using ash particles as coke carrier, esp. for upgrading oils derived from oil sands

摘要

Hydrocracking of heavy hydrocarbon oils (contg. large amt. of 524 deg.C+ material) is carried out passing a slurry of finely divided fly ash or high-ash coal fines through a hydrocracking zone together with 500-50,000 scf/bbl of H2. The hydrocracking zone is maintained at 400-500 deg.C and above 500 psig and the LHSV is 0.5-4.0. The effluent is pd. into a heavy oil product and a gas stream contg. H2 and hydrocarbon vapours. The process is esp. useful for upgrading oils derived from oil sands. The ash component acts as an inexpensive coke "getter", preventing build-up of coke deposits in the reactor. The hydrocracking zone is pref. a vertical empty-column reactor operating with upflow of feed and H2.