Field enhanced separation of hydrocarbon fractions

US9359565B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Krista Marie Prentice · Fryeburg, US
• Jason M. McMullan · Houston, US
• Michel Daage · Baton Rouge, US
• Gregory J. DeMartin · Flemington, US
• John S. Szobota · Morristown, US
• Ronald M. Gould · Sewell, US
• Anastasios I. Skoulidas · Bristow, US
• Ajit B. Dandekar · South Plainfield, US
• Patrick L. Hanks · Bound Brook, US
• Charles L. Baker, Jr. · Thornton, US
• Lei Zhang · Beijing, CN
• X B Cox, III · Fairfax, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 18, 2013
• Grant date: Jun 7, 2016
• Expiry date: May 16, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C10G67/02
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for using field enhanced separations to produce multiple fractions from a petroleum input. A liquid thermal diffusion and/or electric field separation is used to produce the fractions. The fractions can then be used to form multiple outputs that share a first feature while being different with regard to a second feature. For example, a first fraction from the plurality of fractions can have a desired value for a first property such as viscosity index. Two or more additional fractions from the plurality of fractions can then be blended together to make a blended fraction or output. The blended fraction can have a value for the first property that is substantially similar to the value for the first fraction. However, for a second property, the first fraction and the blended fraction can have distinct values. As a result, multiple output fractions can be formed that share a first feature but differ in a second feature.