Methods for preparing solid hydrocarbons for cracking

Abstract

A method of preparing solid hydrocarbons for cracking. The method includes preparing a mixture including solid hydrocarbon material dissolved in a solvent. After optionally separating non-dissolved solids from the mixture, the mixture is injected into a nozzle reactor for upgrading of the hydrocarbon component of the mixture.

1 . A method comprising:
 preparing a mixture comprising solid hydrocarbon dissolved in a first solvent; and   injecting the mixture of solid hydrocarbon dissolved in a first solvent into a nozzle reactor.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the solid hydrocarbon comprises solid asphaltene. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the solid asphaltene comprises solid asphaltene from froth treatment tailings. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , the first solvent comprises a light aromatic solvent. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the light aromatic solvent comprises Aromatic 100, Aromatic 150, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of first solvent to solid hydrocarbon in the mixture is from about 0.25:1 to about 4:1 on a weight basis. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising separating non-dissolved solids from the mixture prior to injecting the mixture into the nozzle reactor. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein separating non-dissolved solids from the mixture comprises centrifuging the mixture. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle reactor comprises:
 a reactor body having a reactor body passage with an injection end and an ejection end;   a first material injector having a first material injection passage and being mounted in the nozzle reactor in material injecting communication with the injection end of the reactor body, the first material injection passage having (a) an enlarged volume injection section, an enlarged volume ejection section, and a reduced volume mid-section intermediate the enlarged volume injection section and enlarged volume ejection section, (b) a material injection end, and (c) a material ejection end in injecting communication with the reactor body passage; and   a second material feed port penetrating the reactor body and being (a) adjacent to the material ejection end of the first material injection passage and (b) transverse to a first material injection passage axis extending from the material injection end and material ejection end in the first material injection passage in the first material injector.   
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the enlarged volume injection section includes a converging central passage section, and the reduced volume mid-section and the enlarged volume ejection section include a diverging central passage section. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the converging central passage section, the reduced volume mid-section, and the diverging central passage section cooperatively provide a radially inwardly curved passage side wall intermediate the material injection end and material ejection end of the first material injection passage. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein (a) the reactor body passage has a central rector body axis extending from the injection end to the ejection end of the reactor body passage and (b) the central reactor body axis is coaxial with a first material injection passage axis. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the enlarged volume injection section, reduced volume mid-section, and enlarged volume ejection section in the first material injection passage cooperatively provide a substantially isoentropic passage for the stream of cracking material through the first material injection passage. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the second material feed port is annular. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the reactor body passage has a varying cross-sectional area and wherein the cross-sectional area of the reactor body passage either maintains constant or increases between the injection end and the ejection end of the reactor body passage. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the radially inwardly curved side wall in the first material injection passage is adapted to provide a substantially isoentropic passage of the cracking material through the first material injector. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 precipitating solid asphaltene from a bitumen source;   preparing a mixture comprising the solid asphaltene dissolved in a light aromatic solvent, wherein the ratio of light aromatic solvent to solid asphaltene in the mixture ranges from 0.25:1 to 4:1 on a weight basis;   centrifuging the mixture; and   injecting the centrifuged mixture into a nozzle reactor.   
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 mixing a first quantity of solid hydrocarbon with a first quantity of first solvent to create a first mixture;   adding the first mixture to a second quantity of solid hydrocarbon to create a second mixture; and   injecting the second mixture into a nozzle reactor.