System and process for handling heavy oil residue

Abstract

The processes and systems herein described enable the use of CO 2 to handle heavy oil fractions. A significant reduction in the requisite energy to maintain such a fuel in fluid form is attained. The energy reduction from herein described residue handling systems facilitate increased combustion plant efficiency and reduced CO 2 emissions. The residue handling system is useful in refineries, power generation plants and other processes utilizing heavy oil residues as a feed.

1 . A method of improving efficiency of a combustion system utilizing a high viscosity heavy oil residue fuel which cannot be atomized at ambient conditions, the method comprising:
 a. providing a source of CO 2  or a CO 2 -rich gaseous mixture is in gaseous phase at ambient conditions;   b. bringing the CO 2  or CO 2 -rich mixture into intimate contact with the heavy oil residue under predetermined conditions of temperature and pressure;   c. maintaining the contact of the CO 2  or CO 2 -rich mixture with the heavy oil residue until a predetermined concentration of dissolved CO 2  is attained and the viscosity of the heavy oil residue is reduced; and   d. pumping and atomizing the reduced-viscosity heavy oil residue for combustion in a combustion chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising introducing the reduced-viscosity heavy oil residue with dissolved CO 2  into a pressurized heated storage vessel under predetermined conditions of temperature and pressure to maintain the viscosity of the heavy oil residue within a prescribed viscosity range, and passing the reduced-viscosity heavy oil residue from the storage vessel and atomizing it for combustion in a combustion chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the CO 2  or CO 2 -rich mixture and heavy oil residue are contacted in an agitated mixing vessel under an atmosphere of pressurized gaseous CO 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the CO 2  or CO 2 -rich mixture is introduced into a moving stream of the heavy oil residue and passed through a static or dynamic in-line mixing device to dissolve the CO 2  in the heavy oil residue. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the atomization of the reduced-viscosity heavy oil residue in step (d) is accomplished by an atomizing media including steam or CO 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the atomization of the reduced-viscosity heavy oil residue in step (d) is accomplished by one or more mechanical atomization injectors. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the source of CO 2  or a CO 2 -rich gaseous mixture is provided from an integrated CO 2  capture and processing unit. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the source of CO 2  or a CO 2 -rich gaseous mixture is provided from at least a two-stage CO 2  capture and processing unit, each stage delivering CO 2  or a CO 2 -rich gaseous mixture at different pressures.