Method and device for separating asphaltenes from an asphaltene-containing fuel

Abstract

A method for separating asphaltenes from an asphaltene-containing fuel, wherein fuel is supplied to a separation unit in which a sub-stream with low-boiling fuel components of the fuel is separated. After separation of the sub-stream the fuel is supplied to a deasphalting unit in which asphaltenes contained in the fuel are separated by a solvent. After the separation of the asphaltenes from the fuel, the solvent is separated therefrom in a solvent recovery unit. The separated solvent is circulated back into the deasphalting unit, and a solvent fraction is obtained from the sub-stream that has been separated from the fuel, which is supplied to the deasphalting unit in addition to the solvent recirculated from the solvent recovery unit. A device is adapted for separating asphaltenes from an asphaltene-containing fuel.

1 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method for separating asphaltenes from an asphaltene-containing fuel, the method comprising:
 supplying the fuel to a separation unit, in which a substream comprising low-boiling fuel components is separated from the fuel,   supplying the fuel, after separation of the substream, to a deasphalting unit, in which asphaltenes contained in the fuel are separated by a solvent, wherein the solvent, after separation of the asphaltenes from the fuel in a solvent recovery unit, is separated therefrom,   recircuating the separated solvent to the deasphalting unit,   obtaining a solvent fraction from the substream separated from the fuel, which, in addition to the solvent recirculated from the solvent recovery unit, is supplied to the deasphalting unit,   supplying the substream depleted in the separating unit comprising low-boiling fuel components to a high-performance turbine,   supplying the deasphalted fuel purified by the deasphalting unit to a standard turbine, and   when the turbine-specific heavy metal tolerance limit of the vanadium component in the deasphalted fuel in the standard turbine is exceeded, adding low-boiling fuel components to the deasphalted fuel via a coupling line.   
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 ,
 wherein the substream comprising low-boiling fuel components is separated by distillation from the fuel.   
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 ,
 wherein the solvent fraction is separated by distillation from the substream, with the substream being depleted in this process.   
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 ,
 wherein an economically valuable boiling fraction is separated from the fuel.   
     
     
         26 . A device for separating asphaltenes from an asphaltene-containing fuel, comprising:
 a deasphalting unit for separation of the asphaltenes contained in the fuel by a solvent,   a solvent recovery unit for separation of the solvent from the fuel,   wherein the solvent recovery unit is fluidically connected to the deasphalting unit for recirculation of the separated solvent, and   a separation unit is fluidically connected to the deasphalting unit for separation of a substream comprising low-boiling fuel components from the fuel,   wherein the separation unit and the deasphalting unit are fluidically connected to each other such that a solvent fraction obtainable from the substream separated from the fuel is supplied in addition to the solvent recirculated from the solvent recovery unit to the deasphalting unit,   wherein the separating unit is fluidically connected to a high-performance turbine,   wherein the solvent recovery unit is fluidically connected to a standard turbine, and   a coupling line, wherein when the turbine-specific heavy metal tolerance limit of the vanadium component in the deasphalted fuel for the standard turbine is exceeded, low-boiling fuel components are added to the deasphalted fuel via the coupling line.   
     
     
         27 . The device as claimed in  claim 26 ,
 wherein the separation unit is fluidically connected upstream of the deasphalting unit.   
     
     
         28 . The device as claimed in  claim 26 ,
 wherein a distillation unit is used as a separation unit.   
     
     
         29 . The device as claimed in  claim 26 ,
 wherein an extraction line for extraction of the substream is connected to the separation unit.   
     
     
         30 . The device as claimed in  claim 29 ,
 wherein a branch line for extraction of the solvent fraction is connected to the extraction line.   
     
     
         31 . The device as claimed in  claim 30 ,
 wherein the branch line is fluidically connected to a discharge line of the solvent recovery unit.   
     
     
         32 . The device as claimed in  claim 26 ,
 wherein an extraction line for the extraction of an economically valuable boiling fraction from the fuel is connected to the separation unit.