초록 ▼

A process is disclosed of separating fine solids from oil in which the solids are dispersed which comprising contacting said oil with a combination of a compressed above-critical gas and an entraining agent at such temperature and such pressure that the system consisting of the oil, entraining agent

A process is disclosed of separating fine solids from oil in which the solids are dispersed which comprising contacting said oil with a combination of a compressed above-critical gas and an entraining agent at such temperature and such pressure that the system consisting of the oil, entraining agent and above-critical gas constitutes a single phase, withdrawing and separating the so-withdrawn phase into a liquid phase rich in oil and a gas phase lean in oil, the single-phase mixture of oil, entraining agent and above-critical gas from the solids.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In a process of separating fine solids from oil in which the solids are dispersed, wherein said oil is mixed in a mixing zone with a solvent, transferring the resultant mixture in a separation zone, settling the fine solids below a remaining fluid phase, withdrawing the settled fine solids from s

1. In a process of separating fine solids from oil in which the solids are dispersed, wherein said oil is mixed in a mixing zone with a solvent, transferring the resultant mixture in a separation zone, settling the fine solids below a remaining fluid phase, withdrawing the settled fine solids from said separation zone and feeding the fluid phase into a regeneration zone, in said regeneration zone subjecting said fluid phase to an increase in temperature and/or a reduction of pressure to separate out a first phase rich in oil and a second phase, withdrawing the first phase and recycling the second phase to said mixing zone, the improvement wherein the solvent comprises a first agent and a second agent, the first agent is at least one entraining agent selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, methanol, ethanol, an aliphatic ketone, a mixture of hydrocarbons having a boiling range of 20° to 100° C., a mixture of hydrocarbons having a boiling range of 100° to 150° C. and a mixture of hydrocarbons having a boiling range of 150° to 200° C., the second agent is at least one gas selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, ammonia, methane, ethane, ethylene, propane and butane, the gas being compressed and in super-critical condition wherein the gas is at a temperature above the critical temperature and at a pressure above critical pressure, said mixture of oil, super-critical gas and entraining agent containing 10 to 40 percent by weight of said first agent and 20 to 55 percent by weight of said second agent, maintaining the mixture of oil, super-critical gas and entraining agent at a temperature and a pressure above the critical state where said mixture of oil, super-critical gas and entraining agent constitutes a single fluid phase in the separation zone, segregating in the regenerating zone the fluid phase into a liquid phase and a gas phase containing at least one of the agents and subjecting the recycled gas and the entraining agent to conditions of pressure and temperature in order to reconstitute the super-critical condition. 2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the mixture of oil, super-critical gas and entraining agent contains 10 to 15 percent by weight of the entraining agent. 3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the mixture of oil, super-critical gas and entraining agent contains 20 to 30 percent by weight of the super-critical gas. 4. A process according to claim 1, wherein the oil is shale oil and the entraining agent is toluene. 5. A process according to claim 1, wherein the temperature in the separating zone is 120° C. to 180° C. 6. A process according to claim 1, wherein the pressure in the separating zone is 80 bar to 130 bar. 7. A process according to claim 5 wherein the temperature in the regeneration zone is 200°-250° C. 8. A process according to claim 1, wherein the single-phase mixture comprising oil, entraining agent and super-critical gas is formed at a temperature between the critical temperature of the gas component and twice said critical temperature. 9. A process according to claim 8, wherein said single-phase mixture is formed at a temperature between the critical temperature of the gas component and one and a half times said critical temperature. 10. A process according to claim 8, wherein said single-phase mixture is formed at a temperature between the critical temperature of the gas and a temperature 100° C. higher than said critical temperature. 11. A process according to claim 1, wherein the single-phase mixture consisting of oil, entraining agent and super-critical gas is formed under a pressure in the range from the critical pressure of the gas to ten times said critical pressure. 12. A process according to claim 11, wherein said single phase mixture is formed under a pressure in the range from the critical pressure of the gas to three times said critical pressure. 13. A process according to claim 1, wherein said second agent is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, ammonia, methane, ethane, propane and butane. 14. A process according to claim 13, wherein said second agent is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, ammonia, methane, and ethane. 15. A process according to claim 14, wherein said second agent is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and ammonia. 16. A process according to claim 1, wherein said first agent is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol and an aliphatic ketone.