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Recent Events:
1/2 DTPD Reactor Run Successful, Reactor sucessfully produced bio-oil during a batch of initial runs. Click here for more info.
1/2 DTPD Startup Test Seccessful, Reactor sucessfully tested under startup conditions. Click here for more info.
1/2 DTPD Reactor nearing completion, ABRI's 2nd generation pyrolysis plant almost ready to run. Click here for more info.
Catalytic Upgrading of Heavy Oils and Vacuum Residuals
Heavy Oils including waste petroleum oil can be catalytic cracked using a modified pyrolysis process and additional catalyst to promote the reaction. The result is lighter more valuable liquid products as well as high energy value gas which could be used to supply the required heat for the reaction.
The resulting product was fractionated using distillation to separate the individual components, the results show a range of liquids having properties similar to gasoline and diesel. The residuals from the distillation formed a solid mass consisting primarily of carbon on the walls of the reaction vessel.
Vacuum Residuals are a by-product of the heavy oil refining industry and are the residue found in the bottom of distillation towers. Because of there long chain structure they won't flow unless heated to above 80-100 C. We used a custom designed injection system to heat and inject these residuals into our reactor at high temperatures and then quench and recover the products. A significant amount of liquid petroleum was produced as well as flammable gases.
This analysis shows that it is possible to recover considerable amounts of liquid product from the pyrolysis and catalytic cracking of heavy oils at reasonably low temperatures, thus reducing the energy input required and therefore the cost. Further analysis is required to fully understand this process however it is feasible and utilize an energy source which would otherwise be expensive to treat and dispose of.
Copyright Advanced Biorefinery Inc. 2008