US 11,697,774 B2
Systems and methods for separating hydrocarbons with substantially reduced emissions
George E. Snider, Hardeeville, SC (US); and Darin Diorio, Wytheville, VA (US)
Assigned to DESIGNER FUELS LLC, Bakersfield, CA (US)
Filed by Designer Fuels LLC, Bakersfield, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/157,521.
Prior Publication US 2022/0235277 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. C10G 7/00 (2006.01); C10G 7/12 (2006.01); B01D 5/00 (2006.01); B01D 3/14 (2006.01); B05B 1/30 (2006.01)
CPC C10G 7/12 (2013.01) [B01D 3/143 (2013.01); B01D 5/006 (2013.01); B01D 5/0036 (2013.01); B01D 5/0093 (2013.01); B05B 1/30 (2013.01); C10G 2300/202 (2013.01); C10G 2300/308 (2013.01); C10G 2300/405 (2013.01); C10G 2300/4006 (2013.01); C10G 2300/4012 (2013.01); C10G 2300/4018 (2013.01); C10G 2300/4062 (2013.01); C10G 2300/4068 (2013.01); C10G 2300/4081 (2013.01); C10G 2400/04 (2013.01); C10G 2400/06 (2013.01); C10G 2400/16 (2013.01)] 38 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A crude oil refining system for separating hydrocarbons within a crude oil feedstock with reduced emissions comprising one or more production units, each production unit having:
a reactor for separating the feedstock into heavy and light fractions, the reactor having a reactor body including:
a first atomizing system for introducing and atomizing feedstock in the reactor body under conditions to effect rapid surface-area generation of the feedstock and separation of the feedstock into heavy and light fractions;
a heavy fraction removal system adjacent a bottom of the reactor body;
a light fraction removal system adjacent a top of the reactor body;
a condenser connected to the at least one reactor to receive the light fraction, the condenser having:
a condenser body;
a sectioned cooling system configured to the condenser body to condense the light fraction into one or more light hydrocarbon products;
a light hydrocarbon collection system for selectively removing the one or more light hydrocarbon products;
a light fraction return system configured between the condenser and reactor to return un-condensed light fraction gases to the reactor;
a heavy-fraction collection and recirculation system (HFCRS) connected to the heavy fraction removal system, the HFCRS having:
a heavy fraction product system for selectively removing a heavy fraction product from the HFCRS; and
a heavy fraction recirculation system for selectively recirculating and atomizing a portion of the heavy fraction to the reactor through a second atomizing system independent of the first atomizing system, and wherein the second atomizing system introduces the portion of the heavy fraction into the reactor independent of the introduction of feedstock into the reactor; and
where the reactor and the condenser are connected in a first loop, and the reactor and the HFCRS are connected in a separate second loop.