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Supercritical fluid extraction is a promising technology for treating heavy feed. The present work proposes an alternative route and uses the processes simulator UNISIN/HONEYWELL to evaluate the supercritical extracting process of the atmospheric distillation residue using carbon dioxide as a solvent. The extraction efficiency is a function of pressure, temperature, oil composition, the ratio between solvent and oil rates and can be improved by cossolvent action. This work presents the results of computer simulation studies in the investigation of the capabilities of supercritical carbon dioxide in the extraction of a light fraction from the atmospheric residua (RAT) for the following range of process variables: 50 - 250 bar (operational pressure), 50 – 150oC (solvent inlet temperature), a solvent to oil ratio varying from 5:1 to 15:1 and 0-5 mol% of propane as cossolvent. The experimental distillation curve of the feed was used to generate a mixture of pseudo-components representing the RAT. It was observed that the extraction efficiency increases with the solvent to oil ratio and the pressure, whereas it decreases with the increasing of temperature. The RAT vacuum simulation was simulated and the results of both cases were compared. |
