Major breakthrough achieved in atmospheric-pressure hydrogenation technology for lightening heavy oil

“During our research on the lightweighting of biomass, we accidentally discovered the unique mechanisms of cavitation, high shear, and liquid impact flow technologies. We further applied these technologies to the atmospheric-pressure hydrogenation process for lightweighting heavy oils, developing the satellite-type cavitation forced circulation bed (CCIB) reactor and creating a new process for lightweighting heavy oils through atmospheric-pressure hydrogenation. ”Gao Qun, the head of Jietchuang Company, said that the core equipment, the CCIB reactor, is composed of a main reactor and sub-reactors arranged in a “satellite” configuration. By utilizing chemical enhancement techniques, gaseous and liquid materials collide rapidly within the reactor; the resulting intense momentum generates high efficiency mechanical energy. Through continuous mixing, compression, collision, and shearing, the molecular bonds of the materials are broken to produce new substances. It is reported that Jietchuang Company has built a pilot plant in Dongying, Shandong, to conduct experimental research using coal tar and vacuum residue as raw materials, in order to verify this entirely new reaction mechanism.

In May this year, the Shaanxi Petrochemical Federation organized experts to conduct evaluations of this unit; the results showed that by using medium- and low-temperature coal tar produced in Fugu, Shaanxi, without any pretreatment, and without the need for a catalyst, at a reaction pressure of -0.034 to -0.017 MPa and a reaction temperature of 320 to 350°C, a yield of 75.9% of light mixed liquid could be obtained from the reaction, indicating that this unit has a significant effect in reducing the density of medium- and low-temperature coal tar. It is understood that as conventional oil resources decline, the use of heavy oil in our country will gradually increase, with 250-390 million tons of vacuum residue being produced each year. Current heavy oil hydrocracking processes and equipment all rely on foreign patented technologies; they require high temperature and pressure for reactions, and ultra-large reactors face constraints such as uneven reaction conditions, as well as high investment and operating costs. Compared with existing high-pressure hydrocracking technologies for heavy oils at 5–50 MPa, the CCIB process operates at lower reaction temperatures (370°C–420°C) and at atmospheric pressure, resulting in improved efficiency with a heavy oil conversion rate of 60%–80%. Moreover, no catalyst is required, which reduces energy consumption by at least 50%; the investment cost is only 1/3 to 1/4 of that of conventional methods, and operating costs are also reduced by at least 50%, thereby significantly lowering the barriers to adoption. It is estimated that the investment for ton of residue oil as raw material is 150–350 yuan, while the operating cost is 200–500 yuan. To date, the patent achievements submitted by Jietchuang Company, such as those related to differential hydrogenation reactors, have been **authorized in 13 cases, of which 8 are invention patents. Experts believe that the atmospheric pressure hydrogenation technology for heavy oils holds great significance in the field of upgrading petroleum-based/coal-based heavy oils; it enables the production of high-value-added oil products and chemicals. Moreover, it can be applied in industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, and agriculture, and there is a recommendation to accelerate its industrialization and widespread use.

This post was last edited by qugd on 2022-7-20 at 17:09. Perhaps my knowledge and understanding are limited, but I truly have some doubts about such results. It is true that heavy oils, including coal tar, can be cracked by raising the temperature to produce some lighter components; however, carrying out hydrogenation at lower operating pressures (at atmospheric pressure) and even without a catalyst, with no highly effective hydrogen donor solvent involved, is completely unrealistic for improving the quality of the oil. This seriously violates the Le Chatelier principle, as hydrogenation is a reaction that results in a reduction of the system’s volume; increasing the hydrogen pressure facilitates this reaction. For hydrogenation at atmospheric pressure, highly active catalysts are required (such as Raney nickel), and in the case of hydrogenating heavy residue oils, no catalyst may even be needed. I really don’t understand this – could it be that liquids like liquid ammonia-ammonium sodium or liquid ammonia-lithium aluminum hydride are being used as hydrogen supply solvents? Additionally, CNPC and Sinopec have many researchers and experts specializing in hydrogenation, yet none of them were among the judges, which surprises me greatly.

This post was last edited by qugd on 2023-7-31 at 10:34. I searched the Internet for information about Professor Li Wenhong; the key details are available at this link: Li Wenhong – Northwest University – School of Chemical Engineering (x-mol.com). Over the past 20 years, the only paper by Professor Li that relates to advanced chemical engineering or fundamental chemical processes seems to be this one: Li Wenhong, Li Yahong. Research on the application of catalysts in the degradation process of waste plastics. Indexed in EI, Petroleum Processing Technology, 2000, 29(5): 344-347. I have no doubts regarding Professor Li’s expertise and knowledge in his field of research; however, I have serious doubts about the members of the evaluation panel mentioned by the original poster (the original poster merely shared this information, which is not related to them). Those who have studied chemistry or worked with hydrogenation processes know that hydrogenation reactions require the use of hydrogen. Converting hydrogen molecules into hydrogen atoms that can be used to hydrogenate other unsaturated hydrocarbons and derivatives demands a high activation energy in order to enable such conversion and achieve hydrogenation. The activation energy for hydrogen is high (the auto-ignition point of hydrogen serves as evidence of this). Hydrogenation catalysts are precisely the best means of reducing the activation energy required for hydrogen molecules to be converted into hydrogen atoms. This is a theory that has been studied and proven by many pioneers in chemical thermodynamics and kinetics who have investigated the mechanisms of hydrogenation, and it has also been verified through experimental evidence and industrial applications. And this achievement either hides some key technical details related to hydrogenation, presenting the absence of a hydrogenation catalyst as a selling point, while in reality catalyst-like materials are used in the process. Either it is a trick used by some people to achieve certain goals (such as individuals or research teams gathering materials to submit for promotions, or investors using such tactics in their fundraising and project development efforts), and it doesn’t matter whether this technology can actually be put into industrial use in the future.