US 11,702,601 B2
Systems and methods for separating water and removing solids from pre-treated and unfiltered feedstock
Gregory A. Cantley, Findlay, OH (US); and Paul J. Dofton, Findlay, OH (US)
Assigned to MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP, Findlay, OH (US)
Filed by MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP, Findlay, OH (US)
Filed on Oct. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/452,455.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/198,960, filed on Nov. 25, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/198,937, filed on Nov. 24, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/198,606, filed on Oct. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0135449 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. C10G 31/08 (2006.01); B01D 17/02 (2006.01); C02F 1/04 (2023.01); C02F 1/48 (2023.01); C02F 9/00 (2023.01); C10G 31/06 (2006.01); B01D 17/06 (2006.01); C02F 1/02 (2023.01); C02F 1/44 (2023.01); C02F 1/74 (2023.01); C02F 1/00 (2023.01); C02F 101/10 (2006.01); C02F 101/20 (2006.01); C02F 103/32 (2006.01); C02F 103/36 (2006.01); C10G 9/06 (2006.01)
CPC C10G 31/08 (2013.01) [B01D 17/02 (2013.01); C02F 1/04 (2013.01); C02F 1/48 (2013.01); C02F 9/00 (2013.01); C10G 31/06 (2013.01); B01D 17/06 (2013.01); C02F 1/02 (2013.01); C02F 1/441 (2013.01); C02F 1/74 (2013.01); C02F 2001/007 (2013.01); C02F 2101/105 (2013.01); C02F 2101/20 (2013.01); C02F 2103/322 (2013.01); C02F 2103/365 (2013.01); C02F 2209/001 (2013.01); C02F 2209/02 (2013.01); C02F 2209/44 (2013.01); C10G 9/06 (2013.01); C10G 2300/205 (2013.01); C10G 2300/4006 (2013.01); C10G 2300/4012 (2013.01)] 29 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refinery process for separating water and solids from a pre-treated and unfiltered renewable feedstock at a refinery, the process comprising:
passing a blend of water, a renewable feedstock, and solids to a hydrothermal reactor of a refinery;
washing contaminants, via the hydrothermal reactor, contained in the renewable feedstock into the water during a first time interval, thereby to produce a hydrothermal reactor effluent, the hydrothermal reactor effluent comprising the water, the renewable feedstock, and the solids;
in response to a determination that the amount of water in the hydrothermal reactor effluent is less than a selected amount, injecting an additional amount of water into the hydrothermal reactor effluent, the additional amount of water based on the amount of the hydrothermal reactor effluent and an amount of water contained in the blend prior to the blend being passed to the hydrothermal reactor;
after the first time interval, passing the hydrothermal reactor effluent to an electrostatic precipitation unit of the refinery;
separating, by the electrostatic precipitation unit, the water containing the contaminants from the renewable feedstock in the hydrothermal reactor effluent, thereby to produce contaminant-rich water and a reduced-contaminant renewable feedstock during a second time interval;
settling, in the electrostatic precipitation unit, the solids included in the renewable feedstock during the second time interval, thereby to produce a reduced-contaminant and reduced-solids renewable feedstock; and
after the second time interval, passing the reduced-contaminant and reduced-solids renewable feedstock to a fractionation column of the refinery.