WO2020077460A1

WO2020077460A1 - Method and system for fractionating hydrocarbon liquids

Info

Publication number: WO2020077460A1
Application number: PCT/CA2019/051475
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jorge Vicente BARROS JACOME; Hafez BALAVI
Original assignee: Barros Jacome Jorge Vicente; Balavi Hafez
Priority date: 2018-10-19
Filing date: 2019-10-18
Publication date: 2020-04-23
Also published as: CA3157552A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the technology of industrial processing of primarily hydrocarbon liquids and is particularly concerned with a method and a device for resonant activation to fractionate hydrocarbon liquids and subsequent temperature activation to improve the density and light ends yields of the liquids to improve the quality of the hydrocarbons liquids and to reduce pipeline transport costs.

Description

TITLE: METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FRACTIONATING HYDROCARBON

LIQUIDS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:

[0001] This application claims priority of United States provisional patent application serial no. 62/748,307 filed October 19, 2018, which is incorporated by reference into this application in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD:

[0002] The present disclosure is related to the technology of industrial processing of primarily hydrocarbon liquids and, in particular, with a method and a system for resonant excitation of hydrocarbons combined with temperature activation subsequent to resonant excitation through a proper heating process/unit to provide the adequate energy to complete the fractionation of the hydrocarbon liquids. The resonance activation can excite the electrons in the molecules, wherein substantially less energy will be required to overcome thermodynamic energy barriers in the cracking process.

BACKGROUND:

[0003] This disclosure relates to the technology of processing of liquids, having in their composition bonded hydrogen, and is directly concerned with a method and a device for resonant excitation of liquids and a method and a plant for fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids. The practical field of the industrial application of the systems and methods described herein covers the oil refining, chemical and other branches of industry, associated with technological processing of liquids, having in their composition bonded hydrogen, primarily of hydrocarbon liquids, such as gas distillate, crude oil, intermediate products and products of oil refining, etc. [0004] From the state of the art the methods of acoustic excitation of liquids are generally known for solving of various technological problems. These methods comprise the transfer of oscillatory energy to the liquid with the help of a source of mechanical oscillations placed into the liquid, in whose capacity can be used widely known in the technology mechanical, electromechanical, magnetostrictive, piezoelectric, hydrodynamic and other acoustic emitters. In particular, from the International Application PCT/RU92/00195, which is incorporated by reference into this application in its entirety, the rotary-type hydrodynamic acoustic emitter (ultrasonic activator) is known, which can be used in the process of preliminary treatment of liquids for destructive transformation of their chemical bonds at the molecular level.

[0005] These known methods and means of acoustic excitation of liquids, as applied to destructive transformation of their chemical bonds, possess a common disadvantage, consisting in that they do not provide criteria for the selection of definite resonant frequencies, which fact can sharply reduce the efficiency of the preliminary acoustic treatment of liquids.

[0006] From the International Application PCT/RU92/00195, which is incorporated by reference into this application in its entirety, the method and device are also known for preliminary treatment and fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids with the help of the rotary- type hydrodynamic acoustic emitter. The method of the preliminary treatment of liquids comprises consecutive supply of liquid into the cavities of several blade-type working wheels, discharge of liquid from the cavity of each working wheel into the cavity of the stator through the outlet openings of the working wheels and straight-through openings of the stator. In this case the peripheral surface of the working wheels has the minimum clearance with respect to the stator. The flows of liquid running out of the outlet openings of the working wheels undergo sharp periodical interruptions, which induce mechanical oscillations of audio frequency in the liquid. The device for preliminary treatment of liquids comprises the rotor, including the shaft resting on bearings and several blade-type working wheels installed on the shaft. Each of them is made as a disc with the peripheral annular wall, in which a series of outlet openings evenly spaced along the circumference, is made for liquid. The device comprises the stator, having intake and discharge openings for liquid and coaxial walls, bearing against the annular peripheral wall of each working wheel with the minimum technically attained clearance, at that a series of straight-through openings for liquid being made in each of the coaxial walls. The device for fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids is ganged up with the device for preliminary treatment of liquids and comprises the chamber conjugated with the last working wheel for separation of the treated liquid into the liquid and vaporous phases, and the chamber for condensation of the vaporous phase, communicating with the former chamber.

[0007] The described method and device for preliminary treatment of hydrocarbon liquids do not allow, however, the potentialities of such treatment to be realized to the maximum extent for more efficient fractionation of the treated liquid, since here the selection of the optimum relationship between decisive working parameters, such as the radius of the peripheral surface of the working wheel and the rotation frequency thereof is left without attention.

[0008] From the International Application PCT/RU95/00071 , which is incorporated by reference into this application in its entirety, there are also known the method and device for conditioning of hydrocarbon liquids with the help of the rotary-type hydro-dynamic source of mechanical oscillations. The method includes the supply of liquid into the cavity of the working wheel rotating inside the stator, the discharge of liquid from the cavity of the working wheel through a series of outlet openings, evenly spaced along the circumference, into the annular chamber, limited by the peripheral surface of the working wheel and the inner coaxial surface of the stator, and the discharge of liquid from the annular chamber. The discharge of liquid from the annular chamber is effected preferably into the collecting chamber of the stator through a series of straight-through openings, evenly spaced along the inner coaxial surface of the stator, the openings being consecutively arranged opposite to the outlet openings of the working wheel during rotation thereof. In this case the nominal value of the radius R of the peripheral surface of the working wheel and the nominal rotation frequency n thereof are preset depending on the selected quantity K of the outlet openings thereof according to the following empirical relationships:

[0009] R = 1.1614 K [mm],

[0010] n = 3.8396 K-32.10 6 [r.p.m.].

[0011] The device comprises the rotor, including the shaft resting on bearings and at least one working wheel installed on the shaft. The working wheel is made as a disc with the peripheral annular wall, in which a series of outlet openings, evenly spaced along the circumference, is made for liquid. The stator has the wall coaxial to the working wheel, the intake opening for the supply of liquid, communicating with the working wheel cavity, and the discharge opening for liquid outflow. The annular chamber is provided, formed by the stator coaxial wall and peripheral annular wall of the working wheel, communicating with the stator discharge opening. The stator has preferably the collecting chamber, communicating on one side with the discharge opening thereof, and on the other side with the annular chamber through a series of straight-through openings, evenly spaced along the circumference, made in the stator coaxial wall. A means is provided for driving the rotor with the preset rotation frequency.

[0012] In the described method and device for conditioning of hydrocarbon liquids a resultant attempt was undertaken for the selection of the optimum relationship between the decisive working parameters, such as the radius of the peripheral surface of the working wheel and the rotation frequency thereof. However, the potentialities of such preliminary treatment of hydrocarbon liquids for their most efficient successive fractionation remain still unexhausted.

[0013] From the state of the art there is also commonly known the method of fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids by way of distillation, including preliminary treatment of the liquid being fractionated according to, for example, the method of the above-mentioned International Application PCT/RU95/00071 , the supply of preliminarily treated liquid into the fractionating tower and the discharge of distilled and residual fractions.

[0014] From the state of the art are also generally known the plants for fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids by way of distillation, comprising the feeding pump and at least one fractionating tower interconnected by pipelines. It is also known, for example, from the above-mentioned International Application PCT/RU95/00071 , that the pre-installed hydrodynamic device intended for preliminary treatment of the liquid being fractionated is used in such plants.

[0015] Such methods and plants for fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids with the use of the pre-installed rotary hydrodynamic device for their preliminary treatment make it possible to increase the yield of the most valuable light fractions. However, in practice the potentialities of such technology fail to be realized to the maximum extent. Two reasons seem to be responsible for this: 1 ) inadequate efficiency of the inherent rotary hydrodynamic device for preliminary treatment of liquid, and 2) insufficiently rational building-in of this device into traditional schemes of plants for fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids.

[0016] From Canadian Patent no. 2400188 and International Application no. PCT/RU2000/000097, both of which are incorporated by reference into this application in its entirety, an industrial processing of primarily hydrocarbon liquids is disclosed and is particularly concerned with a method and a device for their resonant excitation, as well as with a method and a plant for their fractionation.

[0017] PCT/RU2000/000097 discloses a method of resonant excitation of liquid includes the transfer of the energy of mechanical oscillations thereto with the help of a source placed into the liquid and operating on one of the basic frequencies, abiding by the common relationship:

[0018] F = FiN ^1/2, where N>1 - the selected integer and

[0019] Fi = 63.992420 [kHz] - the basic oscillation frequency at N = 1.

[0020] With the use of a rotary hydrodynamic source of oscillations resonant excitation of liquid is effected, abiding by the relationship:

[0021] nR = 1.16141 F, where

[0022] n[1/s] - the rotation frequency of the working wheel,

[0023] R[m] - the radius of the peripheral surface of the working wheel. [0024] PCT/RU2000/000097 discloses a device for resonant excitation of liquid comprises a rotor with the working wheel, made as a disc and an annular wall with a series of outlet openings, and a stator with the intake opening, communicating with the cavity of the working wheel and a coaxial wall forming with the working wheel an annular chamber, communicating with the discharge opening. At that R = 2.8477729 n^_2/3 .10⁴ [mm], while the value of the internal radius of the coaxial wall constitutes

[0025] Ri = R + BS(2TT) ¹ [mm], where

[0026] B>1 - the selected integer,

[0027] S = 7.2973531 [mm] - the pitch of outlet openings of the working wheel.

[0028] PCT/RU2000/000097 discloses a method of fractionation of liquid includes preliminary treatment thereof with the help of the above-described pre-installed device for resonant excitation, the supply of the preliminarily treated liquid into a fractionating tower and the discharge of distilled fractions and residual fraction. The preliminary treatment is applied preferably to a partial flow of liquid diverted from the main flow.

[0029] PCT/RU2000/000097 discloses a plant for fractionation of liquid comprises a feeding pump, at least one fractionating tower and the above-described pre-installed device for resonant excitation, sequentially installed between the feeding pump outlet and the fractionating pump inlet. Shut-off-control elements are provided for diverting of the partial flow of liquid and combining thereof with the general flow following the preliminary treatment.

[0030] From observation of the device of PCT/RU2000/000097, it is noted that the mechanical resonance can improve the viscosity of crude oil by making the bonds between the Carbon (“C”) and Hydrogen (“H”) atoms unstable but without further energy being imparted on the C-H bonds to complete the breaking of the bonds, the improvement on the viscosity can diminish.

[0031] It is, therefore, desirable to provide a system and method that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.

SUMMARY:

[0032] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide such a method and a device for resonant excitation of liquids, having in their composition chemically bonded hydrogen, primarily of hydrogen liquids, as well as such a method and a plant for their fractionation, which make it possible to increase the efficiency of preliminary treatment of liquid to the maximum, thus respectively to influence positively the efficiency of subsequent fractionation in respect of the maximum increase of the yield of the most valuable light fractions.

[0033] The stated problem is solved by that in the proposed method of resonant excitation of liquids, having in their composition bonded hydrogen, which as the known methods is effected by means of oscillatory influence on liquid for destructive transformation of the chemical bonds thereof at the molecular level and includes the transfer of oscillatory energy to liquid with the help of a source of mechanical oscillations placed into the liquid, according to the principal embodiment of the method, resonant excitation of liquid is executed on one of the basic frequencies obeying the common relationship

[0034] F = FiN ^1/2, where (1 )

[0035] N > 1 - the selected integer,

[0036] Fi = 63.992420 [khlz] - the basic oscillation frequency at N = 1. [0037] In the described method of resonant excitation, as applied to hydrocarbon liquids, executed along with the known methods, with the help of the rotary hydrodynamic source of mechanical oscillations and including the supply of the liquid being treated into the cavity of the working wheel, rotating inside the stator, the discharge of liquid from the cavity of the working wheel through a series of outlet openings, evenly spaced along the peripheral surface thereof, into the annular chamber, limited by the peripheral surface of the working wheel and inner coaxial surface of the stator, and the outflow of liquid from the annular chamber, according to a particular case of embodiment of the method, resonant excitation of liquid is effected abiding by relationship

[0038] nR = 1.16141 F, where (2)

[0039] n[1/s] - the rotation frequency of the working wheel,

[0040] R [m] - the radius of the peripheral surface of the working wheel.

[0041] At such relationship of said parameters there is achieved, as has been confirmed experimentally, the efficient resonant treatment of hydrocarbon liquids effecting such destructive transformation of the chemical bonds of liquid at the molecular level and respectively such influence on its physical-chemical properties, which during subsequent fractionation predetermines a substantial increase of the yield of highly valuable light fractions. This effect can be explained by the influence of oscillatory excitation of liquid in the resonant duty daring simultaneous circular movement thereof at the definite velocity along the corresponding definite radius.

[0042] At the definite value of the radius R of the working wheel and actual rotation frequency thereof PN = 3.8395452 (N ± 7) ^3/2-10⁶ (approximately ± 10% for N = 100...200) there is further sufficient increase of the efficiency of resonant treatment of liquid, as compared with the level, characteristic of the above-described analogs. However, in some embodiments of the method, the calculated rotation frequency of the working wheel can be maintained with a deviation of ± 1 %, thus achieving the most efficient resonant treatment of liquid.

[0043] The posed problem is simultaneously solved with the help of a proposed device for resonant treatment of hydrocarbon liquids, which makes it possible to realize the above-described method of resonant treatment of hydrocarbon liquids in the scope of the unified inventive concept. This device, as the known ones, comprises a rotor including a shaft resting on bearings and at least one working wheel installed on the shaft, wherein the working wheel is made as a disc with a peripheral annular wall, wherein a series of outlet openings, evenly spaced along the circumference, is made for liquid, a stator having a wall coaxial to the working wheel, an intake opening for the supply of liquid, communicating with the working wheel cavity, and a discharge opening for liquid outflow, an annular chamber formed by the coaxial wall of the stator and peripheral annular wall of the working wheel and communicated with the stator discharge opening, and a means for driving the rotor at the preset rotation frequency.

[0044] According to some embodiments of the device, the value of the external radius of the peripheral annular wall of the working wheel constitutes

[0045] R = 2.8477729 n ²⁷³· 10⁴ [mm], where (3)

[0046] n = 14.651908 F³ [r.p.m.] - the rotation frequency of the working wheel,

[0047] F = 63.992420 N^_1/2 [kHz] - the basic frequency of resonant excitation,

[0048] N > 1 - the selected integer, while the value of the internal radius of the stator coaxial wall constitutes [0049] RI=R+BS(2TT)-¹ [mm], where (4)

[0050] B > 1 - the selected integer,

[0051] S = 7.2973531 [mm] - the pitch of outlet openings of the working wheel

[0052] along the circumference of the radius R.

[0053] In some embodiments of the device, it can be advantageous to select the radial extent of the working wheel outlet openings multiple or more preferably equal to value S(2TT) ¹.

[0054] In some embodiments of the device, the means for driving the rotor can comprise a system for controlling the rotation frequency thereof with a deviation of ±1 % from its calculated value.

[0055] The posed problem is simultaneously solved with the help of a proposed method of fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids, which makes it possible to realize the above- described method of resonant treatment of hydrocarbon liquids in the scope of the unified inventive concept. This method, as the known ones, is executed by way of distillation and includes preliminary treatment of liquid with the help of a pre-installed rotary hydrodynamic source of mechanical oscillations, the supply of preliminary treated liquid into the fractionating tower and the discharge of distilled fractions and residual fraction. According to some embodiments of the method of fractionation, liquid can be preliminarily treated by resonant excitation thereof in compliance with the above-described proposed method of resonant excitation of hydrocarbon liquids. In some embodiments, the liquid can then be heated.

[0056] In some embodiments of the method of fractionation, from the general flow of liquid to be fractionated a partial flow can be diverted and subjected to said preliminary treatment and then heated, whereupon both flows are combined before feeding into the rectification tower. In some embodiments, the partial flow can amount to 5 to 80%. In other embodiments, the partial flow can amount to 20 to 50% from the full flow.

[0057] It has been experimentally established that preliminary treatment by the proposed method of less than 5% from the full liquid flow fails as yet to achieve appreciable efficiency of resonant excitation, while preliminary treatment of more than 80% from the full liquid flow does not any longer give a substantial increase of the efficiency of such treatment.

[0058] In some embodiments of the method of fractionation, comprising, along with the known methods, a partial return into the fractionating tower of its own residual fraction, the returned residual fraction can be subjected to preliminary treatment by way of resonant excitation, thus achieving the most efficient fractionation.

[0059] The stated problem is simultaneously solved with the aid of a proposed plant for fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids, which makes it possible to realize the above- described method of fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids in the scope of the unified inventive concept. This plant, as the known ones, comprises a feeding pump, at least one fractionating tower and a pre-installed rotary hydrodynamic device for preliminary treatment of liquid, all interconnected by pipelines. According to the principal embodiment of the plant, the device for preliminary treatment of liquid is made as the above-described proposed device for resonant excitation of hydrocarbon liquids and is sequentially installed between the feeding pump outlet and the fractionating tower inlet.

[0060] in some embodiments, the inlet of the device for resonant excitation of liquid can be connected to the inlet of the fractionating tower through a shut-off-control element. In some embodiments, the outlet of the device for resonant excitation of liquid can be sequentially connected to an inlet of a heating unit having an outlet that can, in turn, be connected to the inlet of the fractionating tower through a shut-off-control element. The possibility of resonant treatment only the controlled partial flow of the liquid is ensured in this way.

[0061] In some embodiments, in the plant for fractionation, comprising along with the known ones, a loop of partial return of its own residual fraction into the fractionating tower, including a feeding pump and a heating device, sequentially interconnected by pipelines, a second device for resonant excitation of liquid according to the embodiments described herein is sequentially installed into the loop of partial return of residual fraction.

[0062] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, a system can be provided for resonant excitation of hydrocarbon liquids with the help of a rotary hydrodynamic source of mechanical oscillations, comprising: a resonant excitation device comprising: a rotor including a shaft resting on bearings and at least one working wheel installed on the shaft wherein, the working wheel includes a disc with a peripheral annular wall having a series of outlet openings for liquid evenly spaced along the circumference, a stator, having a wall coaxial to the working wheel, an intake opening for the supply of the hydrocarbon liquids, communicating with a cavity of the working wheel, and a discharge opening for outflow of the hydrocarbon liquids, an annular chamber formed by the coaxial wall of the stator and peripheral annular wall of the working wheel and communicating with the discharge opening of the stator, and means for driving the rotor with the preset rotation frequency, such that the value of the external radius of the peripheral annular wall of the working wheel constitutes R = 2.8477729 n^_2/3.10⁴ [mm], where n = 14.651908 F³ [r.p.m.] - the rotation frequency of the working wheel, F = 63.992420 N^_1/2 [kHz] - the basic frequency of resonant excitation, N > 1 - the selected integer, while the value of the internal radius of the coaxial wall of the stator constitutes Ri =R + BS (2TT) ¹ [mm], where B > 1 - the selected integer, S = 7.2973531 [mm] - the pitch of outlet openings of the working wheel along the circumference of the radius R; a heating unit, comprising: a vessel comprising a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, the liquid inlet operatively coupled to the discharge opening, a heater disposed in the vessel, wherein the hydrocarbon liquids entering the heating unit from the resonant excitation device are heated within the vessel and extracted through the liquid outlet.

[0063] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the radial extent of the outlet openings of the working wheel can be made multiple to the value S (2 TT) ¹.

[0064] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the radial extent of the outlet openings of the working wheel can be made equal to the value S (2TT) ¹.

[0065] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the means for driving the rotor can further comprise a system for controlling the rotation frequency thereof with a deviation of ±1 % from the calculated value thereof.

[0066] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the heating unit can further comprise a mixer disposed in the vessel.

[0067] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the vessel can further comprise a water jacket disposed on an outer surface thereof, the water jacket configured to control the temperature of the hydrocarbon liquids in the vessel.

[0068] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the heating unit can be configured to heat the hydrocarbon liquids to a temperature ranging from 280°C to 360°C. [0069] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the heating unit can be configured to pressurize the hydrocarbon liquids to a pressure ranging from 15 to 20 atmospheres.

[0070] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, a method can be provided for fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids by way of distillation, the method comprising the steps of: preliminary treatment of the hydrocarbon liquids with the help of a pre-installed rotary hydrodynamic source of mechanical oscillations, heating the preliminary treated liquid, supply of the heated and preliminarily treated liquid into a fractionating tower and the outflow of distilled and residual fractions, effecting resonant excitation in the preliminary treated liquid according to the resonant excitation device of claim 4.

[0071] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, from the general flow of the hydrocarbon liquids to be fractionated a partial flow can be diverted, subjected to the preliminary treatment and the heating, following which both flows can be combined before feeding into the fractionating tower.

[0072] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the partial flow can amount to 5 to 80% from the full flow.

[0073] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the partial flow can amount to 20 to 50% from the full flow.

[0074] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the method can comprise a partial return into the fractionating tower of its own residual fraction, wherein the returned residual fraction is subjected to the preliminary treatment by way of resonant excitation.

[0075] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the hydrocarbon liquids can be heated to a temperature ranging from 280°C to 360°C. [0076] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the hydrocarbon liquids can be pressurized to a pressure ranging from 15 to 20 atmospheres.

[0077] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, a plant can be provided for fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids by way of distillation, comprising: interconnecting by pipelines a feeding pump, at least one fractionating tower, and a pre-installed rotary hydrodynamic device for the preliminary treatment of liquid, wherein the system for the preliminary treatment of liquid effects resonant excitation and heating of liquid according to the system described above and can be sequentially installed between the outlet of the feeding pump and the inlet of the fractionating tower.

[0078] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the inlet of the system for resonant excitation and heating of liquid can be connected to the inlet of the fractionating tower through a shut-off-control element.

[0079] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the liquid outlet of the system for resonant excitation and heating of liquid can be connected to the inlet of the fractionating tower through a second shut-off-control element.

[0080] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the plant can further comprise a loop of the partial return into the fractionating tower of its own residual fraction, comprising: a feeding pump and a heating device sequentially interconnected by pipelines, wherein into the loop of the partial return of the residual fraction there is sequentially installed a second device for resonant excitation of liquid.

[0081] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the heating unit of the plant can be configured to heat the hydrocarbon liquids to a temperature ranging from 280°C to 360°C. [0082] Broadly stated, in some embodiments, the heating unit of the plant can be configured to pressurize the hydrocarbon liquids to a pressure ranging from 15 to 20 atmospheres.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

[0083] Figure 1 is a side elevation view depicting one embodiment of a device for resonant excitation of hydrocarbon liquids along section lines l-l of Figure 2.

[0084] Figure 2 is an end elevation view depicting the device of Figure 1 along section lines ll-ll.

[0085] Figure 3 is a partial end elevation view depicting the device of Figure 1 along section lines Ill-Ill.

[0086] Figure 4 is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of a plant for fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids.

[0087] Figure 5 is a block diagram depicting another embodiment of the plant of Figure 4 including a heat activation unit.

[0088] Figure 6 is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of the heat activation unit of Figure 5.

[0089] Figure 7 is a perspective view depicting the heat activation unit of Figure 6.

[0090] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram depicting an embodiment of a testing facility implementing the plant of Figure 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS:

[0091] In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to“one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or“embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the present technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

[0092] A method of resonant excitation of liquids, having in their composition bonded hydrogen, is executed by way of oscillatory influence onto the liquid for destructive transformation of chemical bonds thereof at the molecular level and includes the transfer of oscillatory energy with the help of a source of mechanical oscillations placed into the liquid. According to the principal embodiment, resonant excitation of liquid is executed on one of the basic frequencies obeying a common relationship:

[0093] F = FiN ^1/2, where (1 )

[0094] N > 1 - the selected integer,

[0095] F1 = 63.992420 [khlz] - the basic oscillation frequency at N = 1.

[0096] As a source of oscillations use can be made of the well known in the technology popular mechanical, electromechanical, magnetostrictive, piezoelectric, hydrodynamic and similar emitters, the above-described known rotary hydrodynamic source of mechanical oscillations inclusive. The lower boundary of the frequency range from considerations of reasonable adequacy can amount, for example, to unities of Flertz, which corresponds to the maximum values of the integer N of the order of 10⁷ to 10⁹.

[0097] The method of resonant excitation of hydrocarbon liquids as the specific case of the above-described method of resonant excitation of liquids, having in their composition bonded hydrogen, provides for the use of a rotary hydrodynamic source of mechanical oscillations. In this case, the liquid to be treated can be supplied into a cavity 1 (Fig. 1 ) of a working wheel 2 through an intake opening 3 of a stator 4. In the process of rotation of the working wheel 2 the liquid being treated is discharged from the cavity 1 thereof into an annular chamber 5, formed by a peripheral surface 6 (Fig. 3) of the working wheel 2 and a subtending internal coaxial surface 7 of the stator 4, through a series of outlet openings 8, evenly spaced along the peripheral surface 6 of the working wheel 2. Within the annular chamber 5 the liquid being treated continues rotating relative to the central axis 9 and undergoes in this case resonant oscillations of the audio frequency, caused by the interaction of elementary flows, running from the outlet openings 8 of the working wheel 2, between each other and with the coaxial surface 7 of the stator 4. The treated liquid is discharged from the annular chamber 5 through a discharge opening 10 of the stator 4.

[0098] According to one embodiment of the method, the resonant excitation of hydrocarbon liquid is executed, abiding by the relationship

[0099] nR = 1.16141 F, where (2)

[0100] n [1/s] - the rotation frequency of the working wheel 2,

[0101] R [m] - the radius of the peripheral surface 6 of the working wheel 2.

[0102] The actual range of the reasonable values of the integer N is limited in this case by the considerations of the practical expediency and/or technical feasibility in respect of geometrical dimensions and rotation frequency of the working wheel 2, taking into account the strength characteristics thereof. [0103] In one embodiment of the method of resonant excitation of hydrocarbon liquids, the rotation frequency of the working wheel can be maintained constant with a deviation of ±1 % from the calculated value.

[0104] The device for resonant excitation of hydrocarbon liquids by the above-mentioned method (Fig. 1 - 3) comprises a rotor 1 1 with a shaft 12 resting on bearings 13 and 14 and equipped with a seal 15. On the shaft 12 there is installed at least one blade working wheel 2 rigidly connected thereto, made as a disc 16 with a peripheral annular wall 17. In the wall 17 of the working wheel 2 is made a series of outlet openings 8, evenly spaced along the circumference, for the discharge of the liquid being treated. The stator 4 has a wall 18 coaxial to the working wheel 2, an intake opening 3 for the supply of the liquid being treated, communicating with the cavity 1 of the working wheel 2, and the discharge opening 10 for liquid outflow. The annular chamber 5 for the admission of liquid is limited in the radial direction by the coaxial wall 18 of the stator 4 and the peripheral annular wall 17 of the working wheel 2. The annular wall 5 communicates with a collecting chamber 5a and the discharge opening 10 for liquid outflow. In compliance with the principal embodiment of the device the value of the external radius of the peripheral annular wall 17 of the working wheel 2 constitutes

[0105] R = 2.8477729 n ^2/3· 10⁴ [mm], where (3)

[0106] n = 14.651908 F³ [r.p.m.] - the rotation frequency of working wheel 2,

[0107] F = 63.992420 N^_1/2 [khlz] - the basic frequency of resonant excitation,

[0108] N > 1 - the selected integer.

[0109] At that the value of the internal radius of the coaxial wall 18 of the stator 4 constitutes [01 10] R1=R + BS(2TT)-¹ [mm], where (4)

[01 11] B > 1 - the selected integer,

[01 12] S = 7.2973531 [mm] - the pitch of outlet openings 8 of the working wheel 2 along the circumference of radius R.

[01 13] The upper boundary of the real range of the reasonable values of the integer B is limited by the considerations of the practical expediency and can constitute, for example, B = 20.

[01 14] In some embodiments of the device, the radial extent L of the outlet openings 8 of the working wheel 2 can be made multiple or more preferably equal to the value S(2TT) ¹.

[01 15] In some embodiments of the device, a means for driving the rotor 1 1 , an electric drive 20 advantageously connected via a coupling 19, comprises a system controlling the rotation frequency n with a deviation of ±1 % from its calculated value. As such control system (not shown in the drawings) any suitable system from the well known in the art can be used.

[01 16] The width of the outlet openings 8 of the working wheel 2 measured in the circular direction of the peripheral surface 6 thereof can constitute half of their circular pitch S. lin some embodiments, identical shape of the outlet openings 8 of the working wheel 2 can be extended in parallel to the central axis 9.

[01 17] For solving many practical problems of resonant treatment of hydrocarbon liquids, it is sufficient to use a device according to the embodiments described above having one working wheel 2. In case of a difficult to process liquid and/or stringent requirements imposed upon the results of resonant treatment, the rotor 11 can comprise two and more working wheels 2 installed on the common shaft 12 in the ordinary way, which are connected sequentially in the ordinary way in the direction of the liquid flow. In case the increased flow rate of liquid is required, the working wheels 2 installed on the common shaft 12 can be connected in parallel in the direction of the liquid flow in the ordinary way. It is also possible to effect the parallel, sequential or combined connection in the direction of the liquid flow of several autonomous devices according to the embodiments described herein, both with one and with several working wheels 2.

[01 18] The described device for resonant excitation of hydrocarbon liquids can operate as follows:

[01 19] In the device according to the embodiments described herein (Fig 1-3) the rotor 1 1 with the working wheel 2 is driven by means of the electric motor 20 through the coupling 19 with the preset rotation frequency. The hydrocarbon liquid to be treated is supplied in the direction of the arrow through the intake opening 3 of the stator 4 into the cavity 1 of the working wheel 2 rotating inside the stator 4. From the cavity 1 of the working wheel 2 liquid under pressure flows through a series of outlet openings 8 and enters the annular chamber 5 between the working wheel 2 and stator 4. From the annular chamber 5 the treated liquid is let out through the discharge opening 10 of the stator 4 in the direction shown by the arrow (Fig 2). The capacity of the device for work is preserved in any spatial position.

[0120] The list of the kinds of liquids amenable to treatment covers any natural and artificial liquids, having in their composition bonded hydrogen, primarily hydrocarbon liquids, as well as all kinds of solutions, emulsions, suspensions, etc, prepared on the base thereof in the wide range of viscosity and other physical-chemical properties. [0121] The method of fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids implements the above- described method of resonant treatment thereof according to the embodiments described herein. This method of fractionation can be executed by way of distillation and includes the preliminary treatment of liquid with the help of the pre-installed rotary hydrodynamic source of mechanical oscillations and then subsequently heating the liquid as described in more detail below, the supply of preliminarily treated liquid into the fractionating tower and the outflow of distilled and residual fractions. In some embodiments of the method of fractionation, the preliminary treatment of liquid can be affected by way of resonant treatment thereof in compliance with the above-described method of resonant excitation of hydrocarbon liquids and then heating the liquid. In some embodiments of the method of fractionation, a partial flow can be diverted from the general flow of the liquid to be fractionated and is subjected to said preliminary treatment, after which both flows are combined before feeding them into the fractionating tower. The partial flow can amount to 5 to 80%, preferably 20 to 50% from the full flow.

[0122] In some embodiments of the method of fractionation including, along with the known methods, a partial return into the fractionating tower of its own residual fraction, the returned residual fraction can be likewise subjected to preliminary treatment by way of resonant excitation according to the embodiments described herein.

[0123] The plant for fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids by way of distillation executes the above-described method of fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids according to the embodiments described herein. Like the known ones, it comprises (Fig. 4) interconnected by pipelines at least one fractionating tower 21 , a heating device 22 for a liquid supplied in the column, a feeding pump 23 and a pre-installed rotary hydrodynamic device 24 for preliminary treatment of liquid. According to the principal embodiment of the plant, the device 24 for preliminary treatment of liquid can be made in compliance with one of the above-described embodiments of the device for resonant excitation of hydrocarbon liquids according to the embodiments described herein. In some embodiments, one or more of the devices 24, 24a, 24b and 24c as shown in Fig. 4, and described in more detail below, can each also comprise a heating unit 52, as described below and shown in Figs. 5 to 7, to heat the liquid exiting one or more of devices 24, 24a, 24b and 24c.

[0124] In some embodiments, the device 24 for resonant excitation of liquids can be sequentially installed between the outlet of the feeding pump 23 and the inlet of the fractionating tower 21 , in this case through the heating device 22. At such connection the whole flow of liquid can pass through the device 24. In some embodiments of the plant, the inlet of the device 24 for resonant excitation of liquid can be connected to the inlet of the fractionating tower 21 through a shut-off-control element 25, with whose help it is possible to control, to a certain extent, the partial flow of liquid passing through the device 24. In some embodiments of the plant, the outlet of the device 24 can be connected to the inlet of the fractionating tower 21 through a shut-off-control element 26. With the help of both shut-off-control elements 25 and 26, it is possible to control more exactly the partial flow of liquid passing through the device 24 in compliance with the required technological parameters of fractionation.

[0125] If the second atmospheric fractionating tower 27 is provided in the particular plant for fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids, the second similar device 24a can be used for resonant excitation of liquid. In this case, the device 24a can be sequentially installed between the outlet of a pump 28, feeding residual fraction (stripped oil) from the first tower 21 to the second tower 27, and the inlet of the tower 27, in this case through the second heating device 29. The shut-off-control elements 25a and 26a perform similar functions.

[0126] If the third vacuum fractionating tower is provided in the particular plant for fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids, or any known technological equipment for further treatment of residual fraction (not shown in the drawings), the third similar device 24b can likewise be used for resonant excitation of residual fraction after the second tower 27. In this case, the device 24b can be installed after a pump 30, feeding the residual fraction (residual fuel oil) from the second tower 27 for further treatment. The shut-off-control elements 25b and 26b perform similar functions.

[0127] In some embodiments, in the plant for fractionation, comprising, along with the known ones, a loop for a partial return into the fractionating tower of its own residual fraction, including a sequentially installed feeding pump 31 and the third heating device 32 interconnected by pipelines, one more similar device 24c can be sequentially installed in the loop of the partial return of residual fraction for resonant excitation of the residual fraction being returned after the first tower 21. In the example presented in Fig. 4, the device 24c can be installed between the outlet of the feeding pump 31 and the heating device 32. The shut-off-control elements 25c and 26c perform similar functions.

[0128] The operation and service of the described plant for fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids are effected in the ordinary way and differ in comparison with the usual plants of this type only in respect of the control of said shut-off-control elements, which can be performed both manually and in the ordinary way automatically in compliance with the preset technological program.

Temperature Activation [0129] In some embodiments, subsequent to the resonance activation, a process can be provided to provide a proper level of energy through heating process, due to the fact that the cracking reaction is endothermic, to complement the resonance activation of hydrocarbon liquids to complete the cracking of the hydrocarbon liquids to the lighter end products.

[0130] In some embodiments, the activated hydrocarbon liquids can be heated to a required temperature, specific for each type of hydrocarbon, through a proper heating system.

[0131] Figure 5 illustrates one embodiment of a complete process for the technology.

[0132] Figure 6 illustrates one embodiment of a laboratory/pilot heating unit that can be used to hydrocarbon liquids.

[0133] For the commercial application, depending on the capacity, the type of hydrocarbon, and the specific level of the activation temperature, the following system/unit shall be included: electric heat exchanger, steam heat exchanger or a fired heater.

[0134] Referring to Figure 5, one embodiment of a system for resonant excitation and fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids is shown. In some embodiments, hydrocarbon liquids, such as heavy crude oil, can be stored in tank 40 and drawn therefrom through pipe 42 by booster pump 44. For the purposes of this specification and the claims that follow, the term“pipe” or“pipes” can be construed to be a pipe, a conduit, a hose or any other means known to those skilled in the art, or any combination thereof, to convey fluids, liquids or gases, and can further comprise flow control and measurement devices such as valves, flow-tees to combine or split flow streams, taps for taking samples of hydrocarbon liquids flowing through the pipe, flow meters, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, and all other devices used in the control and measurement of flowing fluids, liquids and gases as well known to those skilled in the art.

[0135] As shown in Figure 5, the crude oil can be pressured by booster pump 44 up to 3 to 5 atmospheres at a temperature of 60°C to 80°C and pumped by booster pump 44 through pipe 46 to resonant excitation activator 48, which can comprise the device as shown in Figures 1 to 3 and as described above. As crude oil exits activator 48 through pipe 50 to heating unit 52, the crude oil can be pressurized up to 8 to 10 atmospheres at a temperature of 65°C to 85°C. When the crude oil is in heating unit 52, the crude oil can be heated up to a temperature ranging from 280°C to 360°C and pressurized up to 15 to 20 atmospheres, depending on the nature and type of crude oil being processed by the system. The time duration of heating of the crude oil can also depend on the nature and type of crude oil being processed by the system. In some embodiments, once the crude oil has been heated at the desired temperature and for the desired duration, the crude oil can then be transferred to cooling unit 56 via pipe 54. In other embodiments, heating unit 52 can comprise an integral cooling system, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, thereby negating the need for pipe 54 and separate cooling unit 56. Once in cooling unit 56, the crude oil can be cooled down to a temperature ranging from 50°C to 80°C and brought down to a pressure of 1 to 2 atmospheres. At this temperature, the crude oil can be transferred through pipes 58 and 60 to storage tank 62 or transferred through pipe 64 to pipeline 66.

[0136] Referring to Figure 5, the system can, in some embodiments, further comprise heat recycle mechanism 53 to extract and recover heat from cooling unit 56 to preheat hydrocarbon liquids entering heating unit 52 from pipe 50. Heat recycle mechanism 53 can comprise heat exchanger components as well known to those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, mechanism 53 can comprise a first heat exchanger disposed in cooling unit 56 configured for extracting heat from the hydrocarbon liquids disposed in cooling unit 56. Mechanism 53 can further comprise means for transferring the extracted heat to a second heat exchanger disposed upstream from the inlet of heating unit 52 to preheat the hydrocarbon liquids prior to entering heating unit 52. In some embodiments, the means for transferring extracted hear can comprise an enclosed coolant recirculation system as well known to those skilled in the art, and can further comprise a liquid or gaseous, or both, coolant circulating through the recirculation system to transfer heat from the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger.

[0137] Referring to Figures 6 and 7, one embodiment of heating unit 52 is shown. In some embodiments, heating unit 52 can comprise vessel 70 having oil inlet 72 positioned on an upper portion thereof and oil outlet 74 positioned at a bottom portion thereof. In some embodiments, vessel 70 can comprise a nominal diameter of 390 mm and a nominal height or length of 450 mm and can be constructed to withstand a nominal working pressing of 16 bar. In some embodiments, heating unit 52 can comprise heating element 76, which can comprise a 1 kw to 1.5 kw electric heating unit. In some embodiments, the heating element can be disposed inside vessel 70 whereas in other embodiments, the heating element can comprise an external heating device disposed around the exterior of vessel 70, such as a heating belt or the like. In some embodiments, heating unit 52 can comprise mixer 78 driven by mixer motor 80 that can mix and circulate the crude oil within vessel 70 to enable uniform heating of the crude oil therein. In some embodiments, mixer motor 80 can comprise a magnetic gear pump and operate at a speed of 2870/3350 rpm at a power line frequency of 50/60 Hz.

[0138] As described above, the system can comprise a cooling unit. In the embodiments shown in Figures 6 and 7, the cooling unit can comprise of water jacket 82 disposed at least partially therearound vessel 70. Jacket 82 can further comprise cold water inlet 84 and hot water outlet 86. In some embodiments, heating unit 52 can comprise temperature gauges 88 disposed at different locations on vessel 70 for measuring the temperature of the crude oil at different locations therein. In some embodiments, heating unit 52 can comprise pressure gauge 90 for measuring the pressure of the crude oil therein. In some embodiments, heating unit 52 can comprise level indicator 92 configured to measure the level or volume of crude oil within vessel 70. In some embodiments, heating unit 52 can comprise pressure relief valve 94 that can be configured to vent vessel 70 should the pressure of oil or gas therein exceed a safe limit. In some embodiments, pressure valve 94 can be configured to open and vent vessel 70 at a pressure of 16 bar.

[0139] In some embodiments, a programmable logic controller 96, as well known to those skilled in the art, can be implemented to receive data from temperature gauges 88 and pressure gauge 90, and can further control the operation of heating element 76 for the heating of the crude oil within vessel 70 in addition controlling the operation of mixer 78 and mixer motor 80.

[0140] In some embodiments, heating unit 52 can provide the activation temperature, as an integrated part of the resonant excitation activator as described above, which can provide the energy to complement the resonance activation and, thus, improve the quality of the heavy crude oil, performing the cracking the big hydrocarbon molecules. The heating unit can provide the required heating temperature and the space velocity for each type of crude. These factors will be determined based on the results of the Resonance Activation.

[0141] The Heating Unit can comprise equipment with an electric coil heating system with enough capacity to heat the crude oil up to 400 C, with manual control. To assure homogenous temperature continuously, a mixer can be implemented in the heating unit. In order to have a complete control of the operation, temperature and pressure meters or gauges can be provided. As a protection for high pressure and as per standards applicable, a safety valve can be installed.

[0142] After completing the heating process of the crude oil, the crude oil can be cooled, in order to safely handle and to perform all laboratory analysis of the crude oil. In some embodiments, to cool down the crude oil, a water jacket can be placed around the body of the vessel, with connections to feed and discharge water.

[0143] Referring to Figure 8, an embodiment of a test facility comprising the system described above is illustrated. In this embodiment, the test facility comprises the elements of the plant shown in Figure 5 in addition to the following elements. The test facility comprises feedstock tank 98 configured to hold diluents that are fed through pipe 100 to feedstock pump 102 that pumps the diluent through pipe 104 to flow tee 106 to mix with the heavy oil feedstock pumped by feedstock pump 44 through pipe 46, wherein the mix of heavy oil and diluent can enter resonance activator 48. The diluent can comprise hydrocarbon liquids such as diesel fuel, kerosene, naphtha and any other suitable liquid, and combinations thereof, as well known to those skilled in the art that can provide donor hydrogen atoms to the cracked heavy oil molecules produced by resonance activator 48. In some embodiments, electrical power for electric motor 49 of resonance activator 48 can be supplied by variable frequency drive (“VFD”) unit 108. In some embodiments, electrical power for electric motor 45 of feedstock pump 44 can be supplied by VFD unit 1 10. As an example, to process approximately 20 m³/hour of hydrocarbon liquids through resonance activator 48, VFD unit 108 provides approximately 32 kilowatts of electrical power to electric motor 49, wherein electric motor 49 is operating in a range of 2920 to 2970 revolutions per minute (“RPM”).

EXPERIMENTAL DATA

[0144] The test facility was used to test samples of crude oil to measure and demonstrate the effects of both resonance activation and temperature activation. In the tests described below, the test common parameters were as follows:

TABLE 1

[0145] In applying temperature activation to hydrocarbon liquids after passing through the resonance activator, the objective of temperature activation is to provide enough energy in order to complete the resonance activation and consequent cracking of molecular bonds. Specific temperature and residence time will be defined according to the ASTM D86 experiments on different crude oils. Experiment No. 1

[0146] In a first experiment using a winter crude oil having an API¹ density of approximately 13 to 14, an activation temperature range of 360°C to 370°C was applied using a residence time of 5 to 10 minutes in the temperature activation unit. The following data was obtained:

TABLE 2

Experiment No. 2

[0147] In a second experiment using a winter crude oil having an API density of approximately 10 to 1 1 , an activation temperature range of 320°C to 340°C was applied using a residence time of 5 to 10 minutes in the temperature activation unit. The following data was obtained:

¹ American Petroleum Institute.

² Centistokes. [0148]

TABLE 3

[0149] In reviewing the above experimental data results, it is apparent that the addition of temperature activation to hydrocarbon liquids having passed through the resonance activator improves the API density of the hydrocarbon liquids and increases the light ends yield from that produced with the resonance activator alone. The benefits of applying this process to hydrocarbon liquids prior to transport through a pipeline include the reduction of condensates and diluents added to the hydrocarbon liquids to enable transport through pipelines. The process and methods described herein can also improve the quality of the hydrocarbon liquids and reduce the costs of transportation through pipelines.

[0150] In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein can be applied to bunkering fuels to upgrade the fuel by cracking the long-chain hydrocarbon molecules into shorter chains. In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein can be used in enhanced oil recovery methods and techniques.

³ Centistokes. [0151] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the embodiments described herein.

[0152] Embodiments implemented in computer software may be implemented in software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. A code segment or machine-executable instructions may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.

[0153] The actual software code or specialized control hardware used to implement these systems and methods is not limiting of the embodiments described herein. Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and methods were described without reference to the specific software code being understood that software and control hardware can be designed to implement the systems and methods based on the description herein.

[0154] When implemented in software, the functions may be stored as one or more instructions or code on a non-transitory computer-readable or processor-readable storage medium. The steps of a method or algorithm disclosed herein may be embodied in a processor-executable software module, which may reside on a computer-readable or processor-readable storage medium. A non-transitory computer-readable or processor- readable media includes both computer storage media and tangible storage media that facilitate transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A non-transitory processor-readable storage media may be any available media that may be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such non-transitory processor- readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other tangible storage medium that may be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that may be accessed by a computer or processor. Disk and disc, as used herein, include compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. Additionally, the operations of a method or algorithm may reside as one or any combination or set of codes and/or instructions on a non-transitory processor-readable medium and/or computer- readable medium, which may be incorporated into a computer program product. [0155] Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to these embodiments without changing or departing from their scope, intent or functionality. The terms and expressions used in the preceding specification have been used herein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that follow.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. A system for resonant excitation of hydrocarbon liquids with the help of a rotary hydrodynamic source of mechanical oscillations, comprising:

a) a resonant excitation device comprising:

i) a rotor including a shaft resting on bearings and at least one working wheel installed on the shaft wherein,

ii) the working wheel includes a disc with a peripheral annular wall having a series of outlet openings for liquid evenly spaced along the circumference,

iii) a stator, having a wall coaxial to the working wheel, an intake opening for the supply of the hydrocarbon liquids, communicating with a cavity of the working wheel, and a discharge opening for outflow of the hydrocarbon liquids,

iv) an annular chamber formed by the coaxial wall of the stator and peripheral annular wall of the working wheel and communicating with the discharge opening of the stator, and

v) means for driving the rotor with the preset rotation frequency,

such that the value of the external radius of the peripheral annular wall of the working wheel constitutes

R = 2.8477729 n-^.IO⁴ [mm], where

n = 14.651908 F³ [r.p.m.] - the rotation frequency of the working wheel, F = 63.992420 N^_1/2 [kHz] - the basic frequency of resonant excitation,

N > 1 - the selected integer,

while the value of the internal radius of the coaxial wall of the stator constitutes

Ri =R + BS (2 TT) ¹ [mm], where

B > 1 - the selected integer,

S = 7.2973531 [mm] - the pitch of outlet openings of the working wheel along the circumference of the radius R;

b) a heating unit, comprising:

i) a vessel comprising a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, the liquid inlet operatively coupled to the discharge opening,

ii) a heater disposed in the vessel,

wherein the hydrocarbon liquids entering the heating unit from the resonant excitation device are heated within the vessel and extracted through the liquid outlet.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radial extent of the outlet openings of the working wheel is made multiple to the value S (2TT) ¹.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the radial extent of the outlet openings of the working wheel is made equal to the value S (2 TT)^-1.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the means for driving the rotor further comprises a system for controlling the rotation frequency thereof with a deviation of ±1 % from the calculated value thereof.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the heating unit further comprises a mixer disposed in the vessel.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vessel further comprises a water jacket disposed on an outer surface thereof, the water jacket configured to control the temperature of the hydrocarbon liquids in the vessel.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the heating unit is configured to heat the hydrocarbon liquids to a temperature ranging from 280°C to 360°C.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the heating unit is configured to pressurize the hydrocarbon liquids to a pressure ranging from 15 to 20 atmospheres.

9. A method of fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids by way of distillation, the method comprising the steps of:

a) preliminary treatment of the hydrocarbon liquids with the help of a pre installed rotary hydrodynamic source of mechanical oscillations, b) heating the preliminary treated liquid,

c) supply of the heated and preliminarily treated liquid into a fractionating tower and the outflow of distilled and residual fractions,

d) effecting resonant excitation in the preliminary treated liquid according to the resonant excitation device of claim 4.

10. The method of fractionation of claim 9, wherein from the general flow of the hydrocarbon liquids to be fractionated a partial flow is diverted, subjected to the preliminary treatment and the heating, following which both flows are combined before feeding into the fractionating tower.

11. The method of fractionation of claim 10, wherein the partial flow amounts to 5 to 80% from the full flow.

12. The method of fractionation of claim 11 , wherein the partial flow amounts to 20 to 50% from the full flow.

13. The method of fractionation of claim 9, comprising a partial return into the fractionating tower of its own residual fraction, wherein the returned residual fraction is subjected to the preliminary treatment by way of resonant excitation.

14. The method of fractionation of claim 9, further comprising heating the hydrocarbon liquids to a temperature ranging from 280°C to 360°C.

15. The method of fractionation of claim 14, further comprising pressurizing the hydrocarbon liquids to a pressure ranging from 15 to 20 atmospheres.

16. A plant for fractionation of hydrocarbon liquids by way of distillation, comprising: interconnecting by pipelines a feeding pump, at least one fractionating tower, and a pre-installed rotary hydrodynamic device for the preliminary treatment of liquid, wherein the system for the preliminary treatment of liquid effects resonant excitation and heating of liquid according to claim 4 and is sequentially installed between the outlet of the feeding pump and the inlet of the fractionating tower.

17. The plant of claim 16, wherein the inlet of the system for resonant excitation and heating of liquid is connected to the inlet of the fractionating tower through a shut- off-control element.

18. The plant of claim 17, wherein the liquid outlet of the system for resonant excitation and heating of liquid is connected to the inlet of the fractionating tower through a second shut-off-control element.

19. The plant of claim 16, with a loop of the partial return into the fractionating tower of its own residual fraction, comprising: a feeding pump and a heating device sequentially interconnected by pipelines, wherein into the loop of the partial return of the residual fraction there is sequentially installed a second device for resonant excitation of liquid.

20. The plant of claim 16, wherein the heating unit is configured to heat the hydrocarbon liquids to a temperature ranging from 280°C to 360°C.

21. The plant of claim 20, wherein the heating unit is configured to pressurize the hydrocarbon liquids to a pressure ranging from 15 to 20 atmospheres.