A reactor system for thermally treating a hydrocarbon-containing stream, that includes a pressure containment vessel comprising an interior chamber and a heat transfer medium that converts electrical current to heat and is positioned within the interior chamber of the pressure containment vessel, wherein the heat transfer medium comprises a first end face, a second end face, and channels extending between the first end face and the second end face. A process for thermally treating a hydrocarbon-containing stream includes introducing the hydrocarbon-containing stream into the reactor system, pressurizing the pressure containment vessel and the heat transfer medium without heating the pressure containment vessel or the heat transfer medium, supplying electrical current to the heat transfer medium, converting the electrical current to heat, heating the hydrocarbon-containing stream, and converting the hydrocarbon-containing stream to an effluent stream.

A reactor system for thermally treating a hydrocarbon-containing stream, that includes a pressure containment vessel comprising an interior chamber and a heat transfer medium that converts electrical current to heat and is positioned within the interior chamber of the pressure containment vessel, wherein the heat transfer medium comprises a first end face, a second end face, and channels extending between the first end face and the second end face. A process for thermally treating a hydrocarbon-containing stream includes introducing the hydrocarbon-containing stream into the reactor system, pressurizing the pressure containment vessel and the heat transfer medium without heating the pressure containment vessel or the heat transfer medium, supplying electrical current to the heat transfer medium, converting the electrical current to heat, heating the hydrocarbon-containing stream, and converting the hydrocarbon-containing stream to an effluent stream.

A reactor system for thermally treating a hydrocarbon-containing stream, that includes a pressure containment vessel comprising an interior chamber defined by a first end, a second end, and at least one side wall extending from the first end to the second end; and a ceramic heat transfer medium that converts electrical current to heat and is positioned within the interior chamber of the pressure containment vessel, wherein the heat transfer medium comprises an electrical resistor, an electrical lead line configured to provide electrical current to the heat transfer medium, a first end face, a second end face, and channels extending between the first end face and the second end face.

A reactor system for thermally treating a hydrocarbon-containing stream, that includes a pressure containment vessel comprising an interior chamber defined by a first end, a second end, and at least one side wall extending from the first end to the second end; and a ceramic heat transfer medium that converts electrical current to heat and is positioned within the interior chamber of the pressure containment vessel, wherein the heat transfer medium comprises an electrical resistor, an electrical lead line configured to provide electrical current to the heat transfer medium, a first end face, a second end face, and channels extending between the first end face and the second end face.

A reactor system for thermally treating a hydrocarbon-containing stream includes a pressure containment vessel having an interior chamber defined by a first end, a second end, and at least one sidewall extending from the first end to the second end. A heat transfer medium converts electrical current to heat is positioned within the interior chamber of the pressure containment vessel, and the heat transfer medium has a first end face, a second end face, and channels extending between the first end face and the second end face. A heat sink reservoir includes molten salt, and at least one of a heater or heat exchanger is fluidly coupled to the heat transfer medium and thermally coupled to the heat sink reservoir.

Embodiments of the present invention include a novel continuous or semi-continuous process which results in the partial or total improvement of heavy oil. The improvement of the heavy oil is a result of thermally heating the oil at an interval where visbreaking occurs, thereby reducing a viscosity of the heavy oil. The core of the heating step occurs through a heating apparatus of the packed bed type including superparamagnetic, paramagnetic, and/or magnetic materials.

A paraffin control unit with staged high voltage temperature controlled electric immersion heaters to maintain the paraffin component of the crude oil in the liquid phase. The paraffin control unit removes large volumes of naturally occurring fine sand from the incoming liquids while also removing the crude oil from the influent fluid stream, the natural gas from the influent fluid stream, salt water from the influent fluid stream, all while maintaining the temperature of the crude oil fraction above the cloud point of its paraffin constituent. The removed sand is collected in sand pans and is automatically removed at timed intervals. The automation assures that the accumulating sand is removed from the sand pans as rapidly as it accumulates, thus preventing an over-accumulation of sand. The process fluids flow through a coalescer and a baffle assembly which purify and separate the component phases suitable for custody transfer.

A paraffin control unit with staged high voltage temperature controlled electric immersion heaters to maintain the paraffin component of the crude oil in the liquid phase. The paraffin control unit removes large volumes of naturally occurring fine sand from the incoming liquids while also removing the crude oil from the influent fluid stream, the natural gas from the influent fluid stream, salt water from the influent fluid stream, all while maintaining the temperature of the crude oil fraction above the cloud point of its paraffin constituent. The removed sand is collected in sand pans and is automatically removed at timed intervals. The automation assures that the accumulating sand is removed from the sand pans as rapidly as it accumulates, thus preventing an over-accumulation of sand. The process fluids flow through a coalescer and a baffle assembly which purify and separate the component phases suitable for custody transfer.

A process is provided for improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a hydrocarbon processing and/or production facility, through rearrangement of thermal energy distribution within said facility, said facility comprising a cracker unit with at least one apparatus for cracking a hydrocarbon containing feed, in presence of a dilution medium, wherein a cracked gaseous effluent exiting the apparatus is instantly cooled in a transfer line exchanger (TLE) while generating high-pressure steam, in which process any one of the: heating and/or vaporizing the hydrocarbon containing feed and/or the dilution medium, heating and/or vaporizing boiler feed water, and superheating high pressure steam generated in the TLE unit, is conducted in a heat recovery unit (HRU) arranged downstream the TLE, and which process comprises supplying electrical power into the hydrocarbon processing and/or production facility.

Conversion of heavy fossil hydrocarbons (HFH) to a variety of value-added chemicals and/or fuels can be enhanced using microwave (MW) and/or radio-frequency (RF) energy. Variations of reactants, process parameters, and reactor design can significantly influence the relative distribution of chemicals and fuels generated as the product. In one example, a system for flash microwave conversion of HFH includes a source concentrating microwave or RF energy in a reaction zone having a pressure greater than 0.9 atm, a continuous feed having HFH and a process gas passing through the reaction zone, a HFH-to-liquids catalyst contacting the HFH in at least the reaction zone, and dielectric discharges within the reaction zone. The HFH and the catalyst have a residence time in the reaction zone of less than 30 seconds. In some instances, a plasma can form in or near the reaction zone.