Solvent Deasphalting (SDA)

Solvahl™

Solvahl™ is an efficient solvent deasphalting process (SDA) that removes the asphaltenes, most metals and other impurities contained in atmospheric or vacuum residues.

The Solvahl™ SDA process produces a high yield of deasphalted oil (DAO) containing a minimum quantity of C₅ and C₇ insolubles. The content of metals and coke precursor compounds are also significantly reduced, making DAO a suitable feed for downstream Hydrocracking, Hydrotreatment or FCC units. DAO final destination can also lube production or IMO Bunker Fuel depending on the refinery scheme. With respect to pitch production, it can be valorized as bitumen, pelletize for solids fuel or CFB boilers. Whatever SolvahlTM products valorization, Axens has a huge know-how.

Solvents used in the Solvahl process can vary from C3 to C5 depending on feed properties, pitch valorization and downstream DAO process objectives. The relative yields of DAO and asphalt, as well as the characteristics of both products, are linked to the nature of the feed, the operating conditions and the solvent type.

Solvahl™ technology can be a 2 cuts SDA or declined into 3 cuts SDA as per request; in stand alone grassroot or associated to VR conversion technology (H-Oil®, Flexicoking™) Solvahl™ technology is focused on:

• Relevant and optimized separation of DAO and Asphaltenes with associated design criteria to reach specifications
• Control of DAO quality, and especially its remaining asphaltenes content, is a main concern as it impacts downstream catalyst performance and cycle length
• Opportunities to extract value from the produced asphalt (Bitumen, pelletization, CFB...etc)
• Efficiency of advanced extractor design and solvent recovery at reduced cost