Production of renewable bio-distillate

1. A process for upgrading bio-oil, comprising:

a) combining a bio-oil and a diluent to form a feed stream, the bio-oil comprising oxygenated hydrocarbons and having a total oxygen content greater than about 5 wt %;

b) charging the feed stream to a preheater and heating the feed stream to a temperature in a range of from about 20 to about 450° C., thereby forming a heated feed stream;

c) charging the heated feed stream to a hydrodeoxygenation unit operated at a temperature in a range of from about 300 to about 500° C. wherein at least a portion of the oxygen is removed from the bio-oil, thereby forming an effluent stream comprising the diluent, water, and an at least partially upgraded bio-oil; and

d) separating at least a portion of the at least partially upgraded bio-oil from the effluent stream, thereby forming a product stream comprising the at least partially upgraded bio-oil having a total oxygen content lower than the total oxygen content of the bio-oil,

wherein the diluent is: (i) present in the feed stream in an amount ranging from about 0.5 to about 24.5 wt %; and (ii) selectred from the group consisting of a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), biodiesel, biomass-derived diesel, a recycled portion of the at least partially upgraded bio-oil, and combinations thereof.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the oxygenated hydrocarbons in the feed stream react with each other in at least one of the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit, thereby forming heavier compounds which are deposited in at least one of the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit; and wherein the total amount of heavier compounds deposited in the preheater and in the hydrodeoxygenation unit is less than the total amount of heavier compounds deposited in the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit when the feed stream does not contain the diluent.

3. The process of claim 2 , wherein the diluent dilutes the bio-oil in the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit, thereby slowing the reaction of the oxygenated hydrocarbons in the feed stream with each other such that the buildup of carbonaceous deposits in at least one of the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit is minimized or prevented.

4. The process of claim 2 , wherein the temperature of the upgraded bio-oil is higher than the temperature of the bio-oil, and wherein the diluent comprises a FAME and a portion of the at least partially upgraded bio-oil; and wherein the inclusion of the at least partially upgraded bio-oil in the feed stream provides heat to the feed stream, thereby: reducing the required heat duty of the preheater, reducing the heated surface temperatures of the preheater, and slowing the reaction of the oxygenated hydrocarbons in the feed stream with each other such that the buildup of carbonaceous deposits in at least one of the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit is minimized or prevented.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the diluent is present in the feed stream in an amount ranging from about 0.5 to about 10 wt %.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the product stream further comprises at least a portion of the diluent.

7. A process for upgrading bio-oil, comprising:

a) combining a bio-oil and a diluent to form a feed stream, the bio-oil comprising oxygenated hydrocarbons and having a total oxygen content greater than about 5 wt %;

b) charging the feed stream to a preheater and heating the feed stream to a temperature in a range of from about 20 to about 450° C., thereby forming a heated feed stream;

c) charging the heated feed stream to a hydrodeoxygenation unit comprising at least two stages and operated at a temperature in a range of from about 300 to about 500° C. wherein at least a portion of the oxygen is removed from the bio-oil, thereby forming at least one inter-stage stream comprising partially hydrodeoxygenated bio-oil and an effluent stream comprising the diluent, water, and an at least partially upgraded bio-oil;

d) separating at least a portion of the at least partially upgraded bio-oil from the effluent stream, thereby forming a product stream comprising the at least partially upgraded bio-oil having a total oxygen content lower than the total oxygen content of the bio-oil, wherein the at least one inter-stage stream and the product stream are each at a higher temperature than the bio-oil; and

e) utilizing as the diluent at least one of (I) a recycle stream comprising a portion of at least one of: i) the at least one inter-stage stream, and ii) the product stream; (II) a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME); (Ill) biodiesel; and (IV) biomass-derived diesel, and wherein the diluent is present in the feed stream in an amount ranging from about 0.5 to 24.5 wt %.

8. The process of claim 7 , wherein the product stream further comprises at least a portion of the diluent.

9. The process of claim 7 , wherein a portion of the oxygenated hydrocarbons react with each other in at least one of the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit forming heavier compounds which are deposited in at least one of the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit; and wherein the total amount of heavier compounds deposited in the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit is less than the total amount of heavier compounds deposited in the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit when the feed stream does not contain the diluent.

10. The process of claim 9 , wherein the diluent dilutes the bio-oil in the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit, which slows the reaction of the oxygenated hydrocarbons in the feed stream with each other such that the build up of carbonaceous deposits in at least one of the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit is minimized or prevented.

11. The process of claim 9 , wherein the inclusion of the recycle stream in the feed stream provides heat to the feed stream, thereby: reducing the required heat duty of the preheater, reducing the heated surface temperatures of the preheater, and slowing the reaction of the oxygenated hydrocarbons in the feed stream with each other such that the build up of carbonaceous deposits in at least one of the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit is minimized or prevented.

12. The process of claim 7 , wherein the diluent is present in the feed stream in an amount from about 0.5 to about 10 wt %.

13. A process for upgrading bio-oil, comprising:

a) combining a bio-oil and a diluent to form a first feed stream, the bio-oil comprising oxygenated hydrocarbons and having a total oxygen content greater than about 5 wt %, wherein the diluent is selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), biodiesel, biomass-derived diesel, and combinations thereof;

b) charging the first feed stream to a preheater and heating the first feed stream to a temperature in a range of from about 20 to about 100° C., thereby forming a heated first feed stream;

c) combining a recycle stream having a temperature of from about 100 to about 460° C. with the heated first feed stream thereby forming a second feed stream having a temperature in the range of from about 20 to about 450° C., wherein the combined total of the diluent and the recycle stream in the second feed stream is in an amount ranging from about 0.5 to about 24.5 wt %;

d) charging the second feed stream to a hydrodeoxygenation unit comprising at least two stages and operated at a temperature in a range of from about 300 to about 500° C. wherein at least a portion of the oxygen is removed from the bio-oil, thereby forming at least one inter-stage stream comprising partially hydrodeoxygenated bio-oil and an effluent stream comprising the diluent, water, and an at least partially upgraded bio-oil;

e) separating at least a portion of the at least partially upgraded bio-oil from the effluent stream, thereby forming a product stream comprising the at least partially upgraded bio-oil having a total oxygen content lower than the total oxygen content of the bio-oil, wherein the at least one inter-stage stream and the product stream are each at a higher temperature than the bio-oil; and

f) utilizing as the recycle stream a portion of at least one of: i) the at least one inter-stage stream, and ii) the product stream.

14. The process of claim 13 , wherein the preheater provides from greater than 0 to about 30 % of the heat needed to raise the temperature of the second feed stream to a temperature in the range of from about 20 to about 450° C.

15. The process of claim 13 , wherein the product stream further comprises at least a portion of the diluent.

16. The process of claim 13 , wherein a portion of the oxygenated hydrocarbons react with each other in at least one of the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit, thereby forming heavier compounds which are deposited in at least one of the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit; and wherein the total amount of heavier compounds deposited in the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit is less than the total amount of heavier compounds deposited in the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit when the diluent and the recycle stream are not combined with the bio-oil.

17. The process of claim 16 , wherein the diluent dilutes the bio-oil in the hydrodeoxygenation unit and the preheater, which slows the reaction of the oxygenated hydrocarbons in the feed stream with each other such that the buildup of carbonaceous deposits in at least one of the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit is minimized or prevented.

18. The process of claim 13 , wherein the combination of the recycle stream and the heated first feed stream provides heat to the second feed stream, thereby: reducing the required heat duty of the preheater, reducing the heated surface temperatures of the preheater, and slowing the reaction of the oxygenated hydrocarbons with each other such that the buildup of carbonaceous deposits in at least one of the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit is minimized or prevented.

19. The process of claim 13 , wherein the combined total of the diluent and the recycle stream in the second feed stream is from about 0.5 to about 10 wt %.

20. A process for upgrading bio-oil, comprising:

a) combining a bio-oil and a diluent to form a feed stream, the bio-oil comprising oxygenated hydrocarbons and having a total oxygen content greater than about 5 wt %;

b) charging a portion of the feed stream as a preheater feed stream to a preheater and heating the preheater feed stream to a temperature in a range of from about 20 to about 450° C., thereby forming a heated feed stream;

c) charging the heated feed stream to a hydrodeoxygenation unit comprising at least two stages and operated at a temperature in a range of from about 300 to about 500° C., wherein at least a portion of the oxygen is removed from the bio-oil, thereby forming at least one inter-stage stream comprising partially hydrodeoxygenated bio-oil and an effluent stream comprising the diluent, water, and an at least partially upgraded bio-oil;

d) charging a portion of the feed stream as a quench to at least one of the inter-stage streams to form a quenched inter-stage stream and control the temperature of the downstream stages; and

e) separating at least a portion of the at least partially upgraded bio-oil from the effluent stream, thereby forming a product stream comprising the at least partially upgraded bio-oil having a total oxygen content lower than the total oxygen content of the bio-oil,

wherein the diluent is (I) present in the feed stream in an amount ranging from about 0.5 to 24.5 wt %; and (II) selected from the group consisting of (i) a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), (ii) biodiesel, (iii) biomass-derived diesel, (iv) a recycle stream selected from the group consisting of: at least one of the inter-stage streams, at least one of the quenched inter-stage streams, the product stream, and combinations thereof, and (v) combinations thereof.

21. The process of claim 20 , wherein a portion of the oxygenated hydrocarbons react with each other in at least one of the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit, thereby forming heavier compounds which are deposited in at least one of the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit; and wherein the total amount of heavier compounds deposited in the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit is less than the total amount of heavier compounds deposited in the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit when the feed stream does not contain the diluent.

22. The process of claim 21 , wherein the diluent dilutes the bio-oil in the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit, which slows the reaction of the oxygenated hydrocarbons in the feed stream with each other such that the buildup of carbonaceous deposits in at least one of the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit is minimized or prevented.

23. The process of claim 20 , wherein the diluent is present in the feed stream in an amount of from about 0.5 to about 10 wt %.

24. The process of claim 20 , wherein the temperature of the recycle stream is higher than the temperature of the bio-oil, and wherein the diluent comprises a FAME and the recycle stream; and wherein the inclusion of the recycle stream in the diluent provides heat to the feed stream, thereby: reducing the required heat duty of the preheater, reducing the heated surface temperatures of the preheater, and slowing the reaction of the oxygenated hydrocarbons with each other in the feed stream such that the buildup of carbonaceous deposits in at least one of the preheater and the hydrodeoxygenation unit is minimized or prevented.

25. The process of claim 20 , wherein the product stream further comprises at least a portion of the diluent.