Abstract:
Microscopy techniques may be used to visualize polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons where an optical microscope is combined with an imaging device. The combination of these devices allows for images to be produced when visualized in the near infrared spectrum, such as a wavelength ranging from about 700 nm to about 2500 nm to be passed through the optical microscope.
Abstract:
Quench oil aging and its propensity to cause fouling may be evaluated by determining the amount of a precipitant necessary to cause the flocculation of polymer species present in the quench oil. The propensity of quench oil to cause fouling may be used as a basis to mitigate fouling in cracking processes.
Abstract:
A settling rate of at least one foulant in oil-based fluids may be determining a settling rate of an oil-based fluid by stirring the fluid during a turbidimetric flocculation titration, which includes solvent dosing and obtaining transmittance measurements of the oil-based fluid. The method may further include stopping the solvent dosing at the onset of flocculation of the foulant(s), stopping the stirring when at least two or more transmittance measurements are substantially similar, and measuring the transmittance of the oil-based fluid to determine a settling rate of the foulant(s). The settling rate may be proportional to an increase in transmittance or decrease in absorbance after the stirring has stopped.
Abstract:
The stability of an oil-based fluid crude oil fluid may be determined by measuring a first RI value of the crude oil that does not comprise a solvent where the first RI value is used to determine a first solubility parameter therefrom. A second RI value may be taken from the crude oil at a point of asphaltene flocculation during a turbidimetric flocculation titration. The second RI value may be used to determine a second solubility parameter. A process for refining the crude oil may be controlled by maintaining the process or implementing a change to the process based on a ratio of the first solubility parameter to the second solubility parameter.
Abstract:
An effective amount of at least one antifoulant may be added into a hydrocarbon fluid having at least one potentially fouling causing-component for reducing the fouling by the potentially fouling causing-component(s) as compared to an otherwise identical hydrocarbon fluid absent the antifoulant(s). The hydrocarbon fluid may be present within a location, such as but not limited to an ebullated bed hydrocracking unit feed, a separator, a vacuum distillation column, an atmospheric distillation column, and combinations thereof. The antifoulant(s) may have or include a hydrocarbon backbone attached to at least a first functional group. The hydrocarbon backbone may be or include, but is not limited to, an poly(alpha-olefin), a polyisobutylene, an ethylene-propylene copolymer, a styrene-butadiene copolymer, a polymethyl acrylate, a polyacrylate, and combinations thereof. The first functional group(s) may be polar functional group(s).
Abstract:
An effective amount of at least one antifoulant may be added into a hydrocarbon fluid having at least one potentially fouling causing-component for reducing the fouling by the potentially fouling causing-component(s) as compared to an otherwise identical hydrocarbon fluid absent the antifoulant(s). The hydrocarbon fluid may be present within a location, such as but not limited to an ebullated bed hydrocracking unit feed, a separator, a vacuum distillation column, an atmospheric distillation column, and combinations thereof. The antifoulant(s) may have or include a hydrocarbon backbone attached to at least a first functional group. The hydrocarbon backbone may be or include, but is not limited to, an poly(alpha-olefin), a polyisobutylene, an ethylene-propylene copolymer, a styrene-butadiene copolymer, a polymethyl acrylate, a polyacrylate, and combinations thereof. The first functional group(s) may be polar functional group(s).
Abstract:
A process for refining crude oil can be controlled to mitigate fouling by deploying a refractive index probe at a location suitable for making a crude oil stability determination, wherein the crude oil stability determination is relevant to controlling the refining process; making a measurement of crude oil stability; and then controlling the process for refining crude oil by maintaining the process or implementing a change to the process, based upon the determination of crude oil stability. This concept can also be applied to transporting, blending, and storing crude oil.
Abstract:
A stability of at least one foulant within a hydrocarbon-based fluid sample may be determined where the hydrocarbon-based fluid sample may have or include, but is not limited to a hydrocarbon fluid and foulant particles. The fluid sample may have a viscosity ranging from about 0.5 cSt to about 5000 cSt. The hydrocarbon-based fluid sample may be centrifuged, and a laser light (in the near-infrared region) with a detector may be applied to the hydrocarbon-based fluid sample. At least one transmittance measurement from the laser light passing through the hydrocarbon-based fluid sample may be used to measure foulant flocculation. A foulant stability reserve measurement may be obtained by comparing a first transmittance measurement of the centrifuged hydrocarbon-fluid sample to a second transmittance measurement of a non-centrifuged hydrocarbon-fluid sample.
Abstract:
The stability of an oil-based fluid crude oil fluid may be determined by measuring a first RI value of the crude oil that does not comprise a solvent where the first RI value is used to determine a first solubility parameter therefrom. A second RI value may be taken from the crude oil at a point of asphaltene flocculation during a turbidimetric flocculation titration. The second RI value may be used to determine a second solubility parameter. A process for refining the crude oil may be controlled by maintaining the process or implementing a change to the process based on a ratio of the first solubility parameter to the second solubility parameter.
Abstract:
A stability of at least one foulant within a hydrocarbon-based fluid sample may be determined where the hydrocarbon-based fluid sample may have or include, but is not limited to a hydrocarbon fluid and foulant particles. The fluid sample may have a viscosity ranging from about 0.5 cSt to about 5000 cSt. The hydrocarbon-based fluid sample may be centrifuged, and a laser light (in the near-infrared region) with a detector may be applied to the hydrocarbon-based fluid sample. At least one transmittance measurement from the laser light passing through the hydrocarbon-based fluid sample may be used to measure foulant flocculation. A foulant stability reserve measurement may be obtained by comparing a first transmittance measurement of the centrifuged hydrocarbon-fluid sample to a second transmittance measurement of a non-centrifuged hydrocarbon-fluid sample.