Experimental Measurement and Thermodynamic Modeling of the Wax Disappearance Temperature (WDT) for a Quaternary System of Normal Paraffins

Abstract

Normal paraffin (N-alkane)-based wax is well known as a severe problem in petroleum production, transportation, and processing. Implementing suitable solutions for wax-related problems requires vast technical knowledge and investigation of the wax disappearance temperature (WDT) of multicomponent systems in petroleum-dominated systems. In this study, the WDTs of a quaternary system comprising different mixtures of n-undecane + n-tetradecane + n-hexadecane + n-octadecane were measured using a visual-based diagnosis apparatus under atmospheric pressure. On the other hand, the WDTs of the studied systems are predicted by applying a solid solution model without any adjustable parameter. Two approaches namely γ–φ and γ–γ are assessed. In the (γ–φ) approach, perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT) is applied for liquid phase modeling, while the solid phase is described using different activity coefficient models. In the (γ–γ) approach, nonidealities of both the liquid and solid phases are investigated using different combinations of activity coefficient models such as ideal solution, regular solution theory, predictive Wilson, predictive UNIQUAC, and UNIFAC. Comparison of experimental data and thermodynamic modeling results indicates that applying the predictive UNIQUAC model for describing the nonideality of the solid phase and the regular solution model for the liquid phase is the best combination for the aforementioned system with the average absolute deviation (AAD) of 0.8 K.