Abstract
Hydrothermal upgrading (HTU) performance during aquathermolysis process of heavy crude oil was conducted. All upgrading tests were conducted using a 300-ml autoclave batch reactor at 250 °C and 300°C under high pressure for 12, 24, 48, and 72 h in a nitrogen environment. Comprehensive analyses of physical and chemical characteristics of the upgraded oils, including viscosity, elemental composition, SARA fractions as well as Carbon number distribution in saturates of oil samples before and after upgrading, were studied to evaluate the hydrothermal upgrading performance. The results showed that, by increasing the reaction temperatures and times the upgrading performance was improved. The maximum upgrading performance was observed at 300 °C and 72 h for in terms of viscosity reduction, increasing the quantity and quality of saturates as a result of thermal decompositions of resin and asphaltenes, and increasing their quantity. In addition, an improvement in upgrading performance can be observed in the increasing of the H/C ratio, removing sulfur and nitrogen due to their desulfurization and denitrogenation. Generally, the obtained data showed that, HTU under studied conditions might be useful for heavy oil pretreatment due to the significant influence on viscosity reduction, heteroatoms removal as well as improving on its the main physical and chemical composition.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
