Crude Oil Processing Research Articles

Analysis of heat transfer characteristics of paraffin oil in oil tank based on the three-phase partition method

The temperature drop process of waxy crude-oil in an oil tank is an unsteady natural-convection process involving multi-substance coupling, multi-heat transfer coupling, phase transformation, solid-liquid interaction, rheological change, fluid-solid coupling and turbulence, and the heat transfer process is highly complicated. According to the influence of the phase change process of waxy crude-oil on the heat transfer process, based on the new three-phase partition method, the phase change heat transfer model of waxy crude-oil in an oil tank was established, and the finite volume method was used to carry out the equation discretization and solution. Through numerical simulation, the evolution laws of the temperature field, flow field, and growth of the condensate layer during the cooling process of oil in the tank were analyzed. The results had theoretical guidance and significance for the scientific design of the oil tank?s thermal insulation structure.

Optimization Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) of NaCl, NaOH, and Activated Charcoal Concentration for the Purification Process of Crude Oil of Common Ponyfish

Crude oil of common ponyfish (Leiognathus equulus) is a by-product of fish protein hydrolysate manufacturing at PT. Berikan Teknologi Indonesia. The quality of the crude fish oil produced falls below the International Fishmeal and Oil Manufacturers Association Standard. Therefore, to improve its quality, a purification process comprising of three stages was employed, degumming with NaCl (5-10%), neutralization with NaOH (10-18°Be), and bleaching with activated charcoal (6-10%). The purification process was optimized using RSM with the Box-Behnken Design. The 15 concentration formulations were obtained with response variables taken based on chemical test parameters (free fatty acids (FFA), acid value, peroxide value, and iodine value). The optimal point of NaCl, NaOH, and activated charcoal concentration was determined at 10%, 18°Be, and 9.4%, respectively with a desirability of 0.744. The purified common ponyfish oil exhibited FFA at 9.52±0.21%, acid value at 3.42±0.17 mg KOH/g, peroxide value at 1.25±0.03 mEq/Kg, and iodine value at 4.12±0.13 mEq/Kg. Pure common ponyfish oil resulting from the optimal conditions has been verified. All parameters indicate that the quality of common ponyfish oil is improved by the refining process. This indicates that the optimized process may be applied in real production in the field with a high degree of confidence.

Предварительная активация магнитным полем нефтяного сырья в процессе первичной переработки

The article discusses issues related to the influence of magnetic influence on the quality indicators, operational characteristics of oil and an increase in the yield of light petroleum products during the primary processing of crude oil. The main purpose of this work is to study the influence of the magnetic field on the results of the primary processing process. Magnetic influence makes it possible to improve the quality indicators of the oil itself and deepen the whole process of primary processing. As a result of the conducted research, oil with improved operational characteristics was obtained. It was found that when exposed to 0.2 T magnetic induction, the yield of light petroleum products increases by 6%.

Optimization and Characterization of Adsorbent from Palm Kernel Shell Waste Using H3PO4 Activator

<p class="E-JOURNALHeading1">Palm kernel shell is solid waste produced from the processing of crude palm oil (CPO). In this context, phosphoric acid (H<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub>) serves as an essential activator for producing an adsorbent with maximum micropore under operating conditions at a temperature of <450<sup>o</sup>C. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the optimal adsorbent condition of the palm kernel shell using H<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub>activator. The production process was optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Central Composite Design (CCD) methods with activator concentration variations of 4%, 5%, and 6%, at activation times of 23 hours, 24 hours, and 25 hours, respectively. The quality of the adsorbent produced fulfilled SNI standard 06-3730-1995, characterized by water content of 1.001%, ash content of 5.767%, missing substance level of 18.932%, and fixed carbon content of 75.301%. Furthermore, this work effectively optimized the RSM and CCD adsorbent production process, achieving 4.785% variation in activator concentration and 24.679 hours activation time.</p>

Impacts of varied industrial activities within southern Nigeria on air environment and human health

The contamination of air environment by industrial activities is a global problem mostly in the underdeveloped and developing Nations where environmental issues are handled with levity. This research investigated the impact of industrial activities on air environment at the following companies; Crude Oil processing (COPC), beer processing (BPC), asphalt processing (APC), metal processing (MPC), and construction Company machinery Yard (CCMY) in Southern Nigeria. Air Monitors were employed to quantify nitrogen (IV) oxide (NO2), sulphur (IV) oxide (SO2), hydrogen sulphide (H2S), cabon (II) Oxide CO, total volatile organic carbon (TVOC), and suspended particulate matter (SPM) at the studied locations. The mean values of NO2, SO2, H2S, and CO obtained at all the industrial locations were higher than their recommended limits by the Federal Environmental and protection Agency (FEPA) except at BPC. The mean levels of TVOC were higher than the limit at all the locations apart from BPC and CCMY. However, the mean levels of SPM at all locations were higher than the permissible limit. The general trend for the discharge of air pollutants indicated that, COPC and BPC were rated the highest and lowest, respectively. The air quality index (AQI) values obtained revealed that, all the air pollutants at all the locations except BPC were harmful to human health. Nevertheless, the mean AQI value of SPM at BPC was also in the hazardous class. The Principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed that, industrial activities at the studied locations were responsible for the accumulation of these toxic substances in the adjoining air environment. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) for the air pollutants corroborated that most of the parameters were from a common source. HCA for the studied locations indicated similarities between BPC and CCMY, APC and MPC, while COPC was in a separate cluster. Thus, this study has shown the effects of untreated gases released from industries into the air on the environment and appropriate measures should be adopted to ameliorate the trend.

Decision Analysis to Avoid Unplanned Shutdown and Catastrophic Failure Due to Sour Crude Oil Processing in Crude Distillation Unit (CDU)

The Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) plays a pivotal role as the primary production unit in crude oil processing. Changes in the operational patterns of crude oil processing have unveiled potential issues that demand the refinery's capability to process Sour Crude. This type of crude oil contains relatively high impurity levels, with a Total Acid Number (TAN) of 0.3 Mg KOH/g and a sulfur content of 1.5 wt%. This has the potential to impact the remaining life and damage modes of equipment and pipes in the Preheater System due to an increase in corrosion rates. This study aims to identify the root causes and propose alternative solutions to address the possibility of damage, particularly leaks, in the Preheater system of the CDU. The focus is on preventing unplanned shutdowns and reducing the risk of catastrophic issues that may arise from the damage to the CDU's preheater system. These steps are crucial to ensuring the continuity of feed supply for secondary processes and valuable product stocks, essential for the operations of Refinery unit. The research employs Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods to evaluate several alternative solutions. The analysis results are expected to provide guidance in selecting the most effective and efficient solution, minimizing the risk of preheater system damage, and maintaining the optimal performance of the CDU.

Experimental Tests on In Situ Combustion Using Dynamic Ignition Simulation System in High-Temperature and High-Pressure Conditions

The study of crude oil oxidation characteristics is fundamental to the design of ignition in situ combustion. Experimentation is the most crucial method for studying the oxidation characteristics of crude oil. Aiming to address the challenges posed by high temperature, high pressure, and rapid temperature changes during the combustion of crude oil, a dynamic simulation system for high-temperature and high-pressure ignition is designed. In order to study the oxidation characteristics of the crude oil ignition process, we conducted experiments using a high-temperature and high-pressure dynamic ignition simulation device. The experiments focused on determining the ignition point of crude oil under different pressure conditions, oil–water ratios, heating rates, gas injection rates, and other relevant characteristics. The kinetic model for the oxidation process of crude oil ignition was established. The kinetic parameters were calculated for different ignition conditions and the apparent activation energy for each oxidation stage was determined. Additionally, the stability of in situ combustion was evaluated under various ignition parameters. The results show that the Arrhenius curves for crude oil exhibit noticeable differences in the HTO (high-temperature oxidation) and LTO (low-temperature oxidation) regions. The curves demonstrate good linearity in the HTO region, with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.9. Moreover, the apparent activation energies in the HTO region range from 8.01 to 26.7 kJ/mol. The apparent activation energies and finger front factors were calculated for the HTO stage under different pressure conditions. The results showed that, as the pressure increased, the autoignition point, inflection point temperature, and apparent activation energy of the crude oil decreased. This suggests that increasing the pressure can enhance the HTO of the crude oil. The spontaneous ignition point of the crude oil exhibited an upward trend as the heating rate increased. Additionally, the maximum temperature during the combustion process generally increased with the heating rate, reaching a maximum temperature of 453.1 °C. The tests demonstrated that the simulation system is capable of real-time monitoring and recording of oxidation parameters during the combustion process of crude oil. This system can provide essential data for project implementation and numerical simulation.

Production of Light Naphtha by Flash Distillation of Crude Oil

The escalating global demand for sustainable, renewable energy sources has catalyzed research into advanced refining processes, particularly focusing on the generation of essential raw materials like light naphtha. This paper delves into the production of light naphtha via the flash distillation of crude oil, underlining its critical role in fulfilling the petrochemical industry's requirements. The research delineates the fundamentals of flash distillation, incorporating both physical and mathematical models, with a specific emphasis on Raoult's Law, to demystify the hydrocarbon separation process in crude oil. The mathematical framework encompasses material and energy balances, coupled with the application of liquid-vapor equilibrium equations, thereby shedding light on the thermodynamic principles steering this procedure. The progression of this study involved analyzing the distillation curve of the referenced crude oil and identifying the pseudo-components representative of the involved hydrocarbons. Utilizing the DWSIM commercial simulator, the flash distillation process of Nemba crude oil was simulated, taking into account diverse operational conditions and thermodynamic models. The outcomes were juxtaposed with industrial datasets, demonstrating a significant alignment and affirming the simulation's predictive efficacy. A parametric sensitivity analysis was conducted to refine light naphtha yield, elucidating the effect of variables like the temperature of crude oil feed and naphtha separator feed on the process efficiency. The response surface methodology underscored the feasibility of augmenting naphtha production under certain conditions. Furthermore, this study assessed the impacts of employing two distinct thermodynamic models – the Soave-Redlich-Kwong (SRK) and Peng-Robinson (PR) equations of state. This analysis revealed minimal discrepancies in physical parameters, confirming the simulation's robustness and the reliability of both models. The findings of this paper validate the efficacy of flash distillation in light naphtha production, with numerical simulation emerging as a potent tool for enhancing process optimization and predictive analysis. These insights not only contribute to a deeper understanding of environmental sustainability but also offer strategies for maximizing light naphtha production in the oil industry. In conclusion, the results from this investigation significantly advance our comprehension of phase equilibrium profiles and their relationship with the applied thermodynamic state equations, thereby enriching the quality of the results.

ANALYSIS OF LEAN SIGMA - DMAIC IMPLEMENTATION WITH ENVIROMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS IN OIL & GAS INDUSTRY (CASE STUDY: ONSHORE FIELD ABC TERMINAL FIELD – PT XYZ)

The oil and gas industry is facing increasing pressure from an operations and environmental compliance perspective. The adoption of Lean Sigma methodology has been shown to improve the operational performance of various industries, including the Oil and Gas industry. The objective of this research is to analyse the implementation of a sustainable improvement framework based on the Lean Sigma DMAIC (define-measure-analyse-improve-control) method, considering the environment in maintaining sustainable business in the oil and gas industry. The research action approach in a case study is used to illustrate the application of the proposed Lean Sigma - DMAIC framework to improve operational performance and the environment in the oil and gas industry. The case study illustrates the application of the Lean Sigma - DMAIC cycle to improve crude oil quality – Base sedimen & water (BS&W) product and optimize energy consumption in the processing of crude oil. After improving the quality of oil production that previously experienced deviations and making improvements and efficiencies in the processing plant, this oil processing plant can achieve operational cost savings of US$ 181,847.95 and environmental benefits in reducing CO2 emissions by 1,685.81 tons (CO2 eq) by reducing the gas consumption used to heat crude oil in the oil treating plant.

INCREASING THE EXTRACTION OF VACUUM GAS OIL AT THE ELOU-AVT UNIT

The ELOU-AVT unit is part of a large oil refining complex. This unit is designed for primary processing of oils from various fields, as well as their mixtures. Refining is carried out in order to separate oil into separate fractions (gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, fuel oil), which are used as raw materials for secondary oil refining at other units. On the territory of modern refineries, in order to increase the depth of processing of petroleum feedstock, in most cases the following technological units are used: – The isomerization unit is designed for the production of low-boiling high-octane isomerizate used as a component of unleaded motor gasolines. For the production of a low-boiling high-octane component, the plant uses the process of low-temperature isomerization of C5-C6 normal paraffins. – The distillate hydrotreating unit is designed to produce high-quality diesel fuel with low sulfur and nitrogen content, high cetane number, and improved low-temperature properties. – The sulfur production unit is designed to produce solid commercial sulfur by the oxidative conversion of hydrogen sulfide into elemental sulfur. The delayed coking unit is designed to process heavy oil residues (straight-run tar) into lighter gaseous, liquid products and petroleum coke. The process of thermal cracking is the basis for the processing of tar. – The catalytic reformer with preliminary hydrotreatment is designed for the processing of gasoline fractions of oil in order to obtain high-quality gasolines and aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as hydrogen-containing gas (HCG), which is widely used both in petrochemistry and in such oil refining processes as: hydrotreating, hydrocracking, isomerization, etc. Oil refining is a multi-stage process of physical and chemical processing of crude oil, which results in the production of a complex of petroleum products. Industrial primary distillation units are divided into atmospheric (AT), vacuum (VT) and combined (for example, AVT, CDU-AVT, etc.). It is impossible to obtain a single marketable oil product from crude oil directly by one process (with the exception of gases), all of them are obtained by sequential processing at several installations. Keywords: ELOU-AVT machine, distillate hydrotreating unit, Oil refining, multi-stage process, primary distillation units

Molecular Dynamics Study on the Diffusion Mass Transfer Behaviour of CO2 and Crude Oil in Fluids Produced via CO2 Flooding.

Carbon dioxide flooding is one of the main methods used to improve crude oil recovery. It can not only improve oil recovery but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, the addition of carbon dioxide makes crude oil become a more complex multiphase fluid; that is, carbon dioxide flooding-produced fluid, in which CO2 and various components in crude oil mass transfer each other. This results in significant changes in the structure and properties of crude oil that increase the hazards associated with its gathering and transportation. Therefore, it is very important to explore the microscopic mechanism for the diffusion mass transfer of CO2 and crude oil in this fluid, especially during its gathering and transportation. In this study, the diffusion mass transfer process of CO2 and crude oil in fluids produced via CO2 flooding is studied using molecular dynamics, and the influences of temperature, gas-oil ratio and water content are explored. Observations of the configuration and dynamic behaviour of the system show that after the system reaches equilibrium, the majority of the CO2 molecules are distributed at the oil-water interface, and CO2 is more prone to diffusing into the oil phase than the water phase. Increases in temperature and water content inhibit, while increases in the gas-oil ratio promote, the diffusion mass transfer of CO2 in the crude oil system. The results of this study reveal the mechanism for the diffusion mass transfer of CO2 and crude oil in fluids produced via CO2 flooding and account for the influence of the water phase, which is consistent with actual production conditions and has certain guiding significance for the safe operation of oil and gas gathering and transportation.

Modelling droplet size distribution in inline electrostatic coalescers for improved crude oil processing

Water-in-oil emulsions pose significant challenges in the petroleum and chemical industrial processes, necessitating the coalescence enhancement of dispersed water droplets in emulsified oils. This study develops a mathematical model to predict the evolution of water droplet size distribution in inline electrostatic coalescers (IEC) as a promising means to improve the water separation efficiency of current oil processing systems. The proposed model utilizes the population balance modelling approach to effectively simulate the dynamic and complex processes of coalescence and breakage of droplets in crude oil which directly influence the separation efficiency of the process. The method of classes as an effective mathematical technique is selected to solve the population balance equation (PBE). The accuracy of the model and considered assumptions agree well with experimental data collected from the literature. The results demonstrate the model's ability to accurately simulate droplet coalescence and breakage in emulsified oil while predicting droplet size distribution and water removal efficiency. The electric field strength, residence time, and fluid flow rate significantly influence the coalescence of droplets. At 4 kV and 5 m3/h after 4 s the mean diameter of droplets (D50) and separation efficiency reach the maximum of 94.3% and 432 µm, respectively. The model enables the optimization of operational conditions, resulting in increased performance and reliability of oil-processing systems while reducing the energy consumption and use of chemical demulsifiers. Additionally, utilization of the device in optimized conditions significantly reduces the size and weight of downstream separation equipment, which is particularly advantageous for heavy oils and offshore fields.

Machine Learning Applied to Predict Key Petroleum Crude Oil Constituents

AbstractSulfur compounds are the most important inorganic constituents of petroleum and require to be estimated beforehand because of their corrosive nature and other processing anomalies during crude oil processing. Paraffins, naphthene, and aromatics form the bulk of crude oil. Machine learning (ML) predictions of these constituents were made by training the ML model with a diverse industrial data set of 515 oils. The XGBoost model gave an excellent R2 in the range 0.88–0.99 for the bulk compounds. R2 for sulfur was in the modest range of 0.45–0.6, which improved significantly to 0.8 for additional inputs. ML applicability was thereby found to depend on the nature of the constituent. This work furthers ML‐based predictions, with the incentive of reducing expensive spectroscopic analytical methods.

Thermodynamic design and experimental study of a condensation recovery system for VOCs

During the storage and transportation process of crude oil on tankers, the light hydrocarbon components in liquid form have the tendency to evaporate and vaporize easily, resulting in wasted resources and environmental pollution. The current petroleum volatile organic compounds (VOCs) recovery system such as absorption and membrane separation applied to crude oil tankers is unable to fulfil the requirements of existing VOCs emission standards. In contrast, the condensation method of VOCs recovery technology has the benefit of a straightforward process principle, and the recovered liquid hydrocarbons can be utilized directly. It is thus vital to develop a condensation recovery system for petroleum VOCs that is compatible with crude oil tankers. To attain the condensation and recovery of the non-azeotropic gases, such as CH4, C2H6, C3H8, and N2 in the feed gas, this paper proposes a low-temperature VOCs condensation recovery system with graded cooling and liquefaction separation for crude oil tankers. The proposed system initially utilizes a R404A/R23 double-stage cascade refrigeration cycle to cool the VOCs below −75 ℃ to liquefy most heavy hydrocarbons. Then, a low-temperature nitrogen expansion cooling cycle is utilized to cool the VOCs to approximately −160 °C to recover the remaining light hydrocarbons. The condensation process is simulated by Aspen HYSYS to study the variable operating conditions. The recovery of total hydrocarbons in the outlet tail gas in the simulation results is analyzed and found to be up to 95.50 %. Under identical refrigeration capacity circumstances, decreasing the inlet pressure, increasing the inlet flow rate, and increasing the methane mole fraction in VOCs component, all lead to declining trends of total hydrocarbon recovery and methane recovery rate. Specifically, the effects of four different hydrocarbon component ratios on total hydrocarbon recovery and total cooling load are investigated at a constant nitrogen content and refrigeration capacity. Furthermore, the optimal design and analysis process for the flow path section of the turbine expander under the cryogenic conditions is discussed. The results demonstrate that the outlet temperature through the turbine expander is at least −172.1 °C, and the cooling capacity can be up to 4.5 kW with a margin of 80 %. Finally, through the comprehensive VOCs condensation recovery experiments, the proposed system successfully achieves the liquefied separation and recovery of CH4, C2H6, and other hydrocarbons. The recovery rate of the total hydrocarbons in the outlet tail gas reaches 96.21 %, conforming to the VOCs emission standards and regulations. The findings of this study provide a viable technical resolution in the field of petroleum VOCs recovery from crude oil tankers.

OBTAINING OF ECOLOGICALLY CLEAN DIESEL FUEL BY EXTRACTION PROCESS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF MAGNETIC FIELD

Currently, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the diesel fraction obtained by direct oil refining do not meet the standards. This problem is solved in different ways. The extraction process was used as a more efficient method in this study. The aim is to purify polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the diesel fraction obtained during the primary processing of crude oil, using the extraction method under the influence of a magnetic field. Studies have shown that it is advisable to use high-purity N-methylpyrrolidone as extractant for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the diesel fraction. In addition, depending on the degree of acidity, 3 different acids were used - acetic, phosphate and sulfate. The optimal process conditions are as follows: ratio 1:1:1 (N-methylpyrrolidone: Acid: Diesel), magnetic field intensity - 20 mT, speed of stirrer – 70 cycles/minute. While using solely N-methylpyrrolidone as an extractant under magnetic field with an intensity of 20 mT, diesel fuel was obtained with a content of 6 % (wt.) aromatic hydrocarbons, which corresponds to the EURO-5 standard

Chemically reactive magneto-bioconvection 3D flow of radiative williamson nanofluid containing oxytactic moment of microorganisms

Due to enhanced thermal properties, nanofluids have significant applications in medical, industrial cooling, heating frameworks, hyperthermia, coolants processes in heat exchangers, pharmaceutical administration systems, electronic cooling systems, radiators, heating systems, electronic device batteries, electrical, and engineering fields. Different fluid relations have been deliberated to explain the features of nonlinear materials. Among all those fluid models, Williamson is particular which has shear thinning features. The fields of bio-thermal engineering, plastic industry, crude oil processing, plasma mechanics, material manufacture, ice cream paste, biotechnology, information science, graphic designing, aerodynamics and blood circulation have enormous dependence on three-dimensional Williamson fluid flows. Accordingly, main theme of this research work is to investigate 3D Williamson nanofluid aspects with motile microorganisms and new mass flux conditions across a plane that is linearly stretched. The implications of Bioconvection, non-linear radiations, activation energy, thermophoresis, MHD, heat sink/source and Brownian motion also scrutinized in this analysis. The non-linear PDEs are transformed into ODEs by means of suitable transformation. To accomplish, numerical solution of these equations we have used bvp4c MATLAB software. Graphical-tabular analysis is used to illustrate features of numerous parameters. Temperature profile of Williamson nanoliquid amplifies with rising estimates of θf, Nt and δ whereas contradictory behavior is detected for Le, σ and Nb.

Historical emission and reduction of VOCs from the petroleum refining industry and their potential for secondary pollution formation in Guangdong, China

China became the world leader in crude oil processing capacity in 2021. However, petroleum refining generates significant volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, and the composite source profile, source-specific emission factors, and emission inventories of VOCs in the petroleum refining industry remain poorly understood. In this study, we focused on Guangdong, China's major province for crude oil processing, and systematically evaluated the historical emissions and reduction of VOCs in the petroleum refining industry from 2001 to 2020. We accomplished this by establishing local source-specific emission factors and composite source profiles. Finally, we quantitatively assessed the potential impact of these emissions on ozone and secondary organic aerosol formation. Our results revealed that VOC emissions from the petroleum refining industry in Guangdong followed an increasing-then-decreasing trend from 2001 to 2020, peaking at 37.3 Gg in 2016 and declining to 18.7 Gg in 2020. Storage tanks and wastewater collection and treatment remained the two largest sources, accounting for 41.9 %–53.4 % and 20.6 %–27.5 % of total emissions, respectively. Initially, Guangzhou and Maoming made the most significant contributions, with Huizhou becoming a notable contributor after 2008. Emission reduction efforts for VOCs in Guangdong's petroleum refining industry began showing results in 2017, with an average annual VOC emission reduction of 21.5 Gg from 2017 to 2020 compared to the unabated scenario. Storage tanks, wastewater collection and treatment, and loading operations were the primary sources of emission reduction, with significant contributions from Maoming, Huizhou, and Guangzhou. Alkanes made the largest contribution to VOC emissions, while alkenes/alkynes and aromatics comprised the most significant portions of ozone formation potential (OFP) and secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAP). We also estimated VOC emissions and reduction from petroleum refining for China from 2001 to 2020, and measures such as “one enterprise, one policy” and deep control strategies could reduce emissions by at least 103.9 Gg.

Dissipative Particle Dynamics-Based Simulation of the Effect of Asphaltene Structure on Oil-Water Interface Properties.

Asphaltenes are the main substances that stabilize emulsions during the production, processing, and transport of crude oil. The purpose of this research is to investigate the process of asphaltenes forming interfacial films at the oil-water interface by means of dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) and the effect of asphaltenes of different structures on the oil-water interface during the formation of interfacial film. It is demonstrated that the thickness of the interfacial film formed at the oil-water interface gradually increases as the asphaltene concentration rises and the amount of asphaltene adsorbed at the oil-water interface gradually multiplies. Both the number and type of heteroatoms in asphaltenes affect the interfacial behavior of asphaltenes. The interface activity of asphaltenes can be enhanced by increasing the number of heteroatoms in the asphaltene, and the type of heteroatom affects as well the interfacial activity of the asphaltene as it affects the aggregation behavior of the asphaltene in the system. As the number of asphaltene aromatic rings increases, the oil-water interfacial tension (IFT) trends down gradually, while the effect of alkyl side chains on the reduction of IFT of asphaltenes is different, and asphaltenes with medium length alkyl side chains can reduce IFT more efficiently.

A continuous-time formulation for scheduling crude oil operations in a terminal with a refinery pipeline

The reception, mixture, delivery, and processing of crude oil at a refinery are modeled and validated. We employ a continuous-time model based on priority-slots and a multi-operation sequencing approach. The refinery’s desired qualities are defined as equivalent to the terminal mixtures, thus streamlining the formulation and eliminating any bilinear terms in the equations related to pipeline delivery. The goal is to find an optimized schedule that satisfies all constraints, for which an MINLP model is proposed and solved. However, by ruling out mixtures in tanks, the formulation is reduced to a manageable MILP model. Also, the Relax & Fix strategy can be used to determine an optimized schedule of operations over a time horizon in a timely and cost-effective manner. This work presents an innovative solution to the complex challenge of crude oil reception, mixture, pipeline delivery, and refinery processing.

Investigation of nano composite heat exchanger annular pipeline flow using CFD analysis for crude oil and water characteristics

This study focuses on the dual-core annular process of crude oil and water. The crude oil exhibits non-Newtonian behavior with high viscosity. The heat transmission flow in pipeline locations is complex. In this process, the cooled water passes through the annular core, experiencing turbulence effects, while the crude oil flows in a laminar manner. The influence of the non-Newtonian behavior is investigated in terms of pipe angles and deformations. In the valve, the inlet velocity flow is set at 1.75 m/s. The flow is executed in downhill orientations in high-velocity locations. The simulation results show CFD variations with a velocity of 3.5 m/s, pressure of 2.33 MPa, pressure gradients of 1.33 MPa, and Reynolds numbers of 1.38 MPa. This study is being conducted for a horizontal pipeline. The CFD solution solvers investigate the volumetric flow characteristics of the fluid as well as the temperature effects. The maximum heat energy has been reduced, resulting in unique flow directions.