JPH0782578A - Production of heavy oil emulsion - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a heavy oil emulsion fuel which has an excellent storage stability and flowability equivalent to that of a conventional liq. fuel while contg. a high concn. of a heavy oil component. CONSTITUTION:An oil-in-water emulsion contg. 60-85wt.% heavy oil, 10-40wt.% water, and 0.01-5wt.% surfactant is produced with an apparatus wherein a mixture contg. the heavy oil, water, and the surfactant is passed through at least one dispersing machine provided that the heavy oil is divided into at least two portions in the direction of flow in the apparatus and supplied to at least one dispersing machine.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for producing a heavy oil emulsion. More specifically, it is an oil-in-water emulsion of a heavy oil having a specific particle size distribution, and as a heavy oil alternative fuel, it has a low viscosity despite its high concentration and is excellent in handleability and storage stability. The present invention relates to a method for producing a useful heavy oil emulsion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years,
Oil, which has been used most as an energy source,
The limit of the reserves and the rise of the price accompanying it are occurring, and the development of alternative oil energy is required. Against this background, as a new fossil resource, oil sands and bitumen, as well as heavy oils such as petroleum distillation residues and asphalt are being considered as fuels.

However, these heavy oils usually contain vacuum distillation residue of about 420 to 450 ° C. and a heavy fraction of about 60 to 70.
It is an oily substance containing not less than wt% and does not flow as it is or has a high viscosity of tens of thousands of centipoise or more. Therefore, to use as fuel, 280-300 ℃
Unless it is heated to a high temperature, there is a problem of poor handling and atomization during combustion. In addition, it is a fuel that is prone to blockage problems such as piping of combustion boilers and is extremely difficult to use. An oil-in-water emulsion is effective as a method for making such a highly viscous heavy oil fluid even at room temperature. Generally, emulsions are obtained by passing oil, water and optionally a surfactant through a disperser. However, when heavy oil is simply emulsified by a homogenizer or other disperser (emulsifier) or the petroleum distillation residue is pulverized by a mill or the like, the optimum particle size distribution as an emulsion fuel cannot be obtained, and the particle size distribution Is relatively narrow, and the uniform number n value defined below becomes larger than 1.8. With a heavy oil emulsion having such a particle size distribution, it is not possible to obtain an emulsion of the present invention, which is excellent in high concentration / low viscosity / storage stability.

Further, JP-A-53-104434 discloses a method for spray burning heavy oil emulsion fuel, and JP-A-61-247757 describes a method for producing a bitumen emulsion. Although the diameter is specified, the emulsion fuels described in these publications do not make any study on the control of the particle size distribution of heavy oil. Also, when emulsified at a high concentration such that the heavy oil content exceeds 70% by weight, according to the conventional manufacturing method, the particle size distribution of the emulsion is close to monodisperse, resulting in high viscosity and poor fluidity. In addition, because of the high viscosity, the oil droplets are easily broken and the storage stability deteriorates. For this reason, it was practically difficult to increase the concentration because of the restriction of handling property.

As described above, the conventional manufacturing techniques have a limit to the concentration of heavy oil and the storage stability, and a satisfactory emulsion fuel has not been obtained. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a heavy oil emulsion fuel which contains the heavy oil component at a high concentration but exhibits the fluidity of a conventional liquid fuel and is excellent in storage stability.

[0006]

As a result of intensive studies to solve the above problems, the present inventors have found that when a heavy oil emulsion is produced, the heavy oil is supplied at a plurality of locations in the flow direction. The present invention has been completed, paying attention to the fact that the particle size distribution can be controlled by. That is, the present invention relates to the method for producing a heavy oil emulsion described in 1) to 3) below.

1) 60 to 85% by weight of heavy oil, 10 to 40% by weight of water and surface active agent by means of a device for passing a mixed liquid containing heavy oil, water and a surfactant through at least one disperser. In producing an oil-in-water emulsion containing 0.01 to 5% by weight of the agent, the heavy oil is divided into at least two locations in the flow direction in the apparatus and supplied to at least one disperser. And a method for producing a heavy oil emulsion.

2) Heavy oil in the emulsion becomes oil droplets.
Particles having a particle size of 100 μm or less account for 80% by weight or more, and in the Rosin-Rammler distribution function shown in the formula (1) below, the particle size corresponding to a cumulative weight of 10% on the sieve (μm)
And a method for producing a heavy oil emulsion as described in 1) above, which has a particle size distribution in which the uniform number n obtained from two points of the particle diameter (μm) corresponding to 90% of the cumulative weight on the screen is in the range of 0.5 to 1.8. R _(D) = 100 exp {-(D / Dc) ⁿ } (1) However, R: cumulative weight% on the screen, D: particle size, n: constant (uniform number), Dc: constant (number of particle size characteristics) [For the Rosin-Rammler distribution function, see, for example, "Handbook of Powder Engineering", pages 7 to 11 edited by The Powder Engineering Society of Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Ltd.].

3) When the viscosity of the emulsion is 25 ° C
The method for producing a heavy oil emulsion according to the above 1) or 2), which is 100 to 3000 centipoise.

The present invention will be described in detail below. A plurality of the dispersers used in the present invention can be provided, but the heavy oil supply port to be divided and supplied may be provided at a plurality of places in one disperser, or at a plurality of places across the plurality of dispersers. May be.

In the method of the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a heavy oil is supplied from 1 and a surfactant aqueous solution is supplied from 2 to a disperser 5 by a supply pump 4, and the disperser is supplied. The mixture is mixed and emulsified in 5, and the heavy oil is further supplied from 7 by a supply pump 6 together with the emulsion from the outlet of the disperser 5 to the disperser 8. An oil-in-water emulsion 9 containing 60-85% by weight heavy oil, 10-40% by weight water and 0.01-5% by weight surfactant is obtained.

In the method of the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to feed heavy oil by dividing it into a plurality of locations in the flow direction in one dispersing machine. Ie 10
The surfactant aqueous solution is supplied from the supply pump 11 and the heavy oil from 13 is supplied to the inlet of the disperser 14 by the supply pump 12, mixed and emulsified in the disperser 14, and further from the 16 to the heavy oil in the middle of the disperser 14. Is supplied by a supply pump 15, and together with the emulsified product supplied from the inlet of the disperser 14 and emulsified, further mixed and emulsified in the disperser 14, 60 to 85 wt% of heavy oil from the outlet of the disperser 14, and 10 to water. An oil-in-water emulsion 17 containing 40% by weight and 0.01 to 5% by weight of surfactant is obtained.

In the present invention, the method as shown in FIG. 1 and the method as shown in FIG. 2 may be used in combination, and the supply division number and the supply division ratio of the heavy oil are particularly limited. Not a thing. According to the method of the present invention, since the heavy oil has a distribution in the frequency of passing through the disperser, an optimum particle size distribution can be obtained, and a heavy oil emulsion having high concentration / low viscosity / storage stability is obtained. be able to.

[0014] dispersing machine used in the present invention, the shear rate (blade peripheral speed / clearance) is more than 2000s ^-1 are preferred, more preferably those which are given a stirring intensity corresponding to about 20,000 to 100,000 s ^-1, Homomixer, homogenizer,
It is possible to use commonly used emulsifiers and dispersers such as line mixers, colloid mills, sand mills, milders, static mixers, motionless mixers, honeycomb mixers, imstat mixers, etc. The emulsion used is continuously produced, and a plurality of the same dispersers may be combined and used, or a plurality of different dispersers may be combined and used. In the method of the present invention, the emulsification temperature is preferably lower than 100 ° C, more preferably 60 to 90 ° C.

The heavy oil used in the present invention is an oil that has poor fluidity at room temperature and does not flow unless heated to a high temperature, and examples thereof include the following oils. Mixtures of petroleum-based asphalts and their oils Various processed products of petroleum-based asphalts, intermediate products, residues and mixtures thereof High-pour point oils or crude oils that do not flow at room temperature Petroleum-based tar pitches and oil mixtures Bitumen, natural asphalt, orinoco Tar Of these oils, 90% of components with a boiling point of 340
It has a particularly excellent effect on oils containing more than wt%.

In the present invention, the heavy oil concentration in the finally obtained emulsion is 60 to 85% by weight, preferably 70 to 85% by weight.
80% by weight. When the heavy oil concentration is less than 60% by weight, the calorific value is lowered and, in some cases, direct combustion becomes difficult. On the other hand, when the heavy oil concentration exceeds 85% by weight, the viscosity of the emulsion increases and the fluidity decreases, and during storage, particles coalesce or aggregate to reduce the storage stability.

As the surfactant in the present invention, one or more selected from nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants and amphoteric surfactants are used. Examples of the surfactant that can be used include the following. Among these, it is preferable to use a nonionic surfactant and an anionic surfactant in combination.

<Nonionic Surfactant> (i) An alkylene oxide adduct of a compound having a phenolic hydroxyl group such as phenol, cresol, butylphenol, nonylphenol, dinonylphenol, dodecylphenol, paracumylphenol and bisphenol A. (Ii) An alkylene oxide adduct of a formaldehyde condensate of a compound having a phenolic hydroxyl group such as alkylphenol, phenol, metacresol, styrenated phenol, and benzylated phenol. The average degree of condensation is
It is 1.2 to 100, preferably 2 to 20.

(Iii) An alkylene oxide adduct of a monohydric aliphatic alcohol having 2 to 50 carbon atoms. (Iv) An alkylene oxide adduct of a monovalent aliphatic amine having 2 to 50 carbon atoms. (V) A block or random addition polymer of alkylene oxide. (Vi) Alkylene oxide adduct of polyhydric alcohol. (Vii) An alkylene oxide adduct of an ester of a polyhydric alcohol and a fatty acid having 8 to 18 carbon atoms.

(Viii) An alkylene oxide adduct of a polyvalent amine having a plurality of active hydrogens such as ethylenediamine, tetraethylenediamine, polyethyleneimine (molecular weight 600 to 10,000). (Ix) A product obtained by adding an alkylene oxide to a mixture of 1 mol of a triglyceride type oil and fat and 0.1 to 5 mol of a polyhydric alcohol and / or water.

Examples of the polyhydric alcohols (vi) and (vii) include glycerin, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, sucrose, polyglycerin, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polypropylene glycol and the like. It is illustrated.

<Anionic Surfactant> (I) Formaldehyde condensate of sulfonic acid or sulfonate of aromatic ring compound such as naphthalene, alkylnaphthalene, alkylphenol and alkylbenzene. Preferably, the average degree of condensation of formaldehyde is 1.2-100
Is. (II) Lignin sulfonic acid, lignin sulfonate, derivatives thereof, formaldehyde condensates of lignin sulfonic acid and sulfonic acids of aromatic compounds such as naphthalene and alkylnaphthalene, and salts thereof. Preferably, the average degree of condensation of formaldehyde is 1.2-50.

(III) Polystyrene sulfonic acid or a salt thereof, a copolymer of styrene sulfonic acid and another copolymerizable monomer, and a salt thereof. Preferably the molecular weight is between 500 and 500,000. (IV) A dicyclopentadienesulfonic acid polymer or a salt thereof. Preferably, the molecular weight of the polymer is 500 to 500,000.

(V) A copolymer of maleic anhydride or / and itaconic anhydride with another copolymerizable monomer, and an acid or salt thereof. Preferably the molecular weight is between 500 and 500,000. (VI) Maleates of liquid polybutadiene and salts thereof.
Preferably, the liquid polybutadiene has a molecular weight of 500,000 to 200,000.

(VII) The following anionic surfactant having one or two hydrophilic groups in the molecule. (a) Sulfate ester salt of an alcohol having 4 to 18 carbon atoms. (b) Alkane, alkene or / and alkylaryl sulfonic acid having 4 to 18 carbon atoms or a salt thereof. (c) Sulfates or phosphates of alkylene oxide adducts of compounds having one or more active hydrogens in the molecule, and salts thereof. (d) A sulfosuccinate which is an ester of a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid having 4 to 22 carbon atoms. (e) Alkyl diphenyl ether disulfonic acid or a salt thereof. The alkyl group is an alkyl group having 8 to 18 carbon atoms. (f) Rosin acid or a salt thereof. Tall oil mixed acid which is a mixed acid of rosin acid and higher fatty acid and its salt. (g) Alkane or alkene fatty acid having 4 to 18 carbon atoms and salts thereof. (h) An α-sulfo fatty acid ester salt represented by the following general formula.

[0026]

[Chemical 1]

(Wherein R ₁ is an alkyl group or alkenyl group having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R ₂ is an alkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, M is a monovalent or divalent metal atom, NH ₄ or an organic amine, n
Represents 1 or 2. ) In the compounds (I) to (VII), salts include lower amines such as ammonium, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine and triethylamine, alkali metals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium or alkaline earth. Examples thereof include salts of similar metals.

<Cationic Surfactant and Amphoteric Surfactant> Alkyl or / and alkenyl amine salt, quaternary ammonium salt, alkyl betaine, alkyl amine oxide, alkyl alanine, polyamate, polyamine salt, imidazoline type amphoteric surfactant. , Sulfobetaine type amphoteric surfactants and the like.

In the present invention, the content of the surfactant in the finally obtained emulsion is in the range of 0.01 to 5% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 1.0% by weight. If the blending amount is less than 0.01% by weight, the emulsification and emulsion stability of heavy oil are insufficient, and if the blending amount exceeds 5% by weight, not only is it uneconomical, but foaming and particle size control at the time of emulsification It is difficult and not preferable. The surfactant may be supplied as an aqueous solution, in which case water in the aqueous solution is considered as a component of water in the emulsion.

In the present invention, the blending amount of water, which is a component in the finally obtained emulsion, is important and is 10-40
The blending amount is in the range of% by weight, more preferably 15 to 30.
% By weight. If the amount of water is less than 10% by weight, the emulsion stability will not be improved and the fluidity will not be improved even if the particle size distribution of oil droplets of heavy oil is optimized or the type and amount of surfactant used are optimized. Only emulsions that are inferior to Further, if the content of water exceeds 40% by weight, the calorific value as a fuel may decrease and direct combustion may become difficult, which should be avoided.

In the present invention, if necessary, a polyhydric alcohol and / or a polymer stabilizer may be added for the purpose of further improving the stability. Any polyhydric alcohol may be used as long as it has two or more hydroxyl groups in the molecule and is soluble in water. For example, glycerin, polyglycerin, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol,
Glucose and the like. The content of the polyhydric alcohol in the emulsion is preferably 0.1 to 50% by weight. As the polymer stabilizer, various water-soluble polymers having a molecular weight of 10,000 or more shown in Table 1 can be blended, and the blending amount of the polymer stabilizer in the emulsion is preferably 0.005 to 3% by weight.

[0032]

[Table 1]

Originally, an emulsion is in a state in which one of two kinds of liquids that do not dissolve in each other is finely dispersed in the other, and the free energy of the interface increases as the interfacial area of the two liquids increases. It is a very unstable non-equilibrium system, the dispersion state changes with time, and the emulsion state tends to disappear. It is common to use a surfactant for the purpose of reducing the free energy of the interface and improving the stability of the system, but no matter how good a surfactant is used, the interfacial free energy does not become zero. However, it is difficult to obtain a truly stable emulsion. Further, it is more difficult to increase the concentration as it is closer to a monodisperse system.

Therefore, the inventors of the present invention suppress the increase in the interfacial area between heavy oil and water as much as possible in order to stabilize the system,
In order to reduce the free energy of the interface and increase the concentration of the emulsion, it is necessary to fluidize the emulsion by minimizing the interparticle void ratio (void ratio) so that the heavy oil can be packed at a high density. Since it is desirable to minimize the amount of solvent (water), focusing on controlling the particle size distribution of the heavy oil to be optimal, the heavy oil is divided into multiple parts in the flow direction as described above. The heavy energy oil droplets have a distribution in the shearing energy supplied from the disperser.

In the present invention, a particularly preferred particle size distribution is
In the Rosin-Rammler distribution function shown in the equation (1),
It is a particle size distribution in which the uniform number n obtained from the two points of the particle size (μm) corresponding to the cumulative screen weight of 10% and the particle size corresponding to the cumulative screen weight of 90% is in the range of 0.5 to 1.8. , And more preferably 0.8 to 1.5. If this uniform number n exceeds 1.8, that is, if the range of the particle size distribution is narrow and the distribution is sharper, the interparticle void ratio (void ratio) increases and it is difficult to increase the concentration of heavy oil. However, the interfacial area between heavy oil and water increases, and the interfacial free energy increases, which significantly reduces the stability of the system. Further, if the uniform number n is less than 0.5, that is, if the range of the particle size distribution is wide and the distribution is broad, it is difficult to produce an emulsion, and the void ratio between particles increases, resulting in a high emulsion concentration. Will be difficult.

Generally, when a heavy oil is simply emulsified by a disperser (emulsifier) such as a homogenizer, or when the petroleum distillation residue is pulverized by a mill or the like, one satisfying the above-mentioned particle size distribution requirements is obtained. Not obtained, relatively narrow particle size distribution, uniform number n
The value will be greater than 1.8. With a heavy oil emulsion having such a particle size distribution, it is not possible to obtain an emulsion of the present invention, which is excellent in high concentration / low viscosity / storage stability.

In the present invention, the average particle size of the oil droplets of the heavy oil in the emulsion is preferably 3 to 50 μm,
Further, 80% by weight or more of particles having a particle diameter of 100 μm or less are preferable, and 15% by weight or less of particles having a particle diameter of 1 μm or less are particularly preferable. 100
If there are many coarse particles having a particle size larger than μm, unburned during combustion as a fuel, the combustion efficiency is lowered, and precipitation during storage and clogging of boiler pipes are not preferable.

Further, in the present invention, the viscosity of the emulsion is preferably 100 to 3000 centipoise at a temperature of 25 ° C., more preferably 200 to 1500 centipoise. If the viscosity of this emulsion exceeds 3000 centipoise, it becomes difficult to transport by a pump or the like, and the handling property deteriorates, which is not preferable as a fuel for a boiler or the like. Further, if the viscosity of this emulsion is less than 100 centipoise, the stability in standing is extremely deteriorated and problems such as precipitation during storage are likely to occur, which is not preferable.

[0039]

As described above, in the oil-in-water emulsion obtained by the method of the present invention, the heavy oil in the emulsion has a specific particle size distribution, and the emulsion obtained by the method of the present invention. Fuel has a viscosity that is relatively close to that of water, and is capable of sufficient atomization at temperatures between room temperature and 90 ° C.
It is a fuel with excellent handling properties. Further, the emulsion obtained by the method of the present invention has excellent fluidity despite its extremely high concentration, because the heavy oil has a specific particle size distribution, and it has no precipitation or viscosity even after long-term storage. It is an extremely stable emulsion fuel that does not increase.

In the emulsion of the present invention, the particle size distribution of heavy oil is a very important factor, and it is impossible to control the particle size distribution to be optimum as an emulsion fuel by the conventional production method. Obtained by the method of the present invention,
A high-concentration / low-viscosity emulsion of heavy oil with a specific particle size distribution is a breakthrough that enables heavy oil such as bitumen and asphalt that has not been effectively used as an energy source to be used as an alternative fuel for heavy oil. It is something.

Further, the emulsion fuel according to the present invention is
Since the heavy oil has a high concentration and a low viscosity close to that of water, it also has a great feature that it can be used without modifying a conventional heavy oil combustion boiler. Further, since the heavy oil is fine particles, the combustion efficiency is high and the nitrogen oxides after combustion can be reduced.

[0042]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Example 1 Asphalt obtained from Arabian light crude oil (specific gravity
1.015, Viscosity 595cP / 100 ℃, Softening point 29 ℃, Penetration 370/25
℃) and nonionic surfactant (polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether, Emulgen 92 manufactured by Kao Corporation)
1) and an anionic surfactant (potassium oleate soap, OS soap manufactured by Kao Co., Ltd.) using a surfactant aqueous solution with a weight ratio of 1: 1 (surfactant basis), using the apparatus shown in FIG. As a disperser 5, a line mixer (PL) manufactured by Tokushu Kika Kogyo Co., Ltd.
-SL type), and using an auto homomixer pipeline M type manufactured by Tokushu Kika Kogyo Co., Ltd. as the disperser 8, the emulsification temperature
The emulsion was prepared at 80 ° C. Asphalt temperature
At 110 ° C., the aqueous activator solution was handled at 70 ° C.
That is, the line mixer (PL-S manufactured by Tokushu Kika Kogyo Co., Ltd.)
L type) 5 to supply asphalt from 1 to 500g /
It was supplied by the supply pump 3 at a flow rate of 2 min, and the aqueous surfactant solution was supplied from the supply pump 4 at a supply flow rate of 600 g / min. The surfactant concentration in the aqueous surfactant solution is 1
5 g of surfactant was used for 00 g. Emulsify at a shear rate of 30000 (s ^-1 ) in the line mixer 5, and supply asphalt from 7 with a supply pump 6 at a supply flow rate of 1250 g / min into the pipe connecting the outlet of the line mixer 5 and the inlet of the auto homomixer pipeline 8. , Is supplied to the auto homomixer pipeline 8 together with the emulsion from the line mixer 5 outlet,
Shear rate of auto homomixer pipeline 8 25000
It was emulsified with (s ^-1 ). The obtained emulsion 9 was used all day and night.
After cooling in a constant temperature chamber at 20 ° C., the particle size, viscosity and storage stability were measured by the following methods. The results are shown in Table 2.

<Measurement Method> Particle size: Laser diffraction / scattering type particle size distribution measuring device (LA700, manufactured by Horiba, Ltd.) was used. Even number n: From the particle size measurement results, the particle size corresponding to 10% of the cumulative screen weight and the particle size corresponding to the 90% of the cumulative screen weight were found by fitting, and the above formula (1) was derived from the Rosin-Rammler distribution function. Sought by. Viscosity: By Tokyo Keiki Seisakusho B-type viscometer (model BM),
Rotor Nos. 3 and 4 were used to measure the values one minute after the start of rotation at 25 ° C. and 60 rpm.

Storage stability; sedimentation test tube (3 cmφ × 30 cm)
A heavy oil emulsion was charged to a depth of 25 cm and allowed to stand at 25 ° C for one month, then the water was separated at the surface layer and the heavy oil was separated at the bottom of the sedimentation test tube. Each of the following three ranks was evaluated.

◯: No separation Δ: Slight separation (1 to 5 mm) X: Separation (5 mm or more) Example 2 Using the same asphalt and aqueous surfactant solution as in Example 1, the apparatus shown in FIG. The emulsification temperature is 80 ° C using a disperser having a heavy oil supply port between the first and second stators of a line mixer (PL-2SL type) manufactured by Tokushu Kika Kogyo Co., Ltd. To prepare an emulsion. That is, in the disperser 14, the aqueous surfactant solution was supplied from 10 by the supply pump 11 at a supply flow rate of 600 g / min, and the asphalt was supplied from 13 by the supply pump 12 at a supply flow rate of 1000 g / min. Emulsifying at a shear rate of 30000 (s ^-1 ) in the disperser 14, and asphalt is supplied from 16 to the middle of the disperser 14.
It was supplied by a supply pump 15 at 800 g / min, and mixed and emulsified with the emulsion from the inlet of the disperser 14. The obtained emulsion 17 was left standing and cooled in a thermostatic chamber at 20 ° C. for 24 hours, and then measured for particle size, viscosity and storage stability in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 2.

Example 3 Using the same asphalt and aqueous surfactant solution as in Example 1, the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 were used in combination to form an emulsion at an emulsification temperature of 80 ° C. Prepared. That is, asphalt is supplied from 1 into the line mixer (PL-SL type) 5 manufactured by Tokushu Kika Kogyo Co., Ltd.
It was supplied by the supply pump 3 at g / min, and the aqueous surfactant solution was supplied by the supply pump 4 from 2 at a supply flow rate of 400 g / min. Emulsify at a shear rate of 30000 (s ^-1 ) in the line mixer 5, and supply asphalt from 7 with a supply pump 6 at a supply flow rate of 300 g / min into the pipe connecting the outlet of the line mixer 5 and the inlet of the auto homomixer pipeline 8. , And the emulsion from the outlet of the line mixer 5 was supplied to the auto homomixer pipeline 8. The emulsion 9 obtained by emulsifying at a shearing rate of 25000 (s ^-1 ) in the auto homomixer pipeline 8 is supplied from 10 by a supply pump 11 to a line mixer (PL-2SL type) manufactured by Tokushu Kika Kogyo Co., Ltd. A disperser 14 having a heavy oil supply port provided between the first stator and the second stator.
Supply asphalt from 13 to 300g / mi
Supplied with feed pump 12 at n. Shear rate of disperser 14
The mixture was emulsified at 30,000 (s ⁻¹ ), and asphalt was supplied from 16 to the middle of the disperser 14 at a supply flow rate of 300 g / min by the supply pump 15, and mixed emulsified with the emulsion from the inlet of the disperser 14. The obtained emulsion 17 was left standing and cooled in a thermostatic chamber at 20 ° C. for 24 hours, and then measured for particle size, viscosity and storage stability in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 2.

Comparative Example 1 Using the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, an emulsion was obtained under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the asphalt feed rate from 1 was set to 1750 g / min and the asphalt feed from 7 was stopped. . The obtained emulsion was left standing and cooled in a constant temperature room at 20 ° C. for 24 hours, and then the particle size, viscosity and storage stability were measured in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 2.

Comparative Example 2 An emulsion was obtained under the same conditions as in Example 2 except that the asphalt feed rate from 13 was set to 900 g / min and the asphalt feed from 16 was stopped using the apparatus shown in FIG. . The obtained emulsion was left standing and cooled in a constant temperature room at 20 ° C. for 24 hours, and then measured for particle size, viscosity and storage stability in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0050]

[Table 2]

As is clear from Table 2, in Examples 1 to 3, the measured values of the even number n are the intended values of the present invention.
Even though the heavy oil concentration of the emulsion is extremely high, close to 80% by weight, its viscosity is 1000 at 25 ° C.
It is not more than a centipoise, it has an extremely good handling property at room temperature, and the storage stability is sufficiently satisfactory for practical use. On the other hand, the emulsions prepared in Comparative Examples 1 and 2 had an even number n exceeding 1.8,
The particle size distribution is extremely sharp. Therefore, the viscosity of the emulsion is extremely high, exceeding 3000 centipoise,
It is unsuitable as a heavy fuel alternative fuel. In addition, the storage stability also gels in one month, which makes it impractical.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of an apparatus used in a method for producing a heavy oil emulsion of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing another example of an apparatus used in the method for producing a heavy oil emulsion of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 heavy oil 2 surfactant aqueous solution 3 supply pump 4 supply pump 5 disperser 6 supply pump 7 heavy oil 8 disperser 9 oil-in-water emulsion 10 surfactant aqueous solution 11 supply pump 12 supply pump 13 Heavy Oil 14 Disperser 15 Supply Pump 16 Heavy Oil 17 Oil-in-Water Emulsion

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tadakazu Yamashita 8th, Chidori-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama City Japan Petroleum Incorporated Central Research Laboratory

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. 60 to 85% by weight of heavy oil, 10 to 40% by weight of water and surface active agent by means of a device for passing a mixed liquid containing heavy oil, water and a surfactant through at least one disperser. In producing an oil-in-water emulsion containing 0.01 to 5% by weight of the agent, the heavy oil is divided into at least two locations in the flow direction in the apparatus and supplied to at least one disperser. And a method for producing a heavy oil emulsion. 2. Heavy oil in the emulsion as oil droplets
Particles having a particle size of 100 μm or less account for 80% by weight or more, and in the Rosin-Rammler distribution function shown in the formula (1) below, the particle size corresponding to a cumulative weight of 10% on the sieve (μm)
And a particle size distribution in which the uniform number n obtained from the two points of the particle diameter (μm) corresponding to 90% of the cumulative weight on the screen is in the range of 0.5 to 1.8. R _(D) = 100 exp {-(D / Dc) ⁿ } (1) However, R: cumulative weight% on the screen, D: particle size, n: constant (uniform number), Dc: constant (number of particle size characteristics) 3. The emulsion viscosity at a temperature of 25 ° C.
The method for producing a heavy oil emulsion according to claim 1 or 2, which has a viscosity of 100 to 3000 centipoise.