MXPA98009129A - Procedure and method for creating currents for the liquidation of crude oil petroleum sediments - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to the invented process and the device invented serve for the liquefaction of sediments (3) muddy to dense in tanks (1) in which crude oil (2) is stored and / or flowed by injecting to the surface of the sedimenting a liquid by nozzles (11) by the effect of this the sediment (3) at least partially liquids dissolves in the liquid that could be evacuated from the tank (1). For this purpose, a stream of liquid is generated on the surface of the sediment, mainly running, under closed circumstances, by means of an adjustment of all the nozzles (11) of the injection direction in such a way that it has a horizontal component, directed tangentially to a current line of the liquid stream and aligned in the direction of the current. The injected liquid is crude oil or a refinery product and is distinguished from the lowest layer of liquid on the sediment by a smaller part of the component weights

Description

PROCEDURE AND DEVICE FOR THE LIQUEFACTION OF SEDIMENTS OF RAW CRUDE THICKENED In the invention, it is a process corresponding to the general concept of the first demand for an independent procedure as well as a device to carry out the execution of the procedure. Procedure and device serve to recover crude oil bound from crude oil thickened respectively from its muddy sediment to compact in tanks in which the crude oil is stored and / or transported.

The oil extracted from the subsoil is stored first without any treatment in tanks, in storage tanks of crude oil with great capacity and ready to be distributed. The storage period is usually so long that considerable amounts of sediment can be formed, especially under extreme climatic conditions. The sedimendo formation time, its structure and composition can be very different depending on the origin of the oil. When the tanks have been emptied and refilled several times without the sediments having been removed, a layer of sediment with a thickness of up to 1.5 meters and more may be formed. The quantities of crude oil contained in such layers of sediment are considerable since they consist mainly of thickened oil and higher molecular substances such as asphalt, paraffin and wax. The sediments, however, can also be formed from lighter petroleum components by absorption under the influence of heat. The sediments are often of a gelatinous consistency and are no more than a heavy fraction of oil, the components of which can be easily mixed with lighter petroleum fractions, respectively, dissolve well in these. But the separate sediments also contain foreign bodies such as, for example, in the form of stones of metal parts, mostly in the form of oxide.

For a long time the sediments described above in the oil tanks meant an undesired material that until now is removed from the tanks in periodic cleanings by corresponding cleaning means, mostly aqueous solutions of detergents and deposited or disposed of more or less conveniently. In the description of the patent EP-160805 a process is described according to which sediments of this nature in crude oil tanks or storage or transport tanks are transformed into a reusable state. For this purpose, according to this description, crude oil is injected into the sediment by introduced nozzle rotating nozzles. This causes a vertiginous movement in a large area and a distribution of the sediment by the liquid, the sediment being partially dissolved. It is advantageous to adjust the particular nozzles in such a way that the eddies generated by each nozzle rotating in the opposite direction act together to form currents.

From the description (EP-160805) mentioned sti sees that the described procedure is extremely complicated. The reason for this is the forced use of rotating lances by which a larger area can be affected by the injected oil to achieve eddy formation. With regard to energy consumption and especially concerning the device and assembly procedure, all this is relatively complicated and expensive. Drive means are required for the rotation of the lances. For the same spears you have to inject also the diluent, that is the fresh crude oil. In order for swirls to form, control means are also needed to control the direction of rotation of the lances. Moreover, such rotary lances have a complicated mechanical construction and for this reason they are prone to breakdowns. If the combined rotation fails, the flow will not be formed either, although this would not be so serious from the action to the area of the rotating lances. But the triple function required: rotation by pneumatic means, for example, pumping and injection of crude oil and the rotation of the nozzle nozzles all at the same time, is very complicated and with a view to the process rather disadvantageous. The construction of rotating lances must be done with high precision, because in the device it is necessary to integrate bearings and other elements with a very small margin of tolerance for adjustments, for example. All this makes the construction of the devices more expensive.

It can be shown that it is possible to avoid these relatively high expenses. The invention, therefore, is intended to remedy these disadvantages. The task is accomplished by the method and the device as defined in the patent claim.

The invented procedure consists mainly in introducing a multiplicity of fixed liquid jets of cubic order and guided in and directly above the sediment by hydrodynamic energy in such a way that the liquid forms a current that moves mainly in horizontal direction. A fixed current between them is composed in a tank of round shape as if it was driven by a giant blender which is achieved with a multiplicity of spears with fixed nozzles arranged and directed in a special way. There the limit of the floating layer of the liquid above should be disturbed as little as possible and the limit below, ie the boundary between the floating liquid and the sediment should be formed in such a way that there is an intensified erosion effect in the current. The end of the procedure is also to keep the energy consumption as low as possible and generate guided streams only where they are needed to dissolve the sediment. It is sought to mainly agitate a certain layer to form a stream, that is, the area above the sediment layer. It is not necessary to also shake the liquid above the stream. However, the inherent friction of the liquid can not be completely avoided, but the use of additional energy caused by this is considered to be very low.

For all this, the invented process uses less process energy than the known process and is easier to carry out. The device to be constructed to operate the invented method is much simpler and easier to handle than the respective device of the known method and, in particular, can be adapted and mounted to the tanks to be treated. The means for this are very simplified, robust lances, simply to assemble and produce at a favorable cost, not susceptible to expense and require almost no maintenance.

The liquid directly above the sediment is distinguished from the layer of crude oil above the sediment at least in that the content of substances in the sediment is lower. It is then, for example, in the case of a crude oil tank of crude oil from the upper region of the tank or from a part with less concentrations of the same crude oil, that is, from a part of crude oil where it has been separated the heavy members. Anyway, the essential components of the liquid used are the same components of the liquid in the tank stored and / or transported to be treated, in such a way that the liquid after receiving the substances from the sediment can be mixed with the liquid stored and / or carried to the same processing.

The invented procedure takes advantage of the fact that it is possible to create a current movement in zones or layers of still liquid by means of the administration of flow energy (hydrodynamic energy) forming a kind of cutting zone between the current layer and the layers above respectively under still or moving at different speeds. For the formation of such a current layer, the liquid is injected to supply the liquid in a mainly tangential direction relative to the current axis and at a certain speed using for this purpose fixed injection nozzles aligned in a direction that injects the liquid under pressure.

This is advantageous when avoiding mixing at least in the upper zone of the cutting zone for the following reason: in tanks in which oil or liquids of similar character are stored for a sufficient time with a constant gravity, not only they form sediments, but a gradient of substance composition is probably also formed throughout the height of the liquid column in such a way that the concentration of substances in the concentrated state in the sediment increases from top to bottom. The layers below the liquid then also already contain the sediment substances in a high concentration and, for this reason they lend little for a reliquefaction of the described sediments. With the invented procedure it is now possible to supply new liquid on top of the sediment and mix it only a little with the lower layers of stored oil, so that the invented process gains efficiency compared to the known procedure.

If the most suitable liquid is injected for the liquefaction of the layer above the circular current layer to the circulating layer, a certain mass current is formed in the cutting zone from the circular current layer to the area above the area of cut if a corresponding amount of liquid is not continually removed from the circular current, that is, the amount that corresponds to the amount of liquid injected. This maintains the continuity condition for the circular comment layer.

As the sediments generally have a shallow surface, such as a landscape, an increasing effect of dissolution already occurs in the boundary area of the current layer. Additionally, one or all of the injection nozzles can point downwards at a plane angle such that the liquid is injected slightly against the surface of the sediment, that is, not completely horizontal, favoring a local component component in the vertical direction.

An exemplary form of construction of a device for executing the invented method consists mainly of a multiplicity of hollow lances to inject the crude oil that can enter them mainly in the vertical direction to the tank to be treated and also through the sediment, if possible, up to the tank bottom. In this, the end zone of each lance directed towards the bottom of the tank contains a nozzle arranged laterally of the lance, preferably several nozzles arranged in distance one on the other and the end of the lance projecting above the tank and connectable with a line of feeding by which feeding line can be supplied with liquid under pressure. The nozzles are arranged in the lances so that they all point mainly to one direction. In another construction, two rows of nozzles can be arranged along the tube axis at a radial angle. The lances are positioned in such a way that part of the pipes are positioned above the surface of the sediment and another part in the sediment. This is done, for example, with lances having rows of superposed nozzles with the length of the rows of nozzles being so large that thicker sediment layers can also protrude.

The spears in general are distributed by the base of the tank vertically in such a way that the ends of the lances provided with. nozzles, if possible, reach the bottom of the tank, that is, they are also introduced into the sediment layer. All the lances are arranged in such a way that the direction of the jet coming out of all the nozzles has a current component in the same direction of the current, for example, relative to a defined current center (or other central zone). The center of current must be defined preferably to be the axis of a cylindrical tank.

After positioning, the corresponding adjustment of the nozzles and the connection of the lances with the supply system is pumped the liquid to the lances and injected by the nozzles into the tank. Initially the liquid will come out primarily from the nozzles that are in the supefuesto fluid since the sediment will oppose a greater resistance to the pressure of the nozzles than the fluid above. Due to the adjustment of the nozzles described above, a liquid stream is formed over the sediment after some time, moving mainly in the horizontal direction, for example in the form of a floating layer of liquid consisting essentially of the liquid supplied. This current of liquid interacts with the surface of the sediment and erodes it, lowering the surface of the sediment and more and more nozzles directly positioned on the sediment surface enter the general liquid stream.

For the current generated, for example, a circular current will be formed, the new liquid supplied will then be transported to the area of several nozzles arranged in the direction of the current (down), enriching with the substances to liquefaction until being displaced upwards. for more liquid supplied.

In this way the sediment can be extracted to the bottom of the tank. Sediment components that are insoluble and heavy, such as stones, metal parts, rust, or the like, can barely exit the bottom area because of the small, but inevitable, turbulence and can be removed from the tank in a separate operation.

Storage tanks of crude oil for reasons of static have a circular projection in its majority that is ideal for the execution of the invented processing since in the current of the liquid layer do not form 'dead angles' where the liquid does not move. However, it is also possible to use the invented method with tanks of other projections respectively forms of bottoms in which the current to be generated should preferably run in closed form parallel to the walls of the respective tank.

The invented procedure and the invented device will be described below in detail with the following figures. They represent: Figure 1: the principle of the current layer moving with the adjacent cutting areas in a liquid liquid tank; Figure 2: The first generation of a current layer drculap Figure 3: a representation of a general mode of the generation of a circular current layer in the lower zone of a diesel tank by the invented submersible lances; figure 4: the principle of aligning the nozzles for the generation of currents; figures 5, 7 and 8 three exemplary arrangements of spears in different project tanks; figure 6: the prindpio of the transfer of currents in pairs of nozzles connected correlatively; Figure 9: the generation of a circular endmem of a sediment layer; Figure 10: the injection of liquid into the sediment layer; Figure 11: the preferred arrangement of spears based on a longitudinal section by a tank of crude oil and by a spear system; Figure 12: the arrangement form of a movable nozzle in two axes; figure 13: a cut by a lance with two rows of nozzles that act in different directions; figure 14: a form of arrangement of a system of nozzles rotatable by an axis; figure 15: a form of a low part of cheap, strong and simple lance with a row of nozzles where the nozzles are movable on an axis; figure 16: construction of a lance consisting of a flexible tube; figure 17: construction of nozzles which, when desired, can be locked respectively closed; figure 18: construction of lances with a primary row and a secondary row of nozzles that allow to generate more accentuated short areas; Figure 19: schematically a possible principle supporting the desired shape of the scene with the help of aspirated places; figure 20: shows in a simplified three-dimensional diagram, wants to dedr, idealized, how the invented procedure is based.

Figure 1 shows in a schematic representation in the drawing of a dipledal tank 1 with the central axis 34 as the center of current in which tank 1 is a fluid 2 the idealized prindpio of a layer of liquid moved in a circulating mode. The fluid 2 is divided in the drawing into three layers, the layers 6.1 and 6.2 layers being a fluid still in relation to the tank 1. Between these two still layers is a layer 5 in which the fluid moves. The direction of movement is indicated by the arrow 35. The layer moves mainly drculante, wants to dedr that there is a drcular current in the layer 5 around the central axis 34 of the tank 1 as the center of movement. The circular current is a current without swirls or turbulendas. The field of comment inside the layer is homogeneous and consists only of horizontal movement components.

Since the layer 5 moves relatively to the layers 6.1 and 6.2, the cutting areas 30.1 respectively 30.2 are formed between the layers 6 and the drcular current layer 5. As has been said, Figure 1 shows an idealized system where friction has been predicted in the cutting areas. The cutting areas, in most cases well marked, are in fact distinguished by the fact that "tensing" stresses are formed by the relative movement of the fluid layers between them and the friction within the fluid. This has as a consequence, since the friction forces run primarily tangentially to the outer wall of the tank 1, that the layer 6, at least the lower part of the layer adjacent to the respective cutting zone, ideally still with relation to tank 1 can easily move. For a better understanding these side effects are preyed upon in the following.

The means that transport the required energy to the layer 5 to be moved has not been drawn in figure 1. It is that, for the moment, the concrete form of execution is not shown here, but it is intended to show the prindpio of the drcular current layer. in a demonstrative way.

Since the drift current layer 5 has few eddies, ie it has only a few components moving tangentially to the outer wall of the tank, it only generates little energy to generate and maintain such a current. The current has little inherent loss of energy because the fluid in the layer 5 moves uniformly and without the formation of eddies in relation to the tank 1. The user of the process can determine the thickness or the height of the drcular current layer using the invented device thus having the possibility of moving respectively maintain a small part of liquid, which is predicted for the procedure. This provides another significant reduction in the use of energy (for example, pumping power) in the system in the installation.

Figure 2 also shows the idealized prindpio of the power supply to the drcular current layer 5. The thickness of the drcular current layer 5 is determined prindpalmente by the arrangement of the means, in the following so-called spring of kinetic energy, which feed the fluid with energetic energy. In the figure these dynastic energy springs are represented by points from which a jet of directed liquid or a directed movement of acceleration of the liquid emerges. The directional arrows indicate the direction in which the fluid is accelerated respectively moved from the dynastic energy springs 7. Several means can be used for kinetic energy springs 7. Here are nozzles injecting liquid or elements that feed layer 5 with energy kinetics corresponding to that shown in figure 2.

The present invention deals with the feeding of energy to the liquid by means of the liquid injection of the still layers 6.1 respectively 6.2 or, preferably, of the same current current layer which is injected by means of a pump through the nozzles. This procedure will be described in detail in Figure 3.

It is the alignment of the dynastic energy springs 7 that influences the alignment of the circular current layer. This alignment is visualized in the figure by arrows 36. In figure 2, the arrows are aligned in such a way that, seen from above the tank, a drular current is formed in the counterclockwise direction. The directional arrows indicate prindpalmente in direction of the current, that is tangendal to the external wall of the tank.

The extension of the current layer in the longitudinal direction of the tank 1 depends mainly on the extension of the dynastic energy springs 2 to the longitudinal axis of the tank 34, which at the same time represents the current center of the circular current 5. To generate a layer of marked drcular drculadón, it is advantageous when the springs of dnética energy are distributed f as regular as possible by the height, the radius and the vofúmen of the current layer drcufar 5 to generate. In Fig. 2 the dynastic energy springs 7 are arranged in an anco groups of superimposed rows of equal distance to one another. The arrangement shown in the figure only shows the prindpio of the arrangement of these dynastic energy springs. Better arrangements will be discussed at length in the following figures.

Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of the invented invention of liquid injection to the drift current layer 5 to be moved in a crude oil tank 1 with a central axis 34 as the center of current through which the fluid in the layer 5 moved is rotating The lances 10 are submerged by the open surface of the liquid to tank 1. The lances reach to the region of the bottom of tank 1. The lances 1 have nozzles of nozzles 11 arranged one on top of the other; the nozzle lines extend from the end of the lances 10 at the bottom of the tank to the cutting zone 30. The nozzles assume the function of the kinetic energy sources of FIG. 2.

In Figure 3, several spears 10 are regularly arranged in a circle concentric to the wrapping area of the tank. The lances 11 are arranged in such a way that the axis of the nozzles 11 indicates pri- pally tangentially to the tank shell. The nozzles of the nozzles 11 point to the direction of movement of the drcular current.

The ends of the lances rising above the tank can be connected to a supply system as schematically represented in FIG. 3 by the connections 20, a distributor 29, a pump 26 and an aspiration place in the area of the drcular current layer. 5 moved. Thus it is possible to evacuate liquid from the drcular current layer and inject it again into the moved layer 5 by the pump 26 to the particular lances 10 and from there by the nozzles 11.

The fluid 2 pumped by a nozzle generates a jet of liquid represented in the figure by the arrow of direction 36. If the lances were entered into the fluid 2 according to the arrangement and the alignment described above, dynastic energy is supplied in such a way to the layer 5 by the injection of the liquid that with a regular pump feed is generated after a while a fixed drcular current as described in figure 1, but with the difference that the fixed bottom layer 6.2 of figure 1 can not be formed by the arrangement of the lances according to figure 3. A moving layer of a fixed drcular shape 5 is formed by the device described in figure 3, being lower in the bottom.

The arrangement and the number of lances shown in figure 3 only represents the prindpio of the device invented for the generation of a circular current layer. Crude oil tanks have a diameter between about 30 m and 100 m. It is understood that many more spears are generated to generate a drcular current layer for these dimensions, but also, as essential, it will be a pump that saves energy when it has to process such enormous amounts of fluid.

Figure 4 schematically shows the leading edge for the nozzles. The figure shows a lance 10 with a nozzle 11, a commentary center provided 34 and a horizontal circle 32 around the center of the current with the opening of the nozzle on this circle, circle 32 presents an example for a closed horizontal current line between them, it is a drcular current around the center of current 34. The injection direction by the nozzle, drawn somewhat exaggeratedly too indifferent, is called by the vector R that can be divided in the general case into a vertical component Rv, a horizontal component, tangent Rt (parallel to the current line) and a horizontal component, radial Rr (vertical to the current line).

The rules for the adjustment of the nozzle to carry out the invented processing are the following: The vector R optionally has a vertical component RV respectively directed orthogonally downwards.

The vector R has a horizontal and tangential component Rt, the components of all the nozzles of the system having the same direction with respect to the center of current.

The vector R can have a horizontal and radial component Rr. This is shorter than the horizontal and tangential component Rt, that is, the angle between the tangent of circle 7 and the horizontal projection of R the maximum is 45 °.

Figure 5 shows an end view of a tank with base, respectively circular background and a center of commentary 34 vertical to its center. However, it must be borne in mind that with a radius of up to 50 m, the curved lines of the current are seen as straight lines in small sections and in the representation of a tank with a radius of a few centimeters the direction arrows appear exaggeratedly large. However, they correspond approximately to twice the injection length of the nozzles, so that the successive formation of the current can be well imagined.

Many lances 1 placed vertically are arranged in concentric circles prindpalmente of a regular way on the horizontal projection of the tank. The inadvertent directions are also presented by the nozzles arranged in the lances, respectively fas horizontal components R of them that are all arranged tangendally and counter-clockwise (there is no Rr component). The nozzles shown can be particular nozzles attached to each lance, preferably fixed at different height or they can also be vertical rows of equal adjusted nozzles as presented in FIG. 3. The nozzles can, apart from the horizontal adjustment (in parallel to the bottom). ), also be adjusted down in a same or different angle a. It may be sufficient to arrange the nozzles only in the third of the outside of the radius so that a fixed stream is formed first near the wall of the tank, expanding successively inside. To affect the inner zone, the nozzles can be adjusted radially instead of tangentially so that the currents forming between the nozzles are radially in the center.

Figure 6 shows the possibility to generate a stream of liquid marked by the procedure invented with 'steady' lances 10. It should be borne in mind that with the dimensions of crude oil tanks the curved lines of current are seen as straight lines when, As has been said, only a section of a few meters of this current is seen. For this reason, the prindpal direction of the current by the corresponding arrangement of the lances shown in FIG. 6 is shown without curve, respectively only with little curve.

The bottom part with the arrangement of four spears 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 is shown schematically. The nozzles 11, arranged one above the other and the rows of which, being in relation to the joints 1 towards the bottom of the tank, are represented in the figure in an angular manner. The liquid injected by the nozzles and their jet direction are represented by the arrows. Of course, an acute cone 31 according to the shape of the nozzle with larger or smaller opening angles is formed when injecting, as indicated in a nozzle in FIG. 6. The fluid jets indicated by the arrows 36 refer to then to the cone axis with a real injection effect in the form of a thin funnel.

The directional arrows 36 of two Vedan lances (10.1 and 10.2 respectively 10.3 and 10.4) have not only one component in the direction of the prindpal current 37 but also a component directed to the prindpal current. The liquid injected by the lance 10.1 then finds in the current zone príndpai the liquid jets of lance 10.2 accelerating the fluid in the prindpal current zone. This power supply naturally decreases after a flow step. Before this effect of lances 10.1 and 10.2 has completely disappeared, another pair of lances 10.3 and 10.4 enters into function in the flow in the same way as lances 10.1 and 10.2 in such a way that the required prindpal 37 is maintained or, depending on The distance of the pairs of spears can also be accelerated. The course of the priming current 37 is therefore being influenced by the geometric arrangement of the lance pairs (10.1 and 10.2 respectively 10.3 and 10.4) and by the injecting pressure of the liquid. In this way you can generate currents in a drcular-based tank or otherwise.

With tanks of a diameter between 30 to 100 m, it has been established that a jet with a range of more than 5 m can be achieved by applying a pressure of 5 to 30 bar being the fluid crude oil. So it is advantageous to arrange the distances between the spears and especially the distant tangendales of the lances to these dimensions.

Figure 7 shows another view from the end to the bottom of a tank where four current lines to be generated by nozzles 10 with nozzles are arranged (line of current represented in figure per line and point). The nozzles of spears of each two vednas current lines are adjusted a little opposite (with opposite radial component as in figure 4) so that a prindpal current can be formed between the particular lines of a couple of spears.

Figure 8 shows an end view of a tank with non-drcular base but oval with the lances with nozzles 10 placed vertically. In order for the closed fluid to be generated to cover, if possible, the entire base after the injection of the liquid by the nozzles of the lances, is arranged not by a current center but around a "rotation area" 34. The lances are arranged mainly on inner current lines S, and external current lines Sa of this liquid stream, and the nozzles adjusted so that the respective injection direction has a horizontal and tangential component Rt and a horizontal component and radial Rr, the radial component Rr of the nozzles of the inner current lines S, pointing outward, the radial component of the lances of the external current lines Sa pointing inside.

With the arrangement shown in FIG. 8 a primary current is generated between the inner and outer current lines, thus decreasing an unwanted swirl in the current area A and along the wall of the tank, which means an energy saving for the bombs.

Figure 9 shows a schematic representation of a crude oil tank 1 with a layer of sediment 3 on the bottom of tank 1. The figure shows a variant of the invented process and of the device invented for the liquefaction of crude oil sediments.

The lances 10 (in figure 9 only one exemplary lance is drawn) have only one or a few nozzles, or a short row densely arranged with nozzles at their end, and are not submerged to the sediment layer but only immediately to their surface. . The layer of the current drcule 5 thus passes over the surface of the sediment and erodes it, dissolving it successively. In the disintegration of the sediment layer 3 the spears are lowered step by step until they reach bottom, which, for example, in a crude oil tank with floating roof can be done by lowering the liquid level correspondingly (extraction of oil raw). The injected fluid can be crude oil from the top of the drcular current layer 5, fresh liquid or oil from the still upper layer 6.

If fresh liquid or crude oil of layer 6 is supplied without fluid from the drcular current layer being evacuated, a mass transfer will be formed in the cutting zone, because otherwise the continuity equation for the layer 5. The marked cutting area 30 could be transformed into a more or less diffuse zone less marked of transidón.

Figure 10 shows, with the representation of a schematic section on the one hand of a crude oil tank 1, another variant of the invented process and of the device invented for the liquefaction of crude oil sediments. Drawn are two lances 10 with a row of nozzles consisting of at least one nozzle 11 which is at the end below the lances 10 to the bottom of the crude oil tank 1. In the diagram the lines of feeding of the lances 20, the pump 26 and the suction place 21. The lances 10 pass, for example, through stilts holes in the floating roof and are lowered by the sediment layer 3 to the bottom of tank 1 and he fixes them in this posidon. It is not necessary to beg in the fact that in actual tanks, a lot of spears will actually be used.

The injected liquid (here crude oil from the upper layers of tank 1) is pressed by the nozzles 11 to the thick layer of crude oil which is successively dissolved by contact with the crude oil of the upper zone of tank 1. During the successive liquefaction of the sediment layer 3 nozzles 11 and more and more rows of nozzles are protruding the remaining layer of sediment 3 causing a layer of drcular current immediately endma of the sediment layer accelerating adidonalmente the disintegration of the sediments 3. After the complete disintegration of the sediment layer 3 only the foreign bodies, such as stones or metal parts, mostly in the form of oxide, which have to be removed from the tank in another separate operation, remain at the bottom. The drier current layer that can now be formed without the least hindrance prevents another formation of a sediment layer.

Figure 11 shows schematically the preferred embodiment of the device invented to carry out the invented procedure based on a longitudinal cut drawing by a tank of crude oil 1 with a floating roof 4, drawn stylized, where in tank 2 crude oil is stored 2 on a layer of sediment 3. Tank 1 is equipped with a quantity of lances 10 arranged as required by the invented procedure to generate a layer of current on a layer of sediment 3. In figure 11 only one spear has been schematically drawn 10 copy. These lances reach through the liquid layer 2 and the sediment layer 3 to the bottom area of the tank. The spears have rows of nozzles arranged one above the other, the rows of nozzles extending from the end of the lances 10 to the bottom of the tank through the layer of sediment to the liquid layer. The lances are arranged in such a way that they generate a layer of drift current 5 above the layer of sediment 3 as described in figure 3.

The other ends of the lances 10, projecting from the tank, are connected to a supply system, schematically represented in the figure by the feed line 20, a distributor 29, a pump 26 and an aspiration site 21. Between the suction 20 and the pump 26 can be provided with a three-step tap 27 which can be installed in a position to feed fresh liquid by fasols by passing the fresh liquid through the fresh liquid supply line 38. Naturally, tanks of this type do not have a place of aspiradop on the wall of the tank, the aspirado, for example, can be made by a dip tube. The place of aspiration indicated in the figure only wants to illustrate how to inject crude oil of the moved layer (the current layer drcular) back to maintain the mass balance.

Crude oil tanks often have floating roofs that float on the surface of the liquid and the distance between them and the bottom of the tank varies with the level of liquid. So that a roof like this can not go down to the bottom of the tank is provided with stilts that support the roof when the liquid level falls below the defined minimum level, which corresponds more or less to the length of the stilts. It is advantageous to introduce and position the lances 10 by openings for these stilts. A great advantage of the invented device is that it can be adapted in a simple way to the stilt openings of different sizes in the various countries by means of a tube adapter 22 that allows the adjustment corresponding to the current norm of the respective country. The use of such a very simple, inexpensive and maintenance-free tube adapter allows, with the help of a spear adapter for different countries, to use the same lances which reduces the work of adapting to a minimum. Some of these open tubes 22 can be reinforced so much that they can replace the removed stilts.

The adjustment of the nozzle direction respectively the liquid jet direction leaving the lances according to the procedure can be done in very different ways. In the figure, for example, the adjustment is carried out by adjusting a fixed mark M on the tube adapter 22 on an invariable scale of scales to the floating roof. The adjustment of the entire set of lances can be optimized by means of a simulation with the help of a computer. Each particular lance is adjusted and fixed according to the calculated plan. The operation can also be done in several steps where, after some time of operation, part or all of the lances are put in another position to obtain currents with other current characteristics, for example, when the projections of the tank are somewhat complicated.

The prindpal tube adapter has a stripe S along the row of nozzles so that the fluid to the overlap of the row with the tube adapter can nevertheless exit the nozzles without hindrance. In figure 11 the guide element 13 indicates a possible guide between tube adapter 22 and the lance 10 which can be constructed mainly always with the same diameter independently of the respective standard for opening stilts. This is a further point in favor because it allows relatively cheap device production.

The lance could be moved, if desired, to move along its longitudinal line relative to the adapter tube. Thus, variations in the level of liquid in tank 1 do not lead to a displacement of the lances 10 respectively of the rows of nozzles in the lances in relation to tank 1 and the layer of sediment 3 in the bottom of the tank. In this way, the lance system adapts to the variations of the liquid level in a very fadlísimo way. It does not predict many readjustments, which makes the procedure very easy to maintain.

The lances 10 are axially entered by the elements 23 and the nozzles 11 fixed in the lower part of the lances 10 can always be maintained in the bottom zone of the tank by means of the weight elements 12 placed on the upper part of the lances. . The weight mass 12 adapts to the lance mass 10 and is chosen in such a way that the lance 10 can penetrate without further ado into the layer of sediment 3 respectively that the lower parts of the lances 10 remain in the bottom area of the Tank when lifting or lowering the liquid level in tank 1.

Figure 12 shows in a cutting drawing a possible construction form of a lance 10, of the nozzle 11 fixed to the lance and of the tube adapter 22. The construction of the nozzle 11 allows an adjustment of the nozzle by means of one of ball joint. Here it is possible to influence the direction of the liquid jet 36 to a degree. A tube with an external thread and a spherical support 25 is attached to the lance tube 10. The ball nozzle itself is in the spherical support and fixed in its position by means of the locknut 51. It is advantageous when the dimensions of the system are nozzles. they do not exceed the internal dimensions of the tube adapter. This way you can get the spears out of the tubes as long as you like.

It is important that the position of the nozzle is not altered, for example due to vibration. To ensure that it remains in position, a nut lock or other means may be used to prevent loosening of the nut. It may be advantageous when the surfaces of the ball and of the counterparts in the nut 51 and in the component 52 have roughness or special surfaces, for example toothed, to increase the friction between the ball nozzle 50 and the counterparts in the elements 51. and 52. Induuse can be advantageous when the surfaces of these elements have a characteristic as steel castings.

You can produce the elements shown in Figure 12 with a minimum of accuracy.

The shape of the eject drawn, apart from the thread, does not predict small tolerances. So it is possible to use a cost-favorable production method with cheap materials (eg steel 37, GGT). It is understood that the profile of the spears does not necessarily have to be round. It is to imagine that it can have a square profile or another form to taste, which will be shown later.

Figure 13 shows another form of a spear / nozzle system. Here it is a lance 10 with two rows of nozzles running in different directions. The particular nozzles or at least one of the two in each row, can of course be adjustable as, for example, shown under figure 12, or, as shown in the drawing, rigid. The cheapest production of the mode of construction shown can be done with tolerances in mm using standard profiles.

Figure 14 shows a construction form of a nozzle system that allows the adjustment of the nozzles 11 by an adjustment shaft 63. The nozzle, that is the nozzle itself, consists of a shaft with the corresponding hole for the nozzle 11 and two lateral drill holes with internal threading that together with the drill holes in (a piece of square tube 61 fixed to the lance define the axis of adjustment 63. Here it is also possible to use only standardized parts and profiles and to work with tolerances of In this way, the nozzle directron can be adjusted in horizontal direction by the longitudinal axis of the lance by the mark M on the scale 25 and in the vertical direction by the axis. of adjustment 63.

Figures 15 A, B, C show another form of ejection system of the lance / nozzle system in A and B assembled from a prindpio similar to the one described under figure 14. This form of execution has been simplified in such a way that the work of machining in the Production is the least possible. All the elements used, 60 = rod material 61 = hollow supports 62 = screws 62 = plates and 71 = U profiles are standard elements and can be produced from standard profiles (eg weldable steel profiles such as steel 37). The plates 71 and the sections 61 of the hollow support are fixed with weld spots 72; the drilled nozzles 60 are screwed. The foot of the lance is threaded with a plate 71, the upper part of the lance is spilled with a plate 71 of a corresponding size as the side wall and the feeding parts for the liquid are mounted, and the lance is ready . Wide tolerances are also sufficient here (FIG. 15 C), for example, an interstido 73 of a few mm between the nozzle disk 60 and the square tube 61 is admissible as it does not substantially affect the function of the lance. When welding the pieces it is sufficient to join the particular pieces in the area of nozzle rows with short welding points and not with welding seams that require more work.

Figure 16 shows the construction example of a lance 10 consisting of a relatively rigid construction with the nozzles 11 and a relatively flexible sleeve 81 connected with a sleeve coupling 80 with the rigid part of the lance 10. The rigid construction with the rows of nozzles is guided by a tube adapter 22 by means of the lance adapter 23 and the guide 13. The tube adapter 22, corresponding to standard openings in the respective countries, is open throughout its length to allow entry or exit from lance 10 from am'ba when required. The advantage of such a construction or a similar construction is in the saving of weight and that the rigid part of the lance can be much shorter in comparison if the construction of the lance system is all of a rigid material and thus the operation is much more fa l (transport, storage, assembly). Also in this case standard parts can be used for the rigid part of the lance with a mimimum of a row of standard nozzles and sleeves 81 with standard couplings 80, already on sale in the market.

Care must be taken that the long L of the rigid part of the lance is larger than the difference between the maximum liquid level H1 and the minimum level of the licque to ensure that the lance is held by the pipe adapter at each level.

Figure 17 A and B show two forms of nozzle construction that can be opened respectively closed so that no marked jet of liquid can exit more from the nozzle 11. Figure 17 A shows a form of ejection according to the principle described in figures 14 and 15. The disk nozzle 60 is fixed in a posidon in which a marked jet of liquid can not be formed. The disc nozzle 60 in the drawn position can not close the completely hermetic nozzle. A large amount of fluid can escape. Since the invented process reacts little to these small faults, such an incomplete aerre of a nozzle can be tolerated. It is damage that a nozzle can be closed by other simple means. It is possible, for example, to fix a cover to the nozzle opening or a tube nozzle 55 can be sealed by a cover in the form of a lock nut 56 as shown in FIG. 17 B.

Figure 18 schematically shows a construction of lances 10 with two rows of lances 11.1 respectively 11.2 indicating in directions prindpalmente opposite. The primary rows of the particular lances 10 with the nozzles 11.1 are arranged in such a way as to generate a drcular current around the prindpal axis of the tank 34 in the layer 5 below. The secondary rows of the lances 10 with the nozzles 11.2 are immediately adjacent to the cutting zone 5 and contain at least one nozzle 11.2. Indicates prindpalmente in the opposite direction of the rows of primary nozzles, wants dedr, the fluid injected by these nozzles 11.2. it will agitate the liquid mass directly on the cutting zone 30 supporting it in the opposite direction to the current circulation layer 5. The secondary rows of nozzles are usually much shorter, it wants to be, that they have fewer nozzles than the primary rows of nozzles. nozzles As already said, it will be difficult in the practice of generating an ideal cutting zone by the inherent friction of the fluid. The shrinkage shown in Figure 18, however, can considerably affect such a marked cutting zone. If the layer 6 on the drift current layer 5 is very thick, then from an energetic view it may be advantageous if a movement of the layer 6 by the form described above of a marked cutting area is impeded.

Figure 19 schematically shows the principle of a lance construction with aspiration sites 21. It is advantageous for the system described if the aspirado ns can be made by placing submersible pipes through the roof of the tank. It may be advantageous to make several places of aspiration in such a way that they contribute a certain contribution to the formation and maintenance of the current so as not to disturb the circular current. The aspiration tubes can, similar to the lances, having the aspirate openings 21 arranged one above the other as shown in the figure and entering them into the drcular current layer in such a way that such rows of aspirate openings indicate downstream. On aspiration of liquid, it accelerates respectively moves. With the use of such submersible tubes, therefore, it is possible, as in the case with spears, to introduce dneical energy guided to the fluid and, with that, to increase the efficiency degree of the whole system.

Figure 20 shows in diagram form the procedure invented for the disintegration of a sediment layer in a crude oil tank. The figure serves only for a better understanding of the procedure and is purely qualitative. The hypothesis is based on: During the entire procedure fresh fluid is not supplied The circular current layer is an ideal current without friction with the consequence of an ideal cutting area.

Circulation of the liquid only takes place in the drcular current layer, that is to say, the fluid injected into the sediment layer and the drcular current layer comes from the end area of the drcular current layer. The diagram is based on the execution variant and the operation mode of the procedure according to figure 11.

The description of the axes is as follows: t means the time axis; h means the height and k the concentration of the sediment. The diagram deals with the following areas: first the area 98 describing the sediment layer itself, second the area 97 representing the condids in the ideal drcular layer, and, thirdly, the area 96 describing the still layer endma of the current layer drcular As the still layer is protected by the ideal cutting zone of the drcular current layer, it wants to deduce, that current mass does not leave or enter this layer will not change anything over time in the course of the sediment concentrate. The areas 90 which is a horizontal area representing the concentrate of the sediment k on the surface of the fluid and the area 91 representing the concentrate of the sediment of the still layer up to the cutting zone remain in a constant form, it is dedr, the course does not change over time.

The horizontal area 92 represents the concentration of the sediment in the cutting zone. The corresponding height h equals the height of the cutting area. You can see that the concentration of the sediment k in this layer changes over time. This is because the concentration k in the drcular current layer increases continuously over time due to the disintegration of the sediment layer, which is also described in the area 93 that visualizes the concentrate k in the drcular end layer.

The horizontal area 94 represents the concentration k in the sediment layer. The corresponding height h decreases with time and corresponds to the average height of the sediment layer at the respective time t. The purpose of the procedure is to disintegrate the thickened sediment layer. This end is achieved after some time and areas 94 and 95 disappear then.

If the injected fluid comes from the same drcular current layer, as described under figure 20, a mass balance is formed in this moving layer, it is dedr, we can speak of a drifting process. If fluid is injected from the endless layer of the circular current layer through the nozzles and nozzles attached thereto, then a mass flow has to be formed to the top of the circular current layer in case it is not has evacuated a quantity of fluid corresponding to the injected amount, which mass flow hinders the formation of a cutting area marked on the upper edge of the drcular corridor layer.

From an energetic view it will be advantageous if the mass of injected fluid is taken from the current area, because this is the case with the continuity equation in the drcular current area. The thinner the current drcular layer to be generated, the less mass will have to be put into motion and the less energy will have to be used. So it is of advantage to form the current layer as thin as possible, for example by raising and lowering the submersion tube to evacuate fluid to be injected.

In the preferred variant of the method, only so much mass is moved that it is necessary for the current layer to produce 5, ie, the volume of crude oil needed to dissolve the existing mass of sediment. Such minimum volume is determined by the maximum capacity of absordon of sediment materials by the injected liquid. By means of this saturation value, the minimum volume of the current layer can be determined., and with this, knowing the base area of the crude oil tank, the thickness of the drculadón layer in the circular corridor layer. Since in this circulation fluid is injected, for example, from the area 6 of the drift current layer 5 by the nozzles 1 on, and / or in the sediment layer 3, the rest of the material dissolved in the sediment layer remains in the drcular current layer 5. The sediment layer 3 gradually dissolves and the concentrate of the sediment material dissolved in the crude oil grows until the complete disappearance of the sediment layer 3. If the saturation value is reached before, the layer of remaining sediment 3 will not dissolve further.

The length of the rows of nozzles of the lances 10 corresponds prindpalmente to the thickness of the current layer 5 and can be adapted to the minimum thickness calculated using lances 10 with rows of corresponding length. In order to avoid a specific production of such lances 10, it is possible to use particular nozzles 11 which can be closed, it is desired to use the means described above which prevent the liquid from escaping through specially chosen nozzles 11. Thus it is possible that only a part below the nozzles 11 of one row of nozzles are operating, adapted to the thickness of the circular flow layer to be generated, and the other part has correspondingly closed or blocked nozzles. The position of suction spaces 21 can be fixed by means of a submersion tube adjustable in height in the roof 4 of tank 1 and adapted to the respective thickness of the circular current layer 5.

Other possible variants of the described variants of the invented method and the invented device, for example, are the following: The lances have nozzles of different radial orientation, the orientation of each nozzle fulfilling the current formation conditions.

The spears may have bifurcations.

The nozzles are arranged in pressure sleeves and the sleeves are inserted through conduit tubes for support provided with openings for the nozzles. This allows a easy adaptation to different diameters in existing stilt openings while the part can be left holding the nozzles in standard size, making the production of lances even cheaper.

The procedure is not used to remove sediments but to avoid sediment deposition in the lances on the stilts and periodically injecting liquid, thus generating a temporary comment.

The diagram in FIG. 20 describes a system with an ideal drcular current layer, that is, with a well marked cutting area. It is understood that in practice, shear zones are formed in the cutting zone which are passed by the friction inherent in the fluid to the "still layers" 6. In practice, a velocity profile is also formed in layers 6, say, that the fluid in the liquid layers called still will move a little. The model of the ideal circular comment layer, however, will be taken as a basis for discussing the invention for better understanding and simplification.

The prindpales advantages of the invented procedure in comparison to the technological state consist in that the device necessary for its execution does not predise of moving parts below the surface of the liquid in the operation. Primarily, only the pump has mobile components in its operation. There is also no means of distributing spears in the procedure. The lances are very simple in their construction and therefore to produce at low cost and without the need of high prediction (tolerances in mm). The unit can be made of cheap materials, for example steel 37. Invented lances, due to their simplicity of construction, have much less weight than rotating lances and, therefore easier to handle, less susceptible to mechanical damage, for example in the assembly, transport or storage. Invented lances are very easy to assemble, very simple to handle and do not require special care. Avoiding unnecessary rusting, which is considered advantageous to this day in employing rotating lances, it can save considerable energy for pumping which is evident in lighter, mobile and cheap units such as pumps, motors and other equipment, additionally the spears are lighter also helps mobility. It is also true that these arrangements, whether the devices (lances) are the procedure (nozzle direc- tor), do not have high prediction. The whole technique is robust and understands, as already said, you launch at a favorable cost and a very easy method of operating the procedure to achieve the desired effect.

It is also advantageous that you do not have to empty your tank. Once it has been established that there is a large sediment layer, you can install the lances at the existing liquid level and generate a current. The tank, meanwhile, can be used, it can supply or evacuate crude oil. Due to the relatively low weight of the equipment and the possibility of using standard lances, that is, many identical lances for different instaad, the system lends itself to a lot of adaptation, which can be seen, for example, that can be combined or changed spears of different installs. Very advantageous is also the fact that the procedure works very well without complicated or expensive control or control.

The procedure invented to recover crude oil from thickened crude oil, respectively muddy to compact sediments in the oil from tanks in which crude oil is stored and / or transported, treating the sediment with crude oil or refinery products as a solvent, and, at least liquefacturing it pardalmente and dissolving it, injecting the solvent by nozzles to generate a current that was the sediment and dissolves it as much as it is soluble, is distinguished prindpalmente by jets of liquid consisting of solvent injected by a multiplicity of fixed and conveniently adjusted nozzles, the nozzles adjusted in such a way that the liquid jets push the medium around in sections to a common direction and move it and unite for a common one.

The device for carrying out the process consists mainly of a hollow cavity, a connection for feeding a liquid and has for the exit of the liquid of nozzles by which the liquid can be injected, being a part of its length provided with a Many nozzles radially fixed in distance and arranged and that these nozzles are adjustable or adjusted that can be with them or, at least with a part of them together, generate jets of liquid guided mainly in parallel.

An arrangement of devices for carrying out the process in a tank according to the invention consists of each a multiplicity of nozzles arranged in pairs in each current line of a pair of current lines (St Sr) of the liquid stream to be generated or generated, and adjusted in such a way that the horizontal and radial component of the nozzle injector direction to each of the two current lines are at an opposite acute angle and between a following pair directed downstream, pushing the jets of liquid from the surrounding medium and can be paired for a common item, and that one or more pumps are connected to the lances and fed with liquid, and that one or more submersion tubes for feeding the pump (s) with liquid are arranged in such a way that they enter with the suction side in the layer provided for the current, or that the connections for the suction of liquid are provided outside the top layer. ba

Claims (6)

1. CLAIMS OF PATENT Invented procedure to recover crude oil from thickened crude oil, respectively muddy to compact sediments in the oil from tanks in which crude oil is stored and / or transported, treating the sediment with crude oil or refinery products as a solvent, and, less by partially liquefying it and dissolving it, by injecting the solvent through nozzles to generate a current that dissolves the sediment and dissolves it as much as it is soluble, it is distinguished primarily by liquid jets consisting of solvent injected or a muttiple of fixed and conveniently adjusted nozzles, the nozzles adjusted in such a way that the jets of liquid push the medium around in sections to a common direction and move it and join for a common current.
2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that a stream of liquid is generated in the liquid endma of the sediment layer (3) by running horizontally through the liquid injector through a plurality of nozzles (11), arranged in the same sense of the current, in which the crude oil (2) is injected while being above the sediment (3), being the injection direction (R) of all the nozzles in the same sense of the current directed horizontally or slightly inclined toward the bottom of the tank, and having a horizontal and tangential component to the radius of the tank (Rt), directed in a tangential direction to a line of the current of the liquid stream and in the direction of the current .
3. Process according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in such a way that a stream of mainly horizontal and more or less closed liquid is generated endme of the sediment layer (3) by a multiplicity of nozzles (11) arranged in such a manner on the surface of the sediment that injects the liquid to the crude oil (2) being endma of the sediment (3), being the injection direction (R) of all the nozzles at an angle of 0 to 10 degrees against the vertical below and having a horizontal component and tangential (Rt) directed tangentially to a current line of the liquid stream and in the direction of the current.
4. Injection of at least a part of the nozzles also has a horizontal and radial component (Rr) that is smaller than the horizontal and tangential component (Rt)
5. 5. Process according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in such a way that a horizontally horizontal liquid stream is generated in a stream of water flowing around a center of stream (34) by a muti-pity of suitably posidoned exit places.
6. 6. Process according to claim 5, characterized in such a way that a predetermined layer is agitated in the liquid column in a tank to generate a circular current that forms a cutting zone against the other sections respectively layers such that these other sections are not influenced Esendalmente by the corrido and begin to run. . Procedure according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in such a way that the liquid pushing the current is taken from the layer with the current drcular. . Process according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in such a way that the liquid is crude oil or a refinery product and has an equal or smaller concentration of components of higher molecular weight than the endma oil of the sediment (3). . Device for the execution of the procedure according to one of the claims 1 to 8, which device consisting mainly of a hollow core, a connection for the feeding of a liquid and for the outlet of this liquid has nozzles (11) by which it can eject the liquid under pressure, and characterized in such a way that a part of its length is provided with a muttiple of nozzles (11) radially fixed in distance and arranged and that these nozzles (11) are adjustable or adjusted that can be with them or, at least with a part of them together, generate liquid jets guided pri- pally in parallel.

   0. Device according to claim 9, characterized in such a way that the nozzles (11) have a device for modifying the ejection direction and fixed to hollow, tube-shaped lances (10) that can be inserted vertically into the tank. Device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in such a way that the part of the device placed vertically, apportioned for the bottom of the tank has an exit direction (R) of each nozzle (11) that can be adjusted downwards and causes in vertical posidón in a liquid surface a horizontal and tangential component (RO) that is tangentially aligned to a current line of the fluid to be pushed and directed in the direction of the current and that is larger than a horizontal and radial component (Rr) Device according to one of the claims 9 to 11, characterized in such a way that the lances (10) in their ends attached to the bottom of the tank have at least one row of nozzles (11) distributed along the length of the ends, the distribution of the nozzles reaching a length of 2 to 5 meters, so that a part of the nozzles (11) can be posidonados endma of the surface of the sediment with the lance resting on the bottom of the tank. Dispositovo according to one of the claims 9 to 12, characterized in such a way that the lances have an attached conduit (22) that at least in the zone of expulsion of the nozzles is open by which conduction the lances are fixed (10) that they can be turned and adjusted by the pipe for the adjustment of the nozzles in the tank. Arrangement of devices according to claims 9 to 13 in the tank in such a way that each multiplicity of nozzles (11) is posidonada in pairs in each line of current of a pair of lines of comment (St / Sr) of the liquid stream to generated or generated, and adjusted in such a way that the horizontal and radial component of the injection direction (Rr) of the nozzles to each of the two current lines are at an opposite acute angle and between a following pair directed downstream, pushing the jets of liquid from the surrounding medium and can be paired for a common sight, and that one or more pumps are connected to the lances and feed them with liquid, and that one or more submersion tubes for the feeding of the (s) The pump (s) with liquid are arranged in such a way that they enter with the suction side in the layer provided for the current, or that the connections for the liquid suction are provided outside of the mendon layer am'ba. SUMMARY The invented process and the invented device serve for the liquefaction of sediments (3) muddy to dense in tanks (1) in which crude oil (2) is stored and / or transported by injecting a liquid into the surface of the sedimend by nozzles ( 1) by the effect of this sediment (3) at least liquefica pardalmento or dissolves in the liquid so it can be evacuated from the tank (1). For this purpose, a stream of liquid is generated on the surface of the sediment, mainly running, under drums closed with each other, by means of an adjustment of all the nozzles (11) of the injection direction in such a way that it has a horizontal component, directed tangentially to a current line of the liquid stream to be generated and aligned in the direction of the current. The injected liquid is crude oil or a refinery product and is distinguished from the lower layer of the liquid on the sediment by a smaller part of heavy components. (figures 9 and 11)