WO2006104462A1

WO2006104462A1 - Improvements to viscosity reduction means in oil products

Info

Publication number: WO2006104462A1
Application number: PCT/SG2005/000108
Authority: WO
Inventors: Darren Miles Bates
Original assignee: Bioson International Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2005-04-01
Filing date: 2005-04-01
Publication date: 2006-10-05

Abstract

The present invention relates to improvements to viscosity reduction in oil products, which comprise of a plurality of transducers (14) and sonotrodes (10), connected to a pipeline (12) or a flow cell tank (16) or the like structures. According to the present invention the transducers (14) are connected to a power source to supply electrical power supply and thereafter converting said electrical power supply into mechanical power to induce vibration to the pipeline (12) or flow cell tank (16) or the like structures. The improvements further comprise of the sonotrodes (10) being coupled to the internal portion of the pipeline (12) or flow cell tank (16) or the like structures and wherein said sonotrodes (10) are directly in contact with the oil product during operation. When the transducers (14) are activated, the immersed sonotrodes (10) would emit radial or focused ultrasound waves into the oil product and thereafter resulting in the viscosity of the oil product to be reduced continuously by means of energy produced by collapsing cavitation bubbles and without the use of chemical additives or solvents.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS TO VISCOSITY REDUCTION MEANS IN OIL

PRODUCTS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a viscosity reduction means and more particularly, the present invention relates to improvements described herein.

Most particularly, the present invention relates to improvements to viscosity reduction means in oil products, such as petroleum-based products and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the relevant art and in the petroleum industry, it is known and common to a person skill in the art to reduce the viscosity of oil products for pre-determined purposes or reasons. Normally, in the process of reducing the viscosity of oil products, certain solvents and/or chemical additives are utilized. However, the use of such solvents and/or chemical additives had undoubtedly influenced the cost of production. It is very important that before the reduction process could take place, the type of additives to be utilized has to be carefully selected (bearing in mind the cost of obtaining said additives), the kinetics involved during the process and the degree of viscosity required (according to request). The major problem, which the present inventor(s) noticed in the conventional means of reducing viscosity in oil products or other type of liquids is the high usage of solvents and/or chemical additives and issues relating to the density of the end product.

Now, a brief description of a number of prior arts would be discussed herein. However, it must be understood that some of the said prior art documents may or may not be entirely related in whole or within the field of present invention.

US Patent No. 5,900,690 (hereinafter referred as '690) teaches an apparatus and method for controlling an ultrasound transducer preferably including a signal generator circuit, a signal sensing circuit, a modulator circuit, and a bias circuit. This patent further teaches a signal generator circuit provides a pulsed drive signal to the ultrasound transducer. The signal sensing circuit senses the voltage and current of the drive signal. The modulator circuit provides a frequency control signal and an energy control signal to the signal generator circuit corresponding to a detected phase difference between the sensed voltage and the sensed current of the drive signal. The frequency control signal and energy control signal is operated to adjust the frequency and energy level, respectively, of the drive signal. Within the transducer, a movable element in contact with a liquid is preferably positioned corresponding to the level of a DC bias signal provided by the bias circuit. By adjusting the level of the DC bias signal, the flow rate of the liquid is adjusted. By applying the drive signal to the transducer, the viscosity of the liquid is adjusted which establishes a second flow rate of the liquid. When the frequency and energy level of the drive signal are changed, a third flow rate of the liquid is established. However, this patent relates to ultrasound transducers, and more particularly, relates to an apparatus and method for electronically driving and controlling an ultrasound transducer, and a method for controlling the flow of a liquid using an ultrasound transducer.

US Patent No. 5,717,181 (hereinafter referred as '181) teaches a method of reducing the concentration of at least one higher molecular weight organic component (HMWC) in a liquid comprising the at least one HMWC in admixture with at least one lower molecular weight organic component (LMWC). According to this patent, the at least one HMWC being distinguishable from the at least one LMWC by the presence therein of at least one chemical bond which is more labile than the chemical bonds present in the at least one LMWC. The method according to this patent comprising of subjecting the liquid to cavitation such that temperatures and pressures are produced in the liquid sufficiently to induce cracking of the at least one labile chemical bond in the at least one HMWC, but insufficient to induce significant decomposition of the at least one LMWC, and continuing the method for a time sufficient to lower the concentration in the liquid of the at least one HMWC and concomitantly raising the concentration in the liquid of the at least one LMWC. In general, US '181 relates to methods for reducing the concentration of higher molecular weight, labile organic components in mixtures thereof with lower molecular weight, less labile organic components with particular emphasis on reducing the concentration of waxy components in crude oil while undergoing transport in pipelines or conduits from sub-sea and land based reservoirs to the surface, thereby preventing deposition of wax on the interior pipeline surfaces. This is generally achieved by controlling the pressure and temperature.

US Patent No. 6,186,228 (hereinafter referred as '228) teaches a number of methods and apparatus for enhancing the production of liquid hydrocarbons from subterranean formations penetrated by well bores. The methods according to this patent are basically comprised of the steps of placing an acoustic energy transducer actuated by at least one electric powered magnetostrictive actuator in a well bore within a liquid hydrocarbon producing formation. Thereafter, acoustic energy in the form of pressure waves is caused to be emitted from the acoustic energy transducer through the liquid hydrocarbons in the formation whereby the surface tension of the liquid hydrocarbons is reduced and the liquid hydrocarbons flow more freely to the well bore.

Further to that, the electric powered magnetostrictive actuator utilized in the transducer is preferably comprised of a drive rod formed of a terfenol alloy. A coil surrounding the terfenol rod creates an alternating magnetic field in the rod, which causes the rod to extend and contract to a greater degree than other types of drive rods. The terfenol drive rod is connected to a flexible element, which imparts high intensity acoustic pressure waves to fluids surrounding the well bore for relatively long distances therefrom. When the liquid hydrocarbons produced are in the form of relatively viscous oil, in addition to the acoustic transducer at least one ultrasound energy transducer activated by an electric powered magnetostrictive actuator is placed in the well bore and caused to emit ultrasound wave energy to the liquid hydrocarbons flowing into the well bore whereby the viscosity of the liquid hydrocarbons is temporarily reduced. This reduction in viscosity allows the liquid hydrocarbons to more freely flow through the well bore. However, it should be noted that in applications where there is no sufficient pressure drive to cause the liquid hydrocarbons to flow to the surface, an electric powered liquid hydrocarbon pump can be placed in the well bore within the producing formation. The pump can be connected to a string of production tubing disposed in the well bore or to the coiled tubing therein. The pump and one or more of the above described sonic energy transducers are connected to a wire line, which is in turn connected to a power source and control unit on the surface. Thus, depending upon the particular application, the type of formation involved and the type of liquid hydrocarbons produced, one or more acoustic energy transducers, one or more of both acoustic energy transducers and ultrasound energy transducers or one or more of both types of transducers and a liquid hydrocarbon pump are utilized in a well bore penetrating a producing formation.

The apparatus of this invention for enhancing the production of liquid hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore includes a conduit disposed in the well bore for conducting produced liquid hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation to the surface. An electric powered pump is connected to the conduit and positioned in the well bore for pumping the liquid hydrocarbons from the formation through the conduit. One or more electric powered acoustic energy transducers are disposed in the well bore within the formation for increasing the mobility of liquid hydrocarbons therein and allowing the liquid hydrocarbons to flow more freely to the well bore. A power source and control unit is provided on the surface, which is connected by a wire line to the pump and the transducers for supplying power and control signals thereto. In general this patent particularly teaches methods and apparatus for enhancing the production of liquid hydrocarbons from subterranean formations penetrated by well bores utilizing one or more sonic energy transducers in the well bores.

US Patent No. 4,282,100 (hereinafter referred as '100) teaches an apparatus for reforming fuel oil wherein ultrasound waves are utilized. The apparatus comprises a closed vessel, a rotary collector formed in a cylindrical shape, an inlet conduit for supplying fuel oil to be reformed into the vessel, an outlet conduit for delivering reformed oil from the vessel, and a ultrasound irradiating device. The rotary collector has a layered mesh structure of a fine mesh, preferably of mesh size between 2 μm and 20 μm, mounted thereon so that sludge contained in the fuel oil to be reformed is collected on the layered mesh structure. One end of a horn connected to the ultrasound wave- irradiating device faces the layered mesh structure forming a small gap therebetween so that the sludge collected on the layered mesh structure is dissociated by the ultrasound waves. In general, this patent more particularly relates to an apparatus for reforming fuel oil wherein ultrasound waves are utilized so that the combustibility of the fuel oil is increased.

US Patent No. 6,279,653 (hereinafter referred as '653) is an improvement over US Patent '228 and hereby teaches an apparatus and process for producing heavy crude oil from a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore. In accordance with the process, an aqueous alkaline chemical solution is introduced into or formed in the well bore penetrating the formation. The aqueous alkaline chemical solution mixes and reacts with produced heavy crude oil in the well bore and ultrasound waves are emitted into the mixture whereby an emulsion is formed. The viscosity of the formed emulsion is less than that of the crude oil or the crude oil and water mixture flowing into the well bore which allows the oil to be more efficiently pumped to the surface and transported for further processing. In general, this patent relates more to facilitate the pumping and/or transporting of the said oil.

US Patent No. 4,945,937 (hereinafter referred as '937) teaches an ultrasound energy which is applied to a combination of waxy crude oil and solid polymeric wax crystal modifier to effect dissolution of the modifier in the crude oil, thereby reducing the gel strength of the crude oil. This patent generally teaches a method of using solvents or chemical additives to reduce the bonds between the molecules of the crude oil. US Patent No. 6,230,799 (hereinafter referred as 799) teaches an apparatus for use down a borehole to reduce the viscosity of a hydrocarbon- containing fluid in the borehole. This patent further teaches that the apparatus includes a housing having a size for disposition in the borehole, in which the housing carries at least one ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound transducer preferably has an active element changeable from a first shape to a second shape in the presence of an electromagnetic field. An electromagnetic field is provided through at least a portion of the active element to change the shape of the active element. An acoustic element is coupled to the active element for providing ultrasound energy to the hydrocarbon-containing fluid in the borehole. A method for reducing the viscosity of a hydrocarbon-containing fluid in a borehole is additionally provided.

Finally, US Patent No. 6,544,411 (hereinafter referred as '411); and US

Published Patent Application Nos. 2002/0125174 and 2003/0132139 (hereinafter referred as '5174 and '2139 respectively) teach a method for decreasing the viscosity of crude oils and residuum utilizing a combination of acid and sonic treatment. It is this aspect of irreversible viscosity reduction by sonic treatment that these documents address. The product from the acid enhanced sonic treatment process has a substantially lower viscosity than the untreated oil. An embodiment of these inventions are directed to a method for decreasing the viscosity of crude oils or crude oil residuum comprising the steps of contacting the crude oil with an effective amount of an acid comprising organic acid, mineral acid or mixtures thereof, sonicating said acid treated crude oil at a temperature and for a time sufficient to decrease the viscosity of said crude oil or residuum. In another embodiment of these inventions are directed to a crude oil or crude residuum having decreased viscosity prepared by contacting the crude oil or residuum with an effective amount of an acid comprising organic acid, mineral acid or mixtures thereof, sonicating said acid treated crude oil or residuum at a temperature and for a time sufficient to decrease the viscosity of said crude oil or residuum.

Therefore, it would be known from the above described prior art documents that the use of solvents and chemical additives for viscosity reduction of petroleum based oil products are widely used.

Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to introduce improvements to viscosity reduction in oil products by reducing or eliminating the use of solvents or chemicals as treatment means for petroleum based products and the like.

Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material forms a part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Singapore or elsewhere on or before the priority date of the disclosure and claims herein. All statements as to the date or representation as to the contents of these documents is based on the information available to the applicant and does not constitute any admission as to the correctness of the dates or contents of these documents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improvements to viscosity reduction in oil products, which comprise of a plurality of transducers and sonotrodes, connected to a pipeline or a flow cell tank or the like structures. Said transducers are connected to a power source to supply electrical power supply and thereafter converting said electrical power supply into mechanical power to induce vibration to the pipeline or flow cell tank or the like structures. The improvements according to the present invention comprise of the sonotrodes being coupled to the internal portion of the pipeline or flow cell tank or the like structures and wherein said sonotrodes are directly in contact with the oil product during operation. When transducers are activated, the immersed sonotrodes would emit radial or focused ultrasound waves into the oil product and thereafter resulting in the viscosity of the oil product to be reduced continuously by means of energy produced by collapsing cavitation bubbles and without the use of chemical additives or solvents.

The improvements further include an anti-vibrational flange, wherein said anti-vibrational flange is provided at the join between each transducer and sonotrodes (10). The sonotrodes in the present invention are designed and configured to produce either a radial wave or static wave or focused wave when activated. The waves produced by the sonotrodes are ultrasound waves.

Further to this, the sonotrodes are designed to produce ultrasound wave in the range between 10 kHz to 100 kHz. The ultrasound wave on the other hand is designed to have intensity between 0.001 W/cm³ to 1000 W/cm³ and amplitude between 1 -micron displacements to 500-micron displacement.

According to the present invention the reduction viscosity of oil products is achieved by utilizing ultrasound wave, elevated temperature and elevated pressure in combination. The ultrasound waves are converted into micron sized cavitation bubbles in the oil product via the transducers and the sonotrodes and wherein mechanical energy or kinetics is produced when said bubbles collapses. The kinetics produced is utilized to separate or un-fold or break the molecular bond of the oil product and thereafter reducing its mass.

The improvements according to the present invention further include an automatic frequency scanning system and an ultrasound scanning system. The ultrasound scanner is utilize to lock onto the resonance frequency of a specific oil product and then re-scanning for new resonance frequency value at pre-determined intervals. In the present invention the oil product is selected from petroleum based products, hydrocarbons and the like materials.

Other aspects and preferred aspects are disclosed in the specification and / or defined in the appended claims, forming a part of the description of the invention.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further disclosure, objects, advantages and aspects of the present application may be better understood by those skilled in the relevant art by reference to the following description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic view of a second embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference made to the accompanied drawings.

In general, the present invention describes a method of utilizing a combination of ultrasound energy; elevated temperature and elevated pressure to either permanently or temporarily reduce the viscosity of oil products. The present invention also describes wherein an oil liquid phase is flooded or passed around immersed sonotrodes (10). Said sonotrodes (10) are designed to emit radial or focused ultrasound waves into the oil liquid phase at energy intensities in the range of 0.001 to 1000 W/cm³.

In a first embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figure 1, wherein there is shown an existing pipeline (12) of an existing process, which is coupled with a plurality of transducers (14). Each transducer (14) is provided with the earlier mentioned sonotrode (10). The transducers (14) as mentioned earlier are provided herein to convert electrical energy from a power source into mechanical vibration, which is thereafter transmitted into the oil by the sonotrodes (10). In this embodiment, at least two sonotrodes (10) are provided therein and are positioned in such a manner that they are opposite and in a linear alignment with each other.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the sonotrodes (10) can be positioned on the circumferential surface of the said pipeline (12) as shown in Figure 2. In this embodiment, said sonotrodes (10) need not be directly opposite and in a linear alignment with one another but may be positioned spaced apart and parallel from one another.

In another embodiment as shown in Figure 3, wherein there is shown a flow cell tank (16) of an existing process. The sonotrodes (10) are positioned in such a manner that each sonotrodes (10) are positioned spaced apart and side-by-side from one another and wherein each sonotrode (10) is held within a flow cell (18).

In all the above-mentioned embodiments, each sonotrode (10) is provided with an anti-vibrational flange (20). Said anti-vibrational flange (20) is provided at the join between the transducer (14) and the sonotrodes (10). The purpose of the said anti-vibrational flange (20) is to reduce or eliminate or absorb any vibration between the transducers (12) and the sonotrodes (10) during operation.

According to the present invention, the sonotrodes (10) are configured and designed to either provide a radial wave or stationary wave or focused emission, depending on the application required therein. Said sonotrodes (10) are preferably made of the selected materials such as titanium, ceramic, steel, hastalloy or glass. The transducers (14) on the other hand could be selected from piezo ceramic transducer (PZT), Terfenol-D magnetostrictive transducers or Nickel/lron/Vanadium magnetostricctive materials.

The parameters of the ultrasound wave according to the present invention have been pre-configured for use in the present invention. The application of the ultrasound range is designed to have a range between 10kHz to 100kHz. The intensity of the ultrasound is designed to have intensity between 0.001 W/cm³ to 1000W/cm³. Finally, the amplitude of the ultrasound is designed to have amplitude between 1 -micron displacements to 500-micron displacements.

The power supply used in the present invention is preferably designed to include automatic resonance frequency tracking so that during operation, the changes in resonance frequency, which relates to maximum power output due to changes in the liquid stream, could be scanned simultaneously. As shown in the accompanied figures, the transducers (14) coupled with the sonotrodes (10) could be mounted or retrofitted to a tank, vessel (selected of an oval, round or square shaped like vessels), trough, pipe, flow- cells (18) containing oil product and etc.

As mentioned earlier, the present invention does not utilize acid or chemical treatment during operation. However, the present invention utilizes a combination of ultrasound wave, elevated temperature and elevated pressure during operation. Using normal temperature and pressure values would result in difficulties for the ultrasound wave to couple itself to a high viscous mass flowing through therein. In other words, the flowing mass would not be entirely treated at normal parameters. It has shown by means of experiments that only about 1% of the mass flowing would be affected by the ultrasound wave at normal parameters. Therefore, the objective of achieving overall reduction in the viscosity would not be achieved. Thus, the use of a combination of all three parameters as mentioned earlier would allow the ultrasound wave to efficiently and uniformly couple to the flowing mass and reduce the viscosity as per se.

In the present invention, ultrasound waves are converted into micron sized cavitations bubbles in the oil. The mechanical energy (or kinetics) produced when said bubbles collapses are so excessive that it is capable to affect the polymer branch structure and chain length of the oils. It should be understood that the ultrasound wave itself is unable to make such effects to the oils. Instead, it is the collapsing of the cavitation bubbles and the high shear mechanical (kinetics) energy released as a result of the collapse that effect the oils. It should also be understood that the ultrasound wave simply creates high-energy bubbles and does not by itself cause in any reduction of viscosity of the oils.

In the present invention the use of sonotrodes (10), which are immersed in the oils would increase the penetration of ultrasound waves into the high viscosity oils. This method or system is different in comparison with the prior art method wherein transducers were either clamped or bolted or welded to the external side of a steel or chamber. Such configuration creates low energy, low efficiency and static waves in the oils and only reduces viscosity at the outer surface of the oils. It is known that the energy intensity associated with static waves is normally in the vicinity of 0.0001 Watt/cm³. Also, such configuration is only limited to batch treatment of oils instead of a continuous treatment as in the present invention.

In the present invention, the use of high intensity ultrasound radial waves or focused energy produces microstreaming/cavitational effects onto the oils and onto the structure of the oil products. This is done by separating/un-folding branched chain molecular structure, breaking long molecules chains and reducing molecular mass. In other words the introduction of high intensity sonotrodes (10) into the oils would produce intensities ranging from 1 to 1000 Watt/cm³ and thereto allowing a high velocity microstreaming effect (i.e. 780 km/h) as mentioned above.

In the present invention, the ultrasound wave frequency is determined to be within the range of 10kHz to 100kHz, i.e. low frequency, in order to reduce the viscosity of oils. It should be understood that the configuration of the sonotrodes (10) and the pre-determination value of the ultrasound frequency would depend on what type of system is used during operation. For example, an oil material with low viscosity loading or oil with strong ultrasound wave absorption factor would most likely use a cascade design radial sonotrodes (10). On the other hand, an oil with high viscosity loading or oil with low ultrasound wave absorption factor would most likely use radial sonotrodes (10) with increased diametric to length dimension (wavelength) factor. Thus, this would produce ultrasound waves, which have greater distance of propagation and have greater capacity to penetrate through said oil. In the prior art, transducers welded or bolted to the external surface of a vessel or chamber or tube were not designed and configured to treat specific types of viscosity load or oils with different ultrasound wave absorption characteristics.

According one aspect of the present invention, increased performance of penetration and viscosity reduction of oils is achieved by using an automatic frequency scanning system for different types of oils. For instant, the type of molecular or polymer structure will determine the resonance frequency of that oil product. For a better definition, the ultrasound wave resonance frequency is the frequency at which the ultrasound unit will deliver the greatest energy efficiency. The present invention is also provided with an ultrasound system, which is capable of locking onto the resonance frequency of a specific oil product and thereafter re-scanning for a new resonance frequency preferably every 0.001 second throughout the process. It was found that, without such resonance frequency tracking means, a variation as little as 10Hz in the resonance frequency would result in a drop of 10 to 40% in energy efficiency. This would thereafter result in a significant reduction effect in the ultrasound wave power, efficiency, penetration and viscosity reduction of the oils. For example, water has a resonance frequency of 20,150 Hz and whereas bunker oil has a resonance frequency of 20, 710 Hz. Prior art devices and method using transducers welded or bolted to the external were not designed with such automatic resonance frequency tracking system and therefore products using the prior art devices and method could not be processed at the correct resonance frequency and maximum power efficiency.

The present invention is particularly useful in enhancing existing solvents or organic liquids for the viscosity reduction of components from oil products such as petroleum and the like. The use of high power, focused energy and radial system, which produced high velocity microstreaming and high-energy cavitation, enables the penetration and dispersion of solvents into the structure of the oil products. This would further enhance the separation/un-folding of the branched chain molecular structures, breaking long chain molecules and reducing molecular mass components. Thus, by utilizing the present invention, solvents or chemical additives can be replaced in whole or in part with ultrasound waves and thereafter reducing the risk of using low flash point solvents such as kerosene, which could arise safety concerns during operation.

In the present invention, the phrase 'oil' would preferably but not limited to include oils selected from petroleum based products or the like materials.

The following examples are put forth so as to provide those of ordinary skill in the art with a complete disclosure and description of how to make and use the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of what the inventor(s) regard as their invention nor are they intended to represent that the experiments below are all and only experiments performed. Efforts have been made to ensure accuracy with respect to numbers used (e.g. amounts, temperature, etc.) but some experimental errors and deviations should be accounted for.

For the purpose of illustration only, sample results obtained by utilizing the present invention are shown below. It should be noted that the results below are obtained due to the limitation or restriction of the parameters involved therein, but yet not necessarily the most preferred results. Examples 1 to 2

In a typical experiment, a sample oil (VBR 5804C) was preheated at 200⁰C and then placed in a 500ml beaker. A 400-watt of power and 24 kHz laboratory ultrasonic system was used. Ultrasound waves were applied to the sample by inserting a titanium sonotrode, which is connected to the ultrasound transducer. The samples were sonicated for 10 seconds and 30 second respectively. The viscosity and the density of the treated samples were measured on the 1^st day, 5^th day and 10^th day.

Examples 3 to 5

In Examples 3 to 5, the samples oil (VBR 5804C) were preheated at 200⁰C and sonicated for 30 seconds, 60 seconds and 120 seconds respectively. Similarly, the viscosity and the density of the treated samples were measured on the 1^st day, 5^th day and 10^th day.

Comparative Examples

For comparative purposes, the viscosity and the density of the original sample oil (VBR 5804C) preheated at 100⁰C and 200⁰C respectively, but without the application of ultrasound waves, were measured on the 1^st day, 5^th day and 10^th day.

The results are shown in Table 1. The results of Table 1 indicate that there is a reduction in viscosity and density in the treated samples compared to the original samples. While this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification(s). This application is intended to cover any variations uses or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above described embodiments are not to limit the present invention unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Various modifications and equivalent arrangements are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention and appended claims. Therefore, the specific embodiments are to be understood to be illustrative of the many ways in which the principles of the present invention may be practiced. In the following claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover structures as performing the defined function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. For example, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface to secure wooden parts together, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw are equivalent structures.

"Comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof."

Table 1

CO

Claims

1. Improvements to viscosity reduction in oil products comprise of a plurality of transducers (14) and sonotrodes (10) which are connected to a pipeline (12) or a flow cell tank (16) or the like structures and wherein said transducers (14) are connected to a power source to supply electrical power supply and thereafter converting said electrical power supply into mechanical power to induce vibration to the pipeline (12) or flow cell tank (16) or the like structures characterized in that the improvements comprises of the sonotrodes (10) being coupled to the internal portion of the pipeline (12) or flow cell tank (16) or the like structures and wherein said sonotrodes (10) are directly in contact with the oil product during operation and wherein when the transducers (14) are activated, the immersed sonotrodes (10) would emit radial or focused ultrasound waves into the oil product and thereafter resulting in the viscosity of the oil product to be reduced continuously by means of energy produced by collapsing cavitation bubbles and without the use of chemical additives or solvents.

2. Improvements as claimed in Claim 1 wherein an anti-vibrational flange (20) is provided at the join between each transducer (14) and sonotrodes (10).

3. Improvements as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the sonotrodes (10) are designed and configured to produce either a radial wave or static wave or focused wave.

4. Improvements as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the waves are ultrasound waves.

5. Improvements as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the sonotrodes (10) are designed to produce ultrasound wave in the range between 10 kHz to 100 kHz.

6. Improvements as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the ultrasound wave is designed to have intensity between 0.001 W/cm³ to 1000 W/cm³.

7. Improvements as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the ultrasound wave is designed to have amplitude between 1 -micron displacements to 500-micron displacement.

8. Improvements as claimed in Claim 1 wherein reduction viscosity of oil products is achieved by utilizing ultrasound wave, elevated temperature and elevated pressure in combination.

9. Improvements as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the ultrasound waves are converted into micron sized cavitation bubbles in the oil product via the transducers (14) and the sonotrodes (10) and wherein mechanical energy or kinetics is produced when said bubbles collapses.

10. Improvements as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the kinetics produced is utilized to separate or un-fold or break the molecular bond of the oil product and thereafter reducing its mass.

11. Improvements as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the improvements further include an automatic frequency scanning system.

12. Improvements as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the improvements further include an ultrasound scanning system.

13. Improvements as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the ultrasound scanner is utilize to lock onto the resonance frequency of a specific oil product and then re-scanning for new resonance frequency value at pre-determined intervals.

14. Improvements as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the oil product is selected from petroleum based products, hydrocarbons and the like materials.