WO2011113017A2 - Procédés permettant de prédire les tendances à l'encrassement de matières premières contenant des hydrocarbures - Google Patents

Procédés permettant de prédire les tendances à l'encrassement de matières premières contenant des hydrocarbures Download PDF

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WO2011113017A2
WO2011113017A2 PCT/US2011/028219 US2011028219W WO2011113017A2 WO 2011113017 A2 WO2011113017 A2 WO 2011113017A2 US 2011028219 W US2011028219 W US 2011028219W WO 2011113017 A2 WO2011113017 A2 WO 2011113017A2
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Prior art keywords
asphaltenes
solvents
amount
fouling
solubility
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PCT/US2011/028219
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English (en)
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WO2011113017A3 (fr
Inventor
Cesar Ovalles
Estrella Rogel
Michael Moir
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Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
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Priority claimed from US12/833,802 external-priority patent/US20110066441A1/en
Application filed by Chevron U.S.A. Inc. filed Critical Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
Publication of WO2011113017A2 publication Critical patent/WO2011113017A2/fr
Publication of WO2011113017A3 publication Critical patent/WO2011113017A3/fr

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N17/00—Investigating resistance of materials to the weather, to corrosion, or to light
    • G01N17/008—Monitoring fouling

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to methods for predicting fouling tendencies of hydrocarbon containing feedstocks used with hydroprocessing equipment.
  • Asphaltene precipitation is a concern to the petroleum industry due to, for example, plugging of an oil well or pipeline as well as stopping or decreasing oil production. Also, in downstream applications, asphaltenes are believed to be the source of coke during thermal upgrading processes thereby reducing and limiting yield of residue conversion. In catalytic upgrading processes, asphaltenes can contribute to catalyst poisoning by coke and metal deposition thereby limiting the activity of the catalyst.
  • Asphaltenes can also cause fouling in, for example, heat exchangers and other equipment in a refinery. Fouling in heat transfer equipment used for streams of petroleum origin can result from a number of mechanisms including chemical reactions, corrosion and the deposit of materials made insoluble by the temperature difference between the fluid and heat exchange wall. The presence of insoluble contaminants may exacerbate the problem: blends of a low-sulfur, low asphaltene (LSLA) crude oil and a high-sulfur, high asphaltene (HSHA) crude, for example, may be subject to a significant increase in fouling in the presence of iron oxide (rust) particulates. Subsequent exposure of the precipitated asphaltenes over time to high temperatures then causes formation of coke as a result of thermal degradation.
  • LSLA low-sulfur, low asphaltene
  • HSHA high asphaltene
  • Equipment fouling is costly to petroleum refineries and other plants in terms of lost efficiencies, lost throughput, and additional energy consumption. With the increased cost of energy, heat exchanger fouling can have a significant impact on process profitability. Higher operating costs also accrue from the cleaning required to remove fouling. While many types of refinery equipment are affected by fouling, cost estimates have shown that the majority of profit losses occur due to processing of thermally unstable crude oil blends and fractions and subsequently fouling.
  • Fouling is generally characterized as the accumulation of unwanted materials on the surfaces of processing equipment.
  • fouling is the accumulation of unwanted hydrocarbon-based deposits on, for example, heat exchanger surfaces. It has been recognized as a nearly universal problem in design and operation of refining and petrochemical processing systems, and affects the operation of equipment in two ways.
  • the fouling layer has a low thermal conductivity. This increases the resistance to heat transfer and reduces the effectiveness of the heat exchangers.
  • Falker discloses a method (Falker, T. J., U.S. Patent No. 5,753,802 (1998)) for analyzing the fouling tendency of FCC (Fluid Catalytic Cracking) bottoms by heating the bottoms for two hours in an autoclave at a variety of temperatures in the range of 360-380°C. Then the amounts of gravimetric asphaltenes recovered from the bottoms are determined by conventional precipitation techniques. By comparing the amount of asphaltenes generated for a sample obtained at different autoclave temperatures, the determination of the relative fouling propensity for each sample can be obtained. The fouling tendency increases with the asphaltenes content in the product and decreases in the presence of a chemical antifoulant.
  • FCC Fluid Catalytic Cracking
  • a method for determining asphaltene stability in a hydrocarbon-containing feedstock having solvated asphaltenes therein comprising the steps of:
  • the methods advantageously predict the fouling tendencies of a hydrocarbon- containing samples in a simple, cost efficient and repeatable manner.
  • FIG. 1 shows two graphs of asphaltene solubility fractions for samples derived from two reference feedstocks showing the response versus time using an Evaporative Light Scanning Detector
  • FIG. 2 is a graph showing a correlation between fouling factor R f for a variety of hydrocarbon samples containing asphaltenes versus their ratios of high to low polarity asphaltene fractions as determined by an Asphaltene Solubility Fraction Method;
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of a heat exchanger used in tests to determine fouling factors R f of samples taken over time and as graphed in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a graph showing correlations between incremental high polar
  • FIG. 5 shows a pair of solubility profiles for two samples of feedstocks, one having a relatively high fouling tendency and one having a relatively low fouling tendency.
  • the fraction of a sample that is insoluble in paraffins is called asphaltenes and a soluble fraction is referred to as maltenes.
  • the asphaltenes are separated into four different fractions according to their solubility in four selected solvents, i.e., mixtures of dichloromethane in heptane and methanol in dichloromethane (see below for more details).
  • the relative concentration of these fractions in the feedstock is correlated with its fouling propensity on a hydroprocessing component or conduit. Using this correlation, fouling tendencies of other samples can be predicted knowing the solubility characteristics of the other samples.
  • a method involves (a) precipitating an amount of asphaltenes from a liquid sample of a first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock having solvated asphaltenes therein with one or more first solvents in a column; (b) determining one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; (c) analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; and (d) correlating a measurement of fouling tendency for the first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock sample with a mathematical parameter derived from the results of analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes.
  • the source of the hydrocarbon-containing feedstock may be any source wherefrom a hydrocarbon crude may be obtained, produced, or the like.
  • the source may be one or more producing wells in fluid communication with a subterranean oil reservoir.
  • the producing well(s) may be under thermal recovery conditions, or the producing well(s) may be in a heavy oil field where the hydrocarbon crude or oil is being produced from a reservoir having a strong water-drive.
  • the hydrocarbon-containing feedstock sample includes any heavy hydrocarbons such as heavy crude oil, heavy hydrocarbons extracted from tar sands, commonly called tar sand bitumen, such as Athabasca tar sand bitumen obtained from Canada, heavy petroleum crude oils such as Venezuelan Orinoco heavy oil belt crudes, Boscan heavy oil, Hamaca crude oil, heavy hydrocarbon fractions obtained from crude petroleum oils, particularly heavy vacuum gas oils, vacuum residuum as well as petroleum tar, tar sands and coal tar.
  • heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks which can be used are oil shale, shale, coal liquefaction products and the like.
  • the hydrocarbon-containing feedstock sample includes any solid hydrocarbon-containing deposit such as asphaltene solids from, e.g., refinery production preparation or an oil facility.
  • the hydrocarbon-containing feedstock sample includes any processed sample such as heavy cycle gas oil (HCGO), LC Fining products, fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) products and the like.
  • HCGO heavy cycle gas oil
  • FCC fluid catalytic cracking
  • a liquid sample of a hydrocarbon-containing feedstock having solvated asphaltenes therein is provided.
  • a solvent include solvents in which the hydrocarbon-containing feedstock sample is soluble or which is capable of allowing the hydrocarbon-containing feedstock sample to be sufficiently fluid to be passed through the column.
  • Representative examples of such solvents include one or more chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, one or more aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, one or more ether solvents, one or more alcohol solvents and the like and mixtures thereof.
  • Suitable chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents include, but are not limited to, dichloromethane, 1,2- dichloroethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and the like and mixtures thereof.
  • Suitable aromatic hydrocarbon solvents include, but are not limited to, benzene, toluene, xylene and the like and mixtures thereof.
  • Suitable ether solvents include tetrahydrofuran, diethylether, dioxane and the like and mixtures of thereof.
  • Suitable alcohol solvents include low molecular weight aliphatic alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and the like and mixtures thereof.
  • the sample solution can be prepared from about 10 to about 50 wt. % solution of the hydrocarbon-containing feedstock sample in the solvent(s).
  • the column will have an inlet and an outlet and can be any type of column which is hollow and permits the flow of an aqueous-type material through the interior of the column.
  • the column can be any size and cross sectional shape, e.g., the column can be cylindrical, square, rectangular, triangular, or any other geometrical shape as long as it is hollow and permits the passing of aqueous-type material.
  • the column is cylindrical.
  • the column can be of any suitable length and any inner diameter or inner cross-sectional area.
  • the column can have a diameter of from about 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) to about 1 inch (2.54 cm) and a length of from about 50 mm to about 500 mm.
  • the column can generally be any inert filtration device for use with the methods of the present invention.
  • the column can be formed of a relatively inert or chemically unreactive material such as glass, stainless steel, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyaryletheretherketone, (PEEK), silicon carbide or mixtures of thereof, for example, a PEEK-lined stainless steel column.
  • a relatively inert or chemically unreactive material such as glass, stainless steel, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyaryletheretherketone, (PEEK), silicon carbide or mixtures of thereof, for example, a PEEK-lined stainless steel column.
  • the column may be vertical or horizontal or arranged in any suitable way, provided that it can be loaded with the sample solution and that the appropriate solvent(s) can be passed through it.
  • a pump may also be used to increase the flow rate through the column.
  • an inert packing material is included within the column.
  • the amount of the inert packing material should not exceed an amount that will prevent the passing of any liquid containing material through the column.
  • the packed column advantageously allows for the use of a relatively small volume of sample solution and solvent(s).
  • Suitable inert packing material includes any material that is inert to asphaltene irreversible adsorption. Examples of such materials include fluorinated polymers such as, for example, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), silicon carbide, polydivinylbenzene (PDVB) and the like and mixtures thereof.
  • first solvents are then passed through the column.
  • Useful one or more first solvents are typically alkane mobile phase solvent(s) and can be determined by one skilled in the art.
  • the alkane mobile phase solvent is n-heptane.
  • other alkane mobile phase solvents such as, for example, n-pentane or n-hexane may be used.
  • the one or more first solvents should be passed into the column for a time period sufficient to elute the alkane soluble fraction, commonly known as maltenes or petrolenes, and induce precipitation of the alkane insoluble fraction, i.e., the precipitated asphaltenes, from the hydrocarbon-containing feedstock sample.
  • the alkane mobile phase solvent i.e., one or more first solvents
  • the alkane mobile phase solvent dilutes and displaces the solvent in the sample solution, thereby allowing the asphaltenes to substantially precipitate therefrom.
  • the alkane soluble fraction then elutes from the column.
  • One or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes is then determined once substantially all of the alkane soluble fraction has eluted.
  • the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes to be determined include, by way of example, solubility parameters, miscibility numbers, kauri-butanol numbers, dipole moments, relative permitivities, polarity indexes, refractive indexes and specific types of intermolecular interaction in liquid media such as acid and base numbers.
  • solubility parameters include, by way of example, solubility parameters, miscibility numbers, kauri-butanol numbers, dipole moments, relative permitivities, polarity indexes, refractive indexes and specific types of intermolecular interaction in liquid media such as acid and base numbers.
  • Various ways to determine the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes are within the purview of one skilled in the art.
  • the step of determining one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes involves (1) dissolving at least part of the amount of the precipitated asphaltenes in one or more second solvents having a solubility parameter at least 0.7 MPa 0'5 higher than the one or more first solvents; and (2) dissolving a second amount of the precipitated asphaltenes in one or more third solvents having a solubility parameter higher than the one or more second solvents, wherein the solubility parameter of the one or more third solvents is at least about 21 MPa 0'5 but no greater than about 30 MPa 0'5 .
  • a solubility parameter as described herein is determined by the Hansen's methodology described in Barton, A. F. M. Handbook of Solubility Parameters and Other Cohesion Parameters; CRC Pres Inc.: Boca Raton, FL, p. 95 (1983).
  • MPa 0'5 higher than the one or more first solvents can be determined by one skilled in the art.
  • Useful solvents include, but are not limited to, one or more alkane solvents, one or more chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, one or more aromatic solvents, one or more ether solvents, one or more alcohol solvents and the like and mixtures thereof. Representative examples of such solvents can be any of those disclosed above. It is also contemplated that blends of such solvents can be used. In one embodiment, a blend can contain from about 0.5 wt. % to about 99.5 wt. % chlorinated solvent and from about 99.5 wt. % to about 0.5 wt. % alkane solvent. In another embodiment, a blend can contain from about 10 wt. % to about 25 wt. % chlorinated solvent and from about 90 wt. % to about 75 wt. % alkane solvent.
  • Suitable one or more third solvents having a solubility parameter higher than the one or more second solvents, wherein the solubility parameter of the one or more third solvents is at least about 21 MP a 0'5 but no greater than about 30 MP a 0'5 can be determined by one skilled in the art. Generally, the one or more third solvents will dissolve any remaining precipitated asphaltenes in the column.
  • Useful solvents include, but are not limited to, one or more alcohol solvents, one or more chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, one or more aromatic solvents, one or more ether second solvents and the like and mixtures thereof. Representative examples of such solvents can be any of those disclosed above. It is also contemplated that blends of such solvents can be used.
  • a blend can contain from about 0.5 wt. % to about 99.5 wt. % chlorinated solvent and from about 99.5 wt. % to about 0.5 wt. % alcohol solvent. In another embodiment, a blend can contain from about 80 wt. % to about 95 wt. % chlorinated solvent and from about 20 wt. % to about 5 wt. % alcohol solvent.
  • one or more additional solvents or solvent blends can be added to dissolve at least part of the amount of the precipitated asphaltenes after the addition of the one or more second solvents and before the addition of the one or more third solvents.
  • the one or more additional solvents or solvent blends will have a solubility parameter greater than the previously added one or more solvents or solvent blends and less than the solubility parameter of the one or more third solvents.
  • one or more fourth solvents having a solubility parameter between the solubility parameter of the one or more second solvents and the solubility parameter of the one or more third solvents can be added to dissolve at least part of the amount of the precipitated asphaltenes.
  • one or more fifth solvents having a solubility parameter between the solubility parameter of the one or more fourth solvents and the solubility parameter of the one or more third solvents can be added to dissolve at least part of the amount of the precipitated asphaltenes.
  • one or more sixth solvents having a solubility parameter between the solubility parameter of the one or more fifth solvents and the solubility parameter of the one or more third solvents can be added to dissolve at least part of the amount of the precipitated asphaltenes.
  • Suitable additional solvents include, but are not limited to, one or more alkane solvents, one or more chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, one or more alcohol solvents, one or more aromatic solvents and the like and mixtures thereof. Representative examples of such solvents can be any of those disclosed above.
  • the asphaltene concentration in the eluted fractions from the column is continuously monitored using, for example, a liquid chromatography detector that generates a signal proportional to the amount of each eluted fraction and is recorded in a manner well known in the art.
  • liquid chromatography detectors there are a number of commercially available liquid chromatography detectors that can be used including, e.g., refractive index detectors, mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, diode array detector, charged aerosol, evaporative light scattering detectors (ELSD) and the like; all of which can be used in the methods described herein.
  • Other online detectors are known to those skilled in the art. Quantification can then be performed using methods known in the art, e.g., using commercially-available computer programs.
  • an evaporative light scattering detector is used as a liquid chromatography detector to monitor each eluting sample's concentration to determine the solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes.
  • the operating principle of an evaporative light scattering detector is as follows: the compounds to be analyzed are transported by a mobile phase or a more volatile carrier liquid which is then nebullized and evaporated at a relatively low temperature (about 30°C to about 150°C) so that residual micro-particles alone remain - ideally the compounds to be analyzed - which can be detected by light scattering.
  • a mathematical parameter derived from the one or more solubility characteristics is correlated with one or more measurements of fouling tendencies of the hydrocarbon-containing sample.
  • a mathematical parameter can be derived by calculating a percentage of each peak area for the first amount or the second amount of dissolved asphaltenes relative to the total peak areas, wherein the peak areas are derived from the signals generated from the detector.
  • Other mathematical parameters derived from the one or more solubility characteristics are within the purview of one skilled in the art and illustrated in the examples herein.
  • fouling tendency shall refer to the tendency of asphaltenes accumulate on a surface, such as that of a heat exchanger. Depending on the asphaltene content of a particular feedstock, the fouling tendency may occur at slow rate or at a faster rate.
  • a fouling factor R f is described below with respect to Example 2, using a fouling factor R f , as a measure of fouling.
  • FIG. 3 Another example of fouling tendency is shown in FIG. 3, wherein samples of two different feedstock are each heated at a plurality of different temperatures for an extended period of time, cooled, with samples then evaluated for high polar content. The fouling tendency is a function of the incremental increase in parts per million of high polar asphaltenes contained within the samples. Generally, the higher the temperature, the greater the production of high polar asphaltenes.
  • Tendency of FCC Slurries describes methods which may be used to determine fouling tendencies.
  • the content of this patent is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. These methods may also be used to arrive at fouling tendencies which can be correlated against a mathematical parameter derived from the results of analyzing one or more solubility characteristics, obtained such as by using the Asphaltene Solubility Fraction Method.
  • Fouling factors and their determinations are described in a number of patents such as US Patents 7,799,206 and 7,682,460, and patent applications WO2004/099349 and WO03/103863.
  • Those skilled in the art will appreciate there are numerous other ways to determine a fouling factor or fouling tendency associated with fouling rates of asphaltenes and other foulants accumulating such as on hydroprocessing equipment. These various ways may be used so that correlations may be made with with the one or more mathematical parameters related to solubilities can be done to predict fouling tendencies for other feedstocks.
  • a measure of fouling loss of a component is related to the lowering of heat transfer rates resulting from corrosion, deposit or sediment formation, or roughness of the surface of tube walls of heat exchangers or similar type of units.
  • R f any other parameter indicative of fouling tendency, allows the measurement the fouling rate of the component to be determined and its value monitored as a function of time. As the fouling factor increases, the propensity of a component to degrade or fail also increases so the unit should be monitored for potential cleaning. As many different hydrocarbon containing samples are passed through the component, the fouling factor changes so the operator has to closely monitor this parameter to optimize the operating conditions and avoid financial losses.
  • a problematic sample (relatively high fouling tendency) and a non-problematic sample (relatively low fouling tendency) can be appropriately mixed so that the fouling rate of the unit is reduced.
  • pressure and/or temperature can be controlled to reduce fouling rate by reducing the asphaltene generation during operation of a component.
  • an estimate can be made of the optimum amount of an anti-foulant additive to be mixed with a problematic hydrocarbon containing stream.
  • a method for determining asphaltene stability in a hydrocarbon-containing feedstock having solvated asphaltenes therein comprising the steps of:
  • the tendency to foul of a feedstock may be for one or more crude hydrocarbon refinery components including a heat exchanger, a furnace, a crude preheater, a coker preheater, a FCC slurry bottom, a debutanizer exchange, a debutanizer tower, a feed/effluent exchanger, a furnace air preheater, a flare compressor component, a steam cracker, a steam reformer, a distillation column, a fractionation column, a scrubber, a liquid-jacketed tank, a pipestill, a coker, a storage tank and a visbreaker.
  • crude hydrocarbon refinery components including a heat exchanger, a furnace, a crude preheater, a coker preheater, a FCC slurry bottom, a debutanizer exchange, a debutanizer tower, a feed/effluent exchanger, a furnace air preheater, a flare compressor component, a steam cracker, a steam reformer,
  • Solutions for four reference hydrocarbon containing samples were prepared by dissolving 0.1000 g of the feedstocks in 10 mL of methylene chloride. The solutions were injected into a separate stainless steel column packed with poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) using a heptane mobile phase (Solubility Parameter of 15.3 MPa 0'5 ) at a flow rate of 4 mL/min. Maltenes (heptane solubles) were eluted from the column as a first peak around 2 minutes after the injection.
  • PTFE poly(tetrafluoroethylene)
  • the mobile phase was then switched in successive steps to solvents of increasing solubility parameters: (1) 10 minutes after the addition of the heptane phase, a blend of 15% dichloromethane/85% n-heptane (Solubility Parameter of 16.05 MPa 0 5 ) was added to the column; (2) 20 minutes after the addition of the blend of 15% dichloromethane/85% n-heptane, a blend of 30% dichloromethane/70% n-heptane (Solubility Parameter of 18.8 MPa 0'5 ) was added to the column; (3) 30 minutes after the addition of the blend of 30% dichloromethane/70% n-heptane, 100% dichloromethane (Solubility Parameter of 20.3 MPa 0 5 ) was added to the column; and (4) 40 minutes after the addition of 100% dichloromethane, a blend of 10% methanol/90% dichloromethane (Solubility Parameter of 21.23 MPa 0 5 ) was added to the column. In this
  • ELSD Error Desorption Detector
  • drift tube temperature 75°C drift tube temperature 75°C
  • volumetric flow of the solvents was 4.0 mL/min. and 3.5 L/min. of nitrogen as the nebullizing gas.
  • the light scattered by the non- volatile particles was collected and is a measure of the concentration of the solute in the column effluent.
  • the measurement of the light scattered also known as response, represents the solubility characteristics of the asphaltenes present in the sample.
  • DAD Diode Array Detector
  • Figure 1 shows the resulting solubility characteristics of the asphaltene solubility fraction distributions for two petroleum-containing samples as response versus time using the ELSD.
  • the presence of five distinct features is represented by separated peaks.
  • the first peak corresponds to the eluted maltenes (heptane solubles) and the last four peaks correspond to each of the eluted asphaltenes from the four different solvent additions.
  • the asphaltenes are separated in increasing solubility parameters, i.e., the first and second peaks are considered "low polarity" asphaltenes and the last two peaks are considered "high polarity” asphaltenes.
  • the ELSD allows for calculating a percentage of peak area for each of the dissolved asphaltenes.
  • a small portion (40 ⁇ ) of the solution is injected into a stainless steel column packed with poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) using a heptane mobile phase. Maltenes (heptane solubles) elute from the column as the first peak. The mobile phase is then switched sequentially to 15% dichloromethane in heptane, 30% dichloromethane in heptane, 100% dichloromethane and 10% methanol in dichloromethane. The percentages of the asphaltene soluble fractions are calculated using the following correlation between the mass and the area under the peak to determine the mass of each fraction and then dividing each mass by the total mass of the crude oil sample.
  • PTFE poly(tetrafluoroethylene)
  • the high polarity asphaltenes are dissolved in 100% dichloromethane and 10% methanol in dichloromethane and the low polarity asphaltenes are dissolved in 10% dichloromethane in heptane and 30% dichloromethane in heptane.
  • sample 1 has the lowest concentration of high polarity asphaltenes and has a low fouling rate in comparison with sample 2.
  • This example shows how the Asphaltene Solubility Fraction Method can be used to predict the fouling tendency of a petroleum-containing hydrocarbon.
  • an asphaltene containing fluid and water flows through a heat exchanger 100 in complementary tubes A and B, respectively.
  • a supply of water is provided to a water inlet 106 of tube B to remove heat from the asphaltene containing fluid flowing through tube A.
  • the heat from the water is passed from a water outlet 108 to subsequently generate steam.
  • the asphaltene containing fluid flows into an inlet 102 of the tube A, through tube A, with heat be passed to the water and then out an outlet 104 of tube A at a reduced temperature.
  • a flow meter 120 measure the flow (lbs/hour) of the asphaltene containing fluid passing through heat exchanger 100.
  • the fouling factor Rf is related to the tendency of the heat exchanger to foul due the passage of the asphaltene containing fluid under particular operating conditions, i.e., temperatures of the asphaltene containing fluid and water. As the fouling factor Rf increases, indicating more accumulation of fouling material on the inside heat exchange tube A, the ability of the heat exchanger to exchange heat diminishes. Knowing how fast the fouling factor Rf increases, the tendency of a feedstock to cause fouling can be estimated. Eventually, the heat exchanger must be cleaned or replaced to return to an economical rate of heat exchange.
  • the fouling factor (Rf) for the heat exchanger due to the asphaltene containing fluid passing through the heat exchanger may be calculated as follows:
  • Cp heat capacity of the asphaltene containing fluid that flows through heat exchanger (BTU/lb);
  • Tiniet average temperature of asphaltene containing fluid into of heat exchanger (Fahrenheit);
  • Toutiet average temperature of asphaltene containing fluid out of heat exchanger
  • LMDT Log meant temperature difference
  • Log mean temperature difference describes the temperature driving force for heat transfer in flow systems.
  • the system is a heat exchanger;
  • LMDT is a logarithmic average of the temperature difference between the hot and cold streams at each end of the heat exchanger. The greater LMDT is, the greater the amount of heat that is transferred.
  • LMTD assume that there is constant flow rate and that the flow has constant fluid thermal properties.
  • Fouling Factor (R f )) was calculated for a heat exchanger utilizing Equation (1) above over the course of approximately one year at occasion dates. Asphaltene content and polarity were determined for samples taken. Occasionally the heat exchanger was cleaned producing lower fouling factor. Knowing how fast the fouling factor changes with time, is indicative of the fouling tendency of a feedstock on equipment.
  • the fouling factor is proportional to the ratio of high to low polarity of asphaltenes present in the petroleum sample with a correlation factor of 0.619.
  • the line and equation for the line represent the correlation in FIG 2. Knowing how the fouling factor changes over time can be related to the solubility characteristics of a feedstock. This example shows how the Asphaltene Solubility Fraction Method of Example 1 can be used to predict the fouling tendency of a petroleum-containing hydrocarbon with respect to hydrocarbon processing equipment.
  • An autoclave reactor was loaded with 70 g of the petroleum sample and purged with nitrogen at least six times.
  • the reactor was pressurized to 29 psi of nitrogen and heated at 5°C/min up to the desired temperature (320-360°C). Top end temperatures included 320°C, 335°C, 345°C, and 355°C.
  • FIG. 5 shows liquid chromatography traces determined using an Asphaltene

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Abstract

La présente invention a pour objet un procédé impliquant les étapes consistant (a) à précipiter une quantité d'asphaltènes provenant d'un échantillon liquide d'une première matière première contenant des hydrocarbures contenant des asphaltènes solvatés avec un ou plusieurs premiers solvants dans une colonne ; (b) à déterminer une ou plusieurs caractéristiques de solubilité des asphaltènes précipités ; (c) à analyser la ou les caractéristiques de solubilité des asphaltènes précipités ; et (d) à corréler une mesure des tendances à l'encrassement des matières premières pour le premier échantillon de matières premières contenant des hydrocarbures avec un paramètre mathématique dérivé des résultats d'analyse de la ou des caractéristiques de solubilité des asphaltènes précipités.
PCT/US2011/028219 2010-03-11 2011-03-11 Procédés permettant de prédire les tendances à l'encrassement de matières premières contenant des hydrocarbures WO2011113017A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US31276510P 2010-03-11 2010-03-11
US61/312,765 2010-03-11
US12/833,802 US20110066441A1 (en) 2009-09-14 2010-07-09 Method for predicting reactivity of a hydrocarbon-containing feedstock for hydroprocessing
US12/833,802 2010-07-09
US12/833,814 US20110062058A1 (en) 2009-09-14 2010-07-09 Method for determining asphaltene stability of a hydrocarbon-containing material
US12/833,814 2010-07-09
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