Method for predicting fouling tendency of a hydrocarbon-containing feedstock (The University Of Wyoming Research Corp)

PATENT
Method for predicting fouling tendency of a hydrocarbon-containing feedstock (The University Of Wyoming Research Corp)
Publication date Jul 23, 2013
Also published as US7875464
Inventors John F. Schabron, Joseph F. Rovani, Jr.
Original Assignee The University Of Wyoming Research Corporation
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a method involving the steps of (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 feedstock 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.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, this inventive technology relates to substance analysis and/or processing. More specifically, the inventive technology, in at least one embodiment, relates to in-vessel generation of a material from a solution of interest as part of a processing and/or analysis operation. Preferred embodiments of the in-vessel material generation (e.g., in-vessel solid material generation) include precipitation; in certain embodiments, analysis and/or processing of the solution of interest may include dissolution of the material, perhaps as part of a successive dissolution protocol using solvents of increasing ability to dissolve the material, in order to gain a desired amount of information about the solution of interest or to process a solution of interest as desired. Applications include, but are by no means limited to estimation of a coking onset and solution (e.g., oil) fractionating.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present inventive technology includes a variety of aspects which may be selected in different combinations based upon the particular application or needs to be addressed. In one basic form, the inventive technology relates to in-vessel generation of a material (e.g., a solid material) from a solution of interest (e.g., via precipitation), and perhaps dissolution of that solid material, as part of a processing and/or analysis operation. Advantages of the inventive technology relate to improvements in speed, efficiency, and accuracy, inter alia, relative to known material processing and analysis methods.
Embodiments of the present invention may identify instrumental analyses that could measure the amount of asphaltenes in fossil fuel materials or correlate with coking indexes and perhaps lead to the development of a rapid analysis system.
It is therefore an object of certain embodiments of the present inventive technology to provide a rapid on-column precipitation and dissolution method for rapid measurement of a cyclohexane soluble portion of asphaltenes precipitated from a hydrocarbonaceous solution of interest.
It is an object of certain embodiments of the present inventive technology to provide an automated system for rapid measurement of a cyclohexane soluble portion of asphaltenes.
It is an object of certain embodiments of the present inventive technology to provide an in-vessel precipitation/dissolution system for improved processing (including but not limited to fractionating) of a solution of interest.
It is an object of certain embodiments of the present inventive technology to provide an in-vessel precipitation/dissolution system for improved analysis of a solution of interest (including but not limited to determining the solution's makeup relative to dissolved materials of different polarity).
It is an object of certain embodiments of the present inventive technology to provide an automated analysis and/or processing method using in-vessel material generation.
Naturally, further objects, goals and embodiments of the inventions are disclosed throughout other areas of the specification.
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