Apparatus and method for detecting flocculation threshold of a colloidal medium, in particular a medium comprising asphaltenes, by addition of an aliphatic solvent

By using a direct optical transmission measurement unit and control system, the problems of speed and accuracy in measuring the asphaltene flocculation threshold of black petroleum products in the prior art have been solved. This enables rapid and automated measurement of samples of different depths, adapting to the changes in asphaltene content of different products.

CN115867790BActive Publication Date: 2026-06-12TOTALENERGIES SE
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
TOTALENERGIES SE
Filing Date
2021-06-21
Publication Date
2026-06-12

AI Technical Summary

⚠Technical Problem

Existing methods and equipment for measuring the flocculation threshold of asphaltene in ferrous petroleum products are not simple, fast, or accurate enough. They are also difficult to adapt to changes in asphaltene content in different products, and have a low degree of automation, resulting in long operation time and large errors.

⚗Method used

The measurement unit employs direct optical transmission, combined with a light emitter, light receiver, and control system. By adjusting the light emission intensity and impedance circuit, it achieves automated measurement of samples at different depths, avoiding signal oscillations caused by changes in optical path length, and using a fixed optical path length and fluid circuit for continuous measurement.

🎯Benefits of technology

It enables rapid and accurate measurement of samples ranging from very light to very dark colors, reduces operation time, improves the degree of automation of measurement, avoids signal oscillation, and adapts to the variation of asphaltene content in different products.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the flocculation threshold of colloidal media, particularly asphaltenes, by adding an aliphatic solvent, the apparatus comprising: - a measuring unit (10) operating by direct optical transmission and including a measuring chamber (101) for receiving the medium, a light emitter (12) for emitting a light beam entering the measuring chamber in an emission direction, and a photodetector (14) for directly receiving the light beam exiting the measuring chamber and transmitting a current when it receives luminous flux; - a control system comprising a system (17) for driving the light emitter configured to vary the luminous intensity of the emitted light beam between a minimum and a maximum value, and a measuring system (18) for measuring the current transmitted by the photodetector (14), the measuring system (18) comprising: a system configured to receive the current transmitted by the photodetector (14). The system includes a current-to-voltage converter (19) for transmitting voltage, the converter (19) comprising a controlled switch (190) configured to distribute current in a loop selected from at least two impedance loops (191, 192) having different impedances; a variable gain amplifier (20) configured to receive the voltage delivered by the current-to-voltage converter (19) and deliver a voltage equal to or proportional to the input voltage; an analog-to-digital converter (21) configured to receive the voltage delivered by the variable gain amplifier (20) and deliver a digital signal (S) representing the amount of current delivered by the optical receiver; and a management system (22) for a control system (16) configured to control the drive system (17), the switch (19), and the variable gain amplifier (20).
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