Asphalt Blend Prediction Using Viscosity-Temperature Profiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for predicting the properties of asphalt blends from multiple crude sources are unreliable, leading to conservative feedstock blends that limit distillation throughput and require excessive storage for characterization, causing inefficiencies in refinery operations.

Innovation Solution

A method involving measuring viscosities at different temperatures to determine characteristic temperature and viscosity values for each asphalt component, allowing for the selection of target ranges to form blends with desired properties, even using components that do not meet traditional specifications, by using weighted averages of asymptotic viscosity (ηinf) and temperature (T0) values.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional experimental characterization methods are used to determine asphalt blend specifications, then reliable quality prediction is achieved, but storage time and storage capacity are significantly increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality prediction reliabilityVSAvoidcharacterization time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary characterization of individual feedstocks before blending, determining their softening points and other properties in advance. This preliminary action allows the use of predictive models (such as the Andrews method) to estimate blend properties without requiring extensive experimental characterization of each blend formulation, thereby reducing storage time while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a predictive model that copies the relationship between feedstock properties and asphalt blend properties. By establishing this mathematical model from initial experimental data, the system can predict blend characteristics without requiring physical storage and testing of every possible blend combination, thus reducing both time and storage requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If heavier feedstocks are used to ensure asphalt quality specifications are met, then quality reliability is improved, but distillation throughput is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveasphalt quality specification complianceVSAvoiddistillation throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically varies the composition parameters of feedstock blends to identify optimal formulations that meet quality specifications. By using predictive models to evaluate different parameter combinations (different proportions of heavy and light feeds), the system can find blends that satisfy quality requirements while maximizing distillation throughput, avoiding the conservative approach of always using heavier feeds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If extensive experimental characterization of asphalt blends is performed, then complete specification determination is achieved, but storage capacity requirements and operational efficiency are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespecification determination accuracyVSAvoidrefinery operational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial characterization to individual feedstocks (measuring softening point and other key properties) rather than performing complete characterization on every possible blend. This partial action, combined with predictive modeling, provides sufficient specification determination accuracy without requiring exhaustive experimental testing, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while improving operational efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables the formation of asphalt blends with desired properties while minimizing components within the desired range, allowing for more efficient refinery operations and reduced storage needs by predicting asphalt properties based on individual component characteristics.

Implementation Method 1

measuring a viscosity versus temperature profile for a plurality of asphalt components

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscosity measurement: Viscometer

Data Source

PatentUS10329427B2Selection and blending of feeds for asphalt manufacture

Publication Date: 2019.06.25 EXXONMOBIL TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING CO

AI summary

Methods are provided for predicting the properties of an asphalt fraction that contains two or more asphalt components based on measurements of the viscosity versus temperature profile for the components of the asphalt fraction. The viscosity versus temperature profile for each component can be used to determine characteristic (such as limiting) values for the viscosity and temperature for a component. Based on this ability to determine characteristic values for an asphalt blend based on the properties of individual blend components, appropriate blends of asphalts can be selected in order to arrive at an asphalt blend with desired properties.