Asphaltene-Coated Bitumen Microcapsules for Midstream Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transportation of bitumen is challenging due to its unfavorable rheological properties, particularly in midstream transport, where conventional methods require expensive thermal infrastructure and large volumes of diluents, and existing solidification technologies rely on exogenous components that are costly and material prohibitive.
Innovation Solution
The method involves utilizing the natural self-associative properties of asphaltenes to convert bitumen into solid microcapsules, where maltenes are encapsulated by asphaltenes, eliminating the need for exogenous components and enhancing mechanical resilience for transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If bitumen is transported in fluid form using conventional thermal jacketing infrastructure, then transportation is enabled, but infrastructure cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies phase transition by converting bitumen from liquid to solid form through microencapsulation. The bitumen is transformed into solid microcapsules that can be transported without thermal infrastructure, eliminating the need for heated pipelines and thermal jacketing while maintaining transportation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of bitumen from liquid to solid through microencapsulation. This parameter change allows transportation to proceed without the thermal infrastructure previously required for liquid bitumen, reducing system complexity while preserving ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If large volumes of diluent are added to bitumen to meet flowability specifications, then transportation is enabled, but transportation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses phase transition to convert liquid bitumen into solid microcapsules, eliminating the need for diluent addition to achieve flowability. The solid microcapsules can be transported efficiently without the volume constraints and inefficiencies associated with diluent addition, thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving transportation efficiency.
3Stability of the object's composition
If exogenous components such as plastics and polymerization agents are used to induce bitumen solidification, then solidification is achieved, but cost and material requirements become prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by utilizing endogenous asphaltenes already present in the bitumen to perform the solidification function. Instead of adding exogenous components, the asphaltenes naturally present in the bitumen self-associate to form the microcapsule structure, achieving solidification without requiring additional materials and eliminating the prohibitive costs associated with exogenous additives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and utilizes the beneficial solidification capability already present within the bitumen itself (asphaltenes), rather than adding external substances. This extraction of the endogenous solidifying agent eliminates the need for large quantities of exogenous additives while maintaining effective solidification.
4Quantity of substance
If asphaltenes are used to encapsulate maltenes forming solid microcapsules, then exogenous components are eliminated, but mechanical resilience for transportation must be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite microcapsule structures with asphaltenes forming the shell and maltenes forming the core. This composite structure provides the necessary mechanical resilience for transportation while utilizing only endogenous components. The asphaltenes shell protects the maltenes core and provides structural strength, achieving both reduced additive requirements and adequate mechanical properties.
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 allows for the creation of asphaltene-coated bitumen microcapsules that are mechanically resilient enough to meet transportation thresholds, reducing the need for expensive infrastructure and diluents, and providing a commercially viable solidification technology.
Implementation Method 1
The present disclosure utilizes the natural tendency for asphaltenes to self-associate (e.g., by crosslinking) as a means for converting bitumen from its native viscoelastic state into a solid form
Implementation Method 2
asphaltenes to self-associate (e.g., by crosslinking) as a means for converting bitumen
Implementation Method 3
asphaltenes are not soluble in aliphatic solvents (such as hexane), and they tend to aggregate, precipitate, and/or flocculate from fluid mixtures
Implementation Method 4
asphaltenes are not soluble in aliphatic solvents (such as hexane), and they tend to aggregate, precipitate, and/or flocculate from fluid mixtures
Implementation Method 5
asphaltenes are not soluble in aliphatic solvents (such as hexane), and they tend to aggregate, precipitate, and/or flocculate from fluid mixtures
Implementation Method 6
many factors contribute to these associations, such as aromatic π-π stacking, acid-base, hydrogen bonding, and/or van der Waals interactions
Implementation Method 7
many factors contribute to these associations, such as aromatic π-π stacking, acid-base, hydrogen bonding, and/or van der Waals interactions
Implementation Method 8
many factors contribute to these associations, such as aromatic π-π stacking, acid-base, hydrogen bonding, and/or van der Waals interactions
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are methods of preparing bitumen for transport, apparatus for preparing bitumen for transport, methods of transporting bitumen, and transportation-ready forms of bitumen. Instead of relying on exogenous components to induce bitumen solidification, the methods and apparatus of the present disclosure reorganize bituminous materials derived from the same origin into core-shell bitumen microcapsules, such that relatively low solubility components (e.g. asphaltenes) encapsulate relatively high solubility components (e.g. maltenes). Importantly, the bitumen microcapsules of the present disclosure are sufficiently mechanically resilient to meet one or more thresholds for midstream transportation, and they are readily fluidized for downstream processing with conventional technologies. Taken together, these aspects may ameliorate one or more challenges in achieving commercially viable bitumen solidification technologies.