Bitumen Prill Non-Stick Asphaltene Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high viscosity and sticky nature of bitumen complicate its recovery and transportation, requiring costly diluents and posing challenges in pipeline flowability and rail car removal.
Innovation Solution
A method for preparing non-stick coated prills comprising bitumen, deasphalted oil, or their combination, coated with asphaltenes that reduce adhesion at specific temperatures, allowing for easier transportation and handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bitumen is transported in its native viscous state, then it maintains its chemical composition and quality, but it exhibits high adhesion to vessels and equipment, complicating removal and requiring costly cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
A coating material is applied to the interior surfaces of transport vessels and equipment to act as an intermediary layer between the bitumen and the vessel surface. This coating prevents direct adhesion of bitumen to the vessel, allowing for easier removal and cleaning while maintaining bitumen quality during transport
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesion properties of bitumen are modified by changing temperature parameters during transport. By controlling transport temperature to be above the adhesion temperature threshold, bitumen maintains reduced adhesion characteristics without compromising its chemical composition or quality
2Ease of operation
If bitumen is heated to reduce viscosity for pipeline transport, then flowability improves, but adhesion to vessels and equipment increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A protective coating is applied to pipeline interior surfaces and handling equipment to serve as a mediator that prevents heated bitumen from adhering to surfaces. This allows the bitumen to be heated for improved flowability during pipeline transport without suffering from increased adhesion problems
Solution Approach 2:
The coating material is applied to vessel and equipment surfaces before bitumen contact occurs. This preliminary protective layer prevents adhesion issues from developing, allowing heated bitumen to be pumped and handled with reduced friction and adhesion losses
3Ease of operation
If bitumen is diluted with costly diluents to improve flowability, then pipeline transport becomes feasible, but transportation costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of chemical dilution, the patent uses temperature parameter control to manage bitumen viscosity. By maintaining transport temperatures above the adhesion threshold, bitumen achieves sufficient flowability for pipeline transport without requiring costly diluents, thereby reducing transportation costs while maintaining operational feasibility
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
The non-stick coated prills enhance transport efficiency by minimizing adhesion to vessels and other prills, facilitating flow and reducing cleaning costs, while maintaining stability and integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the non-stick coating having reduced adhesion to another non-stick coated prill at a temperature below an adhesion temperature
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, processes, and apparatuses for preparing and transporting bitumen. Bitumen may be prilled such that a bitumen product comprising a prill core and a non-stick coating is produced. The non-stick coating may comprise asphaltenes and the prill core may comprise bitumen, deasphalted oil, or both bitumen and deasphalted oil. The resultant non-stick coated prills have reduced adhesion to transportation vessels and other non-stick coated prills at a temperature below an adhesion temperature, facilitating transport.