Crude Oil Sampling Device with Rotating Filter and Precipitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional crude oil property determination devices face challenges with heavy and unconventional crude oils, leading to fouling issues and high solvent consumption, particularly in remote locations where solvent supply is limited, and require frequent intensive cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A crude oil sampling device with a fast loop system and sample conditioning cabinet, utilizing a double actuation syringe and rotating filter, which allows for semi-continuous sampling and mild cleaning treatments to reduce solvent consumption and maintain spectroscopic measurement accuracy over extended periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional crude oil property determination devices are used, then measurement of crude oil properties can be performed, but fouling issues occur and intensive cleaning is required frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes asphaltenes and heavy components from crude oil before spectroscopic measurement using precipitation with n-heptane or isopropanol. This prevents these components from fouling the spectroscopic measurement material, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy over extended periods without intensive cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (n-heptane or isopropanol) that acts as a precipitating agent to separate asphaltenes and heavy components from crude oil. This intermediary enables the measurement system to handle heavy and unconventional crude oils without direct contamination, reducing fouling and cleaning requirements.
2Reliability
If conventional crude oil property determination devices are used, then crude oil properties can be measured, but solvent consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary portion of crude oil (after asphaltene removal) for measurement rather than processing large volumes. This reduces solvent consumption while maintaining measurement capability for heavy and unconventional crude oils.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of crude oil by adjusting temperature and using precipitating agents to separate asphaltenes. This allows measurement to be performed on a smaller, pre-treated sample volume, thereby reducing solvent consumption in remote locations where solvent supply is limited.
3Productivity
If spectroscopic measurement material is used with heavy crude oils, then online measurement can be performed, but the material becomes fouled and requires regular cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary treatment of crude oil by removing asphaltenes and heavy components through precipitation before the oil enters the spectroscopic measurement system. This preliminary action prevents fouling of the measurement material, enabling continuous online measurement operations without frequent maintenance interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of asphaltenes and heavy components (which cause fouling) into a beneficial separation process. By intentionally precipitating these components out before measurement, the system transforms a fouling problem into a protective pre-treatment step that extends operational continuity.
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
Enables accurate and reliable online measurement of crude oil properties with reduced solvent use and extended operational periods without intensive cleaning, suitable for heavy and unconventional crude oils, improving measurement accuracy and reducing maintenance burdens.
Implementation Method 1
a filter (for example a rotating filter)
Implementation Method 2
a double actuation syringe which has a sampling volume Vse comprised between 100 and 10 000 cubic centimetres (cm3)
Implementation Method 3
the part or all of the sampling volume Vse is fed to the spectroscopy analysis device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
This invention concerns methods of determining properties of oil, especially crude oil with a spectrometer. This invention also concerns a crude oil analytical and single or multi-stream sampling device which is particularly suitable for the online measurement of crude oil properties with a spectrometer (8). This invention further concerns a crude oil sampling procedure which is particularly suitable for the online measurement of crude oil properties with a spectrometer.