Demulsifying Agent Upstream Solids Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrocarbon streams, such as crude oils, often contain high levels of solids that stabilize emulsions, making it difficult to remove them effectively at desalter units, leading to fouling, equipment damage, and increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A demulsifying agent, such as di-lauryl succinate or sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, is added to the hydrocarbon stream upstream from the desalter, allowing it to water-wet solids, which then separate from the hydrocarbon fluid, reducing the solids content before reaching the desalter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a desalter unit is used to remove solids from hydrocarbon streams, then some solids removal is achieved, but high levels of solids that stabilize emulsions cannot be effectively removed, leading to fouling and equipment damage
Solution Approach 1:
The demulsifying agent is added to the hydrocarbon stream upstream from the desalter, allowing it to water-wet the solids and destabilize the emulsion before the stream enters the desalter. This preliminary action prepares the solids for effective removal by the desalter, preventing fouling and equipment damage that would occur if solids-stabilized emulsions entered the desalter untreated.
2Productivity
If solids are removed at the desalter unit, then downstream equipment is protected, but the desalter becomes less efficient when handling high levels of solids-stabilized emulsions
Solution Approach 1:
By adding the demulsifying agent upstream, the solids are pre-treated to water-wet their surface and destabilize the emulsion structure. This reduces the solids content and emulsion stability before the stream reaches the desalter, allowing the desalter to operate more efficiently and process the reduced solids load more effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The demulsifying agent acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates the interaction between water and solids. It modifies the surface properties of solids to make them water-wet, thereby enabling easier separation in the desalter without requiring the desalter to directly handle the full burden of high solids-stabilized emulsions.
3Reliability
If sludge accumulates in crude storage tanks, then solids are contained, but worker safety risks and environmental release concerns increase during tank inspection and repair
Solution Approach 1:
The demulsifying agent is added to the crude oil in storage tanks or upstream, allowing it to water-wet solids and destabilize sludge emulsions before tank inspection or repair. This preliminary treatment reduces sludge accumulation and stabilizes the sludge structure, minimizing the risks of worker safety incidents and environmental releases during subsequent tank maintenance activities.
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 method improves the separation of solids from the hydrocarbon stream, reducing fouling, maintenance costs, and enhancing desalter operation, while allowing for better processing efficiency and reduced sludge disposal costs.
Implementation Method 1
the demulsifying agent water-wets at least a portion of the solids
Implementation Method 2
adding a demulsifying agent to the hydrocarbon fluid in an effective amount for subsequent separation of at least a portion of the solids from the hydrocarbon fluid
Implementation Method 3
separating at least a portion of the water-wet solids from the hydrocarbon fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A demulsifying agent may be added to a hydrocarbon stream in an effective amount where the hydrocarbon stream includes a plurality of solids. The demulsifying agent may be added to the hydrocarbon stream at a location that is upstream from a desalter. The demulsifying agent may water-wet at least a portion of the solids for subsequent separation of the solids from the hydrocarbon stream. The demulsifying agent may be or include but is not limited to at least one maleic acid derivative, such as di-lauryl succinate, dioctyl succinate, di-hexyl succinate, octyl pheno succinate, dodecyl diphenyl succinate, ditridecyl succinate, dioctyl sulfosuccinate, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, diammonium 1 -icosyl 2 sulfosuccinate, ammonium 1,4 didecyl sulfosuccinate, dihexyl sodium sulfosuccinate, sodium dinonyl sulfosuccinate, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, salts thereof, and combinations thereof.