Drag Reducer Reagent via Anti-Agglomerating Agents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing drag reducing agents (DRAs) for pipeline transport of liquid hydrocarbons are energy-inefficient and require high dosages to maintain efficiency, with issues such as polymer degradation and agglomeration.
Innovation Solution
A DRA reagent with at least 75 wt% ultra-high molecular weight polyalphaolefin content is prepared by mixing finely dispersed polyalphaolefin powder with anti-agglomerating agents and non-dissolving solvents, allowing for stable injection into pipelines and reduced hydrodynamic drag.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If thermal re-precipitation of polymer is used to produce fine dispersion, then polymer solubility is improved, but energy costs increase and spatial structure is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from high-temperature re-precipitation to room temperature processes. The polymer is dissolved in hot hydrocarbon solvent, then the solution is cooled to room temperature where the polymer precipitates as fine dispersion without requiring additional energy-intensive heating steps, thus resolving the contradiction between solubility and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite system combining ultra-high molecular weight polyalphaolefin with specific hydrocarbon solvents and anti-agglomerating agents. This composite approach allows the polymer to maintain its spatial structure while achieving solubility in the hydrocarbon medium, avoiding the energy costs and structural loss associated with conventional thermal re-precipitation methods
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional polymer dispersion methods are used, then polymer dissolution is achieved, but dosing requirements increase to maintain efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using anti-agglomerating agents specifically at the particle surface level. These agents prevent polymer chain aggregation at the molecular level while maintaining the ultra-high molecular weight properties in the bulk, allowing effective drag reduction at lower dosing levels compared to conventional methods
3Reliability
If polymer suspension is washed and vacuum dried, then monomer and solvent are removed, but energy efficiency decreases and material cannot be injected without carrier fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential anti-agglomerating agent components from the polymer suspension, removing excess solvent and monomer through filtration and mild drying. This selective extraction maintains polymer purity while avoiding energy-intensive complete drying, enabling direct injection without carrier fluids
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a minimal amount of anti-agglomerating agent that remains with the polymer powder to prevent agglomeration during storage and injection. This approach replaces the need for expensive and energy-intensive complete purification and carrier fluid systems, achieving both purity and energy efficiency
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 solution achieves significant reduction in hydrodynamic drag of liquid hydrocarbons in pipelines, enabling more efficient pipeline transport and reducing transportation costs, while maintaining mechanical stability and preventing oxidative degradation.
Implementation Method 1
stabilization of latter by adding an anti-agglomerating agent
Implementation Method 2
mixing a polymer that has the properties of reducing the hydrodynamic drag with separating agents that do not dissolve it
Implementation Method 3
drag reducing agents (DRA), which reduce the hydrodynamic drag of a turbulent flow of hydrocarbon fluids in pipelines
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
This invention is used in the field of inorganic and polymer chemistry, namely in the field of transportation of oil and petroleum products using pipelines. It is a method for the preparation of a reagent for reducing the hydrodynamic drag of a turbulent flow of liquid hydrocarbons in pipelines, characterized by a high polymer content of at least 75 wt %, including mixing a 0.1 - 1.5 mm polymer reducing the hydrodynamic drag of a turbulent flow of liquid hydrocarbons with polymer non-solving solvents. The prepared product is a commodity form of the reagent with a high polymer content of at least 75 wt % used to reduce the hydrodynamic drag of the flow of liquid hydrocarbons in pipelines. The product prepared according to the described method is injected into the flow of hydrocarbon fluid transported through the pipeline using the injection apparatus that mechanically moves the product using a screw auger or screw feeder. The technical result of the invention is to prepare a product, which has a great amount of an active substance, which is stable and can be injected into the pipeline for transportation of oil or gas condensate under high pressure, which makes it possible to reduce the drag of the flow of pumped oil or gas condensate, as well as a to reduce the product cost and cost of transporting oil and gas condensate.