Estimating Crude Oil Composition via FT-IR Spectroscopy

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for determining the detailed composition of crude oil and petroleum streams are time-consuming, expensive, and not suited for real-time analysis, limiting their application in process control and optimization.

Innovation Solution

A two-step method using multivariate analytical techniques like spectroscopy and optimization algorithms to estimate a detailed model-of-composition, refining an initial template composition to match measured properties, allowing for rapid and cost-effective composition analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If High-Detailed Hydrocarbon_analysis (HDHA) is used to determine detailed composition, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and device complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetailed compositional informationVSAvoidanalysis time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the complex HDHA process by using FT-IR spectroscopy to capture the essential compositional characteristics without performing the complete distillation and detailed chromatographic analysis. The FT-IR spectrum serves as a simplified representation that can be processed to obtain compositional data much faster than traditional HDHA methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical separation processes of traditional HDHA (distillation, chromatography) with an optical measurement system (FT-IR spectroscopy). This substitution eliminates the time-consuming physical separation steps while maintaining the ability to identify and quantify hydrocarbon components through spectral analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If High-Detailed Hydrocarbon_analysis (HDHA) is used to determine detailed composition, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetailed compositional informationVSAvoidanalytical protocol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the complex HDHA process by using FT-IR spectroscopy to capture the essential compositional characteristics without performing the complete distillation and detailed chromatographic analysis. The FT-IR spectrum serves as a simplified representation that can be processed to obtain compositional data much faster than traditional HDHA methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical separation processes of traditional HDHA (distillation, chromatography) with an optical measurement system (FT-IR spectroscopy). This substitution eliminates the time-consuming physical separation steps while maintaining the ability to identify and quantify hydrocarbon components through spectral analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If traditional HDHA methods are used, then composition accuracy is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomposition accuracyVSAvoidanalysis throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the complex HDHA process by using FT-IR spectroscopy to capture the essential compositional characteristics without performing the complete distillation and detailed chromatographic analysis. The FT-IR spectrum serves as a simplified representation that can be processed to obtain compositional data much faster than traditional HDHA methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables continuous spectral acquisition and compositional estimation without the interruptions required by batch distillation and chromatographic runs. The FT-IR measurement can be performed continuously on process streams, providing real-time compositional data that maintains continuous production activity rather than requiring periodic shutdowns for analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 rapid and cost-effective estimation of detailed compositions, facilitating real-time decision-making, control, and optimization in petroleum refining processes.

Implementation Method 1

a multivariate analytical technique, such as spectroscopy, or a combination of a multivariate technique and sample property-analysis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpectroscopy: Absorption Spectroscopy

Data Source

PatentUS8682597B2Estimating detailed compositional information from limited analytical data

Publication Date: 2014.03.25 EXXONMOBIL TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING CO

AI summary

A method for determining the composition of a material including the steps of fitting multivariate analytical data of the material to a combination of multivariate analytical data in a database to determine coefficients of the combination so as to determine a reference model of composition based on the coefficients and the compositions in the database, wherein the database includes multivariate analytical data of database materials whose compositions are known, and reconciling the reference model of composition to match properties of the material.