Hydrocarbon Waste Viscosity Reduction via Centrifugal Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The disposal of petroleum hydrocarbon wastes, particularly those with high asphaltene content, poses challenges due to their high viscosity and instability, leading to environmental hazards and increased disposal costs, as well as issues during transportation and combustion.
Innovation Solution
A method involving heating and mixing the hydrocarbon waste stream with additives, followed by centrifugation to separate into fractions, where the separated solids are used as a slurry fuel and the oil phase is utilized as a refinery fuel or feedstock for carbon fiber production, reducing viscosity and stabilizing asphaltenes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If hydrocarbon waste materials are land-farmed for disposal, then disposal costs are reduced, but environmental pollution and toxicity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts harmful hydrocarbon waste materials into beneficial fuel products through hydrothermal processing. The waste materials, which would otherwise cause environmental pollution when land-farmed, are transformed into usable fuels that provide energy value, thereby eliminating disposal costs and environmental hazards simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies hydrothermal processing conditions (temperature, pressure, water-to-waste ratio) to transform the physical and chemical properties of hydrocarbon waste. By changing parameters such as heating to specific temperatures and maintaining controlled pressure, the waste materials are converted from a hazardous state to a useful fuel state.
2Ease of operation
If heavy hydrocarbons are transported and stored, then fuel supply is maintained, but high viscosity and poor stability cause operational difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of heavy hydrocarbons through hydrothermal processing, converting high-viscosity materials into lower-viscosity fuels that are easier to transport and store. The processing transforms the composition to improve flow properties and storage stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses water as an intermediary medium in hydrothermal processing to facilitate the transformation of heavy hydrocarbons. The water acts as a reactant and medium that enables the conversion of unstable, high-viscosity materials into stable, transportable fuels under controlled temperature and pressure conditions.
3Quantity of substance
If asphaltenes are present in fuel, then fuel composition is maintained, but asphaltene agglomeration increases viscosity and causes deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydrothermal processing parameters (temperature, pressure, water-to-waste ratio) to prevent asphaltene agglomeration. By controlling these parameters during processing, asphaltenes remain dispersed and stable in the fuel, preventing viscosity increase and deposition issues that would occur in conventional fuel handling.
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 approach reduces disposal costs, stabilizes asphaltenes, and improves fuel properties, enabling efficient utilization of hydrocarbon waste streams without deleterious effects, such as incomplete combustion and environmental pollution.
Implementation Method 1
heating and mixing the hydrocarbon waste stream with additives
Implementation Method 2
followed by centrifugation to separate into fractions
Data Source
AI summary
The fuel properties of petroleum hydrocarbon waste having an API gravity varying from about 5 to 30 are improved by heating the hydrocarbon to a temperature of about 35° C. to 90° C. and mixing the heated hydrocarbon stream with a suitable solvent to reduce the viscosity of the hydrocarbon, which is then separated by a centrifuge to obtain an aqueous phase stream, an oil phase stream, and a separated solids stream. The oil phase stream has a viscosity range of about 250 centipoise (cP) to about 1000 cP. The oil phase stream is utilized in a refinery, while a slurry fuel is prepared with the separated solids stream and aqueous phase stream as a feedstock for road asphalt, a fuel for a combustor, or a fuel for a gasification process. The oil phase stream is used for fuels and feedstock for making carbon fiber.