Ketone Quantification for Crude Oil Corrosivity Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for evaluating the corrosivity of crude oil feedstocks are unreliable at high temperatures, as the iron content in the oil becomes an ineffective measure of corrosion, and there is a need to characterize feedstocks based on their corrosivity characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the reaction of a crude oil feedstock containing naphthenic acid with an iron sample at high temperatures to form ketones, where the concentration of ketones is measured to assess corrosivity, and iron salt decomposition is correlated to the corrosivity of the feedstock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If iron content is measured to evaluate corrosivity, then the method is simple and widely used, but the measurement becomes unreliable at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from iron content to ketone concentration. At high temperatures, iron content becomes unreliable due to chemical changes, but ketone formation remains a consistent and reliable indicator of naphthenic acid corrosivity. This parameter substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement reliability under harsh conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ketone as an intermediary substance to indirectly measure corrosivity. Instead of directly measuring iron content (which becomes unreliable), the method measures ketone concentration formed through the reaction of naphthenic acid with iron, serving as a stable intermediary indicator that reflects corrosivity without being affected by high-temperature iron chemistry.
2Reliability
If iron sample reacts with naphthenic acid at high temperature, then ketone formation provides reliable corrosivity measurement, but the reaction process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates the ketone product from the reaction mixture for measurement. By focusing only on the ketone component formed during the reaction, the method simplifies the overall process complexity while maintaining high reliability. The ketone extraction step allows selective measurement without needing to analyze all reaction byproducts.
3Measurement precision
If iron salts decompose to form ketone, then high temperature reaction provides accurate corrosivity data, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary heating to facilitate iron salt formation and decomposition, which are necessary steps for ketone formation. By conducting the reaction at controlled high temperatures for a specified period, the method ensures complete reaction and accurate measurement while managing energy consumption through optimized heating parameters.
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 provides a reliable evaluation of corrosivity by quantifying the formation of ketones, allowing for the characterization of crude oil feedstocks under harsh operating conditions, enabling better prediction of equipment corrosion and optimization of refinery operations.
Implementation Method 1
contacting a mixture of the iron sample and the crude oil feedstock for a period of time at a sufficiently high temperature to react a portion of the iron sample with the naphthenic acid
Implementation Method 2
the iron sample reacts with the naphthenic acid forming the iron salts at relatively lower temperatures, which subsequently decomposes forming the ketone at higher temperatures
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining corrosiveness of naphthenic acid in a crude oil feedstock is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a crude oil feedstock containing naphthenic acid; contacting the crude oil feedstock with iron for a period of time at a sufficient temperature for the iron to react with the naphthenic acid, forming iron salts. Under sufficiently high temperatures, at least a portion of the iron salts decompose to form ketone, which can be quantified. Measurements of the ketone can be used to correlate with the amount of iron lost from corrosion given a certain level of naphthenic acid present, giving a measure of the corrosivity of crude oil feedstock.