Sugar Alcohol Ester Dust Suppression for Proppant Flowability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dust suppression methods for dust-containing materials like proppants in fracturing operations are inadequate, as they often require high concentrations of solvents, can cause caking, and do not effectively reduce dust below 50 micrograms per liter to comply with OSHA regulations, while also being environmentally unfriendly.
Innovation Solution
The use of dust suppression compositions comprising glycerides, sugar alcohol esters, or combinations thereof, applied during manufacturing, loading, transloading, and fracturing operations, which provide between 30% to 100% dust reduction and improve flowability, without the need for water or solvents, and include a pour point depressant to lower the pour point temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional dust suppression methods are used, then dust control is achieved, but high concentrations of solvents are required and environmental friendliness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by using glycerides and sugar alcohol esters instead of conventional solvents, achieving dust suppression without harmful chemical substances. This parameter change eliminates the need for high concentration solvents while maintaining dust control effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material systems comprising glycerides combined with sugar alcohol esters to create an environmentally friendly dust suppression composition. This composite approach provides both dust control capability and environmental compatibility that single conventional solvents cannot achieve.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional dust suppression compositions are used, then dust reduction is achieved, but caking occurs and flowability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the dust suppression composition by selecting specific glycerides and sugar alcohol esters with appropriate molecular structures and properties. These parameter changes prevent caking while maintaining dust suppression effectiveness, thereby preserving material flowability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional dust suppression methods are used, then dust control is achieved, but compliance with OSHA regulations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the concentration parameters and chemical composition to achieve dust reduction below 50 micrograms per liter, which is the threshold for OSHA compliance. This parameter optimization ensures both effective dust control and regulatory compliance.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If glycerides and sugar alcohol esters are used, then environmental friendliness and dust reduction are improved, but pour point temperature increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter by selecting glycerides and sugar alcohol esters with appropriate chain lengths and molecular structures that maintain low pour points. This parameter optimization allows the composition to remain fluid and effective across a wider temperature range.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite material system of glycerides and sugar alcohol esters is designed to balance dust suppression performance with low-temperature fluidity. The synergistic interaction between components helps maintain acceptable pour point temperatures while achieving superior dust reduction.
Data Source
AI summary
Proppant dust suppression compositions including: (a) at least one sugar alcohol ester and (b) at least one sugar alcohol esters and methods for using the compositions, wherein the composition is adapted to reduce dust in a dust-containing material by about 30% and about 100% and wherein the at least one sugar alcohol ester improves flowability of treated dust-containing material.