Thioalcohol Treatment for Aldehyde Deposit Blockage in Conduits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aldehyde-containing deposits in conduits and volumes, such as pipelines and reservoirs, cause blockages and clogs, leading to operational delays and risks in industrial water treatment and oil field operations.
Innovation Solution
Injecting thioalcohols into conduits and volumes to dissolve or inhibit the formation of aldehyde-containing deposits, using methods that include contacting the deposits with thioalcohols to dissolve them and removing the dissolved deposits, or applying thioalcohols in proximity to aldehydes to prevent polymerization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glutaraldehyde is introduced into pipelines and conduits as a biocide, then microbial growth is inhibited and cell walls are penetrated, but polymerization and crosslinking occur causing blockages and clogs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces thioalcohol compounds as intermediary substances that react with glutaraldehyde to form adducts. These adducts maintain the biocidal activity of glutaraldehyde while preventing its polymerization and crosslinking reactions that would otherwise cause conduit blockages. The thioalcohol acts as a mediator between the biocidal function and the prevention of harmful deposits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the glutaraldehyde solution by adding thioalcohol compounds. This modification alters the reactivity profile of glutaraldehyde, suppressing its tendency to polymerize while preserving its ability to penetrate cell walls and crosslink microbial proteins. The parameter change transforms glutaraldehyde from a deposit-forming biocide to a deposit-free biocide.
2Productivity
If thioalcohols are injected to dissolve aldehyde-containing deposits, then injectivity is improved and blockages are removed, but additional chemicals and processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by injecting thioalcohols before aldehyde-containing deposits can fully form and solidify. This preventive approach dissolves aldehydes as they begin to deposit, preventing the formation of hard blockages and maintaining injectivity without requiring complex mechanical intervention systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes continuity of useful action by implementing ongoing injection of thioalcohols throughout the operational period. This continuous treatment maintains the conduits in a deposit-free state, ensuring sustained injectivity and eliminating the need for periodic shutdowns for mechanical cleaning operations.
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
Thioalcohols effectively dissolve existing deposits and prevent the formation of aldehyde solids, restoring conduit functionality and preventing blockages, thus improving injectivity and reducing downtime.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the aldehyde-containing deposits with the thioalcohol for an amount of time to at least partially dissolve the aldehyde-containing deposits
Implementation Method 2
because glutaraldehyde functions as a crosslinking agent, it can also polymerize with itself or crosslink with other organic molecules or species to form solids
Data Source
AI summary
Thioalcohols are useful for dissolving and removing aldehyde-containing deposits from conduit and/or volumes that are clogged or blocked by the aldehyde-containing deposits, and also to prevent or inhibit aldehydes from polymerizing or otherwise forming aldehyde-containing deposits within conduits and/or volumes.