Inline Particle and Droplet Measurements in Dark Crude Oil

Transcription

1 Petrochemicals Weighing Analytical and solutions Analysis in the Laboratory laboratory 12 News Inline Particle and Droplet Measurements in Dark Crude Oil Liquid, solid and gaseous hydrocarbon pipeline flow is typically a complex multi-phase system comprised of particles and droplets including waxes, asphaltenes, gas hydrates, emulsions, inorganic particles and bubbles. Multi-phase pipeline flow often occurs under extreme temperature and pressure conditions making offline sampling and analysis difficult or even impossible. Introduction to in-process particle characterization technology PVM is a probe-based video microscope that provides high quality images of particles and droplets as they naturally exist in process. The size, shape and structure of particles, droplets and bubbles is immediately revealed allowing users to make better and faster decisions regarding the optimization of flow assurance and separation processes. FBRM (Focused Beam Reflectance Meas urement) tracks the rate and degree of change to particles and droplets as they naturally exist in process. In real time, FBRM provides critical, previously unattainable information by showing how process variables, such as temperature, pressure, additive concentration or shear rate impact upon particle and droplet population and dimension. Understanding hydrate formation mechanisms Oil production from older or less profitable wells usually have higher water cuts and the addition of inhibitor is typically proportional to water cut which can be very expensive. This study aimed to increase the understanding of hydrate formation/ dissociation at high water cuts > 60 volume% water. Hydrate formation typically depends on feed composition, temperature and pressure Thermodynamic inhibition of hydrates is possible yet expensive

2 Inline Particle and Droplet Measurements Droplet population and dimension impacts the rate and degree of hydrate formation Sampling and offline analysis is limited by high pressure and difficult sample preparation In-process FBRM and PVM are used to understand, monitor and control hydrate formation/agglomeration ensuring consistent flow and avoiding plugging Understanding asphaltene precipitation mechanisms Onset ratio and asphaltene precipitation kinetics are studied for four crude oils and a 190+ residue. FBRM is used to track the rate and degree of change to particle count and dimension in-process and in real time. It rapidly determines the onset ratio for different crude oils with no sampling required and was used to quickly screen the most suitable additive type and concentration necessary in order to inhibit asphaltene precipitation. By studying these kinetic effects, asphaltene precipitation and deposition for crude oils from various sources can be understood and controlled. PVM V819 visualize, understand, and optimize with Inline Particle Microscope. FBRM and PVM enable petrochemical scientists and engineers to understand, characterize and control particle droplet and particle formation in complex multiphase pipeline flow. Mechanisms of hydrate formation can be quickly understood and characterized under a range of process conditions. FBRM measurements can be directly correlated to process parameters (friction factor) that can predict pipeline plugging and be used to quickly screen the most suitable additive type and concentration necessary to inhibit asphaltene precipitation. Publisher Mettler-Toledo AG Laboratory Division Im Langacher CH-8606 Greifensee, Switzerland Production Segment Marketing LAB Global MarCom Switzerland Subject to technical changes. Mettler-Toledo AG 02/11 Printed in Switzerland. 2 METTLER TOLEDO Petrochemicals News 12

3 Tips & Tricks Profitable Coke Production With One Click Loss on Drying Coke is the residual material after crude oil has been vacuum distilled during oil refining. METTLER TOLEDO s One Click Loss on Drying plays a key role in measuring the residue for moisture content in order to ensure the quality of the coke. One Click Loss on Drying See how easy it is Benefit from this new solution for determining moisture content using the drying oven: XP6002S Excellence Precision Balance The user simply follows the step-by-step instructions on the balance and LabX takes care of all results, calculations and documentation. The moisture content is calculated automatically for each sample and intelligent task management makes it easy to run several series simultaneously. Full SOP user guidance Intelligent sample handling Automatic documentation and calculations Watch the One Click Loss on Drying video on our landing page demonstrating how straightforward the whole process is. The challenging process of moisture loss determination To determine the moisture content of coke, petrochemical companies typically use differential weighing in conjunction with a drying oven. A precision balance is often required as coke is not very homogenous and samples may weigh up to several kilograms. Handling the samples requires care and identifying samples correctly is essential. Maintaining sample order to avoid calculation errors is a challenge and the procedure of copying figures from the balance to a calculator or spreadsheet is tiresome and error prone. Benefits: Robustness prevents instrument downtime. Cleaning is easy due to the flat surfaces and stainless steel weighing pan. Quick stabilization time speeds up the weighing process. Full user guidance on the balance ensures SOPs are adhered to. Automatic calculations and documentation eliminates errors. A METTLER TOLEDO XP Excellence Precision Balance combined with LabX software offers the perfect solution for measuring the moisture loss. The balance s robust metal housing is ideal for use with sticky or oily samples and the flat surfaces are extremely easy to clean. The loss on drying procedure is started with a one touch shortcut on the balance touchscreen. A piece of coke METTLER TOLEDO Petrochemicals News 12 3

4 Automated Titration Save Time and Increase Accuracy in Fuel Cell Production An American clean energy solution provider manufactures fuel cell generators for converting natural gas into electricity and heat due to their economical advantages. In order to improve their titration methods, they were searching for other alternatives to save time whilst ensuring process accuracy. Fuel cell technology Using fuel cell generators to convert natural gas into electricity and heat is becoming more and more popular among home and business owners due to the cost saving benefits it offers. Each system has a grid that tracks the amount of energy being used. So, if an excess amount of energy is used within a home or business facility, utility companies will buy the excess electricity back by adding a credit to the owner s monthly statement. Owners can even keep track of the amount of energy they re using via computer or mp3 player. It s estimated that fuel cell technology can reduce bills by 50%, cut carbon emissions by one third and produce 11 times more electricity than solar power. Fuel cell technology is also advantageous as its energy producing process does not rely on the weather or time of day as solar power does. Manual Titration vs. Automated Titration The company s need for assistance first became apparent when the Quality Manager realized how much time his company was wasting as a result of the titration methods being using in generator production. The membranes in their fuel cells have a certain acidity and these acidity levels impact their performance. By cutting a piece of each membrane and soaking the samples in De-ionized water for a period of time, they were testing the acidity in more than 40 samples per day and carrying out each process step manually. Hand titrating can take up to 10 minutes per sample, which means titrating these samples took a single technician almost an entire working day to complete. METTLER TOLEDO s automation technology provided the perfect solution for their predicament. Using the T50 from the Titration Excellence line combined with the Rondo 20 automated sample changer, technicians would be able to run more samples in a shorter amount of time approximately three minutes. Not only would a combination of such technology shorten the sample time, but it would 4 METTLER TOLEDO Petrochemicals News 12

5 free up the technician s time to perform other tasks. Other benefits of the METTLER TOLEDO T50 include: One Click titration for easy use, a terminal with touch screen, the ability to add burette drives without restarting plus multiple communication connection options including USB, CAN, Ethernet, RS-232 and TTL. In addition to the improved hardware, METTLER TOLEDO provided them with LabX Light Titration Software. LabX software compiles and stores results automatically allowing users to export data when needed. This saves time as it eliminates the need to handwrite results and increases accuracy by eliminating human error in the form of data confusion due to misread handwriting or incorrect recording of data. Further benefits of the software include instrument control functions and re-evaluation and result corrections. Automation Technology Clear Winner Finally, the clean energy solution provider decided to purchase the T50 and Rondo 20 combination in addition to the LabX Light Titration software. The quality manager has expressed how extremely pleased the company is with the automated titration process. They are now running a higher number of samples in a shorter amount of time and getting more accurate results. Their technicians have more time to perform other important tasks throughout the day as they are no longer tied down to manual titrations. Better time management and more accurate results have saved the company a great deal of money. Rondo 20 Sample Changer Excelence T50 Titrator METTLER TOLEDO Petrochemicals News 12 5

6 Dropping Point Determination Dropping Point of Waxes for Paper Coatings The dropping point test is the technique commonly used for raw material selection and for monitoring the product quality of coating waxes. Because waxes do not go through a distinct solid-liquid phase change when heated, an exact melting point cannot be assigned. As the temperature rises, waxes gradually soften or become less viscous. An exact understanding of the thermal behavior of waxes is, therefore, important. FP83HT Hot Stage Yields excellent accuracy, reliability and reproducibility of test results. Is fully automatic and has the advantage of standardized sample cups and measurement methods. Provides the user with a wide application range as well as fast and accurate dropping point test results. Is fully compliant with the ASTM D3954 official test standard. Features a measuring concept based on the light transmission principle. Coating waxes Wax based emulsions are used in a number of industrial applications. One example is the coating of fibrous cellulosic products such as paper, corrugated cardboard, craft paper, food wrappers and boxboard. Wax coatings are mainly used for their barrier properties against water, vapor, gases or odors. Many products used for paper coatings are petroleum wax based. Wax emulsions are often used by themselves or in combination with other ingredients when used for paper coatings. The blends used may be present in different combinations, includ- ing hot melt wax mixtures and powder mixtures. Unsurpassed dropping point results with the FP83HT The ASTM D3954 standard is the official test method used to determine the dropping point of waxes. The standard also describes the conditions for measuring the dropping point of waxes using the FP83HT measuring cell. The METTLER TOLEDO FP83HT is the ideal measuring cell for determining the dropping point of waxes used for paper coatings as it: The FP83HT measuring cell is a simple yet valuable tool for determining the dropping point of various hot melt waxes. It is extremely beneficial to the petrochemical industry as the standardized sample cups and the measurement method guarantee that reproducible and comparable measurement results are obtained. Furthermore, the FP83HT has the advantage of automatic end-point detection which yields important information for raw material selection and product quality control. 6 METTLER TOLEDO Petrochemicals News 12

7 Best Practice Multi-parameter Titration System Guarantees Process Reliability The quality of petrochemical raw materials and products is monitored and safeguarded by a multitude of analyses. The multi-parameter meas uring system, which has Titration Excellence at its core, auto matically performs these analyses. One sample, various parameters Liquid samples are perfectly suited for determining various parameters. Labs often need to determine ph, acid and base number, density, refractive index and color. A simple example is motor oil, where acid/base #, density, refractive index and color are all important. A known sample quantity (e.g. 5 ml) is titrated to determine the acid number and base number and the density, refractive index and color are all determined with direct measurements. GTP Good Titration Practice GTP covers the entire lifecycle of your investment. Dependable titration starts long before daily routines in the laboratory: A requirements-based selection of the titration system as well as professional installation and training form the basis of dependable and risk-free titration. METTLER TOLEDO s many years of expertise and experience are available in comprehensive literature and trained sales consultants. GTP Good Titration Practice Thanks to the METTLER TOLEDO multiparameter measuring system, all analyses can be performed in a fully automated system, managing comprehensive calculations to a single record, which can then be printed or saved to a PC. The operator simply places a sample beaker containing ml sample onto the rack of the sample changer and starts the measurements. The system fills the measuring cells of the combination density meter/ refractometer with the sample, followed by the colorimeter s flow-through cell. The measured values are transferred to the titrator where the Liquid Handler measures out a defined quantity of the sample. The sample is diluted and the titrations are performed followed by all relevant calculations. All the user has to do is take the sample and start the method using One Click. Other devices are controlled by the titrator and their results are saved. With the new version 3.1 Excellence titrators, METTLER TOLEDO is leading where others follow. METTLER TOLEDO Petrochemicals News 12 7

8 Online Tools Benefit From our Knowledge for Your Best Practices Discover 4 selected best practices from METTLER TOLEDO in mt.com. Profit from the useful, valuable yet free know-how from our experts to support your daily laboratory procedures and minimize risk of measurement. Good Titration Practice Discover the 5 major steps to Good Titration Practice. Comprehensive support and guidelines ensure the financial and time investment are always allocated appropriately whilst minimizing risks. Good Weighing Practice GWP (Good Weighing Practice ) is a risk-based approach that clearly interprets the regulations of each industry and puts them into straightforward weighing practice. This results in a simple program that assures compliance at any time. Risk Checker Diverse factors can affect titration results. Spend 5 minutes answering 8 questions, determine titration result reliabilty and save money. Movie See how One Click Titration simplifies daily lab work with its uniform and intuitive user concept. Brochure Order a copy of the 'Good Titration Practice ' brochure. The brochure focuses on how to perform optimum titration analysis. Risk Checker Find out if your results are continuously accurate. Simply answer 8 questions and the GWP Risk Check provides expert advice on how to optimize system quality. Movie Watch our educational videos and learn more about how GWP ensures weighing result accuracy. Webinars Attend our Measurement Uncertainty & Minimum Weight and Routine Testing of Weighing System interactive GWP webinars to learn more on how to establish and maintain a sustainable quality of weighing processes METTLER TOLEDO Petrochemicals News 12

9 Good Crystallization Practice Scale-up of crystallization is notoriously complicated and companies are under pressure to develop scalable crystallization processes faster, at lower costs and with higher quality. Companies must control crystallization conditions in order to improve cycle times and optimize product quality. Good Moisture Practice Moisture determinations need to be carried out reliably and quickly so that any interventions in the production process can be made promptly in order to avoid interruptions. Our website offers a valuable Moisture Guide method database and industry solutions which can help to save precious development time. Improving Laboratory Crystallization Focusing on laboratory case studies, key stages in the process development lifecycle where the implementation of FBRM and PVM has been successful are demonstrated. Improving Production Crystallization Discover five high impact ways to achieve ideal crystallization production conditions. Special attention is paid to the most common problem areas encountered in production crystallizations where the implementation of FBRM has proven useful. Crystallization Webinars A variety of on demand crystallization webinars are available on our internet portal. The webinars support you in development, optimization and scale-up of your crystallization processes. Method Database Explore the database that contains more than 100 methods referenced to an official moisture determination method (e.g. drying oven). Industry Solutions Experience complete solutions for moisture analysis in a variety of industries, including sugar, plastics and wastewater. Moisture Measuring Principles Learn more about the method of drying (heating the sample using thermal radiation) and the principle of the switch-off criterion. METTLER TOLEDO Petrochemicals News 12 9

10 Product News Understand and Control Process Chemistry Challenged by space constraints and/or complex installation requirements? ReactIR 247 is a unique process-hardened FTIR spectrometer designed to fit into nearly any space without sacrificing the proven performance of ReactIR technology. The design of the ReactIR 247 yields an analyzer with high stability and sensitivity in a product format that delivers extreme space savings with plug-in and measure operation. Turn-Key Integrating the Sentinel probe technology to a flow cell permits easy integration into existing flow stream and immediate analysis of the reaction as it occurs. From Lab to Plant Specifically designed for the production environment, ic Process enables the transfer of critical control parameters determined in the lab. Flexibility Flexible sampling arrangements allow for the use of longer probes to reach the fill level for small volume starting conditions METTLER TOLEDO Petrochemicals News 12

11 Density and Refractive Indexes In One Single Run Density and refractive index measurement plays a crucial raw material analysis role in lubricant manufacturing and is a quality control parameter for finished products. Thanks to its rugged design, contactfree operation, powerful sampling and efficient cleaning, the new LiquiPhysics Excellence line offers first class performance for such applications. Modular solutions Upgrading a RM refractometer with a DX density cell module is a cost- and space-saving solution allowing the determination of both density and refractive index. Rugged Protect your instrument from spoilage and contamination with ErgoSens. A simple hand movement across the sensor starts the measurement without even touching the instrument. Efficient and safe The SC1 automation unit s cleaning solvents are automatically pumped through the system. This protects operators from direct contact with toxic solvents or vapors. METTLER TOLEDO Petrochemicals News 12 11

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