The wax deposition rate of water-in-crude oil emulsions based on the laboratory flow loop experiment

ABSTRACT

This paper aims to develop a mathematical model to predict the wax deposition rate of waxy crude emulsions, combining heat and mass transfer mechanisms. According to the flow loop experimental results, the wax deposition rate increases with the decreasing average temperature of oil/wall in a manner of linear regularity, and shows a downtrend with the increase of water cut due to diffusion resistance. An applicable model is developed regarding emulsion properties, radial temperature gradient, shear stress, and wax diffusion coefficient. In model validation, the prediction results are in good agreement with experimental data with the relative errors within 28.87%.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• CFD simulation
• molecule diffusion
• radial temperature gradient
• wax deposition rate
• waxy crude oil emulsion