Prediction the variation range of wax deposition with temperature of crude oil in a flow loop

Abstract

Wax deposition under different temperature conditions was investigated in a flow loop, using a local crude oil with a wax content of 22.5%. The results revealed that the wax deposition increases with increasing coolant temperature. However, the amount of deposit increased initially with increasing oil temperature and then decreased. Based on these results, the corresponding temperature ranges were divided into three ranges: hot flow, sensitive precipitation of wax crystal, and cold flow. Based on diffusion mass, a method and steps for determining the temperature dependence of wax deposition were proposed.

Keywords:

• crude oil
• mass flow
• molecular diffusion
• temperature
• wax deposition

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, [51704236].