Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Company

George A Lutz

Glen Barry Brons

Chris A Wright

Daniel Paul Leta

Mark Alan Greaney

Limin Song

Clifford C Walters

Steven Webster Levine

San Chhotray

Sharon Feiller

Himanshu M Joshi

Julio D Lobo

High molecular weight naphthenic tetra-acids are added to a base crude oil to prevent and/or reduce fouling of crude oil refinery equipment. The method includes adding an effective amount of a high molecular weight naphthenic tetra-acid to the base crude oil to form a crude oil mixture and feeding the crude oil mixture to a crude oil refinery component. Particularly, the high molecular weight naphthenic tetra-acids include ARN acids.

Addition of high molecular weight naphthenic tetra-acids to crude oils to reduce whole crude oil fouling

Non-high solvency dispersive power (non-HSDP) crude oil with increased fouling mitigation and on-line cleaning effects includes a base non-HSDP crude oil and an effective amount of resins isolated from a high solvency dispersive power (HSDP) crude oil, and method of making same. Also, methods of using such non-HSDP crude oil for on-line cleaning of a fouled crude oil refinery component, for reducing fouling in a crude oil refinery component, and in a system capable of experiencing fouling conditions associated with particulate or asphaltene fouling.

Non-high solvency dispersive power (non-HSDP) crude oil with increased fouling mitigation and on-line cleaning effects

Atmospheric and/or vacuum resid fractions of a high solvency dispersive power (HSDP) crude oil are added to a blend of crude oil to prevent fouling of crude oil refinery equipment and to perform on-line cleaning of fouled refinery equipment. The HSDP resid fractions dissolve asphaltene precipitates and maintain suspension of inorganic particulates before coking affects heat exchange surfaces.

Mitigation of refinery process unit fouling using high-solvency-dispersive-power (HSDP) resid fractions

Fouling of heat exchange surfaces is mitigated by a process in which a mechanical force is applied to a fixed heat exchanger to excite a vibration in the heat exchange surface and produce shear waves in the fluid adjacent the heat exchange surface. The mechanical force is applied by a dynamic actuator coupled to a controller to produce vibration at a controlled frequency and amplitude output that minimizes adverse effects to the heat exchange structure. The dynamic actuator may be coupled to the heat exchanger in place and operated while the heat exchanger is on line.

Mitigation of in-tube fouling in heat exchangers using controlled mechanical vibration

A high solvency dispersive power (HSDP) crude oil is added to a blend of incompatible oils to proactively address the potential for fouling heat exchange equipment. The HSDP component dissolves asphaltene precipitates and maintains suspension of inorganic particulates before coking affects heat exchange surfaces. An HSDP oil is also flushed through heat exchange equipment to remove any deposits and/or precipitates on a regular maintenance schedule before coking can affect heat exchange surfaces.

Growing community of inventors

Brick, NJ, United States of America

George A Lutz