Experimental Study of the Effect of Microwave and Ultrasonic Waves on the Upgrading and Asphaltene Content of Heavy Crude Oil

Farshadfar, Hamidreza; Gharibshahi, Reza; Jafari, Arezou; Shoushtari, Sharif

Experimental Study of the Effect of Microwave and Ultrasonic Waves on the Upgrading and Asphaltene Content of Heavy Crude Oil

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

H. Farshadfar

R. Gharibshahi

A. Jafari

S. Shoushtari

Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Research subject: Using microwave and ultrasonic waves is a novel method in the petroleum industry that has been investigated for various purposes. Due to polar elements such as oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur, oil molecules are affected by the electric field of microwave waves and create dipole moments that generate hotspots, increasing the temperature of the oil and breaking down heavy compounds such as asphaltene. Ultrasonic waves eliminate intermolecular forces by creating tiny bubbles and bursting them. It also leads to the breakdown of heavy molecules such as asphaltene.

Research approach: In this study, crude oil was exposed to microwave and ultrasonic radiation, and changes in its properties were investigated. The effects of changing parameters such as power and time on crude oil properties were also examined. Changes in the specific gravity and API can indicate the extent of the breakdown of heavy molecules such as asphaltene and improvement in crude oil quality.

Main results: Using microwave and ultrasonic waves can reduce the viscosity of crude oil by 12.4% and 6% and increase the API by 2.8 and 1.2 degrees, respectively. Asphaltene reduction due to microwave and ultrasonic waves is 9.3% and 4.3%, respectively, indicating the breakdown of these compounds and the conversion to smaller compounds soluble in oil, resulting in improved crude oil quality. The EDS results show an increase in the weight percentage of carbon and the reduction of elements such as oxygen and sulfur, which confirms this issue. Examining crude oil structure under microwave and ultrasonic radiation showed that microwave waves, in addition to affecting straight-chain hydrocarbons, also reduced aromatic compounds. However, ultrasonic waves had a more significant effect on straight-chain hydrocarbon structure.

Keywords

Microwave

Ultrasonic

Asphaltene

Upgrading

Subjects

Petroleum Engineering

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