(122j) Mechanistic Investigation of Asphaltene-Induced Fouling of Heat Exchangers

Asphaltene precipitation and its subsequent deposition is a growing problem for the oil and gas industry. Not only does it hinder the output of oilfields, but also causes significant issues in downstream refining. The blending of incompatible oils and operations at high surface temperatures are some of the key causes of the instability of asphaltenes, which may lead to fouling and reduction in performance for refinery equipment, such as heat exchangers. In this work, the combination of state-of-the-art laboratory techniques, and advanced modeling methods are used to better understand and predict the occurrence and the magnitude of asphaltene-induced fouling of heat exchangers.

The PC-SAFT model which has proven its success in upstream applications has been adapted to further explore asphaltene phase behavior and deposition tendencies at refinery conditions. A novel pilot-scale setup has also been developed to investigate the tendencies of heat exchangers to foul at high temperatures by quantifying the amount of deposited material at the end of each experiment. The modeling and lab results obtained from this study will be compared to commercial fouling rigs and field conditions. With this study, we aim to contribute to the development of best practices to mitigate asphaltene-induced fouling that is commonly found in refineries around the world.