Method and apparatus for determining the flocculation threshold of a petroleum product
First Claim
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1. A method for determining the flocculation threshold of a petroleum product containing asphaltenes by measuring the near infrared radiation transmitted through a sample of the product in solution in a solvent in relation to the quantity of precipitant continuously added to the sample, characterized in that:
- a blend of solvent and precipitant is continuously formed at variable concentrations;
the blend and the petroleum product are fed in constant proportions into a homogenizing chamber; and
the near infrared radiation transmitted through the homogeneous product is measured continuously downstream of the homogenizing chamber.
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Abstract
The flocculation threshold of a petroleum product containing asphaltenes is measured by measuring the radiation in the near infrared transmitted through a sample of the product in solution in a solvent in relation to the quantity of precipitant continuously added to the sample.
35 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for determining the flocculation threshold of a petroleum product containing asphaltenes by measuring the near infrared radiation transmitted through a sample of the product in solution in a solvent in relation to the quantity of precipitant continuously added to the sample, characterized in that:
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a blend of solvent and precipitant is continuously formed at variable concentrations; the blend and the petroleum product are fed in constant proportions into a homogenizing chamber; and the near infrared radiation transmitted through the homogeneous product is measured continuously downstream of the homogenizing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. Apparatus for measuring the flocculation threshold of a petroleum product containing asphaltenes by measuring the near infrared radiation transmitted through a sample of product in solution in a solvent in relation to the quantity of procipitant continuously added to the sample, comprising a blending chamber (5) containing means for agitation (39), and a near infrared radiation sensor (15) characterized in that it comprises:
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(a) a variable delivery pump (6) for the solvent, a variable delivery pump (7) for the precipitant and a programming device (8) controlling the respective deliveries of the two pumps (6) and (7) while keeping the total delivery of the blend of solvent and precipitant constant; (b) and pump (1) for the product; (c) a homogenizing chamber (5) fed with both the product and the blend of solvent and precipitant and having homogenizing means (36,
37) able to dissolve the petroleum product and homogenize the blend;the sensor (15) being situated downstream of the homogenizing chamber on an outlwt line (14). - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for determining the flocculation threshold of a petroleum product containing asphaltenes by measuring the near infrared radiation transmitted through a sample of the product in solution in a solvent in relation to the quantity of precipitant containuously added to the sample, characterized in that:
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a blend of solvent and precipitant is continuously formed at variable concentrations; the blend and the petroleum product are fed in constant proportions into a homogenizing chamber; the pressure in the homogenizing chamber may be varied in order to obtain a measurement at different pressures; and the near infrared radiation transmitted through the homogenous product is measured continuously downstream of the homogenizing chamber.
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13. Apparatus for measuring the flocculation threshold of a petroleum product containing asphaltenes by measuring the near infrared radiation transmitted through a sample of product in solution in a solvent in relation to the quantity of precipitant continuously added to the sample, comprising a blending chamber containing means for agitation, and a near infrared radiation sensor characterized in that it comprises:
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(a) a variable delivery pump for the solvent, a variable delivery pump for the precipitant and a programming device controlling the respective deliveries of the two pumps while keeping the total delivery of the blend of solvent and precipitant constant; (b) a pump for the product; (c) a homogenizing chamber fed with both the product and the blend of solvent and precipitant and having an axial homogenizing rotor able to dissolve the petroleum product and homogenize the blend; the sensor being situated downstream of the homogenizing chamber on an outlet line (14).
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Specification