Kinetic modeling and experimental investigation of composition variation in hydrocarbon upgrading: Application to microwave-assisted reactors

Background: Comprehensive understanding of composition variation and kinetic of upgrading reactions during microwave-assisted hydrocarbon upgrading is crucial for simulation and scale up purposes.Methods: In the present contribution, the effect of microwave radiation on the liquid hydrocarbon sample in each 2 min exposure time interval up to 14 min was investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and saturate, aromatic, resin, and asphaltene (SARA) composition variation of oil was considered. Each upgraded sample was characterized using the mentioned techniques. Then, a novel reaction network based on SARA composition was established, and kinetic modeling was performed for the first time. Significant finding: The maximum component relative deviation of 18.2% (Resin, 14 min radiation) and MSE of 1.12x10-4 for kinetic modeling results were observed. Experimental results reveal that 32.87 wt.% reductions of asphaltene content, 49.48 wt.% reductions in resin content, 16.66 wt.% gas production are achievable. Based on kinetic modeling results, at lower oil temperature aromatic upgrading rate is more than that of resin and asphaltene. However, increasing oil temperature or radiation exposure time increases asphaltene and resin conversion reaction rate. Finally, analyzing kinetic modeling results illustrate that, aromatic conversion to gasses and resin conversion to aromatics are the dominant mechanisms before and after 8 min radiation, respectively.

Automated summary

A comprehensive study on the composition variation and kinetic of upgrading reactions during microwave-assisted hydrocarbon upgrading was conducted. Experimental results showed that microwave radiation could significantly reduce asphaltene and resin content, and produce gas. Kinetic modeling revealed that at lower oil temperature, aromatic upgrading rate was higher than resin and asphaltene, while increasing oil temperature or radiation exposure time increased asphaltene and resin conversion rate. Based on the kinetic modeling results, it was found that aromatic conversion to gases and resin conversion to aromatics were the dominant mechanisms before and after 8 minutes of radiation, respectively.