Chemistry and Technology of Fuels and Oils, Vol.47, No.5, 346-350, 2011
OPERATING EXPERIENCE WITH A DISK-SHAPED CRYSTALLIZER
The results of successful operation of disk-shaped regenerative crystallizer with a new design, developed by Yutec Technologies Ltd and Petrokhim Inzhiniring JSC, in an oil de-paraffinization facility at LUKOIL-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez JSC are presented. The results of industrial tests show that the yield of de-paraffined oil increased by 1.5-2% and distillation fractions reached 82-83%, while the total solvent-to-feed stock ratio decreased by 10-15%. A decrease of the volume of circulating solvent together with an increase of the efficiency with respect to the feed stock made it possible to decrease the specific energy consumption by 10-15% on account of the decrease of the vapor and fuel flows to solvent regeneration. Operating experience with the new apparatus confirmed that it is equally effective for reprocessing distillation raffinates with different viscosity as well as residual feed stock. The yield of de-paraffined oil from residual raffinate is 78-79%.
Keywords:base oils;crystallizer;disk-shaped crystallizer;regenerative crystallizer;distillation fractions;residual fractions;de-paraffinization;paraffin;crude paraffin;mineral wax;petrolatum