I. Supersaturation in Hydrocarbon Systems Methane-n-Decane. II. Supersaturation in Hydrocarbon Systems Methane-n-Decane Silica

Author: Silvey, Franklin Clark

Year: 1957

Degree: Engineer's thesis

Advisor: Sage, Bruce H.

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Chemical Engineering

DOI: 10.7907/2D0D-TV43

Abstract

PART I

An understanding of the possible influence of supersaturated liquids upon the production and refining of petroleum is of industrial interest. Only limited information is available as to the influence of environment upon the duration of supersaturation for pure hydrocarbons and their mixtures.

A number of measurements were made of the influence of strain upon the behavior of four mixtures of methane and n-decane at temperatures ranging from 70 [degrees] to 390[degrees] F. The mixtures exhibited equilibrium bubble-point pressures between 54 and 1048 pounds per square inch. The local strain was introduced by raising the temperature of a portion of the system above that of the remainder.

The formation of bubbles in such systems appears to be randomly distributed in time and its rate is nearly directly proportional to the volume of the phase. The results indicate markedly greater tendency for the persistence of supersaturation than obtained in a pure hydrocarbon but the probability of formation of a bubble under a given condition of strain decreased with an increase in mole fraction methane.

PART II

An understanding of the influence of volume and surface effects upon the duration of supersaturation in hydrocarbon liquids is necessary to describe the behavior of liquids in a strained state. A very limited amount of information is available on the influence of surface and volume upon supersaturation in pure hydrocarbons.

Preliminary information in this field was obtained using a mixture of methane and n-decane containing 0.2290 mole fraction methane at 220[degrees] F. The mixture exhibited an equilibrium bubble-point pressure at 220[degrees] F. of 949 pounds per square inch. These measurements were made in equipment in which the strain was introduced by raising the temperature of a portion of the system above that of the remainder.

The volume and surface area of the liquid phase under strain were varied by the introduction of silica crystals. The degree of supersaturation which may be realized in such systems was found to be nearly directly proportional to the volume of the phase. The data were insufficient in number to establish the effect of surface area on bubble formation.

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