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An Experimentally Validated Heat and Mass Transfer Model for Wax Deposition from Flowing Oil onto a Cold Surface
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  • Luqman Mahir,
  • Jieun Lee,
  • H Scott Fogler,
  • Ronald Larson
Luqman Mahir
University of Michigan

Corresponding Author:luqmanh@umich.edu

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Jieun Lee
University of Michigan
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H Scott Fogler
University of Michigan
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Ronald Larson
University of Michigan
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Abstract

A new transport model is proposed for paraffin wax deposition onto a cold finger from flowing wax-containing oils. The model solves transient energy and mass balances simultaneously for a reversible first-order kinetic rate for precipitation of pseudo-single-component wax, and the effects of yield stress using a critical solid wax concentration to withstand flow-induced stress at the deposit-fluid interface, Cpi. The model can predict the time evolution of the deposit thickness, and the spatial and temporal evolution of temperature and wax concentration and was validated using experiments involving a cylindrical cold finger. We found that for oils with Cpi close to zero, the deposit thickness growth is dominated by heat transfer. However, mass transfer cannot be neglected as diffusion of wax into the deposit continues to take place even after the deposit has stopped growing. For oils with non-zero Cpi, the deposit growth is slow and accompanied by occasional sloughing.
29 Jan 2020Submitted to AIChE Journal
03 Feb 2020Submission Checks Completed
03 Feb 2020Assigned to Editor
16 Feb 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
10 Jun 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Major
25 Jul 20201st Revision Received
11 Aug 2020Submission Checks Completed
11 Aug 2020Assigned to Editor
21 Aug 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
16 Sep 2020Editorial Decision: Accept