Search

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of using electric fields as a method for to inhibit the formation of paraffin deposits in the production and transport of paraffinic crude oils. a capillary viscometer was designed and constructed, and then adapted to an electric field generator. This experimental setup allowed generating electric fields of different amplitudes. Capillaries tubes of different diameters were used in order to obtain different exposures times of the oil to the electric field. The variables used to quantify the effect of the electric field on the oil were the mass flow, viscosity, cloud point, and pour point. The experimental data shows that the application of the electric field to oil from Colorado 67 and Colorado 36 wells resulted in an increase of viscosity, cloud point, and pour point. These results suggest that exposure of oil to the electric field accelerates the precipitation process of organics and therefore it is not recommended for implementation in the studied wells.

This study evaluated the efficiency of pans in furnaces to jaggery making. It was modified the geometry of thermal energy´s transfer area of pans to asses such efficiency. The background of open pans (typically flat) was changed for a geometry similar to parallel channels with different cross sections arranged in the direction of movement of the combustion gases. The furnace efficiency was determined for different positions and heights of new pans in the oven. The results showed that new design improved energy transfer, especially geometry with triangular cross section where the height between the floor of the duct and the bottom of the pan was 8cm. There was a significant improvement in the efficiency of utilization of thermal energy, resulting in a saving of 28.48% of fuel.