Q6-1 Fouling of Middle Distillate Blends

J. W. Palen

2002

A project to measure fouling of medium-heavy hydrocarbon mixtures (middle distillates) was part of a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) in the late 1990’s between Chevron Research and Technology Company, Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), and HTRI. Fluids tested were mixtures of the products from crude oil or coker units. Fouling occurred on the cold side of the first of two feed-effluent exchangers in series where the wall temperature was lowest. This result is the opposite of what was expected. The fouling behavior in this project can be explained as arising from depletion of the worst foulants in the first exchanger. The laboratory data also indicated which feedstock blends produce the least fouling buildup.