Abstract—A mathematical model was implemented to
predict the wax crystal size distribution of distillate lube oil
SN500. The model solved the coupled equations for the heat
transfer and moments of the population balance numerically.
The predicted temperatures and wax crystal size distributions
were validated with actual unit database and experimental
measurements. The kinetics of the wax crystallization
considered only the nucleation and crystal growth. N-alkanes
from n-C22 to n-C36 were tested to select compound for
representation of the wax fraction. The nucleation process
order constant was fitted from wax recovery experimental
measurements. The developed numerical model was proved to
be capable to predict wax crystal size distribution in real
solvent dewaxing plant. The model results were found to be in
good agreement with the process data.
Index Terms—Solvent dewaxing, numerical model, wax
crystal size distribution, lube oil production.
The authors are with the Mechanical Engineering Department, UTP,
Tronoh 31750, Perak, Malaysia (e-mail: nassirdhamin@yahoo.com).
[PDF]
Cite: Nassir D. Mokhlif, Hussain H. Al-Kayiem, and Masri Bin Baharom, "Numerical Model to Predict Wax Crystal Size
Distribution in Solvent Dewaxing Unit," International Journal of Chemical Engineering and Applications vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 73-78, 2014.
