Solidification fouling of paraffin wax from hydrocarbons

Abstract

Solidification fouling of paraffin wax from a solution in kerosene has been studied in a stirred system where a refrigerant was circulated through a surrounding jacket. The system is unique since it permits the study of the effects of varying shear stress on the deposit in one experiment and thus obviates the need of doing several experiments as in the case of flow through tubes. Effects of rotation speed and wall temperature have been studied. The results indicate that the shear stress has a profound influence on the deposit thickness. Based upon the experimental observations, the initial deposition is hypothesized to be diffusion controlled instead of particulate migration controlled.