title: Radiotracer investigations in pilot-scale soakers.
abstract: This paper describes a radiotracer investigation carried out to measure residence time distribution (RTD) of petroleum residues in pilot-scale soakers. The main objectives of the investigation were to evaluate the feasibility of using bromine-82 as dibromobiphenyl (DBBP) for tracing the petroleum residues (organic phase) as a radiotracer at elevated temperature and pressure, and to investigate the flow dynamics of the phase in the soaker at different operating and process conditions. The measured RTD was treated and mean residence times (MRTs) were determined. Tanks-in-series with backmixing model (TISBM) was used to simulate the measured RTD data. The results of model simulation indicated a high degree of backmixing in the soaker without baffles i.e. without sectionalizing the soaker. However, the introduction of perforated plates at various axial locations inside the soaker i.e. sectionalizing the soaker, reduces the extent of backmixing thus tending the flow towards plug flow.
authors.affiliation: Isotope Production and Applications Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Isotope Production and Applications Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India. Electronic address: hjpant@barc.gov.in.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Pant
authors.affiliation: CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun 248005, India.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tandon
authors.affiliation: CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun 248005, India.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Garg
keywords: Backmixing; Bromine-82; Dibromobiphenyl; Mean residence time; Perforated baffles; Radiotracer; Residence time distribution; Short residue; Soaker; Tanks-in-series with backmixing model; Vacuum gas oil; Visbreaking