title: Flow investigation in an industrial-scale soaker using radiotracer technique.
abstract: Flow dynamics of heavy petroleum residue in an industrial-scale soaker operating in a petroleum refinery was investigated. Residence time distributions (RTDs) of the residue were measured using radiotracer technique. Bromine-82 as dibromobiphenyl was used as radiotracer for tracing the petroleum residue. The measured RTDs were treated and mean residence times (MRTs) were determined. The measured RTD data was simulated using a combined model i.e. axial dispersion model in parallel with tanks-in-series with stagnant volume and exchange. The results of the model simulation fitted very well to the experimentally measured data and identified bypassing or existence two parallel flow paths within the soaker.
authors.affiliation: Isotope and Radiation Application 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: Isotope and Radiation Application Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India.
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goswami
authors.affiliation: Isotope and Radiation Application Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun 248005, India.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Maity
authors.affiliation: CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun 248005, India.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Garg
keywords: Axial dispersion model; Backmixing; Bromine-82; Dibromobiphenyl; Mean residence time; Radiotracer; Residence time distribution; Soaker; Tanks-in-series with stagnant volume; Visbreaking