Estimation model for the wax crystal size distribution in solvent dewaxing process

The wax crystallization in the solvent dewaxing is complicated process since it involves multi components flow with phase change of dissolved hydrocarbonates which solidified as wax crystals. In this paper, an estimation mathematical model of the real solvent dewaxing unit was implemented. The model combined the energy balance equations and the mass - momentum balance in terms of the population balance for the kinetics of the wax crystallization phenomena. The transport equations were solved numerically to obtain the wax crystal size distribution, wax volume fraction along the pipeline of the heat exchanger and chiller in a solvent dewaxing process. Experimental measurements were conducted using Differential Scanning Calorimeter to analysis the dissolved temperature, onset crystallization temperature, and the wax content. The results measurement results were used as the main input parameters to the model for the Crystal Size Distribution prediction in Solvent Dewaxing. The developed numerical model was proved to be capable to predict wax crystallization characteristics for different operating conditions of such complex process.