Biodiesel is becoming one of the most attractive alternative biofuels for petroleum-based diesel fuels. The castor plant is one of the abundant non-edible oils found in many countries. This paper aims to study Libyan castor oil and its potential for diesel conversion. Experiments were carried out in the laboratories of the Specific Center for Training in the Oil Industries in Al-Zawiya. The oil was extracted using a Soxhlet extractor and n-hexane solvent at 60 °C. Transesterification reactions were conducted in a batch reactor (a three-neck flask was used, where the middle opening carries a reflux condensation unit) at 65 °C. The methanol-to-castor oil molar ratio was 6:1, with a catalyst concentration of 1 wt.% relative to the castor oil, and the reaction time was 30 min. Castor oil was analysed and found to have a fatty acid content of 0.7%. The productivity of biodiesel exhibited 80% yield. Standard test methods of analysis were conducted to determine the biodiesel’s properties. Results indicated that the kinematic viscosity at 40 °C was 14.24 cSt, the density was 0.924 g/cm3, the cetane number (CN) was 54 and the pour point was −15 °C, indicating that castor oil biodiesel is of high quality, with a high CN and a low pour point.
A series of batch demulsification runs were carried out to evaluate the final emulsified water content of emulsion samples after the exposure to microwave. An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a set of operating variables on the demulsification performance. Several microwave irradiation demulsification runs were carried out at different irradiation powers (700, 800, and 900 watt), using water-in-oil emulsion samples containing different water contents (20-80%, 30-70%, and 50-50%) and salt contents (10000, 20000, and 30000 ppm). It was found that the best separation efficiency was obtained at 900watt, 50% water content and 160 s of irradiation time. Experimental results showed that microwave radiation method can
... Show MoreHeavy oil is classified as unconventional oil resource because of its difficulty to recover in its natural state, difficulties in transport and difficulties in marketing it. Upgrading solution to the heavy oil has positive impact technically and economically specially when it will be a competitive with conventional oils from the marketing prospective. Developing Qaiyarah heavy oil field was neglected in the last five decades, the main reason was due to the low quality of the crude oil resulted in the high viscosity and density of the crude oil in the field which was and still a major challenge putting them on the major stream line of production in Iraq. The low quality of the crude properties led to lower oil prices in the global markets
... Show MoreReservoir fluids properties are very important in reservoir engineering computations such as material balance calculations, well testing analyses, reserve estimates, and numerical reservoir simulations. Isothermal oil compressibility is required in fluid flow problems, extension of fluid properties from values at the bubble point pressure to higher pressures of interest and in material balance calculations (Ramey, Spivey, and McCain). Isothermal oil compressibility is a measure of the fractional change in volume as pressure is changed at constant temperature (McCain). The most accurate method for determining the Isothermal oil compressibility is a laboratory PVT analysis; however, the evaluation of exploratory wells often require an esti
... Show MoreThis work aims to analyze and study the bit performance in directional oil wells which leads to get experience about the drilled area by monitoring bit performance and analyzing its work. This study is concerned with Rumaila Oil Field by studying directional hole of one oil well with different angles of inclination. Drilling program was used in order to compare with used parameters (WOB, RPM and FR).in those holes. The effect of the drilling hydraulic system on the bit performance was studied as well as the hydraulic calculation can be done by using Excel program. This study suggests method which is used to predict the value of penetration rate by studying different formation type to choose the best drilling parameters t
... Show MoreThe acidity of spent lubricant was treated using sodium hydroxide solution. The effect of three variables on the treatment have been studied . These are mixing time rangingfrom 5-35 minutes, NaOH to lubricant weight ratio ranging from 0.25-1.25 and weight percentage of NaOH ranging from 2-6 % .
The experimental design of Box-Wilson method is adopted to find a useful relationship between the three controllable variables and the lowering in the acidity of the spent lubricant. Then the effective variables and interactions are identified using the statistical analysis(F-test) of three variable fractional design. The mathematical model is well represented by a second order polynomial.
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... Show MoreShaky Baghdad heavy crude oil 22 API is processed by distillation and solvent extraction. The purpose of distillation is to separate the light distillates (light fractions) which represent 35% of heavy crude oil, and to obtain the reduced crude oil. The heavy residue (9 API) is extracted with Iraqi light naphtha to get the deasphaltened oil (DAO), the extraction carried out with temperature range of 20-75 oC, solvent to oil ratio 5-15:1(ml:g) and a mixing time of 15 minutes. In general, results show that API of DAO increased twice the API of reduced crude oil while sulfur and metals content decreased 20% and 50% respectively. Deasphaltened oil produced from various operating conditions blended with the
... Show MoreBaker's Yeast is an important additive among the substances, which improves bred quality, thus, a consideration has been made to study the conditions and parameters that affecting the production of the yeast in a batch fermenter experimentally and theoretically. Experimental runs were implemented in a 12-liter pilot-scale fermenter to predict the rate of growth and other parameters such as amount of additive consumed and the amount of heat generated. The process is modeled and performed using a computer programming prepped for this purpose, the model gave a good agreement comparing to the experimental work specially in the log phase.
Use of computer simulation to quantify the effectiveness of blowing agents can be an effective tool for optimizing formulations and for the adopting of new blowing agents. This paper focuses on a mass balance on blowing agent during foaming including the quantification of the amount that stays in the resin, the amount that ends up in the foam cells, and the pressure of the blowing agent in the foam cells. Experimental data is presented both in the sense of developing the simulation capabilities and the validating of simulation results.
