Article AL-QADISIYAH JOURNAL FOR ENGINEERING SCIENCES 12 (2019) 167–171 Contents lists available at http://qu.edu.iq Al-Qadisiyah Journal for Engineering Sciences Journal homepage: http://qu.edu.iq/journaleng/index.php/JQES * Corresponding author. E-mail address: shahadmahdi2015@gmail.com (Shahad Al-Obaidi) https://doi.org/10.30772/qjes.v12i3.606 2411-7773/© 2019 University of Al-Qadisiyah. All rights reserved. Study the Effect of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles on Reduce Crude Oil Sarah T. Shakir a* and Husham Al-Tameemi a a Chemical Engineering Department -Faculty of Engineering – University of Al-Qadisiyah-Iraq A R T I C L E I N F O Article history: Received 27 August 2019 Received in revised form 23 September 2019 Accepted 30 September 2019 Keywords: Reduce Crude oil Viscosity reduction Drag reduction Copper oxide Nanoparticles A B S T R A C T In the transportation of fluid, the drag reducers in pipeline are important parameters because of drag reduction increased the ability of pump fluid when adding small amounts of additive to fluid. The frictional pressure loss in pipes is waste energy and it very costly so the drag reducing minimizes flow turbulence, reduces the costs of energy and increases throughput. The transportation of reducing crude oil is very difficult and needs some treatment to improve its transportation and this is because of its high viscosity. The purpose of this research is to study the effect of nanoparticles of copper oxide on viscosity of R.C. and other parameters when transport it through pipes. This research investigated the viscosity, pressure drop and other parameters in three pipes (0.0127, 0.01905 and 0.0254 m) I.D. with different concentrations (0.00625, 0.0125, 0.01875, 0.025 and 0.0375 (gm/L) w/v) at 50 oC and the flow rate is 50% of maximum. The results show that the performance of the drag reduction is much better in the larger pipes diameter than the smaller one. Also, the CuO NP's effect on R.C. viscosity and the maximum viscosity deviation is about 4%. In Addition to CuO NP's to R.C. has reduced the %Dr, pressure drop and shear stress. © 2019 University of Al-Qadisiyah. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Reduced crude oil (black oil) (R.C.), is a product that is drawn from the bottom of the atmospheric distillation tower and has a boiling point above 425oC. Reduced crude oil is the feedstock of vacuum distillation and the objective of vacuum distillation is fractionate reduce crude oil to derivatives and used it as base oil [1]. R.C. contains heavy components so that it is difficult to transport it, many techniques are used to improve it, and one of them is by adding different quantities of chemical additives like surfactant, polymer, and fiber [2,3]. 1.1. Reducing viscosity when adding particles Structure The using metal particles as a viscosity reducer for heavy oil/bitumen are contradicted the Einstein’s [4] equation which relates the viscosity of dispersion medium (µo) and viscosity of dilute liquid suspension for non- interacting uniform of solid spheres (µ) :- µ= µo (1+2.5ɸ) (1) If it does not consider any interaction between the oil and particles, which is one of the assumptions of this equation the contradiction may arise. However, the effect of interactions could not be major to overcome the increase of viscosity because of the physical effects such as given by Eq.1. For that reason there will be an optimum concentration of the particles at which the effect of reactions is maximum which gives maximum viscosity reduction as a result of the applied particles metal type [5]. The revolution of nanotechnology science has attracted great attention http://qu.edu.iq/ https://doi.org/10.30772/qjes.v12i3.606 168 SARAH T. SHAKIR AND HUSHAM AL-TAMEEMI /AL-QADISIYAH JOURNAL FOR ENGINEERING SCIENCES 12 (2019) 167–171 for its important role in many applications in the oil & gas industry, for example, sensing or imaging, enhanced oil recovery, gas mobility control and other applications [6-8]. Nanoparticles could be defined that are the materials that have one dimensioned range from 1 to 100 nm. Also, submicron particles (<1000 nm) could be considered nanoparticles [7, 9- 13]. A number of special properties that nanoparticle reveal corresponding to the bulk material. Such as, the bending copper's bulk (wire, ribbon, etc.) take place with movement of copper atoms or clusters at approximately 50 nm scale. Nano Copper smaller than the 50 nm are considered as super hard materials that do not display the same flexibility such as bulk copper [14, 15]. NPs have a very high surface area relative to volume ratio [14]. Many researchers examine the effect of NPs on viscosity by using different metal oxides and with a different technique. It has been observed that reduction of heavy oil viscosity was because of high temperature effect besides a series of chemical reactions known as aqua-thermolysis and these reaction change the physical properties [12]. Clark et al. [11] discovered that the heavy oil viscosity is more reduced when aqueous metal salt is added into the process in comparison to Steam- only experiments. Li et al. [13] found that reduced viscosity, resin and asphaltene content of extra-heavy oil efficiently and that because of the effect of a Nano nickel catalyst in viscosity reduction of Liahoextra-heavy oil by aqua-thermolysis reaction. Hamedi Shokrlu and Babadagli [5] studied the effect of nanosized metals on viscosity reduction of heavy oil/bitumen during thermal applications. Haroun et al. [16] discovered that copper oxide are able to enhance injection water viscosity. Ehsanollah Ettefaghi et.al [17] concluded that no Appreciable change in the oil's viscosity with respect to the engine oil without CuO nanoparticles. Fabian Bjørnseth [18] observed that no viscosity reduction occur-ring when added Cu nanoparticles to heavy oil at different concentrations and temperatures. Srinivasan and Shah [19] were found that nanoparticles are definitely displayed ability for improving reservoir specific heat and thermal conductivity, as well their ability for enhancing density and viscosity of treatment fluids. S. Afzal et.al. [20] found that addition of CuO nanoparticles to heavy oil has increased the viscosity at different concentrations at 50oC. Hascakir et al. [21] investigated the effect of micron sized iron particles on heavy oil viscosity without steam treatment. Chen et al. [22] studied the effect of nano-keggin-K3PMo12O40 on viscosity reduction in catalytic aqua-thermolysis of heavy oil and found that it changes in oxygen-containing groups essentially during the catalytic aqua- thermolysis. The objectives of this research study the effect of copper oxide nanoparticles on R.C. viscosity, drag reduction and its effect on transportation R.C. in pipelines. 2. Description of the flow system The system consists of three pipes with 0.0127, 0.01905 and 0.0254 m inside diameter with a length of 6 m made from carbon steel. As well as each pipe dividing to four Pressure testing sections and the distance between each other is equal to 0.5 m. In addition the flow system contains two tanks, two pumps, flow meter, valves, digital thermometer, pressure gauges, and digital screen. These parts could be seen in Fig. 1. Figure 1. Scheme of the experimental 1-open tank, 2- Receiving tank, 3- Pump, 4- Flow meter, 5, 6, 7- Pipe of 0.5, 0.75 and 1 inch, 8-Valve, 9- Pressure gauge, 10-By-pass pipe, 11- By-pass pipe connect with pump. 3. Experimental work 3.1. Material used: 3.1.1. Copper oxide nanoparticles The properties of Copper oxide nanoparticles are listed in Table 1. Table 1. Physical Properties of CuO Nano- Powder. Chemical Formula CuO Appearance (Color) Black Molecular Weight 79.545 g/mol Average particle size ≤ 50 nm Appearance (Form) Powder Surface area (m2/g) 25-40 Nomenclature %Dr Percentage drag reduction u velocity of R.C. inside the pipe D Diameter of pipe (m). ΔP Pressure drop f Friction factor ΔPb, ΔPa Pressure drop before and after adding Nano additives. L Length of pipe (m). NPs Nanoparticles Greek symbols R.C. Reduce crude oil ρ Density of R.C Re Reynold number τ Shear stress Sp.gr Specific gravity τw Wall shear stress (bar). SARAH T. SHAKIR AND HUSHAM AL-TAMEEMI /AL-QADISIYAH JOURNAL FOR ENGINEERING SCIENCES 12 (2019) 167–171 169 3.1.2. Reduce crude oil The R.C. that used is taken from Al-Samawah refinery and the physical properties are shown in Table 2. Table 2. The physical properties of R.C. The Viscosity @ 50 oC (c.st) Sp.gr. API 252 0.93 20.65 3.2. Experimental procedure: 1 - Fill the first tank with a sample of R.C. then run the system. 2 - Pump R.C. through pipes and record the initial readings of pressure for three pipes separately after closed other pipes. 3 - Add the amount of CuO nanoparticles to the first tank and recycle it for 30 minutes to ensure that the mixture is mixing well. 4. After that repeat step (2) to identify the improvement. 5 – For a continuous process, receiving tank and the second pump are being used to recycle R.C. to the first tank. 4. . Results and Discussion Three parameters are studied in this research diameter of pipes, concentration and pressure drop. 4.1. Effect of Pipe Diameter and Reynolds Number Figures (2-6) display the effect of pipe diameter and Reynolds number on % Dr for different concentrations of CuO nanoparticles at 50 oC. As can be seen that %Dr increased while shear stress decreased as pipe diameter increased at different concentration and this is due to increased area for interaction between R.C. and CuO nanoparticles [12,23]. The Re, %Dr, and τ are calculated by equations below: For laminar flow, fully developed in pipes (Re <2300) for different sections areas:- 𝑅ⅇ = 𝑢𝑑 𝑣 (2) %𝐷𝑟 = ∆𝑃𝑏−∆𝑃𝑎 ∆𝑃𝑏 ∗ 100 (3) 𝝉𝑤 = 𝑫𝜟𝑷 𝟒𝑳 (4) Figure. 2. Effect of pipe diameter on Re at a different concentration at 50 oC. Figure 3. Effect of pipe diameter on shear stress at different concentrations and 50 oC. Figure 4. Effect of Re on %Dr at different concentration at 0.0127 m I.D. and 50 oC Figure 5. Effect of Re on %Dr at different concentration at 0.01905 m I.D. and 50 oC. Figure 6. Effect of Re on %Dr at a different concentration at 0.0254 m I.D. and 50 oC. 170 SARAH T. SHAKIR AND HUSHAM AL-TAMEEMI /AL-QADISIYAH JOURNAL FOR ENGINEERING SCIENCES 12 (2019) 167–171 As noticed from three figures above that %Dr increased as Re increased and that because of increasing the degree of turbulence inside the pipe when Re increased which provide best media to the nanoparticles to be more effective. The increasing in %Dr is occurred due to large eddies that absorb large amount of energy from the main flow, which be present in the pipe of large diameter. But in small pipes, the number of small eddies formed are larger than large eddies formed in large pipes. The small eddies required a large amount of absorbed energy from main flow to overcome the viscosity resistance and after that complete its shape. All small eddies do not absorb the same amount of energy, some of eddies absorb an adequate amount of energy and permit to overcome the resistance of viscosity, while the other absorb insufficient amount of energy and do not be able to overcome viscous resistance and in the end vanish which producing loss in the main flow energy. Because of small eddies which absorbing small amount of energy the %Dr in the small pipes is lower than in large pipes which do not allow it to overcome the viscosity resistance [12]. 4.2. Effect of concentration From figures (7 and 8), it's clear that viscosity and pressure drop are decreased with increased concentration of CuO nanoparticles and this is because of breakage C-S bonds in asphaltene which is unstable and this is happening due exothermic chemical reactions between the oil phase and metal particles . The necessary energy for breaking these bonds could be as long as by exothermic chemical reactions between oil phase and metal particles [5, 21, 25]. Figure 7. Effect of conc. on viscosity at different pipes and 50 oC. As can be seen, there is an optimum concentration of CuO nanoparticles at which the viscosity reduction is maximum. It is noted that the decreasing that occur in pressure drop is a function of additives molecular weight, its concentration and flow rate. The pressure drop is very important as it is directly related to power requirements of the pump or fan for maintaining the flow [26]. Figure 8. Effect of conc. on pressure drop at different pipes and 50 oC. 4.3. Friction factor Figures (9-11) show the effect of Re on friction factor as can be seen that the friction factor is calculated by two equations and the friction factor that is calculated by eq. 2. is smaller than in eq .1. 𝑓 = 64 𝑅ⅇ Poisuell's equation (5) 𝑓 = 𝛥𝑝⋅𝑑∕4𝐿 𝜌⋅𝑢2 2⁄ Fanning equation (6) Figure 9. Effect of Re on friction factor at 0.0127 m I.D. and 50oC. Figure 10. Effect of Re on friction factor at 0.01905 m I.D. and 50oC 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 181 183 185 187 f Re Fanning equation Poisuell's equation 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 121 123 125 f Re Fanning equation Poisuell's equation SARAH T. SHAKIR AND HUSHAM AL-TAMEEMI /AL-QADISIYAH JOURNAL FOR ENGINEERING SCIENCES 12 (2019) 167–171 171 Figure 11. Effect of Re on friction factor at 0.0254 m I.D. and 50oC 5. Conclusion  Minimum viscosity values of 246cst at concentration 0.075 (gm/L) , 247cst at 0.075 (gm/L) and 242cst at concentrations (0.0375, 0.0625, 0.075) of CuO were obtained flowing in pipes of 0.0127 m. 0.01905 m and 0.0254m I.D. at 50°C respectively.  Maximum% Dr of 4.7269% at 0.0375 (gm/L), 13.04% at 0.0375 (gm/L) 36.842% at 6.25*10-3 (gm/L) and 0.0375 (gm/L) of CuO were obtained flowing in pipes of 0.0127 m. 0.01905 m and 0.0254m I.D. at 50°C respectively. 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