Wax deposition in pipelines is a serious issue which can significantly impair the flow of oil and result in a reduction in production capacity.pipe for wax Various methods have been used to reduce or eliminate this problem, such as the installation of thermal insulations, bottom whole heaters, hot oil circulation and on demand pigging (a cleaning method that involves inserting a special tool into the pipe to remove unwanted materials from the inside of the line).pipe for wax However, these methods require a large investment and can only be applied to a limited number of lines at a time, thus limiting their scope.
A number of mechanisms have been proposed to explain the process of wax deposition, including molecular diffusion, shear dispersion, Brownian diffusion and gravity settling.pipe for wax Molecular diffusion is the most prominent mechanism, describing the gradual accumulation of wax particles near the wall of the pipe. A number of modelling studies support this mechanism.
Another mechanism is shear dispersion, which describes the movement of small particles of wax away from the wall of the pipe as a function of the pipe shear rate.pipe for wax It has been shown that shear dispersion is a significant factor in the formation of a wax layer. In addition to shear dispersion, Brownian motion is also important in the process of a wax layer formation. Moreover, the formation of a wax layer is also affected by gravity, as the precipitated wax molecules slowly fall to the cold surface of the pipe wall.
These molecules then form an incipient gel, which consists of a network structure of wax crystals and contains a significant amount of gel oil.pipe for wax The incipient gel grows over time, resulting in the growth of a thick wax deposit. A radial thermal and mass transfer gradient develops between the incipient gel and the surrounding fluid. The temperature of the oil inlet is gradually decreased as a consequence, and there are considerable variations in the temperatures of the adjacent fluids (see Figure 1).
A polarization model has been developed to estimate the total volume of the wax deposit.pipe for wax This is based on the concept that the wax is composed of a homogeneous mixture of different chemical compositions, which have a unique polarization characteristic. The polarization characteristics of the wax are dependent on the temperature and chemical composition of the crude oil and the ambient conditions of operation.
To avoid exposing the wax to direct flame, which can burn off many of its potent terpenes and THC, it is recommended to use a dab rig to smoke it.pipe for wax Alternatively, the wax can be added to a joint, spliff or blunt before being smoked. Infusing a joint, spliff, or blunt with wax is called “twaxing.” This technique can greatly enhance the psychoactive experience and provide a more intense and potent hit. It is worth mentioning, though, that adding too much wax can also cause the smoke to become heavy and unpleasant. To avoid this, the concentrate should be diluted with some high-quality flower.