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Fractal structure of asphaltene aggregates
Nazmul H G Rahmani1, Tadeusz Dabros, Jacob H Masliyah
1Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G6, Canada.
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
|April 20, 2005
Summary
This study quantifies the fractal dimension of asphaltene aggregates in solvent mixtures. Higher shear rates lead to more compact aggregate structures, revealing their porous and tenuous nature.
Area of Science:
- Petroleum Science and Engineering
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Asphaltene aggregation significantly impacts petroleum fluid properties and processing.
- Understanding the structure of asphaltene aggregates is crucial for predicting their behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure the size and fractal dimension of asphaltene aggregates.
- To investigate the influence of shear rate on aggregate structure.
- To characterize the porosity and space-filling capacity of asphaltene aggregates.
Main Methods:
- Photographic technique and image analysis for aggregate size and fractal dimension measurement.
- Couette device to study shear-induced aggregation and restructuring.
- Free-settling tests to estimate 2D and 3D fractal dimensions.
Main Results:
- Asphaltene aggregate structure becomes more compact and organized at steady state.
- Higher shear rates result in more compact steady-state aggregate structures.
- Estimated size-density fractal dimension (D(3)) ranges from 1.06 to 1.41, indicating highly porous and tenuous aggregates.
Conclusions:
- The fractal dimension of asphaltene aggregates is influenced by shear rate.
- Asphaltene aggregates exhibit low space-filling capacity, suggesting a highly porous structure.
- These findings provide insights into the physical properties and behavior of asphaltenes in petroleum systems.