Novel Characterization Method of the Mesophase Optical Textures Based on In Situ Coking of Heavy Oil

This study introduces a novel method for rapid characterization of the mesophase optical textures based on in situ coking of heavy oil. The conventional methods of mesophase characterization often compromise the structural integrity of coke's texture and exhibit constraints in image processing, which may lead to misrepresentation of coke properties. In this research, a rapid characterization method for the mesophase was developed, in which the digital image processing technique and statistical methods were combined together. This method greatly reduces the damage to the optical textures of the coke by directly coking heavy oil on the test chip and capturing images of the coke formed on the chip. The influence of the following factors on the mesophase characterization results was investigated, including the test chip material, reactor shape, and the number of images in a single sample. In addition, the reliability and applicability of this characterization method were verified through characterization of the representative oil samples.