Degassing and dehydration of hydrocarbon fuels by forced gas boiling under vacuum

Dissolved gases and water in hydrocarbon fuels lead to the loss of fuel quality and, ultimately, to the abnormal operation of facilities using it, which determines the need to develop modern and effective methods of fuel degassing and dehydration. Based on the studied regularities of hydrocarbon fuel degassing and dehydration by forced gas boiling under vacuum, we performed experimental studies and theoretical analysis of desorption of gases and water from hydrocarbon fuels and suggest a mathematical model for the analysis of hydrocarbon fuel degassing and dehydration in vacuum under static conditions as well as a mathematical model of degassing and dehydration by forced gas boiling under dynamic conditions. We also developed methods for the analysis of molecularly dissolved and micelle-bound water in hydrocarbon fuels. Comparison of experimental results with calculation results according to the presented mathematical models showed good agreement between degassing and dehydration process parameter values. Based on the performed experimental and theoretical studies and calculations, we suggest an effective method of simultaneous degassing and dehydration. The paper also presents the results of experimental studies confirming the high effectiveness of the suggested method.