IMPROVING DROP POINT (MELTING POINT) OF PARAFFIN WAX FROM 45-50OC TO 75-80OC)

Paraffin wax, although it is not crude wax, is a hydrocarbon mixture having physical properties of wax. Paraffin waxes are compared primarily of straight chain molecules with a relatively small amount of branches chains. Usually the branching that occurs is only one carbon chain which is located near one end of the main chain. There is an over all average of less than one branched, chain carbon atom per molecule. Cyclic amounts are present in paraffin wax is only minute amounts.

The word “wax” usually refers to a variety of organic substances that are solid at ambient temperature but become free-flowing liquids at slightly higher temperatures. The chemical composition of waxes is complex, but normal alkanes are always present in high proportion and molecular weight profiles tend to be wide. The main commercial source of wax is crude oil but not all crude oil refiners produce wax. “Mineral” wax can also be produced from lignite. Plants, animals and even insects produce materials sold in commerce as “wax.”

Waxes are typically long, linear or branched n-paraffin chains within produced hydrocarbons and primarily consist of paraffin hydrocarbons (C18 – C36) and naphthenic hydrocarbons (C30 – C60).

Hydrocarbon components of wax can exist in various states of matter (gas, liquid or solid) depending on their temperature and pressure. When the wax freezes, it forms crystals referred to as macrocrystalline wax. Those formed from naphthenes are known as microcrystalline wax. The solid forms of paraffin, called paraffin wax, are from the heaviest molecules from phytane (C20H42) to lycopane (C40H82).

Paraffin wax is a white, odorless solid with a typical melting point between about 115°F  and 154°F (46 and 68°C) having a density of around 0.9 g/cm3 . Waxes have low thermal conductivity, a high heat capacity, and are insoluble in water. While constant deposition of wax can block production lines, it can also act as insulation due to its low thermal conductivity and high heat capacity, resulting in higher arrival temperatures during steady flowing conditions and longer cooldown times during shutdowns. Paraffin wax is soluble in ether, benzene and certain esters, while being unaffected by most common chemical reagents.

At temperatures below the cloud point, the n-paraffin components begin to crystallize into solid wax particles. These can adhere to each other when the wax-containing hydrocarbon comes in contact with any surface that has a temperature below the wax appearance temperature (WAT) and provides a heat sink. Although WAT and cloud point are often used interchangeably, the distinction is that the cloud point refers to the temperature at which the first wax crystals are observed in solution. The WAT is generally a slightly lower temperature that represents the point at which the bulk of the wax crystallizes. Pour point is another paraffin-related temperature and is the point at which the oil begins to solidify and will not flow without applying force.

The predominant mechanisms proposed to describe paraffin deposition are shear dispersion and molecular dispersion. Shear dispersion describes the relationship between deposition rate and shear rate. Shearing of the wax molecules occurs due to the hydrodynamic drag of the flowing fluid and depends mostly on the flowrate and viscosity of the fluid. Higher viscosity and low flowrates result in high wax deposition rates. However, in highly turbulent flow, deposition rates decrease with increased flow as wax is mechanically sheared off the deposits on the pipe wall. As the deposit thickness increases, so does the shear rate due to the decrease in the flow area and increase in flow velocity. This increase in shear rate causes an increase in the shear stress on wax molecules and formed wax crystals which serves to diminish the overall wax deposition rate.

Molecular diffusion describes the process by which the radial temperature gradient in the line causes a concentration gradient of dissolved paraffin components in the liquid phase. This concentration gradient causes paraffin to diffuse to the pipe wall, where it is assumed to deposit. The widely recognized transport methods contributing to wax thickness on the pipe wall are molecular diffusion of dissolved wax, particle transport of precipitated wax, and sloughing of previously deposited wax.

PRODUCT INTRODUCTION
PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF PARAFFIN WAX
USES & APPLICATION
B.I.S. SPECIFICATION
MAJOR WAX MARKETS
TYPES AND VERSATILITY OF WAXES
MARKET POSITION OF PARAFFIN WAX
RAW MATERIALS
STANDARD FOR PETROLEUM WAXES
SPECIFICATION FOR PARAFFIN WAX FOR EXPLOSIVE
AND PYROTECHNIC INDUSTRY
FORMULATION OF IMPROVING DROP POINT OF PARAFFIN WAX
MANUFACTURE OF HIGH MELTING POINT PARAFFIN WAX
PROCESS IN DETAILS
PRINCIPLES OF PLANT LAYOUT
PLANT LOCATION FACTORS
EXPLANATION OF TERMS USED IN THE PROJECT REPORT
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULES
SUPPLIERS OF RAW MATERIALS
SUPPLIERS OF PLANT & MACHINERY

APPENDIX – A:

1.      COST OF PLANT ECONOMICS
2.      LAND & BUILDING
3.      PLANT AND MACHINERY
4.      FIXED CAPITAL INVESTMENT
5.      RAW MATERIAL
6.      SALARY AND WAGES
7.      UTILITIES AND OVERHEADS
8.      TOTAL WORKING CAPITAL
9.      COST OF PRODUCTION
10.      PROFITABILITY ANALYSIS
11.      BREAK EVEN POINT
12.      RESOURCES OF FINANCE
13.      INTEREST CHART
14.      DEPRECIATION CHART
15.      CASH FLOW STATEMENT
16.      PROJECTED BALANCE SHEET