Document Type : Regular Article

Authors

• dhoha Ahmad Shafeeq
• Raheek Ibrahim
• Jamal Mohammed

Electromechanical Engineering Department, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract

Heavy fuel oil (HFO) is considered as a major fuel in steam power plant in Iraq. High viscosity and high energy requirements for fluid pumping are issues that affect the movement of crude oil via pipelines. A great viscosity is a serious problem in flow and combustion Viscosity reduction techniques can improve flow. The objective of this work is to reduce the viscosity and enhancing the flow characteristics of heavy fuel oil in pipes using different solvents the experimental includes oil pump, oil pipe (1.27 cm diameter and 2 m length), pressure gauge, magnetic stirrer, and Brookfield viscometer. Various types of solvents added to Heavy fuel oil to reduce its viscosity and improve heavy fuel oil characteristics; Kerosene (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 vol.%) and ethanol with same adding percent are tested. The experimental results showed that viscosity reduction achieved 26% using 20 vol% ethanol and 53% at 20 vol% of kerosene. This viscosity reduction improves the flow properties as Reynolds number and pressures where the Reynolds increased by 19.25% and pressure drop decrease by 22.58% at 20% of ethanol in addition when adding 20 vol% of kerosene the Reynolds number increased by 51.21% and pressure drop decrease by 56.68% the findings of this research is considered as a major contribute for heavy fuel oil pumping and hence reduce the environmental impacts. Also the results proved that the dilution at the use percentage is considered as economically feasible since kerosene and ethanol are available at low costs in Iraq.

Keywords

• heavy fuel oil
• viscosity
• dilution
• ethanol
• kerosene