Methods for reducing surface fouling in fuel production systems
AssigneeChemtreat, Inc.
InventorVince Spaeth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for preventing or reducing fouling of equipment having a metal surface that contacts a reaction byproduct in a fuel production system are provided. The method may include treating the metal surface in the fuel production system by contacting a fouling inhibitor with the metal surface. The fouling inhibitor includes a bicyclic organic compound with an aromatic ring and a heterocyclic ring, and is delivered to the metal surface of the system in sufficient amount and for sufficient time to reduce a fouling deposit on at least a portion of the metal surface.
Claims18
A method of preventing or reducing fouling of equipment having a metal surface that contacts a reaction byproduct gas stream in a fuel production system, the method comprising:
- atomizing a fouling inhibitor composition and combining the atomized fouling inhibitor composition with the byproduct gas stream, the fouling inhibitor composition containing 20% to 100% by weight of a bicyclic organic compound with an aromatic ring and a heterocyclic ring;
- and
- causing the fouling inhibitor treatment composition to contact the metal surface by flowing the byproduct gas stream including the fouling inhibitor composition over the metal surface for a treatment period that is sufficient to reduce a hydrocarbon fouling deposit on at least a portion of the metal surface,
- wherein the bicyclic organic compound is present in the byproduct gas stream at a concentration in the range of 0.05 to 100 pints per million cubic feet (0.836 to 1,670 ml/million liters) of gas during the treatment period.
A method of treating a metal surface that is prone to hydrocarbon fouling, the method comprising atomizing a fouling inhibitor composition that includes quinoline and contacting the metal surface with a gas stream containing the atomized fouling inhibitor composition,
- wherein the fouling inhibitor composition is at least 75 percent by weight of quinoline and the quinoline is present in the gas stream at a concentration in the range of 0.05 to 100 pints per million cubic feet (0.836 to 1,670 ml/million liters) of gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.