Scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU), together with colleagues from the S.S. Kutateladze Institute of Thermophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, have developed a method for recycling waste from oil enterprises using "combustible" ice. The new method makes it possible to use the resulting environmentally friendly thermal energy for heating.
A large amount of waste is generated during the extraction, processing and transportation of oil. They pose a threat to the environment and human health because they contain hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds. Today, there are several ways to recycle such waste. Incineration, curing, oxidative and biological treatment are considered the most popular. However, each of them has a number of limitations and disadvantages — high cost, the need for special corrosion-resistant equipment, the risk of leaks, and much more.
The authors developed a mathematical model, and then assembled an experimental installation based on it, which can burn oil-containing waste together with hydrate gas. It is a gas produced during the regasification of gas hydrates, gas compounds in the ice and water shell, which are also called "combustible" ice. The developed system takes into account the stability, temperature and flame angle, as well as the size of the particles supplied to the combustion chamber. This allows us to evaluate and further adjust the efficiency of oil waste disposal.
"We have tested a new technique for the disposal of typical oil sludge. The results of experimental studies have shown that up to 0.5 kg/h of hydrate gas and about 12 kg/h of oil sludge are required for effective operation of the system. At the same time, gas hydrates increase the combustion efficiency of oily sludge by 3%," said one of the authors of the study, head of the TPU Heat and Mass Transfer laboratory. Pavel Strizhak.
Scientists note that the water vapor contained in the gas hydrate reduces harmful emissions during combustion. Thus, the concentration of sulfur oxide decreased by 5% (8.5 times less than with other methods), carbon monoxide — by 11% (7.8 times less), nitrogen oxide — by 15%. The by—product is clean water suitable for domestic and industrial needs.
The authors also calculated the parameters of a system that allows the use of thermal energy generated during waste disposal in heating systems. They modeled heating systems for remote settlements with harsh climatic conditions (up to -30 °C) and populations of 150, 700 and 2,500 people.
"Our waste disposal model can simultaneously produce environmentally friendly thermal energy. At the same time, additional costs for the operation of such a system are not necessary. This solution is especially relevant for remote areas and oil and gas fields, as it allows you to fully effectively close the production cycle and self—sustain such a settlement," added Pavel Strizhak.
The study was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science.
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