Automated stand for modeling and analysis of deposits in pipelines “PIK-ASPO”

PIK-ASPO is a modern automated bench-scale system for continuous cyclic testing. It is designed for the comprehensive study of resin, asphaltene, and paraffin deposition processes (ASPO) and the development of effective mitigation methods.

The complex enables research under conditions that closely simulate real-world scenarios, providing accurate and reproducible data for solving critical challenges in oil production and transportation.

Operating Principle and Design:

PIK-ASPO is a closed, isolated hydraulic system operating under pressure, which prevents sample degassing and ensures the correctness of experiments. The system consists of two main circuits:

Small Circulation Loop:
Designed to simulate solid-phase deposition in a pipeline section. A coolant chills a test pipe section, while the main system maintains an elevated temperature. This creates a temperature differential that initiates deposit formation. Measured pressure drops and inlet/outlet temperatures in this circuit allow for the calculation of fluid viscosity, changes in flow area, deposit thermal conductivity, and the onset of deposition.
Test Cell Circuit:
Designed for the detailed study of deposits on pipe walls or flat samples. The samples are placed on cooled inserts inside a specialized cell and are flushed by a stream of hotter fluid, stimulating deposit formation directly on their surfaces. The cell design precisely replicates the internal profile of the sample to ensure laminar flow. A specialized high-pressure centrifugal pump maintains a constant fluid flow rate.

The system supports both automatic and manual control modes, allowing for both standard and unique, specialized experiments.

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Tests performed

Study of paraffin and asphaltene precipitation.
Determination of the wax crystallization onset temperature (WCT).
Development and optimization of scale inhibitors and solvents.
Analysis of wax deposition rates. Testing pipeline surface effects.
Determining optimal chemical reagent consumption.

Software

Control of all complex systems (pumps, valves, temperature, integrated stirrers);
Monitoring parameters and collecting experimental data from all units and sensors in real time (pressure, differential pressure, flow rate, fluid temperature, jacket and oven temperature, stirrer speed, automatic valve position);
Performing calculations and processing collected data;
Plotting graphs of measured parameters relative to each other;
Implementing automated program execution.

Technical specifications

Maximum system pressure, MPa	20
Operating temperature of the primary system, °C	0 … 150
Operating temperature of the secondary circuit, °C	0 … 150
Temperature maintenance accuracy, °C	±1 °С
Primary thermostat system	термошкаф
Fluid viscosity range, mPa·s	0.5 … 2500
Flow rate range in the cell, ml/min	300 … 5800
Flow rate range in the test circuit, ml/min	0 … 150
Solid phase deposition test circuit: internal diameter of the pipeline, mm length of the pipeline, mm	3.860/2.108 6000
Pipeline sample test cell: number of inserts for the pipe samples under test, pcs. surface diameters of the samples under test, mm diameter of the liners, mm size of the samples, mm number of inserts for the flat samples under test, pcs.	4 73 60 40х40 4
Material of the parts in contact with the medium under test	Stainless steel / fluororubber (FKM) / PTFE (Teflon)