Optimising Heavy Fuel Oil Stability and Compatibility with the MS 20 MultiScan

When it comes to working with heavy fuel oils, precision in testing and understanding oil stability is critical. One of the biggest challenges faced by the petroleum industry is the destabilisation of asphaltenes. 
These heavy molecules, present in heavy fuel oils, can lead to significant problems such as heat exchanger fouling; the formation of unwanted, stable oil-water emulsions, and other processing issues. Incompatible heavy oil blends can also cause asphaltene flocculation and deposition, leading to more severe operational disruptions.
Understanding the stability of asphaltenes in heavy fuel oils is essential for preventing these problems—and the MS 20 MultiScan from DataPhysics Instruments is one of the most advanced tools available for this type of analysis.

How the MS 20 MultiScan Works for Heavy Fuel Oils
The MS 20 MultiScan provides a detailed and automated approach to understanding the stability and ageing of liquid dispersions like heavy fuel oils. It uses optical stability analysis to detect changes in the oil, specifically the behaviour of asphaltenes.

Asphaltenes have a unique chemical structure making them insoluble in paraffinic hydrocarbons, like n-heptane, but soluble in aromatic solvents, like toluene. When n-heptane is added to a heavy oil sample, it can cause asphaltene molecules to flocculate. By measuring the transmission of light through the sample, the MS 20 can accurately evaluate the degree and rate of asphaltene flocculation, providing quantitative insight into the oil’s stability.

Key Features of the MS 20 MultiScan for Heavy Fuel Oil Analysis
The MS 20 is equipped with up to six temperature-controlled ScanTowers, allowing each sample chamber to operate at different temperatures ranging from 4°C to 80°C. This flexibility makes it easy to simulate various real-world conditions, such as storage, transport, and processing environments.
Here's how the process works:

• A small vial containing the oil sample is placed in one of the MS 20's ScanTowers.
• The device uses two LEDs of different wavelengths to scan the whole sample height at regular intervals, measuring the backscatter and transmission intensity of light.
• The transmission intensity data, which indicates the stability of the oil, is then displayed in an intensity-position diagram in MSCsoftware.

By observing changes in the transmission intensities, the MS 20, and corresponding MSCsoftware, provides insights into the oil's stability over time, helping you predict how the asphaltenes will behave in various conditions.

The MS 20 MultiScan gives you control over your processes, offering automated precision and flexibility in testing. With features such as ASTM D7061 compliance, customizable temperature control, and real-time data analysis, the MS 20 ensures that you stay ahead of potential problems and maintain the integrity of your heavy oil blends.
If you’d like to find out more, please contact us. We would welcome the opportunity to tell you about what the Multiscan MS 20 can do and to test some samples for you.