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3.3.3.

Calculation of Pseudo-components Specific Gravities


As pointed out earlier, the distillation test might include the measurement of
gravity versus volume distilled. Sometimes this is not available and only the
average gravity of the whole petroleum fraction is measured. In this case,
the following procedure is used to obtain the gravity for each
pseudocomponent.
This step is necessary to calculate the molecular weight of
the pseudo-component and hence to convert volume fractions into mass
fractions or mole fractions.
Any petroleum fraction or NBP cut can be characterized by the Watson
Characterization (K) factor defined in equation (3.5). For the petroleum
cut comprising the pseudo-components, the K factor for the
pseudocomponents
is assumed constant and equal to its value for the whole
petroleum cut. Hence the definition of the K factor is used to calculate
the gravity of each pseudo-component given its average NBP.
Example E3.5

Calculate the specific gravity of each pseudo-components of the crude assay


attached, knowing that K 11.94.
Volumen %
5
10
30
50
70

TBP, (C)
40
85
215
340
495

Plot the API gravity versus vol% and fit it to the proper polynomial.
Solution:
The K factor for this cut is 11.94. Using this value for each of the pseudocomponents
and the TBP of each cut, the specific gravity of the pseudocomponents
is generated and then the API is calculated.
TBP is calculated at the extended vol% up to 95% from the generalized
equation from Example E3.4.
The polynomial fit of the API versus vol% is

API 0, 0002 vol %3 0, 0238 vol % 2 1, 7637 vol % 80, 471


Con : R 2 0,9994
Figure E3.5 shows the API-TBP versus vol% curves.

3.4. Thermophysical Properties Calculation


3.4.1. Molecular Weight
Any material or energy balance calculations would certainly require the
estimation of molecular weight of a petroleum fraction. Experimentally, the
average molecular weight can be determined by several methods, such as
freezing point depression osmometry, or gel permeation chromatography.
Most oil fractions have molecular weights in the range of 100700. The
method most suitable for determining molecular weights within this range is
that based on freezing point depression.
Prediction of the molecular weight of petroleum fractions is achieved
through the following equation (Pedersen et al., 1989):

M 42,965 2,097 x104 Tb 7,78712 SG 2, 08476 x103 Tb SG Tb1,26007 SG 4,98308


where M is the molecular weight of the petroleum fraction, Tb is the mean
average boiling point of the petroleum fraction in K, and SG is the specific
gravity, 60F/60F.

Example E3.6

Calculate the molecular weight for the cutwith NBP of 216.4


_

Cand K11.94.
Solution:
This cut has a NBP of 216.4
_

C or 489.55 K and a specific gravity of 0.8029


from equation (3.5) knowing that K 11.94. Using equation (3.11), the
molecular weight is calculated to be 170.8.

3.4.2. Viscosity

The following equations can be used to calculate the liquid viscosities of


petroleum fractions at atmospheric pressure and at temperatures of 37.8
_

C
(100
_

F) and 98.9
_

C (210
_

F) (Pedersen et al., 1989):

where n100 and n210 are the kinematic viscosities at 100 and 210
_

F, in
centistokes.

3.4.3. Refractive Index


The refractive index is a readily measured property that can be used as an
input parameter for other correlations. It is defined as the speed of light in
vacuum with respect to the speed of light in the medium. Since refractive
indices of petroleum fractions are not always known, it is important to
predict the refractive index. The following equation may be used:

Values of I may be calculated from:

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