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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

The new generation of Orimulsion{reg{underscore}sign}: Enhancing the fuel

Conference ·
OSTI ID:20013475
After 10 years of commercial experience and proven efficacy, Orimulsion {reg{underscore}sign} has been enhanced to improve its performance as a power plant fuel. The new generation of Orimulsion{reg{underscore}sign} is called Orimulsion{reg{underscore}sign} 400, and its constituents remain 70% bitumen (extracted from the Orinoco belt in Venezuela) and 30% water with a stabilizer agent or surfactant. The main changes in this new generation of fuels are a new surfactant package (NSP) and the exclusion of magnesium nitrate from the formulation. The NSP was specially designed to meet new regulations regarding tense-active compounds established by the European Economic Community (EEC) for the next millennium. The fuel reengineering process was focused on power producers' needs, taking into consideration the new, higher standards required to compete in a deregulated market. Orimulsion{reg{underscore}sign} 400 has undergone extensive tests in different pilot-scale facilities. The tests have included handling, combustion, and performance characteristics. Results obtained in these tests show that the new formulation has improved handling and combustion characteristics compared to the original formulation. As summary, combustion results show: better heat transfer capacity in all boiler zones, less ash produced, less nitrogen oxides (NO{sub x}) generated, and improved atomization properties. Two commercial trials have been performed to test the new formulation. These tests were carried out during 1998 at power plants currently using Orimulsion{reg{underscore}sign}.
Research Organization:
PDVSA-BITOR, Caracas (VE)
OSTI ID:
20013475
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English