Abstract Asphaltenes are the heaviest and most polar constituents of crude oils. The influences of asphaltene on wax deposition were investigated with model oils utilizing a Taylor-Couette device. The composition and rheological properties of the deposits and the chemical properties of the asphaltenes entrained in the deposits were analyzed. Three main observations were obtained: (a) Wax deposition rate decreases in the presence of asphaltenes while the wax content of the deposit increases. The carbon number distribution of the deposit and the critical carbon number of the deposition process were also observed to vary due to the presence of asphaltenes. (b) The asphaltene content of the deposit constantly increases as time elapses and eventually reaches several times higher than that of the original oil. The asphaltenes entrained in the deposits are of higher polarity and molecular weight than the asphaltenes originally present in the oil. (c) When the asphaltene content of the oil is above 0.2 wt%, deposits slough off frequently as asphaltenes alter the microstructure of the deposit and lower its yield strength.

中文翻译：

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沥青质对蜡沉积的影响：沉积抑制和脱落

摘要 沥青质是原油中最重、极性最大的成分。使用 Taylor-Couette 装置用模型油研究沥青质对蜡沉积的影响。分析了沉积物的组成和流变特性以及沉积物中夹带的沥青质的化学特性。获得了三个主要观察结果： (a) 在沥青质存在的情况下，蜡沉积速率降低，而沉积物的蜡含量增加。还观察到沉积物的碳数分布和沉积过程的临界碳数由于沥青质的存在而变化。(b) 沉积物的沥青质含量随着时间的推移不断增加，最终达到原油的数倍。沉积物中夹带的沥青质比油中最初存在的沥青质具有更高的极性和分子量。(c) 当油的沥青质含量高于 0.2 wt% 时，由于沥青质改变沉积物的微观结构并降低其屈服强度，沉积物经常脱落。