Alexandria university

Gas & petrochemical engineering department

Project 1
SSP

Submitted to : Dr : Hassan Farag

Submitted by :
Group members ID
Aya Allah Mahmoud 5632
Mahmoud abdulmohsen 4810
Mostafa mohammed 4238
What is viscosity index?

The viscosity index (VI) is an arbitrary, unitless measure of a fluid’s viscosity

change relative to a temperature change. We can say that the it is the
dimensionless number that shows how the temperature change can
affect viscosity of an oil (engine oil and automatic gear oils, and power-steering
fluids). The higher the VI, the smaller the change in fluid viscosity for a given
change in temperature and vice versa. Thus, a fluid with a low viscosity index will
experience a relatively large swing in viscosity as temperature changes. High-VI
liquids, in contrast, are less affected by temperature changes. Viscosity Index was
measured by a scale of 0 to 100; however, modern science of lubrication has led to
the development of oils with very high VI. The best oils with the highest VI are
stable and do not vary greatly in viscosity over a wide temperature range. In turn,
this means consistent, high performance in the machine.

In industrial equipment where the internal parts are in contact with each other at
high speed, a lot of heat is generated and these parts get hot. If a base oil with a
low viscosity index is used in this situation, the lubricating properties of the base
oil will be lost and it will damage the parts.
In the diagram you see how the viscosity (vertical axis) of two different lubricants
changes in relation to the temperature (horizontal axis). The slope of the lubricant
with a high VI is more horizontal: the viscosity remains more stable across a wider
temperature range.

This means a lubricant with a higher viscosity index is more desirable, because it
provides a more stable lubricating film over a wider temperature range.

Importance of viscosity index

No other figure states more about an oil’s properties and its quality than the
viscosity index (VI). It allows for a better comparison of the viscosity behavior of
different oils based on temperature. The viscosity index is important in order to
ensure the best possible lubrication for machinery, as temperature changes occur
during operation.

• It is the most important property which determines the performance of

lubricating oils under operating conditions.

• Viscosity index used to characterize the viscosity-temperature behaviour of

lubricating oils.

• The lower the Viscosity index, the more the viscosity is affected by changes
in temperature.
 • On machine part moving at slow speeds under high pressures, a heavy oil
should be used as it better resists being squeezed out from between the
rubbing parts light oils can be used for lower pressures and high speeds.

• It is not possible to maintain a liquid oil film between two moving or sliding
surfaces if the viscosity is too low.

Calculate viscosity index.

Generally, there are two standard procedures to calculate the viscosity index:
ASTM D22706 and ISO 29097.

Standard ASTM D2270 Calculates Viscosity Index by Measuring the Kinetic

Viscosity of Liquids at 40°c and 100°C and ASTM D567 Method for Calculating
Viscosity Index from Viscosity at 100ºF and 210ºF.

Normally, all things being equal, highly refined mineral oils with few contaminants
have high VIs and Synthetic oils generally have a higher VI than mineral oils
ASTM D567 Method for Calculation of Viscosity Index from Viscosity at 100ºF and
210ºF.

The viscosity of oil usually decreases as the temperature increases. Viscosity index
means that it measures the change in viscosity with temperature – a high viscosity
index indicates a small viscosity change of a petroleum product with changes in
temperature. This is the method that determines the viscosity index of lubricating
oils. This method is considered obsolete by ASTM and replaced by ASTM D2270.

ASTM D2270 and ISO 2909:

Oil viscosity usually decreases with increasing temperature. If this reduction is

significant, the system may not be sufficiently lubricated over the entire operating
temperature range. The viscosity index describes this change – a high viscosity
index indicates a slight viscosity change with increase in temperature compared to
a low viscosity index.

• The standard covers procedures for calculating the viscosity index of

petroleum products, such as lubricating oils, and related materials by their
kinetic viscosities at 40°C and 100°C.

• The standard does not apply to petroleum products with a kinematic

viscosity less than 2.0 mm2/s at 100 °C. This practice applies to that
petroleum or lubricating products whose kinetic viscosity is between 2mm2/s
and 70 mm2/s at 100°C. Equations are already provided for calculation of
viscosity index for products like petroleum with kinematic viscosity above
70mm2/s at 100 °C.

• Values stated in SI units are considered standard. No other units are there
for measurement in this standard.

• The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. For user
reference, 1 mm2/s = 10-6m 2/s = 1 cSt.

Viscosity Index Calculator

the viscosity index can be calculated using this formula
(𝐿−𝑈)
𝑉𝐼 = 100
(𝐿−𝐻)

@ VI<=100

Where : VI indicates the viscosity index

L : kinematic viscosity of an oil at 40 °C of 0 viscosity index having the same

kinematic viscosity at 100 °C as the oil whose viscosity index needs to be
calculated, mm2 /s

H: kinematic viscosity of an oil at 40 °C of 100 viscosity index having the same

kinematic viscosity at 100 °C(212f) as the oil whose viscosity index needs to be
calculated, mm2 /s.

U: kinematic viscosity at 40 °C (104f) of the lubricant or petroleum product whose

viscosity index needs to be calculated, mm2 /s.

𝑉𝐼 = 100 + ((𝑒𝑥𝑝((𝑙𝑜𝑔𝐻 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑈)\𝑙𝑜ℎ𝑌) − 1)\0.00715

 VI>100

Where Y : kinematic viscosity at 100 °C of the petroleum product whose viscosity

index needs to be calculated, mm2 /s.

Oil / fluid types Viscosity index

Mineral oil 95 – 105

Multi-grade oil 140 – 200

PAO oil 135 – 160

Ester 140 – 190

Vegetable oil 195 – 210

Glycol 200 – 220

Silicone oil 205 – 400

 Solvent dewaxing is used to remove wax from either distillate or residual
base stock at any stage in the refining process . there are several processes
in use for solvent dewaxing , but all have the same general steps ,
which are :

1. Mixing the feedstock with a solvent .

2. Precipitating the wax from the mixture by chilling .
3. Recovering the solvent from wax and dewaxed oil for recycling by
distillation and steam stripping

Usually two solvents are used : toluene , which dissolves the oil and
maintains fluidity at low temperatures , and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) ,
which dissolves little wax at low temperatures and acts as a wax
precipitating agent
Other solvents sometimes used include benzene, methyl isobutyl ketone ,
propane , petroleum naphtha , ethylene dichloride , methylene chloride and
sulfur dioxide .
In addition , there is a catalytic process used as an alternate to solvent
dewaxing .

Solvents used
In this process , organic solvents are used as diluents which , at the temperature of
filtering , dissolve paraffin waxes only to a very slight extent , while they are good
for dissolving the other components of lubricating oils. Rotary filters are mostly
used to separate crystallized paraffin wax

✓ MEK is highly preferred because of its distinct anti-oil solvent

characteristic. All the other solvents have almost similar properties but
MEK or toluene combination is the most commonly used one in refineries.
High solvent as opposed to oil use improves the process of filtration. A high
solvent facilitates faster crystal growth reducing the viscous nature of the
 varied streams. At 100 wt. % MEK, there is a significant wax recovery. High
cooling rates have been reported to form undesirable wax that is hard to
filter since it blocks the filters.

➢ Methyl ethyl ketone dewaxing

➢ The propane dewaxing process
➢ Dewaxing with a mixture of propylene and acetone
➢ Dewaxing with chlorinated hydrocarbons
➢ Dilchill dewaxing process
➢ Filter aids

MEK toluene propane benzene butane

Boiling point(0C) 79.64 110.62 -43.7 31.1 31.1

Freezing(0C) point -86.69 -94.99 -09.8 5.5 -2.17

Molecular weight 72.11 92.14 44.10 78.11 58.92

Vapor pressure(Torre) 74 28.5 0.13 0 o

Propylene- acetone’s de-waxing process

Propylene and acetone is the solvent mixture in this process. This process is
adaptable to de-waxing plants that utilize propane instead of MEK .Crystallization
as a process is complex as it is usually determined by the rate of cooling of
crystals. High and low cooling has an impact of the speed of the crystallization
process and the quality of formed crystals. Propane is widely available as a
byproduct in refineries and therefore its utilization is easier.

This process leads to production of elements with low pour points, low
refrigeration loads and reduced filter usages. Industrial technological research
should focus on creation of catalysts that enhance the de-waxing of propylene and
acetone instead of overreliance on products like propane. This fact would ensure
that the performance of the solvent raw materials in this process is enhanced.

MEK de-waxing method

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is an anti-oil solvent and thus dissolves little wax at
low temperatures. It is a wax precipitating agent. Toluene is an oil solvent that
dissolves the oil. At low temperatures, it maintains fluidity.

A combination of major solvents is used in solvent de-waxing. MEK has become

the most commonly used anti solvent in modern times but over reliance on it could
lead to possible depletion of raw materials used in making it and consequent
production of counterfeit products in the market. Industrial experts have advised
that more research should be done to create new anti-oil solvents to complement
the use of MEK.

Nature of MEK de-waxing

MEK has a poor solvent power and selectivity of paraffinic elements. It

precipitates the wax leaving the de-waxed base oil. Studies have shown that the
combination of toluene and MEK solvents in de-waxing processes causes an
optimum wax precipitation of 40-75 v %. With increased MEK, the oil’s viscosity
index increases but the solid point is maintained
 Dewaxing process

The solvents used in this process are MEK and toluene which are mixed with the
wax or oil stream feed. The feedstock is usually of high temperature; about
95°Farenheit therefore, the solvent added should have corresponding temperature.
The solvent of the same temperature is again added.

This fact prevents shock treatment. The mixture is then filtered through the rotary
filters which separate the stream into de-waxed oil or wax solvent stream.

Equipment
Surface pressure exchanger

The heat exchanger is used for crystallization of the wax. The process involves the
use of the mid of the heat exchanger, the heated stream flows inside as the coolant
flows on the outside. Wax crystals form slowly as the stream cools.
The fact shows that there is usually poor heat conduction between the waxy feed
and the coolant due to the formation of wax crystals. The surface heat exchanger
contains scraper blades which are usually inconstant rotation .Their rotation
removes clogged wax inside the pipe. This fact allows formation of more wax
crystals.

Vacuum rotary filter

Vacuum rotary filters are drums with a vacuum inside them covered by cloth. This
fact prevents entry of the wax into the drum as the oil seeps in. This process
removes any oil that might have been left in the wax. As the drum rotates, the
scrapers remove the wax. It is deposited into a collection basin where it is re-
slurred and re-melted with more solvent. It is used in separation of aromatic
impurities and naphthalene by precipitation or dissolving of the components.

Filters’ process operation

In its operation; liquid is sent to tube units set below a drum. The drum cycles
through the liquid and the vacuum pulls the solids away from the liquid into the
drum pre-coat system. The liquid sucked through the filter causes the solid to stick
to the outer surface of the drum.
Maintenance and protection of the system

Maintenance and protection of the system has to involve the maintenance of the
various filters. The oil or the coolant filters has to be changed after every 500
hours so that they can clean away the contaminants. The oil separator has to be
changed with change in oil for it to separate oil from air effectively. The drive belt
has to be changed after 800 hours for effective performance.

Other equipments used in this process include chillers with heat exchangers which
gradually lower the temperature of the mixed stream of solvent and wax or oil to
allow crystallization to take place. The others are the de-waxed oil and slack wax
evaporators.

Features of the vacuum rotary filters

Their features include drum, valve, drum deck, filter cloth, internal piping, agitator
and the tank. These features are small in size and structure to facilitate faster
operation. They are powerful and suffer low labor intensity making them easy to
operate. The drum is supported by the trunnion which is set at the end of valve. It
helps in formation of the vacuum cell at the bearing end. The valves are used to
regulate the cycle sequence.

Each portion is exposed to the vacuum, the dead zone and the blow. The valve
contains adjustments blocks and fixed forms which creates the drying ratio in the
filtration process. The internal piping can be single or double row piping to
facilitate the channeling of the filtrates, steam and waste.

The drum deck is separated into compartments waved to the vacuum or the
rotating drum. The filter cloth acts as the cake tied to the drum face and it’s made
from propylene or polyester. The agitator suspends the sludge material as the tank
houses the drum and the agitator.

Vacuum and rotary filters’ process variables

The process variables in rotary filtration involve temperature, pressure, solid

content and particle size and distribution (Parkas, 2003). The variables define the
present status of the process. The temperature is usually maintained high with
operational temperatures going as high as 2000C. High temperatures are required
for distillation, evaporation and thermal breakdown.

Pressure is crucial and is maintained at 6 bars with the pressure filters taking
different timing like 10 minutes for cake application and 8 hours for polishing. The
solid contents take about 50% or more of the weight with the particle distribution
being 1 to 2 microtones.

Chillers

These equipments are heat exchangers which gradually lower the temperature of
the mixed stream of solvent and wax or oil to allow crystallization to take place
(Lum, 2011). They are specially designed to scrap out the wax deposits in the heat
exchanger surface so as to have efficient heat transfer. Chilling involves direct heat
transfer.
Evaporators

The evaporator is used in recovery of the solvent from the de-waxed oil and wax.
Components include the motor which rotates the evaporating flask, vapor duct that
channels the sample, vacuum system that reduces pressure, water bath for heating
the sample and the condenser that acts as a coolant.

Solvent recovery system

The solvent recovery system supplies parts and services for recycling equipment,
wastewater treatment and washing of parts. The process reduces the cost of
disposing solvents and waste water charges. The solvent recovery system involves
the following process as shown in the diagram.

A new development in lubricants’ de-waxing processes

The industry is facing a lot of development with respect to technological

advancement. Nowadays, there is greater use of the skill in solvent extraction.
Industries are producing edible vegetable oil from oil seeds and protein units that
are nutritious and economically viable. Capital investment is prioritized.
The industry is making efforts in investment and money making through
incorporation of various ideas in respect to this industry. The food industry also
applies the PEG-NaCl system to fragment small molecules like nucleic acids and
peptides. Information on DNA purification is important in generating
biotechnological purified genetically material.