A method for treating an emulsion emanating from a quenching process in production of ethylene that includes online monitoring of zeta potential of the hydrocarbon/water emulsion in a quench water tower and/or a quench water loop. In response to the online monitoring of zeta potential, the method changes the amount of demulsifier being added to the hydrocarbon/water emulsion such that the amount of demulsifier is effective in breaking the emulsion.

A method for treating an emulsion emanating from a quenching process in production of ethylene that includes online monitoring of zeta potential of the hydrocarbon/water emulsion in a quench water tower and/or a quench water loop. In response to the online monitoring of zeta potential, the method changes the amount of demulsifier being added to the hydrocarbon/water emulsion such that the amount of demulsifier is effective in breaking the emulsion.

Method to improve or maintain stability and/or compatibility of a residual hydrocarbon fuel comprising: (a) blending at least 5-95% m/m of a residual hydrocarbon component with at least 5-80% m/m of a fatty acids alkyl esters component or (b) blending at least 5-80% m/m of a fatty acids alkyl esters component with a stable residual fuel composition comprising (i) at least 5-95% m/m of a residual hydrocarbon component and (ii) up to 90% m/m of a non-hydroprocessed hydrocarbon, a hydroprocessed hydrocarbon or any combination thereof; wherein the fatty acids alkyl esters component is blended with the stable residual fuel composition before at least one other fuel composition that decreases the asphaltenes solvency power of the residual fuel composition is added thereto.

Method to improve or maintain stability and/or compatibility of a residual hydrocarbon fuel comprising: (a) blending at least 5-95% m/m of a residual hydrocarbon component with at least 5-80% m/m of a fatty acids alkyl esters component or (b) blending at least 5-80% m/m of a fatty acids alkyl esters component with a stable residual fuel composition comprising (i) at least 5-95% m/m of a residual hydrocarbon component and (ii) up to 90% m/m of a non-hydroprocessed hydrocarbon, a hydroprocessed hydrocarbon or any combination thereof; wherein the fatty acids alkyl esters component is blended with the stable residual fuel composition before at least one other fuel composition that decreases the asphaltenes solvency power of the residual fuel composition is added thereto.

The furnace of a delayed coking unit which is utilized for heating residue feeds to high temperatures can suffer from decrease in run length and fouling caused by caustic carryover from the upstream desalter unit. An antifoulant additive for preventing caustic induced fouling of thermal cracker furnace tubes is disclosed. The described antifoulant additive acts by converting the inorganic caustic compound such as NaOH to naphthenate salt of the metal as well as by reducing the fouling tendency of the whole feedstock, thereby making it ineffective in causing coking reaction. The additive finds application in thermal residue upgradation furnaces such as delayed coking unit, visbreaker, etc.

The furnace of a delayed coking unit which is utilized for heating residue feeds to high temperatures can suffer from decrease in run length and fouling caused by caustic carryover from the upstream desalter unit. An antifoulant additive for preventing caustic induced fouling of thermal cracker furnace tubes is disclosed. The described antifoulant additive acts by converting the inorganic caustic compound such as NaOH to naphthenate salt of the metal as well as by reducing the fouling tendency of the whole feedstock, thereby making it ineffective in causing coking reaction. The additive finds application in thermal residue upgradation furnaces such as delayed coking unit, visbreaker, etc.

The present disclosure is directed to petrochemical processing systems that may include a component including a first surface oriented to contact a process fluid, which may define a plurality of channels. The petrochemical processing systems may further include a plurality of metal spheres disposed at least partially in the plurality of channels. Each one of the plurality of metal spheres may be fixed in place within one of the plurality of channels such that each of the plurality of metal spheres is freely rotatable. Methods for reducing accumulation and formation of solid deposits during petrochemical processing using the petrochemical processing systems are also disclosed.

A process for upgrading a heavy oil includes passing heavy oil and disulfide oil to a thermal cracking system that includes a thermal cracking unit and a cracker effluent separation system downstream of the thermal cracking unit and thermally cracking at least a portion of the heavy oil in the presence of the disulfide oil in the thermal cracking unit to produce solid coke and a cracking effluent comprising reaction products. The reaction products include one or more liquid reaction products, one or more gaseous reaction products, or both. The presence of the disulfide oil in the thermal cracking unit promotes conversion of hydrocarbons from the heavy oil to the liquid reaction products, the gaseous reaction products, or both relative to the production of the solid coke.

Oxidized disulfide oil (ODSO) compounds or ODSO compounds and disulfide oil (DSO) compounds are added to a steam cracker feed. During the thermal cracking, the ODSO or ODSO and DSO components in the steam cracker mixture minimize coke formation on the steam cracker coils.

Methods for use in treating hydrocarbon streams are provided. The methods of the present disclosure include; introducing one or more alcohols into a hydrocarbon stream that includes one or more hydrolyzable chloride compounds; allowing the one or more alcohols to interact with, the one or more hydrolyzable chloride compounds; and increasing: one of a solubility value or a dispersancy value of at least a portion of the hydrolyzable chloride compounds in the hydrocarbon steam.