Many countries are currently focusing on the research and development of drag-reducing agents. The application technology of drag reducer is also becoming more and more perfect. At the same time, huge economic and social benefits have been achieved. In order to make the polyethylene oxide drag reducer better adapt to the actual research and application, IRO will make an outlook on the performance optimization of polyethylene oxide and its future research and development direction.
1. Optimization of polyethylene oxide drag reduction performance
Polyethylene oxide has the advantages of low dosage and high efficiency when used. The larger the relative molecular weight, the longer the molecular chain. It has more obvious changes to the fluid flow structure. In other words, the effect of drag reduction is better. However, the resistance to shear degradation of this drag reducing agent (DRA) decreases with increasing molecular weight. And this degradation is often irreversible. In order to maintain a good effect of reducing resistance and increasing transmission, operators need to supplement it regularly. To overcome this weakness, people can take the following measures to optimize their performance.
(1) The synthesis of polyethylene oxide molecular chain and the shear resistance of the material can greatly improve the shear resistance of polyethylene oxide. The synthesized polymer can achieve good drag reduction effect at low molecular weight. The synthesis method is completely controllable, which makes it possible to obtain various drag reducers with relative molecular mass distribution and solubility. When synthesizing polymers with the same structure, the greater the relative molecular mass of the polymer, the better the drag reduction performance.
The perfect synthesis technology in the future can realize the splicing of polymers with different properties. It has multiple properties to meet the actual application or research. For example, water-soluble, oil-soluble, natural and synthetic polymers can be synthesized on hydrophobic chains or hydrophilic chains. Thus, a polymer drag reducing agent suitable for a specific fluid environment is obtained.
(2) Add the surface-active drag reducer to the polyethylene oxide solution. This can simultaneously improve drag reduction and shear resistance. The composite drag reducing agent can keep the structure stable. To ensure that no mechanical degradation occurs for a longer period of time. Even after partial damage, it can also repair itself to a certain extent. The drag reduction effect will also be restored.
2. Microencapsulation of polyethylene oxide drag reducer
In order to realize the drag reducing agent can be efficiently stored, transported and used safely and effectively. Drag reducing agent microencapsulation is a new research direction. This technique is achieved by encapsulating a high molecular drag reducer in a separator. Then prepared into microcapsule DRA. The separator agent is synthesized from inert substances.
The microcapsule drag reducer requires that the outer shell cannot interact with the internal drag reducing agent. Overcome the influence of specific environment on the performance of drag reducer. The prepared microcapsules can effectively improve the storage stability of the drag reducing agent. This allows the storage time of the drag reducer to be greatly extended.
At the same time, the dispersion effect of microcapsule drag reducing agent is effectively improved compared with ordinary drag reducer. It avoids the mutual adhesion and entanglement of the drag reducing agent polymer particles. Moreover, the drag reduction effect of the DRA after microencapsulation was not affected.
In addition, the polymer drag reducer is prone to mechanical degradation due to premature failure before reaching the point of action. The microcapsule drag reducer can achieve safe and targeted delivery and take effect. This overcomes the shortcomings of premature failure.
The microcapsule drag reducing agent is stored and transported in the form of solid particles, saving the cost of transporting solvents, slurries or other carriers. And no longer need complex processing technology. In the future, better performance optimization and optimization can be performed on the microcapsule drag reducer-coated shell. To further improve the application requirements such as the surface shape of the capsule, thermal stability, pressure resistance, resistance to mechanical oscillation and shear, and drag reduction effect.