Mathematical modeling of electron irradiation of oil

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to propose a mathematical model and numerical modeling to study the behavior of low conductive incompressible multicomponent hydrocarbon mixture in a channel under the influence of electron irradiation. In addition, it also aims to present additional mechanisms to study the radiation transfer and the separation of the mixture’s components. Design/methodology/approach The three-dimensional non-stationary Navier–Stokes equation is the basis for this model. The Adams–Bashforth scheme is used to solve the convective terms of the equation of motion using a fourth-order accuracy five-point elimination method, and the viscous terms are computed with the Crank–Nicolson method. The Poisson equation is solved with the matrix sweep method and the concentration and electron irradiation equations are solved with the Crank–Nicolson method too. Findings It shows high computational efficiency and good estimation quality. On the basis of numerical results of mathematical model, the effect of the separation of mixture to fractions with various physical characteristics was obtained. The obtained results contribute to the improvement of technologies for obtaining high-quality oil products through oil separation into light and heavy fractions. Mathematical model is approbated based on test problem, and has good agreement with the experimental data. Originality/value The constructed mathematical model makes developing a methodology for conducting experimental studies of this phenomenon possible.