Russian scientists are currently developing several technologies for the oil, gas, and energy industries. These include producing fuel from sludge deposits and other waste, a digital model for calculating heating of oil equipment in the Arctic, new methods for extracting liquid fuel components from plant biomass, and solutions to improve the efficiency of burning alternative fuels. More details on these innovations that could enhance the extraction and processing of energy resources are available in the Izvestia article.
New Fuel to Be Derived from Sludge
Researchers at Tomsk Polytechnic University are developing technologies for manufacturing fuel pellets and briquettes from various types of waste. As raw materials, the scientists are using, for instance, sewage sludge, oil refining waste, cardboard, and other substances. Simultaneously, specialists are creating an intelligent system to speed up the selection of the optimal composition for this new fuel.
“The intelligent system we have developed will enable the transition of recipe selection from an empirical to a computational-experimental approach. This ensures a scientifically justified choice of composition, minimizes costs, and accelerates the creation of new composite fuels,” said Galina Nyashina, project leader, Russian Science Foundation grant recipient, and associate professor at the TPU Research School of High-Energy Physics.
According to the researchers, using such fuels will cut harmful emissions and bring into processing waste that is currently sent to landfills. Additionally, the technology could serve as a foundation for establishing new production facilities in various regions.
Digital Twin of Oil Equipment to Be Created for the Arctic
Scientists at Perm National Research Polytechnic University have developed a mathematical model that will help accurately calculate the power of heating systems for oil and gas equipment operating in the Far North. The model accounts for weather conditions and operational specifics, thereby preventing both equipment freezing and overheating.
“The end users are oil-producing companies, but the calculation model itself is intended for design institutes and manufacturing plants. It allows for precise selection of heating system characteristics tailored to specific operating conditions,” explained Nikita Kostarev, associate professor of the Department of Design and Technology in Electrical Engineering at PNRPU and candidate of technical sciences.
This development is being carried out at the request of the oil and gas equipment manufacturer NPO PermNeftGaz. According to the scientists, the solution will reduce energy consumption for equipment heating, lower the risk of emergency production shutdowns, and extend the service life of machinery operating in the Arctic.
Biomass to Be Converted into Liquid Fuel Components
At Tver State Technical University, new catalysts are being created to process plant resources into substances for producing liquid fuels and polymers. These materials could partly replace petrochemical feedstocks and make biomass processing more efficient.
“During the project’s implementation, we have developed bifunctional catalysts that combine acid-base and metal active centers. These enable the processing of plant polysaccharides into compounds that serve as precursors for a wide range of hydrocarbons—components of liquid fuels,” said Valentina Matveeva, project leader, professor in the Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Standardization at the Chemical Technology Faculty, and Russian Science Foundation grant recipient.
According to the scientists, the new catalysts will allow multiple chemical processes to be conducted in a single unit. This will reduce the number of production stages, lower costs, and increase the yield of useful products.
Alternative Fuel to Be Made More Efficient
Researchers at Tomsk Polytechnic University are also developing a technology to enhance the combustion efficiency of alternative fuels. They are studying how droplets of such mixtures behave at high temperatures to achieve more complete and effective burning in the combustion chamber.
“The project aims to improve the combustion efficiency of non-design liquid fuels. We are identifying the conditions under which fuel droplets break up most effectively, so that these results can later be applied to create various alternative fuel mixtures,” said Dmitry Glushkov, doctor of technical sciences, professor, director of the TPU Research School of High-Energy Physics, and Russian Science Foundation grant recipient.
Currently, the scientists have selected several formulations of water-fuel emulsions that retain their properties even at subzero temperatures. The next step will involve testing on pilot energy installations, where specialists will assess how well the new mixtures can enhance the performance of engines and energy equipment.
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