A Study of the Dynamic Evolution of Asphaltene Aggregate Size Distribution Using Monte Carlo Simulation

Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is used to determine the dynamic evolution of the asphaltene aggregates size distribution (ASD) in shear-induced organic solvents. This MC method is a time-driven simulation with periodic regulation of the number of particles. Asphaltene molecules are referred to as fractal-like aggregates that undergo simultaneous aggregation and breakage processes in shear-induced organic solvents. The effects of shear rate, initial particle size, and initial asphaltene concentration on the evolution of number average diameter are studied. The simulations are validated through comparison with the experimental data of the asphaltene ASD and numerical results of deterministic solution of population balance. These comparisons revealed that the MC simulation is capable of predicting the dynamic evolution of the ASD with reasonable accuracy.