Abstract: There is provided a method for determining Total Acid Number (TAN) in a fluid fossil fuel, such as a crude oil, comprising: separating said fluid fossil fuel by liquid chromatography into a plurality of fractions, comprising at least one acidic fraction; determining boiling point distribution of said crude oil, of said acidic fraction, and of said polyacidic fraction by simulated distillation (SD); and correlating said boiling point distributions to acid molecular weights to determine the TAN.

Abstract: The present application provides a method for measuring coking propensity of a fossil fuel, comprising mixing an iron powder with a fossil fuel, wherein the iron powder has an average particle size of less than or equal to 100 ?m; reacting the iron powder with the fossil fuel at a temperature and a pressure sufficient to allow coking for a period of time; separating a supernatant and a solid product after said coking; and analyzing the solid product for carbon content, wherein the carbon content is proportional to the coking propensity. There is also provided is a method for measuring effectiveness of a coking inhibitor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relate to measuring corrosion rate. Flowing corrosive fluid contacts a metal coupon or object and results in an effluent stream. The effluent stream contains metal from the object due to reaction of constituents in the fluid with the metal. Analysis of the effluent stream measures concentration of the metal therein. Since the concentration of the metal in the effluent stream is indicative of mass loss from the object, calculations provide the corrosion rate utilizing weight of the metal that is eluted, surface area of the object and exposure time of the object with the corrosive fluid.

Abstract: There is provided a method for determining Total Acid Number (TAN) in a fluid fossil fuel, such as a crude oil, comprising: separating said fluid fossil fuel by liquid chromatography into a plurality of fractions, comprising at least one acidic fraction; determining boiling point distribution of said crude oil, of said acidic fraction, and of said polyacidic fraction by simulated distillation (SD); and correlating said boiling point distributions to acid molecular weights to determine the TAN.

Abstract: The present application provides a method for measuring coking propensity of a fossil fuel, comprising mixing an iron powder with a fossil fuel, wherein the iron powder has an average particle size of less than or equal to 100 ?m; reacting the iron powder with the fossil fuel at a temperature and a pressure sufficient to allow coking for a period of time; separating a supernatant and a solid product after said coking; and analyzing the solid product for carbon content, wherein the carbon content is proportional to the coking propensity. There is also provided is a method for measuring effectiveness of a coking inhibitor.

Abstract: A non-metallic coupon holder assembly comprising a non-metallic support structure and a plurality of coupon holders. The pluralities of coupon holders are disposed throughout the non-metallic support structure wherein the pluralities of coupon holders are designed to secure a metal coupon on at least two edges.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relate to measuring corrosion rate. Corrosive fluid contacts a metal powder altering physical properties of the metal powder due to resulting corrosion thereof. For example, the corrosion diminishes mass of the metal powder reducing particle size and particle surface area of the metal powder. Since these physical properties of the metal powder are indicative of the corrosion rate, analysis of the metal powder provides the corrosion rate based on difference in the property of the metal powder before and after the contact with the corrosive fluid.

Abstract: Methods and systems relate to temperature control of autoclave reactor based reactions. The systems include an autoclave reactor vessel and a heater disposed external to the vessel with the heater and the vessel movable relative to one another using an actuator device. Operating the actuator device displaces the heater further from the vessel when desired to cool the reactor vessel, such as when quenching the reactions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relate to measuring corrosion rate. Flowing corrosive fluid contacts a metal coupon or object and results in an effluent stream. The effluent stream contains metal from the object due to reaction of constituents in the fluid with the metal. Analysis of the effluent stream measures concentration of the metal therein. Since the concentration of the metal in the effluent stream is indicative of mass loss from the object, calculations provide the corrosion rate utilizing weight of the metal that is eluted, surface area of the object and exposure time of the object with the corrosive fluid.