Low-temperature radiation cracking of heavy oil under continuous and pulse electron irradiation

• Reaction parameters are analyzed for pulse and continuous electron irradiation.
• Continuous irradiation is better if the dose rate exceeds the critical value.
• Chain length of a cracking reaction is close to unit near the critical dose rate.
• Pulse irradiation is more reliable in the case of extra-heavy oil irradiation.

The dependence of the chain reaction parameters on the conditions of pulse and continuous electron irradiation is analyzed for the case of low-temperature radiation cracking of heavy oils. The specificity of kinetics and yields of light products after radiation cracking are considered in the cases of continuous and pulse irradiation. Theoretical calculations are compared with experimental data on electron irradiation of heavy oil in different conditions.