ANALYSIS OF THE STATE OF INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS IN THE FIELD OF ULTRASONIC CAVITATION’S IMPACT ON HEAVY OIL PRODUCTS

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the analysis of innovative solutions in the field of heavy oil product processing using ultrasonic cavitation. The paper emphasizes the advantages of cavitation hydrotreatment compared to other oil processing technologies. The increasing number of studies and publications indicates the relevance of this issue in the international scientific community. Examples of successful use of cavitation to reduce the sulfur content of crude oil and its transformation into lighter products with lower molecular weight are provided. Special attention is given to domestic developments, including the ultrasonic cracking unit for hydrocarbon compounds, which demonstrates competitive advantages. The aim of the article is to assess the state of development of cavitation hydrotreatment technologies on both global and Ukrainian levels through the analysis of patent data. It is shown that in Ukraine, the issue of heavy oil product processing remains open, although there are promising studies. For the analysis, patent databases such as the Ukrainian National Office of Intellectual Property and Innovation, PATENTSCOPE, and Espacenet were used. According to the search, the largest number of patents in this field is registered in China, the USA, and Canada. The analysis showed a growing number of patents and developments focused on the application of cavitation in the processing of heavy oil products. Cavitation hydrotreatment technologies have developed since the 1970s, and significant progress has been made in recent decades. This indicates the potential of this direction in the oil refining industry, where China and the USA play leading roles. The article provides a detailed picture of the development of technologies related to ultrasonic cavitation’s impact on heavy hydrocarbons based on patent sources, confirming the increasing popularity of this topic in the global scientific community.