Europe's only CaviFlow® Cavitation Pilot Plant
RAPTECH R&D Service
Preparation of Heavy and Alternative Fuels
Homogenization and Blending of Complex Hydrocarbon Systems
RAPTECH offers commercial pilot plant services for the processing, upgrading, homogenization, and blending of complex hydrocarbon systems. Our CaviFlow® Cavitation Pilot Plant - unique in Europe - is designed to validate process concepts under controlled industrial conditions and to generate reliable performance data for scale-up and commercial deployment.
At the core of the system is the CaviFlow® Cavitation Technology, enabling controlled physical and physicochemical modification of heavy hydrocarbon streams.
The facility bridges laboratory validation and industrial deployment, providing reproducible performance data under realistic operating conditions.
At the core of the system is the CaviFlow® Cavitation Technology, enabling controlled physical and physicochemical modification of heavy hydrocarbon streams.
The facility bridges laboratory validation and industrial deployment, providing reproducible performance data under realistic operating conditions.
Pilot Plant Services
RAPTECHs - in Europe unique - CaviFlow® Cavitation Pilot Plant serves as a bridge between laboratory research and industrial deployment, enabling objective validation of performance, stability, and economic potential. It enables:
The result: technically validated, commercially relevant solutions for heavy and alternative fuels treatment and advanced fuel blending.
- Feasibility validation
- Process optimization
- Risk reduction before full-scale investment
- Transparent, documented performance verification
The result: technically validated, commercially relevant solutions for heavy and alternative fuels treatment and advanced fuel blending.
Industrial Applications Cavitation Technology
Testing and process services
We provide controlled pilot-scale testing for:
Testing can be supported by independent third-party laboratories upon request.
- Homogenization of complex liquids
- Emulsification and dispersion stabilization
- Upgrading of heavy hydrocarbon fractions
- Blending of heavy and crude fuels with renewable or alternative components
- Process parameter optimization
- Complete log files
- Graphical performance analyses
- Laboratory-verified physical and chemical characterization
Testing can be supported by independent third-party laboratories upon request.
Industrial Applications
Our pilot plant services are relevant for:
- Energy generation - optimization of fuels for power plants
- Marine sector - conventional, alternative, and biogenic marine fuels
- Refining and fuel upgrading
- Research & development in hydrocarbon processing
CaviFlow® Pilot Plant
Technical capacities
RAPTECHs CaviFlow® Cavitation Pilot Plant is designed for the treatment of crude and heavy fuel oils, alternative and renewable components, and additives, including:
Base fluids
Additives and blend components
Base fluids
- Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO)
- Fuel Oil (FO)
- Crude oil
Additives and blend components
- Alcohols
- Biofuels (e.g., FAME)
- Pyrolysis oils and pyrolysis chemicals
- Water
- Glycerin
- Light hydrocarbons (diesel, gasoline, kerosene)
- Performance additives
Operating Envelope
Process configurations can be simulated and optimized using one or two CaviFlow modules, enabling tailored treatment intensity and process design according to customer-specific objectives.
- Pressure: 0-16 bar
- Temperature: 30-80 °C
- Flow rate: 1-25 m³/h
- Adjustable additive fraction: 0-40%
Process configurations can be simulated and optimized using one or two CaviFlow modules, enabling tailored treatment intensity and process design according to customer-specific objectives.
Validate your Hydrocarbon Processes with RAPTECH
From idea to industrial application - contact our team for a pilot test on Europe's only CaviFlow® cavitation pilot plant.
CaviFlow®
Modules
Modules
Demonstrated Process Effects
Upgrading of Heavy Fuel Oils
Treatment with the CaviFlow® module promotes:
Treatment of FO and HFO has demonstrated measurable improvements in key fuel properties according to ASTM standards:
These improvements enhance pumpability, atomization behavior, combustion efficiency, and overall fuel handling performance.
- Asphaltene disaggregation
- Mild molecular cracking
- Viscosity reduction
- Shift toward lighter fractions
- Sludge and sediment minimization
Treatment of FO and HFO has demonstrated measurable improvements in key fuel properties according to ASTM standards:
- Density reduction: ~2%
- inematic viscosity reduction: 60-75%
- Pour point reduction: 13-18 °C
- Flash point reduction: 49-55%
- Sulfur reduction: 30-50%
These improvements enhance pumpability, atomization behavior, combustion efficiency, and overall fuel handling performance.
In blending applications, CaviFlow® generates intense micro-turbulence and shear forces, promoting fine and stable dispersion between heavy oils and low-viscosity components such as biodiesel (FAME) or pyrolysis oils.
Compared with conventional mechanical blending, cavitation-assisted blending has demonstrated:
Independent analyses performed by Bureau Veritas confirmed enhanced blend stability and improved key fuel parameters, as shown in the following table:
Compared with conventional mechanical blending, cavitation-assisted blending has demonstrated:
- Improved homogeneity
- Reduced sediment formation
- Lower total sediment potential
- Improved Mean Stability Index (MSI)
- Reduced cat fines (Al+Si)
- Improved viscosity behavior
Independent analyses performed by Bureau Veritas confirmed enhanced blend stability and improved key fuel parameters, as shown in the following table:
Comparison of HFO 380 blended with 20% biodiesel (FAME) using conventional hand blending (HD) and cavitation-assisted blending (CF).
| Parameter | Unit | Blending (HD) | Blending (CF) | Improvement (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Density at 50 °C | kg/m³ | 948.7 | 945.5 | 0.3 |
| °API @ 60 °F (1) | - | 13.83 | 14,32 | 3.5 |
| Kinematic Viscosity at 50 °C | cSt | 109.2 | 94.72 | 13 |
| Sulfur Content | % (m/m) | 1.35 | 1.33 | 1.5 |
| Ash Content | % (m/m) | 0.024 | 0.023 | 4 |
| Pour Point | °C | - 15 | - 15 | 0 |
| Flash Point | °C | 129.5 | 103.5 | - 20 (2) |
| Total Sediment Potential | % (m/m) | 0.04 | 0.03 | 25 |
| Total Sediment Existent | % (m/m) | 0.03 | 0.02 | 33 |
| Mean Stability Index (MSI) | - | 0.24 | 0.19 | 26 |
| Cat Fines (Al&Si) | mg/kg | 9 | 6 | 50 |
(1) Heavy oils with °API < 22.3 are typically classified as “heavy fuel oil.”
(2) Although the flash point decreased, both blends remain well above ISO 8217 minimum limits for residual marine fuels, ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
(2) Although the flash point decreased, both blends remain well above ISO 8217 minimum limits for residual marine fuels, ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
Use the CaviFlow® Cavitation Pilot System, which is unique in Europe
Testing and scaling. Validate your process concept under real industrial conditions.
Technical Evaluation
Data Transparency and Documentation
All pilot tests are conducted under controlled and documented conditions. Customers receive:
This ensures reproducibility, traceability, and decision-grade technical documentation for internal evaluation, regulatory processes, or investment decisions.
- Complete operational datasets
- Comparative before/after analysis
- Laboratory test reports (ASTM-based methods)
- Optional third-party verification
This ensures reproducibility, traceability, and decision-grade technical documentation for internal evaluation, regulatory processes, or investment decisions.
- Simply send us a short message. We look forward to your requirements.
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Pilot plant R&D service
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