Impact of Fluids Distribution and Separation Systems on the Fluid Dynamics of a Resid Hydroprocessor

LC-FinerSM是一种重油加氢处理器，由加拿大Syncrude有限公司使用，通过催化加氢将加拿大沥青升级为合成原油。LC-FinerSM的几何形状，特别是入口（气液分配器）和出口（液体循环盘），会影响反应器的性能。流体的均匀空间分布对于适当的加氢和限制焦炭的形成是必要的，焦炭通过沉降在反应器底部并不利地影响流体分布而可能自蔓延。流体分配系统也影响气泡的形成，这反过来又影响床流体动力学和运输现象。此外，由于气泡不容易在床层中聚结，因此原始气泡尺寸分布可能影响再循环盘中的相分离，并且夹带在再循环液体中的气体增加了通过分配系统的气体流量，从而以液体滞留和最终产品收率为代价导致更大的床层气体滞留。此外，更高的产率导致更好的工艺能量效率，从而减少对环境的影响（例如，温室气体排放）。经济回报和环境影响的优化是加拿大油砂工业成功发展的核心，这将导致原油供应从2015年的400万桶/天增长到2030年的550万桶/天。该研究项目将包括多相计算流体动力学和实验活动，利用现有的独特设备和专用仪器。将提出通过改变反应器内部几何形状和操作条件来提高反应器性能，从而增加持液量和运行时间。研究生和本科生将参与中试规模的高压设备操作，数学建模和与工业合作伙伴的沟通/互动，以获得完整和全面的培训。

The LC-FinerSM, a heavy oil hydroprocessor, is used by Syncrude Canada Ltd to upgrade Canadian bitumen tosynthetic crude oil via catalytic hydrogenation. The LC-FinerSM geometry, in particular the entrance(gas-liquid distributor) and exit (liquid recycle pan), affects the reactor performance. An even spatialdistribution of the fluids is essential for proper hydrogenation and to limit the formation of coke which, bysettling at bottom of the reactor and detrimentally affecting the fluids distribution, can becomeself-propagating. The fluids distribution system also influences bubble formation, which in turn affects bedhydrodynamics and transport phenomena. Moreover, since bubbles do not readily coalesce in the bed, theoriginal bubble size distribution likely impacts phase separation in the recycle pan, and gas entrained with therecycled liquid increases the gas flow through the distribution system resulting in greater bed gas holdups at theexpense of the liquid holdup and ultimately product yield. Moreover, greater yields lead to better processenergy efficiencies and thus reduced impact on the environment (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions).Optimization of economic return and environmental impact are central to the successful development of theCanadian oil sands industry, which will lead the growth in crude oil supply from 4.0 million barrels/day in2015 to an estimated 5.5 million barrels/day in 2030.This research project will have both multiphase computational fluid dynamics and experimental campaigns,leveraged by existing unique equipment and specialized instrumentation. Enhancements in reactorperformance, via changes in reactor internal geometry and operating conditions that increase the liquid holdupand run time, will be proposed. Graduate and undergraduate students will partake in operation of high pressureequipment at the pilot scale, mathematical modeling and communication/interaction with an industrial partnerfor complete and comprehensive training.