Mixing and liquid-vapor equilibrium of dilbit-water-sand/clay slurries in the syncrude naphtha recovery unit

本研究的目的是开发一个新的热力学模型，用于模拟Dilbit-水-砂/粘土浆液中的饱和蒸汽压，其比例与NRU(石脑油回收单元)有关，并使用实际的合成NRU原料样品。实验将使用Recat LV单元进行开发，该单元已由De Lasa教授的团队在CREC(化学反应堆工程中心)-UWO(西安大略大学)实验室进行测试和实施。Recat LV单元允许量化蒸气压力，以及识别适当的混合浆料条件。在这方面，在NSERC CRD和Syncrate Canada的联合赞助下拟议的新研究将涉及进一步增强RecatLV细胞。获得专利的CREC OptiProbe将用于气相采样以及液滴和颗粒大小的在线测量。预计这一策略的使用将为确定高度分散的Dilbit-Water-Sand/Clone泥浆相和NRU原料的最佳混合条件和功率输入提供关键数据。此外，还将为该试验室建立计算流体动力学(CFD)模型。建议的CFD模型将使用RecatLV单元的数据进行验证。该模型还将使用相关的流体动力学参数进行CFD模拟，如粘度、表面张力和砂粒团聚尺寸。该CFD模型将描述Recat LV单元内的混合模式以及实现液-汽相平衡所需的最佳条件。这些确定的混合条件以及液-汽热力学将为辛克鲁德提供有价值的工程信息，以有效处理其泡沫处理尾矿，并微调其操作，形成溶剂损失。

The goal of the present study is to develop a new thermodynamic model for the simulation of the saturationvapour pressure in Dilbit-water-sand/clay slurries, in proportions relevant to the NRU (Naphtha Recovery Unit)and using actual Syncrude NRU Feed samples. Experiments will be developed using a Recat LV Cell, whichhas been tested and implemented by Prof. de Lasa's team at the CREC(Chemical Reactor Engineering Centre)-UWO (University of Western Ontario) laboratories. The Recat LV Cell allows the quantification of the vapourpressure, as well as the identification of adequate mixing slurry conditions. In this respect, the proposed newresearch under combined NSERC CRD and Syncrude Canada sponsorship will involve enhancing the RecatLV Cell further. The patented CREC Optiprobes will be used for gas phase sampling as well as onlinemeasurement of droplets and particle sizes. It is anticipated that the use of this strategy will provide criticaldata for the identification of best mixing conditions and power input, for highly dispersedDilbit-water-sand/clay slurry phases and NRU feeds. Furthermore, a Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD)model will be developed for this test cell. The proposed CFD model will be validated using data from the RecatLV Cell. This model will also use relevant fluid dynamic parameters for CFD simulation such as viscosity,surface tension and sand agglomerate sizes. This CFD model will provide a description of mixing patterns inthe Recat LV Cell and the best conditions required for achieving liquid-vapour equilibrium. These identifiedmixing conditions, as well of liquid-vapour thermodynamics will provide Syncrude valuable engineeringinformation for the efficient processing of their Froth Treatment tailings and fine tune their operation forminimizing solvent loss.