Technology for in-situ real time measurements of solids content in settling tailings

在这个项目中，我们将开发一种可浸入流体尾矿库的原位监测系统，以测量流体中不同深度的固液混合物中的固体含量。地下固体含量分析仪结合了光学和安全伽马射线方法，用于在线连续监测油砂过程。该项目由阿尔伯塔大学（U of a）和北阿尔伯塔理工学院（NAIT）的应用研究中心油砂可持续发展中心（COSS）与加拿大油砂创新联盟（COSIA）合作完成。我们将深入研究沉降颗粒的激光散射过程和伽马射线在复杂材料（尾矿）中的传播过程。基于这些知识，我们将设计、建造和测试流体尾矿库的混合光学-伽马射线原位固体含量分析仪系统。该技术可应用于偏远油砂尾矿库，以横向和深度空间分辨率实时测量尾砂沉降。油砂行业可以将该技术纳入其油砂项目的整体设计中，以提供更有效的工艺并改善环境绩效。

In this project we will develop an in-situ monitoring system which can be submerged in a fluid tailing pond to measure the amount of solids in a solid-liquid mixture at various depths of the fluid. The subsurface solids content analyzer combining optical and safe gamma ray methods for in-line continuous monitoring of oil sands processes. The project is a collaborative effort of University of Alberta (U of A) and Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability (COSS), an applied research centre at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), in partnership with Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA). We will thoroughly study the processes in laser light scattering from settling particulates and gamma ray propagation in complex materials (tailings). Based on this knowledge, we will design, build and test hybrid optical-gamma ray in-situ solid content analyzer systems for fluid tailings ponds. The technology can be implemented at remote oil sands tailing ponds to measure settling of tailing in real time with lateral and depth spatial resolutions. This technology can be incorporated by oil sands industry into the overall design of their oil sands projects to deliver a more effective process and improved environmental performance.