Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
University of Alberta
$140,000.00
Study of corrosion/erosion and fouling mechanisms in syngas cooler by syngas from asphaltene gasification
FY 2013-14
Summary
Alberta has 3rd largest oil sands deposit in the world next to Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. The production from oil sands has been planned to expand from 1.6 to 3.6 million barrels/d within 10 years in 2020 (1). Such an expansion in the production of oil sands requires a proportional increase in the hydrogen production for upgrading of bitumen from oil sands. Hydrogen is usually produced from steam reforming of natural gas. An alternative to obtain hydrogen is from gasification of coal pet-coke or asphaltenes. The Long Lake facility, operated by NEXEN, is the first large-scale integration of oil sands Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage and Upgrader with gasification. Asphaltene from the upgrader, of not much value as such, is used as the feedstock for gasification. The asphaltenes have an ash content below 0.5%, with significant proportions of vanadium and nickel compounds along with some fine quartz and clays. The syngas passes through a syngas cooler for the transfer of sensible heat to boiler feed water to produce steam. Some very fine soot and ash particles escape with syngas from the gasifier and cause erosion and corrosion in syngas cooler. The syngas cooler tubes at Nexen's Long Lake plant experience the typical corrosion and fouling, accompanied with excessive erosion. This necessitates major maintenance, repairs and overhauls that reduce the on stream time of the gasifiers. This CRD project with NEXEN will investigate into the formation of these fine particles during gasification of asphaltene and their impact on ash deposition causing erosion/corrosion in the syngas cooler tubes. Advanced characterizations techniques and test facilities available at the University of Alberta and other specialized laboratories across the country and state-of-the art software will be employed in understanding and resolving the issue. The knowledge produced in this project will benefit the expanding oil sands upgrading projects and beyond that.1. Alberta Government, A Responsible Actions: A plan for Alberta's Oilsands, Progress Report 2011
Program
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Recipient
Location
Alberta, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
452638-2013
Name nom
Gupta, Rajender
Department département
Chemical and Materials Engineering
Organization id
9
Institution établissement
University of Alberta
Province en
Alberta
Province fr
Alberta
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2013
Competition year année de concours
2013
Award amount
140000
Program id
CRDPJ
Program name en
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
300
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Energy resources (including production, exploration, processing, distribution and use)
Area of application fr
Ressources d'énergie (production, exploration, traitement, distribution et utilisation de l'énergie)
Research subject code
1807
Research subject group en
Chemical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie chimique
Research subject en
Combustion
Research subject fr
Combustion
Partie
1
Nb partie
2
Application title
Study of corrosion/erosion and fouling mechanisms in syngas cooler by syngas from asphaltene gasification
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Alberta has 3rd largest oil sands deposit in the world next to Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. The production from oil sands has been planned to expand from 1.6 to 3.6 million barrels/d within 10 years in 2020 (1). Such an expansion in the production of oil sands requires a proportional increase in the hydrogen production for upgrading of bitumen from oil sands. Hydrogen is usually produced from steam reforming of natural gas. An alternative to obtain hydrogen is from gasification of coal pet-coke or asphaltenes. The Long Lake facility, operated by NEXEN, is the first large-scale integration of oil sands Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage and Upgrader with gasification. Asphaltene from the upgrader, of not much value as such, is used as the feedstock for gasification. The asphaltenes have an ash content below 0.5%, with significant proportions of vanadium and nickel compounds along with some fine quartz and clays. The syngas passes through a syngas cooler for the transfer of sensible heat to boiler feed water to produce steam. Some very fine soot and ash particles escape with syngas from the gasifier and cause erosion and corrosion in syngas cooler. The syngas cooler tubes at Nexen's Long Lake plant experience the typical corrosion and fouling, accompanied with excessive erosion. This necessitates major maintenance, repairs and overhauls that reduce the on stream time of the gasifiers. This CRD project with NEXEN will investigate into the formation of these fine particles during gasification of asphaltene and their impact on ash deposition causing erosion/corrosion in the syngas cooler tubes. Advanced characterizations techniques and test facilities available at the University of Alberta and other specialized laboratories across the country and state-of-the art software will be employed in understanding and resolving the issue. The knowledge produced in this project will benefit the expanding oil sands upgrading projects and beyond that.1. Alberta Government, A Responsible Actions: A plan for Alberta's Oilsands, Progress Report 2011
