Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
University of Alberta
$99,000.00
Sweep flocculation in froth treatment and demulsification
FY 2018-19
Summary
This project explores improved methods of processing that would ultimately increase the recovery of oil (bitumen) by removing more of the salty water droplets earlier in the process. These improvements also aim to protect the multi-million dollar process vessels used to upgrade the bitumen into processable crude later in the process.*We are considering the mechanism of sweep flocculation, where the water droplets do not have to coalesce - they simply form a loosely connected agglomerate which captures clays and fine water drops as it settles through the diluted bitumen froth. You might think of this as a moving filter, settling through the diluted bitumen froth.*If this mechanism can be cleanly identified, it would give us a better understanding of the separation process and open the doors to continued process improvement, longer process plant life, and safer operations.*
Program
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Recipient
Location
Alberta, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
485317-2015
Name nom
Kresta, Suzanne
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
2018
Competition year année de concours
2015
Award amount
99000
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
1800
Research subject group en
Chemical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie chimique
Research subject en
Chemical engineering
Research subject fr
Génie chimique
Partie
3
Nb partie
3
Application title
Sweep flocculation in froth treatment and demulsification
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
This project explores improved methods of processing that would ultimately increase the recovery of oil (bitumen) by removing more of the salty water droplets earlier in the process. These improvements also aim to protect the multi-million dollar process vessels used to upgrade the bitumen into processable crude later in the process.*We are considering the mechanism of sweep flocculation, where the water droplets do not have to coalesce - they simply form a loosely connected agglomerate which captures clays and fine water drops as it settles through the diluted bitumen froth. You might think of this as a moving filter, settling through the diluted bitumen froth.*If this mechanism can be cleanly identified, it would give us a better understanding of the separation process and open the doors to continued process improvement, longer process plant life, and safer operations.*
