Grant: Alliance Grants

The LC-Fining® unit is a fluidized bed hydroprocessor used by both Syncrude Canada Ltd and North West Redwater Partnership to upgrade Canadian bitumen to synthetic crude oil via catalytic hydrogenation. The project's overall goal is to develop a fluid dynamics model of the reactor that predicts the impact of operational changes (e.g., treat gas flow rate, bitumen feed composition, catalyst type) on both steady fluidization operation (impacts capacity utilisation rate) and liquid volume fraction (impacts single-pass conversion and Conradson carbon residue removal). An outcome of using the model is the determination of operating conditions that increase the feed heaviest oil fraction and net throughput, which in turn raises the overall process synthetic crude oil yield and quality. Less operational upsets/cutbacks and greater space-time yields lead to better process energy efficiencies and reduced impact on the environment including greenhouse gas emissions. Optimization of economic return and environmental impact are central to the responsible development of the Canadian oil sands industry, which is a major contributor to the country's gross domestic product and energy security. This research project will have both multiphase computational fluid dynamics and experimental campaigns, leveraged by existing unique equipment and specialized instrumentation. Model-based guidelines for catalyst addition and fluidization interlock settings will be proposed for an expanded range of operating conditions. Finally, students will work in a diverse and inclusive environment partaking in the operation of pilot-scale high pressure equipment, detailed mathematical modelling, and professional communication/interaction with partners for comprehensive training.