Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2020-2021).

The goal of the present study is to develop a new thermodynamic model for the simulation of the saturationx000D
vapour pressure in Dilbit-water-sand/clay slurries, in proportions relevant to the NRU (Naphtha Recovery Unit)x000D
and using actual Syncrude NRU Feed samples. Experiments will be developed using a Recat LV Cell, whichx000D
has been tested and implemented by Prof. de Lasa's team at the CREC(Chemical Reactor Engineering Centre)x000D
-UWO (University of Western Ontario) laboratories. The Recat LV Cell allows the quantification of the vapourx000D
pressure, as well as the identification of adequate mixing slurry conditions. In this respect, the proposed newx000D
research under combined NSERC CRD and Syncrude Canada sponsorship will involve enhancing the Recatx000D
LV Cell further. The patented CREC Optiprobes will be used for gas phase sampling as well as onlinex000D
measurement of droplets and particle sizes. It is anticipated that the use of this strategy will provide criticalx000D
data for the identification of best mixing conditions and power input, for highly dispersedx000D
Dilbit-water-sand/clay slurry phases and NRU feeds. Furthermore, a Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD)x000D
model will be developed for this test cell. The proposed CFD model will be validated using data from the Recatx000D
LV Cell. This model will also use relevant fluid dynamic parameters for CFD simulation such as viscosity,x000D
surface tension and sand agglomerate sizes. This CFD model will provide a description of mixing patterns inx000D
the Recat LV Cell and the best conditions required for achieving liquid-vapour equilibrium. These identifiedx000D
mixing conditions, as well of liquid-vapour thermodynamics will provide Syncrude valuable engineeringx000D
information for the efficient processing of their Froth Treatment tailings and fine tune their operation forx000D
minimizing solvent loss.