The effect of bitumen extraction conditions on froth treatment effectiveness
Date
2006
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Abstract
There are two main stages of oil sands processing: extraction and froth treatment. Extraction involves conditioning with hot water and, if necessary NaOH, either in a high shear or in a low shear process. Conditioning is followed by aeration and flotation to produce a froth consisting of bitumen, water, and inorganic solids. The froth is treated in a second stage to separate the bitumen from the water and inorganic solids. There are two commercialized froth treatment processes in Alberta: 1) the 'Syncrude' process, dilution with an aromatic solvent followed by centrifugation; 2) the 'Albian' process, dilution with a paraffinic solvent followed by gravity settling. Previous research has aimed to optimize each stage of the process separately. This study attempts to establish the relationship between bitumen extraction conditions and froth treatment effectiveness. The experiments were performed on laboratory approximations of the commercial processes including a Batch Extraction Unit (low shear extraction unit), a Denver Cell (high shear extraction unit), as well as Aromatic Solvent and Paraffinic Solvent froth treatment methods, which approximate commercial Syncrude and Albian processes, respectively. The extraction parameters considered are operating temperature, NaOH addition, and extraction method. Froth treatment parameters are temperature, residence time, choice of diluent, and dilution ratio. The effectiveness of the froth treatment is assessed in terms of bitumen recovery and the water and solids content in the recovered bitumen. In addition, a numerical settling model is developed to aid in future research on settling rates of froth material.
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Bibliography: p. 93-97
Some pages are in colour.
Some pages are in colour.
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Citation
Valinasab, M. (2006). The effect of bitumen extraction conditions on froth treatment effectiveness (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/268