1. On mixing and demulsifier performance in oil sands froth treatment
- Author
-
Laplante, Patrick Georges
- Subjects
- Oil, Mixing, Clarification, Oil sands, Demulsifier, Settling, Dispersion, Froth treatment, Water
- Abstract
Abstract: The impact of mixing on diluted bitumen de-watering is studied in two stages using a fractional factorial design of experiments. The first stage evaluates the relative effects of bulk demulsifier dosage, local maximum energy dissipation, and mixing time. The second stage of experiments evaluates the relative effects of bulk demulsifier dosage, local maximum energy dissipation, mixing time, and the injection concentration of the demulsifier. Shaker table results did not compare well with results obtained using a stirred tank. A shear and sedimentation test cell (SSTC) is designed to conduct mixing and settling in the same vessel while providing a large ratio of impeller volume to tank volume. The bulk concentration of demulsifier is the dominant effect, but favourable levels of local maximum energy dissipation, mixing time, and injection concentration are necessary to optimize demulsifier performance. Solids removal is shown to be a function of water removal.
- Published
- 2011