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Oil sand middling processing using a flotation column
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- Author / Creator
- Vandenberghe, Jessica
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Flotation columns may benefit the oil sand industry by improving grade and recovery when processing middlings. Preliminary testing was conducted with a laboratory flotation column for two-phase systems over a bubble size range of 250 to 1100 μm. A correlation between exponent “m” in the drift flux equation, jgf = Utα g(1 − αg) m, and bubble Reynolds number was established, where j gf, Ut, αg, and “m” are the drift flux, terminal velocity of a bubble, gas volume fraction, and an exponent depending on flow conditions, respectively. The correlation is valid for a Reynolds number range of 5 to 70. After preliminary testing, the column was tested to ensure little difficulty when processing oil sands. Next, in-plant tests at Suncor Energy Inc. using a feed stream of oil sand middlings were completed to investigate the effects of the feed, recirculation, air, and wash water flow rates on bitumen recovery.
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- Subjects / Keywords
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- Graduation date
- 2003
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Science in Chemical & Mining Engineering
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.