(387c) Analysis and Modelling of Froth Treatement Cascaded Counter-Current Gravity Settlers

ANALYSIS
AND MODELING OF FROTH TREATMENT CASCADED COUNTER-CURRENT GRAVITY SETTLERS

A.I.A. Salama and T. Dabros

CanmetENERGY-Devon

Natural Resources Canada

Suite A202, #1 Oil Patch Drive, Devon, Alberta, Canada T9G 1A8

Phone (780) 987-8635, Fax (780)
987-8676

E-mail:
Ahmed.Salama@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
 
Abstract

   Single-, two-,
and three-stage counter-current cascaded flowsheets are analyzed.  Conventionally,
the two- and three-stage flowsheets are used by oil sands industry for treating
bitumen froths in paraffinic and naphthanic froths.  System analysis and the
signal flowgraph technique are used to express relationships between input and
output process streams of the flowsheet.  Furthermore, an attempt is made to
relate mathematically the solvent-to-bitumen ratio [S/B] in most common streams
to each other.  These [S/B] relationships in conjunction with some practical
approximation produce results closely match actual measurement.    

Keywords: signal flowgraph, solvent to bitumen
ratio, counter-current gravity settlers, singl-, two-, and three-stage stages

Conclusions

Cascaded counter-current
two-stage flowsheets are analyzed and modeled using system analysis. 
Specifically, the signal flowgraph technique is adopted to express the
relationships between input and output process streams of the flowsheet. 
Furthermore, an attempt is made to relate mathematically the solvent-to-bitumen
ratio S/B in most common streams to each other.  These S/B relationships in
conjunction with some practical approximation produce results closely match
actual measurement.