Hybrid simulation for oil-solids-water separation in oil sands production

Abstract

Separation of oil-sand-water mixtures is vital in oil sands production and processing. The co-existence of sand and oil in oily water systems can cause corrosion problems to the operational facilities and equipment. Immoderate oil and oil-coated sand levels have negative impacts on the environment. This research attempts to provide further understanding and some solutions to this problem by hybridization of two hydrocyclones for solid-liquid and liquid-liquid separation. The hybrid hydrocyclone is hydrodynamically designed to incorporate a transverse aperture for sand rejection, a transformation of which enables concurrent liquid-solid-liquid three-phase separation of the oily sands. Through computer simulation, the hybrid hydrocyclone has demonstrated promising performance in separating oil-sand-water in a single-stage oil sands production operation. For concentration up to 40% by mass of feed there was good s stability and accuracy in the model determination. Beyond that, droplet degeneration and breakup and bedding, and bridging of the hybrid spigot by sand characterized poor accuracy. Two distinct phases of behaviour were exhibited in the hybrid model — collinear velocity spectra as the forced vortex flow emanated through a 5-mm radius cylindrical envelope co-axial with the hybrid and parabolic spectra as the flow proceeded beyond this transition envelope towards to its wall liberating the vortex.