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CHEMICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
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DNS simulation with
100 particles
CFD modeling of flow in
progressive cavity pumps
CFD modeling of a
bubble in cross
flow as found in a
distillation tray
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Ongoing Research Projects
The Chemical Engineering Program is currently involved in a number of research projects. A summary of these projects are outlined below.
Project 1 |
Title: |
Direct numerical simulation of multiphase flows |
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Members: |
Dr. K. Nandakumar |
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Sponsor: |
Startup grant under GASCO Chair at the PI and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada under Discovery Grant. |
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Summary: |
We (Prof. Minev, myself and our jointly supervised students) have developed two classes of algorithms, one for fluid-particle systems and the other for fluid-fluid systems, for direct numerical simulation of multiphase flows. The work is continuing to parallelize for large scale simulations. One graduate student and PDF are currently working on this problem in Alberta and a new PDF will be recruited at the PI to work on this problem. |
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Objective: |
To uncover the form of the closure relations (from direct numerical simulations) that are needed in the volume averaged models that are used for the simulation of the hydrodynamics of multiphase flows in process equipment such as packed columns, distillation trays, slurry flows etc. |
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Accomplishment: |
See the following papers:
- C. Veeramani, P. D. Minev and K. Nandakumar, A Fictitious Domain Formulation for Flows with Rigid Particles: A non-Lagrange multiplier version, J. Comp. Physics 224(2) (2007), 867-879
- Chen, T., P. D. Minev and K. Nandakumar, A projection scheme for incompressible multiphase flow using adaptive Eulerian grid: 3D validation, Int. J. Numerical Methods in Engineering 48 (2005) pp 455-466.
- Diaz-Goano, C., P. D. Minev and K. Nandakumar, A fictitious domain/finite element method for particulate flows, J. Comp. Physics 192 (2003) pp 105–123.
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Project 2 |
Title: |
Catalyst Development for Selective Fisher Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) Process for Liquid Hydrocarbons |
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Members: |
Dr. Saleh Al Hashimi
Mr. Ahmad Nafees |
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Sponsor: |
The Petroleum Institute |
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Summary: |
Application of Fischer Tropsch synthesis for the production of liquid hydrocarbons from syngas has been a subject of renewed interest. Two main characteristics of the F-T synthesis area unavoidable production of wide range of hydrocarbon products due to AFS chain growth probability and heat libration due to exothermic reactions. Hence, selectivity of desirable range of hydrocarbon (gasoline / diesel) is very poor. A typical selectivity of the SASOL low temperature F-T synthesis for gasoline is 18 % and of diesel is 19 %. Commercially cobalt, iron or a mixture of two is used as F-T catalyst. Cobalt based catalysts are in general more reactive for hydrogenation and produce therefore less unsaturated hydrocarbons and alcohols. The activity of F-T synthesis catalyst can be influenced by the nature of the support (composition, pore size etc) and the type of the promoter.
The limitation of the F-T process can be overcome by developing a selective catalyst. In this project, a novel method of selectivity improvement has been proposed by using a mixture of catalyst and solid adsorbent. The scope involves synthesis and characterization of catalyst, and performance evaluation (selectivity improvement) using a mixture of catalyst and solid adsorbent. Cobalt catalyst using a different supports and promoters will be synthesized and characterized by XRD, TRP, H2-TPR, FTIR, NMR and ICP techniques. Afterward a mixture of catalyst and adsorbent will be tested to affect/modify the selectivity of the process. It is anticipated that due to the adsorption of a selected hydrocarbons by the adsorbent, selectivity of the desired hydrocarbon range can be significantly improved. A set of different adsorbent will be mixed with the catalyst by varying the catalyst/adsorbent ratio, pore size, space velocity etc. The catalytic performance of each mixed catalyst will be evaluated in an Autoclave Berty reactor under wide range of F-T synthesis temperature and pressures. The performance of these catalysts will also be accessed and modeled by using simulation software. |
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Objective: |
The focus of this research project is to develop an efficient Fischer Tropsch catalyst selective to higher molecular weight liquid hydrocarbons primary of diesel and gasoline range. The completion of this research project will lead to the identification of a suitable F-T catalyst with improved characteristics and performance that can be of either a new catalyst, or a catalyst with new supports and promoter and/or a mixed catalyst containing industrial catalyst and a suitable adsorbent. Successful developments of a highly selective F-T catalyst will give a major boost to the commercialization of the FTS based GTL technologies. |
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Accomplishment: |
Following is the status of the research project.
(a) Publication
Ahmad Nafees and Saleh H. Al-Hashimi, “Development of Catalyst for Fisher Tropsch Synthesis,” Proceedings of 2007 Annual National Meeting of AIChE, USA (2007).
(b) Experimental/Modeling Work
- Literature review completed
- Experimental setup is almost complete
- Catalyst synthesis, characterization and performance evaluation to be completed
- Kinetics modeling of the process is in progress
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Project 3 |
Title: |
Removal Hydrogen Sulfide and Mercaptans from Natural Gas at Low Concentrations |
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Research Team: |
Bruce R. Palmer, PI Chemical Engineering Professor, Chemistry Department Co-Investigator and PI Research Associate. |
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Sponsor: |
Salem Sayegh, Head, GASCO Process Engineering Department (6037 430) |
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Executive Summary: |
- Problem description: identify suitable adsorbents for removal of low levels of hydrogen sulfide from natural gas.
- Benefits: provide data to design processes to remove sour-gas components for LNG production.
- Deliverables: report identifying opportunities based on adsorption thermodynamics.
- Future opportunities: include work on mercaptan adsorption and include measurement of hydrogen sulfide and mercaptan removal kinetics as well as the thermodynamics.
- Pros: improve gas-sweetening efficiency through application of hydrogen sulfide and mercaptan adsorption technology, extending GASCO marketing opportunities.
- Cons: work involves usual research project risks.
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Objective: |
Improve GASCO LNG business opportunities by developing effective removal technology for low levels of hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans. |
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Project 4 |
Title: |
Amine Sweetening Simulation Research Project [6000.1681] |
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Research Team: |
Bruce Palmer, Marie-Beatrice Gidas |
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Sponsor: |
ADGAS and GASCO |
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Executive Summary: |
Hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, mercaptans, and other contaminants are often found in natural gas streams. Natural gas has a wide range of acid gas concentrations depending on the nature of the rock formation from which it comes. Natural gas containing more than one percent H2S is termed “sour gas”. Indeed, UAE natural gas is considered one of the most sour gas in the world. Depending of natural gas final application & sweet gas specifications, amine sweetening processes can remove these contaminants so that the gas is marketable and suitable for transportation.
Habshan (Gasco) gas production is destined for electricity production. Since, Habshan gas is considered sour, this gas needs to be treated and purified. According Habshan natural gas final application, MDEA is preferred because it has a higher affinity for H2S than CO2 which allows some CO2 “slip” into the overhead gas while retaining H2S removal capabilities.
Adgas gas production is destined for export liquefied Natural Gas [LNG] to Japan.
Modelisation of Gasco and Agdas units is realized with a software package specialized for the simulation of amine unit facilities in the industry [TSWEET Package]. This software [ProMax] from Bryan Research & Engineering has been identified as the best tool for the accomplishment of this research project. |
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Objectives: |
- Simulate amine sweetening units [Adgas & Gasco plants] with ProMax /Bryan Research & Engineering
- Optimize amine sweetening units [Adgas & Gasco plants] in term of sour gas sweet specification.
- Develop an expertise on simulating/optimizing Adgas & Gasco plants with ProMax.
- Train the senior chemical engineering students on how to design and optimize a real amine unit plant.
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Accomplishment:
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Academic accomplishment
- ProMax software installed on the network in the chemical engineering computer laboratory (room 2020).
- ProMax design & modeling implemented in the PI Gas Processing Engineering course [CHEG 481]
- Developed a comprehensive chemical engineering ProMax course. This ProMax course was given to the chemical engineering seniors for their Gas Processing Engineering Design Project in April 2008 [Gas Processing Course CHEG 481].
Research Accomplishment
- Collected designed data from Gasco plant [Habshan OGDI]
- Tested the ability of ProMax to simulate Habshan OGDI in term of sweet gas spec. (inc. CO2 slippage)
- Compared ProMax Simulation of Habshan OGDI unit with operational designed data of Habshan OGDI.
- Collected designed and operational data from ADGAS amine unit plant [ADGAS plant 2, Train III]
- Conference participation in SOGAT 2009
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Mini Spray Dryer Buchi |
Project 5 |
Title: |
Sorbents for H2S Removal from Claus Process Tail Gas |
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Members: |
Bruce R. Palmer, Carmen Gutiérrez,
Marie Gidas, Mena Wefky, and Muzaffar Umer |
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Sponsor: |
ADGAS and GASCO |
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Summary: |
Laboratory scale studies are taking place to identify an H2S sorbent that can perform efficiently in the set environment. |
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Objective: |
To study and single out solid sorbents currently used for transportation-fuel desulfurization according to the efficiency and life expectancy under the stringent operating conditions of a Claus Plant. |
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Accomplishment: |
- Measured hydrogen sulfide sorption in nitrogen and helium environments
- Studied effect of sorbent composition and particle size on sorption
- Acquired spray dryer for further refinement of research
- Conference participation in SOGAT 2009
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Claus Plant Mass Balance
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