Schulich Chemical Research Booklet Web

7/31/2019 Schulich Chemical Research Booklet Web

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DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL AND PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

Research at the Schulich School of Engineering


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The research programs in the department of chemical

and petroleum engineering are known internationally

for advances in key areas of science and technology.

Over 30 faculty members and 300 graduate students

work on research teams dedicated to finding solutions

and advancing knowledge in four areas:

chemical process and materials

biomedical

energy

environment

The principles of economic, safe and environmentally

sound processes prevail in all of the research

undertaken in the department.


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Research Chairs

Dr. Leo Behie

Canada Research Chair

in Biomedical Engineering

Dr. Alex De Visscher


in Air Quality and Pollution

Control Engineering

Dr. Apostolos Kantzas


in Energy and Imaging

Dr. Zhangxing (John) Chen

NSERC/Alberta Energy

Research Institute/Foundation

Computer Modelling Group

Chair in Reservoir Modelling

Dr. Geir Hareland

NSERC/Canadian Association

of Oilwell Drilling Contractors

Chair in Drilling Engineering

Dr. R. Gordon Moore

University Professorship in Air

Injection Based Oil Recovery

Dr. Antonin (Tony) Settari

EnCana Petroleum/Petroleum

Society Endowed Chairin Petroleum Engineering

Dr. Ludo Zanzotto

NSERC/John Lau/Husky

Energy Industrial Chair in

Bituminous Materials

Dr. Roberto Aguilera

ConocoPhillips/NSERC/Alberta

Energy Research Institute Chair

in Tight Gas Engineering

Dr. Josephine Hill


in Hydrogen and Catalysis

Dr. Jerry Jensen

Schulich Chair in Geostatistics

Dr. David Keith

Canada Research Chair inEnergy and the Environment

Research is

supported by

laboratories

equipped with

sophisticated

apparatus that

enables researchers

to understand the

fundamental

underlying principles

necessary for the

development of

practical

applications.


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Alberta Ingenuity Centre for

In Situ Energy (AICISE)

Co-Directors: Dr Pedro Pereira-Almao

and Dr. Steve Larter

Development of an underground refinery

to recover and upgrade the oil sands is the

objective of this centre. There should be

virtually no greenhouse gas emissions,

limited consumption of natural gas and

negligible water and diluent requirements.

The research focuses on the developmentand ultra dispersion of nanoparticle-sized

catalysts within the reservoir. The key will

be providing the optimum temperature for

the catalysts to generate hydrogen from steam

or some of the bitumen. This will require the

development of innovative monitoring of the

underground conditions through fluid chemistry,

seismic and geochemistry techniques.

The Ingenuity Centre is part of the Institute for

Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy.

Centre for Environmental

Engineering Research and

Education (CEERE)

Director: Dr. Anil Mehrotra

Environmental Engineering is a multidisciplinary

field of research that spans chemical, civil,

mechanical and petroleum engineering

disciplines and involves collaborative research

efforts and co-supervision of graduate students.

Dispersion of pollutants and remediation,

including the expanding field of bioremediation,

are focus areas for these researchers.

Pharmaceutical Production

Research Facility (PPRF)

Director: Dr. Leo Behie

The Pharmaceutical Production Research

Facility (PPRF) is a state-of-the-art level II

tissue culture laboratory with an attached

pilot plant. Researchers have an extensive

and impressive amount of experience in a

multitude of bioengineering areas, including

the development of human viral vaccines,

protein expression, pharmaceutical scale-up,

modeling cell behaviour and the development

of bioreactor related technologies. More

recently the focus has shifted to stem-cellbioengineering.

Research Centres


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Tomographic Imaging and

Porous Media (TIPM) Laboratory

Director: Dr. Apostolos Kantzas

TIPM Laboratory is a University of Calgaryaffiliate that conducts research in the areas

of flow through porous media, chemical

reactor engineering, environmental engineering

and bioengineering. This facility is one of the

largest tomographic analysis laboratories

in North America. Research highlights include

enhanced oil and gas recovery, magnetic

resonance sensor development for the oil and

gas industry and the environmental industry,

and research on multiphase flow phenomena

in chemical reactors. The institute has patented

technology on magnetic resonance multi-phase

metering and wastewater treatment using

a photocatalytic reactor.

Institute for Sustainable

Energy, Environment

and Economy

Executive Director: Dr. David Layzell

The institute was established in 2003

to provide leadership and coordination

for developing and implementing energy-

and environment-related initiatives at the

university. It aims to be a global leader

in generating multi-disciplinary insights

and technologies to inform policy and

investment decisions that will lead to

more sustainable energy systems.

Asphaltene and Emulsion Research

Catalysis For Bitumen Upgrading and Hydrogen Production

Research Group

Fundamental Research in Reservoir Modeling

Gas Hydrates

Improved Heavy Oil Science and Technology

Laboratory for Environmental Catalytic Applications

Petroleum Reservoir Integrated Modelling

and Engineering Group

Pharmaceutical Production Research Group

Porous Media and Process Tomography Research Group

In Situ Combustion Research Group

Research Groups


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Chemical Processesand MaterialsDevelopment of new chemical plants or processes from evaluating a potential

concept to creating a profitable reality is often an enormously complex task.

It requires understanding chemical processes on a microscopic or macroscopic

scale with time frames that span from milliseconds to thousands of years.

Research in chemical engineering at the Schulich School of Engineering is

based on the fundamental chemical, mathematical and physical principles

of mass, momentum and heat transfer. Researchers undertake mathematical

model development, numerical simulation, process control, advanced

materials, catalysis and thermodynamics research to apply to developments

in the petroleum industry. However, the departments research also has wide

ranging applicability in other chemical process industries.


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Increased computing power

at reasonable cost has

placed the goal of plant-wide

intelligent control within

the reach of the design and

operation engineers.

Researchers are developing and refining

robust models new control algorithms,

simulation models and instrumentation

capable of simulating both steady state

and dynamic plant operations. These

models allow the engineer to evaluate

new operational parameters that go beyond

the original design criteria and to optimize

resource consumption.

Process Control

and Simulation

The focus in this area of research

is on the flow dynamics of complex

fluids in pipes and at the

interfaces of porous media.

Researchers are developing greater

understanding of the coupling of molecules under

stress order to create accurate mathematical

models and numerical simulations of flow

dynamics. This analysis is important to improve

and optimize processes used in the manufacturing

of composite materials as well as in the emerging

field of nanocomposites.

Other research projects focus on support of the

energy and manufacturing sectors. Research

on drag reduction in pipe flow using polymer and

fibre additives or through the modification of

microstructures on flow surfaces has immediate

application in the oil industry. Both experimental

and numerical studies of interfacial instabilities

in porous media are conducted to analyze this type

of instability known as viscous fingering, which

is often encountered in oil recovery and polymer

processing. The dynamics of jets are also being

studied because of the commercial applications for

mixing and dispersal of one fluid phase in another.

Computational Fluid Dynamics


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Thermodynamics is the starting

point for all chemical processes.

Researchers in the department have developed

and refined an equation (called the

Trebble-Bishnoi Equation of State) that is widely

used in industrial simulators around the world.

The equation is capable of accurately predicting

thermophysical properties for components as

diverse as helium and table salt.

Other research in this area include experimental

work on phase behaviour that will enhance

oil recovery methods. Specifically designed

high-pressure equipment has been designed

and constructed in house for this purpose.

Thermodynamics

Measuring the kinetics of a

chemical reaction is understood

to the millisecond. This enables

researchers to develop new

catalysts, understand the

behavior of complex mixtures

such as oil sands slurries andunderstand how solids are formed

and deposited in machinery,

pipelines and oil reservoirs.

Solutions are also sought to carry out reactions

involving water-soluble and oil-soluble compounds.

These reactions suffer from the incompatibility

problem arising from the fact that the two

reactants will not dissolve in the same kind

of solvent. So, to carry out these reactions,

expensive non-conventional solvents have

been used. Researchers are finding less

expensive replacements for these solvents

using microemulsions as microreactors.

Process Kinetics


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Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is the ability to form

materials and build machines atom by atom.

Nanomachines can be programmed to

manufacture other nanoscale materials and

machines. This eliminates most of the raw

material waste and pollution associated with

bulk technology methods. Researchers at

Schulich School of Engineering have developed

a patentable process for the production

of photosensitive and catalyst nanoparticles.

The performance of these particles is reported

to be much better than bulk materials. In

addition, researchers are currently investigatingselective separation of carbon nanotubes.

Polymer & Rheology

Two types of mouldings made with polymers

are optimized by research in the department

called rheology, which is the study of the

deformation and flow of matter under the

influence of an applied stress. One type of

moulding is used to produce hollow plastic

parts either of large dimensions, or for

particular applications: another is a method

of rapid prototyping that is gaining widespread

use in manufacturing for low-cost models,

prototypes and one-of-a-kind parts.

Researchers in the department develop

models to diversify the type of suitable

materials and applications of end products,

reduce the moulding cycle time, and optimize

the properties of end products.

Catalysts

Changing the reaction rate and/or the conditions under

which the reaction will occur can make a new process

economically viable. New catalysts on the nanoscale

are being prepared and characterized within this

research group for use in: fuel cells, in-situ and field oil

sands upgrading, and removal of volatile and soluble

organic materials and bacteria from air and water.

Asphaltenes

Asphaltenes are the heaviest and most polar

components in crude oils. They are able to

self-associate into molecular aggregates, which

makes them particularly prone to precipitate fromcrude oils upon a change in temperature, pressure

or composition. They can form deposits that

interfere with the smooth operation of oil recovery.

Research in this group focuses on understanding

the fundamentals of this behaviour and how to treat

it to emulsion stability.

Bituminous Materials

Canada, as a large, relatively sparsely populated

country, has an extensive network of roads that require

environmentally friendly paving technologies. Research

in bituminous materials includes:

Characterization of crude oils for their potential

to produce asphalts.

Development of lines of new asphalt products

for paving, roofing and other purposes.

Development of new asphalt production

technologies.

Utilization of post-consumer wastes in producing

improved asphalt materials.

Characterization of bituminous materials

Design and advanced testing of paving mixes.

Advanced Materials

Researchers in this area improve their

understanding of materials with widespread

applications and develop new or more optimalmaterials in five categories: catalysts, asphaltenes,

bituminous materials, nanoparticles, and polymers.


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BiomedicalAt the Schulich School of Engineering, researchers in all engineering

disciplines collaborate with those in medicine, science and kinesiologyin the multidisciplinary field where engineering principles are combined

with biology, chemistry and physics to solve complex medical problems.

Two primary research groups work in specilaized areas. The Pharmaceutical

Production Research Facility (PPRF) is the primary bioengineering facility

within the department. Researchers are exploring the potential of stem

cells while building on their expertise in pharmaceutical scale-up, modeling

cell behaviour, and the development of bioreactor-related technologies.

The Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering Research Laboratory combines

engineering principles with cell biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry

concepts to investigate the effect of forces on human cell physiology for

elucidation of disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.


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Neural Stem Cells

The use of fetal cells is mired in ethical controversy

and there is an inadequate supply. Neural stem

cells generated in bioreactors offer a more ethically

acceptable alternative. Researchers at the Schulich

School have developed methods to generate these

cells in large computer-controlled bioreactors,

for the development of effective treatment options

for Parkinsons disease.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells are believed to respond

to injury by dividing and creating bone, cartilage,

muscle, tendon, ligament and other connective

tissues. Researchers are developing and optimizing

culture methods to expand these cell populations

derived from bone marrow. Through the generation

of new media and suspension culture bioreactor

protocols, the current goal of this project is to generate

enough cells for preclinical trials aimed at treating

multiple sclerosis.

Stem Cells

The capacity of stem cells to divide and replace specialized

cell types makes them very desirable for the treatment of

chronic conditions, such as Parkinsons disease and diabetes,

which are caused by the death of specialized cells in specific

tissues and are currently deemed to be incurable. In order for

stem cell transplantation to offer cures it is necessary to find

methods to grow large quantities of stem cells in a

reproducible, clinically acceptable manner.

Researchers at the Schulich School of Engineering are recognized leaders in

developing scale-up protocols for the production of neural stem cells to be used in the

treatment of neural disorders. They are finding ways to grow mammary epithelial stem

cells as part of a program to discover therapeutic targets for breast cancer; and are

developing new approaches for the production of pancreatic cells aimed at treating

diabetes. These researchers are also growing other tissue-specific stem cells to be

used in tissue engineering applications such as, the generation of artificial livers,

cartilage and heart muscle.


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Pancreatic Stem Cells

Two approaches to address the cause of type I

diabetes are being researched. The first is to

expand populations of endocrine cells derived

directly from cadaveric pancreases. The other

involves expanding a recently discovered cell

subpopulation within the pancreas, which

exhibits stem cell properties and has been

shown to give rise to endocrine cells in culture.

It is anticipated that the scale-up research

being conducted here will contribute to a

diabetes cure.

Hepatic Oval Cells

Hepatic oval cells are a small subpopulation

of cells found in the liver that exhibit stem cell

properties and are believed to play a major role

in liver regeneration. Development of methods

for expanding these cell populations will lead to

clinical therapies for liver disorders.

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem cells, when cultured outside

the body, retain the capacity to generate fully

functional cells from any tissue. However,

clinical implementation is hampered by the

poorly defined, small-scale culture methods

currently used generate large numbers

of embryonic cells and their derivatives.

The objective is to expand and differentiate

embryonic stem cells in a controlled bioprocess

with the aim of generating functional bone

and cartilage cells.

Mammary Epithelial Stem Cells

Mammary epithelial stem cells are adult stem

cells capable of recapitulating the mammary

gland throughout a females reproductive

lifespan. Researchers are finding ways to

isolate and scale-up the production of both

normal mammary epithelial stem cells and

their cancerous counterparts so that they

can be further studied in an effort to find

therapeutic targets for breast cancer.


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Leukocytes or white blood

cells, when present in whole

blood and blood products, are

responsible for a variety ofadverse side effects

associated with transfusion.

The Canadian Blood Services removes

leukocytes from blood products prior

to transfusion in a filtration process

called leuko-depletion. During processing,

a significant amount of the blood products

are sometimes discarded for a variety ofreasons; one of these is the failure to meet

quality assurance. Therefore, finding ways

to decrease losses associated with filtration

is important. Research in the Schulich

School of Engineering focuses on explaining

and improving the leuko-depletion process

and the filtration device that is used, in

order to reduce losses.

Leuko-depletion

To improve understanding of

cardiovascular disease and

factors complicating treatment,

researchers investigate the effect

of blood flow and the biochemical

environment upon endothelial

cells, which line the arteries.

Vascular bioengineering research

incorporates design and

implementation of cultivationsystems to expose cells to

physiological flow, surface

evaluation by fluorescence

microscopy and flow cytometry

and molecular analysis.

Vascular Cell Experimental Models

In vitro experimental models of the human

vasculature are being developed to investigate

the molecular mechanisms involved in the

protection or contribution to cardiovascular

disease imparted by blood flow and pressure.

The experiments isolate the target tissue/vessel

from the physiological effects of other organs

and tissues allowing each variable to be altered

separately, including proteins that regulate gene

expression. These models may serve as good

systems to determine efficacy and side effectsfor pharmaceutical or gene therapies.

Vascular Inflammation

Cardiovascular disease has been shown

to be an inflammation-dependent disorder.

Examining the action of biochemicals under

inflammatory conditions under both healthy

flow (disease protective), disturbed flow

(disease prone), and static conditions may

elucidate protective functions.

Vascular Bioengineering


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EnergyThe search for new and alternative energy sources is a major research

focus of academia and industry as the global energy demand is expected

to rise 54 per cent over the next two decades.

Alberta has the second-largest remaining oil reserves in the world.Researchers in the department are actively involved in conceptualization

and design of new and/or improved recovery methods for conventional

and heavy oil and increasingly in-situ upgrading of oil sands. Only 10 percent

of Albertas oil sands is recoverable with current technology. Canada has

a goal to simultaneously expand production from the oil sands while reducing

greenhouse gas emissions. Alberta also has extensive coal reserves offering

a source of energy, as well as the potential for coal bed methane. Promising

research on coal bed methane is being undertaken to determine the optimum

environmentally friendly approach to recover these reserves. Hydrogen is

seen as offering a viable alternative to petroleum. Research on catalysts

for hydrogen production as well as fuel cell research is underway.

In the department, efforts are focusing on new technologies to access

and use these natural resources in an environmentally responsible manner.

These efforts include advanced oil recovery, reservoir characterization and

simulation, unconventional gas, and catalyst development.


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Air Injection/Combustion

High Pressure Air Injection is an improved oil

recovery process where compressed air is injected

into a high-gravity, high-pressure oil reservoir.

Oxygen reacts with a small fraction of the oil toproduce carbon dioxide. The resulting flue gas

creates an immiscible, semi-miscible or miscible

sweep. The research combustion tube is a

one-dimensional model of this process. The tube

is packed with actual reservoir samples and

operated at reservoir pressure to optimize

the process.

In-situ Upgrading of Bitumen and Heavy Oil

If heavy oil and bitumen could be upgraded

in-situ, then the need to transport and dispose

of large quantities of unwanted by-products,

such as sand, heavy metals, carbon dioxide,

sulphur and coke, would be considerably

reduced or eliminated. Research is targeting

the development of a process that minimizes

and controls carbon rejection and uses the

rejected carbon from the upgrading process to

catalytically generate the essential hydrogen.

Foamy Oil

Improved understanding of the depletion of

foamy oil reservoirs is expected to arise from

experimental work to determine the dependency

between oil and gas relative permeability and

capillary number. This will enable researchers

to refine the mathematical model, which will

be validated through history matching several

solution gas drive experiments.

Gravity Drainage Processes

Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) has

revolutionized recovery of oil sands and heavy oil.

However, for every barrel of produced oil, three

barrels of water are required. Research is focusedon techniques for lowering water requirements by

using steam additives such as carbon dioxide, flue

gas generated from steam production or other

solvents (for example, butane).

In Vapour Extraction (VAPEX), the solvent analogue

of SAGD, vaporized solvents (for example, propane)

are injected into the upper-horizontal well. The

solvent dissolves into the viscous oil making it

mobile enough to drain downward to the production

well. New correlations are being developed to scale

from the lab to field because of the high uncertainty

associated with scaling dispersion coefficients.

New front tracking algorithms are being developed

because the large grid sizes of the current simulation

models have difficulty capturing rapid changes in

properties with position near the gas-liquid interface.

A consortium of researchers is also providing basic

data and mechanistic understanding for the

qualitative assessment of any solvent-assisted

bitumen recovery process.

Hybrid Combustion Processes

Researchers are actively pursuing recovery

methods that combine in-situ combustion with

gravity drainage processes or cold production. Air

injection after cold production is believed to benefit

from lower oil saturations thus reducing the tendency

for liquid blockage during ignition and the early lifeof the process. The wormholes created during cold

production permit large volumes of air injection

yielding high temperature combustion reactions.

Advanced Oil Recovery


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Geomechanics

Collaborative research with the department

of geology and geophysics is leading to the

introduction of the geomechanical concepts

in seismic interpretation.

Tomographic Imaging

Using CT Scanners and Nuclear Magnetic

Resonance (NMR) spectrometers developed

for medical applications, researchers are

seeking innovative ways to improve the recovery

from oil reservoirs, such as visualizing the flow

of oil, water and gas in reservoir rocks with

applications in enhanced oil and gas recovery,

and Enhanced Coal Bed Methane. Magnetic

resonance spectrometers are designed for

wellhead measurements in oil fields.

Microtomography can discriminate features of

objects with resolution from 5m and has been

applied to evaluate the internal microstructure

of foamed gels used in enhanced oil recovery,

and pore structure of porous media ranging

from reservoir rocks to bones.

Fractured reservoirs

Research is being done to determine if, when

pressure is increased, gas-oil capillary pressure

may be reduced by a larger factor than the interfacial

tension. Reduced capillary pressure leads to improved

recovery by gas-oil gravity drainage. Research to

develop a new methodology of integrated analysis of

hydraulic fracturing is being conducted. Applications

include: the stimulation of low permeability gas

resources, waterflooding at fracture pressure;

and re-injection of drilling cuttings.

Reservoir simulation

Coupled reservoir mechanisms are important in large

offshore reservoirs and thermal recovery methods.

Current research includes: development of dual

porosity geomechanical models, application of

geomechanics to pressure transient analysis and

development of more efficient coupling strategies.

Formation damage in injection wells is being studied

to better understand plugging mechanisms and

develop new modeling techniques to design ultra

high-capacity disposal wells. The technology is also

applicable for environmentally friendly deep disposal

of produced sand and drilling cuttings.

Predicting reservoir performance is increasingly complex as the

petroleum industry resorts to development of lower quality fields.

A high performance parallel computing facility is the cornerstone

of the research and is being used to develop specific techniquesusing a Windows cluster environment.

Reservoir Characterization and Simulation


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Unconventional Gas

Fuel cells

Fuel cells convert fuel and oxygen into electricity.

If hydrogen is used as a fuel, then the only

by-product would be water. The main difficulty

in directly reacting hydrocarbons is the propensity

for coke formation. Research is being conductedon the design of electrocatalysts for solid oxide

fuel cells to minimize or eliminate coke deposition

when the hydrocarbons are converted to hydrogen.

Hydrogen production

Hydrogen demand is expected to increase because

it is a much-needed commodity for upgrading of

heavy oil and bitumen. Also, it might be the preferred

energy source for fuel cells if this technology becomes

economically competitive. The environmental

sustainability of using upgraded oil sand by-products

is of increasing interest to researchers. Research is

being conducted on specifically designed, nanosized

adsorbents and catalysts that will be introduced intothe reservoir porous media. Research is also under

way to develop a process for hydrogen production

from agricultural residues.

Hydrates

It is estimated that the amount of natural gas

trapped in hydrates around the world is

approximately two orders of magnitude larger than

the recoverable gas in conventional reservoirs.

Hydrates are found all over the world and countries

that are not known for natural gas would be able

to meet some of their energy needs if an economic

methodology is developed for extracting this

resource. Through fundamental research on the

kinetics of hydrate formation and deformation,

researchers are developing mathematic models

that can be used for the prediction of hydrate

behaviour. The research is expanding into practical

applications of this knowledge.

Tight Gas

Tight gas is defined as reservoirs with challenges

relating to performance predication and

productivity. Researchers are developing enhanced

reservoir simulation models and hydraulic fracture

methods that will reduce the costs of producing

tight gas, which is currently four to five times that

of conventional gas.

Coal Bed Methane

Coal permeability and gas storage capacity

for different gases are two of the most crucial

parameters in development of coal bed methane.

Different gases adsorb on coal to different degrees.

Swelling and shrinkage caused by adsorption and

desorption of different gases or by displacement

of one gas by another are expected to affect coal

permeability. The possibility of using waste gases

(carbon dioxide, flue gas) and simultaneously

disposing of them is being evaluated and coal

reservoir characterization techniques tested.

Underground Coal Gasification

This other clean coal technology brings product

gas to the surface by injecting oxidants into coal

seams. In the early research and development

stages, several key scientific and technical areas

are being explored to develop modeling of the

combustion and gasification, explore optimal

processes and operation monitoring, assess

environmental risk and look at the feasibility

of storage of captured CO2.

Clean Fuels


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EnvironmentEnergy and the environment are integrally connected as many of the

energy challenges that face the global community have their origins in

the conventional energy industry.

The environmental researchers in the department collaborate extensively

with researchers in other engineering disciplines to conceptualize and

design new methodologies or to optimize existing processes for reducing

or remediating contaminated soil, water and air. The implications of global

warming have researchers investigating greenhouse gas mitigation.

This includes methods to capture and store carbon dioxide and the

associated risks. The research encompasses technical, economic

and regulatory aspects of carbon dioxide management.

The philosophy of recycle, reduce and reuse is incorporated into the research.

There is a continuing focus that the processes that chemical engineers

develop to convert raw materials to valuable products must leave a

minimal environmental footprint.


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Researchers are using photocatalysisto investigate the kinetics of the

degradation of pollutants and of

the generation and subsequent

destruction of reaction products,

a more refined feasibility analysis

and scale-up are conducted.

Solutions are also sought to carry out reactionsResearch using non-thermal plasma involves the

generation of high-energy species in a gas phase,

which oxidize a wide range of air pollutants.

Experimental studies on the characteristic stream

will be conducted with a range of operating conditions

to determine the optimum residence time and

operating voltage and also to investigate chemical

interaction between different molecules.

The dispersion of chemical and biological agents(contaminants) in urban areas is a security concern.

High performance computing is an effective tool to

predict the level of contaminant concentrations.

Air pollution control

Clean up of contaminated

soil/land is an industrial

environmental concern,

particularly for the petroleumindustry.

This research initiative targets the

development of efficient physico-chemical

methods for the treatment of soils. The

fundamentals of methane oxidation by

biofiltration are investigated as this technique

reduces the greenhouse gas effects.

Other areas of investigation include:

Life cycle analysis of energy

generation systems

transport and final destination of

primary and secondary pollutants

in the atmosphere

impact of hydrocarbon contaminants

on groundwater in fractured sandstone

and mudstone bedrock.

Biodegradation

and Remediation


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Integrated Assessment

Linking together processes for capturing the

carbon content of fossil fuels while generating

carbon-free energy products, such as electricity

and hydrogen, and sequestering the resulting

CO2, could lower CO2 emissions. Many of the

technologies are well known. The researchfocuses on: risk assessment, modeling and

mitigation; regulatory design; economics; public

perception; and technical and economic

analysis of biomass fuels.

CO2 Sequestration

Research is being conducted on how injected

CO2 improves oil recovery, especially in

naturally fractured reservoirs. In addition,

research is being conducted to enhance the

understanding and improve modeling of

different mechanisms of CO2 trapping in oil

reservoirs and aquifers. Systematic analysis

is being undertaken by researchers to provide

a quantitative assessment of the probability

of leakage. This research applies advanced

statistical reservoir modeling techniques

and is being integrated with research on

understanding how risks can be mitigated

and economically managed.

Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

The research explores advanced

fossil and non-fossil energy

systems, linking fundamental

research with economics and

policy analysis, risk assessment

and social science aimed at

understanding how individual

values shape energy and

environmental choices.


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Reuse of Produced Water

The petroleum industry continuously seeks beneficial ways to reduce, reuse

or recycle produced water. The net water consumption for SAGD can be reduced

if the produced water is recycled through the boilers and steamers. The research

is investigating scaling and heat transfer of produced water on a variety of alloys

used in the construction of boilers and steamers. Research on reuse is aimed at

reducing salinity and removal of heavy metals and organic compounds.

Reactor

The production of oil and gas, on occasion, has also been the source of

hydrocarbon contaminated water and air streams. In a multidisciplinary program

with the Department of Chemistry, a photo-catalytic reactor has been developed

that can purify dilute water streams that are contaminated with organic pollutants.

The same technique is applied for disinfecting water that contains E.coli.

Research within the department

is concentrated in remediation

methods with particular interest

in the removal of hydrocarbons

from water.

Water Resource Management


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Faculty

Chemical Processes

and Materials

Jalel AzaiezCeline Bellehumeur

Matthew Clarke

Michael Foley

Josephine Hill

Maen Husein

Ayo Jeje

Ryan Krenz

Marco Satyro

William Svrcek

Harvey Yarranton

Ludo Zanzotto

Environment

Jalal Abedi

Alex De Visscher

Thomas Harding

Maen Husein

Apostolos Kantzas

David Keith

Anil Mehrotra

Biomedical

Leo Behie

Ayo Jeje

Michael Kallos

Kristina Rinker

Arin Sen

Energy

Jalal Abedi

Roberto Aguilera

Raj Bishnoi

John Chen

Mingzhe Dong

Ian Gates

Thomas Harding

Geir Hareland

Josephine Hill

Jerry Jensen

Apostolos Kantzas

Brij Maini

Raj Mehta

Gordon MoorePedro Pereira-Almao

Mehran Pooladi-Darvish

Anthony Settari

Department of Chemicaland Petroleum Engineering

Schulich School of Engineering

University of Calgary

EN B202, 2500 University Dr. NW

Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4

Tel: (403) 220-5751

Fax: (403) 284-4852

Email: [email protected]

www.ucalgary.ca/chemicalengineering


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Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Schulich School of Engineering

University of Calgary

EN B202, 2500 University Dr. NW

Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4

Tel: (403) 220-5751

Fax: (403) 284-4852

Email: [email protected]

www.ucalgary.ca/chemicalengineering/

Schulich Chemical Research Booklet Web

Documents

Transcript of Schulich Chemical Research Booklet Web