http://hdl.handle.net/10294/32 2017-07-09T21:22:32Z 2017-07-09T21:22:32Z Decardi-Nelson, Benjamin http://hdl.handle.net/10294/7781 2017-07-06T09:00:25Z 2016-12-01T00:00:00Z

Modeling, Simulation and Experimental Validation of a New Rigorous Desorber Model for Low Temperature Catalytic Desorption of CO2-Loaded Amine Solvents over Solid Acid Catalysts Decardi-Nelson, Benjamin Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) have gained tremendous attention amongst policy makers, researchers and engineers in response to the increasing fears for climate change which is caused by increased amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs) being emitted into the atmosphere. This is in an effort to decarbonize fossil fuels, especially coal, in order to make them environmentally sustainable while allowing these fuels to contribute to the global energy mix. Due to its maturity, post-combustion capture by chemical absorption, has been the technology focus to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from combustion flue gases emanating from fossil fuel-based power plants. In this work, a numerical model for catalyst-aided CO2 desorption from CO2-loaded aqueous amines solution has been developed. The model includes a hot water-heater and considers phase separation at the top of the desorption column. The model was validated with experimental data obtained from an integrated post-combustion CO2 capture pilot plant which used 5 M monoethanolamine (MEA), and 5 M MEA mixed with 2 M N-Methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) solutions with two industrial catalysts, namely, HZSM-5 and γ-Al2O3. The model considers the presence of electrolytes and multi-component mass transfer as well as both the physical and chemical contribution of the catalyst in aiding the process. The data obtained from model simulation were in good agreement with the experimental data in terms of CO2 production rates with an absolute average deviation of approximately ±8.9 % for MEA and ±7.7 % for MDEA. The simulation slightly over-predicted the CO2 production rate at the low temperature regime (75 °C) and under-predicted the CO2 production rate at the high temperature regime (95 °C) in both cases. Also, the temperature profiles predicted by the model was in close agreement with the experimental temperature profiles even though it under-predicted them. Based on the simulation as well as the experimental data, HZSM-5 was seen to have greater effect in aiding CO2 desorption than γ-Al2O3 for both solvents. However, the extent of aiding desorption of CO2 from loaded MEA was higher than that of MEA-MDEA. Also, the concentration of CO2 in the gas phase was seen to be quite high and can greatly decrease the driving force for mass transfer. Furthermore, it was interesting to observe that that the presence of maldistribution in the column be shown based on the simulation results. A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Applied Science in Process Systems Engineering, University of Regina. xvii, 168 p.

2016-12-01T00:00:00Z Shirif, Mohamed Ezeddin http://hdl.handle.net/10294/7768 2017-06-21T09:00:31Z 2016-03-01T00:00:00Z

A New Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage Process Utilizing Vertical Wells Shirif, Mohamed Ezeddin A novel process utilizing vertical wells to enhance heavy oil recovery during steam assisted gravity drainage has been developed. In the vertical well steam assisted gravity drainage (VWSAGD) process, the vertical well includes two production strings which are separated by three packers (one dual and two single packers): the short injection string (SIS) is attached to the bottom of the annulus and completed in the top quarter of the perforated formation, while the long production string (LPS) is attached to the bottom of the production tubing and completed in the bottom quarter of the perforated formation. The new process (VWSAGD) requires an initial start-up period (warm-up stage) where the steam is injected into both of the injection strings and production string for a specified period of time of about 14-30 days; then both strings are closed to injection for a specified time period of approximately 7-10 days (soaking period). After the initial warm-up and the soaking period, the long production string is opened for production, and the short injection string is opened to continuous steam injection for the rest of the specified simulation time. A numerical simulation study using the CMG-STAR Simulator was performed to compare the performance of the new VWSAGD process against the conventional steam assisted gravity drainage (HWSAGD) process under the same operating conditions. Two identical reservoir models were simulated for the two processes using 3-Dimensional, black heavy oil model (14°API). Each reservoir type consists of 49x49x20 grid blocks on a 5 Acre model which incorporated a typical heavy oil reservoir rock and fluid properties taken from the SPE case study, stspe001.dat (CMG 2014 release). A sensitivity analysis for both processes was performed for the grid density, soaking time, steam quality, bottom hole producing pressure, steam injection rate, reservoir thickness, reservoir area, and horizontal to vertical permeability anisotropy. More preferable reservoir conditions are those such as high horizontal to vertical permeability ratio, thick reservoir oil zones, as well as improved reservoir recovery for the VWSAGD process. Under unfavorable conditions such as thin reservoir oil zones, an improved reservoir recovery response was limited for the VWSAGD process and could be uneconomical in real field cases. Finally, the simulation results from this study include cumulative recoveries, Steam oil ratios, produced water-oil ratios, pressure and temperature distributions, and production rates. Also, the results from this study have shown that the new VWSAGD process is more favorable than the conventional HWSAGD process. A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Applied Science in Process Systems Engineering, University of Regina. xxi, 151 p.

2016-03-01T00:00:00Z Saadeldin, Ramy M. http://hdl.handle.net/10294/7767 2017-06-21T09:00:27Z 2016-04-01T00:00:00Z

A Novel Approach for Simulating Soil and Pipe Response to Seasonal, Environmental and Field Conditions Saadeldin, Ramy M. Climate change related problems are increasing in occurence and severity leading to significant econocmic losses in many places of the world. In semi-arid environments, like Saskatchewan, the main phenomenon involved in pipe breakages is the volume change behavior of unsaturated clay deposits. Underground pipelines are typically buried within the upper zone of soil deposits, and therefore, are highly affected by soil nature and the different environmental conditions present on the ground surface. To accurately model field conditions, a mathematical formulation of native soil conditions was developed based on a bimodal soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) and other constitutive relationships. In order to simulate the response of soil and pipe to various mateorological conditions, a numerical framework was developed and validated. The strength of the developed numerical framework lays in the use of bimodal SWCC and modeling the hydraulic characteristics of a cracked soil structure. This research study also utilized, as a database, the results of a filed instrumentation program conducted in the City of Regina. A hydro-mechanical analysis was implemented to model the volume change due to variations in mechanical loading conditions and moisture content. Modeling scenarios were also studied based on variations in pipe diameter, pipe depth and soil elasticity. The developed numerical framework provided insight into the sensitivity of pipe deformation to possible changes in input parameters of the soil-pipe system. The model was able to capture the transient water flow through Saturated-unsaturated soils. The results of the modeling of weather conditions applied on the soil-pipe system were in agreement with the field measurements. Specific relationships between the soil-pipe interaction and seasonal changes in the local meteorological conditions were established. The model was also used to provide some insight into the real flux transferred through the pavement structure to the backfill material surrounding the pipe. Finally, soil and pipe reactions (i.e. soil and pipe displacements, soil volumetric water content and soil temperature) to applied surface boundary conditions were predicted based on validated numerical approach A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Systems Engineering, University of Regina. xii, 239 p.

2016-04-01T00:00:00Z Majnoon, Mohsen http://hdl.handle.net/10294/7766 2017-06-21T09:00:25Z 2016-02-01T00:00:00Z

Dynamic Modeling and Vision-Based Mobile-Target Tracking in UAVs Using Wide FOV Cameras Majnoon, Mohsen Control of unmanned aerial vehicles is a very active topic in research with lots of applications ranging from civilian to military. To control a UAV, its attitude is often controlled using gyroscopes, but to control its position, inertial sensors together with GPS are often used. However, obtaining accurate current position is difficult using inertial sensors because of the integration drift. GPS on the other hand is not functional in indoor applications since it cannot connect to GPS satellites. Since vision has been proved to be an inexpensive and consistent source of relative position information, vision-based control is getting more popular in UAVs recently, but then again, using vision in outdoor applications is challenging as the target can move fast and out of the vision sensor field of view. So, in order to keep the target inside the field of view, two algorithms are being developed and tested via simulation in this research. Using pan/tilt/zoom cameras or multi camera systems, the target is guaranteed to stay in vision system field of view and hence, the vision based pose estimation can provide the control system with proper relative position. Two case studies - vision-based mobile-target tracking of a quadrotor using a multi-camera vision sensor and vision-based mobile-target tracking of a tilting rotor aircraft equipped with a zooming camera - are presented in this research to show the applicability of these methods in UAV control. A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Applied Science in Industrial Systems Engineering, University of Regina. xvii, 115 p.

2016-02-01T00:00:00Z