Drag reduction flow loop (Charlton & Hill Welding LTD, Seven Generations, Alberta, Canada) is an industrial-size device used to screen the effectiveness of polymer additives in reducing the drag experienced by the fluid. This system contains a 51 L mixing tank, a progressive cavity pump (TOSHIBA 0106SDSR41A-P) is used to pump a fluid, and a Coriolis flow meter (Endress & Hauser, Reinach, Switzerland) is utilized for the flow rate. The flow passes through two smooth and straight stainless-steel tubes with different diameters. Four pressure transducers (StellarTech, accuracy ±1.25psi), separated at a distance of ~ 7.3 m, are used to measure the pressure drops across the two tubes. The time-dependent measurements of the drag reduction provide information on the degradation of the polymer of interest.
Wax Deposition Flow loop
Imbibition cells are specialized laboratory equipment used in our lab for different measurements. These cells are designed to study the imbibition/drainage process, which is the spontaneous flowing of one fluid into a porous solid medium such as a rock due to capillary action. Imbibition cells have several important applications in various areas such as reservoir characterization and enhanced oil recovery (EOR), core analysis, understanding pore-scale interactions etc. These glass cells can be used to measure wettability by imbibition (Ammot index method). Different sample fluids can be used to measure the rate of imbibition at any given temperature conditions.
Corefloods/sand packs
Corefloods tests and sand packs are essential tools in the field of petroleum engineering, specifically in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes. They are used to study the behavior of fluids in porous media, such as oil reservoir rocks, and also used to develop effective strategies for maximizing oil recovery. Our lab handles corefloods of all types; we build different Coreflooding rigs/setups to match your experiment and needs and train you how to use them. Some of the components of the core flood include the following; Core flood setup consists of the following components: Displacement test diagram: (1) carbon dioxide cylinder, (2), manometer gauge, (3), (4), and (5) transfer cells for oil, brine and nanofluids respectively, (6) valves, (7) pressure transducer, (8) core holder, (9) data acquisition computer, (10) back pressure regulator, (11)collector, (12) Isco pump,(13) overburden pressure gauge.
• Required diameter and variable length confining pressure up to 2000 psi.
• Isco pump with a flow rate between 0.001 and 200.000 cc/min with a max pressure of 2,000 psi.
• Transfer vessels volume of 500 cc with a pressure rating of 1,000 psi.
• Data logger 8-channels analog input for pressure, 16-bit, including 24VDC power supply.
• 8-channels for thermocouples
Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD)
The SAGD setup is a 3D device used to represent the real SAGD conditions. The setup has the ability to simulate and study enhancing oil recovery by SAGD and Nano-SAGD technologies (co-injection of nanoparticles with steam). The main components of the setup are the boiler, core holder with injection and production wells, back pressure regulator, and gas-liquid separation system. The SAGD setup has more than ten thermocouples to monitor the temperature inside the core holder and through the system. Additionally, it has two pressure transducers and two pressure gauges to measure fluid pressure. At the inlet line, there is an injection point used to inject nanoparticles. LabVIEW is used for recording temperatures, pressures, and flow rates, as well as for controlling the system.
Imbibition cells for EOR applications
Imbibition cells are specialized laboratory equipment used in our lab for different measurements. These cells are designed to study the imbibition/drainage process, which is the spontaneous flowing of one fluid into a porous solid medium such as a rock due to capillary action. Imbibition cells have several important applications in various areas such as reservoir characterization and enhanced oil recovery (EOR), core analysis, understanding pore-scale interactions etc. These glass cells can be used to measure wettability by imbibition (Ammot index method). Different sample fluids can be used to measure the rate of imbibition at any given temperature conditions.
Oxy-Cracking Setup
The oxy-cracking setup is an innovative and environmentally friendly technology to convert carbon-based materials into value-add products. The process consists of the oxy-cracker (reactor), which is equipped with a mechanical stirrer, a speed controller, and pressure gauges. The oxy-cracker is attached into other essential process units, such as air compressor, screw pump, solid-liquid separator, gas-liquid separator, condenser, and heat exchanger. These units are attached and connected by solid piping system in addition to specific valves and other fittings.
Parr Reactors
The 100mL, 250mL, 500mL, and 4L (1 Gallon) are high-pressure and -temperature reactors from Parr Instrumental Company. Each reactor vessel is made of stainless-steel SS-316. These vessels are equipped with a heating oven connected to a temperature control loop, a pressure gauge, and a mechanical stirrer with a speed controller. These reactors are designed to be suitable for chemical reactions such as alkylation, amination, hydrogenation, oxidation, carboxylation, polymerization, chlorination, and catalytic reduction. They can also be used for batch, semi-batch, continuous chemical processes, corrosion testing, reaction calorimetry, etc. Our parr reactors and pressure vessels are customizable as follows:
100mL Parr: pressures up to 2000psi and temperature up to 270oC;
250mL Parr: pressures up to 2000psi and temperature up to 500oC;
500mL Parr: pressures up to 2000psi and temperature up to 500oC; and
4L (1 Gallon) Parr: pressures up to 2000psi and temperature up to 350oC.
Sophisticated Ultrasonic Reactor
The sophisticated ultrasonic reactor setup, designed for chemical reactions and material processing, operates in continuous mode. It comprises a high-frequency ultrasonic transducer that typically operates above 20kHz and a reaction vessel with temperature and pressure controls. The transducer produces ultrasonic waves that induce cavitation bubbles in the reaction mixture, resulting in vigorous mixing, dispersion, and improved mass transfer. The continuous processing capability ensures a consistent flow of reactants and products, leading to enhanced reaction efficiency, shorter reaction times, and higher product quality. This steady-state operation in continuous mode makes it particularly suitable for large-scale industrial applications.
Ultraviolet (UV) Reactor
A UV reactor, also known as a UV disinfection system or UV sterilizer, is a device that utilizes ultraviolet (UV) light to deactivate or destroy microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa present in water, air, or on surfaces. UV disinfection is an effective method for microbial control, but it is important to note that it may not remove other impurities or chemicals from water or air. As such, UV reactors are often used in conjunction with other water or air treatment processes for comprehensive purification and safety.
Membrane Reactor
A membrane reactor is a type of chemical reactor that combines a catalyst with a selectively permeable membrane to carry out chemical reactions. The membrane used in the reactor allows specific components of the reaction mixture to pass through while restricting the passage of others. This unique design offers several advantages over traditional reactors and can be applied to various chemical processes. The implementation of membrane reactors has the potential to enhance the efficiency and economics of various chemical processes by allowing for higher conversion rates, reducing the need for downstream separation steps, and enabling the utilization of equilibrium-limited reactions. However, the design and engineering of membrane reactors can be complex and challenging, requiring careful consideration of the membrane material, reactor configuration, and reaction conditions to achieve optimal results.
Filtration Setup
A continuous water and wastewater flow setup consists of a fixed bed column system. The column is used to test the removal efficiency of several contaminants from the wastewater (i.e., silica, total organic carbon (TOC), total hardness, and others) with packing filter aid materials, such as diatomite and walnut shell particles.
Pressure Filtration Setup
It’s a filtration unit that is used to measure the specific resistance of suspension to filtration (SRF). The apparatus has a maximum capacity of 2 L and is equipped with a 0.834 cm^2 stainless steel filter cloth. The cloth consists of a square mesh that has a dimension of 72 × 72 μm. The measurements are experimentally taken by applying constant pressure (60 psi) over the poured mixture for 30 min to allow the water to release from the slurry. The mass of the released water was recorded over time by an analytical balance connected to a computer. Then, the recorded data are plotted and used to calculate the SRF (m/kg).
