Research Area - Chemical Processes and Materials
CHEMICAL PROCESSES AND MATERIALS
Development 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 department's research also has wide ranging applicability in other chemical process industries.
Chemical Processes and Materials Faculty
Jalel Azaiez , Matthew Clarke, Michael Foley, Josephine Hill, Maen Husein, Ayo Jeje, Ryan Krenz, Nader Mahinpey, Uttandaraman (U.T.) Sundararaj, William Svrcek, Harvey Yarranton, Ludo Zanzotto
Process Control and Simulation
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.
Computational Fluid Dynamics
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.
Thermodynamics
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.
Process Kinetics
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 and understand 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.
Advanced Materials
Researchers in this area improve their understanding of materials with widespread applications and develop new or more optimal materials in five categories: catalysts, asphaltenes, bituminous materials, nanoparticles, and polymers.
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 from crude 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 potentialto produce asphalts.
- Development of lines of new asphalt productsfor paving, roofing and other purposes.
- Development of new asphalt productiontechnologies.
- Utilization of post-consumer wastes in producing improved asphalt materials.
- Characterization of bituminous materials
- Design and advanced testing of paving mixes.
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 investigating selective separation of carbon nanotubes.
Polymer and 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.