PRELIMINARY PHASE-DIAGRAMS FOR ABVB PLUS N-DODECANE PLUS HYDROGEN

The phase behaviour of athabasca bitumen vacuum bottoms (ABVB) + n-dod ecane + hydrogen mixtures was investigated at temperatures and pressur es ranging up to 725 K and 7 MPa using an X-ray view cell. Preliminary phase diagrams are presented. The most complex phase behaviour observ ed is tentatively identified as ''S''LLV, although the nature of the ' 'solid'' is unclear. From the slope of the ''S''LV to LV phase boundar y, Delta H-FUSION is less than 7 kJ/kg. Thus it may be an amorphous so lid, a viscous liquid, or micellular in nature. Observed multiphase be haviour is also compared with operating conditions for well known heav y oil upgrading processes. Most processes appear to skirt multiphase z ones. A preliminary four component model for the phase behaviour of th e ABVB + hydrogen system has been devised using CMG-PROP and HYSIM. An example calculation comparing modelled and experimental phase behavio ur is also presented.