Online slurry air-content determination and analysis (OSADA) technology for oil sand development at Syncrude

At Syncrude, slurry pipeline hydrotransportation is a means for reducing oil sands ore haulage cost by dump trucks. A greater understanding and knowledge is required in this area to optimize an efficient hydro-transport system.; The challenge in this project (thesis) was to detect the amount of air holdup within a flow of water, air mixture and solid (two and three phases) in a test loop, in the Syncrude slurry pipeline, and in an experimental bubbling water column, by means of the sound waves.; A relationship was established between the air content of the flow and its resonance frequency caused by the proper external audible sound wave (active means). Also, the generated audible noise spectrum of the slurry pipeline during the operation was measured and recorded (passive means). Its existing natural resonance frequencies were identified and then were related to its amount of air content.