| Abstract: | Kinetics of steam gasification of delayed and fluid cokes derived from Athabasca bitumen have been studied in 6.35 cm diameter stirred and fixed bed reactors. Experiments were carried out at atmospheric pressure and at temperatures between 800°C and 930°C. The coke particle size ranged from 0.1 to 3.5 mm, and the steam partial pressure was varied from 15.2 to 60.6 kPa. Scanning electron microscopy, surface area analysis, and mercury porosimetry were employed to relate physical structure changes in the solids to experimental kinetic data. Several kinetic models for gasification were tested with the experimental gasification data. Rate expressions are presented for carbon conversion and for the release of sulphur. |
