Abstract: A method for recovering and treating hydrocarbon fluids using a hydraulic fracturing process wherein a fluid stream containing liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon species or both, produced water, suspended solids, and dissolved contaminants is recovered from a well. Hydrocarbon species are separated from the fluid stream to produce a second fluid stream comprising liquid water, which is then directed to a filter medium and essentially all of the second fluid stream passes through the medium to produce a permeate stream and a filter cake, and the filter cake is separated from the medium and disposed of separately.

Abstract: An oil recovery process that utilizes one or more filtration medium comprises a filter cake and a second filtration medium being nonwovens sheet to remove silica and/or oil and/or dissolved organics and/or dissolved solids from produced water which includes separating oil from the produced water and precipitating silica into particles and wherein the produced water having the precipitated silica is directed to a filtration medium which operates in a direct flow filtration mode and removes the precipitated silica from the produced water to form a filtrate stream.

Abstract: A process for treating a tailings stream comprises (a) contacting (1) a gelling agent and (2) an activator with said tailings stream to produce a gel; (b) entrapping solids including sand and clay, and other solid particles with the gel; and (c) allowing the gel to strengthen and solidify to produce a trafficable deposit; wherein the tailings stream comprises water and solids, which solids comprise sand, clay and other solids particles, and wherein 5% by volume to 100% by volume of the solids have a particle size less than 0.05 mm, based on the total volume of the solids. The process may further comprises spreading the gel produced in step (a) or the trafficable deposit produced in step (c) over a surface. The present invention is particularly useful to treat tailings streams produced in processes to extract bitumen from oil sands ores.

Abstract: An oil recovery process that utilizes one or more filtration media having an efficiency of 30% or greater for particles of 1 micrometer size or greater and a flow rate of 2 milliliters per minute per centimeter squared of media per unit pressure of the liquid (ml/min/cm2/kPa) to remove silica and/or oil and/or dissolved organics and/or dissolved solids from produced water which includes separating oil from the produced water and precipitating silica into particles and wherein the produced water having the precipitated silica is directed to a filtration medium which operates in a direct flow filtration mode and removes the precipitated silica from the produced water to form a permeate stream.

Abstract: A method for recovering and treating hydrocarbon fluids using a hydraulic fracturing process wherein a fluid stream containing liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon species or both, produced water, suspended solids, and dissolved contaminants is recovered from a well. and hydrocarbon species are separated from the fluid stream to produce a second fluid stream comprising liquid water, which is then directed to a filter medium and essentially all of the second fluid stream passes through the medium to produce a permeate stream and a filter cake, and the filter cake is separated from the medium and disposed of separately.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of a tailings stream is provided. The tailings stream comprises water, sand and clay fines and is produced from bitumen extraction process of an oil sands ore. The process for treating the tailings stream comprises contacting a polysilicate microgel, a polyacrylamide and one or both of a multivalent metal compound and a low molecular weight cationic organic polymer with a tailings stream to flocculate sand and clay fines.

Abstract: A process for the extraction and recovery of bitumen from oil sands and a process for the treatment of tailings are disclosed. Bitumen is recovered in a process comprising contacting a polysilicate microgel with an ore sand oil to produce a froth comprising bitumen and a tailings stream comprising water, sand and clay fines. Preferably the tailings stream is dewatered and recovered water may be recycled to the extraction process. Polysilicate microgel may be carried through to a dewatering step and enhances flocculation in dewatering said tailings.

Abstract: A process for treating a tailings stream comprises (a) contacting (1) a gelling agent and (2) an activator with said tailings stream to produce a gel; (b) entrapping solids including sand and clay, and other solid particles with the gel; and (c) allowing the gel to strengthen and solidify to produce a trafficable deposit; wherein the tailings stream comprises water and solids, which solids comprise sand, clay and other solids particles, and wherein 5% by volume to 100% by volume of the solids have a particle size less than 0.05 mm, based on the total volume of the solids. The process may further comprises spreading the gel produced in step (a) or the trafficable deposit produced in step (c) over a surface. The present invention is particularly useful to treat tailings streams produced in processes to extract bitumen from oil sands ores.

Abstract: Disclosed is a unitized electrochemical cell sub-assembly having a first separator plate and a second separator plate that each has a first surface. A recess is located in at least one of the first surfaces to define a chamber adjacent the periphery of the plates when the plates face each other. A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) comprising an ion exchange membrane and a pair of gas diffusion layers is disposed on and between each of the first surfaces between the two plates when the plates face each other so that the peripheral edge of the ion exchange membrane is located within the chamber. Also located in the chamber is a non-conductive sealant polymer that seals and joins the first and second plates to each other, and that seals and joins the first and second plates to the edge of the ion exchange membrane. Also disclosed is a fabrication method for making the unitized electrochemical cell sub-assembly.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of a tailings stream is provided. The tailings stream comprises water, sand and clay fines and is produced from bitumen extraction process of an oil sands ore. The process for treating the tailings stream comprises contacting a polysilicate microgel, a polyacrylamide and one or both of a multivalent metal compound and a low molecular weight cationic organic polymer with a tailings stream to flocculate sand and clay fines.

Abstract: A process for the extraction and recovery of bitumen from oil sands and a process for the treatment of tailings are disclosed. Bitumen is recovered in a process comprising contacting a polysilicate microgel with an ore sand oil to produce a froth comprising bitumen and a tailings stream comprising water, sand and clay fines. Preferably the tailings stream is dewatered and recovered water may be recycled to the extraction process. Polysilicate microgel may be carried through to a dewatering step and enhances flocculation in dewatering said tailings.

Abstract: There is provided a process for sealing a coolant plate to an adjacent bi-polar plate or coolant plate in an electrochemical cell. The first coolant plate comprises at least one mating region for mating with a complementary region on the adjacent plate, the adjacent plate is a second coolant plate or a bipolar plate of the electrochemical cell, and the first coolant plate and the adjacent plate each comprise a polymer and conductive filler. The process comprises the step of welding the mating region to the complementary region to create a seal formed by the polymer at the mating region and the complementary region. Welding may be done using resistance welding or vibration welding processes.

Abstract: An electroconductive integrated substrate and a process of producing the same, which comprises a porous conductive gas diffusion layer having large number of pores with significant gas permeability, and a gas impermeable electroconductive flow field plate having landing surfaces laminated on the surface of gas diffusion layer and integrally bonded to thereto by the molten composite from the landing surface. There is provided a process for joining the gas diffusion layer to a flow field plate in an electrochemical cell. The process comprises the step of welding the landing surface of the flow field plate to the gas diffusion layer using resistance welding.

Abstract: A process for improved performance in at least one fuel cell, having a loss in power output of at least 5% of an initial power output, wherein the fuel cell comprises a cathode, an anode, an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, a fuel comprising an anolyte that flows through the cell, and a catholyte gas, wherein the fuel cell is connected to an external load, and wherein the process includes the steps of taking the load off the fuel cell; and applying an external electric field from an external power source to the fuel cell to reverse electrochemical reactions until at least 5% of the lost power output is regained. Purging the fuel cell further enhances regeneration of the cell.

Abstract: An electrically conductive electrochemical cell component is disclosed. The cell component includes a first coolant plate and an adjacent plate, wherein the adjacent plate is a second coolant plate or a bipolar plate. The first coolant plate has at least one mating region, preferably a rib, for mating with a complementary region, preferably a groove, on the adjacent plate. The first coolant plate and the adjacent plate are each made of a polymer and conductive filler blend. The first coolant plate is joined to the adjacent plate by a seal formed by the polymer at the mating region and the complementary region. The seal is created using vibrational or resisitive welding processes.

Abstract: There is provided a process for sealing a coolant plate to an adjacent bi-polar plate or coolant plate in an electrochemical cell. The first coolant plate comprises at least one mating region for mating with a complementary region on the adjacent plate, the adjacent plate is a second coolant plate or a bipolar plate of the electrochemical cell, and the first coolant plate and the adjacent plate each comprise a polymer and conductive filler. The process comprises the step of welding the mating region to the complementary region to create a seal formed by the polymer at the mating region and the complementary region. Welding may be done using resistance welding or vibration welding processes.

Abstract: An electroconductive integrated substrate and a process of producing the same, which comprises a porous conductive gas diffusion layer having large number of pores with significant gas permeability, and a gas impermeable electroconductive flow field plate having landing surfaces laminated on the surface of gas diffusion layer and integrally bonded to thereto by the molten composite from the landing surface. There is provided a process for joining the gas diffusion layer to a flow field plate in an electrochemical cell. The process comprises the step of welding the landing surface of the flow field plate to the gas diffusion layer using resistance welding.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel fluid flow field plate for use in a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The flow field plate is made of a suitable electrically conducting material and comprises a substantially planar surface, a flow field formed in said substantially planar surface, said flow field comprising a plurality of staggered lands defining a network of substantially symmetric interconnected orifices and diagonal channels in the flow field and a fluid supply manifold through which fuel and an oxidant are introduced to the flow field and a fluid exhaust manifold through which reaction by-products and excess fuel and oxidant are removed from the flow field. Streams of the fuel, oxidant and reaction by-products are continually separated and diverted into separate channels, and the separated streams are then mixed with streams from adjacent channels in the orfices.

Abstract: There is provided a process for joining a gas diffusion layer to a separator plate of an electrochemical cell. The gas diffusion layer comprises a porous body that allows a reactant gas to diffuse through the gas diffusion layer. The separator plate comprises at least one landing surface formed on a surface of the separator plate, and the separator plate and landing surface comprising a polymer and conductive filler. The process includes the step of welding the landing surface to the gas diffusion layer by impregnating some of the polymer on the landing surface within a portion of the porous body.

Abstract: A method for making a shaped article or a shaped article having a volume resistivity of less than 102 ohm-cm with a desired combination of properties and processibility in an injection moldable composition. In particular the shaped articles formed include injection molded bipolar plates as current collectors in fuel cell applications.