Diffusion coefficients of propane and butane in peace river bitumen

Diffusion plays a vital role in the ''Vapex'' process. In the present work the results of experiments on ''Vapex'' using a Hele-Shaw cell have been used to obtain empirical correlations for the diffusivities of propane and butane in Peace River bitumen. Additional data required for the estimation of diffusivities from these experiments are the solubilities of solvent in bitumen and a correlation for the viscosity of solvent bitumen mixture. Diffusivities are assumed to decline exponentially with viscosity. Computed values of diffusion coefficients fall within the range of the published data for similar systems. This simple experiment can be used to estimate the diffusivities of gaseous solvents in highly viscous fluids.