Flotation method and apparatus for recovering crude oil from tar-sand
US4324652A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 9, 1980 |
| Grant date | Apr 13, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 9, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S261/75
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for scrubbing crude oil (bitumen) from tar-sands, the apparatus being characterized by a heated vessel for maintaining the tar-sand/water slurry at between approximately 180.degree.-200.degree. F., a pair of counterrotating screw conveyors in the bottom of the vessel for agitating the sand and moving it to the discharge end, means for simultaneously diluting and aerating the incoming slurry that produces small bubbles effective to float the crude oil freed from the sand to the surface, an overflow wier running alongside the vessel for catching the oil skimmed off the surface of the water, transversely-extending endless chain-and-flight skimmers for skimming the oil into the wier, a bottom-opening discharge for the clean sand, and valves controlling the discharge of sand effective to remove the latter without lowering the fluid level in the vessel to a point where the oil previously released can reattach itself to the sand. The method encompasses the steps of submerging the tar-sand in a hot water bath agitating the sand while thus immersed while continuously bubbling air up through the slurry to float the oil particles free…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.