Method for tailings solvent recovery
US8197676B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 7, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jun 12, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 10, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC10G2400/18
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A tailings solvent recovery vessel substantially without conventional internals utilizes nozzles for forming very fine solvent-containing hydrocarbon droplets from a solvent-containing tailings feedstream. The hydrocarbon droplets are discrete from water droplets. The hydrocarbon droplets are small enough to result in a large surface area and a desired fall residence time but sufficiently large that they are not entrained with the rising vapor in the vessel. The feedstream is introduced to the vessel with a pressure drop to result in an initial flashing of the solvent from the solvent-containing droplets. Heat from the vessel atmosphere or from steam flowing countercurrent to the falling hydrocarbon droplets is transferred to the falling hydrocarbon droplets resulting in vaporization of any residual solvent therefrom. A substantially solvent-depleted pool is collected in the bottom of the vessel and retained only so long as is required to pump the underflow stream from the vessel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.