Feed delivery system for a solid-liquid separation vessel
US8591724B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 2010 |
| Grant date | Nov 26, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/8593
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method of delivering feed, for example a paraffinic solvent treated bitumen froth, to a separation vessel, for example a froth separation unit (FSU). The feed is delivered from one or more side inlets that may be substantially normal to, and flush with, the wall of the vessel. In contrast to certain conventional feed systems used in gravity separators which use a distributor plate to widely distribute the feed with a vessel, the feed is delivered such that it flows down the inside wall of the vessel. This feed delivery is characterized by a Richardson number of greater than 1.0. Such feed delivery is particularly useful where the feed has particles with a bi-modal size distribution to be separated from an overflow stream. The gentle flow serves to mitigate the upward flux of the smaller particles, for example mineral solids, by being trapped below the larger particles, for example precipitated asphaltene aggregates.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.