Bituminous froth inline steam injection processing
US8685210B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 2011 |
| Grant date | Apr 1, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 7, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC10G2300/807
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An inline bitumen froth steam heater system including steam injection and static mixing devices is provided. The system heats and de-aerates input bitumen froth without creating downstream processing problems with the bitumen froth such as emulsification or live steam entrainment. The system is a multistage unit that injects and thoroughly mixes steam with bitumen resulting in output bitumen material having temperature of about 190° F. The system conditions a superheated steam supply to obtain saturated steam at about 300° F. The saturated steam is contacted with bitumen froth flow and mixed in a static mixer stage. The static mixers provide surface area and rotating action that allows the injected steam to condense and transfer its heat to the bitumen froth. The mixing action and increase in temperature of the bitumen froth results in reduction in bitumen viscosity and allows the release of entrapped air from the bitumen froth.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.