Embodiments of a method and a system for recovering energy, materials or both from asphaltene-containing tailings are disclosed. The asphaltene-containing tailings can be generated, for example, from a process for recovering hydrocarbons from oil sand. Embodiments of the method can include a flotati
Embodiments of a method and a system for recovering energy, materials or both from asphaltene-containing tailings are disclosed. The asphaltene-containing tailings can be generated, for example, from a process for recovering hydrocarbons from oil sand. Embodiments of the method can include a flotation separation and a hydrophobic agglomeration separation. Flotation can be used to separate the asphaltene-containing tailings into an asphaltene-rich froth and an asphaltene-depleted aqueous phase. The asphaltene-rich froth, or an asphaltene-rich slurry formed from the asphaltene-rich froth, then can be separated into a heavy mineral concentrate and a light tailings. Hydrophobic agglomeration can be used to recover an asphaltene concentrate from the light tailings. Another flotation separation can be included to remove sulfur-containing minerals from the heavy mineral concentrate. Oxygen-containing minerals also can be recovered from the heavy mineral concentrate. Water removed by the various separation steps can be recycled and its heat energy recovered.
대표청구항▼
1. A system for recovering energy, materials or both from asphaltene-containing tailings, comprising: a flotation apparatus for separating asphaltene-containing tailings into an asphaltene-rich froth and an asphaltene-depleted aqueous phase, the flotation apparatus including an asphaltene-containing
1. A system for recovering energy, materials or both from asphaltene-containing tailings, comprising: a flotation apparatus for separating asphaltene-containing tailings into an asphaltene-rich froth and an asphaltene-depleted aqueous phase, the flotation apparatus including an asphaltene-containing tailings inlet, an asphaltene-rich froth outlet, and an asphaltene-depleted aqueous phase outlet;a gravity separation apparatus for separating the asphaltene-rich froth into a heavy mineral concentrate and a light tailings, the gravity separation apparatus including a heavy mineral concentrate outlet, a light tailings outlet, and an asphaltene-rich froth inlet, the asphaltene-rich froth inlet being routed to the asphaltene-rich froth outlet;a hydrophobic agglomeration mixing apparatus for dispersing a hydrophobic agglomeration agent within the light tailings, the hydrophobic agglomeration mixing apparatus including a mixed light tailings outlet and a light tailings inlet, the light tailings inlet being routed to the light tailings outlet; anda hydrophobic agglomeration settling apparatus for separating an asphaltene concentrate from the light tailings, the hydrophobic agglomeration settling apparatus including a mixed light tailings inlet routed from the mixed light tailings outlet, an asphaltene concentrate outlet and a water and mineral solids outlet. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic agglomeration settling apparatus is effective to concentrate asphaltenes. 3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a cyclone separation apparatus for separating coarse minerals from the asphaltene-containing tailings before the asphaltene-containing tailings enter the flotation apparatus, the cyclone separation apparatus including an asphaltene-containing tailings outlet routed to the asphaltene-containing tailings inlet. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the flotation apparatus further comprises a conduit for recycling water that exits the flotation apparatus. 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the flotation apparatus is a first flotation apparatus and further comprising a second flotation apparatus for separating the heavy mineral concentrate into a sulfur-rich froth and a sulfur-depleted aqueous phase, the second flotation apparatus including a heavy mineral concentrate inlet routed to the heavy mineral concentrate outlet. 6. A system for recovering enerty, materials or both from asphaltene-containing tailings, comprising: a flotation apparatus for separating asphaltene-containing tailings into an asphaltene-rich froth and an asphaltene-depleted aqueous phase, the flotation apparatus including an asphaltene-containing tailings inlet, an asphaltene-rich froth outlet, and an asphaltene-depleted aqueous phase outlet;a thickening apparatus for thickening the asphaltene-rich froth to form an asphaltene-rich slurry, the thickening apparatus including an asphaltene-rich froth inlet and an asphaltene-rich slurry outlet, the asphaltene-rich froth inlet being routed to the asphaltene-rich froth outlet;a gravity separation apparatus for separating the asphaltene-rich slurry into a heavy mineral concentrate and a light tailings, the gravity separation apparatus including a heavy mineral concentrate outlet, a light tailings outlet, and an asphaltene-rich slurry inlet, the asphaltene-rich slurry inlet being routed to the asphaltene-rich slurry outlet; anda hydrophobic agglomeration mixing apparatus for dispersing a hydrophobic agglomeration agent within the light tailings, the hydrophobic agglomeration mixing apparatus including a mixed light tailings outlet and a light tailings inlet, the light tailings inlet being routed to the light tailings outlet. 7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a hydrophobic agglomeration agent source including a hydrophobic agglomeration agent outlet; andwherein the hydrophobic agglomeration mixing apparatus further includes a hydrophobic agglomeration agent inlet, the hydrophobic agglomeration agent outlet being routed to the hydrophobic agglomeration agent inlet.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (49)
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