IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0002836
(2012-02-23)
|
등록번호 |
US-10041005
(2018-08-07)
|
우선권정보 |
CA-2733862 (2011-03-14) |
국제출원번호 |
PCT/CA2012/050107
(2012-02-23)
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§371/§102 date |
20130903
(20130903)
|
국제공개번호 |
WO2012/119248
(2012-09-13)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Van Der Merwe, Shawn
- Diep, John Khai Quang
- Shariati, Mohammad Reza
- Hann, Tom
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
124 |
초록
▼
The field of the invention is oil sands processing. A solvent treatment system and process for treating a bitumen-containing stream include contacting that stream with a solvent-containing stream to produce an in-line flow of solvent diluted material; supplying the solvent diluted material into a se
The field of the invention is oil sands processing. A solvent treatment system and process for treating a bitumen-containing stream include contacting that stream with a solvent-containing stream to produce an in-line flow of solvent diluted material; supplying the solvent diluted material into a separation vessel with axi-symmetric phase and velocity distribution and/or particular mixing and conditioning features. The solvent addition, mixing and conditioning may be performed with particular Co V, Camp number, co-annular pipeline reactor, pipe wall contact of low viscosity fluid, flow diffusing and/or flow straightening. The processes enable improved performance of downstream unit operations such as separation of high diluted bitumen from solvent diluted tailings.
대표청구항
▼
1. A solvent treatment process for treating a bitumen-containing stream, comprising: contacting the bitumen-containing stream with a solvent-containing stream to produce an in-line flow of solvent diluted material;supplying the solvent diluted material into a separation vessel via a feedwell extendi
1. A solvent treatment process for treating a bitumen-containing stream, comprising: contacting the bitumen-containing stream with a solvent-containing stream to produce an in-line flow of solvent diluted material;supplying the solvent diluted material into a separation vessel via a feedwell extending into the separation vessel and having a discharge point at which the solvent diluted material is introduced into the separation vessel, the feedwell being substantially linear and vertically oriented within the separation vessel so that the solvent diluted material flows in a substantially vertically downward manner through the feedwell and out of the discharge point within the separation vessel, such that the in-line flow of the solvent diluted material has sufficiently axi-symmetric phase and velocity distribution upon introduction into the separation vessel via the discharge point to promote stable operation of the separation vessel; andwithdrawing from the separation vessel a high diluted bitumen component and a solvent diluted tailings component. 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the bitumen-containing stream comprises a bitumen froth stream. 3. The process of claim 1, wherein the bitumen-containing stream comprises an underflow stream from a bitumen froth separation vessel. 4. The process of claim 1, wherein the contacting of the bitumen-containing stream with the solvent-containing stream comprises rapid mixing. 5. The process of claim 4, wherein the rapid mixing comprises: introducing the solvent-containing stream into the bitumen-containing stream via a tee junction to form a mixture; and thenpassing the mixture through a mixing device. 6. The process of claim 5, wherein the mixing device comprises an in-line static mixer. 7. The process of claim 4, wherein the rapid mixing comprises introducing the solvent-containing stream into the bitumen-containing stream via a co-annular pipeline reactor wherein the solvent-containing stream is substantially co-directionally introduced around the bitumen-containing stream to mix therewith. 8. The process of claim 1, wherein the supplying of the solvent diluted material into the separation vessel comprises flowing the solvent diluted material through a feed pipeline that comprises the feedwell at a downstream section thereof, and discharging the solvent diluted material into the separation vessel via a discharge nozzle provided at the discharge point. 9. The process of claim 8, wherein the feed pipeline comprises at least one fitting. 10. The process of claim 9, wherein the at least one fitting is selected from the group consisting of an elbow, a branch, a tee, a reducer, an enlarger and a wye. 11. The process of claim 9, wherein the at least one fitting comprises at least one elbow. 12. The process of claim 9, wherein the solvent diluted material comprises immiscible aqueous and hydrocarbon components and the at least one fitting induces pre-mature in-line separation or acceleration of the immiscible components with respect to each other. 13. The process of claim 12, wherein the supplying of the solvent diluted material comprises diffusing to produce a diffused solvent diluted material prior to discharging into the separation vessel. 14. The process of claim 13, wherein the diffusing is performed outside of the separation vessel. 15. The process of claim 14, further comprising flowing the diffused solvent diluted material in a substantially linear manner into the separation vessel. 16. The process of claim 15, wherein the flowing of the diffused solvent diluted material is performed in a substantially vertically downward manner. 17. The process of claim 15 or 16, wherein the feedwell extends from a diffuser to the discharge nozzle to linearly feed the diffused solvent diluted material into the separation vessel. 18. The process of claim 1, wherein the feedwell consists of a pipe section extending from a diffuser into the separation vessel and the discharge point is an open end of the pipe section. 19. The process of claim 13, further comprising feeding the diffused solvent diluted material to the separation vessel while avoiding contact with the at least one fitting. 20. The process of claim 13, further comprising straightening the diffused solvent diluted material prior to discharging into the separation vessel. 21. The process of claim 1, wherein the contacting of the bitumen-containing stream with the solvent-containing stream comprises: adding a first amount of the solvent-containing stream to the bitumen-containing stream to produce an intermediate mixture; andadding a second amount of the solvent-containing stream to the intermediate mixture sufficient to produce the in-line flow of solvent diluted material. 22. The process of claim 21, further comprising pumping the intermediate mixture prior to adding the second amount of the solvent-containing stream. 23. The process of claim 1, further comprising mixing the solvent diluted material sufficiently to attain a coefficient of variance (CoV) to promote recovery of bitumen from the separation vessel. 24. The process of claim 23, wherein the CoV is up to about 5%. 25. The process of claim 23, wherein the CoV is up to about 1%. 26. The process of claim 1, further comprising mixing the solvent diluted material sufficiently to achieve a consistent temperature distribution throughout the solvent diluted material upon introduction into the separation vessel. 27. The process of claim 1, further comprising monitoring flow rate or density of the bitumen-containing stream to allow flow rate control thereof. 28. The process of claim 1, further comprising supplying the solvent-containing stream at a delivery pressure according to hydraulic properties of the solvent-containing stream and configuration of the contacting to achieve the in-line flow of the solvent diluted material. 29. The process of claim 1, further comprising withdrawing a portion of the solvent diluted material for analysis of solvent/bitumen ratio therein and controlling addition of the solvent-containing material into the bitumen-containing material based on the solvent/bitumen ratio. 30. The process of claim 1, wherein the separation vessel comprises a gravity settler vessel. 31. The process of claim 1, wherein the solvent-containing stream comprises naphthenic solvent to allow separation. 32. The process of claim 1, wherein the solvent-containing stream comprises paraffinic solvent to allow separation. 33. The process of claim 32, wherein the solvent diluted material is a paraffin diluted material containing diluted bitumen and precipitated aggregates comprising asphaltenes, fine solids and coalesced water and the supplying of the paraffin diluted material into the separation vessel is performed such that the axi-symmetric phase and velocity distribution of the in-line flow is sufficient to promote integrity and settling of the precipitated aggregates. 34. The process of claim 33, wherein the supplying is performed to avoid in-line settling of the precipitated aggregates. 35. The process of claim 33, wherein the contacting and the supplying comprise providing a cumulative Camp number up to discharge into the separation vessel between about 5,000 and about 12,000. 36. The process of claim 33, further comprising conditioning the solvent diluted material to promote densification while avoiding overshearing the precipitated aggregates prior to introduction into the separation vessel. 37. The process of claim 33, further comprising pressurizing the separation vessel to a pressure according to upstream pressure of the in-line flow of the solvent diluted material to avoid low pressure points or cavitations in the in-line flow to avoid compromising formation of the precipitated aggregates. 38. The process of claim 1, wherein the separation vessel is a first stage gravity settler vessel, the bitumen-containing stream is a bitumen froth stream and the solvent-containing stream is a first stage solvent-containing stream, the process further comprising: subjecting the high diluted bitumen component to solvent separation to produce a recovered solvent component;contacting the solvent diluted tailings withdrawn from the first stage gravity settler vessel with a second stage solvent stream containing the recovered solvent to form a second stage solvent diluted material;supplying the second stage solvent diluted material to a second stage gravity settler vessel;withdrawing from the second stage gravity settler vessel a second stage solvent diluted tailings component and a second stage solvent diluted bitumen component;recycling the second stage solvent diluted bitumen component as at least part of the first stage solvent-containing stream;subjecting the second stage solvent diluted tailings component to solvent recovery to produce a second stage recovered solvent component; andproviding the second stage recovered solvent component as part of the second stage solvent stream. 39. The process of claim 38, further comprising adding an amount of additional paraffinic solvent to the first stage solvent-containing stream to maintain stable operation of the second stage gravity settler vessel. 40. The process of claim 1, further comprising controlling pressure of the separation vessel with purge gas. 41. The process of claim 1, wherein the process is performed in a solvent treatment system for treating the bitumen-containing stream, the solvent treatment system comprising: a solvent addition device for contacting the bitumen-containing stream with the solvent-containing stream to produce the in-line flow of solvent diluted material;the separation vessel for separating the solvent diluted material into the high diluted bitumen component and the solvent diluted tailings component; anda supply line for supplying the solvent diluted material into the separation vessel, the supply line comprising the feedwell at a downstream end thereof; anda diffuser connected to the supply line upstream of the separation vessel for diffusing the solvent diluted material; andwherein the solvent addition device and the supply line are sized and configured so as to provide the in-line flow of the solvent diluted material with the axi-symmetric phase and velocity distribution upon introduction into the separation vessel; wherein the diffuser is provided outside of the separation vessel; wherein the supply line comprises a linear section extending from the diffuser to the discharge point for providing the diffused solvent diluted material in a substantially linear manner into the separation vessel; and wherein the linear section of the feed line is fittingless. 42. A solvent treatment process for treating a bitumen-containing stream, comprising: contacting the bitumen-containing stream with a solvent-containing stream to produce an in-line flow of solvent diluted material comprising immiscible aqueous and hydrocarbon components;transporting the solvent diluted material toward a separation vessel;diffusing the solvent diluted material prior to introduction into the separation vessel to produce a diffused solvent diluted material with reduced velocity gradients between the immiscible aqueous and hydrocarbon components;introducing the diffused solvent diluted material into the separation vessel; andwithdrawing from the separation vessel a high diluted bitumen component and a solvent diluted tailings component;wherein the diffused solvent diluted material is supplied into the separation vessel via a feedwell extending into the separation vessel and having a discharge point at which the solvent diluted material is introduced into the separation vessel, the feedwell being substantially linear and vertically oriented within the separation vessel so that the diffused solvent diluted material flows in a substantially vertically downward manner through the feedwell and out of the discharge point within the separation vessel, such that the in-line flow of the solvent diluted material has sufficiently axi-symmetric phase and velocity distribution upon introduction into the separation vessel via the discharge point. 43. The process of claim 42, wherein the transporting of the solvent diluted material comprises contact with at least one fitting. 44. The process of claim 43, wherein the at least one fitting is selected from the group consisting of an elbow, a branch, a tee, a reducer, an enlarger and a wye. 45. The process of claim 44, wherein the at least one fitting comprises at least one elbow. 46. The process of claim 42, wherein the transporting of the solvent diluted material induces pre-mature separation or acceleration of the immiscible aqueous and hydrocarbon components with respect to each other. 47. The process of claim 42, wherein the diffusing is performed outside of the separation vessel. 48. The process of claim 42, further comprising flowing the diffused solvent diluted material through the feedwell and out of the discharge point without passing through a reducer or an enlarger. 49. The process of claim 48, wherein the flowing of the diffused solvent diluted material is performed through the feedwell which consists of a pipe section extending from the diffuser into the separation vessel and the discharge point is an open end of the pipe section. 50. The process of claim 42, wherein the feedwell extends from the diffuser to the discharge point located within the separation vessel to linearly and vertically feed the diffused solvent diluted material into the separation vessel. 51. The process of claim 42, further comprising feeding the diffused solvent diluted material to the separation vessel while avoiding contact with fittings. 52. The process of claim 42, further comprising straightening the diffused solvent diluted material. 53. The process of claim 42, wherein the process is performed in a solvent treatment system for treating the bitumen-containing stream, the solvent treatment system comprising: a solvent addition device for contacting the bitumen-containing stream with the solvent-containing stream to produce the in-line flow of solvent diluted material comprising immiscible aqueous and hydrocarbon components;the separation vessel for separating the solvent diluted material into the high diluted bitumen component and the solvent diluted tailings component;a supply line for supplying the solvent diluted material into the separation vessel; anda diffuser connected to the supply line to perform the diffusing of the solvent diluted material;wherein the supply line comprises the feedwell extending from the diffuser to a discharge nozzle located within the separation vessel for providing the diffused solvent diluted material in a substantially linear manner from the diffuser into the separation vessel, and wherein the linear section of the supply line is fittingless. 54. A paraffinic treatment process for treating a bitumen-containing stream, comprising: an in-line mixing stage comprising mixing of the bitumen-containing stream with a paraffinic solvent-containing stream to produce an in-line flow of paraffin diluted material containing precipitated aggregates comprising asphaltenes, fine solids and water;an in-line conditioning stage comprising imparting sufficient energy to the in-line flow to allow build-up and densification of the precipitated aggregates while avoiding overshear breakup thereof; anda discharge stage comprising discharging the in-line flow into a separation vessel to allow separation of the precipitated aggregates in a solvent diluted tailings component from a high diluted bitumen component;wherein the in-line conditioning stage provides the in-line flow with an axi-symmetric phase and velocity distribution upon discharging into the separation vessel, and is performed through a feed pipeline that comprises a feedwell extending into the separation vessel and having a discharge point at which the solvent diluted material is introduced into the separation vessel, the feedwell being substantially linear and vertically oriented so that the solvent diluted material flows in a substantially vertically downward manner through the feedwell and out of the discharge point within the separation vessel. 55. The process of claim 54, wherein the bitumen-containing stream comprises a bitumen froth stream. 56. The process of claim 54, wherein the bitumen-containing stream comprises an underflow stream from a bitumen froth separation vessel. 57. The process of claim 54, wherein the in-line mixing stage comprises: introducing the solvent-containing stream into the bitumen-containing stream via a tee junction to form a mixture; and then passing the mixture through a mixing device. 58. The process of claim 57, wherein the mixing device comprises an in-line static mixer. 59. The process of claim 54, wherein the in-line mixing stage comprises introducing the solvent-containing stream into the bitumen-containing stream via a co-annular pipeline reactor wherein the solvent-containing stream is substantially co-directionally introduced around the bitumen-containing stream to mix therewith. 60. The process of claim 54, wherein the in-line conditioning stage comprises flowing the solvent diluted material through the feed pipeline linearly without passing through additional fittings or curvatures, and discharging the solvent diluted material into the separation vessel via the discharge point taking the form of an open pipe end. 61. The process of claim 54, wherein the in-line mixing stage comprises: adding a first amount of the solvent-containing stream to the bitumen-containing stream to produce an intermediate mixture; andadding a second amount of the solvent-containing stream to the intermediate mixture sufficient to produce the in-line flow of solvent diluted material. 62. The process of claim 61, further comprising pumping the intermediate mixture prior to adding the second amount of the solvent-containing stream. 63. The process of claim 54, wherein the in-line mixing and conditioning stages provide a cumulative Camp number up to discharge into the separation vessel between about 5,000 and about 12,000. 64. The process of claim 54, further comprising pressurizing the separation vessel to a pressure according to upstream pressure in the in-line mixing and conditioning stages to avoid low pressure points or cavitations in the in-line flow to avoid compromising formation of the precipitated aggregates. 65. The process of claim 54, wherein the in-line conditioning stage comprises diffusing the solvent diluted material to produce a diffused solvent diluted material. 66. The process of claim 65, wherein the in-line conditioning stage comprises straightening the flow of the diffused solvent diluted material. 67. The process of claim 54, wherein the in-line conditioning stage comprises straightening the flow of the solvent diluted material. 68. The process of claim 54, wherein the separation vessel is a first stage gravity settler vessel, the bitumen-containing stream is a bitumen froth stream and the solvent-containing stream is a first stage solvent-containing stream, the process further comprising: subjecting the high diluted bitumen component to solvent separation to produce a recovered solvent component;contacting the solvent diluted tailings withdrawn from the first stage gravity settler vessel with a second stage solvent stream containing the recovered solvent to form a second stage solvent diluted material;supplying the second stage solvent diluted material to a second stage gravity settler vessel;withdrawing from the second stage gravity settler vessel a second stage solvent diluted tailings component and a second stage solvent diluted bitumen component;recycling the second stage solvent diluted bitumen component as at least part of the first stage solvent-containing stream;subjecting the second stage solvent diluted tailings component to solvent recovery to produce a second stage recovered solvent component; andproviding the second stage recovered solvent component as part of the second stage solvent stream. 69. The process of claim 1, wherein the discharge point is an open end of a pipe that defines the feedwell. 70. The process of claim 69, wherein the discharge point is located within the separation vessel at a central location equidistant from surrounding side walls of the separation vessel. 71. The process of claim 70, wherein the separation vessel comprises an upper section comprising cylindrical side walls connected to a lower section comprising conical side walls, and the discharge point is located at an elevation within the upper section. 72. The process of claim 1, wherein the feedwell is a sole feedwell through which the solvent diluted material is supplied into the separation vessel. 73. The process of claim 1, wherein the discharge point comprises a single aperture. 74. The process of claim 1, wherein prior to discharging the solvent diluted material into the separation vessel the solvent diluted material comprises an aqueous component flowing beside a hydrocarbon component and having a velocity difference between the two components, and wherein the process further comprises diffusing the solvent diluted material outside of the separation vessel to produce a diffused solvent diluted material to eliminate the velocity difference, and straightening the flow of the diffused solvent diluted material in a portion of the feedwell located inside the separation vessel to produce a straightened solvent diluted material that is discharged into the separation vessel, due to pipeline configurations leading to the separation vessel, one component may be induced to have a spiral trajectory along the pipeline, resulting in inconsistent discharge into the separation vessel. 75. The process of claim 1, further comprising diffusing the solvent diluted material outside of the separation vessel to produce a diffused solvent diluted material, and flowing the diffused solvent diluted material from the diffuser to the discharge point without passing through an elbow, a curvature, a branch, a tee, a reducer, an enlarger or a wye. 76. The process of claim 1, wherein prior to discharging the solvent diluted material into the separation vessel the solvent diluted material comprises an aqueous component or a hydrocarbon component flowing with a spiral trajectory, and wherein the process further comprises straightening the flow of the solvent diluted material in a portion of the feedwell to produce a straightened solvent diluted material that is discharged into the separation vessel. 77. The process of claim 1, further comprising passing the solvent diluted material through a static mixer outside of the separation vessel or at a location within the separation vessel. 78. The process of claim 1, wherein a supply pipeline is provided and comprises an upstream section for receiving the solvent diluted material from the contacting step and the feedwell as a downstream section thereof for introducing the solvent diluted material into the separation vessel, and wherein the upstream section of the supply line comprises pipeline arrangements that are non-linear. 79. The process of claim 1, wherein a supply pipeline is provided and comprises an upstream section for receiving the solvent diluted material from the contacting step and the feedwell as a downstream section thereof for introducing the solvent diluted material into the separation vessel, and wherein both the upstream section and the feedwell of the supply line do not have phase separation inducing arrangements. 80. The process of claim 42, wherein the discharge point is an open end of a pipe that defines the feedwell. 81. The process of claim 80, wherein the discharge point is located within the separation vessel at a central location equidistant from surrounding side walls of the separation vessel. 82. The process of claim 81, wherein the separation vessel comprises an upper section comprising cylindrical side walls connected to a lower section comprising conical side walls, and the discharge point is located at an elevation within the upper section. 83. The process of claim 42, wherein the feedwell is a sole feedwell through which the solvent diluted material is supplied into the separation vessel. 84. The process of claim 42, wherein the discharge point comprises a single aperture. 85. The process of claim 42, wherein the diffusing of the solvent diluted material is performed outside of the separation vessel to produce the diffused solvent diluted material, and the process further comprises straightening the diffused solvent diluted material in a portion of the feedwell located inside the separation vessel to produce a straightened solvent diluted material that is discharged into the separation vessel. 86. The process of claim 42, wherein the diffusing of the solvent diluted material is performed outside of the separation vessel to produce the diffused solvent diluted material, and the process further comprises flowing the diffused solvent diluted material from the diffuser to the discharge point without passing through an elbow, a curvature, a branch, a tee, a reducer, an enlarger or a wye. 87. The process of claim 42, wherein the diffusing of the solvent diluted material is performed outside of the separation vessel using a diffuser to produce a diffused solvent diluted material, and the process further comprises periodically bypassing the diffuser via a bypass line. 88. The process of claim 42, further comprising passing the solvent diluted material through a static mixer outside of the separation vessel or at a location within the separation vessel. 89. The process of claim 42, wherein a supply pipeline is provided and comprises an upstream section for receiving the solvent diluted material from the contacting step before the diffusing, and the feedwell as a downstream section thereof for introducing the diffused solvent diluted material into the separation vessel, and wherein the upstream section of the supply line comprises pipeline arrangements that are non-linear. 90. The process of claim 42, wherein a supply pipeline is provided and comprises an upstream section for receiving the solvent diluted material from the contacting step before the diffusing, and the feedwell as a downstream section thereof for introducing the diffused solvent diluted material into the separation vessel, and wherein the upstream section and the feedwell of the supply line do not have phase separation inducing arrangements. 91. The process of claim 54, wherein the discharge point is an open end of a pipe that defines the feedwell. 92. The process of claim 91, wherein the discharge point is located within the separation vessel at a central location equidistant from surrounding side walls of the separation vessel. 93. The process of claim 92, wherein the separation vessel comprises an upper section comprising cylindrical side walls connected to a lower section comprising conical side walls, and the discharge point is located at an elevation within the upper section. 94. The process of claim 54, wherein the feedwell is a sole feedwell through which the solvent diluted material is supplied into the separation vessel. 95. The process of claim 54, wherein the discharge point comprises a single aperture. 96. The process of claim 54, further comprising diffusing the solvent diluted material outside of the separation vessel to produce a diffused solvent diluted material, and straightening the diffused solvent diluted material in a portion of the feedwell located inside the separation vessel to produce a straightened solvent diluted material that is discharged into the separation vessel. 97. The process of claim 54, further comprising diffusing the solvent diluted material outside of the separation vessel to produce a diffused solvent diluted material, and flowing the diffused solvent diluted material from the diffuser to the discharge point without passing through an elbow, a curvature, a branch, a tee, a reducer, an enlarger or a wye. 98. The process of claim 54, further comprising diffusing the solvent diluted material outside of the separation vessel using a diffuser to produce a diffused solvent diluted material, and periodically bypassing the diffuser via a bypass line. 99. The process of claim 54, further comprising passing the solvent diluted material through a static mixer outside of the separation vessel or at a location within the separation vessel. 100. The process of claim 1, further including a feed pipeline comprising an upstream section for receiving the solvent diluted material from the contacting step, and the feedwell as a downstream section thereof for introducing the solvent diluted material into the separation vessel, and wherein the upstream section of the feed pipeline comprises pipeline arrangements that are non-linear. 101. The process of claim 1, further including a feed pipeline comprising an upstream section for receiving the solvent diluted material from the contacting step, and the feedwell as a downstream section thereof for introducing the solvent diluted material into the separation vessel, and wherein the upstream section and the feedwell of the feed pipeline do not have phase separation inducing arrangements.
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