Flotation method and apparatus for recovering crude oil from tar-sand

Patent · Tue Apr 13 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5199408

Hack, A G

This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for scrubbing crude oil (Bitumen) from tar-sands, the apparatus being characterized by a heated vessel for maintaining the tarsand/water slurry at between approximately 180 degrees to 200 degrees F., a pair of counterrotating screw conveyors in the bottom of the vessel for agitating the sand and moving it to the discharge end, means for simultaneously diluting and aerating the incoming slurry that produces small bubbles effective to float the crude oil freed from the sand to the surface, an overflow wier running alongside the vessel for catching the oil skimmed off the surface of the water, transversely-extending endless chain-and-flight skimmers for skimming the oil into the wier, a bottom-opening discharge for the clean sand, and valves controlling the discharge of sand effective to remove the latter without lowering the fluid level in the vessel to a point where the oil previously released can reattach itself to the sand. The method encompasses the steps of submerging the tar-sand in a hot water bath agitating the sand while thus immersed while continuously bubbling air up through the slurry to float the oil particles freed from the sand grains to the surface, continuously skimming off the oil floating on the water bath from the surface thereof, and withdrawing the clean sand from the bottom of the vessel intermittently and quickly enough to prevent the level of the water bath from falling below the top of the screws.

• Assignee: Crescent Engineering Co
• Patent Number(s): US 4324652
• OSTI ID: 5199408
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 9 Oct 1980; Other Information: PAT-APPL-195596
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
BITUMENS
RECOVERY
OIL SANDS
PROCESSING
AERATION
DILUTION
FLOTATION
PRIMARY RECOVERY
REMOVAL
SCRUBBERS
SLURRIES
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
MIXTURES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SUSPENSIONS
TAR
040402* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Surface Methods