Centrifugal processing of tar sands

Patent · Tue Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 1964

OSTI ID:5254923

Tiedje, J L; Bichard, J A; Butler, R M

A process is described for the removal of bitumen from tar sands which comprises introducing the tar sands as an oil solvent slurry at an intermediate point of a frustro conical type centrifuge zone operating on a horizontal axis allowing extracted oil to flow by gravity downwardly to be withdrawn from the lower end of the centrifuge zone. The oil is fractionated to separate a gas oil fraction and a portion of the fraction with the sands is introduced into the intermediate point, causing extracted tar sands to move upwardly toward the upper end of the centrifuge zone by rotation at a speed different from the speed of rotation of the centrifuge zone. The extracted sand is withdrawn from the upper end of the centrifuge zone, and treated in a second stage to separate the solvent. A second solvent stream is introduced into the centrifuge zone at a point intermediate the point of introduction of the slurry and the point of withdrawal of the extracted sands.

• Assignee: Esso Research and Engineering Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3161581
• OSTI ID: 5254923
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040402* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Surface Methods
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CENTRIFUGATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GASES
MOTION
NATURAL GAS
OIL SANDS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
REMOVAL
ROTATION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENTS