METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTION OF BITUMEN FROM TAR SAND PARTICLES (VERSIONS) Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: alternative hydrocarbon sources. SUBSTANCE: tar sand is mixed with solvent in presence of sound energy within frequency range 0.5 to 2.0 kHz. More particularly, solvent is first mixed with ground tar sand and resulting mixture is then converted into sand-in-solvent suspension. Suspension is injected into top part of upright and essentially rectangular hollow acoustic chamber with constant cross-section. Fresh solvent is injected into bottom part of acoustic chamber to flow then in upward direction. Velocity of fresh solvent injection is low enough to allow tar sand particles to fall by gravity through flowing upward solvent. Simultaneously, tar sand particles and solvent are exposed to acoustic action resulting in separation of bitumen from tar sand and dissolution thereof in countercurrent solvent stream not involved into cavitation. Dissolved bitumen is recovered from the top part of acoustic chamber and pumped over pipeline toward elsewhere located petroleum refinery. Sand particles partially freed from bitumen and removed from the bottom part of acoustic chamber can be recycled into the top part of acoustic chamber after interruption of injecting suspension to extract more bitumen. EFFECT: increased recovery of bitumen from tar sand. 18 cl, 2 dwg, 5 tbl