Bitumen production with solvent separation from tailings using distributor constructions and techniques

A process for producing a bitumen product from bitumen froth, comprising:

• adding a solvent to the bitumen froth to produce a solvent diluted froth;
• separating the solvent diluted froth to produce a solvent diluted bitumen component and solvent diluted tailings;
• recovering solvent from the solvent diluted tailings, wherein the recovering comprises:
• introducing the solvent diluted tailings to a flashing chamber through a distributor extending within the flashing chamber, the distributor comprising:
• a tubular portion extending into the flashing chamber, the tubular portion comprising:
• a tubular wall defining a feed conduit for receiving the multiphase stream;
• and
• multiple spaced-apart pressure let-down apertures provided through the tubular wall and spaced apart along a length thereof, the pressure let-down apertures providing fluid communication between the feed conduit and the flashing chamber for introducing the multiphase stream into the flashing chamber;
• and
• a closed end portion connected to a downstream extremity of the tubular portion, the closed end portion comprising tapered walls defining a flow redirection zone to redirect a bypassed portion of the multiphase stream back toward the pressure let-down apertures;
• recovering flashed solvent from the flashing chamber as a solvent overhead stream;
• and
• recovering a solvent depleted tailings component from the flashing chamber as an underflow stream;
• reusing the recovered solvent in the process;
• and
• recovering solvent from the solvent diluted bitumen component to produce a recovered solvent stream and a bitumen product.

A method for producing a bitumen product, comprising:

• adding a solvent to the bitumen froth to produce a solvent diluted froth;
• separating the solvent diluted froth to produce a solvent diluted bitumen component and solvent diluted tailings;
• recovering solvent from the solvent diluted tailings, wherein the recovering comprises introducing the solvent diluted tailings to a flashing chamber through a distributor extending within the flashing chamber, wherein design and implementation of the distributor comprises:
• providing the flashing chamber with an over-designed distributor having an over-estimated opening size based on an initial process design mode;
• operating the flashing chamber in an adjusted mode compared to the initial process design mode to account for the over-estimated opening size of the over-designed distributor;
• replacing the over-designed distributor with a re-designed distributor having an adjusted opening size determined based on operation of the flashing chamber in the adjusted mode with the over-designed distributor;
• and
• operating the flashing chamber with the re-designed distributor according to the initial process design mode;
• recovering flashed solvent from the flashing chamber as a solvent overhead stream;
• and
• recovering a solvent depleted tailings component from the flashing chamber as an underflow stream;
• and
• reusing the recovered solvent in the process;
• recovering solvent from the solvent diluted bitumen component to produce a recovered solvent stream and a bitumen product.

A process for producing a bitumen product from bitumen froth, comprising:

• adding a solvent to the bitumen froth to produce a solvent diluted froth;
• separating the solvent diluted froth to produce a solvent diluted bitumen component and solvent diluted tailings;
• recovering solvent from the solvent diluted tailings, wherein the recovering comprises:
• introducing the solvent diluted tailings to a flashing chamber through a distributor extending within the flashing chamber, the distributor comprising:
• a tubular portion extending into the flashing chamber, the tubular portion comprising:
• a cylindrical wall defining a feed conduit for receiving the multiphase stream;
• and
• multiple spaced-apart pressure let-down apertures provided through the cylindrical wall and spaced apart along a length thereof, the pressure let-down apertures providing fluid communication between the feed conduit and the flashing chamber for introducing the multiphase stream into the flashing chamber;
• and
• a closed end portion connected to a downstream extremity of the tubular portion, the closed end portion comprising tapered walls with curved internal surfaces defining an ellipsoid cap;
• recovering flashed solvent from the flashing chamber as a solvent overhead stream;
• and
• recovering a solvent depleted tailings component from the flashing chamber as an underflow stream;
• reusing the recovered solvent in the process;
• and
• recovering solvent from the solvent diluted bitumen component to produce a recovered solvent stream and a bitumen product.