Bitumen solidification and prilling
AssigneeCenovus Energy Inc.
InventorsSubodh Gupta, Michael N. Holmes, Eric A. MacDonald, Jennifer D. Wood
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods, processes, and apparatuses for preparing and transporting bitumen. Bitumen may be prilled such that a bitumen product comprising a prill core and a non-stick coating is produced. The non-stick coating may comprise asphaltenes and the prill core may comprise bitumen, deasphalted oil, or both bitumen and deasphalted oil. The resultant non-stick coated prills have reduced adhesion to transportation vessels and other non-stick coated prills at a temperature below an adhesion temperature, facilitating transport.
Claims9
An apparatus for preparing a non-stick coated bitumen prill, the apparatus comprising:
- a deasphalter for separating a crude composition into:
- (i) a first stream comprising asphaltenes, and (ii) a second stream comprising bitumen, deasphalted oil, or a combination thereof;
- a prilling vessel having an upper section and a lower section;
- a first inlet for inputting at least a portion of the bitumen, the deasphalted oil, or the combination thereof, in the upper section of the prilling vessel and forming a prill core;
- a second inlet for inputting a carrier gas to the lower section of the prilling vessel for cooling the prill core;
- a first outlet for discharging the carrier gas from the upper section of the prilling vessel;
- a third inlet for inputting at least a portion of the asphaltenes as a component of a non-stick coating material for coating the prill core;
- and
- a second outlet for outputting the non-stick coated bitumen prill.
An apparatus for preparing a non-stick coated bitumen prill, the apparatus comprising:
- a prilling vessel having an upper section and a lower section;
- a first inlet for inputting bitumen, deasphalted oil, or a combination thereof, in the upper section of the prilling vessel and forming a prill core;
- a second inlet for inputting a carrier gas to the lower section of the prilling vessel for cooling the prill core;
- a first outlet for discharging the carrier gas from the upper section of the prilling vessel;
- a third inlet for inputting a non-stick coating material for coating the prill core;
- and
- a second outlet for outputting the non-stick coated bitumen prill,
- wherein the first inlet is configured to input the bitumen, the deasphalted oil, or the combination thereof, in the upper section of the prilling vessel via a nozzle or prilling head having a diameter, Dn, and at a velocity, v, that satisfy the following equations:
- We
- l
- =
- ρ
- l
-
- D
- n
-
- v
- l
- 2
- σ
- >
- 8
- ,
- and
- We
- g
- =
- ρ
- g
-
- D
- n
-
- (
- v
- g
- -
- v
- l
- )
- 2
- σ
- <
- 0.4
- ,
- wherein:
- We represents Weber number,
- l represents liquid,
- g represents gas,
- ρ represents density,
- Dn represents diameter,
- v represents velocity, and
- σ represents surface tension.
The apparatus according to 6, wherein the non-stick coating material comprises asphaltenes as a powder, as a liquid which subsequently solidifies, as a solvent-diluted asphaltenes solution which subsequently solidifies, or a combination thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.