Process for the production of sintered bauxite spheres
AssigneeA/S Niro Atomizer
InventorsEugene P. Lunghofer, Sten Mortensen, Aubrey P. Ward
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for producing high strength sintered bauxite spheres usable as fracture propping agents in oil or gas wells are produced by continuous spray-granulation of an aqueous binder-containing aluminous ore suspension to form granules which are subsequently sintered. Suitable starting materials include ores of high aluminum silicate content.
Claims9
A process for the production of sintered bauxite spheres, suitable for use as fracture propping agent in oil wells, comprising the steps of
- (a) preparing an aqueous feed suspension comprising bauxite and a binder,
- (b) continuously atomizing said feed suspension into a layer of already partly dried bauxite particles fluidized in a stream of drying air,
- (c) continuously recovering particles from said layer
- (d) continuously separating said recovered particles in oversize, undersize and product fractions making allowance for shrinkage in the subsequent sintered operation,
- (e) continuously recycling material selected from the group consisting of undersize fractions, relative fine product fractions, ground product fractions and ground oversize fractions, to the layer of fluidized particles at a site at substantial distance, measured along the flow path of the particles, from the site where said recovering of particles takes place, and
- (f) drying and sintering the non-recycled product fractions by heating them at a temperature between 1200.degree. and 1650.degree. C.
A process for the production of binder-containing bauxite spheres for use in the manufacture of sintered bauxite spheres comprising
- (a) preparing an aqueous feed suspension comprising bauxite and a binder,
- (b) continuously atomizing said feed suspension into a layer of already partly dried bauxite particles fluidized in a stream of drying air,
- (c) continuously recovering particles from said layer,
- (d) continuously separating said recovered particles in oversize, undersize and product fractions, and
- (e) continuously recycling material selected from the group consisting of undersize fractions, relative fine product fractions, ground product fractions and ground oversize fractions, to the layer of fluidized particles at a site at substantial distance, measured along the flow path of the particles, from the site where said recovering of particles takes place.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.