US3844937A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydroconversion of tar sand bitumens
Assignee: HRI Inc
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Filing: 1973-06-18
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Granted: 1974-10-29
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Expires: 1993-06-18
Abstract
Abstract The recovery of valuable liquid hydrocarbons from tar sand bitumens by hydroconversion in an upflow reactor is improved when the concentration of ash in the reactor liquid is maintained at from about 4 percent to about 10 percent by weight. Suitably, this is effected by feeding the reactor liquid phase effluent to a separation unit such as a liquid cyclone and recycling the ashenriched underflow liquid from the separation unit to the reactor.
Inventors
- 👤 R Wolk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 03:54
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G1/00; C10G1/06; C10G1/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
IN A PROCESS FOR HYDROCONVERSION OF A BITUMEN DERIVED FROM TAR SANDS IN WHICH A TAR SAND BITUMEN IS PASSED THROUGH A REACTION ZONE CONTAINING A CONTINUOUS LIQUID PHASE AND A CONTACT MATERIAL DERIVED FROM THE FEED ITSELF AND A HYDROGENCONTAINING GAS AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF FROM ABOUT 700*F TO ABOUT 950*F AND UNDER A HYDROGEN PARTIAL PRESSURE OF FROM ABOUT 200 TO ABOUT 1,500 PSI WHEREIN THE CONTACT MATERIAL IS MAINTAINED IN AN EBULLATED STATE BY THE PASSAGE OF FLUIDS THROUGH THE REACTION ZONE AND AN ASH-CONTAINING EFFLUENT IS REMOVED FROM THE REACTION ZONE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: A. SEPARATING SAID EFFLUENT IN A SEPARATION UNIT INTO AN ASHDEPLETED FRACTION AND AN ASH-ENRICHED FRACTION, AND B. RECYCLING SAID ASH-ENRICHED FRACTION TO THE REACTION ZONE TO MAINTAIN THE SOLIDS CONCENTRATION IN THE REACTOR LIQUID FROM ABOUT 4 TO ABOUT 10 WEIGHT PERCENT.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
IN A PROCESS FOR HYDROCONVERSION OF A BITUMEN DERIVED FROM TAR SANDS IN WHICH A TAR SAND BITUMEN IS PASSED THROUGH A REACTION ZONE CONTAINING A CONTINUOUS LIQUID PHASE AND A CONTACT MATERIAL DERIVED FROM THE FEED ITSELF AND A HYDROGENCONTAINING GAS AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF FROM ABOUT 700*F TO ABOUT 950*F AND UNDER A HYDROGEN PARTIAL PRESSURE OF FROM ABOUT 200 TO ABOUT 1,500 PSI WHEREIN THE CONTACT MATERIAL IS MAINTAINED IN AN EBULLATED STATE BY THE PASSAGE OF FLUIDS THROUGH THE REACTION ZONE AND AN ASH-CONTAINING EFFLUENT IS REMOVED FROM THE REACTION ZONE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: A. SEPARATING SAID EFFLUENT IN A SEPARATION UNIT INTO AN ASHDEPLETED FRACTION AND AN ASH-ENRICHED FRACTION, AND B. RECYCLING SAID ASH-ENRICHED FRACTION TO THE REACTION ZONE TO MAINTAIN THE SOLIDS CONCENTRATION IN THE REACTOR LIQUID FROM ABOUT 4 TO ABOUT 10 WEIGHT PERCENT.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the ratio of recycled ash-enriched fraction of fresh bitumen feed to the reactor is from about 0.05:1 to about 1.0:1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the enrichment of ash is accomplished in a liquid cyclone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the passage of fluids through the reaction zone is at a space velocity of 0.5 to 2.0 volume of feed per hour per volume of reactor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-28 | 1978-04-29 | 1978-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-28 | 1982-04-29 | 1982-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-28 | 1986-04-29 | 1986-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |