US4055480A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multi-phase separation methods and apparatus
Assignee: Standard Oil Co
•
Filing: 1976-03-01
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Granted: 1977-10-25
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Expires: 1996-03-01
Abstract
Abstract Multi-phase mixtures are resolved into separate phases by introducing the mixture into a body of liquid which contains a solvent for one of said phases and has a specific gravity intermediate two insoluble phases of the mixture. The latter accordingly migrate to different levels in the body of liquid and can be separately recovered therefrom. Solvent laden with the soluble phase is also separately removed from the body of liquid, and the solvent can then be stripped to isolate the soluble phase.
Inventors
- 👤 Clay D. Smith
- 👤 Douglas V. Keller, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:01
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L5/00; C10L5/02; C10L5/06; B; B01; B01D; B01D11/00; B01D11/02; B01D11/0215; B01D11/0223; B01D11/0226; B01D11/0253; B01D11/0257; B01D11/028; C10G; C10G1/00; C10G1/04; C10G1/045; C10G21/00; C10G21/06; C10G21/12; C10G21/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A method of resolving a mixture or composite containing both soluble and insoluble hydrocarbonaceous materials and insoluble mineral material into separate phases two of which respectively contain said insoluble hydrocarbonaceous material and said insoluble mineral material and the third of which contains said soluble hydrocarbonaceous material, said method comprising the steps of: introducing said mixture or composite into a body of a liquid which contains 1,2-difluoroethane or a fluorochlorocarbon solvent for said soluble hydrocarbonaceous material and which has a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of said insoluble materials and is not miscible therewith, whereby said soluble hydrocarbonaceous material will dissolve in said liquid to form said third phase, one of said insoluble material will migrate toward the top of the body of liquid to form one of said two other phases, and the other of said insoluble materials will migrate toward the bottom of said body of liquid to form the other of said two phases; separately removing the insoluble material phases and said third phase from said body of liquid; and stripping the solvent from said third phase to isolate said soluble hydrocarbonaceous material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
186 words
A method of resolving a mixture or composite containing both soluble and insoluble hydrocarbonaceous materials and insoluble mineral material into separate phases two of which respectively contain said insoluble hydrocarbonaceous material and said insoluble mineral material and the third of which contains said soluble hydrocarbonaceous material, said method comprising the steps of: introducing said mixture or composite into a body of a liquid which contains 1,2-difluoroethane or a fluorochlorocarbon solvent for said soluble hydrocarbonaceous material and which has a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of said insoluble materials and is not miscible therewith, whereby said soluble hydrocarbonaceous material will dissolve in said liquid to form said third phase, one of said insoluble material will migrate toward the top of the body of liquid to form one of said two other phases, and the other of said insoluble materials will migrate toward the bottom of said body of liquid to form the other of said two phases; separately removing the insoluble material phases and said third phase from said body of liquid; and stripping the solvent from said third phase to isolate said soluble hydrocarbonaceous material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 1 in which at least one of the insoluble material containing phases is composed at least in part of one or more non-solids.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as defined in claim 1 in which the solvent comprises a fluorochloro derivative of methane or ethane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in claim 1 in which the fluorochlorocarbon solvent is selected from the group consisting of [1,2-difluoroethane,]1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane, 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane, dichlorofluoromethane, 1-chloro-2-fluoroethane,1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, 1,1-dichloro-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, trichlorofluoromethane, and mixtures of the foregoing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as defined in claim 4 in which the fluorochlorocarbon solvent is or includes trichlorofluoromethane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as defined in claim 4 in which the solvent is or includes 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of resolving a composite containing both soluble and insoluble hydrocarbonaceous materials and insoluble mineral material into separate phases which respectively contain insoluble hydrocarbonaceous material, insoluble mineral material and soluble hydrocarbonaceous material, said method comprising the steps of: introducing said composite into an extractor containing a body of a liquid comprising 1,2-difluoroethane or a fluorochloro derivative of methane or ethane in which said soluble hydrocarbonaceous material is soluble, said liquid having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of said insoluble materials and being immiscible with respect to said materials, whereby said soluble hydrocarbonaceous material will dissolve in said liquid to form one of said phases, one of said insoluble materials will migrate toward the top of the body of liquid, and the other insoluble material will migrate toward the bottom thereof; and separately removing the insoluble material containing phases and the soluble material containing phase thus formed from said body of liquid.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of resolving a composite containing both soluble and insoluble hydrocarbonaceous materials and insoluble mineral material into separate phases which respectively contain insoluble hydrocarbonaceous material, insoluble mineral material and soluble hydrocarbonaceous material, said method comprising the steps of: introducing said composite into an extractor containing a body of a liquid comprising 1,2-difluoroethane or a fluorochloro derivative of methane or ethane in which said soluble hydrocarbonaceous material is soluble, said liquid having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of said insoluble materials and being immiscible with respect to said materials, whereby said soluble hydrocarbonaceous material will dissolve in said liquid to form one of said phases, one of said insoluble materials will migrate toward the top of the body of liquid, and the other insoluble material will migrate toward the bottom thereof; and separately removing the insoluble material containing phases and the soluble material containing phase thus formed from said body of liquid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as defined in claim 7 together with the step of stripping from at least one of the insoluble material containing phases removed from said extractor a soluble constituent of the composite removed from said extractor therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the soluble material is stripped from the insoluble material containing phase in which it is incorporated by contacting said phase in countercurrent fashion with 1,2-difluoroethane or a fluorochloro derivative of methane or ethane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method as defined in claim 7 together with the step of comminuting said composite prior to introducing the composite into the extractor to reduce the maximum size of the composite and thereby facilitate the subsequent separation of the composite into phases containing the materials of which it is composed, liquid from the extractor being circulated to and mixed with the material being comminuted to promote the dissolution of the composite.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as defined in claim 7 together with the step of replacing the liquid removed from said extractor with liquid which has a lower content of the soluble hydrocarbonaceous material to keep the concentration of soluble substances in said liquid from exceeding a selected level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as defined in claim 7 together with the step of separating from the soluble material containing phase removed from the extractor solids mixed therewith.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 7 together with the step of agitating the composite in the extractor to facilitate the dissolution of said composite into its constituents.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as defined in claim 13 wherein a quiescent zone is provided in the body of liquid in the extractor to minimize the interference of agitation as aforesaid with the migration of solids toward the bottom of the body of liquid in the extractor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as defined in claim 7 together with the step of replacing liquid withdrawn from the extractor as a constituent of the soluble material containing phase with liquid having a lower concentration of the soluble constituents of said composite to thereby keep the specific gravity of the liquid in the extractor at or near a selected level.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as defined in claim 15 together with the step of washing at least one of the insoluble material containing phases removed from the extractor with 1,2-difluoroethane or a fluorochloro derivative of methane or ethane to strip soluble material therefrom, the liquid withdrawn from the extractor being replaced with effluent from said washing step to regulate the specific gravity of the liquid in the extractor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as defined in claim 1 in which the fluorochloro derivative is selected from the group consisting of trichlorofluoromethane, 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, and mixtures of the foregoing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as defined in claim 7 in which the resolution of the composite into separate phases is carried out at ambient temperature and pressure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process as defined in claim 7 in which the steps of resolving the composite into separate phases, removing said phases from the extractor, and recovering the 1,2-difluoroethane or fluorochloro derivative are carried out without introducing water into contact with the composite or its constituents.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of resolving a tar sand into bitumen, carbonaceous solids, and mineral solids, said method comprising the steps of: introducing the tar sand into an extractor containing a body of a liquid comprising a fluorochlorocarbon solvent selected from the group consisting of trichlorofluoromethane, 1,2,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, and mixtures of the foregoing and into contact with the liquid whereby the bitumen will dissolve in the liquid and carbonaceous and mineral solids will respectively migrate to the top and bottom of the body of liquid; and separately removing the mineral and cabonaceous solids and bitumen-laden liquid from the body of reactor.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of resolving a tar sand into bitumen, carbonaceous solids, and mineral solids, said method comprising the steps of: introducing the tar sand into an extractor containing a body of a liquid comprising a fluorochlorocarbon solvent selected from the group consisting of trichlorofluoromethane, 1,2,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, and mixtures of the foregoing and into contact with the liquid whereby the bitumen will dissolve in the liquid and carbonaceous and mineral solids will respectively migrate to the top and bottom of the body of liquid; and separately removing the mineral and cabonaceous solids and bitumen-laden liquid from the body of reactor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 20 together with the step of subjecting the bitumen-laden material to centrifugal force to separate solids therefrom.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 20 together with the step of wet grinding the tar sand in a fluorochlorocarbon as aforesaid prior to bringing it into contact with the body of liquid to thereby facilitate the resolution of the tar sand into bitumen and carbonaceous and mineral solids.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 20 together with the step of stripping from the solids fluorochlorocarbon removed from the extractor therewith, said solids being drip dried before the fluorochlorocarbon is stripped therefrom to minimize the amount of fluorochlorocarbon associated with the solids and thereby the energy required to strip the fluorochlorocarbon therefrom.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the fluorochlorocarbon is stripped by sweeping the solids with a non-condensible gas and wherein the fluorochlorocarbon is recovered by purging noncondensibles from and then condensing the fluorochlorocarbon.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the carbonaceous and mineral solids removed from the body of liquid are contacted with a countercurrent flow of a fluorochlorocarbon as aforesaid to separate from said solids bitumen associated therewith.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the fluorochlorocarbon with which the solids are contacted to separate bitumen therefrom is then added to the body of liquid to replace fluorochlorocarbon withdrawn from said body of liquid with the soluble constituents of the tar sand.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the specific gravity of the body of liquid is kept between about 1.40 and 1.50 and the viscosity of said liquid is kept sufficiently low to permit rapid migration of the solids therein by limiting the concentration of the bitumen in said liquid to a maximum of about 50 percent by weight based on the total weight of the liquid.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 20 together with the step of agitating the body of liquid and the tar sand therein to facilitate the resolution of the tar sand into solids and bitumen.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
178 words
A method of resolving a mixture of composite containing hydrocarbonaceous and inorganic materials into separate phases which respectively contain undissolved hydrocarbonaceous material, inorganic material, and dissolved hydrocarbonaceous material said method comprising the steps of: introducing said mixture or composite into a body of a liquid which contains 1,2-difluoroethane or a fluorochlorocarbon solvent for soluble hydrocarbonaceous material in said mixture or composite and which has a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of said inorganic material and a part of sid hydrocarbonaceous material and is not miscible therewith, whereby soluble hydrocarbonaceous material will dissolve in said liquid to form one of said phases, undissolved hydrocarbonaceous material will migrate to one level in the body of liquid to form a second phase, and inorganic material will migrate to a different level in said body of liquid to form a third phase; separately removing the undissolved hydrocarbonaceous material containing phase, the inorganic material containing phase, and the dissolved hydrocarbonaceous material containing phases from said body of liquid; and stripping the solvent from the last-mentioned phase to isolate the dissolved hydrocarbonaceous material.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
178 words
A method of resolving a mixture of composite containing hydrocarbonaceous and inorganic materials into separate phases which respectively contain undissolved hydrocarbonaceous material, inorganic material, and dissolved hydrocarbonaceous material said method comprising the steps of: introducing said mixture or composite into a body of a liquid which contains 1,2-difluoroethane or a fluorochlorocarbon solvent for soluble hydrocarbonaceous material in said mixture or composite and which has a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of said inorganic material and a part of sid hydrocarbonaceous material and is not miscible therewith, whereby soluble hydrocarbonaceous material will dissolve in said liquid to form one of said phases, undissolved hydrocarbonaceous material will migrate to one level in the body of liquid to form a second phase, and inorganic material will migrate to a different level in said body of liquid to form a third phase; separately removing the undissolved hydrocarbonaceous material containing phase, the inorganic material containing phase, and the dissolved hydrocarbonaceous material containing phases from said body of liquid; and stripping the solvent from the last-mentioned phase to isolate the dissolved hydrocarbonaceous material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-10-24 | 1981-04-25 | 1981-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-24 | 1985-04-25 | 1985-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-24 | 1989-04-25 | 1989-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |