Methods and apparatus for treating bitumen mixtures

Abstract

Disclosed are methods for preparing a high-viscosity non-hazardous bitumen composition for transportation in a railcar, wherein the method may include: (a) providing to a fractionator system a low-viscosity bitumen composition previously residing in a pipeline having a first viscosity and comprising a miscible blend of hydrocarbons, which blend was prepared by mixing a first diluent composition with a first bitumen composition; (b) heating the low-viscosity bitumen composition in the fractionator system at an operating temperature of from 170 C to 232 C to provide a first light fraction and a first heavy fraction; (c) removing at least a portion of the first heavy fraction from the fractionator system, wherein the first heavy fraction has a second viscosity that is higher than the first viscosity; (d) forming a high-viscosity non-hazardous bitumen composition from at least a portion of the first heavy fraction; and (e) directing the high-viscosity non-hazardous bitumen composition to a railcar.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims benefit to co-pending application Ser. No. 15 / 782,724, filed on Oct. 12, 2017, which claims priority to provisional application No. 62 / 414,237 filed on Oct. 28, 2016, and hereby incorporates both non-provisional application Ser. No. 15 / 782,724 and provisional application No. 62 / 414,237 by reference as if set forth in their entireties.BACKGROUND1. Field of Inventions[0002]The field of the inventions disclosed and / or claimed in this application and any resulting patent is the treatment of bitumen mixtures including particularly a type of bitumen composition known as “dilbit.”2. Description of Related Art[0003]Dilbit is a composition made by mixing bitumen with diluent. Sufficient diluent is added to the bitumen so that the resulting bitumen composition has a viscosity low enough so that it may be easily transported through a pipeline. Thus the term dilbit as used herein means any blend resulting from th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a method for producing a non-hazardous bitumen composition for use in railcars. The method involves using a fractionator to separate the bitumen into a heavy fraction and a light fraction. By controlling the temperature of the fractionator, the heavy fraction has a desirable initial boiling point, which prevents it from being classified as hazardous. The light fraction, which is non-hazardous, has a high boiling point, which avoids acid corrosion attacks on the column, piping systems, and heat exchangers. The heavy fraction can then be cooled and directed to the railcar as a high-viscosity bitumen composition with desirable properties. The method also allows for efficient heat transfer using cross-flow heat exchange and artificial chilling, which ensures safe loading of the bitumen into the railcars.

Problems solved by technology

However, it is contemplated that those prior methods and apparatus lack the specific combinations of steps and features described as being part of certain methods and apparatus herein.

Also, certain methods and apparatus described have benefits that would be surprising and unexpected to a person of ordinary skill in the art who is familiar with the prior art existing at the time of inventions claimed herein but without the benefit of the disclosure herein.

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