Patent ID: 8968579
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: B01D,B03B,B03D,C10G,E21C

Abstract:
1. A process for separating a bitumen froth stream containing bitumen froth, water and fine solids into a bitumen enriched froth stream and a water and fine solids stream, the process comprising: receiving the bitumen froth stream in a concentrator vessel; distributing the bitumen froth stream in the concentrator vessel as a substantially uniform and generally horizontal flow of the bitumen froth stream at a first flow velocity; slowing the bitumen froth stream to a second flow velocity, slower than the first flow velocity, in a separation region of the concentrator vessel to promote separation of the bitumen froth from the water and fine solids, the bitumen froth accumulating as a bitumen froth layer atop a water layer with the fine solids settling within the water layer; collecting the bitumen froth layer as the bitumen enriched froth stream; and collecting the water layer and fine solids as the water and fine solids stream.