Patent ID: 8110095
Filing Date: 2012-02-07
Classification: B01J,C10G

Abstract:
1. A control system for an apparatus for processing oil sand to produce a liquid stream comprising water and bitumen and a solid stream comprising solid particles, wherein the apparatus is comprised of a generally cylindrical rotatable drum, a spiral trough extending along an interior surface of the drum, an oil sand feed mechanism, a drive mechanism for rotating the drum, a first drum support for supporting the drum, and a second drum support for supporting the drum, wherein the drum is comprised of a first end, a second end, an oil sand inlet located adjacent to the first end, and a solid stream outlet located adjacent to the second end, wherein the first drum support is located between the first end of the drum and a midpoint of the drum, and wherein the second drum support is located between the second end of the drum and the midpoint of the drum, the control system comprising: (a) a first drum load sensor associated with the first drum support, for sensing a first drum load exerted on the first drum support; (b) a second drum load sensor associated with the second drum support, for sensing a second drum load exerted on the second drum support; (c) an oil sand feedrate sensor associated with the oil sand feed mechanism, for sensing a feedrate of the oil sand feed mechanism; (d) a controller operatively connected with the first drum load sensor, the second drum load sensor, the oil sand feedrate sensor, the drive mechanism and the oil sand feed mechanism, for controlling a rotation speed of the drum and a feedrate of the oil sand feed mechanism in response to input data from the first drum load sensor, the second drum load sensor and the oil sand feedrate sensor.