Patent EA-000558-B1 (EA)
Title: Method and device for liquefying thickened oil sediments
Inventor: STREICH BRUNO
IPC: B01F5/02
Filed: 1997-04-17
Abstract: 1. A method for liquefying thickened oil and/or sludgy to compact sediments (3) from containers (1) in which crude oil (2) is stored and/or transported and the sediment (3) of crude oil is treated and liquefied at least partially or dissolved by crude oil or refinery products as solvents while the solvent is injected via nozzles (11) thus producing flow of liquid (37) which erodes the sediment to such extend that it becomes soluble, characterized in that a plurality of flow jets of crude oil or its derivatives are injected into the container (1) with crude oil and the lowered pipes (10) with nozzles (11) are arranged to each other and centered so that the flow jets (R), being equally spaced above each other thus gradually producing a general stream (37), flowing in a predetermined direction. 2. The method of Claim 1, characterized in that a substantially horizontal flow of liquid is produced over the sediment surface by orienting the direction of injection all the nozzles (11), which are properly arranged respective to the flow, into the crude oil above the sediment surface, wherein the injection (R) via all nozzles is directed in the predetermined direction substantially horizontal or directed slightly against the container bottom and forms horizontal component aligned tangential (Rt) to the radius of the container, such that it has a horizontal component aligned tangential to a flow line of the flow of liquid to be produced and in the direction of flow. 3. The method of Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a substantially horizontal, possibly self-contained liquid is injected into the crude oil (2) above the settlement surface (3) flow of liquid, wherein the injection nozzles are directed (R) at an angle, ranging from 0 to 10 degree  against vertical downwards and horizontal component aligned tangential to a flow line of the flow of liquid to be produced and in the direction of flow. 4. The method of Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the direction of injection of at least one part of the nozzles has also a horizontal radial component (Rr), which is less than horizontal tangential component (Rt). 5. The method of any preceding Claim, characterized in that self-contained substantially horizontal flow of liquid with a circular motion around the center of the flow is produced by a plurality properly arranged nozzles. 6. The method of Claim 5, characterized in that a predetermined layer is excited to the circular motion in the container liquid column, said circular motion forms a displacement plane to other sections and/or layers, so that those sections and/or layers do not exert pressure on the flow 7. The method of any one of the preceding Claim, characterized in that an exciting flow liquid is taken from a layer with a circular motion. 8. The method according to any Claim 1 to 6, characterized in that the liquid is crude oil or a refinery product and differs from the lowermost liquid layers lying above the sediment (3) in that it has a lower proportion of heavy components. 9. A device for liquefying thickened oil according to one of the preceding Claims, said device is a substantially a hollow body with nozzles (11) for feeding and discharging of the liquid, said liquid is injected via nozzles, characterized in that a plurality of laterally arranged and equally-spaced nozzles (11) are provided in the hollow body, said nozzles are centered so that to produce substantially parallel to each other flow jets (R) and said device comprises means (25) with which can rotate radially-centered nozzles (11) around substantially vertical axis to the nozzles direction to interact with nozzles (11) of another similar device. 10. The device according to any Claim 1 to 8, said device is a substantially hollow body with nozzles (11) for feeding and discharging of the liquid, said liquid is injected via nozzles, characterized in that a plurality of laterally, rigidly-arranged and equally-spaced nozzles (11) are provided in the hollow body, said nozzles are centered so that to produce flow jets substantially parallel to each other. 11. The device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the nozzles (11) are provided with a device for changing the direction of ejection and arranged on essentially vertical hollow pipes (10) leading to the container. 12. The device according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the device is vertically positioned on the bottom of the container, wherein each injection nozzle is directed (R) horizontally or centered at an angle (α), downwards and forms horizontal tangential component (Rt), vertical to the fluid surface, which is centered tangentially to the flow line of the flow of liquid to be produced and in the direction of flow and is greater than the horizontal radial component (Rr). 13. The device according to Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the pipes are provided with at least one row of nozzles in their submerged portion, said nozzles are equally spaced and extend 2-5 meters along the nozzles length, wherein upper portions of pipes stretch above the sediment layer. 14. The device for carrying out the method according to Claims 9-13, characterized in that a plurality of nozzles (11) are positioned in pairs on each flow line of flow lines (Si/Sa) to be produced or already produced, said nozzles are centered so that the horizontal radial component (Rr) of the injection direction is arranged on each of both flow lines at an acute angle opposite each other downwards the flow of next pair of nozzles, wherein the flow jets (R) are moved in general direction and can form a general flow (37) and one or a plurality of pumps (26) can be connected to pipes (10) to feed the with liquid and that one or a plurality of submerged pipes (21) for supplying pump(s) with liquid are arranged so that suction portions of said pipes are submerged into the flow layer (5) or that connection for liquid suction are provided outside said layer.