Patent ID: 8083838

Claim:
A method for stripping particulates from a particulate-fluid suspension, comprising: introducing the particulate fluid-suspension to a vessel comprising two or more internal sections disposed coaxially along a common longitudinal centerline, wherein a first section has a first cross sectional area, and a second section has a second cross sectional area; selectively separating the particulate fluid-suspension to provide an essentially particulate-free fluid fraction flowing in a first direction, and an essentially fluid-free particulate fraction flowing in a second direction within the first section, wherein the essentially particulate-free fluid fraction has a solids concentration of less than about 5wt % solids; settling the essentially fluid-free particulate fraction into the second section to provide one or more settled particulates therein; supplying one or more stripping fluids from an external fluid supply; introducing the one or more stripping fluids to a distribution channel disposed about the second section; flowing the one or more stripping fluids, via a plurality of fluid conduits, from the distribution channel to a plurality of apertures disposed on the second section; and flowing the one or more stripping fluids through the second section to form therein a fluidized bed comprising the one or more stripping fluids and the one or more settled particulates, wherein about 95% or more of any particulates in the particulate fluid-suspension are withdrawn from the second section when the stripping fluid has an upward velocity of about 0.9 m/s or more.