Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbon diluent from tailings comprising bitumen, particulate solids, hydrocarbon diluent and water, is provided comprising introducing the tailings into a high pressure stripping vessel operating at a pressure greater than 100 kPa; and introducing a stripping gas into the high pressure stripping vessel to strip the hydrocarbon diluent and water from the tailings and form a stripped tailings pool at the bottom of the vessel.

Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbon diluent from tailings comprising bitumen, particulate solids, hydrocarbon diluent and water, is provided comprising introducing the tailings into a high pressure stripping vessel operating at a pressure greater than 100 kPa; and introducing a stripping gas into the high pressure stripping vessel to strip the hydrocarbon diluent and water from the tailings and form a stripped tailings pool at the bottom of the vessel.

Abstract: A method of reducing solids accumulation on a disc stack having at least one separator disc used in a centrifuge is provided, comprising: providing at least one surface of the at least one separator disc, said surface having a number of crevices therein; and coating at least a portion of the at least one surface with a coating comprising at least one fluoropolymer to fill the crevices in that portion so that the solids are prevented from settling therein.

Abstract: A process for cleaning bitumen froth produced from an oil sands extraction process involves mixing a sufficient amount of paraffinic solvent with the bitumen froth; subjecting the resulting mixture to centrifugal separation in a centrifuge to yield a diluted bitumen product, a water byproduct stream, and a solids byproduct stream; and processing the diluted bitumen product to yield dry fungible bitumen product having a total water/solids content less than about 0.5 wt %, and a recyclable paraffinic diluent stream.

Abstract: A process for cleaning bitumen froth produced from an oil sands extraction process involves mixing a sufficient amount of paraffinic solvent with the bitumen froth; subjecting the resulting mixture to centrifugal separation in a centrifuge to yield a diluted bitumen product, a water byproduct stream, and a solids byproduct stream; and processing the diluted bitumen product to yield dry fungible bitumen product having a total water/solids content less than about 0.5 wt %, and a recyclable paraffinic diluent stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifugal separator comprising a rotor arranged to be rotatable around an axis of rotation (x). An inlet chamber is formed in the rotor and an inlet pipe extends into the rotor and has an opening in the inlet chamber for supply of a liquid mixture of components. An inlet arrangement is provided in the inlet chamber, comprising a set of annular discs coaxial with the rotor and forming passages for liquid between the discs, or a helically shaped element coaxial with the rotor and forming passages for liquid between the windings of the helically shaped element. The separator further comprises vanes arranged upstream of the inlet arrangement such as to cause a pre-rotation and pre-acceleration of the liquid mixture. The vanes may be provided on a removable element of the rotor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifugal separator comprising a rotor arranged to be rotatable around an axis of rotation (x). An inlet chamber is formed in the rotor and an inlet pipe extends into the rotor and has an opening in the inlet chamber for supply of a liquid mixture of components. An inlet arrangement is provided in the inlet chamber, comprising a set of annular discs coaxial with the rotor and forming passages for liquid between the discs, or a helically shaped element coaxial with the rotor and forming passages for liquid between the windings of the helically shaped element. The separator further comprises vanes arranged upstream of the inlet arrangement such as to cause a pre-rotation and pre-acceleration of the liquid mixture. The vanes may be provided on a removable element of the rotor.