Abstract: A feedwell is provided for an inclined plate separator having a separation chamber containing parallel plates defining separation passages. The feedwell includes a plenum defining a plenum chamber external to the separation chamber, an upward-facing deflector surface in the plenum chamber, an inlet for discharging influent fluid onto a receiving region of the deflector surface, and an outlet for discharging the influent fluid out of the plenum and transversely into the separation chamber. The feedwell also includes parallel fins. The fins define between them plenum passages that extend from a fin end to outlet. The fin ends are disposed between the outlet and the receiving region, and are arranged in a horizontal semi-elliptical path defining a center that horizontally coincides with the receiving region.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to flexible product packaging and, in particular, to flexible packaging structures for products such as food products stored and transported for later reheating or cooking. In one aspect, an ovenable flexible packaging structure includes a paper layer having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, the paper layer having a cutout defining a window. A printed ink layer is disposed on the first major surface of the paper layer and a varnish layer is disposed over the printed ink layer. A heat sealable polyester layer is disposed on the second major surface of the paper layer, the heat sealable polyester layer having a strip of perforations formed therein. The strip of perforations and the cutout are at least partially overlapping with each other. An adhesive layer intermediate the paper layer and the heat sealable polymer layer includes an adhesive for adhesively bonding the paper layer to the heat sealable polymer layer.

Abstract: A method for determining a bed height of a solids bed formed in a pipeline transporting an oil sands slurry is described. The method can include measuring an actual flow rate of the slurry, obtaining at least one measured velocity, determining a velocity derived flow rate from the measured velocity and a cross-sectional area of the pipeline, determining a cross-sectional bed area to then determine the bed height. A process for operating a pipeline transporting a slurry including the method for determining the bed dimension is also provided. Bed height determination and control can help mitigate slurry pipeline wear.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a real estate appraisal. Characteristics of a property of interest are compared with the characteristics of different real estate properties to determine a set of comparable real estate properties. The sales prices associated with the set of comparable real estate properties are then adjusted based on predetermined criteria and a final valuation of the property of interest is generated based on these adjusted sales prices.

Abstract: A method for transporting a bitumen froth having coarse solids having a particle size>180 ?m through a pipeline is provided comprising injecting into the pipeline a bitumen froth slug having a lower temperature or a lower water content or both that the bitumen froth.

Abstract: A method for controlling the solids distribution in a bitumen froth produced when processing an oil sands ore having a d50 of about 250 ?m or greater and a d90 of about 450 ?m or greater is provided comprising adding a high-fines material having a d50 of about 50 ?m or less and a fines content of about 40% of the solids or greater to the oil sands ore to form an ore blend; and processing the ore blend in a water-based bitumen extraction process to produce the bitumen froth.

Abstract: A method for transporting a bitumen froth having coarse solids having a particle size>180 ?m through a pipeline is provided comprising injecting into the pipeline a bitumen froth slug having a lower temperature or a lower water content or both that the bitumen froth.

Abstract: A process for extracting bitumen from mined oil sand is provided, comprising: preparing an oil sand slurry comprising oil sand and water; conditioning the oil sand slurry by pumping the oil sand slurry through a hydrotransport pipeline under shear conditions that reduce the formation of water-in-bitumen emulsions in the conditioned oil sand slurry and increase the size of bitumen-air aggregates; and subjecting the conditioned oil sand slurry to gravity separation to produce a bitumen froth having enhanced bitumen recovery and reduced water-in-bitumen emulsions, a middlings layer and sand tailings.

Abstract: A method for controlling the solids distribution in a bitumen froth produced when processing an oil sands ore having a d50 of about 250 ?m or greater and a d90 of about 450 ?m or greater is provided comprising adding a high-fines material having a d50 of about 50 ?m or less and a fines content of about 40% of the solids or greater to the oil sands ore to form an ore blend; and processing the ore blend in a water-based bitumen extraction process to produce the bitumen froth.

Abstract: An enclosure for containing liquid that is expelled from a hose and nozzle at a high pressure. The enclosure allowing a user to withdraw the hose and nozzle from a pipe without the risk of harm to the user and without spraying liquid everywhere.

Abstract: A process for extracting bitumen from mined oil sand is provided, comprising: preparing an oil sand slurry comprising oil sand and water; conditioning the oil sand slurry by pumping the oil sand slurry through a hydrotransport pipeline under shear conditions that reduce the formation of water-in-bitumen emulsions in the conditioned oil sand slurry and increase the size of bitumen-air aggregates; and subjecting the conditioned oil sand slurry to gravity separation to produce a bitumen froth having enhanced bitumen recovery and reduced water-in-bitumen emulsions, a middlings layer and sand tailings.

Abstract: Fines loading into a primary separation vessel is used to control oil sand ore feed rate and ore fines content to a water-based bitumen extraction plant comprising a slurry preparation unit and to also control the number of primary separation vessels in operation at a bitumen separation plant to minimize operation upsets/excursions and to optimize overall extraction performance.

Abstract: A hand tool that is capable of efficiently, inexpensively, and quickly attaching to a pipe and allows for boring an access hole to be used for accessing the inside of the pipe and unclogging the pipe.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for a semi-rigid apparatus for use in conjunction with the sole and upper of a shoe or sandal. The apparatus involves a heel stabilizer shank enclosing a portion of the heel, with a shank extension from the medial side, a lightweight support structure running along the bottom of the foot between the outsole and insole stiffening the heel and midfoot. Both elements are made from a single piece of material that can be injection molded, 3D printed, or the like. The purpose of this apparatus is to provide all day comfort, protect the heel from lateral shifting, and stiffen the heel and midfoot for less strain on the foot.

Abstract: A hand tool that is capable of efficiently, inexpensively, and quickly attaching to a pipe and allows for boring an access hole to be used for accessing the inside of the pipe and unclogging the pipe.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to improved security in cloud computing environments are disclosed. According to one illustrative implementation, a method for provisioning physical geographic location of a physical infrastructure device associated with a hypervisor host is provided. Further, the method may include performing processing to obtain initial geo location data of the device, determining verified geo location data of the device by performing validation, via an attestation service component, of the initial geo location data to provide verified geo location data, and writing the verified geo location data into HSM or TPM space of the hypervisor host.

Abstract: A process for operating multiple oil sand mine sites for extracting bitumen from oil sand is disclosed, comprising preparing a first conditioned oil sand slurry at a first location using a first oil sand slurry preparation and slurry conditioning process; preparing a second conditioned oil sand slurry at a second location using a second oil sand slurry preparation and slurry conditioning process; combining the first conditioned oil sand slurry and the second conditioned oil sand slurry in at least one slurry distributor to produce a combined oil sand slurry; and distributing the combined oil sand slurry to at least one separation vessel to produce bitumen froth.

Abstract: The liquid feed nozzle assemblies for a circulating fluid bed reactor comprise (i) a throttle body premixer to combine liquid feed with atomization steam to form a liquid feed/steam mixture comprising gas bubbles in liquid; (ii) a conduit connected to the premixer and to a discharge nozzle to convey a flow of the liquid/steam mixture created by the premixer to the nozzle body; (iii) a discharge nozzle connected to the flow conduit to shear the liquid feed/steam mixture to create liquid feed droplets of reduced size and (iv) a disperser at the outlet of the discharge nozzle to provide a spray jet of liquid feed having an increased surface area relative to a cylindrical jet. The nozzle assembles are particularly useful in fluid coking units using heavy oil feeds such a tar sands bitumen.

Abstract: A process for operating a settling slurry transportation pipeline is provided, comprising: determining the deposition velocity for a particular slurry being transported through the pipeline; and operating the pipeline at an operating velocity at or near the deposition velocity to form a stationary or near stationary bed of solids that will still allow the slurry to freely flow through the pipeline and not plug the pipeline.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to improved security in cloud computing environments are disclosed. According to one illustrative implementation, a method for provisioning physical geographic location of a physical infrastructure device associated with a hypervisor host is provided. Further, the method may include performing processing to obtain initial geo location data of the device, determining verified geo location data of the device by performing validation, via an attestation service component, of the initial geo location data to provide verified geo location data, and writing the verified geo location data into HSM or TPM space of the hypervisor host.