Abstract: A process for separating bitumen from bitumen ore material includes extracting bitumen with a hydrocarbon solvent to produce a bitumen-enriched solvent phase and tailings. The tailings are dried or stripped in a dryer to remove any remaining hydrocarbon solvent. The amount of solvent discharged in the tailings may be less than 4 bbl per 1000 bbl of recovered bitumen.

Abstract: A process for separating bitumen from bitumen ore material includes extracting bitumen with a hydrocarbon solvent to produce a bitumen-enriched solvent phase and tailings. The tailings are dried or stripped in a dryer to remove any remaining hydrocarbon solvent. The amount of solvent discharged in the tailings may be less than 4 bbl per 1000 bbl of recovered bitumen.

Abstract: A process for producing biofuels and biolubricants from lipid material includes reacting lipid material with a motive fluid in a reactor. The reactor may be configured to cause a high energy collision between the motive fluid and the lipid material that facilitates the reactions that result in biofuels and biolubricants. A heavy fraction of the effluent may be repeatedly recycled back through the reactor until most, if not all, of the lipid material has been converted.

Abstract: Methods for preparing solvent-dry, stackable tailings. The method can include the steps of adding a first quantity of first solvent to a bitumen material to form a first mixture, separating a first quantity of bitumen-enriched solvent from the first mixture and thereby creating first solvent-wet tailings, adding a quantity of second solvent to first solvent-wet tailings to separate a first quantity of first solvent component from the first solvent-wet tailings and thereby producing second solvent-wet tailings, and adding a quantity of water to the second solvent-wet tailings to separate a first quantity of second solvent component from the second solvent-wet tailings and thereby forming solvent-dry, stackable tailings.

Abstract: Combustion system comprising a furnace having a thermal load and a combustion atmosphere, wherein the thermal load and combustion atmosphere are disposed within the furnace; one or more fuel lances adapted to inject fuel into the combustion atmosphere; and one or more igniters associated with the one or more fuel lances and adapted to ignite the fuel injected by the one or more fuel lances.

Abstract: Burner assembly comprising (a) an elongated body having a periphery, a discharge end adjacent a combustion zone, and an axis, wherein the axis extends into the combustion zone; (b) one or more oxidant nozzles disposed at the discharge end of the elongated body and adapted to discharge a gaseous oxidant into the combustion zone; and (c) one or more fuel nozzles disposed at the discharge end of the elongated body and adapted to discharge a fuel into the combustion zone. At least one of the oxidant and fuel nozzles is characterized by a shape factor, ?, that is greater than about 10, wherein ? is a dimensionless parameter defined as ?=P2/2A where P is the perimeter dimension of the discharge opening and A is the area of the discharge opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and furnace for generating straightened flames in a steam methane reformer or ethylene cracking furnace where fuel-staged burners are used. Fuel staging may be used for reducing NOx emissions. Criteria for generating straightened flames are provided. These criteria relate to oxidant conduit geometry and furnace geometry. Techniques for modifying the furnace and/or burners to achieve these criteria are also provided.

Abstract: A combustion device and combustion method for mixing a fuel and a fluid to form a diluted fuel mixture and passing the diluted fuel mixture through a nozzle. The nozzle comprises a nozzle body having an inlet face, an outlet face, and an inlet flow axis passing through the inlet face and the outlet face, and one or more slots extending through the nozzle body from the inlet face to the outlet face, each slot having a slot axis.

Abstract: A furnace combustion system includes a plurality of burners adapted to generate a plurality of flames and an oxidant port disposed between and surrounded by at least two of the burners. Each burner is spaced apart from another burner and adapted to combust a stream of a first fuel or an other fuel with a stream of a first oxidant or an other oxidant and to generate a flame. The oxidant port is adapted to transmit at least one jet of the first oxidant or the other oxidant axially between at least two of the flames. The at least one jet is transmitted from the oxidant port at a controlled flow rate. At least a portion of the first oxidant or the other oxidant in the jet is required to complete combustion of at least a portion of at least one stream of the first fuel or the other fuel.

Abstract: A method of combustion in a furnace comprising a firing zone and an exhaust zone, three oxidants and fuel comprising the steps of: introducing fuel into said firing zone; introducing a first oxidant into the firing zone; introducing a second oxidant into the firing zone; and introducing a third oxidant into the exhaust zone; wherein during said step of introducing a first oxidant, the step of introducing a second oxidant, and the step of introducing a third oxidant occur.

Abstract: Combustion system comprising a furnace having a thermal load and a combustion atmosphere disposed therein; one or more fuel lances adapted to inject fuel into the combustion atmosphere; and one or more igniters associated with the one or more fuel lances and adapted to ignite the fuel injected by the one or more fuel lances into the combustion atmosphere.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for lancing gas into an environment, such as a furnace, wherein an inner conduit is in communication with a gas supply and adapted to transport a gas at a first mass flow rate, and an outer conduit is in communication with a gas supply and adapted to transport a gas at a second mass flow rate. The first mass flow rate is greater than the second mass flow rate, preferably at least two times greater. The distal end of the inner conduit is preferably recessed back at a distance from the distal end of the outer conduit.

Abstract: A process for combustion with the aid of a liquid fuel and a gaseous oxidizer containing from 20% to 100% volume of oxygen, in which the fuel is injected with the aid of an injector. The injector, which has a height “d”, is placed inside a glory hole. The glory hole has a height “D” at the end thereof corresponding to the ejection of the gaseous mixture towards the zone of heating of a charge. A coefficient “S” in the following equation is maintained at a value less than or equal to 1 for substantially the entire duration of combustion to ensure the stability of the flame.

Abstract: A process for combustion with the aid of a liquid fuel and a gaseous oxidizer containing from 20% to 100% volume of oxygen, in which the fuel is injected with the aid of an injector. The injector, which has a height “d”, is placed inside a glory hole. The glory hole has a height “D” at the end thereof corresponding to the ejection of the gaseous mixture towards the zone of heating of a charge. A coefficient “S” in the following equation is maintained at a value less than or equal to 1 for substantially the entire duration of combustion to ensure the stability of the flame.