MULTI-STAGE COUNTER-CURRENT FROTH SETTLER AND METHOD OF USE

摘要

In a method for recovery of bitumen from a bitumen-containing froth,the froth is first diluted with solvent and the diluted froth is added to asingle, frothsettling vessel above a plurality of internals. Additional of the solvent isadded tothe vessel, either below the internals, intermediate the internals or both andisflowed counter-current to the diluted froth which is flowing downwardly overtheplurality of internals. A gradient of solvent concentration relative tohydrocarbonconcentration is formed through the internals which act as multiple stages ofseparation. Bitumen, solvent and other light components are produced at a topofthe vessel. Heavier water, solids and asphaltene aggregates are recovered atthebottom of the vessel. For paraffinic solvents, the solvent to bitumen ratio ofthedilution solvent is below an asphaltenes rejection ratio for isolatingsubsequentasphaltene rejection within the settling vessel.