METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SEPARATING BITUMEN SUBSTANCE AND RECOVERING SOLVENT

摘要

A process and apparatus for separating a solvent from a bituminous material by pressure reduction and steam stripping without carry-over of entrained bituminous material. A fluid-like phase comprising bituminous material and solvent is reduced in pressure by passage through a pressure reduction valve to vaporize a portion of the solvent. The reduction in pressure also results in dispersing a mist of fine particle size bituminous material in the vaporized solvent. The stream of vaporized solvent, fine particle size bituminous material and fluid-like bituminous material then is introduced into a steam stripper through an inlet horn that imparts a centrifugal motion to the stream. The inlet horn contains a plurality of corrugated vanes which utilize the centrifugal motion to create turbulence in the stream within the inlet horn. The turbulence causes at least a portion of the fine particle size bituminous material to impinge on the surfaces of the inlet horn and recombine with the fluid- like material from which it was formed. The vaporized solvent and steam are withdrawn from the stripper substantially free of entrained bituminous material.