Raw tar sand is treated in a fluidized bed reactor means wherein the raw tar sands are fed into an area below the top of the bed. The bitumen is converted in the process in a reducing atmosphere including steam to produce hot coked sand and hot off-gases. Off-gases from the reactor means pass through a heat exchanger means to preheat fresh (raw) tar sand. The cooled off-gases are separated to recover raw oil, while at least a portion of the separated gases are recycled to the reactor means, to retrieve and retain heat in the system by passing upwardly through hot spent sand. Steam and oxygen are injected into the lower area of the fluid bed in an area above the spent sand zone to burn off coked sand so as to produce heat for the cracking zone.
展开▼
