Recovering products difficult to pump - by injecting diluent under pressure pumping mixt. through recirculation system, then to storage and repeating cycle

摘要

Recovery of products which are difficult to pump comprises feeding a diluent or solvent under pressure through an injection pipe into the tank contg. the product, so that the product is put into movement and driven towards an outlet pipe. The product, mixed with the diluent or solvent, is discharged through an outlet pipe to a tank where water is sepd. and the mixt. is recycled until sufficient hydrocarbon has been recovered. The hydrocarbon is pumped to storage, fresh diluent is brought in and the cycle repeated. Particular applications are the recovery of hydrocarbons in petroleum tanks or the bankers of ships which have run a ground or sunk, when the hydrocarbons are very viscous at the ambient temp. The solvent reduces the viscosity and mechanical action breaks up the mass.