US 12,467,001 B2
Methods and apparatus for treating bitumen mixtures
Stuart Berg, Houston, TX (US); Amanda Howerton, Houston, TX (US); Mark LeMaire, Houston, TX (US); and Robert Nall, Dickinson, TX (US)
Assigned to USD Group LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by USD Group LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on May 2, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/653,784.
Application 18/653,784 is a continuation of application No. 17/589,106, filed on Jan. 31, 2022, granted, now 12,006,474.
Application 17/589,106 is a continuation of application No. 16/126,976, filed on Sep. 10, 2018, abandoned.
Application 16/126,976 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/782,724, filed on Oct. 12, 2017, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/414,237, filed on Oct. 28, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2024/0287389 A1, Aug. 29, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C10C 3/08 (2006.01); C08L 95/00 (2006.01); C09D 195/00 (2006.01); C09J 195/00 (2006.01); C10C 3/00 (2006.01); C10C 3/06 (2006.01)
CPC C10C 3/08 (2013.01) [C08L 95/00 (2013.01); C09D 195/00 (2013.01); C09J 195/00 (2013.01); C10C 3/002 (2013.01); C10C 3/005 (2013.01); C10C 3/06 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
pre-heating, using a first heat exchanger, a low-viscosity bitumen composition,
wherein the low-viscosity bitumen composition has a first viscosity and comprises bitumen and a diluent;
pre-heating, using a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, the low-viscosity bitumen composition;
separating, using a fractionator in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger, the pre-heated low-viscosity bitumen composition into:
a first heavy fraction having a first temperature, and
a first light fraction having a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature and thus the first temperature of the first heavy fraction is less than the second temperature of the first light fraction;
lowering, using the first heat exchanger, the first temperature of the first heavy fraction;
lowering, using the second heat exchanger, the second temperature of the first light fraction;
wherein the low-viscosity bitumen composition is pre-heated using the first heat exchanger, with which the first temperature of the first heavy fraction is lowered, before the low-viscosity bitumen composition is pre-heated using the second heat exchanger, with which the second temperature of the first light fraction is lowered;
wherein the first heat exchanger uses cross-flow heat exchange to:
lower the first temperature of the first heavy fraction at the step of lowering the first temperature of the first heavy fraction using the first heat exchanger; and
pre-heat the low-viscosity bitumen composition at the step of pre-heating the low-viscosity bitumen composition using the first heat exchanger;
wherein the second heat exchanger uses cross-flow heat exchange to:
lower the second temperature of the first light fraction at the step of lowering the second temperature of the first light fraction using the second heat exchanger; and
pre-heat the low-viscosity bitumen composition at the step of pre-heating the low-viscosity bitumen composition using the second heat exchanger;
wherein the first heavy fraction is or forms a high-viscosity bitumen composition having a second viscosity that is higher than the first viscosity of the low-viscosity bitumen composition; and
wherein the method further comprises directing the high-viscosity bitumen composition to a railcar for transportation of the high-viscosity bitumen composition over a railway so that, during the transportation of the high-viscosity bitumen composition over the railway, the high-viscosity bitumen composition has:
a flash point of greater than or equal to 93 degrees Celsius; and
at least two volume percent of components from the diluent of the low-viscosity bitumen composition.