Method and device for in-line injection of flocculent agent into a fluid flow of mature fine tailings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10967340-B2
Application number	US-202016786137-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2020
Priority date	May 20, 2010
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

A method and device for in-line injecting of flocculated agent into a fluid flow of mature fine tailings (MFT). The method includes the steps of: a) providing a fluid flow of mature fine tailings to be treated along a given channel fluidly connected to the pipeline; b) providing a source of flocculating agent; and c) introducing flocculating agent inside the fluid flow of mature fine tailings via a plurality of injection outlets for injecting the flocculating agent into the fluid flow in a dispersed manner so as to increase an exposed surface area of the injected flocculating agent and thus increase a corresponding reaction with the mature fine tailings, for an improved flocculation of said mature fine tailings, and/or other desired end results. Also disclosed is a kit with corresponding components for assembling the in-line injection device to be connected in-line with the pipeline carrying the mature fine tailings to be treated.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method of inline-injection of a flocculating agent into fine tailings flowing through a pipeline in order to promote flocculation of the fine tailings, the method comprising:
providing a fluid flow of the fine tailings to be treated along a channel fluidly connected to the pipeline;
providing a source of the flocculating agent; and
introducing the flocculating agent inside the fluid flow of the fine tailings via a plurality of injection outlets disposed co-annularly about the fluid flow of the fine tailings and each having an orifice smaller than the channel, thereby dispersing the flocculating agent into the fluid flow for flocculating the fine tailings.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the introducing of the flocculant solution further comprises:
creating a zone of turbulence within the fluid flow of the fine tailings; and
injecting the flocculating agent via the plurality of injection outlets within the zone of turbulence for mixing the flocculating agent with the fine tailings and further promoting flocculation of the fine tailings.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flocculating agent is introduced into the fluid flow of the fine tailings as part of a liquid.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flocculating agent is injected into the flow of the fine tailings via an injection device that is fluidly coupled to the source of the flocculating agent and the pipeline, the injection device comprising:
a main inlet for receiving the fluid flow of the fine tailings;
the channel coupled to the main inlet and along which the fluid flow entering the inlet is allowed to travel;
a main outlet for releasing the fluid flow; and
a complementary conduit, disposed co-annularly with respect to the channel, and configured for receiving the flocculating agent from a feed inlet different from the main inlet, the complementary conduit having the plurality of injection outlets disposed co-annularly about the main outlet for injecting the flocculant solution into the fluid flow exiting the main outlet.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the injection outlets are radially positioned about the main outlet in an equally spaced manner.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the injection device comprises eight injection outlets, wherein each injection outlet is about ⅞ inches in diameter, and wherein a center point for each injection outlet is positioned about ⅞ inches away from an inner surface of the channel.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the orifice of each injection outlet is substantially smaller than that of the feed inlet.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the orifice of each injection outlet is substantially smaller than that of the channel.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein the channel has an internal diameter which is smaller than an internal diameter of the pipeline.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the channel has an internal diameter which is about half the size of an internal diameter of the pipeline.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the internal diameter of the channel is between about 4 inches and about 6 inches.

12. The method of claim 4 , wherein the feed inlet is provided with a connecting flange for removably connecting the feed inlet to the source of the flocculant solution.

13. The method of claim 4 , wherein the injection outlets each comprise rounded edges.

14. The method of claim 4 , wherein each injection outlet comprises a cylindrical conduit that has a longitudinal outlet axis oriented in parallel with respect to a longitudinal axis of the channel, and each injection outlet has a constant circular cross-section along the longitudinal outlet axis.

15. The method of claim 4 , wherein the injection outlets are disposed cross-sectionally adjacent to and co-annularly about the main outlet.

16. The method of claim 4 , wherein the injection device further comprises a backing ring defining a downstream end of the complementary conduit and having the injection outlets extending there-through, the backing ring comprising a downstream-facing annular surface at which each of the injection outlets terminates, and wherein the injection outlets are provided extending through a wall thickness of the backing ring.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the backing ring has disposed there-through a single circular pattern of the injection outlets.

18. The method of claim 4 , wherein the main inlet comprises a tapered reducer concentrically mounted about an upstream inlet of the channel, the cross-sectional area of the reducer being reduced in a downstream direction of the fluid flow.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the tapered reducer has a slope with a ratio of about 7 to 1.

20. The method of claim 4 , wherein the injection outlets are located closer to an inner wall of the channel than to an outer wall of the complementary conduit.

21. The method of claim 1 , further comprising rapidly increasing the cross-sectional area of the channel along a given interface segment of the channel for abruptly altering the flow velocity of the fine tailings travelling through the interface segment of the channel, in order to create a turbulent zone of fluid flow adjacent to the interface segment.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fine tailings are derived from oil sands.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the fine tailings are mature fine tailings.

24. A method of inline-injection of a liquid comprising a polymer flocculating agent into fine tailings flowing through a pipeline in order to promote flocculation of the fine tailings, the method comprising:
providing a fluid flow of the fine tailings to be treated along a channel fluidly connected to an upstream section of the pipeline and a downstream section of the pipeline;
introducing the liquid comprising the polymer flocculating agent into the fluid flow of the fine tailings in the form of a plurality of liquid streams that enter the fluid flow in a downstream direction and at respective locations arranged annularly about the channel such that the flocculating agent mixes with the fine tailings and forms flocculated tailings, wherein the liquid streams each have a cross-sectional area upon entry into the fine tailings that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the channel; and
flowing the flocculated tailings through the downstream section of the pipeline.

25. A method of inline-injection of a liquid comprising a polymer flocculating agent into fine tailings flowing through a pipeline in order to promote flocculation of the fine tailings, the method comprising:
providing a fluid flow of the fine tailings to be treated along a channel fluidly connected to the pipeline;
introducing the liquid comprising the polymer flocculating agent into the fluid flow of the fine tailings via an injection device comprising:
a main inlet for receiving the fluid flow;
a main channel along which the fluid flow entering the inlet is allowed to travel;
a main outlet located at a downstream end of the main channel for releasing the fluid flow into a mixing zone;
a complementary conduit, disposed co-annularly with respect to the main channel, and configured for receiving the liquid comprising the polymer flocculating agent from a feed inlet different from the main inlet, the complementary conduit having a plurality of injection outlets disposed cross-sectionally adjacent to and co-annularly about the main outlet for injecting flocculating agent into

Assignees

• Suncor Energy Inc

Inventors

• Revington Adrian Peter
• Martin William Matthew
• Eastwood Jamie
• Weiss Marvin Harvey

Classifications

• B01F25/31331 Primary

  Perforated, multi-opening, with a plurality of holes · CPC title

• B01F25/31423

  with a plurality of perforations in the circumferential direction only and covering the whole circumference · CPC title

• B01F25/3142

  the conduit having a plurality of openings in the axial direction or in the circumferential direction · CPC title

• B01F25/314

  wherein additional components are introduced at the circumference of the conduit · CPC title

• B01F25/3132 Primary

  by using two or more injector devices · CPC title