Power generation using non-aqueous solvent

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9719380-B2
Application number	US-201214368160-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2012
Priority date	Jan 3, 2012
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A system and methods for power generation uses non-aqueous solvent. The method includes treating oil sands with a non-aqueous solvent to extract bitumen in an extraction process and separating the non-aqueous solvent from the bitumen in a solvent recovery process. The method also includes heating the non-aqueous solvent, expanding the non-aqueous solvent to generate power, and cooling the non-aqueous solvent. The method further includes recycling at least a portion of the non-aqueous solvent to the extraction process.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for power generation using non-aqueous solvent, comprising:
treating oil sands with a non-aqueous solvent to extract bitumen in an extraction process;
separating the non-aqueous solvent from the bitumen in a solvent recovery process;
heating all of the separated non-aqueous solvent;
expanding all of the heated non-aqueous solvent to generate power;
cooling all of the expanded non-aqueous solvent; and
recycling at least a portion of the cooled non-aqueous solvent to the extraction process.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising accepting the non-aqueous solvent from the solvent recovery process and circulating the separated non-aqueous solvent using a pump.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein heating all of the separated non-aqueous solvent comprises adding waste process heat generated from a solvent circulating process to the separated non-aqueous solvent before it enters an expander turbine.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein heating all of the separated non-aqueous solvent is accomplished using a first heat exchanger.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein cooling all of the expanded non-aqueous solvent is accomplished using a second heat exchanger.

6. The method of claim 5 , comprising using at least some heat rejected from the second heat exchanger for a solvent circulating process, a solvent treatment process, or a freeze protection process, or any combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein heating all of the separated non-aqueous solvent is accomplished using exhaust heat from an electric power plant.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein expanding all of the non-aqueous solvent to generate power is accomplished using an expander turbine.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising cleaning all of the separated non-aqueous solvent using a solvent treating process.

10. The method of claim 1 , comprising powering equipment associated with the extraction process, the solvent recovery process, a solvent circulating process, a hydrocarbon production facility, or a mining facility, or any combinations thereof, using the power generated by expanding all of the non-aqueous solvent.

11. A system for power generation using non-aqueous solvent, comprising:
an extraction unit configured to extract bitumen from oil sands by treating the oil sands with a non-aqueous solvent;
a solvent recovery unit configured to separate the non-aqueous solvent from the bitumen;
a first heat exchanger configured to heat all of the non-aqueous solvent separated by the solvent recovery unit;
an expander configured to generate power by turning an expander turbine using the heated non-aqueous solvent; and
a second heat exchanger configured to cool the non-aqueous solvent after the non-aqueous solvent has exited the expander.

12. The system of claim 11 , comprising a pump configured to circulate the separated non-aqueous solvent using a solvent circulating process.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the non-aqueous solvent comprises a liquid recycle solvent.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the non-aqueous solvent comprises a vapor recycle solvent.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first heat exchanger comprises a boiler, a waste heat recovery unit, or a heat exchanger, or any combinations thereof.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second heat exchanger comprises a condenser, an aerial cooler, or a seawater cooler, or any combinations thereof.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the non-aqueous solvent comprises a cyclohexane stream, a toluene stream, a hexane stream, an n-heptane stream, or any combinations thereof.

18. The system of claim 11 , comprising an electric generator, a gas compressor, or a pump, or any combinations thereof, mechanically coupled to the expander turbine.

19. The system of claim 11 , comprising a hydrocarbon production facility or a mining facility, or any combination thereof, which utilizes the power generated by the turning of the expander turbine.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein a stream from a hydrocarbon production facility or a mining facility, or any combination thereof, comprises at least a part of the non-aqueous solvent.

21. The system of claim 11 , comprising a power plant coupled to the system and configured to at least partially provide power to the system.

22. The system of claim 11 , wherein the non-aqueous solvent comprises a recycle solvent from a non-aqueous extraction process.

23. The system of claim 11 , comprising any number of additional heat exchangers configured to heat or cool the non-aqueous solvent.

24. A method for power generation using non-aqueous solvent, comprising:
extracting bitumen from oil sands by treating the oil sands with a non-aqueous solvent;
recovering the non-aqueous solvent by separating the non-aqueous solvent from the bitumen;
heating all of the recovered non-aqueous solvent to produce a dry vapor;
decreasing the pressure of the dry vapor to obtain an expanded dry vapor;
generating power from the expanded dry vapor; and
cooling the dry vapor to recover the non-aqueous solvent.

25. The method of claim 24 , comprising using a reheating process, a superheating process, or a regeneration process, or any combinations thereof, to increase an amount of generated power.

Assignees

• Hissong Douglas W
• Sites O Angus
• Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co

Inventors

• Hissong Douglas W
• Sites O Angus

Classifications

• C10G1/045 Primary

  Separation of insoluble materials · CPC title

• F01K25/02

  the fluid remaining in the liquid phase · CPC title

• F01K27/02

  Plants modified to use their waste heat, other than that of exhaust, e.g. engine-friction heat · CPC title

• F01K15/00 Primary

  Adaptations of plants for special use {(F01K7/02 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F01K25/08

  using special vapours · CPC title