PROCESS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF HYDROCARBONS FROM A HYDROCARBON-SUBSTRATE AND AN APPARATUS THEREFOR

摘要

Hydrocarbon-bearing substrate particles are pre-heated by heating the same with a solid heat-bearing medium by indirect counter-current flow using a series of heat transfer loops each containing a circulating heat transfer medium chosen such that the whole series permits a staged rise in temperature of the substrate particles and a staged drop in temperature of the solid heat-bearing medium. Preferably the heat transfer fluid in the loops circulates between the substrate and the hot spent substrate by means of the so-called thermosyphon effect. An apparatus for carrying out the method is described.