MAINTAINING DILUENT/BITUMEN RATIO IN THE HOT WATER PROCESS FOR BITUMEN RECOVERY

摘要

The viscosity of a stream of bitumen froth diluted with a hydrocarbon diluent is continuously measured to obtain an indication of the relative viscosity of the hydrocarbon phase in the stream. These measurements are used to control the rate of addition of diluent to the undiluted froth so as to keep the diluent/bitumen ratio within the diluted froth at a desired value. Close control of the ratio in this manner reduces wastage of diluent and improves the operation of the downstream centrifugal separators.