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OIL SANDS / INTERACTIVE 3D

Oil-sands primary separation vessel

Open an original mined-oil-sands separation vessel to distinguish the incoming slurry, bitumen froth, middlings and sand-rich underflow.

Static preview of the oil-sands primary separation vessel schematic
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Drag to orbit · Scroll or pinch to zoom · Select a visible part or use the parts list. Keyboard: focus the view and use arrow keys to orbit.

HOW TO READ THIS MODEL

The system, explained.

Alberta describes a primary separation vessel as an early mining-extraction tank, usually cylindrical with a conical bottom. An AER-filed Horizon process plan distinguishes upper bitumen froth, side-withdrawn middlings and lower whole tailings; those are public role examples, not dimensions for this model. This original full-wall 3D scene keeps three real side bores and an open conical lower outlet. Its static coloured markers locate possible regions without showing moving slurry, separation efficiency or a selected operator design. Follow each distinct outlet to the point where this lesson stops before froth treatment, secondary flotation and further tailings handling.

Model scope and limits

Original static display with full bored cylindrical wall, double-surface open cone, three distinct hollow side connections, open lower boundary, sparse fixed region markers and invented supports. Alberta glossary supports a broad cylindrical/conical primary-vessel form. The AER-filed Horizon plan describes one primary separation cell, not the geometry or configuration of this model. No site-specific vessel, feed conditioning, aeration, skim mechanism, pumps, piping, control, mass balance, separation performance, bitumen quality, froth treatment, flotation, water recycle, tailings management approval, pressure rating, materials, structural design, safe operating state or engineering qualification is established. No source art, CAD, plant data or product dimensions imported.

Source links support further study; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

What does the separate middlings outlet establish?

Choose an answer

GUIDED COMPONENT STUDY

Trace the system.

Read each explanation, then focus its component in the explorer. This is a learning route through the model, with no operating or maintenance sequence.

  1. Start at the hydrotransport boundary

    The hollow side neck marks conditioned mined-oil-sands slurry arriving from upstream preparation. It does not reproduce a hydrotransport line, slurry recipe or operating conditions.

  2. Inspect the complete bored barrel

    The browser model keeps the entire inside and outside wall with three genuine side holes. Only the poster removes the facing half for reading; this is not a selected plant vessel.

  3. Locate the froth-rich region

    The upper coloured ring is a fixed reading cue. Real bitumen froth also contains water and solids, and the ring is not a measured interface.

  4. Follow the froth boundary

    The separate upper neck ends before froth treatment. The picture proves no bitumen purity, skimmer design, heating or diluent choice.

  5. Distinguish middlings

    The middle ring marks a possible water, solids and residual-bitumen region without simulating settling or flotation.

  6. Follow the middlings side withdrawal

    This independent side bore points toward secondary separation or flotation. No downstream cell, air rate, recycle or recovery percentage is modeled.

  7. Inspect the lower taper

    Both inner and outer cone surfaces remain complete in the GLB and its bottom remains open. Invented slope and size do not determine settling or discharge.

  8. Keep whole tailings conditional

    The lower opening marks sand-rich whole tailings before further treatment. Nothing here approves handling, storage or deposition.

  9. Separate illustration from measurement

    One of several fixed gold markers suggests a lower solids-rich reading area. It is not a particle path, sample or composition estimate.

  10. Recognize the invented support

    The outer post holds the educational model upright; it is not a plant support or foundation.

ACCESSIBLE COMPONENT REFERENCE

Every part, in plain language.

Search all components ↗Model provenance ↗
Base frame

Illustrative support frame; foundations and structural design vary.

Complete bored primary-separation barrel

Full cylindrical shell with distinct inside and outside surfaces and three real side openings. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Complete open conical underflow wall

Double-surface conical lower region with open top and bottom; its geometry does not establish a tailings flow.

Open upper rim

Annular open top reading boundary; no roof, overflow design or safe access is specified. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Lower cone transition ring

Separate geometric marker between the barrel and conical region; no qualified joint. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Open underflow collar

Hollow lower boundary for sand-rich whole tailings to further treatment; no pump or disposal path. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Lower outlet open-end flange

Unrated annular connection at the tailings-handling boundary. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Open hydrotransport-slurry inlet

Hollow side arrival for conditioned mined-oil-sands slurry; upstream ore preparation and transport are outside the model. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Open hydrotransport-slurry inlet end collar

Visible open-end marker without a rated connection. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Open bitumen-froth outlet

Separate upper boundary toward froth treatment; it does not establish bitumen purity or a selected skimmer. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Open bitumen-froth outlet end collar

Visible open-end marker without a rated connection. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Open middlings outlet

Separate side boundary toward secondary separation or flotation; no recovery or recycle is modeled. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Open middlings outlet end collar

Visible open-end marker without a rated connection. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static bitumen-froth region marker

Upper visual region for bitumen-rich froth, which still contains water and solids. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static middlings region marker

Middle visual region for water, mineral solids and some bitumen. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static sand-rich region marker

Lower visual region before whole-tailings handling; no settled concentration is measured. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static froth marker 1

Fixed visual marker in the froth region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static froth marker 2

Fixed visual marker in the froth region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static froth marker 3

Fixed visual marker in the froth region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static froth marker 4

Fixed visual marker in the froth region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static froth marker 5

Fixed visual marker in the froth region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static froth marker 6

Fixed visual marker in the froth region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static froth marker 7

Fixed visual marker in the froth region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static froth marker 8

Fixed visual marker in the froth region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static froth marker 9

Fixed visual marker in the froth region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static froth marker 10

Fixed visual marker in the froth region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static froth marker 11

Fixed visual marker in the froth region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static froth marker 12

Fixed visual marker in the froth region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static middlings marker 1

Fixed visual marker in the middlings region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static middlings marker 2

Fixed visual marker in the middlings region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static middlings marker 3

Fixed visual marker in the middlings region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static middlings marker 4

Fixed visual marker in the middlings region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static middlings marker 5

Fixed visual marker in the middlings region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static middlings marker 6

Fixed visual marker in the middlings region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static middlings marker 7

Fixed visual marker in the middlings region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static middlings marker 8

Fixed visual marker in the middlings region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static middlings marker 9

Fixed visual marker in the middlings region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static middlings marker 10

Fixed visual marker in the middlings region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static sand-rich marker 1

Fixed visual marker in the sand-rich region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static sand-rich marker 2

Fixed visual marker in the sand-rich region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static sand-rich marker 3

Fixed visual marker in the sand-rich region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static sand-rich marker 4

Fixed visual marker in the sand-rich region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static sand-rich marker 5

Fixed visual marker in the sand-rich region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static sand-rich marker 6

Fixed visual marker in the sand-rich region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static sand-rich marker 7

Fixed visual marker in the sand-rich region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static sand-rich marker 8

Fixed visual marker in the sand-rich region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static sand-rich marker 9

Fixed visual marker in the sand-rich region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static sand-rich marker 10

Fixed visual marker in the sand-rich region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static sand-rich marker 11

Fixed visual marker in the sand-rich region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Static sand-rich marker 12

Fixed visual marker in the sand-rich region; not an actual particle, bubble, sample or simulation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

External barrel band 2.20

External visual band; no weld, reinforcement or pressure-vessel calculation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

External barrel band 3.75

External visual band; no weld, reinforcement or pressure-vessel calculation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

External barrel band 5.09

External visual band; no weld, reinforcement or pressure-vessel calculation. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Display support 1

Presentation support only; no structural or foundation design. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Display foot 1

Illustrative display foot, not a plant anchor. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Display support 2

Presentation support only; no structural or foundation design. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Display foot 2

Illustrative display foot, not a plant anchor. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Display support 3

Presentation support only; no structural or foundation design. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Display foot 3

Illustrative display foot, not a plant anchor. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Display support 4

Presentation support only; no structural or foundation design. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.

Display foot 4

Illustrative display foot, not a plant anchor. Original static teaching geometry; no operator layout, mass balance, recovery result, vessel rating, controls or operating instruction.