The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 27, 2004
Filed:
Jul. 18, 2002
Randy Mikula, Edmonton, CA;
Brad Bjornson, Fort McMurray, CA;
Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, CA;
Abstract
The degree of degradation or oxidation of an oil sand ore feedstock is monitored by near infrared spectroscopy. A beam of near infrared radiation is directed onto the surface of oil sand ore, e.g. on a conveyor belt, to produce reflected radiation and distinctive spectral features are measured indicative of the degree of degradation or oxidation of the oil sand ore. These distinctive spectral features are selected from (a) recording a baseline spectrum shift with decreasing spectral intensity indicating increasing degradation or oxidation, (b) recording spectral peaks in the range 1150 to 1250 nm with said spectral peaks increasing with increasing degradation or oxidation, (c) recording spectral peaks in the range 1700 to 1800 nm with said spectral peaks decreasing with increasing degradation or oxidation and (d) recording spectral peaks in the range 1900 to 2000 nm with said spectral peaks increasing with increasing degradation or oxidation. The recorded spectral values are mathematically converted into signals for controlling operating conditions in an oil sand processing plant.