Abstract:
A method of removing entrained salt containing water from an inlet crude oil stream includes the steps of applying an electrical energy to at least one electrode of a plurality of horizontally oriented, spaced-apart electrodes (12, 14, 16) housed within an elongated desalting vessel (10) and distributing an inlet crude oil stream between the electrodes. Each electrode in the plurality of electrodes is housed in an upper portion of the desalting vessel and may be in communication with a first, second and third transformer (42, 44, 46), respectively. The electrical energy may be at a single frequency and voltage or at a modulated voltage. Or, the electrical energy may be a modulated frequency at a single or modulated voltage. Fresh water may be mixed with the inlet crude oil stream either exteriorly or interiorly of the vessel.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for separating water from an oil-and-water mixture includes at least two elongated separator vessels oriented at an incline and connected to one another so that an upwardly flowing oil predominant fluid passes from the first separator vessel to the second separator vessel where further electrostatic separation of water from the oil predominant fluid occurs. Each vessel has an electrode at its upper end preferably connected to a different voltage source. The inlet to each vessel is located relative to the electrode to provide an up flow or a down flow vessel. Additionally, the first vessel may be at a different elevation than the second vessel. An additional vessel may be included with output from the first vessel bypassing the additional vessel, the second vessel, or both. Baffles may be added in the water collection portion of each vessel to reduce turbulence and settling distance.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for two-step separation of water, salt and particles from a hydraulic fluid by the use of a control unit. The hydraulic fluid is carried into a return oil tank with an electrostatic coalescer provided with a high-voltage transformer with direct current to two electric grids whose electrostatic field gathers water into drops which settle into a collecting tank. The hydraulic fluid is circulated to a filter module for removing any remaining water, salt and particles in filter elements connected in parallel, having hygroscopic cellulose fibers which swell until saturation, the swelling being measured by a sensor measuring the degree of saturation, alternatively conductivity.
Abstract:
A method for fabricating a sheet-shaped electrode for an electrostatic coalescing device. A layered material structure including an electrically conductive layer for forming a conductive member of the electrode and two electrically non-conductive insulation layers are arranged in an envelope. The insulation layers include thermoplastic or thermoset material for forming the insulation of the electrode. The conductive layer is arranged between the insulation layers. The envelope is sealed. Gas is evacuated from the envelope. The material structure is heated to a temperature above the melting temperature of the thermoplastic material or above the curing temperature of the thermoset material so as to consolidate the material structure while keeping the material structure inside the evacuated envelope. The material structure is cooled and removed from the envelope.
Abstract:
A separating system for separating a fluid mixture incorporates a smart surface having reversibly switchable properties. A voltage is selectively applied to the smart surface to attract or repel constituents of a fluid mixture, such as oil and water produced from a hydrocarbon well. The smart surface can be used in a conditioner to increase droplet size prior to entering a conventional separator, or the smart surface and other elements of the invention can be incorporated into an otherwise conventional separator to enhance separation. In a related aspect, a concentration sensor incorporating smart surfaces senses concentration of the fluid mixture's constituents.
Abstract:
A separating system for separating a fluid mixture incorporates a smart surface having reversibly switchable properties. A voltage is selectively applied to the smart surface to attract or repel constituents of a fluid mixture, such as oil and water produced from a hydrocarbon well. The smart surface can be used in a conditioner to increase droplet size prior to entering a conventional separator, or the smart surface and other elements of the invention can be incorporated into an otherwise conventional separator to enhance separation. In a related aspect, a concentration sensor incorporating smart surfaces senses concentration of the fluid mixture's constituents.
Abstract:
Decomposition is performed with the application of the method and apparatus by separating solid contaminants from the emulsion, absorbing CO2 gas in the emulsion, thereby switching the emulsion type from W/O to O/W, pre-heating the emulsion utilizing a heat regenerator (32), setting the stability minimum of the emulsion by adjusting the pH, resolving the emulsion in an electrochemical decomposition reactor (38) by passing it between an anode made of electrochemically active material and a cathode made of electrochemically inactive material, while the colloid particles of the emulsion are bound in flocks forming a foam utilizing as a flocculant the compound produced in situ from the electrochemically active anode, —discharging the foam produced in the above step, and—discharging the decontaminated water through a final settlement tank (47) and/or a final filter (44) and a heat regenerator (32).
Abstract:
An electrical appliance including at least one sheet-shaped electrode and a connecting device for electrically connecting the at least one electrode to a voltage source. The connecting device includes a casing having two or more tubular casing parts. Each casing part enclosing a channel filled with a dielectric medium, and an elongated conductor for feeding electric power from the voltage source to the at least one electrode. The conductor extends through the channels of the casing parts and is surrounded by the dielectric medium therein. The conductor extends through a hole in an electrically conductive member of each individual electrode. The conductor is electrically connected to the conductive members of the electrodes and each individual electrode has a part arranged between two of the casing parts with the two casing parts clamped against opposite sides of the intermediate electrode part.
Abstract:
A method and system for removing contaminants from a fluid are provided. The method can generally include providing microstructures in the fluid. At least some of the contaminants in the fluid are attracted to the microstructures and adhered to the microstructures. With the contaminants attached to the microstructures, the microstructures can be separated from the fluid so that the contaminants are thereby removed from the fluid.
Abstract:
An electrostatic coalescing device including at least one pair of sheet-shaped electrodes arranged at a distance from each other side-by-side. Each one of the electrodes includes a sheet-shaped conductive member of electrically conductive material. The mutual distance between the conductive members of the two electrodes of the pair varies along the electrodes as seen in a direction perpendicular to the intended flow direction of fluid passing through the flow passage between the electrodes. A power supply is configured to apply mutually different electric potentials to the conductive members of the electrodes of the pair so as to form an electric field between the electrodes. The conductive member of one electrode of the pair is planar, whereas the conductive member of the other electrode of the pair is corrugated.