Separator electrical analysis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12370474-B2
Application number	US-202117443956-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2021
Priority date	Jul 31, 2020
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

The use of electrical analyzers to monitor and control separation processes is described. The electrical analyzers monitor electromagnetic properties of materials being treated, and are used to adjust the separation process based on the changing electromagnetic properties. The electrical analyzers generally sample process fluid and apply a static or varying electric field to the process fluid while monitoring energy uptake of the process fluid from the electric field by measuring electrical parameters of the circuit. The changing electrical response of the process is related to changing process conditions and can be used to control the process.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A separator for separating a multi-phase mixture into different liquid phases, the separator comprising:
a separator vessel comprising:
a separator inlet configured to receive the multi-phase mixture;
a first separator outlet configured to output a first liquid phase of the multi-phase mixture, the first liquid phase including an aqueous fluid;
a second separator outlet configured to output a second liquid phase of the multi-phase mixture, the second liquid phase including a hydrocarbon fluid; and
a first power unit electrically connected to one or more electrodes within the separator vessel, the first power unit configured to create an electric field in the separator vessel to separate the multi-phase mixture in the separator into the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase;

an electrical analyzer, comprising:
an analyzer vessel configured to receive a portion of the multi-phase mixture;
a second power unit electrically connected to one or more electrodes disposed inside the analyzer vessel; and
sensors coupled with the analyzer vessel, the sensors configured to sense properties of the portion of the multi-phase mixture inside the analyzer vessel when power is supplied to the one or more electrodes disposed inside the analyzer vessel; and

a controller coupled with the separator vessel and the electrical analyzer, the controller configured to adjust operation of the separator based on the properties sensed by the sensors of the electrical analyzer.

2. The separator of claim 1 , wherein the electrical analyzer further comprises:
an analyzer inlet coupled between the separator vessel and the analyzer vessel; and
an analyzer outlet coupled between the separator vessel and the analyzer vessel.

3. The separator of claim 1 , wherein the second power unit is a time-varying voltage analyzer power unit.

4. The separator of claim 2 , further comprising a source of chemical separation aid coupled to the analyzer inlet.

5. The separator of claim 4 , wherein the analyzer vessel has a second analyzer outlet, and wherein the separator further comprises a quality analyzer coupled to at least one of the analyzer outlet and the second analyzer outlet.

6. The separator of claim 5 , wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the first power unit, the second power unit, and the quality analyzer, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust operation of the first power unit based on signals from the second power unit and the quality analyzer.

7. The separator of claim 1 , wherein the second power unit is a time-varying voltage analyzer power unit, and wherein a composition analyzer is coupled to an analyzer outlet of the analyzer vessel.

8. The separator of claim 1 , further comprising a quality analyzer coupled to at least one of the first separator outlet or the second separator outlet, wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the first power unit and the quality analyzer.

9. The separator of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the operation of the separator based on signals from the second power unit and the quality analyzer.

10. The separator of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to include a model relating performance of the second power unit to performance of the separator.

11. The separator of claim 7 , wherein the electrical analyzer has an analyzer inlet coupled between a port formed in the separator inlet and the analyzer vessel.

12. The separator of claim 11 , wherein the analyzer outlet is coupled between the analyzer vessel and a second port formed in the separator inlet.

13. The separator of claim 12 , wherein the controller is coupled to the first power unit and the second power unit and the controller is configured to control operation of the first power unit based on signals from the second power unit.

14. The separator of claim 13 , further comprising a quality analyzer coupled to at least one of the first separator outlet and the second separator outlet, wherein the controller is further coupled to the quality analyzer and the controller is configured to control the operation of the first power unit based also on signals from the quality analyzer.

15. The separator of claim 1 , wherein the first power unit is also electrically connected to a wall of the separator vessel, such that the wall of the separator vessel operates as an electrode.

16. The separator of claim 1 , wherein the second power unit is also electrically connected to a wall of the analyzer vessel, such that the wall of the analyzer vessel operates as an electrode.

17. The separator of claim 1 , wherein the sensors include electrical sensors configured to sense electrical properties of the portion of the multi-phase mixture.

18. The separator of claim 17 , wherein the electrical sensors are coupled to electrical conduits extending from the second power unit to the analyzer vessel, the electrical sensors configured to sense electrical loads.

19. The separator of claim 17 , wherein the electrical sensors are coupled to the analyzer vessel to sense an electrical response of the portion of the multi-phase mixture in the analyzer vessel.

20. A separator for separating a multi-phase mixture into different liquid phases, the separator comprising:
a separator vessel configured to separate the multi-phase mixture into a first liquid phase and a second liquid phase;
a separator inlet configured to receive the multi-phase mixture, the separator inlet coupled with the separator vessel to convey the multi-phase mixture to the separator vessel;
a first separator outlet coupled with the separator vessel to output the first liquid phase of the multi-phase mixture, the first liquid phase including an aqueous fluid;
a second separator outlet coupled with the separator vessel to output the second liquid phase of the multi-phase mixture, the second liquid phase including a hydrocarbon fluid;
a first power unit electrically connected to one or more electrodes within the separator vessel to create an electric field in the separator vessel to separate the multi-phase mixture in the separator vessel into the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase;
an electrical analyzer configured to analyze properties of the multi-phase mixture, the electrical analyzer coupled with the separator inlet for obtaining and returning a portion of the multi-phase mixture, the electrical analyzer comprising:
an analyzer vessel configured to receive the portion of the multi-phase mixture;
a second power unit electrically connected to one or more electrodes disposed inside the analyzer vessel to create an electric field in the analyzer vessel when the portion of the multi-phase mixture is in the analyzer vessel; and
sensors coupled with the analyzer vessel, the sensors configured to sense properties of the portion of the multi-phase mixture inside the analyzer vessel when power is supplied to the one or more electrodes disposed inside the analyzer vessel; and

a controller coupled with the separator vessel and the electrical analyzer, the controller configured to adjust operation of the separator based on the properties sensed by the sensors of the electrical analyzer.

21. The separator of claim 20 , wherein the electrical analyzer further comprises:
an analyzer inlet coupled with the separator inlet and the analyzer vessel for obtaining the portion of the multi-phase mixture from the separator inlet and depositing the portion of the multi-phase mixture in the analyzer ves

Assignees

• Cameron Int Corp

Inventors

• Blackman Nicholas H
• Sams Gary W

Classifications

• B01D35/143

  Filter condition indicators · CPC title

• B01D35/02

  Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks, (B01D35/05 takes precedence; {water pipe system filters E03B3/18, E03B7/07; dirt catchers in sewers E03F; filters or strainers for pipe-lines in general B08B, E03F; object or dirt catching devices in sinks or the like E03C1/26; suction strainers or filters for pumps F04B53/005, F04D29/70}) · CPC title

• B01D2201/54

  Computerised or programmable systems · CPC title

• B01D37/046

  by pressure measuring · CPC title

• B01D37/048

  by temperature measuring · CPC title