System To Reduce Interface Emulsion Layer Formation In An Electrostatic Dehydrator Or Desalter Vessel Through Use Of A Low Voltage Electrostatic Interface Emulsion Treatment System Inside The Vessel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016289100-A1
Application number	US-201514674081-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 31, 2015
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for separating the components of an incoming oil-water mixture includes two electrode sets, one set arranged to apply an electrostatic field to an oil layer residing within a separator vessel and the other set arranged to apply an electrostatic field to the interface emulsion layer residing within the separator vessel. The first set of electrodes is in communication with a high voltage power source that ranges from 1 to 60 kV; the second set of electrodes is in communication with a low voltage power source that is no greater than 5 kV. Each set of electrodes may also be in communication with a second voltage source to provide increased power to promote effective coalescence. The system may also include power electronics to produce a variable amplitude and a variable frequency voltage supply to one or both electrode sets.

First claim

1 . A system for separating the components of an incoming oil-water mixture, the system comprising:
a separator vessel configured to include a gas layer volume, an oil layer volume, a water layer volume, and a rag layer volume located between the oil and water layer volumes, said volumes being predetermined based upon application requirements, the separator vessel further comprising a first set and a second set of electrodes; the first set of electrodes located in the oil layer volume of the separator vessel and arranged to apply an electrostatic field within the oil layer volume; the second set of electrodes located at an oil/water interface in the rag layer volume of the separator vessel and arranged to apply an electrostatic field to within the rag layer volume; wherein the first set of electrodes when in use being in communication with a high voltage power source, the second set of electrodes when in use being in communication with a low voltage power source.

2 . A system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second set of electrodes is also in communication with a second voltage source to provide increased secondary power to promote effective coalescence.

3 . A system according to claim 1 further comprising power electronics in communication with the high voltage power source to produce a variable amplitude and a variable frequency voltage supply.

4 . A system according to claim 2 wherein amplitude is modulated.

5 . A system according to claim 2 wherein frequency is modulated.

6 . A system according to claim 1 wherein the high voltage power source is in a range of 1 to 60 kV.

7 . A system according to claim 1 wherein the low voltage power source is no greater than 5 kV.

8 . A system according to claim 1 wherein the separator vessel is a horizontal separator vessel.

9 . A system according to claim 1 wherein the separator vessel is a vertical separator vessel.

10 . A system according to claim 1 further comprising power electronics in communication with the low voltage power source to produce a variable amplitude and a variable frequency.

11 . A system according to claim 10 wherein amplitude is modulated.

12 . A system according to claim 10 wherein frequency is modulated.

13 . A system for separating the components of an incoming oil-water mixture, the system comprising:
a separator vessel including a first and a second set of electrodes, the first and second set of electrodes being located in different volumes of the separator vessel than one another; the first set of electrodes arranged for connection to a high voltage power source to apply an electrostatic field within a predetermined oil layer volume of the separator vessel; the second set of electrodes arranged for connection to a low voltage power source to apply an electrostatic field within a predetermined rag layer volume of the vessel, the predetermined rag layer volume lying immediately below the predetermined oil layer volume.

14 . A system for separating the components of an incoming oil-water mixture, the system comprising:
a separator vessel including a set of electrodes arranged for connection to a low voltage power source to apply an electrostatic field within a predetermined rag layer volume of the vessel, the predetermined rag layer volume lying immediately below a predetermined oil layer volume and immediately above a predetermined water layer volume of the separator vessel.

15 . A system according to claim 14 further comprising the set of electrodes being located at an interface of the predetermined rag layer volume.

16 . A system according to claim 14 further comprising a first set of electrodes arranged for connection to a high voltage power source to apply an electrostatic field within a predetermined oil layer volume of the separator vessel.

Assignees

• Cameron Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Sprenkel Marcus D
• Mandewalkar S Pavankumar B
• Sams Gary W

Classifications

• B03C11/00

  Separation by high-voltage electrical fields, not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• C02F2103/30

  from the textile industry · CPC title

• C02F2101/32

  Hydrocarbons, e.g. oil · CPC title

• B01D17/045

  with coalescers · CPC title

• C02F2103/32

  from the food or foodstuff industry, e.g. brewery waste waters · CPC title