The present invention describes a method for separating water from a water-in-oil emulsion. This method involves applying an electric field to the emulsion using a pair of electrodes, promoting coalescence and facilitating the rapid formation of larger droplets which can then be use to effectively separate the water-in-oil emulsion due to gravity.
Type of IP
Category of Patent
Department
- Applied electric field undergoes modulation between a higher first electric field and a lower second electric field
- Higher electric field helps in fastening the rate of approach of the drops
- Second electric field promotes the coalescence of these closely positioned droplets into larger water droplets
- Enhances coalescence, facilitating the rapid formation of larger droplets
- Achieves accelerated coalescence of water droplets, leading to quicker separation of water from water-in-oil emulsions
4
An efficient and optimised electric waveform have been identified and demostrated through experiments to yield higher separation of water-in-oil emulsions for different types of electrocoalescers.
Crude oil industry
Electrocoalescers are widely used and have tremendous applications in crude oil industry. This invention could be useful in significant intensification of dehydration and desalting process