GB1463022A - Electrolytic method and apparatus for processing aqueous oil emulsions - Google Patents

Abstract

1463022 Separating oil from water VEREINIGTE OSTERREICHISCHE EISEN-UNDSTAHLWERKE-ALPINE MONTAN AG 27 March 1975 [5 April 1974] 12862/75 Heading C1C [Also in Divisions C7 and G3] An aqueous oil emulsion is electrolysed in a cell 3 to dissociate an oil phase from an aqueous phase, separation of the phases then being effected in a settling tank 4 wherein the dissociated emulsion is conducted in a horizontal stream and deviation of the height of a boundary zone between an oil-enriched phase (curve a) and an oil-impoverished phase (curve b) from a preselected height is determined by measuring turbidity in the emulsion, e.g. below and above the preselected height with pairs of vertically spaced sensors 5 1 , 5 2 , 5 3 and a transducer 7b, and the rate of withdrawal of emulsion from the cell via duct 3a and/or the quantity of electricity supplied to the cell per unit volume of emulsion is/are regulated in dependence upon the deviation, e.g. by servomotor 8b acting on pump 2 and/or servomotor 8a connected to a further turbidity sensor 5a via transducer 7a acting on variable transformer 9 connected to the cell electrodes 3b respectively. Instead of pairs of turbidity sensors 5, a single sensor (21, Fig. 2), with vertically adjustable limit switches (17) may be provided for each measuring crosssection; the further turbidity sensor (5b) may be incorporated into the duct 3a. The suction of the pump 2 may be connected to a collecting vessel 1 for the emulsion. A further electrolysis cell 12 with variable transformer 10 and settling tank 6 may be provided. An oil stripper 22 may be provided near the separated oil overflow 4b. A suction device (18, Fig. 2), for oil sludge, and a regulating valve (19) or vertical adjustment (weir 23) in the overflow may also be provided.