GB953841A - Electric treater - Google Patents

Abstract

953,841. Electrostatic separators. PETROLITE CORPORATION. Feb. 12, 1963 [Feb. 26, 1962], No. 5641/63. Heading B2J. Oil-continuous dispersions are resolved during passage between the side walls of channels 10 and electrodes 24 within them, the passage of the dispersion being controlled to obtain uniformity by the provision of apertures 20 in a plate 17 covering the exit ends of the channels. The channel structure is contained within a vessel 12 and has four dead spaces 30 in which insulating hangers 29 are supported to carry an array of cross-members 25 on which the electrodes 24 are mounted. A high voltage source 40 is connected between the vessel 12 and the cross-members 25, an inlet bushing 41 of the high voltage terminal and the insulating portions of hangers 29 being kept in an environment of nitrogen supplied under pressure from the lines 45, 46, 53. The nitrogen-liquid interface is indicated by a level gauge 55 and the level is maintained constant by a float 49 and valve 51. The dispersion to be treated arrives by way of pump 58 and with water or reagent from pump 59 is mixed at 57. The reagent may be an acid or alkali solution the reaction products with which form the dispersed phase of the dispersion. The dispersion is introduced by branch pipes 62 the orifices of which face baffle plates 63. The separated material accumulates in the bottom of vessel 12 and is maintained at a level 71 by a float 70 and valve 67 governing extraction. The dispersion moves upwards into a space between two grids 77 and 90 the auxiliary electric field across which effects a preliminary coalescence. The grid 90 depends from the cross-members 25 and is optional; the grid 77 is mounted on a post 79 and can be moved up and down to vary the grid spacing by means of a winch 82 to 88. Emergence of the treated dispersion through the flow controlling apertures 20 in the plate 17, which otherwise closes the upper part 14 of the vessel 12, produces turbulence and inhibits settlement on the plate 17. What settlement occurs can be bled away through a pipe 95 and to prevent extraction of dispersion freshly arrived in the upper part 14 the apertures 20 may have nipples to raise their delivery point above the settlement plane. The channels 10 need not be of the similar square section shown but may be formed from the spaces between parallel or concentric metal electrodes which are solid-or foraminous. With these alternatives the central electrodes may be plates, screens, or bars. The apparatus may be modified to treat a horizontal flow of dispersion.