US1838850A - Emulsion treater having central cylindrical live electrodes - Google Patents

Description

L. LAWRASON Dec. 29, 1931.

EMULSION THEATER HAVING CENTRAL CYLINDRICAL LIVE ELECTRODES Original Filed Aug. 31, 1927 0 3 Tzmm/ a 5 2 m m w 76 m w 2 1 i 7: M 4 3 W T072 Lz'x zmpfa L/I WRA50/\/,

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Patented Dec. 29, 1931 LEVERING LAWKASON, 01' LOS ANGELES,

RECTIFYING COMPANY OF TION OF CALIFORNIA EMULSION THEATER HAVING Application filed August 31,

My invention relates to fluid treating devices and particularly to devices for treating petroleum emulsions.

- It is an object of my invention to provide an improved treater.

Other objects and advantages will be made manifest in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodimentof my invention is illustrated. I shall describe the invention wit reference to its use in the dehydration 0 oil-water emulsions without limiting myself to this use of the invention.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view illustrating the treater of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2r-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the treater shown in Fig. 1 may be generally designated by the numeral 10 and includes a cylindrical shell 11 having a tight bottom 12 which is provided with a water outlet pipe 13 and a tight cap 14 which is provided with an oil outlet pipe 15. The shell 11, the bottom 12, and the cap 14, cooperate to enclose a space 16.

Centrally disposed in the space 16 is a tubular grounded electrode 20 which frusto-conical apron 22 extending outward and downward from the lower edge thereof. Brackets 23 provided on an inner face of the shell 11 engage the periphery of the apron 22 so as to support this apron and-the electrode 20. When the apron is thus supported an annular space 25 is formed between the shell 11 and the periphery of the apron. Disposed beneath the electrode 20 is an annular inlet manifold 28 which forms a circle slightly less in diameter than the electrode 20 and has perforationsthrough which an emulsion or fluid to be treated may be forced upward. Extending through the shell 11 so as to make a tight fit therewith and connecting to the manifold 28 is an emulsion supply pipe 29.

Disposed within the grounded electrode 20 and spaced therefrom sons to form a primary annular treating space 34 of uniform width is a live electrode 35. This electrode includes a cylindrical shell 36 having heads CALIFORNIA, OF LOS ANGELES,

1927, Serial No. 216,543. Renewed October 5,

f A baflle in the ary live electrode in the CALIFORNIA, ASBIGNOB 1'0 CALIFORNIA, A CORPORA- cEurnAL cvnnmmon. LIVE nnncrnonns 37 and 38 ti htly closing the upper and lower ends thereo so as to exclude liquid from the inside of the shell 36. Connecting the head 37 and the cap 14 is an insulator electrode support 40 which thus supports the electrode 35 in proper position relative to the grounded electrode 20, the buoyancy of the live electrode relieves the insulator 40 of unnecessary strain when the s ace 10 is filled with a liquid as it is during t e operation of the treater. form of an annular hood 41 may be formed upon the upper portion of the electrode 35 as by an upward extension of the shell 36, the, hood extending upward and outward over the upper edge of'the else-- trode 20. Extending downward from the outer edge of the annular hood 41 is a secondformof a. tubular formation 44 which surrounds and is spaced an equal distance from the grounded electrode 20 to form a secondary treating space '45.

For the purpose of setting up a potential between the live electrode 35 and the grounded electrode 20, an electrical conductor, such as a wire 48, connects to the head 37 and is conveyed through the cap 14 by an insulator 49, tightly fitting in a suitable opening in this cap. end of the secondary of a transformer 51, the opposite end of the secondary 50 being grounded by a conductor 52 to the shell 11. The shell 11 may also be grounded to the earth by a conductor 53.

Surrounding the two electrodes 35 and 20 I is a tubular shield 58 which is supported in the space 16 by wires 59 which connect to the cap 14. The lower. end of the shield 58 is disposed about half way between the lower the tubular formation 44 and the apron 22.

The operation of my emulsion treater when used in the dehydration of a water emulsion of petroleum is as follows:

-Before the treatment is commenced the shell 11 is filled with suitable dielectric liquid which is preferably petroleum of similar grade to that contained in the emulsion to be treated. A high potential is then established between the live electrode 35 and the ground- .PETBOIEUI The conductor 48 connects to one ed electrode 20 by energizing the transformer Emulsion is now supplied through the emulsion inlet pipe 29 and forced u ward in an annular series of jets directed rom the openings in the manifold 28 so as to flow upward through the rimary treating space 34. As the emulsio emulsion are agglomerated into drops of increasing size so that b the time the emulsion has reached the top oi the space 34 short-circuiting chains have begun to form. The turbul No further short-circuiting occurs as the emulsion passes through the secondary treating space 45 owing to the much lower voltage gradient in this space. In the secondary treating space the dehydration of the emulsion continues until, when the emulsion passes out through the lower end of this space, the water particles are agglomerated into large masses which readily sink in the petroleum separated from the emulsion.

As the water continues to drop downward it contacts with the apron 22 and flows through the annular space 25 into the bottom of the shell 11. As this water collects it is drawn ofi from time to time and the tubular formation 44 into the upper portion of the dehydrator, in the upper por- 16, from which it is withvarious purposes, such as the separation of various constituents of the fluid, I do not therefore wish to be limited to the use of this treater in the petroleum industry, wishing the appended claims to determine the scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electric treater, the combination of: a live central electrode; a grounded elec- 2. In an electric treater, the combination of: a live central electrode; a grounded electrode surrounding said live electrode to form an annular treating space open at its upper and lower ends; means for introducin a fluid into the lower end of into the space outside said grounded electrode as it passes from the upper end of said treating space, said means comprising an annular hood provided upon said live electrode.

In an electrictreater, electrode; surrounding said live an annular treating space and lower ends; means for introducing a fluid into the lower end space;

the combination a grounded elecelectrode to form comprising an annular hood provided upon said live electrode; and a secondary live electrodedepending from said hood about said grounded electrode.

an annular treating space open at its upper ends; means for introducing a fluid into the lower end of said treating space; means for deflecting said fluid downd into the space outside said grounded trode surrounding sald live electrode to form said treating space, said means comprising an annular hood provided upon said live electrode; a secondary live electrode dependfor guiding the downward flow of treated fluid from between said grounded electrode and said secondarv live electrode.

6. In a treater, the combination of: a primary electrode; a secondary electrode spaced from said primary electrode, there being a primary treating space formed therebetween; means for introducing emulsion into open at its upper one end of said primary treating space; and a hood on said primary electrode for changing the direction of flow of said emulsion as it leaves said primary treating space. j

7. In a treater, the combination of: a primary electrode providing a pair of walls connected together by a hood; a secondary electrode extending between said walls and cooperating therewith to form primary and secondary treating spaces; and means for introducing emulsion to be treated into one of said treating spaces, said emulsion being deflected by said hood into the other of said treating spaces.

8. A combination as defined in claim 7 in which said secondary electrode is spaced from said walls in such a manner that fields of different voltage gradients are formed therein, and in which said emulsion is introduced into the field of higher voltage gradient.

9. In a treater, the combination of: a grounded electrode comprising a tubular portion and an apron; a live electrode comprising a cylindrical shell inside said tubular portion and connected to a tubular formation outside said tubular portion by a hood; means for discharging emulsion adjacent said apron which in turn guides it into the space between said cylindrical shell and said tubular portion; and a tubular shield surrounding said tubular formation, the lower end of said shield extending below said tubular formation.and above said apron.

10 In a treater, the combination of: a pair of -electrodes defining primary and secondary concentric treating spaces; means for passing an emulsion successively through said treating spaces; and a shield electrically connected to one of said electrodes and spaced relative to the other of said electrodes to define a space providing an auxiliary field through which must pass the dry oil separated from said emulsion in said primary and secondary treating spaces.

11. In a treater, the combination of: a shell; 'a primary electrode in said shell and including a tubular portion and an apron; a secondary electrode inside .said tubular portion of said primary electrode and cooperating therewith in defining an annular treating space communicating with the space below said apron; means for establishing a diflerence in potential between said electrodes; and means for introducing the fluid to be treated into said space below said apron, said fluid rising through said treating space.

12. In combination: a tank containing a body of liquid; primary and secondary electrodes insulated from each other in said tank and surrounded by said liquid, said electrodes providing 9 treating space directed toward one of the walls of said tank; means for forcing the fluid to be treated through said treating space, said fluid moving toward said wall of said tank; and a stationary baflle means positioned in the path of travel of said fluid issuing from said treating space whereby said fluid is deflect- 13. In a dehydrator, the combination of: a primary electrode; a hood on one end of said primary electrode; a secondary electrode extending adjacent said primary electrode and toward said hood but terminating short ofsaid hood, saidlhood extending over the end of said secondary electrode, said. secondary electrode being insulated from said primary electrode and said hood whereby an electric field may be set up between said primary and secondary electrodes and between said end of said secondary electrode and said hood; and means for introducing emulsion to be treated into that end of the treating space between said primary and secondary electrodes which lies opposite said hood, said emulsion flowing between said electrodes and into engagement with said hood whereby said hood changes the direction of flow thereof and moves the emulsion through the field set up between said hood and the end of said secondary electrode.

14:. A combination as define-d in claim 13 in which said secondary electrode is of ground potential and in which said primary electrode and said hoodbomprise a live electrode, and including grounded means around said hood and providing a settling space into which is discharged the emulsion issuing from said hood whereby said emulsion is subjected to an electric field between said grounded means and said hood during the time that the constituents thereof separate.

15. In a dehydrator, thecombination of: concentric live and grounded electrodes providing a vertical treating space; means for directing the emulsion to be treated upward in said treating space; a battle at the upper end of said treatin space and mounted on one of said electro es, said baflle extending in the path of the risin emulsion and changing the direction of ow thereof to direct said emulsion so that it flows downwardly around the other of said electrodes in the form of an annular stream; and means for establishing a difl'erence of potential between said live and grounded electrodes to establish an electric field acting on both the upward and downward moving emulsion.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 26th day of August, 1927,

LEVERING' LAWRASON.

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