US2615528A - Apparatus for separating oil emulsion - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 28, 1952 E. R. WILLIAMS 2,615,523

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING OIL EMULSION Filed Sept. 20, 1948 I I 2 $HEETSSHEET 1 5 E I INVENZOR. E/mer 1Q W/flmms @iTTORW/E H Oct. 28, 1952 E. R. WILLIAMS APPARATUS FOR S EPARATING OIL EMULSION Filed Sept. 20, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 EH m IN V EN TOR.

5. .m M m m 5 Patented Oct. 28, 1952 UNITED .OFFlCE APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING OIL EMULSION Elmer R. Williams, Tulsa, Okla., assignor to Forrest Lee Murdock, Sr., Tulsa, Okla.

Application September 20, 1948, Serial No. 50,138

4 Claims. (Cl. 1832.7)

This invention relates to the treatment of petroleum as the same emanates from the oil well and has to do broadly with apparatus for dehydrating such petroleum and with the method of such dehydration prior to ultimate direction thereof to a point of use, storage or further treatment.

The most important object of this invention is the provision of a dehydrator for petroleum in the nature of that disclosed in my co-pending application entit1edMethod and Apparatus for Treating Emulsion Emanating from Natural Oil Wells, Serial No. 46,496, filed August 2'7, 1948, this being a continuation in part of said co-pending application.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a petroleum dehydrator and method of dehydrating low grade crude oil and differing therefore from the disclosure of the aforesaid co-pending application inasmuch as the latter was designed to remove water from a higher grade of oil and accordingly not capable of handling the heavy crudes in the efflcient manner as the apparatus and method forming the subject matter hereof.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a treater for petroleum having means for removing all gas in the petroleum as the same is subjected to a heated bath treatment to cause separation of such water and to re-directsuch gases into the petroleum after virtually all water has been removed therefrom to the end that a final step is provided for separating gas, oil and water in a specially formed combination separator and mist extractor.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of apparatus for dehydrating petroleum having a specially formed separator as a part thereof and adapted to separate gas,

oil and the remaining water therein as a final step in the process and after virtually all of the water has been removed from the emulsion.

Other objects of this invention relate to specially formed structure for positively effecting water separation; apparatus so arranged and disposed as to assure complete removal of gases within the petroleum whereby to encourage water separation; arrangement of parts permitting utilization of a single furnace throughout the initial dehydrating-steps; the provision of structure for automatically 'syphoning water from all of the compartments of the assembly and maintaining a predetermined level of water therein; and interconnection and arrangement of parts permitting inherent pressurewithin the system to convey the resultant separated water,

gas and oil to a point of use or storage.

Other objects of this invention will be made clear and understandable as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a substantially'central, vertical crosssectional view through substantially the uppermost half of apparatus for removing water from petroleum made in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 1a is a vertical cross sectional view similar to Fig. 1 showing the lowermost half of the apparatusshown in Fig. 1.

. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view" taken on line IIII of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, transverse cross sectional view taken on line III'III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1a; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, transverse, cross sectional view taken on line V--V"of Fig. 1a.

The apparatus shown in the drawings for dehydrating petroleum includes an elongated, hollow,'upright drum or closed drum or shell broadly designated by the numeral l0 having a top .wall I2, a bottom wall l4 and being circular in cross section as indicated by Figs. 3 and 4. 30'

rigidly mounted in any suitable conventional manner. g

A tank l8 extends upwardly from wall 12 of shell I!) and issecured directly thereto; 5 An opening 20 formed in the tank [8 intermediate the ends thereof, has connection with a pipe 22 for conveying the emulsionto be dehydrated from its source (not shown). The emulsion entering the tank l8 underpressure, flows downwardly by force of gravity into a'conduit Zlthat registers at its uppermostend with an opening 26 formed in wall l2 within tank l8. The conduit 24 extends downwardly within. shell [0 and terminates at its lowermost open end adjacent the bottom wall I 4 of shell- In as indicated'in Fig. la. The emulsion that is directed through pipe 22 into shell [0 is broadly designated by the numeral 28.

Shell I0 is divided off by partitions into a plurality of compartments designated by the numerals 30, 32 and 34. A vertical partition 36 extendingentirely across shell H), as indicated in,

Fig.3 of the drawings, and welded or otherwise 3 affixed to the inner face of shell HI, has its uppermost edge directly secured to the innermost face of wall I2. Compartment 34 terminates at its lowermost end on a substantially medial, horizontal axis through shell l and is completely closed by an angularly disposed wall 38, the latter of which has its side edges and bottom edge rigidly fixed to shell l0. As indicated in Fig. l of the drawings, wall 38 projects inwardly from the vertical partition 36 into the compartment 30 and has an up-turned flange 40 on its uppermost and innermost end that also extends entirely across shell I 0 in the same manner as par-,-

tition 36 and wall 38 itself, all for purposes here inafter more fully described.

The compartment 32 is set off from compartment 3!! by a vertical partition 42 that extends sion 54 is maintained at a level within the compartment 32 below the edge 46 of partition 42 by means of an outlet opening Gil formed in the partition 35 and communicating with compartment 32 at its lowermost end, all to the end that a relatively long overflow is presented for the emulsion 55 whereby to encourage separation of gases 5T therefrom.

' wardly within the compartments l terminating at its lowermost open end in spaced relationship i above the inclined bottom wall 38 of compartentirely across shell is as shown in Fig. 3 by a horizontal floor 34 that interconnects the lower edge of partition 32 and the proximal face of partition 36. This entire compartment 32 is disposed near the top of shell l0 and the uppermost horizontal edge 48 of partition 42 is spaced below wall 12 of shell 15. Accordingly, the compartment 3&3 is in direct communication with compartment 32 at the uppermost end of shell Hi.

The diameter of compartment 30 below wall 38 is accordingly the diameter of shell i0 and it is in this compartment that the conduit 25 is disposed.

The quantity of water 48 is maintained at level 50 in compartment 30 by means hereinafter set forth, this level 50 being disposed above bottom wall 38 and below the wall 44 of compartments 34 and 32'respectively as indicated in Fig. 1 0f the drawings.

The emulsion 28 that is fed into the compartment 30 by conduit 24 will automatically rise in compartment 30 and bubble upwardly through the water 48;

A furnace, broadly designated by the numeral 52 "and having an elliptical cross sectional contour, as shown in Fig. 2'of. the drawings, is immersed within the water 48 below the level 59 thereof and above the up-turned flange 40 of inclined wall 38.- The rising emulsion 28 within the water 48 that is heated by furnace 52, impinges upon the outermost surfaces of furnace 52 prior to reaching an areawithin compartment 30 above the level of water 48 therein. As emul.

sion 28 receives the long bath through water 48, all free water within such emulsion 28 will readily separate therefrom and admix with the water 48 within compartment 30. As the petroleum that has freewat'er-removed therefrom, reaches the uppermost edge 46 of the vertical partition 42 the same will flow directly into the compartment 32 as indicated in Fig.1. This petroleum with free water removed therefrom is indicated by the numeral 54.

Prior to the bath treatment just described, free gases within the emulsion 28 must be removed in order to make possiblethe separation of free water within the compartment 30 and accordingly, such free gases 56 will rise from the inlet within tanklfi and be collected thereby. By the same token, as the emulsion 54 rises within the compartment 39, additional gases 5'! will emanate therefrom and pass from the shell it by way of a tube 58. This tube 58 interconnects wall l2 of shell in and the uppermost end of the tank I8. By the'same token, gases 5'? that rise from the overflowing emulsion 54 within the compartment 32 will rise and pass outwardly from shell in by Way of the tube 58. Theemulment 34. A quantity of water 54 is maintained in the bottom of compartment 34 at a level 55 spaced below the lowermost end of conduit 62 by structure hereinafter more fully described.

ihe furnace 52 includes a horizontal combustion chamber 68 having its outermost end disposed exteriorly of shell 18 and its innermost end connecting directly with a chamber ill.

A horizontal chamber 12 having flues 14 therein communicates at its innermost end with the chamber 70 and at. its opposite end with stack 76. An opening is provided in the vertical partition 35 for receiving furnace 52 with the chamber 18 thereof entirely disposed within the compartmenttt. A plurality of crossed conduits 18 are mounted within the chamber 70 of furnace 52 in the path of travel of flame 8D emanating from gas heater 82, said conduits l8 communicating at both 'ends thereof with the'compartment 34 as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Conduits 78 are disposed at alternating angles to the vertical and the lowermost ends thereof receive the emulsion 54 emanating from the lowermost end of conduit 62. Thus, this emulsion 54 rising within the compartment 34 is heated by the conduits I8 and also by the exterior of chamber '10 inasmuch as some of such emulsion 54 will impinge upon the outermost surface of furnace 52. As the emulsion 54 is so heated and rises within compartment 34, virtually all remaining water therein will settle in compartment 34 and co-mingle with water 64; The gases 56 collected in the tank lbabove emulsion 28 therein from compartments '30 and 32 are redirected into the compartment 34 by a tube 55 that passes downwardly from'an open end at the top of tank 18 through walll2 and thence through partition 36 into an open lowermost end adjacent wall [2 of shell 10. Such gases 56 will pass .into the emulsion within the compartment 34 prior to flow thereof from such compartment 34.

An elongated pipe 84 disposed within the compartment 34 has its open uppermost end spaced above furnace 52 and below the wall I2 of shell If) and terminates at its lowermost end within a separator 86 mountedwithin the compartment 30 of shell 10.

Separator 86 includes an elongated cylinder 88 (Figs. and 5) having an'open bottom resting directly upon the wall I4 of shell I0 and directly secured thereto. The diameter of cylinder 88 is substantially less than the diameter of shell Ill and the height of the former is substantially the same as the distance between wall [4 of shell I!) and the lowermost end of inclined wall 38.

Pipe 84 passes downwardly through wall 38 as shown in Fig. 1a and communicates with the cylinder 88 intermediate the ends of the latter. A horizontal partition 90 divides cylinder 88 into an upper and a lower chamber 92 and 94 respectively, the chamber 92 having a mist ex- '5 tractor 88 disposed 'near the uppermost end thereof. A

Mist extractor 96 includes a cup-like housing 98 closed at its uppermost end by attachment directly to the top'of cylinder 88 and having a plu- I06 for emptying into separator 88 above partition 90. The gases are free to enter a conduit I08 disposed coaxially in mist extractor 86 and separator 88 and passing exteri'orly ofshell I to join with a valve assembly IIO.

A pipe II2 connecting mist extractor 96 with burner 82 supplies fuel for flame 80 and is provided with a control shut-off valve H4. The oil emanating from pipe 84 and dumping in a relatively long over-flow upon partition 90 of separator 86, flows freely into chamber 94 of separator 86 by a tube II6 that circumscribes the downpipe I08 and extends a distance into; both chambers 92 and 94. A quantity of water II8is maintained in the chamber 94 of separator 86 at a level below the lowermost end oftube H6 and such additional water as might remain in the petroleum entering separator 86 will settle into water II8. By the same token, any gases that 'might remain in the petroleum after the same enters chamber 94, are exhausted by a short pipe I20 placing the uppermost end of chamber 94 into communication with chamber 92 above the level of emulsion in the latter. The finished oil product completely dehydrated and exhausted of gases therein overflows from the chamber 94 into an outlet pipe I 22 that has its uppermost and innermost end disposed immediately below the partition 90.

This outlet pipe I22 projects to a point exteriorly of the shell I0 and connects with the valve assembly IIO. v

Internal and external siphoning means is .provided to maintain the various levels of water in compartments 30 and 34 and chamber 94. A

substantially L-shaped conduit I24 is vertically disposed within the chamber 30 with its uppermost end above the level of emulsion 54 therein. This conduit I24 terminates adjacent the inclined wall 38 and thereabove with its short leg and opened lowermost end extending toward the partition 36. I v

A second conduit I26 joins at its uppermost end with the conduit I24 next adjacen't the wall 44 of compartment 32 and terminates within the compartment 34 above the inclined wall38 and immediately below the lowermost end of conduit 62. It is thus seen that when the level of water 48 within the compartment 30 rises above the line 50 as determined by the relative head of emulsion 54, water 48 will empty into compartment 34 by way of conduits I'2-4 and I26 as indicated by arrows in Fig. 1. It is also apparent that gas pressure within the uppermost ends of compartments 30 and 32 is free to enter the uppermost end of the conduit I24 'and'acjcordingly, exert a pressure against'the level of water within conduit I24. Thus, the extent of influence of the head of emulsion 54 to cause outflow of water 48 from conduit I24 to 'conduit I26 is varied somewhat in accordance with-the "extent of gas pressure within the" uppermost end of conduit I24.

'I34 connects at its uppermost end directly with the tank I8 at the uppermost end of the latter by means of a pipe I36. Outward flow of water '64 from compartment 34 is accordingly governed by the extentof gas pressure entering the tank I34 from tank I8 via pipe'l36. Adjustment is made by the reciprocable pipe I 32 and the outfiowing water entering the tank I34 passes into a downpipe I38 that communicates'with the lowermost end'of tank I34 and with a horizontal line I40. Line I40 registers through wall I4 with the chamber 94 of separator 86 and accordingly, the level of water II8 therein is regulated. by the head'of water within the downpipe I38.

" All of such evacuated water is conveyed' under pressure to a point of discharge by way of valve structure I42.

Precise construction and operation of value structure I42 forms no part of this invention but for purposes of explanation, the same is provided with a horizontally reciprocable valve controlled by a diaphragm. A pipe I44 connects with valve structure I42 on one'side of the diaphragm and with the outlet pipe I08 for gases emanating from mist extractor 96. The pressure of such gases formally maintains the valve of assembly I42 in a closed position. When the head of water within the downpipe I38 acting upon the diaphragm of assembly I42 overcomes the pressure within pipe I44, the valve within assembly I42 opens to permit flow of the water through branch I46 and thence through the assembly I42 to a point of discharge under'pressure by way of outlet pipe I48. Obviously, water flows from the chamber 94 through branch I46 by way of horizontal pipe. I40 and downpipe I38. The system may be drained by an outlet pipe I50 having a valve I52 therein and connecting-di rectly with the horizontal pipe I40;

- It is thus'seen that the conveyance of water that is dehydrated from-the emulsion originally introduced by way of pipe 22 to a point of discharge (not shown) is controlled by the inherent pressure of the entire system through use ofthe gases present not only in the tank I8 but discharging from separator 86 by way of-pipe I08.

The finished oil product that enters the valve assembly H0 is also conveyed under pressure by the same'system. Here again, valve structure .I I0 forms no part'of this invention but is so constructed to direct the oilvfrom the valve IIO at I54 and to discharge the gases removed from the emulsion at an opening formed in the valve housing at I56. It is to be understood that the openings I54 and I56 formed-in. the valve I I0 have connection with suitable conduits not herein shown. A reciprocable valve within the assembly H0 is normally biased towardthe closed position by the pressure of gases within the [outlet pipe I08 acting upon thefdiaphragm control for such reciprocable valve. The head of liquid oil discharging through pipe I22 into the-assembly I I0 acts upon such diaphragm to permit the outflow of such oil to a pointlof use or storage.

Assuming the component parts of the apparatus to be formedand assembled as above deg7 "scribed,- the operation-thereof and the method of treating emulified petroleum, can be summarized as follows: i The petroleum emanating from the natural oil well having water emulsified therein is directed into the shell If! by way of pipe 22 and tank It. 'Free gas will risefrom such emulsionwithin tank I 8 and be directed into the compartment 34 by way of conduit 65. Such gas in tank l8'is also used to control the watersiphoning means including tanks l28-and I34. The emulsion with free gas removed is directed into the water 48 of compartment 39 at the bottom thereof by condui-t 24. This emulsion thence bubbles upwardly through thewater 48 and is given a relatively .long bath as it'impinges upon the entire outermost surface of that part of furnace '2 that is immersed within water 48. Since free. gas has been removed from the emulsion, such heating thereof within water 48 will readily cause separation of all free water within the petroleum. Additional gas is removed from the oil product at the top of chambers 30 and 32,'-which gas reaches tank l8 byway of tube 58 for-ultimate direction into compartment 34. token, gas emanating from the long flow of emulsion over the partition 52 passes into tanklS by way of tube 58. After the free water has been removed from the petroleum, as well as virtually all gases therein, the petroleum is subjected to another heating process to remove substantially -all'of the water that did not originally discharge into the compartmentSO.

Eifective means is provided for this last mentioned heating process in the conduits 18 forming a part of furnace 52. It is to be noted that the petroleum rising in the-compartment 34 not only passes through the conduits 18 but is free to impinge upon the outermost surface of chamber of furnace 52. I

Accordingly, in this last mentioned step, water is separated from the petroleum for settling into the water 64'maintained in compartment 34. Once the petroleum has been dehydrated, the original gases therein contained, can be again directed into the petroleum andsuch is done in the next step of the process.

The petroleum and all gases within the uppermost end of compartment "34 enter the downcomer 84 and pass into the separator 86 within the bottom of shell [0. The separator 86; being submerged in the cold incoming emulsion 28, serves not only its purpose as a separator, but operates also as a condenser'and a settling container. As the gases and the petroleum enter separator '86, a centripetal motion thereof takes place and as they scrub around the outside wallo'f separator 86, the moisture, some water and s'ome hydrocarbons mix with oil in chamber 92. Re- "m'aining dry gas'es'that do not condense pass into valve assembly II O for ultimate direction to a point of use. r

' The separator 86 within the bottom of the shell Ill therefore, serves a triple purpose. First, the gases and oil are separated within chamber 92 and all oil within the rising gas bubbles is extracted by the apparatus 96 within'separatortfi. Some of this gas is utilized to fire the. furnace .52 and the remaining gas passes into the valve assembly U0 to .control the rate. of. flowof the finished oil-product from the entire assembly 3 u Einally, the separator- 86 serves to settle out in chamber 94 the remaining water that might be y the same present in th oil-passin from-cham r St-to chamber 94.

Since gases bubbling upwardly through hot water carry therewith hot water vapors, water outlet I40 is provided in the bottom of separator 86. As the gases cool, the water vapors carried thereby will condense back to liquid form and would otherwise be carried outwardly with the oil through outlet I22. -Accordingly, all such condensed water vapors separating from the gases in separator 86 are permitted to settle in chamber 94 rather than discharge with the oil through outlet-I22.

The internal water siphoning means 124 and 126 maintains a predetermined level of water within compartment 30* and byextension of the wall 38 to underlie the conduits|24 and I26, and

additionally with-the provision of the up-turned flange 40, the emulsion thatbubbles upwardly in water 48 will not enter the lowermost end of the Lr-shaped conduit I24.. By the same token,.maintenance of level 66 of water 64 in compartment 34 below the lowermost end of downcomer $2 prevents direct admixture of the emulsion 5t. emanating fromdowncomer B2 and water 64.

. It is apparent from the foregoing that relatively heavy crudes having. a high water content can be effectively handled by the treater forming the subject matter of this invention, and that the same can be eifectively and economically dehydrated prior, to ultimate storage and/cru The entire operation is automatic, economical and requires very little operator attention. Gases contained in the crude oil are utilized to an ad- .vantage in firing the furnace 52 and furthermore, virtually all of such gases are saved for ultimate condensation into gasoline products as might be desired.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been set forth, it is manifest that suchchanges. and modifications as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims, are contemplated hereby.

Having. thus described the invention, what is claimed as. new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: f 1. In a petroleum dehydrator, an upright tank having a vertical compartment adapted to contain a column of water; structure in the tank forming a vertical chamber; a heater in said waterand extending through said structure into the chamber; a downcomerfor directing crude oil emulsion into the water for upward bubbling past said heater, said downcomer extending the entire length of said compartment within the heated water and emulsion therein for pre-heat ing of the emulsion flowing in the downcomer; .a vertical conduit for receiving emulsion from the compartment at the uppermost end of the latter and en ting the same into the chamber for upward bubbling past said heater, said con.- duit beingdisposed within theemulsion in said chamber for heating of emulsion flowing in the conduit; and an outlet pipe disposed to receive oil from near the uppermost end of said chamber and extendingthrough the emulsion in the chamber for heating of the oil flowing in the pipe. 1 I

2, In a petroleum dehydrator asset forth in claim 1, wherein is provided a mist extractor in said column Of water and provided with oil i tlet mean said e c mmuni ating with th mist extractor- 3. In. a pet oleum dehydrator a t t i claim 1, wher m is p vided. a settling drum within said water having oil outlet means and a mist extractor therewithin, said pipe communieating with the drum.

4. In a petroleum dehydrator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said heater is provided with a plurality of tubes communicating with the chamber for receiving upwardly moving emulsion in said chamber.

ELMERR. WILLIAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 1

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,167,160 Raymond July 25, 1939 2,342,950 Lovelady et a1. Feb. 29, 1944 2,384,222 Walker Sept. 14, 1945 10 2,388,796 Mount Nov. 13, 1945 Candler et a1 Oct. 31, 1950

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