Method and apparatus for promoting droplets coalescence in oil continuous emulsions

An apparatus for a separation of a mixture of two liquids, comprising:

• a section configured to receive a mixture of two liquids;
• a first flow conditioner section downstream of the section and comprising at least one first electrode for generating a first electric field and a first flow conditioner having a first permittivity;
• a second flow conditioner section downstream of the first flow conditioner section and comprising at least one second electrode for generating a second electric field and a second flow conditioner having a second permittivity;
• a permittivity measurement apparatus coupled to the first section and configured to measure the permittivity of the mixture;
• a flow conditioner section selector configured to receive the mixture permittivity from the permittivity measurement apparatus and energize the at least one first electrode of the first flow conditioner section or energize the at least one second electrode of the second flow conditioner section based on a comparison between the mixture permittivity and the first permittivity and the mixture permittivity and the second permittivity.