Separator electrical analysis
AssigneeCameron International Corporation
InventorsNicholas H. Blackman, Gary W. Sams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The use of electrical analyzers to monitor and control separation processes is described. The electrical analyzers monitor electromagnetic properties of materials being treated, and are used to adjust the separation process based on the changing electromagnetic properties. The electrical analyzers generally sample process fluid and apply a static or varying electric field to the process fluid while monitoring energy uptake of the process fluid from the electric field by measuring electrical parameters of the circuit. The changing electrical response of the process is related to changing process conditions and can be used to control the process.
Claims25
A separator for separating a multi-phase mixture into different liquid phases, the separator comprising:
- a separator vessel comprising:
- a separator inlet configured to receive the multi-phase mixture;
- a first separator outlet configured to output a first liquid phase of the multi-phase mixture, the first liquid phase including an aqueous fluid;
- a second separator outlet configured to output a second liquid phase of the multi-phase mixture, the second liquid phase including a hydrocarbon fluid;
- and
- a first power unit electrically connected to one or more electrodes within the separator vessel, the first power unit configured to create an electric field in the separator vessel to separate the multi-phase mixture in the separator into the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase;
- an electrical analyzer, comprising:
- an analyzer vessel configured to receive a portion of the multi-phase mixture;
- a second power unit electrically connected to one or more electrodes disposed inside the analyzer vessel;
- and
- sensors coupled with the analyzer vessel, the sensors configured to sense properties of the portion of the multi-phase mixture inside the analyzer vessel when power is supplied to the one or more electrodes disposed inside the analyzer vessel;
- and
- a controller coupled with the separator vessel and the electrical analyzer, the controller configured to adjust operation of the separator based on the properties sensed by the sensors of the electrical analyzer.
A separator for separating a multi-phase mixture into different liquid phases, the separator comprising:
- a separator vessel configured to separate the multi-phase mixture into a first liquid phase and a second liquid phase;
- a separator inlet configured to receive the multi-phase mixture, the separator inlet coupled with the separator vessel to convey the multi-phase mixture to the separator vessel;
- a first separator outlet coupled with the separator vessel to output the first liquid phase of the multi-phase mixture, the first liquid phase including an aqueous fluid;
- a second separator outlet coupled with the separator vessel to output the second liquid phase of the multi-phase mixture, the second liquid phase including a hydrocarbon fluid;
- a first power unit electrically connected to one or more electrodes within the separator vessel to create an electric field in the separator vessel to separate the multi-phase mixture in the separator vessel into the first liquid phase and the second liquid phase;
- an electrical analyzer configured to analyze properties of the multi-phase mixture, the electrical analyzer coupled with the separator inlet for obtaining and returning a portion of the multi-phase mixture, the electrical analyzer comprising:
- an analyzer vessel configured to receive the portion of the multi-phase mixture;
- a second power unit electrically connected to one or more electrodes disposed inside the analyzer vessel to create an electric field in the analyzer vessel when the portion of the multi-phase mixture is in the analyzer vessel;
- and
- sensors coupled with the analyzer vessel, the sensors configured to sense properties of the portion of the multi-phase mixture inside the analyzer vessel when power is supplied to the one or more electrodes disposed inside the analyzer vessel;
- and
- a controller coupled with the separator vessel and the electrical analyzer, the controller configured to adjust operation of the separator based on the properties sensed by the sensors of the electrical analyzer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.