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US 12,533,680 B1Granted
Electrostatic free water knockout for high water cut emulsions
AssigneeCameron International Corporation
InventorsGary W. Sams, Francisco E. Vera
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for separating water from an oil and water mixture are provided. A free water knockout vessel includes a mechanical separation section, an electrostatic coalescence section, and a gravitational separation section. A process for separating water from an oil and water mixture includes mechanical separation of the “free” water, electrostatic coalescence of emulsified water via one or more electrode assemblies, and separation of the coalesced water.
Claims18
A system, comprising:
- a separator, comprising:
- a vessel having a fluid inlet, an oil outlet, and a water outlet, wherein the fluid inlet is configured to intake an oil-water mixture;
- an electrostatic separator section disposed in the vessel, wherein the electrostatic separator section comprises at least one electrode assembly comprising:
- a solid plate;
- a perforated plate spaced apart from the solid plate;
- a fluid flow path between the solid and perforated plates, and
- an electrode disposed along the fluid flow path, wherein the solid and perforated plates converge toward one another along the fluid flow path, the electrode is centered between the solid and perforated plates, and the electrode is configured to generate an electrostatic field to induce separation of water from the oil-water mixture.
4 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a separator, comprising:
- a vessel having a fluid inlet, a gas outlet, an oil outlet, and a water outlet, wherein the fluid inlet is configured to intake an oil-water mixture;
- an inlet separator section disposed in the vessel;
- an electrostatic separator section disposed in the vessel, wherein the electrostatic separator section comprises at least one electrode assembly comprising:
- a solid plate;
- a perforated plate spaced apart from the solid plate;
- a fluid flow path between the solid and perforated plates;
- and
- an electrode disposed along the fluid flow path, wherein the solid and perforated plates converge toward one another along the fluid flow path, the electrode is centered between the solid and perforated plates, and the electrode is configured to generate an electrostatic field to induce separation of water from the oil-water mixture;
- and
- a gravity separator section disposed in the vessel.
8 more elements
A method, comprising:
- directing an oil-water mixture through an inlet separator section in a vessel of a separator, wherein the vessel comprises a fluid inlet to intake the oil-water mixture, a gas outlet, an oil outlet, and a water outlet;
- directing the oil-water mixture through an electrostatic separator section disposed in the vessel, wherein the electrostatic separator section comprises at least one electrode assembly comprising:
- a solid plate;
- a perforated plate spaced apart from the solid plate;
- a fluid flow path between the solid and perforated plates;
- and
- an electrode disposed along the fluid flow path, wherein the solid and perforated plates converge toward one another along the fluid flow path, the electrode is centered between the solid and perforated plates, and the electrode is configured to generate an electrostatic field to induce separation of water from the oil-water mixture;
- and
- directing the oil-water mixture through a gravity separator section disposed in the vessel.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.