Continuous and rapid perpetual electrostatic coalescence phase separation and demulsification of oil, water, and solids using plasma at standard conditions

A system, comprising:

• a reactor with a vessel, the reactor comprising:
• a first port configured to receive an emulsified mixture into the vessel of the reactor such that the emulsified mixture contacts the vessel when the emulsified mixture is added to the vessel, the first port situated at a first height;
• a second port configured to receive a non-oxidative gas into the vessel at a pressure in excess of an ambient pressure;
• one or more additional ports configured to expel oil from the vessel and expel water from the vessel;
• and
• a set of electrodes comprising a first electrode situated at a second height that is above the first height so as to position the first electrode in a gas space of the vessel, and a second electrode separated from the first electrode by a gap, the second electrode situated at a third height that is below the first height to position the second electrode in a liquid space of the vessel that is below the gas space of the vessel, the set of electrodes configured to receive a voltage across the gap;
• a sensor configured to detect an electrical condition indicative of dielectric breakdown of gas in the gap, the electrical condition comprising a change in at least one of electrode current or electrode voltage;
• a controller;
• and
• an electrical connection comprising a first terminal electrically connected to the first electrode and a second terminal electrically connected to the second electrode,
• wherein the first and second terminals are configured to interface with an energy source that is configured to generate the voltage between the first terminal and the second terminal in excess of a dielectric breakdown of the non-oxidative gas in the gas space of the vessel;
• wherein the reactor is configured such that, in operation with the emulsified mixture and the non-oxidative gas in the reactor, application of the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode generates a plasma discharge in the gas space above the liquid space;
• and
• wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the electrical connection and to the sensor, the controller being configured to modulate the voltage across the gap between a magnitude in excess of a breakdown voltage of the gas in the gap and a magnitude below the breakdown voltage of the gas in the gap, thereby maintaining a plasma discharge across a gas-liquid interface between the first electrode and the second electrode during operation.

A system comprising a reactor with a vessel formed of a non-conductive material, the reactor comprising:

• a set of ports configured to (i) receive a liquid into the vessel, (ii) receive a gas into the vessel, (iii) expel oil and water from the vessel;
• a set of electrodes comprising a first electrode at a first height and a second electrode at a second height that is lower than the first height, the set of electrodes configured to receive a voltage at or in excess of a breakdown voltage of a non-oxidative gas;
• a weir that sets a liquid-gas interface height in the vessel such that the liquid received in the vessel cannot fill the vessel above the liquid-gas interface height, wherein a gas space of the vessel is situated above the liquid-gas interface height, wherein the first electrode is situated in the gas space such that the first electrode is surrounded by gas without extending into the liquid in the vessel, and wherein the second electrode is situated below the liquid-gas interface height so as to immerse the second electrode in the liquid in the vessel when the reactor is in operation;
• a sensor configured to detect an electrical condition indicative of dielectric breakdown of gas in an interelectrode gap between the first and second electrodes, the electrical condition comprising a change in at least one of electrode current or electrode voltage;
• an electrical connection configured to interface to an energy source to provide the voltage to the first and second electrodes;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and to the electrical connection, the controller configured to modulate the voltage between a magnitude in excess of the breakdown voltage of the gas in the interelectrode gap and a magnitude below the breakdown voltage of the gas in the interelectrode gap, thereby maintaining a plasma discharge across a gas-liquid interface between the first and second electrodes.