Emulsion detection in electrical separators
AssigneeCameron International Corporation
InventorsGary W. Sams, Juan C. Alvarez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electrical separators employing detection of conductive fluid excursions are described herein. A separator of this type has a separator, comprising a separation vessel; an electric field assembly extending a first distance within the separation vessel in a first direction of a density-based separation force; a plurality of detector electrodes extending a second distance within the separation vessel in the first direction; one or more power units; and one or more circuits electrically coupling the electric field electrodes and the detector electrodes with the one or more power units.
Claims13
A method of separating phases of a multiphase fluid into two liquid phases, the method comprising:
- providing the multiphase fluid to a separation vessel having an electrode disposed in an interior of the vessel;
- applying power to the electrode within the vessel to create an electric field within the multiphase fluid;
- disposing an electrical conductivity detector within the interior of the vessel at a location selected to enable detection of an electrical conductivity of a fluid portion in the separation vessel before the fluid portion affects the electrode;
- applying power to the electrical conductivity detector using a power unit electrically coupled to the electrical conductivity detector;
- detecting a change in electrical conductivity of the fluid portion near the electrical conductivity detector based in part on operating changes in the power unit;
- and
- responsive to detecting the change in electrical conductivity of the fluid portion near the electrical conductivity detector, controlling operation of the separation vessel or the electrode to reduce electrical conductivity of the fluid portion near the electrical conductivity detector.
A separator, comprising:
- a separation vessel;
- an electrode disposed in an interior of the separation vessel, the electrode configured to generate an electric field;
- an electrical conductivity detector within the interior of the vessel at a location selected to enable detection of an electrical conductivity of a fluid portion in the separation vessel before the fluid portion affects the electrode;
- a power unit electrically coupled to the electrical conductivity detector, the power unit configured to apply power to the electrical conductivity detector;
- a sensor electrically coupled to the power unit, the sensor configured to sense an electrical characteristic of the power unit;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- detect a change in electrical conductivity of the fluid portion near the electrical conductivity detector based in part on a change in the electrical characteristic of the power unit;
- and
- responsive to detecting the change in electrical conductivity of the fluid portion near the electrical conductivity detector, control operation of the separation vessel or the electrode to reduce electrical conductivity of the fluid portion near the electrical conductivity detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.