Separating Multiple Components of a Stream
AssigneeNational Tank Company
InventorGary W. Sams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of augmenting the separation of immiscible heavier and lighter components of an emulsion including the steps of conducting the emulsion into a treatment vessel, providing an AC voltage source, employing from the source an AC voltage of at least one selected frequency F1 to establish at least one electric filed within the vessel through which the emulsion passes, and cyclically modulating the AC voltage with a method of modulation selected from: (a) amplitude modulation; (b) frequency modulation; and (c) combined amplitude and frequency modulation.
Claims21
1-30. (canceled)
A method of separating gaseous components, heavier liquid components and lighter liquid components of a stream, comprising:
- conducting the stream between spaced apart electrodes in a treatment vessel;
- supplying from a voltage source an AC voltage of at least one base frequency F1 to at least one of said electrodes to establish an electric field within said vessel through which the stream passes;
- modulating the frequency F1 of said AC voltage at a modulation frequency F2;
- withdrawing separated gaseous components from an upper portion of said vessel, heavier stream components from a lower portion of said vessel, and lighter liquid components from an intermediate portion of said vessel.
A method of desalting a salty hydrocarbon stream having gaseous components, water components and oil components comprising:
- flowing the salty hydrocarbon stream into a separation vessel;
- providing a plurality of substantially paralleled spaced apart electrodes within said vessel;
- providing an AC voltage source of selectable frequency;
- in response to the characteristics of the stream employing from said AC voltage source an AC voltage of base frequency F1;
- applying said AC voltage of frequency F1 to said electrodes to thereby establish an electric field between adjacent electrodes;
- cyclically modulating the frequency of F1 at a modulation frequency F2;
- conducting said salty hydrocarbon stream between adjacent of said electrodes;
- flowing fresh water into said vessel between adjacent said electrodes counter current to the flow of said salty hydrocarbon stream;
- withdrawing separated gaseous components from an upper portion of said vessel;
- withdrawing water components from a lower portion of said vessel;
- and
- withdrawing reduced salty oil components from an intermediate portion of said vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.