US 4,304,671 AGranted

Apparatus and process for separating emulsions by coalescence

AssigneeDegremont

InventorHerve Labaquere

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Abstract

A system for treating organic emulsions by separating by coalescence the disperse phase from the dispersion phase of the emulsion includes a single enclosed chamber having therein a lower destabilizing area, a central filtering and coalescence area, and an upper flotation and separation area. An emulsion to be treated is continuously introduced and passed upwardly through the destabilizing area, the filtering and coalescence area and the flotation and separation area. The flotation and separation area includes a center portion positioned vertically above the filtering and coalescence area and at least one lateral portion in flow communication with the center portion and extending laterally downwardly along a side of the filtering and coalescence area and the destabilizing area. The lateral portion of the flotation and separation area is laterally separated from the filtering and coalescence area and from the destabilizing area by a partition. The disperse phase of the emulsion is withdrawn by a first withdrawal means from upper portions of the center and lateral portions of the flotation and separation area. The dispersion phase is withdrawn by second withdrawal means separate from the first withdrawal means from the lower part of the lateral portion of the flotation and separation area.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An apparatus for treating organic emulsions by separating by coalescence the disperse phase from the dispersion phase of the emulsion, said apparatus comprising:

a single enclosed chamber having therein a lower destabilizing area, a central filtering and coalescence area, and an upper flotation and separation area;
means for introducing an emulsion to be treated into said lower destabilizing area such that said emulsion passes successively upwardly through said destabilizing area, whereat said emulsion is destabilized and caused to flow uniformly upwardly, said filtering and coalescence area, and said flotation and separation area;
filtering and coalescence material, positioned in said filtering and coalescence area, for filtering out matter in suspension from said emulsion and for attracting the disperse phase of said emulsion in droplet from such that the droplets grow in size during upward passage of said emulsion through said filtering and coalescence area;
said flotation and separation area including a center portion positioned vertically above said filtering and coalescence area and at least one lateral portion in flow communication with said center portion and extending laterally downwardly along a side of said filtering and coalescence area and said destabilizing area;
said lateral portion of said flotation and separation area being laterally separated from said filtering and coalescence area and from said destabilizing area by a partition;
the coalesced droplets of disperse phase separating from and floating on the dispersion phase of said emulsion within said center and lateral portions of said flotation and separation area;
first withdrawal means for withdrawing said coalesced disperse phase from said center and lateral portions of said flotation and separation area;
and
second withdrawal means, separate from said first withdrawal means, for withdrawing said dispersion phase from said lateral portion of said flotation and separation area.

6 more elements

A process for treating organic emulsions including separating by coalescence the disperse phase from the dispersion phase of the emulsion, said process comprising:

providing within a single enclosed chamber a lower destabilizing area, a central filtering and coalescence area containing therein coalescence material, and an upper flotation and separation area including a center portion positioned vertically above said filtering and coalescence area and at least one lateral portion in flow communication with said center portion and extending laterally downwardly along a side of said filtering and coalescence area and said destabilizing area;
and
conducting a coalescence treatment operation comprising:
introducing an emulsion to be treated into said lower destabilizing area and therein destabilizing said emulsion to form a destabilized emulsion;
passing said destabilized emulsion upwardly into said filtering and coalescence area and therein causing the disperse phase of said emulsion to be attracted to said coalescence material in the form of droplets, and continuing to pass said emulsion upwardly through said filtering and coalescence area such that said droplets of disperse phase grow in size by coalescence during such upward passage, said coalescence material filtering out matter in suspension from said emulsion during such upward passage, to thereby form a filtered and coalesced emulsion including a filtered dispersion phase and coalesced droplets of said disperse phase;
passing said filtered and coalesced emulsion upwardly into said center portion and laterally into said at least one lateral portion of said flotation and separation area and therein causing said coalesced droplets of disperse phase to separate from and float on said filtered dispersion phase;
withdrawing said coalesced disperse phase by means of first withdrawal means from said center and lateral portions of said flotation and separation area;
and
withdrawing said dispersion phase, by means of second withdrawal means separate from said first withdrawal means, from said at least one lateral portion only of said flotation and separation area.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.