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AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorDouglas G. Ryan
Estimating the term…
In solvent de-waxing of lube oil, a stream (3) of chilled waxy oil and solvent is introduced into a centrifugal separation device (2) which separates a quantity of wax from the waxy oil and solvent. The dewaxed oil (DWO) and solvent leaving the centrifuge (2) contains a small proportion of wax fines. By introducing free excess charge which is net unipolar into the stream (3), for example by injecting the charge into a stream (9) of cold solvent introduced into stream (3), enhanced deposit of wax on the centrifuge bowl is achieved, thereby substantially removing the wax fines from the dewaxed oil (DWO) and solvent. Alternatively, a bead separator (22), itself employing charge injection with a charge injection (26) for enhanced wax separation, is used for substantially removing the wax fines in the dewaxed oil and solvent from the centrifugal separation device (2). Preferably, both introduction of free excess charge into the stream (3) admitted to the centrifugal separation device (2) and a bead separator (22) are employed, which can lead to higher throughput in the equipment with minimal wax content of the dewaxed oil and solvent leaving the bead separator.
A method of separating a dispersed phase from a continuous liquid phase, wherein the continuous phase is centrifuged in a centrifugal separation device, for separating a quantity of dispersed phase from the continuous phase, free excess charge which is net unipolar is introduced into the continuous phase, whereby charge transfers to dispersed phase in the continuous phase, and wherein charged dispersed phase is collected, for separation from the continuous phase.
A method of treating a hydrocarbon oil mixture boiling in the lubricating oil range and containing wax particles, for separating wax particles from the oil mixture, comprising the steps of:
Apparatus for separating a dispersed phase from a continuous liquid phase, comprising a centrifugal separation device for separating a quantity of dispersed phase from the continuous phase, means for introducing free excess charge which is net unipolar into the continuous phase, whereby charge transfers to dispersed phase in the continuous phase, and means for collecting charged dispersed phase, for separation from the continuous phase.
Apparatus for separating a dispersed phase from a continuous liquid phase, comprising means for introducing free excess charge which is net unipolar into the continuous phase, whereby charge transfer to dispersed phase in the continuous phase, and a centrifugal separation device for separating a quantity of the dispersed phase from the continuous phase from the charge introducing means, the charge transfer assisting the separation of the dispersed phase from the continuous phase in the centrifugal separation device.
Apparatus for treating a hydrocarbon oil mixture boiling in the lubricating oil range and containing wax particles, for separating wax particles from the oil mixture, comprising means for introducing free excess charge which is net unipolar into the oil mixture, whereby charge transfers to wax in the oil mixture, and a centrifugal separation device for separating a quantity of wax from the oil mixture from the charge introducing means, the charge transfer assisting the separation of wax from the oil mixture in the centrifugal separation device.
Apparatus for treating a hydrocarbon oil mixture boiling in the lubricating oil range and containing wax particles, for separating wax particles from the oil mixture, comprising a centrifugal separation device for separating a quantity of wax from the oil mixture, means for introducing free excess charge which is net unipolar into the oil mixture remaining after said quantity of wax has been separated, in the centrifugal separation device, from the oil mixture to be treated, and a separator, including at least one collector surface, for receiving oil mixture from the charge introducing means and for collecting charged wax in the received oil mixture on said collector surface(s).
Apparatus for treating a hydrocarbon oil mixture boiling in the lubricating oil range and containing wax particles, for separating wax particles from the oil mixture, comprising first means for introducing free excess charge which is net unipolar into the oil mixture, whereby charge transfers to wax in the oil mixture, a centrifugal separation device for separating a quantity of wax from the oil mixture from the charge introducing means, the charge transfer assisting the separation of wax from the oil mixture in the centrifugal separation device, second means for introducing free excess charge which is net unipolar into the oil mixture remaining after said quantity of wax has been separated, in the centrifugal separation device, from the oil mixture to be treated, whereby charge transfers to wax in said remaining oil mixture, and a separator, including at least one collector surface, for receiving oil mixture from the second charge introducing means and for collecting charged wax in the received oil mixture on said collector surface(s).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.