Oil dehydrator
AssigneePorous Media Corporation
InventorsMichael R. Spearman, John H. Burban, Mathews Thundyil, Majid Zia
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for the removal of free, emulsified, or dissolved water from liquids of low volatility, such as oil, is shown. The liquid of low volatility is removed by contacting the fluid stream of concern with one side of a semi-permeable membrane. The membrane divides a separation chamber into a feed side into which the stream of fluid is fed, and a permeate side from which the water is removed. The permeate side of the chamber is maintained at a low partial pressure of water through presence of vacuum, or by use of a sweep gas.
Claims65
A process for the dehydration of oils, comprising the following steps:
- a) contacting one side of a defect-free, dense, nonporous membrane with a liquid stream containing free, emulsified or dissolved water and oil, wherein the membrane divides the separation chamber into a feed side, into which the liquid stream is fed, and a permeate side, from which the water is withdrawn;
- wherein;
- 1) the defect-free, dense, nonporous membrane is a composite part of a hollow fiber wherein a defect-free, dense, nonporous discriminating layer is supported on a porous support;
- and
- 2) the discriminating layer and porous support are polymeric in nature;
- b) maintaining a partial pressure differential for water such that the water selectively permeates by “solution diffusion” through the discriminating polymer layer from the feed side to the permeate side as a vapor;
- c) removing the water vapor that has permeated from the permeate side with a sweep gas stream or vacuum;
- d) preventing permeation of oil to the permeate side in the liquid phase;
- and
- e) removing the dehydrated oil from the feed side of the membrane.
A process for the dehydration of low volatility liquids, comprising the following steps:
- a) contacting one side of a defect-free, nonporous, semi-permeable membrane with a liquid stream containing at least water and liquid of low volatility, wherein the membrane divides a separation chamber into a feed-side, into which the liquid stream is fed, and a permeate side, from which the water is withdrawn, wherein:
- 1) the defect-free, dense, nonporous membrane is a composite part of a hollow fiber wherein a defect-free, dense, nonporous discriminating layer is supported on a porous support;
- and
- 2) the discriminating layer and porous support are polymeric in nature;
- b) maintaining a partial pressure differential for water such that the water permeates through the membrane from the feed side to the permeate side and the liquid of low volatility cannot permeate to the permeate side by hydraulic transport;
- said low volatility liquid in oil;
- c) removing the water that has permeated from the permeate side;
- and
- d) removing the dehydrated liquid from the feed side of the membrane.
A process for the dehydration of oil, comprising the following steps:
- a) contacting one side of a defect-free, semi-permeable nonporous membrane with a liquid stream containing at least water and oil
- b) where the water is free, emulsified or dissolved in the oil;
- c) wherein the membrane divides a separation chamber into a feed-side, into which the liquid stream is fed, and a permeate side, from which the water is withdrawn;
- d) maintaining a partial pressure differential for water such that the water permeates through the membrane from the feed side to the permeate side and the oil cannot permeate to the permeate side by hydraulic transport;
- e) removing the water that has permeated from the permeate side;
- and
- f) removing the dehydrated oil from the feed side of the membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.