Oil in water analyzer
AssigneePhillips 66 Company
InventorsChristopher J. LaFrancois, James F. Stewart, Gregory C. Allred, Marlon Ash
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An oil in water analyzer for measuring the concentration of hydrocarbons in an effluent stream. The oil in water analyzer has a valve system for acquiring a sample from an effluent stream. An extraction device is used for mixing a known volume of a solvent and the sample to produce a hydrocarbon/solvent mixture. A second valve is used for transporting the hydrocarbon/solvent mixture to a spectroscopic cell. It is at the spectroscopic cell where the concentration of hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon/solvent mixture is evaluated.
Claims10
A method comprising:
- a) producing an effluent stream;
- b) acquiring a sample from the effluent stream;
- c) transferring the sample into an extraction device;
- d) injecting a known volume of a water-immiscible solvent into the extraction device;
- e) mixing the sample and the known volume of the water-immiscible solvent in the extraction device;
- f) extracting a hydrocarbon/solvent mixture from the sample;
- g) transporting the hydrocarbon/solvent mixture to a spectroscopic cell;
- h) determining the hydrocarbon concentration of the hydrocarbon/solvent mixture by spectroscopy techniques;
- and
- i) continuously altering a dewatering/desalting operation based upon the concentration of the hydrocarbon material in the sample.
An oil in water analyzing method comprising:
- a) producing an effluent stream from a dewatering/desalting operation wherein a portion of the effluent stream flows through a sample loop of the oil in water analyzer,
- b) trapping from 0.5 mL to 50 mL of a sample of the effluent stream from the dewatering/desalting operation within the sample loop;
- c) transferring the sample into an extraction device with the assist of a pressurized gas;
- d) injecting a known volume of toluene into the extraction device;
- e) mixing the sample and the known volume of toluene in the extraction device;
- f) feeding air through a venturi to create a pumping action to extract an amount of a hydrocarbon from the sample into the toluene;
- g) transferring the hydrocarbon/toluene mixture to a spectroscopic cell with a water assist;
- h) determining the hydrocarbon concentration of the hydrocarbon/toluene mixture by spectroscopy techniques;
- i) transferring the leftover hydrocarbon/toluene mixture and water to a waste removal port with the assist of pressurized gas;
- and
- j) injecting an amount of toluene to solvent rinse the oil in water analyzer,
- wherein the operation of the dewatering/desalting operation is adjusted based upon the concentration of the hydrocarbon material in the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.