# US 9,433,878 B2 · Electrostatic coalescer for coalescing a dispersed phase from a continuous phase in an emulsion > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,878 B2 - Document ID: US9433878B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/068,457 - Filed: 2013-10-31 - Published: 2015-04-30 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-31 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Shyam Sivaramakrishnan; Roderick Mark Lusted - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433878B2 ## CPC - B01D 17/06: Separation of liquids from each other by electricity - B01D 17/045: {with coalescers} - B03C 11/00: Separation by high-voltage electrical fields, not provided for in other groups of this subclass - C10G 33/02: with electrical or magnetic means - B03C 2201/02: Electrostatic separation of liquids from liquids - C10G 2300/1033: Oil well production fluids - C10G 2300/4037: In-situ processes - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B03C: MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS (separating isotopes B01D59/00; combinations of magnetic or electrostatic separation with separation of solids by other means B03B, B07B) - C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES ## Abstract An electrostatic coalescer for coalescing of a dispersed phase from a continuous phase in an emulsion is presented. The electrostatic coalescer includes at least one inlet for receiving the emulsion; at least one outlet for discharging the emulsion after coalescing the dispersed phase; and at least one electrode disposed between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the electrode is configured to receive an AC voltage/current from a power source. The electrostatic coalescer further includes at least one article disposed between the inlet and the outlet, the article includes a plurality of regions disposed on a surface in a predefined pattern, wherein a portion of the plurality of regions is substantially wetting with respect to the dispersed phase, and a portion of the plurality of regions is substantially non-wetting with respect to the dispersed phase. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrostatic coalescer for coalescing of a dispersed phase from a continuous phase in an emulsion, the electrostatic coalescer comprising: at least one inlet for receiving the emulsion; at least one outlet for discharging the emulsion after coalescing the dispersed phase; at least one electrode disposed between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the electrode is configured to receive an AC voltage/current from a power source; and at least one article disposed between the inlet and the outlet, the article comprising a plurality of regions disposed on a surface in a predefined pattern, wherein a portion of the plurality of regions is substantially wetting with respect to the dispersed phase, a portion of the plurality of regions is substantially non-wetting with respect to the dispersed phase and the pattern comprises a plurality of inter-connected regions that are substantially wetting or non-wetting with respect to the dispersed phase. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrostatic coalescer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inter-connected regions define at least one flow path for the continuous phase. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrostatic coalescer of claim 1, wherein the pattern defines at least one flow path for a coalesced dispersed phase to drain from the surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrostatic coalescer of claim 1, wherein the pattern further comprises a plurality of disconnected regions that are substantially wetting with respect to the dispersed phase. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrostatic coalescer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of regions comprise hydrophobic regions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electrostatic coalescer of claim 5, wherein the hydrophobic regions comprise a fluorocarbon. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrostatic coalescer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of regions comprise superhydrophobic regions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electrostatic coalescer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of regions comprise textured hydrophilic regions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electrostatic coalescer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of regions comprise textured superhydrophilic regions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electrostatic coalescer of claim 9, wherein the textured superhydrophilic regions comprise a ceramic. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electrostatic coalescer of claim 1, wherein the article is further configured to function as an electrode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electrostatic coalescer of claim 1, wherein the article comprises a substantially planar surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electrostatic coalescer of claim 1, wherein the dispersed phase comprises an organic phase and the continuous phase comprises an aqueous phase. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The electrostatic coalescer of claim 1, wherein the dispersed phase comprises an aqueous phase and the continuous phase comprises an organic phase. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The electrostatic coalescer of claim 1, comprising a plurality of electrodes and the article. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electrostatic coalescer of claim 15, further comprising the power source configured to supply the AC voltage/current to the plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The electrostatic coalescer of claim 1, wherein the coalescer is configured in-line of an emulsion fluid flow. ### Claim 18 An electrostatic coalescer for coalescing of a dispersed phase from a continuous phase in an emulsion, the electrostatic coalescer comprising: at least one inlet for receiving the emulsion; at least one outlet for discharging the emulsion after coalescing the dispersed phase; a plurality of electrodes disposed between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the plurality of electrodes is configured to receive an AC voltage/current from a power source, wherein at least one electrode in the plurality of electrodes comprises a plurality of regions disposed on a surface in a predefined pattern, wherein a portion of the plurality of regions is substantially wetting with respect to the dispersed phase, and a portion of the plurality of regions is substantially non-wetting with respect to the dispersed phase.