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US 9,868,075 B2Granted
Oil water separation and skimming device
AssigneeFluor Technologies Corporation
InventorRafique Janjua
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Oil-containing water is separated in a separator in an automated/continuous operation using devices that are free of moving parts in the separation container. Operation is preferably entirely controlled via adjustment of various flow rates, typically using flow control valves and/or feed pumps in response to measurement of a guided wave radar device or other IDLT.
Claims17
A method of separating in a container an oil-containing water into an oil phase and a water phase, comprising:
- continuously feeding the oil-containing water through a feed conduit into a lower end of a center column disposed in the container at a first rate, wherein the center column has an upper end positioned within the container, wherein the lower end is coupled to a baffle disposed in the container, wherein the baffle is positioned below the lower end of the center column;
- coalescing oil droplets in the oil-containing water within the center column to separate the oil-containing water into an oil phase and a water phase;
- flowing the oil phase and the water phase from the center column into the surrounding container to thereby form an interface between the oil phase and the water phase in the container;
- continuously removing from the container at least one of (a) oil from the oil phase at a second rate via an oil recovery conduit, and (b) water from the water phase at a third rate via a water recovery conduit having an inlet disposed below the baffle;
- pumping a portion of the water in the water recovery conduit into the feed conduit at a pump rate;
- measuring a thickness of the oil phase or position of the interface in the container with an interface detection and level transmitter to obtain a measurement result;
- and
- using the measurement result to adjust the first rate, the second rate, the third rate, and the pump rate to ensure that at least some of the oil is removed from the oil phase via the oil recovery conduit.
5 more elements
A method of controlling separation of an oil-containing water into an oil phase and a water phase, comprising:
- continuously feeding the oil-containing water into a lower end of a center column disposed in a container at a first rate, wherein the center column has an open upper end positioned below an upper end of the container, wherein a baffle is disposed in the container and coupled to the lower end of the center column;
- continuously separating the oil-containing water in the container into the oil phase and the water phase;
- withdrawing oil from the oil phase in the container at a second rate through an oil recovery conduit above the oil phase;
- withdrawing water from the water phase in the container at a third rate through a water recovery conduit below an interface between the oil phase and the water phase;
- measuring a thickness of the oil phase in the container or a position of an interface of the oil phase and the water phase;
- adjusting the first rate and the second rate in response to the measured thickness of the oil phase or the position of the interface of the oil phase and the water phase to thereby raise the oil phase such that at least some of the oil from the oil phase is withdrawn via the oil recovery conduit.
3 more elements
A separator for separation of oil-containing water into an oil phase and a water phase, comprising:
- a container;
- a feed conduit with a feed mechanism, wherein the feed conduit extends through the inside of the container and into a lower end of a center column positioned within the container, wherein the center column has an open upper end positioned below an upper end of the container, and wherein a baffle is disposed in the container and coupled to the lower end of the center column;
- wherein the feed mechanism is configured to provide the oil-containing water at a first rate into the center column, wherein the container is further configured to allow separation of the oil-containing water into the oil phase and the water phase;
- an oil recovery conduit that is positioned above the oil phase and configured to allow withdrawal of oil from the oil phase at a second rate;
- a water recovery conduit that is positioned below an interface between the oil phase and the water phase and configured to allow withdrawal of water from the water phase at a third rate;
- an interface detection and level transmitter that is configured to measure at least one of a thickness of the oil phase and a position of the interface and to produce a measurement signal;
- and
- a control device that is configured to use the measurement signal to produce a control signal;
- wherein the control signal is configured to adjust the first rate to thereby allow raising the oil phase such that at least some of the oil from the oil phase is withdrawn via the oil recovery conduit.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.