Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Making an insoluble substance or accreting suspended...
Patent
1989-05-26
1991-04-09
Silverman, Stanley
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Making an insoluble substance or accreting suspended...
210382, 210365, 210520, 210DIG5, B01D 1704
Patent
active
050062603
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a process for separation of a dispersed phase in emulsion or in suspension in a continuous phase of a different density. The invention also relates to a separation device for carrying out the process and applying the process in particular, but not exclusively, to the separation of hydrocarbons or fatty compounds dispersed in an aqueous effluent.
The crude petroleum oil recovered by "offshore" platforms always contains relatively significant quantities of water and a non-negligible percentage of materials in suspension (colloidal materials, fine particles). The separation of the hydrocarbon and the water must be achieved as soon as possible in order, firstly, to return to the ocean a purified aqueous phase without creating a nuisance, and also to assure the pumping of a hydrocarbon phase free from water in such a manner as to avoid wasting of energy and avoid corrosion problems in the conduits caused by the presence of salt water. The problem presents itself in the same manner on gas producing platforms where the fraction of liquid recovered comprises light hydrocarbons mixed with salt water.
Therefore, it is necessary to achieve a high separation efficiency, and it is considered satisfactory in these applications to carry out a separation obtaining in one phase less than 100 mg/l (milligrams per liter) of the other phase.
Actually, taking into consideration the suspended materials which the effluents contain, this performances is generally obtained by a two-step treatment carrying out in successive steps, in separate installations: a primary treatment essentially achieved in decanters, which permits the separation of droplets of a size greater than 150 microns and a secondary treatment generally achieved in induced-air flotation devices, which separates the droplets of smaller sizes and reduces the residual content in the dispersed phase to a value less than 100 mg/l.
These installations present the serious drawback of being very cumbersome, by reason of the two-step treatment carried out and the fact that each phase of treatment itself requires a voluminous apparatus: decanters of which the performance is related to the surface, and large and heavy flotators. This drawback is particularly serious for installations intended to be provided on platforms, where the space is limited and costly. Moreover, the induced air flotators are large energy users and require the use of adjuvant chemicals (de-emulsifiers, coagulants) for neutralizing the stabilizing action of the additives which are generally injected at the top of the well (anti-corrosion agents, anti-foaming agents . . . ).
Coalescers with fibrous or granular fillings are known, in particular beds of oleophilic resins, which give excellent separation performance, but are very sensitive to suspended materials and require delicate regeneration cycles to be carried out. As a result, filled coalescers are generally not used for effluents which are heavily loaded with suspended materials and in any event require a dual installation for working continuously, one installation operating in the separation cycle while the other is in the regeneration cycle.
The present invention proposes to provide a new process and a new device for separation, by coalescence, of a hydrocarbon phase in emulsion in an aqueous phase, and seeks to suppress the drawbacks hereinabove indicated for known processes and installations.
In a more general manner, the invention provides an improved process and apparatus for the separation of all dispersed phase in emulsion or in suspension in a continuous phase of a different density.
An essential object of the invention comprises in particular the carrying out of the separation in a single step with a separation efficiency greater than that of the conventional dual treatment mentioned above.
Another essential object is to provide a separation device which is less sensitive to suspended materials and, as a result, is able to operate continuously and permanently, without a regeneration step.
Another object is to provi
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Aurelle Yves
Lopez Louis
Roques Henri
Dutton, Jr. Harold H.
Institut National des Sciences Appliquees de Toulouse
Nessler Cynthia L.
Silverman Stanley
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