Systems and processes for separating emulsified water from a fluid stream

Abstract

Decreasing the water content of an organic phase can often be desirable, but low water levels can be difficult to achieve at high fluxes when the water is present in an emulsified form, such as in a water-in-oil emulsion. Processes for de-emulsifying a fluid stream containing emulsified water, such as water-in-crude oil emulsions, include introduction of the fluid stream into a vessel that defines a coalescence zone. The vessel is configured to provide for simultaneous application of a centrifugal force and an electric field to the fluid stream within the coalescence zone. The simultaneous application of the centrifugal force and the electric field to the fluid stream provides for the coalescence of a portion of the emulsified water into a bulk aqueous phase. A biphasic mixture comprising continuous phases of the organic component and the bulk aqueous phase is formed within the coalescence zone and subsequently removed from the vessel.

1 . A system comprising:
 a vessel having a fluid inlet and an underside fluid outlet, the vessel defining a coalescence zone and being configured to apply a centrifugal force to a fluid stream introduced thereto; and   an electrically insulated electrode having an elongated body located within the coalescence zone of the vessel, the electrically insulated electrode being configured to simultaneously apply an electric field to a fluid stream in the presence of the centrifugal force;
 wherein the underside fluid outlet is configured to remove at least one component of the fluid stream from an underside of the vessel, after the fluid stream has had the centrifugal force and the electric field applied thereto; and 
 wherein the vessel has a longitudinal axis and is inclined with respect to the earth's surface, thereby making an incident angle with the earth's surface in a range from 20 degrees to 60 degrees. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a separation apparatus fluidly connected to the underside fluid outlet and downstream therefrom, the separation apparatus being configured to separate a biphasic mixture of an organic component and a bulk aqueous phase from one another.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the vessel is a hydrocyclone. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the vessel has a longitudinal axis and the electrically insulated electrode is non-parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a mechanical screen, an electrified screen, an electrocoagulator, an electroprecipitator, or any combination thereof fluidly connected to the fluid inlet and upstream therefrom.