Improved electrically enhanced phase separation methods for difficult to resolve oily continuous emulsions /
This dissertation presents improved electrically enhanced phase separation methods to resolve several different types of "difficult to resolve'' oily continuous emulsions. This was achieved through the design and operations of an improved continuous-flow electrostatic coalescer equ...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
2000.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=765043141&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | This dissertation presents improved electrically enhanced phase separation methods to resolve several different types of "difficult to resolve'' oily continuous emulsions. This was achieved through the design and operations of an improved continuous-flow electrostatic coalescer equipped with a uniquely designed insulated electrode and other amended features. Based on tests with identically prepared W/O (water-in-oil) emulsions the coalescence rate was over 1l-fold higher as compared to a geometrically similar coalescer using a patented plastic-sealed electrode under identical 600 Hz A.C. field. The overall performance for A.C. fields was found to be more effective than that for pulsed D.C. fields. True RMS power consumption measurements of the coalescence process were facilitated by means of an isolated 2-channel digital oscilloscope. The estimated electricity cost for processing equivalent 1000 BBL of a water-in-lsopar® M emulsion was as low as $0.37 and $0.39 under 60 Hz A.C. and pulsed D.C. fields, respectively. These data compare favorably with actual full scale electrostatic coalescer operating costs for an equivalent crude oil volume for NATCO designed systems. lnvestigation of electrically augmented transport of metallic species from oily media to aqueous phase was performed for both surrogate waste oil and used motor oil under various A.C. and pulsed D.C. fields. Among the three toxic metals used in the surrogate oily waste studies, nickel exhibits the best transfer performance and averaged almost 93% removal from the oil phase in batch-mode tests. Very low copper and nearly zero chromium concentrations were measured in the corresponding aqueous phases. In batch-mode tests with diluted used motor oil emulsions, the removal of magnesium and sodium were approximately around the 50% range. With the addition of an emulsion breaker (Nalco 7715), the average zinc and calcium concentrations in the final aqueous phase were more than doubled as compared to that without the presence of Nalco 7715 under both 60 Hz A.C. and pulsed D.C. fields. A subsidiary objective dealing with electrical conductivity measurements led to the development of a computer based methodology that appears more flexible and precise than the method used in ASTM D4308-95. Further study is recommended here. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Interdisciplinary Engineering". |
| Physical Description: | xvi, 270 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilm Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 225-238). |