Method and apparatus for oil/water separation using a dual electrode centrifugal coalescer

摘要

A method and apparatus for augmenting the coalescence of water in a water-in-oil emulsion. The apparatus includes a tubular vessel having a cylindrical side wall and opposed ends. A tangential inlet in the cylindrical side wall is adjacent one of the vessel ends. A tubular electrode having an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the vessel extends concentrically within the vessel from the one end less than the entire length of the vessel. An elongated electrode extends axially and concentrically within the tubular electrode from the one end. An outlet is provided in the one end between the tubular electrode and the elongated electrode. The inlet and outlet serve to cause fluid to initially flow through the vessel in a circumferential path outside the tubular electrode and thereafter axially through the tubular electrode to the outlet. An electrical potential is applied between the electrodes and the vessel.