ELECTROSTATIC CROSS-FLOW LIQUID/LIQUID COALESCER

摘要

According to a first aspect there is provided a coalescer for separating components of an emulsion, said coalescer comprising: a tank; an emulsion inlet to said tank arranged to, in use, introduce a substantially horizontal flow of emulsion into the tank; a first liquid outlet from the tank; a second liquid outlet from the tank which, in use, is above said first liquid outlet; and an electrostatically charged plate which, in use, is angled at an angle ¸ of greater than 0° and less than 90° to the horizontal and which is located so as to direct liquid coalesced thereon towards the first outlet and not towards said second outlet. According to a second aspect there is provided a method of separating components of an emulsion using such a coalescer.