Method and Apparatus for Improving the Performance of a Separator

摘要

A method of separating oil and water in a flow-stream through a gravity settling vessel ( 10 ) in which the flow-stream ( 12 ) separates into a lower water layer ( 22 ) and an upper oil layer ( 26 ), includes feeding an off-take stream ( 34 ) of the oil layer and/or an emulsion layer ( 20 ) that forms between the oil layer and the water layer through a compact electrostatic coalescer (CEC) ( 38 ) that has electrically isolated electrodes. The CEC coalesces water droplets in the off-take stream, and the coalesced off-take stream is then returned to the settling vessel. An associated separator apparatus for comprises: a gravity settling vessel ( 10 ); a CEC ( 38 ) including electrically isolated electrodes; a coalescer feed line ( 34 ) configured to provide an off-take stream of an oil phase and/or an emulsion layer from the settling vessel to the CEC; and a return line ( 40 ) from the CEC for returning the off-take stream to the settling vessel.