STABLE HEAVY OIL-IN-WATER EMULSIONS

摘要

Heavy oil-in-water emulsions useful as fuels are prepared by mixing the heavy oil, water and surfactant in a first static mixer at relatively high temperatures and low shear rates to form a substantially uniform blend without the substantial formation of an emulsion. The effluent from the first static mixer is mixed in a second static mixer at relatively high shear rates to emulsify the blend which is then passed into a third static mixer wherein it is mixed with water at a relatively low shear rate to reduce its temperature and dilute the emulsion to a desired water content. The surfactant is preferably a mixed non-ionic surfactant system containing a relatively low HLB surfactant and a relatively high HLB surfactant.