| 摘要 |
In order to separate dispersed contaminant phase from a phase mixture comprising the contaminant phase dispersed in a continuous background fluid phase (for example a water-in-oil emulsion), net unipolar charge is injected into the emulsion with an electrostatic charge injection device (1) which issues charged phase mixture into a separation vessel (6). The injected charge both induces an electric field within the embodiment in vessel (6) and also charges the water droplets, resulting in migration of contaminants within the phase mixture in a conglomeration region (33) of the vesssel (6). The mean inter-contaminant spacing is less than, and preferably very much less than (e.g. less than 1%), the smallest internal dimension of the separation vessel so that some conglomeration will occur within the liquid mixture and some will occur on the inner wall surface region of the separation vessel (6). The water droplets settle out to form a distinct water layer (38) on the bottom of the separator vessel (6). The separation effectiveness may be assisted by a bed of closely packed beads (32) occupying a further conglomeration region (34 ) within the separation vessel.
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