Dependence of water drop settling speed on turbulent diffusion coefficient in oil and modeling of physical processes

Abstract

Oil emulsions are a component of oil raw material extraction and refining processes. The presence of dispersed water, mineral salts and solid phase particles, as well as asphalt-resin and paraffin substances dissolved in it, significantly changes the physical properties and structure of the oil emulsion. As a rule, oil emulsion separation is carried out in two stages. First, large drops are quickly deposited (surfaced) and undergo coalescence. Very small drops remain in the form of "fog" and are deposited for a long time by forming an intermediate layer in the apparatus. The rate of stratification in most cases determines the productivity of the extraction process.The emulsion formed when oil is mixed with reservoir water should be considered as a mechanical mixture of two insoluble liquids (oil and water). At this time, one of the liquids is distributed in the form of drops of different sizes in the volume of the other.Due to the presence of water in the oil, the increase in the volume and viscosity of the transported liquid, the transportation cost becomes more expensive. Water solutions containing mineral salts cause wear and tear of oil-transporting devices and oil-refining equipment. The presence of even 0.1% water in the oil causes intense foaming of the oil in the rectification cylinders of oil refineries, which causes a violation of the processing regime and, in addition, contamination of condensation devices.