Experimental and Computational Analysis on Influence of Water Level on Oil-Water Separator Efficiency

Behin, Jamshid; Azimi, Sara

doi:10.1080/01496395.2014.986332

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 32 publications

(25 reference statements)

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“…They found that increasing the water level reduces the distance traveled by water droplets to merge with the interface, resulting in faster coalescence. The results were also in good agreement with computational fluid dynamics calculations . Simmons et al , measured the RTDs on a one-fifth scale model (pilot scale) of a primary separator operated by BP Oil on the Forties Oil Production Facility in the North Sea.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 55%

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Interplay of Residence Time Distribution and Electric Chaining Tendency due to Distributor Design Determine Electrocoalescer Performance

Kothmire,

Naik,

Thaokar

2024

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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An electrocoalescer is a piece of equipment wherein an electric field is applied across a water-in-oil emulsion to enhance the separation of its constituent phases. The equipment is employed in all petroleum refineries, almost without exception, to produce dehydrated, desalted crude oil, which is safe and suitable for further processing in the downstream equipment. The performance of an electrocoalescer critically depends upon the electrohydrodynamics and hydrodynamics in the equipment vessel, which acts at two levels. First the droplet−droplet interaction, fundamental to the microphysics of separation of a water-in-oil emulsion, is affected by electrohydrodynamics of coalescence and noncoalescence. Second, at a more macroscopic level, the electrohydrodynamics and hydrodynamics in the equipment vessel jointly influence the local water volume fraction of the emulsion and the probability of formation/disruption of water droplet chains across electrodes, which if formed, can result in electrical short-circuiting in the electrocoalescer. In this work, we present some avenues to intervene in the electrohydrodynamics and hydrodynamics at the second level to improve the performance of a continuously operated electrocoalescer. The study was carried out in a 6 L capacity custom-built laboratory-scale electrocoalescer of a design similar to that of industrial electrocoalescers. The apparatus comprised a horizontal axis cylindrical vessel, two horizontal-plane electrode grids mounted one above the other, and a single horizontal pipe with multiple orifices along its length, acting as a feed distributor. The flow characteristics of this bigrid electrocoalescer were studied in terms of residence time distribution (RTD) curves by conducting tracer experiments and by carrying out particle tracking simulations using commercial softwares COMSOL as well as ANSYS-FLUENT. Alternative physical flow models comprising combinations of stirred tanks and tubular elements were proposed and analytical expressions were derived to best fit the experimental and simulation data. The findings were compared with results obtained by carrying out electric dehydration of a model water-in-oil emulsion using the same experimental setup. We demonstrate that the vertical position of the emulsion distributor with respect to the two-electrode grids and the particular direction in which the emulsion ejects into the vessel by virtue of the orientation of the orifices, significantly affect the dehydration performance. For lowwater cut emulsions, it was found beneficial to keep the distributor between the two electrodes. On the other hand, for high-water cut emulsion, it was better to place the distributor between the lower electrode and the emulsion−water interface at the bottom. The work demonstrates how the presence of a complex interplay between RTD and water droplet chaining tendency dictates the optimal position of the feed distributor and the best possible orientation of the orifice on the same, for achieving effective dehydration of water-in-oil emulsi...

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 55%

“…The results were also in good agreement with computational fluid dynamics calculations. 8 Simmons et al 9,10 measured the RTDs on a one-fifth scale model (pilot scale) of a primary separator operated by BP Oil on the Forties Oil Production Facility in the North Sea. A radioactive tracer was used to trace both the oil and aqueous phases.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interplay of Residence Time Distribution and Electric Chaining Tendency due to Distributor Design Determine Electrocoalescer Performance

Kothmire,

Naik,

Thaokar

2024

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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“…Nagdewe et al [5] performed a parametric analysis to get higher efficiency for air-liquid separators and optimal design parameters are gained based upon obtained results of tangential velocities, vortices, total pressure losses. Behin et al [6] studied the single-stage separation efficiency, total separation efficiency and pressure drop of a double-hooked corrugated plate separator under hot condition by means of numerical simulation. Chen et al [7] numerically studied the effects of parameters such as air velocity, droplet size, folding plate form, spacing and installation mode on the separation efficiency and pressure drop of a folded plate air-liquid separator and achieved good comparison numerical results with the cold state experimental results.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Simulation of Performance of an Air–Water Separator with Corrugated Plates for Marine Diesel Engines

Tian

Chen

2020

Processes

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For low speed diesel engines under severe ocean conditions, high efficiency air–water separators must be equipped to separate excess moisture contained in the air and reduce the corrosion. Optimal design of air–water separator is an indispensable part in the development of marine main engines. In view of the complex gas–liquid two-phase turbulent motion within an air–water separator with corrugated plates, a mathematical model is established and numerical simulations of flow field, droplet trajectory and secondary transport are realized. The separation efficiency and pressure drop of the air–water separator under different structure parameters and different working conditions are studied. The results show that reducing the spacing of corrugated plate is helpful to improve the separation efficiency. The bending and hydrophobic hooks of the corrugated channel are important to improve the separation efficiency. The separation of droplet is mainly concentrated on the first two stages of the air–water separator, and the separation efficiency at the third stage is significantly reduced. Research results will further support corrugated plate theory, experimental research and optimization design of similar separators.

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Effects of geometrical parameters of an oil-water separator on the oil-recovery rate

2017

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Experimental and Computational Analysis on Influence of Water Level on Oil-Water Separator Efficiency

Cited by 4 publications

References 32 publications

Interplay of Residence Time Distribution and Electric Chaining Tendency due to Distributor Design Determine Electrocoalescer Performance

Interplay of Residence Time Distribution and Electric Chaining Tendency due to Distributor Design Determine Electrocoalescer Performance

Numerical Simulation of Performance of an Air–Water Separator with Corrugated Plates for Marine Diesel Engines

Effects of geometrical parameters of an oil-water separator on the oil-recovery rate

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