Abstract:
Method and apparatus for altering the physical characteristics ofliquids and gases. The fluid is pumped into an elongated cylindrical chamber whose elongated wall (12) contains a multiplicity of spaced apart cylindrical holes (12A) under sufficient pressure to cause the fluid to exit from the cylindrical holes (12A) as jets having an exit velocity of at least 0.025 feet (.0076 m) per second. The jets of fluid exit from the cylindrical holes (12A) into an annular chamber (15) surrounding the elongated cylindrical chamber and having a common axis as the elongated cylindrical chamber. The entire inner surface of the annular chamber (15) is coated with an alloy of copper and nickel. The jets of fluid bombard the surfaces of the annular chamber to induce the copper-nickel alloy to give up electrons. The freed electrons combine with a significant number of molecules of the fluid to thereby alter the physical characteristics of the entire body of fluid.
Abstract:
Liquid separator and method of separating liquids, such as oil and water in a mixture thereof by use of a hydrocyclone (10). A more dense component of the mixture separated by the hydrocyclone is passed to a filter device (100) for further separation.
Abstract:
A flotation apparatus (110) includes a separation chamber (112) with six separation vessels (114) located around the periphery of the chamber (112). A tangential inlet (122) is provided for each vessel (114) through which a mixture of oil and water passes into the vessels (114), with separation occuring as some of the material carried by bubbles weirsover the top of the vessels (114). Separated oil passes out through an oil outlet (126) in an upper part of the chamber (124), and gas passes out through a gas outlet (130) at the top of the chamber (124).
Abstract:
The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method for filtering fluid in a vacuum chamber assembly and providing uncontaminated fluid to a reservoir. A chamber includes an inlet having an inlet valve for moving a fluid into the chamber, a first outlet having an outlet valve for moving the fluid out of the chamber, and a vent line for controlling a vacuum level in the chamber. A diffuser is arranged in the chamber to dehydrate the fluid, and a moisture sensor detects a moisture level of fluid entering the inlet. When the inlet valve is open and the outlet valve is closed fluid enters the chamber through the inlet and fills the chamber until a maximum fluid setpoint is reached, at which point the inlet valve is closed and the fluid is circulated through the chamber until a moisture setpoint as determined by the moisture sensor is reached. The outlet valve then is opened and fluid is directed out through the first outlet until a minimum fluid setpoint is reached.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a process for the alteration of the ratio of the specific gravities of the oil and water phases resulting from the conversion of biomass to liquid products, the reduction of the conductivity and of metals of the product mixture, which each can aid in the removal of solids contained in the oil phase.
Abstract:
A method of demulsifying an emulsion is provided, the method comprising an initial step of supplying the emulsion to a fluid processor passage (14) having an inlet (16) and an outlet (18), wherein the cross sectional area of the passage (14) between the inlet (16) and outlet (18) does not reduce below the cross sectional area at the inlet (16).A transport fluid is supplied from a transport fluid source (60) to a transport fluid nozzle (34) which circumscribes the passage (14) and opens into the passage (14) intermediate the inlet (16) and the outlet (18). The transport fluid is accelerated through a throat (38) of the transport fluid nozzle (34), the throat (34) having a cross sectional area which is less than that of either the nozzle inlet (36) or nozzle outlet (40). The transport fluid is injected from the nozzle outlet (40) into the emulsion in the passage (14) such that the emulsion is atomised and a vapour-droplet regime is formed comprising a dispersed phase of emulsion droplets within a continuous vapour phase. At least some of the emulsion droplets are vaporised within the vapour-droplet regime and finally the vapour is condensed back to the liquid phase. An apparatus suitable for carrying out this method is also provided.
Abstract:
An apparatus for applying RF electromagnetic energy to a pressurised dielectric fluid comprisesa dielectric chamber (20) through whichthe dielectric fluidflows. A resonant cavity (30) surrounds at least a portion of the dielectric chamber for the application of electromagneticenergy to the dielectric fluid. The resonant cavity means ispressurised to a pressure substantially equal to that of the pressurised fluid such that there is substantially no pressure differential across a dielectric wall separating an inside of the dielectric chamber means from an outside of the dielectric chamber means within the resonant cavity means.
Abstract:
The proposed method represents one possibility for separating emulsions of whole-cell biotransformations, making it possible to separate efficiently, by means of at least one compressed or supercritical gas, stable emulsions which arise in such a biotransformation from typical biocatalytic two-phase processes. It is possible through the use of compressed or supercritical gas as separating agent for a supercritical extraction to be carried out immediately thereafter in order to obtain the desired product. It is immaterial in this connection whether the desired product is present in the aqueous or organic phase. Recycling of the organic phase is possible because the surface-active cell constituents which are crucially responsible for the formation of the stable emulsion can be removed by sedimentation owing to the treatment. The separation achieved persists even after the compressed or supercritical gas has been discharged, making it possible for other methods for isolating the product, besides the extraction, to follow if necessary. The described invention involves an enormous potential for the industrial utilization of biocatalytic two-phase processes which are of great interest economically and ecologically.
Abstract:
Das vorgestellte Verfahren stellt eine Möglichkeit zur Trennung von Emulsionen aus Ganzzell-Biotransformationen dar, die es ermöglicht, mittels mindestens einem komprimierten oder überkritischen Gas sich bei einer solchen Biotransformation ergebende stabile Emulsionen aus typischen biokatalytischen Zweiphasenprozessen effektiv zu trennen. Dabei kann durch die Verwendung von komprimiertem oder überkritischem Gas als Trennmittel eine überkritische Extraktion direkt nachgeschaltet werden, um das Wertprodukt zu erhalten. Unerheblich ist dabei, ob das Wertprodukt in der wässrigen oder organischen Phase vorliegt. Ein Recycling der organischen Phase ist möglich, da sich die oberflächenaktiven Zellbestandteile, die maßgeblich für die Bildung der stabilen Emulsion verantwortlich sind, aufgrund der Behandlung durch Sedimentation abtrennen lassen. Die erzielte Trennung bleibt dabei auch nach Ausgasen des komprimierten oder überkritischen Gases bestehen, so dass neben der Extraktion auch andere Verfahren zur Produktisolation angeschlossen werden können, sofern dies erforderlich ist. Die beschriebene Erfindung beinhaltet dabei ein enormes Potential, ökonomisch wie auch ökologisch hoch interessante biokatalytische Zweiphasenprozesse industriell zu nutzen.
Abstract:
A method is described for the microwave emulsion treatment of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions, said method comprising the steps of a) in the laboratory, determining, for an W/O emulsion (604), (705), (713), (805), (812) the optimum conditions of the variables: water content, salt content, pH value of the aqueous phase, initial temperature, microwave application power, final temperature and drop size distribution to be adjusted in the industrial plant, as a function of the features of the tested crude oil such as viscosity, density, asphaltene content, total acidity, such conditions being those required for obtaining at least 90% separation efficiency of said emulsion in the presence of microwave radiation: b) utilizing such information for the initial adjustment of application conditions of the said method to phase separation units in refineries and production units; c) perform on line tests of the variables of step a) of the process response in the streams effluent from separation units, being said response the water content and salt content tests, so as to feedback the information to the best adjustment of the process conditions for microwave application; and d) additionally, utilizing the on line or laboratory tests of the effect of the method as a tool for the monitoring of the efficiency of the breaking of the W/O emulsion.