Equipment emulsion breaking

In general, emulsion pads limit the performance of emulsion-breaking equipment and chemicals. Both refiners and oil producers view large emulsion pads as symptoms of inefficient emulsion treatment. If the emulsion pad can be eliminated, performance in all aspects of emulsion breaking should improve. 

System Mechanical Parameters and Operating Data. Before the selection of emulsion-breaking chemicals, a complete understanding of the equipment and operating procedures at a treatment facility should be obtained. Key components will include the following ... 

The main advantages of LLE are its simplicity and the use of simple and inexpensive equipment. However, it is not free from practical problems such as the formation of emulsions, which are sometimes difficult to break up [377]. The... 

Cons. Emulsions can be formed by severe mixing which are hard to break up, pumping of one or both phases between tanks may be required, independent agitation equipment and large floor space needs are expensive, and high holdup of valuable or hazardous solvents exists particularly in the settlers. 

Emulsions can be made in different ways. The most common class of processes applies strong flow fields, usually a combination of simple shear flow and of exten-sional flow. Extensional flow is more effective than shear flow in breaking up droplets into smaller ones. Industrial equipment usually operates with turbulent flow, in which inertial forces can be important as well. In addition, for some applications ultrasound is used, which creates, through cavitation, strong local turbulence. 

Demulsification. The final part of the emulsion transportation system is demulsification or breaking of the oil-in-water emulsion to recover dry crude oil. The equipment and process conditions required for this operation are the same or similar to those used for a conventional crude-oil dewatering process. 

Equipment that is used to make emulsions can, in many cases, be used to break API particles suspended in liquid. Examples include toothed high-shear inline mixers and cone or colloid mills. Important parameters... 

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