Separation of water-oil emulsions

The process sequence of breaking petroleum emulsions follows the consecutive steps agglomeration and flocculation of droplets, destruction of the protecting layers, coagulation of the droplets of the disperse water up to a size sufficient to further merge by the influence of gravity, and then falling down to the bottom of the separator. 

If the droplets have sufficient energy for the destruction of the protecting layers to occur, then the droplets will merge. 

A number of technological methods are applied for petroleum drying. The choice of method for petroleum drying and performance scheme employed substantially depends on the amount and condition of water present. 

Water contained in crude petroleum appears in free form, i.e. non-dispersed form, in some cases. Such water can be removed from petroleum directly by coagulation. 

More often however, water in crude petroleum is present in its dispersed form, emulsion of water in oil. There are two versions of this emulsion mechanical non-stabilized and stabilized by interfacial-active substances. This distinction for emulsions is essential for petroleum drying. Water from non-stabilized emul- 

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