Sunday, October 25, 2015

Acoustically aided coalescence of water droplets and dehydration of crude oil emulsion

CATEGORY: CRUDE OIL EMULSIONS 
Acoustically aided coalescence of water droplets and dehydration of crude oil emulsion


Type
Journal Article
Author
Wei Xie
Author
Rui Li
URL
Volume
32
Issue
4
Pages
643-649
Publication
Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering
Date
2015/01/06
Abstract
Reports investigation of the use of acoustics for coalescence of water droplets and dehydration of crude oil emulsion. Researchers performed experimental studies employing acoustic standing waves in a resonant cavity to trap water droplets and enhance oil separation. They focused on the effect of ultrasound irradiation on crude oil emulsion properties, including viscosity, water drop radius, shear strength of oil-water interfacial films, and flocculation size of asphaltene. These are important properties in the coalescence of water drops in water-oil (W/O) emulsion in the process of oil separation with ultrasound.
Ultrasound irradiation decreases emulsion stability, offering new insight into the acoustics-aided demulsification mechanism. It supplements traditional acoustics-aided demulsification mechanism. Authors discuss the effects of such ultrasonic parameters as the type of ultrasonic field, irradiation time, frequency, and acoustic intensity on dewatering the W/O emulsion. Results offer guidance for setting optimum conditions for the separation of W/O emulsion with ultrasound.

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