Abstract: A method of augmenting the coalescence of water in an emulsion having a heavier water component that is relatively electrically conductive and a lighter oil component that is relatively non-conductive, including the steps of tangentially injecting the emulsion into the interior of a cylindrical vessel and tangentially withdrawing the emulsion from the vessel interior to cause the emulsion to flow circumferentially within the vessel to thereby impart centrifugal force on the emulsion to create a first area within the vessel adjacent the vessel sidewall in which the heavier water component of the emulsion is maintained and a second area within the vessel interior towards which the lighter oil component migrates and imposing an electrical potential on a concentrically positioned electrode within the vessel interior and thereby on the areas within the vessel having the circumferentially flowing emulsion to cause at least a portion of the water component of the emulsion to coalescence, the lighter, relatively non-

Abstract: A method and apparatus for augmenting the coalescence of water in a water-in-oil emulsion. The apparatus includes a tubular vessel having a cylindrical side wall and opposed ends. A tangential inlet in the cylindrical side wall is adjacent one of the vessel ends. A tubular electrode having an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the vessel extends concentrically within the vessel from the one end less than the entire length of the vessel. An elongated electrode extends axially and concentrically within the tubular electrode from the one end. An outlet is provided in the one end between the tubular electrode and the elongated electrode. The inlet and outlet serve to cause fluid to initially flow through the vessel in a circumferential path outside the tubular electrode and thereafter axially through the tubular electrode to the outlet. An electrical potential is applied between the electrodes and the vessel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of augmenting the coalescence of water in a water-in-oil emulsion in which the emulsion is tangentially ejected into the interior of a cylindrically walled vessel to cause the emulsion to flow circumferentially within the vessel and to thereby cause the water component of the emulsions to migrate towards the vessel cylindrical wall, the vessel having an axially positioned electrode therein. A voltage, preferably a pulsating DC voltage, is imposed between the electrode and the vessel to thereby subject the swirling water-in-oil emulsion to an electrical potential to cause the water components to coalescence from smaller to larger droplets. The water-in-oil emulsion is passed from the vessel where the water component can be more effectively separated from the emulsion by gravitational or centrifugal separation.

Abstract: A pair of electrodes in the configuration of parallel plates represents how multiple pathways are formed through which emulsions of relative polar and relative non-polar liquids are passed. The electrode plates are comprised of materials which render the plates varying in electrical conductivity to establish multiple electric fields which degrade in the direction of emulsion flow.

Abstract: A system for removing brine from oil well production (12) in which fresh water (50) or less saline water (50) is passed in counterflow to the oil well production (12) through electric fields established between a plurality of composite electrodes (26). The electrodes (26) are of a laminar construction having a centrally located conductive member (30) surrounded by an electrically nonconductive region (28). With a nonmodulated voltage supply (144) connected to conductive member (30) a plurality of electric fields, some having uniform gradient and others having nonuniform gradient, are established between adjacent composite electrodes (26) in the direction of flow of both the oil well production (12) and the dilution water (50). Composite grids (26) have an inherent current regulating characteristic that reduces the tendency for arcing and suppresses sustained arcing should an arc occur.

Abstract: Electrodes, in the form of plates, are held parallel to each other to form passageways in which electrostatic fields are generated when the plates are charged by a source of variable voltage. The variable voltage is programmed to establish an initial electrostatic field strong enough to mix polar and nonpolar fluids. The mixture is then flowed through the electrostatic field which is of the strength needed to coalesce the polar fluids which have united with a contaminant in the nonpolar fluid.

Abstract: The shell of a cylindrical vessel, horizontally extended, contains three compartments through which emulsions of polar and non-polar liquids are sequentially passed for separation. The heating and the electric field in the first two compartments are optional. The third compartment contains an inclined plate separator connected to an electrical system to generate electric fields within the passages of the separator to coalesce and separate the polar liquid from the non-polar liquid.

Abstract: The electrodes between which AC and DC electrostatic fields are sustained in a liquid mixture are connected to ground potential through rectifiers arranged to maintain the strength of the DC electrostatic field as the dielectric strength of the liquid mixture decreases.

Abstract: An automatic voltage control system controls the firing angle of a solid state switch (20), in turn the voltage applied to the primary winding (12) of a step-up transformer (10), in turn the voltage applied to the grid (38) and in turn the electric field intensity between grid elements (38) in an electrostatic separation process. Two voltage control signals are generated in the control system. The first voltage control signal is a protective control signal generated to maximize the voltage applied to the primary winding under normal operating conditions and to reduce the voltage to zero for a short time period following abnormal operating conditions then to reapply voltage to the primary winding (12) again. The second voltage control signal is a periodic signal of adjustable rate and frequency that functions as a variable upper limit to the magnitude of the first control signal.

Abstract: A plurality of electrostatic fields is arranged to progressively separate the liquids from their emulsions having a low dielectric strength. The emulsions are first passed through one of the electrostatic fields between insulated electrodes. With the breaking of the emulsion begun by the first electrostatic field, the emulsion is next flowed in an electrostatic field between uninsulated electrodes. The final stage is the passing of the almost completely broken emulsion through an electrostatic field between electrodes which are arranged to systematically degrade their field.

Abstract: Flow paths for liquids are disclosed in vessels, the paths oriented with electrodes which are electrically energized to establish electrostatic fields through the paths, one of the liquids is more polar than the other liquids in the paths, one of the fields is intense enough to generate the force to move drops of the polar liquid fast enough to shear the drops to smaller sizes and disperse the smaller drops. A second one of the fields is less intense than the first field yet intense enough to generate the force to move the dispersed drops into coalescense. Various spacing and means of energizing the electrodes are disclosed to place the forces on the liquids in sequence and at different intensities.

Abstract: Flow paths for liquids are disclosed in vessels, the paths oriented with electrodes which are electrically energized to establish electrostatic fields through the paths. One of the liquids is more polar than the other liquids in the paths. One of the fields is intense enough to generate the force to move drops of the polar liquid fast enough to shear the drops to smaller sizes and disperse the smaller drops. A second one of the fields is intense enough to generate the force to move the dispersed drops into coalescense. Various spacing and means of energizing the electrodes are disclosed to place the forces on the liquids in sequence and at different intensities.

Abstract: Fluids are separated by passing their mixture through an electric field which is varied in strength. As coalescense of a first fluid dispersed in the second fluid begins, the mixture is flowed in a path which carries the coalescing fluid through the field which progressively changes strength. Fluid shear forces are avoided between the coalescing fluid and the fluid in which the coalescing fluid is dispersed. The size of the coalescing fluid drops increase and separate from the remaining fluid mixture under the force of gravity.

Abstract: A board of electrical insulating material has power conductors mounted on one side and work circuits mounted on the other side. A power source to actuate the work circuits is connected to the power conductors in a set sequence. Holes are provided through the board to receive conductive pins to electrically connect power conductors to work circuits to actuate each selected work circuit at a predetermined point in the set sequence.

Abstract: The essential elements of the electrical system of a treater, or dehydrator, of produced oil well fluids are connected and physically oriented as mounted within the shell of the treater. The electrodes of the treater are energized from a line supply and establish electrostatic fields as a varying load on the electrical system. A control circuit is arranged to respond to the current demanded by the varying load and disconnect the load from the line supply in a predetermined program designed to protect the components of the system, yet reconnect the load and supply as frequently as practical.