Abstract: A method of recovering lithium from an aqueous source is described. Lithium is extracted from the aqueous source using a sorption/desorption process to form a lithium extract. Impurities are removed from the lithium extract to form a purified lithium extract, and the purified lithium extract is concentrated using a water removal process to form a lithium concentrate. The lithium concentrate is then converted to one or more of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide to form a converted stream. Various streams, including some lithium-containing streams, are recycled to the sorption/desorption process.

Abstract: The use of electrical analyzers to monitor and control separation processes is described. The electrical analyzers monitor electromagnetic properties of materials being treated, and are used to adjust the separation process based on the changing electromagnetic properties. The electrical analyzers generally sample process fluid and apply a static or varying electric field to the process fluid while monitoring energy uptake of the process fluid from the electric field by measuring electrical parameters of the circuit. The changing electrical response of the process is related to changing process conditions and can be used to control the process.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a method of separating a liquid mixture, comprising providing a liquid mixture to a separator, electrically coupling a power circuit to the liquid mixture inside the separator, applying a time-varying voltage to the power circuit, detecting a phase angle in the power circuit; and controlling the phase angle by adjusting a characteristic of the time-varying voltage.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for integrated alkali metal extraction are disclosed. Various exchange media are used to separate a chosen alkali metal, usually lithium, from a source stream and render the alkali metal into a product. In some cases, absorption/desorption processes, using solid and/or liquid absorption media, are used to purify a brine stream into a concentrate stream having elevated concentration of the desired alkali metal. Various processes, which may include use of liquid absorbents, electrochemical processing, centrifugation, evaporation, electrical mixing and separation, or combinations thereof, are used to separate the chosen metal from the source, and aqueous streams are recycled among the processes to facilitate the various separations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing solids from a process stream being fed into a flash separator include a solids fluidization device and a solids removal device. The solids fluidization device at the bottom end of the fluid column of the flash separator introduces a swirling motive fluid within the fluid column, while the solids removal device located above the solids fluidization device removes the slurry created by the swirling motive fluid. Systems and methods for fluidizing solids in the fluid column of a flash separator include a solids fluidization device that introduces a swirling motive fluid within the fluid column, means to limit the upward movement of the swirling motive fluid, such as a valve, and removing the solid slurry produced by the swirling motive fluid.

Abstract: A power supply device includes a power conversion circuit configured to generate an output voltage from an input voltage, and a controller coupled to the power conversion circuit and configured to control the power conversion circuit to generate the output voltage for causing or enhancing coalescence of a multi-phase liquid mixture when the output voltage is applied to the multi-phase liquid mixture. The controller is configured to control generation of the output voltage in accordance with a synchronization signal. The controller is further configured to generate the synchronization signal and transmit the synchronization signal to another power supply device, or receive the synchronization signal from another power supply device.

Abstract: A process train for a floating production storage and offloading installation includes a crude oil storage tank equipped with at least one set of electrostatic internals. The set of electrostatic internals are arranged to provide a treatment flow path within the crude oil storage tank oblique to a longitudinal centerline of the crude oil storage tank and through an electric field provided by the set of electrostatic internals. Employing these electrostatic internals within the tank permits an allowable inlet water content into the tank of up to 80%, significantly reducing the required topside processing equipment. The process and system also includes, upstream of the tank, two separator vessels arranged in parallel so each receives a portion of an incoming oil-and-water stream, a flash vessel arranged downstream of the two separator vessels, and a degasser vessel. Downstream of the crude oil storage tank is an electrostatic treater.

Abstract: A system and method for processing interface emulsion, water, and solids contained within a separator vessel that comprises the steps of continually extracting those components from the vessel and then passing them through a gas flotation cell. The cell, which is preferably a vertical induced gas flotation cell, separates the oil and water contained in the interface emulsion and discharges recovered oil from an upper portion of the cell and treated water from a bottom portion of the cell. The recovered oil and treated water may be further processed and recycled to the vessel or sent elsewhere. The treated water may also be recycled to the cell or sent to a process sewer. Fuel gas residing in an upper portion of the cell may be cooled and passed through a splitter. All the steps of occur in a closed system with no air emissions.

Abstract: A method of operating a liquid separator includes detecting a volume of a multi-phase liquid mixture inside the operating liquid separator using one or more detectors; determining, from a signal of the one or more detectors, a volume of the multi-phase liquid mixture; determining an amount of a chemical treatment, or other operating parameter, based on the volume of the multi-phase liquid mixture; and applying the amount of chemical treatment, or other operating parameter, to the separator.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for lithium extraction from aqueous sources are described herein. Divalent ions are removed using staged membrane separation. The aqueous source is subjected to a solvent extraction process that extracts lithium. Aqueous and organic phases of streams produced by the solvent extraction process are separated using electrical and/or gas flotation separation. The solvent is de-complexed to unload lithium. Streams produced by the de-complexing may be subjected to electrical and/or gas flotation separation. Solvent de-complexing can be performed using an electrical separator. Aqueous streams are pH adjusted for return to the environment.

Abstract: A system and method for dehydrating crude oil on a floating production storage and offloading installation include a separator vessel to receive an incoming produced water stream, followed by a flash vessel, a treatment block, a crude oil storage tank, and an electrostatic treater. The treatment block includes a low pressure degasser followed by a compact electrostatic separator pre-treater or a compact electrostatic separator pre-treater followed by a low pressure degasser. The flash vessel and/or the low pressure degasser may employ an inlet cyclonic distributor and demisting cyclones, while the electrostatic treater may employ DUAL FREQUENCY® technology. The separator vessel may be a single horizontal two-phase separator/degasser or two vertical two-phase separator/degassers that operate in parallel with each receiving approximately 50 percent of the incoming produced water stream. The final outlet stream preferably contains no more than 0.5 BS&W and 285 milligrams per liter salt.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a power system that includes a first compressor with an air inlet and a compressed air outlet; a nitrogen separator coupled to the compressed air outlet, the nitrogen separator comprising a nitrogen concentrate outlet and a byproduct outlet; a second compressor coupled to the nitrogen concentrate outlet, the second compressor having a high pressure outlet for supplying high pressure concentrated nitrogen to an underground storage; and a turbine generator with an inlet for high pressure concentrated nitrogen for coupling to an underground storage.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide methods of operating a linear contactor for absorbing contaminants from a gas stream. The gas stream flows from a first end to a second end of the linear contactor. Fresh absorbent is provided at the first end of the linear contactor based on the theoretical minimum amount of absorbent needed to remove the contaminants. Absorbent is recycled from the second end to the first end of the linear contactor. Fresh absorbent is provided at the second end based on chemical condition of the recycled absorbent. Apparatus for practicing the method is also described.

Abstract: A system for separating the components of an incoming oil-water mixture includes two electrode sets, one set arranged to apply an electrostatic field to an oil layer residing within a separator vessel and the other set arranged to apply an electrostatic field to the interface emulsion layer residing within the separator vessel. The first set of electrodes is in communication with a high voltage power source that ranges from 1 to 60 kV; the second set of electrodes is in communication with a low voltage power source that is no greater than 5 kV. Each set of electrodes may also be in communication with a second voltage source to provide increased power to promote effective coalescence. The system may also include power electronics to produce a variable amplitude and a variable frequency voltage supply to one or both electrode sets.

Abstract: A vessel for treating an oil-in-water inlet stream houses an inlet flow distributor arranged to direct an inlet flow toward a perforated baffle of a coalescing section, the coalescing section housing a packing and being arranged upstream of a second baffle; a flotation section arranged to receive a flow exiting the coalescing section and being divided by one or more perforated baffles; and an outlet water collecting pipe arranged to receive a flow exiting the flotation section, the outlet water collecting pipe having one or more openings located along its length. The coalescing section may be divided into two sections, with one section preferably housing a different pre-selected sized packing than the other section. The flotation section may include one or more gas-inducing devices. A solid baffle may be arranged downstream of the second baffle and ahead of the flotation section to provide single or dual flow through that section.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide methods of removing contaminants from a gas, the methods including providing a feed gas to a vertical contactor; flowing the feed gas in a gas flow direction through the vertical contactor; mixing a fresh absorbent makeup with a recycled absorbent to form an absorbent mixture; providing a fresh absorbent feed to the feed gas; flowing the absorbent mixture through the vertical contactor in a liquid flow direction counter to the gas flow direction; recovering a clean gas stream from the vertical contactor; and recovering the recycled absorbent from the vertical contactor.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide methods of operating a linear contactor for absorbing contaminants from a gas stream. The gas stream flows from a first end to a second end of the linear contactor. Fresh absorbent is provided at the first end of the linear contactor based on the theoretical minimum amount of absorbent needed to remove the contaminants. Absorbent is recycled from the second end to the first end of the linear contactor. Fresh absorbent is provided at the second end based on chemical condition of the recycled absorbent. Apparatus for practicing the method is also described.

Abstract: A vessel for treating an oil-in-water inlet stream houses an inlet flow distributor arranged to direct an inlet flow toward a perforated baffle of a coalescing section, the coalescing section housing a packing and being arranged upstream of a second baffle; a flotation section arranged to receive a flow exiting the coalescing section and being divided by one or more perforated baffles; and an outlet water collecting pipe arranged to receive a flow exiting the flotation section, the outlet water collecting pipe having one or more openings located along its length. The coalescing section may be divided into two sections, with one section preferably housing a different pre-selected sized packing than the other section. The flotation section may include one or more gas-inducing devices. A solid baffle may be arranged downstream of the second baffle and ahead of the flotation section to provide single or dual flow through that section.

Abstract: A system for separating the components of an incoming oil-water mixture includes two electrode sets, one set arranged to apply an electrostatic field to an oil layer residing within a separator vessel and the other set arranged to apply an electrostatic field to the interface emulsion layer residing within the separator vessel. The first set of electrodes is in communication with a high voltage power source that ranges from 1 to 60 kV; the second set of electrodes is in communication with a low voltage power source that is no greater than 5 kV. Each set of electrodes may also be in communication with a second voltage source to provide increased power to promote effective coalescence. The system may also include power electronics to produce a variable amplitude and a variable frequency voltage supply to one or both electrode sets.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing solids from a process stream being fed into a flash separator include a solids fluidization device and a solids removal device. The solids fluidization device at the bottom end of the fluid column of the flash separator introduces a swirling motive fluid within the fluid column, while the solids removal device located above the solids fluidization device removes the slurry created by the swirling motive fluid. Systems and methods for fluidizing solids in the fluid column of a flash separator include a solids fluidization device that introduces a swirling motive fluid within the fluid column, means to limit the upward movement of the swirling motive fluid, such as a valve, and removing the solid slurry produced by the swirling motive fluid.