The present invention relates to a system for the separation of oil/water emulsions by electrocoalescence having a fluid conduction means or tubing, at least one cathode, at least one electrode, at least one anode, at least one power source and at least one spark gap for a cathode and a spark gap for the anode. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a method for the separation of oil/water emulsions by electrocoalescence carried out by a system according to the invention.

The present invention relates to a system for the separation of oil/water emulsions by electrocoalescence having a fluid conduction means or tubing, at least one cathode, at least one electrode, at least one anode, at least one power source and at least one spark gap for a cathode and a spark gap for the anode. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a method for the separation of oil/water emulsions by electrocoalescence carried out by a system according to the invention.

A method of removing metals and amines from crude oil comprising adding an effective metal removing amount of one or more hydroxycarboxylic acids selected from lactic acid and malic acid and salts thereof to said crude oil; adding wash water to said crude oil; mixing said crude oil, acid and wash water to form an emulsion; and resolving said emulsion into an aqueous phase and crude oil having a reduced metals content.

A method of removing metals and amines from crude oil comprising adding an effective metal removing amount of one or more hydroxycarboxylic acids selected from lactic acid and malic acid and salts thereof to said crude oil; adding wash water to said crude oil; mixing said crude oil, acid and wash water to form an emulsion; and resolving said emulsion into an aqueous phase and crude oil having a reduced metals content.

Embodiments described herein provide a method of tuning an electrical liquid separator, comprising providing a liquid mixture to a separator; electrically coupling a power unit to the liquid mixture inside the separator; applying a time-varying voltage from the power unit to the liquid mixture; increasing a voltage applied to the liquid mixture from the power unit from a first voltage to a second voltage; detecting an inflection point in a current from the power unit; setting a voltage output range of the power unit to encompass a voltage at which the inflection point was detected.

Systems and methods to separate water and remove solids from a pre-treated and unfiltered renewable feedstock at or separate from a refinery. Such systems and methods may be used to provide a reduced-contaminant and reduced-solid renewable feedstock for further refining.

A crude oil demulsification system includes a vessel. A cyclonic separator is disposed outside the vessel. The cyclonic separator is configured to receive and separate phases of a multi-phase fluid stream into a gaseous stream and a liquid stream that includes a first liquid phase and a second liquid phase by inducing cyclonic flow. A heat exchanger is fluidically connected to the cyclonic separator. The heat exchanger is disposed outside the vessel, and is configured to receive the liquid stream and to heat the liquid stream by exchanging heat with a heating medium flowed through the heat exchanger. An electrostatic coalescer is fluidically connected to the heat exchanger and is disposed inside the vessel. The electrostatic coalescer is configured to receive the liquid stream heated by the heat exchanger and to demulsify the liquid stream by causing coalescence of liquid droplets of one of the first or second liquid phases.

A crude oil demulsification system includes a vessel. A cyclonic separator is disposed outside the vessel. The cyclonic separator is configured to receive and separate phases of a multi-phase fluid stream into a gaseous stream and a liquid stream that includes a first liquid phase and a second liquid phase by inducing cyclonic flow. A heat exchanger is fluidically connected to the cyclonic separator. The heat exchanger is disposed outside the vessel, and is configured to receive the liquid stream and to heat the liquid stream by exchanging heat with a heating medium flowed through the heat exchanger. An electrostatic coalescer is fluidically connected to the heat exchanger and is disposed inside the vessel. The electrostatic coalescer is configured to receive the liquid stream heated by the heat exchanger and to demulsify the liquid stream by causing coalescence of liquid droplets of one of the first or second liquid phases.

A desalter/dehydrator system that comprises a pressure vessel, and first and second distribution headers disposed within the pressure vessel. The first distribution header is configured to inject an oil/water emulsion at a location within an electric field generated within the pressure vessel. The second distribution header is configured to inject the oil/water emulsion at a location below an electric field generated within the pressure vessel.

A desalter/dehydrator system that comprises a pressure vessel, and first and second distribution headers disposed within the pressure vessel. The first distribution header is configured to inject an oil/water emulsion at a location within an electric field generated within the pressure vessel. The second distribution header is configured to inject the oil/water emulsion at a location below an electric field generated within the pressure vessel.