Waterless desalting process

Abstract

Abstract A PROCESS FOR THE WATERLESS DESALTING OF A STREAM OF SALT-CONTAMINATED HYDROCARBON SUCH AS CRUDE OIL AND ITS PORDUCTS. THE SALT-CARRYING STREAM IS PROVIDED (E.G., ELECTRIC DEHYDRATION) WITH A DISPERSED WATER CONTENT OF LESS THAN 1% BY VOLUME. THE TEMPERATURE OF THE STREAM IS ADJUSTED UNTIL ALL OF THE WATER IS IN SOLUTION WITHIN THE HYDROCARBON PHASE AND ONLY SALT SOLIDS ARE DISPERSED WITHIN THE STREAM. THE STREAM IS PASSED, WITH ALL OF THE WATER BEING HELD IN SOLUTION, THROUGH A POROUS BED FORMED OF HARD GRANULAR SPHEROIDAL PARTICLES. THE PARTICLES ARE SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM IN SIZE AND OF A RIGID AND SUBSTANTIALLY INCOMPRESSIBLE DIELECTRIC MATERIAL. AN ELECTRIC FIELD IS ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE BED HAVING AN INTENSITY OF AT LEAST 5 KILOVOLTS PER INCH OF DC POTENTIAL. THE SALT SOLIDS ARE REMOVED FROM THE STREAM BY THEIR TENACIOUS ADHESION TO THE SPHEROIDAL PARTICLES. THE STREAM WITH REDUCED SALT SOLIDS IS REMOVED TO A SUBSEQUENT UTILIZATION. THE SPHEEROIDAL PARTICLES ARE PERIODICALLY CLEANED IN THE ABSENCE OF THE ELECTRIC FIELD OF THE ACCUMULATED SALT SOLIDS WITH A NON-AQUEOUS WASH LIQUID FOR RESTORING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE BED TO REMOVE FURTHER QUANTITIES OF SALT SOLIDS FROM THE STREAM UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE ELECTRIC FIELD. IN ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE PRESENT PROCESS, SALT SOLIDS ARE OBTAINED FROM THE PARTICLE CLEANING IN A SUBSTANTIAL ANHYDROUS FORM FOR READY DISPOSAL.

Inventors

• 👤 A Franse

Bibliographic Details