Patent US3839176A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3839176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for removing contaminants from liquids
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1972-09-25
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Granted: 1974-10-01
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Expires: 1992-09-25
Abstract
Abstract An electrical apparatus and method utilizes an alternating or periodically interrupted unidirectional electric field applied between opposing electrodes to a stream flowing therebetween comprised primarily of a liquid having a low dielectric constant and containing finely emulsified contaminants having a higher dielectric constant to separate the contaminants from the stream as a coalesced impurity. At least one electrode is electrically insulated from the stream. One of the opposing electrodes has a fuzzy hydrophilic coating for enhancing the contaminant separation. Passage of the liquid stream through the electric field applied to the electrodes causes the finely emulsified phase to be coalesced into much larger droplets. This treatment is particularly effective where water is emulsified in hydrocarbon liquids. For certain applications, prior to treatment additional quantities of water are added to the water initially present in the hydrocarbon liquid. The total amount of water is then coalesced. The coalesced water may be removed by any suitable means such as by gravity separation or by use of a filter. Pairs of electrodes are suitably connected in series or in parallel arrangements to provide a multiple-stage electrical system.
Inventors
- 👤 Coy L Mc
- 👤 L Prem
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:01
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G33/00; C10G33/02; B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/04; B01D17/047; B01D17/06; B03; B03C; B03C11/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
EMULSION-TREATING APPARATUS FOR DECREASING THE CONCENTRATION OF A DISPERSED CONTAMINANT IN A SUBSTANTIALLY NONCOMDUCTIVE LIQUID COMPRISING: A. FIRST AND SECOND ELECTRODES HAVING SPACED, FACING SURFACES SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER AND DEFINING THEREBETWEEN A CHANNEL FOR THE FLOW OF THE LIQUID, B. A LAYER OF A SOLID ELECTRICALLY INSULATING MATERIAL POSI TIONED ON A FACING SURFACE OF AT LAST ONE OF SAID ELECTRODES ISOLATING IT FROM THE NONCONDUCTIVE LIQUID, C. A LAYER OF FUZZY HYDROPHILIC SUBSTANCE POSITIONED ON A FACING SURFACE OF ONLY ONE OF THE ELECTRODES, ABD D. MANS FOR APPLYING AN ALTERNATING OR PERIODICALLY INTERRUPTED UNIDIRECTIONAL ELECTRIC FIELD HAVING A PREDETERMINED FREQUENCY FROM ABOUT FIVE TO ABOUT 1,000 CYCLES PER SECOND BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND ELECTRODES AND ACROSS THE CHANNEL SO THAT UPON APPLICATION OF SAID FIELD, COALESCENCE OF THE DISPERSED CONTAMINANTS IS PROMOTED SO AS TO ENHANCE THE SEPARATION OF THE CONTAMINANT FROM THE NONCONDUCTIVE LIQUID IN THE CHANNEL.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
EMULSION-TREATING APPARATUS FOR DECREASING THE CONCENTRATION OF A DISPERSED CONTAMINANT IN A SUBSTANTIALLY NONCOMDUCTIVE LIQUID COMPRISING: A. FIRST AND SECOND ELECTRODES HAVING SPACED, FACING SURFACES SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER AND DEFINING THEREBETWEEN A CHANNEL FOR THE FLOW OF THE LIQUID, B. A LAYER OF A SOLID ELECTRICALLY INSULATING MATERIAL POSI TIONED ON A FACING SURFACE OF AT LAST ONE OF SAID ELECTRODES ISOLATING IT FROM THE NONCONDUCTIVE LIQUID, C. A LAYER OF FUZZY HYDROPHILIC SUBSTANCE POSITIONED ON A FACING SURFACE OF ONLY ONE OF THE ELECTRODES, ABD D. MANS FOR APPLYING AN ALTERNATING OR PERIODICALLY INTERRUPTED UNIDIRECTIONAL ELECTRIC FIELD HAVING A PREDETERMINED FREQUENCY FROM ABOUT FIVE TO ABOUT 1,000 CYCLES PER SECOND BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND ELECTRODES AND ACROSS THE CHANNEL SO THAT UPON APPLICATION OF SAID FIELD, COALESCENCE OF THE DISPERSED CONTAMINANTS IS PROMOTED SO AS TO ENHANCE THE SEPARATION OF THE CONTAMINANT FROM THE NONCONDUCTIVE LIQUID IN THE CHANNEL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The emulsion treating apparatus of claim 1 in which the first electrode is insulated and the fuzzy hydrophilic substance is positioned on at least a selected portion of only the second electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The emulsion treating apparatus of claim 1 in which the electrode carrying the fuzzy hydrophilic substance has an exposed surface to the liquid formed with a succession of edges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The emulsion treating apparatus of claim 1 in which said predetermined frequency is about 60 cycles per second.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The emulsion treating apparatus of claim 1 including additional substantially parallel electrode pairs cooperating with said first and second electrodes to define additional flow channels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The emulsion treating apparatus of claim 1 in which said first and second electrodes are plate electrodes positioned in a substantially parallel relationship.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The emulsion treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrodes are circular plates, at least one of said electrodes having an annular opening therein whereby liquid undergoing treatment may be passed through said opening and between said plates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The emulsion treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second electrodes are concentric cylinders.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The emulsion treating apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first electrode is an insulated electrode concentrically disposed between a pair of noninsulated second electrodes whose surfaces facing the insulated electrode have positioned thereon a fuzzy hydrophilic substance.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of decreasing the concentration of a dispersed immiscible liquid contaminant in a substantially nonconductive liquid stream flowing in a channel defined by facing surfaces of a pair of electrodes, the first electrode having a layer of a solid electrically insulating material positioned on a facing surface thereof and isolating said electrode from the stream, the second electrode having a layer of a fuzzy hydrophilic substance positioned on a facing surface thereof, comprising: subjecting the liquid stream flowing in said channel to an alternating or periodically interrupted unidirectional electric field having a predetermined frequency from about five to about 1,000 cycles per second to promote coalescence of the dispersed contaminant, and then removing said coalesced contaminant from said liquid stream.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of decreasing the concentration of a dispersed immiscible liquid contaminant in a substantially nonconductive liquid stream flowing in a channel defined by facing surfaces of a pair of electrodes, the first electrode having a layer of a solid electrically insulating material positioned on a facing surface thereof and isolating said electrode from the stream, the second electrode having a layer of a fuzzy hydrophilic substance positioned on a facing surface thereof, comprising: subjecting the liquid stream flowing in said channel to an alternating or periodically interrupted unidirectional electric field having a predetermined frequency from about five to about 1,000 cycles per second to promote coalescence of the dispersed contaminant, and then removing said coalesced contaminant from said liquid stream.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 10 wherein amounts of an emulsifiable liquid contaminant are added to said liquid stream prior to effecting coalescence of dispersed liquid contaminant present.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the initial amount of dispersed liquid contaminant is between about 5 and 1,000 ppm, and after further addition of liquid contaminant between about 5,000 and 20,000 ppm of liquid contaminant based on said liquid stream is present prior to effecting said coalescence.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said liquid stream contains both liquid and solid contaminants, the solid contaminant being removed along with said liquid contaminant.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said liquid stream contains a solid contaminant, and a liquid contaminant is added to said stream to facilitate removal of said solid contaminant along with removal of said liquid contaminant.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said dispersed immiscible liquid contaminant is selected from the group consisting of water and sea water and wherein said liquid stream is a liquid hydrocarbon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US2364118A
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US3324026A
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US3398082A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |