Pressure Controlled Gas Flotation for Oil Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-stage gas flotation treatment experiences declining separation performance due to pressure drop occurring mainly between the upstream unit and the first stage, resulting in ineffective release of dissolved gases in subsequent stages, leading to reduced oil separation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a controlled pressure release across all stages of flotation treatment, where the operating pressure of each stage is adjusted to release a similar percentage of dissolved gases, creating a cascading pressure profile using devices like valves, hydrocyclones, or compressors to optimize gas release and oil separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the pressure drop occurs mainly between the upstream unit and the first stage flotation separator, then the first stage achieves good oil separation performance, but the subsequent stages experience declining separation performance due to insufficient pressure differential for gas release
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure drop is segmented and distributed across multiple stages rather than occurring primarily before the first stage. Each stage is equipped with pressure control mechanisms (valves, hydrocyclones, or compressors) to create a controlled pressure differential, ensuring consistent gas release and separation performance throughout all stages of the flotation process.
2Productivity
If a large pressure differential is applied in the first stage to release dissolved gases, then gas release is effective in the first stage, but little room remains for pressure differentials in subsequent stages
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure control system is made dynamic and adjustable at each stage. Pressure differentials are not fixed but can be independently controlled and optimized for each stage based on operational requirements, allowing flexible adjustment of gas release rates and maintaining system adaptability throughout the multi-stage process.
Solution Approach 2:
Pressure parameters are changed and optimized at each stage independently. By controlling the pressure differential across each stage separately, the system can maintain optimal conditions for gas release and oil separation throughout all stages, rather than relying on a single large pressure drop at the beginning.
3Ease of operation
If the operating pressure of subsequent stages is only slightly lower than the previous stage, then pressure control is simple, but dissolved gases are not effectively released in later stages
Solution Approach 1:
Pressure parameters are actively changed and optimized at each stage to maintain effective gas release. Rather than using a uniform or gradually decreasing pressure profile, each stage operates at a specifically controlled pressure differential that ensures sufficient dissolved gas release and maintains high separation efficiency throughout the process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances overall oil separation performance by ensuring consistent gas release across stages, improving the efficiency of oil droplet separation and reducing the size of oil droplets as gases are released, thereby maintaining performance throughout the treatment process.
Implementation Method 1
The stream is pressurized to a pressure sufficient to dissolve gases in the water phase and oil phase of the stream. The operating pressure of the first stage of the gas flotation treatment is reduced relative to that of the upstream unit so that a controlled volume percentage of the dissolved gases is released from the oily water feed stream.
Data Source
AI summary
A method to remove oil from an oily water stream includes the step of pressure controlling a release of dissolved gases from the stream as the stream passes through two or more stages of gas flotation treatment. The operating pressure of the first stage of flotation treatment is purposefully reduced relative to that of an upstream unit so that a certain controlled percent volume of dissolved gases is released. The operating pressure of the second stage of flotation treatment is then purposefully reduced relative to that of the first stage so that another controlled percent volume of dissolved gases is released. Any subsequent flotation treatment stage is at a lower operating pressure than that of the previous stage so that the subsequent treatment stage releases a controlled percent volume of dissolved gases. By controlling the operating pressure in this way, overall separation performance is improved.