Ultrasonic Demulsification via Concurrent Countercurrent Waves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for demulsifying water-oil emulsions using ultrasonic waves face issues with uneven sound intensity, small acting area, and short acting time, limiting their industrial application effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A method and device employing concurrent and countercurrent ultrasonic waves, where the waves travel in the same and opposite directions to the flow of water-oil emulsions, respectively, within a pipe structure, ensuring uniform sound intensity and extended acting time to enhance demulsification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If ultrasonic transducer is mounted perpendicular to the flowing direction in a circular tube, then the device complexity is reduced, but the acting time of ultrasonic wave is short and sound intensity becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mounting orientation of ultrasonic transducers from perpendicular to parallel with the flowing direction of water-oil emulsions. This dimensional change in transducer arrangement allows ultrasonic waves to act on the emulsion along the flow path, significantly extending the acting time from a short period to a prolonged duration throughout the pipe section, while maintaining uniform sound intensity distribution.
2Device complexity
If ultrasonic transducer is mounted perpendicular to the flowing direction, then the device complexity is simplified, but the demulsification effect is insufficient due to short acting time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reorients ultrasonic transducers to mount parallel with the flowing direction, fundamentally changing the interaction geometry between ultrasonic waves and water-oil emulsion. This orientation allows continuous demulsification action along the entire flow path within the pipe, dramatically improving demulsification efficiency and productivity without increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
By mounting transducers parallel to the flow direction, the patent ensures continuous ultrasonic action on the water-oil emulsion throughout its passage through the pipe. The ultrasonic waves act continuously on the emulsion phases, maintaining constant demulsification pressure rather than intermittent action, thereby significantly enhancing overall demulsification productivity.
3Device complexity
If circular tube structure is used for ultrasonic acting region, then the device complexity is reduced, but sound intensity becomes uneven due to wave convergence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the problematic circular tube structure that caused ultrasonic wave convergence and uneven sound intensity distribution. By removing this geometric feature, the patent achieves uniform sound intensity distribution throughout the pipe cross-section while maintaining the simplicity of the overall device structure through straightforward transducer mounting on the pipe exterior.
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 significantly improves demulsification efficiency, reducing salt content and water content in crude oil, and decreasing oil content in drained water by 50% or more, while reducing energy consumption in electrostatic desalting processes.
Implementation Method 1
a kind of energy, ultrasonic wave can travel in flowing water-oil emulsions, and can produce relative displacement between two different mediums of oil and saline water
Data Source
AI summary
A method for demulsifying water-oil emulsions through ultrasonic action, comprises a step of making the water-oil emulsions flow through at least one ultrasonic acting region in a flow direction, wherein: within the ultrasonic acting region, a concurrent ultrasonic wave whose traveling direction is the same as the flow direction of the water-oil emulsions is generated by at least a one first ultrasonic transducer provided at the upstream end of the ultrasonic acting region, and at same time, a countercurrent ultrasonic wave whose traveling direction is opposite to the flow direction of the water-oil emulsions is generated by at least a one second ultrasonic transducer provided at the downstream end of the ultrasonic acting region; and the concurrent ultrasonic wave and the countercurrent ultrasonic wave act simultaneously on the water-oil emulsions which flow through the ultrasonic acting region, so as to demulsify the water-oil emulsions. After being demulsified, the water-oil emulsions gravity settle and separate, or settle and separate under an electric field, so as to be dewatered. The present invention can apply to various water-oil separating technologies in the procedures from mining to processing of crude oil.