OIL WATER SEPARATION APPARATUS

• US 20100326922A1
• Filed: 06/26/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Varanasi, Kripa Kiran, Wolfe, Christopher Edward, Kulkarni, Ambarish Jayant
• Application Number:
  US12/492,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20100326922A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/708
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/0211 with baffles
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 33/04 with chemical means
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 33/06 with mechanical means, e.g. by filtration
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/36 Underwater separating arrangements E21B43/38 takes precedence

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention provides a subsea separation vessel for the separation of a mixture comprising oil and water comprising (a) at least one inlet for introducing a oil-water mixture; (b) a flow path for conducting the oil-water mixture; (c) at least one oil-water separation structure; and (d) at least one fluid outlet. The oil-water separation structure includes a multifunctional surface. The oil-water separation structure is located within the flow path and wherein the multifunctional surface is superhydrophobic with respect to water, and either oleophilic or superoleophilic with respect to oil. A method for separating oil from an oil-water mixture is also provided.

Claims

1. An oil-water subsea separation vessel comprising:

(a) at least one inlet for introducing an oil-water mixture;

(b) a flow path for conducting the oil-water mixture;

(c) at least one oil-water separation structure having a multifunctional surface, the structure being located within the flow path; and

(d) at least one fluid outlet;

wherein the multifunctional surface is superhydrophobic with respect to water, and either oleophilic or superoleophilic with respect to oil.

2. The subsea separation vessel according to claim 1, wherein the separation structure having a multifunctional surface is a cyclonic separator.

3. The subsea separation vessel according to claim 1, wherein the separation structure having a multifunctional surface is a screen.

4. The subsea separation vessel according to claim 1, wherein the separation structure having a multifunctional surface is a concentric tube separator.

5. The subsea separation vessel according to claim 1, wherein the multifunctional surface comprises a coating layer

6. The subsea separation vessel according to claim 1, wherein the multifunctional surface comprises at least one metal nitride.

7. The subsea separation vessel according to claim 1, wherein the multifunctional surface comprises at least one metal oxide.

8. The subsea separation vessel according to claim 1, wherein the multifunctional surface comprises at least one metal carbide.

9. The subsea separation vessel according to claim 1, wherein the multifunctional surface comprises at least one zero valent metal.

10. The subsea separation vessel according to claim 1, wherein the multifunctional surface comprises at least one organic polymeric material.

11. The subsea separation vessel according to claim 1, wherein the multifunctional surface comprises superhydrophobic poly(tetrafluoroethylene).

12. The subsea separation vessel according to claim 1, wherein the multifunctional surface comprises superhydrophobic poly(ethylene).

13. The subsea separation vessel according to claim 1, wherein the multifunctional surface comprises a nitrided surface.

14. The subsea separation vessel according to claim 1, further comprising an advanced coalescer.

15. A subsea separation vessel for the separation of a mixture comprising oil and water comprising:

(a) at least one inlet for introducing a oil-water mixture;

(b) a flow path for conducting the oil-water mixture;

(c) at least one cyclonic separator comprising a multifunctional surface, the cyclonic separator being disposed within the flow path; and

(d) a plurality of fluid outlets;

wherein the multifunctional surface is superhydrophobic with respect to water, and either oleophilic or superoleophilic with respect to oil.

16. A method for separating oil from an oil-water mixture comprising:

(a) introducing an oil-water mixture into an oil-water subsea separation vessel via an inlet;

(b) conducting the oil-water mixture along a flow path comprises within the oil-water subsea separation vessel;

(c) contacting the oil-water mixture with at least one oil-water separation structure having a multifunctional surface, the separation structure being located within the flow path, to provide an oil-rich fraction and a water-rich fraction, and wherein the multifunctional surface is superhydrophobic with respect to water, and either oleophilic or superoleophilic with respect to oil; and

(d) separating the oil-rich fraction from the water-rich fraction.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the oil-water subsea separation vessel further comprises a gas-liquid separator.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the gas liquid separator is a cyclonic separator comprising a multifunctional surface.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein said oil-water separation structure having a multifunctional surface is a concentric tube separator which is superhydrophobic with respect to water and oleophilic or superoleophilic with respect to oil.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein said oil-water separation structure is a screen separator having a multifunctional surface which is superhydrophobic with respect to water and oleophilic or superoleophilic with respect to oil.