Microwave demulsification of hydrocarbon emulsion
First Claim
1. A demulsification arrangement usable with a power source to remove a microwave-absorptive material from a substrate, the demulsification arrangement comprising:
- a containment structure defining a treatment volume and adaptable to receive an emulsion comprising the microwave-absorptive material and the substrate;
outside the containment structure, a radio frequency (RF) generator connectable to the power source and configured to generate an RF signal; and
inside the containment structure and surrounded by the emulsion within the treatment volume, an RF applicator operatively coupled to the RF generator to deliver microwave energy outwardly from the RF applicator into the treatment volume, the RF applicator comprisingan antenna body having a longitudinal axis, the antenna body being tapered in width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a length and an outer surface defining a plurality of slots of continuously varying slot width that are substantially parallel to each other, the slots being distributed evenly along and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, andan RF transparent antenna enclosure, not in contact with the containment structure, formed around the antenna body to substantially seal the antenna body from the entire treatment volume external to the RF applicator;
whereby, when the containment structure contains the emulsion and the RF applicator, and the RF applicator delivers the microwave energy into the treatment volume, the microwave-absorptive material and the substrate are demulsified.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Recovery of hydrocarbons, such as petroleum products, from a liquid or solid substrate is facilitated by the use of microwave energy to energize and separate molecular bonds between the hydrocarbons and the substrate. A radio frequency (RF) applicator delivers microwave energy to a treatment volume containing an emulsion of a hydrocarbon and a substrate. Delivering the microwave energy to the emulsion facilitates separation of the hydrocarbon and substrate molecules into layers. Hydrocarbons and other products can then be recovered from their respective layers. The treatment volume may be located either above or below ground. The RF applicator may include an antenna body with slots formed substantially parallel to one another in a substantially horizontal orientation. The RF applicator efficiently delivers microwave energy into the treatment volume. Substantially all of the power supplied to the RF applicator is radiated, with very little power reflected internally within the RF applicator.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A demulsification arrangement usable with a power source to remove a microwave-absorptive material from a substrate, the demulsification arrangement comprising:
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a containment structure defining a treatment volume and adaptable to receive an emulsion comprising the microwave-absorptive material and the substrate; outside the containment structure, a radio frequency (RF) generator connectable to the power source and configured to generate an RF signal; and inside the containment structure and surrounded by the emulsion within the treatment volume, an RF applicator operatively coupled to the RF generator to deliver microwave energy outwardly from the RF applicator into the treatment volume, the RF applicator comprising an antenna body having a longitudinal axis, the antenna body being tapered in width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a length and an outer surface defining a plurality of slots of continuously varying slot width that are substantially parallel to each other, the slots being distributed evenly along and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and an RF transparent antenna enclosure, not in contact with the containment structure, formed around the antenna body to substantially seal the antenna body from the entire treatment volume external to the RF applicator; whereby, when the containment structure contains the emulsion and the RF applicator, and the RF applicator delivers the microwave energy into the treatment volume, the microwave-absorptive material and the substrate are demulsified. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A demulsification arrangement usable with a power source, the demulsification arrangement comprising:
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a radio frequency (RF) generator connectable to the power source and configured to generate an RF signal; a control arrangement configured to be operatively coupled to the RF generator to control generation of the RF signal; and a radio frequency (RF) applicator operatively coupled to the RF generator, the RF applicator being positionable within a treatment volume containing an emulsion comprising a microwave-absorptive material and a substrate, the RF applicator comprising an antenna body having a longitudinal axis, the antenna body being tapered in width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a length and an outer surface defining a plurality of slots of continuously varying slot width that are substantially parallel to each other, the slots being distributed evenly along and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and an RF transparent antenna enclosure formed around the antenna body to substantially seal the antenna body from the entire treatment volume external to the RF applicator; whereby, when the control arrangement, the RF applicator, and the RF generator are operatively coupled and the RF applicator transmits the RF signal into the treatment volume, the microwave-absorptive material and the substrate are demulsified. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A demulsification arrangement usable with a power source to remove a microwave-absorptive material from a substrate, the demulsification arrangement consisting essentially of:
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a radio frequency (RF) generator connectable to the power source and configured to generate an RF signal; and an RF applicator operatively coupled to the RF generator and positionable wholly within and surrounded by a treatment volume containing an emulsion comprising the microwave-absorptive material and the substrate to deliver microwave energy outwardly from the RF applicator into the treatment volume, the RF applicator comprising an antenna body having a longitudinal axis, the antenna body being tapered in width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a length and an outer surface defining a plurality of slots of continuously varying slot width that are substantially parallel to each other and substantially uniformly spaced apart from one another along the length of the antenna body, and an RF transparent antenna enclosure formed around the antenna body to substantially seal the antenna body from the treatment volume surrounding and external to the RF applicator; whereby, when the containment structure contains the emulsion and the RF applicator delivers the microwave energy into the treatment volume, the microwave-absorptive material and the substrate are demulsified. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification