Dehydration efficiency of high-frequency pulsed DC electrical fields on water-in-oil emulsion

The influence of several operational variables on the electrostatic separation of water-in-oil emulsions is investigated in a Perspex cell equipped with a high-frequency pulsed DC generator using conductivity technique. The ascending and the descending periods of the observed conductivity vs. time curves were fit to the sigmoid and power function, respectively, which revealed the model parameters that were used to quantify dehydration efficiency (DE). Experiment results show that DE increases with decreasing inter-electrode distance, and at a given inter-electrode distance, DE increases with decreasing frequency. Furthermore, at a given pulse interval, DE increases with increasing pulse duration.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights▶ We investigate the dehydration efficiency (DE) of high-frequency (in kHz) pulsed DC electrical field on water-in-oil emulsion. ▶ Increasing inter-electrode distance and frequency will decrease DE. ▶ Increasing pulse duration will increase DE if pulse interval is constant. ▶ The results achieved could be related to the optimal design of an efficient electrocoalescer unit.