Structural analysis and experimental study of oil emulsion separation processes involving reagents

This study presents a structural analysis of the physical phenomena involved in the processes of oil emulsion separation. Various aspects of adsorption layer formation on droplet surfaces by asphaltene-resin compounds are discussed, along with models for calculating the mass and thickness of the layer. It is demonstrated that the formation of adsorption films on the surface of water droplets provides a significant resistance to their merging at collision, resulting in aggregatively stable emulsions. Emulsion separation occurs in subsequent stages following the destruction of these films using various reagents. The mechanism of adsorption film destruction involves the diffusive transfer of demulsifiers to the film surface, followed by their adsorption and penetration into the film's volume. Equations describing coalescence during the collision of a high-viscosity droplet with an ordinary one are proposed, and expressions for calculating droplet collision frequency are derived. Experimental studies on oil emulsion separation processes have been conducted. It is established that in the experimental study many physical phenomena (convective diffusion transfer, formation of intermediate layer, etc.) can be neglected, which significantly simplifies the description of the process. The description of the experimental process in the form of a model is based on the equations of convective diffusion transfer of water mass from the bulk of oil as a function of demulsifier flow rate and temperature. Comparison curves of experimental and calculated values are given to validate the model.