Improving magnetic oil demulsification

An oil-water emulsion subjected to magnetic treatment is characterized by homogeneity, paramagnetic activity, and lower viscosity. The use of a magnetic field not only destabilizes the structures of oil associates formed by resinous-asphaltene components and crystalline paraffins but also maintains this effect for a certain period of time. It is necessary to identify the most effective methods and techniques for separating oil-water emulsions using alternating and constant magnetic fields. A series of experimental studies were conducted to investigate the key process parameters. A unique laboratory-scale electromagnetic demulsification system was developed for demulsifying oil-water emulsions using the combined action of thermal and electromagnetic fields. The setup allowed experiments to be conducted at various emulsion temperatures, water contents, and electromagnetic field characteristics. Experimental studies of gravitational and electromagnetic demulsification were conducted, and analytical and experimental data were compared. The experiments showed that with increasing oil-water emulsion water content, the ratio of the demulsification rate under the influence of an electromagnetic field to both gravity settling and heated settling increases. Exposure to an electromagnetic field increases the settling rate of water particles in oil by 2.7-4.2 times. A direct correlation is observed: as the water cut of a water-oil emulsion increases, the ratio of the demulsification rate under the influence of an electromagnetic field to gravitational settling increases, all other things being equal. A method for experimentally studying the oil demulsification process using a magnetic stirrer has been developed. Exposure to a constant magnetic field excites the shells of the armored oil globules, leading to their loosening and the mutual reorientation of iron compounds within them. In the experiments conducted, the effect of a constant magnetic field using a magnetic stirrer was no less effective than electromagnetic field sources. Future work aims to find the optimal demulsification regime using a combined constant magnetic field and centrifugal force on the water globules, accelerating demulsification.