Method and apparatus for separating wax/water from hydrocarbon oil mixture boiling in the lubricating oil range
US4622118A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 11, 1985 |
| Grant date | Nov 11, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 11, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB03C5/024
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
In order to separate wax particles and/or water droplets from lubricating oil, free excess electric charge which is net positive or net negative is introduced into the wax/water-laden oil, preferably by charge injection. Wax particle/water droplet agglomeration and particle/droplet size growth within the oil mixture due to the electrophoretic effect arising from the electric charge introduction is allowed to occur. In this way, wax particles or water droplets normally considered to be of insufficient size to be separated effectively by filtration can be removed by filtration if the lube oil is electrically pretreated as described. The filtration, conveniently, can be effected by passing the oil mixture containing the grown wax particles/water droplets through a bed of collector beads of low electrical conductivity or through a settler or, in the case of the wax, through a filter screen.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.