Case Study on Pulse DC Electric Field for Weakening Interfacial Film of Aging Oil

Abstract

Abstract. Coalescence effect of the surface disposal devices is greatly impacted by the large amount of aging oil because of its complicated interfacial properties, which heavily affects oil production. The typical aging oil properties are evaluated, interfacial properties and the causes of formation are discussed in the paper. It is not efficient enough for aging oil to be disposed only with the methods of the chemical or electric-field, even though the later one has many advantages in breaking oil-water interfacial film. The water content in oil, oil content in water and the oil-water interface properties after separated can meet the industrial standard by the integration disposal of the two methods. But the pulse DC power supply must be selected in the electric-field formation so that the instantaneous high power electric pulse can be created without electrodispersion, which can easily break the oil-water interfacial film and prevent current leakage. Besides, the aging oil disposal process is designed and the operating parameters are also optimized in the paper.