Electric field-induced deformation and breakup of water droplets in polymer-flooding W/O emulsions: A simulation study

Li, Ning; Pang, Yunhui; Sun, Zhiqian; Sun, Yongxiang; Qi, Zhuang; Li, Wangqing; Liu, Yue; Li, Bin; Wang, Zhenbo; Zeng, Hongbo

doi:10.1016/j.seppur.2023.124237

Cited by 11 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 64 publications

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“…Molecular dynamics simulations can simulate the interaction process between polyether demulsifiers and crude oil emulsions at the molecular level, , revealing the relationship between their structures and properties from a microscopic perspective. , This molecular-scale insight could allow researchers to more fully understand the mechanism of polyether demulsifiers and provide guidance for improving existing methods or developing new demulsifiers . Moreover, the representation of oil phase and asphaltene molecules was often substituted by a single class of molecules, lacking diversity (such as hexadecane).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Chemical Demulsification Mechanism of Oil/Water Emulsion by Polyether Polymers

Yuan,

Wang,

Yuan

2024

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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Chemical treatment is widely employed as the primary method to break down highly stable and complex water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions. Developing effective demulsifiers for chemical treatments is crucial yet challenging due to complex emulsions and poorly understood demulsification mechanisms. Here, the molecular dynamics simulations were employed to investigate the demulsification mechanism of polyether polymer (EO 5 PO 5 ) at the molecular level. The results demonstrated that EO 5 PO 5 was rapidly adsorbed to the surface of oil droplets driven by van der Waals (vdW) interactions due to its extensive nonpolar surface (1195 Å 2 , account for 79%). At low concentrations (18.71 g L −1 ), the demulsification mechanism of the EO 5 PO 5 polymer involved displacing asphaltene molecules at the oil−water interface, thereby reducing the stability of the interface film. As the concentration increased (50.78 g L −1 ), EO 5 PO 5 molecules formed a threedimensional network structure between oil droplets, creating oil bridges driven by the shrinkage force of the EO 5 PO 5 molecules. Oil molecules then diffused along these EO 5 PO 5 polymer bridges (with a diffusion coefficient of 2.98 × 10 −5 cm 2 s −1 ), completing the demulsification process. EO 5 PO 5 polymer molecules formed a network structure both inside and on the surface of the final stable oil droplets formed. This research enhances the understanding of polymer behavior in emulsions, guiding the development of more efficient chemical demulsifiers.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Chemical Demulsification Mechanism of Oil/Water Emulsion by Polyether Polymers

Yuan,

Wang,

Yuan

2024

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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Preparation and performance study of functional polymer with self demulsifying

Chen,

Zhao,

Zhang

et al. 2023

Can J Chem Eng

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In polymer flooding, the residual polymer in the produced fluid can increase the stability of crude oil emulsion, thereby negatively affecting the demulsification process. Therefore, a polymer that has no effect on the stability of crude oil emulsion is required. Herein, a polymerizable monomer with a demulsification function (MD) was synthesized and then copolymerized with acrylamide, acrylic acid, and 2‐acrylamide‐2‐methylpropane sulfonic acid to prepare a novel copolymer (self‐demulsifying polymer, PDM). The dissolution time, solution viscosity, shear resistance, static adsorption on quartz sand, and the effect on the crude oil emulsion stability of PDM were compared with those of regular polyacrylamide (PAM). Experimental results showed that owing to the steric hindrance effect of MD, the molecular weight of PDM was lower than that of PAM. Both polymers exhibited satisfactory solubility, solution viscosity, shear resistance, and static adsorption, which can meet the requirements of polymer for use in oil displacement. However, in contrast to PAM, PDM had no negative effect on the crude oil emulsion stability. This study provides a new solution to the problem of increased crude oil emulsion stability in polymer flooding.

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Influence of constant and alternating electric fields on the deformation and destruction of a liquid droplet

Kireev,

Shalabayeva,

Volkov

2025

Acta Astronautica

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Electric field-induced deformation and breakup of water droplets in polymer-flooding W/O emulsions: A simulation study

Cited by 11 publications

References 64 publications

Understanding the Chemical Demulsification Mechanism of Oil/Water Emulsion by Polyether Polymers

Understanding the Chemical Demulsification Mechanism of Oil/Water Emulsion by Polyether Polymers

Preparation and performance study of functional polymer with self demulsifying

Influence of constant and alternating electric fields on the deformation and destruction of a liquid droplet

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