DEVICE FOR COALESCING FLUIDS
A device for coalescing an emulsion component in an emulsion including a mixture of at least two different fluid components by an electric field applied to the emulsion. The device includes at least one electrostatic coalescer element. The coalescer element includes a tubular channel made of an electrically insulating material, a first electrode mounted on one side of the tubular channel, and a second electrode mounted on the other side of the tubular channel, a first end wall including a first opening adapted to receive a first end of the tubular channel, and a second end wall including a corresponding second opening adapted to receive a second end of the tubular channel. The walls together with the tubular channel isolate the emulsion from the electrodes.
1 . A device for coalescing an emulsion component in an emulsion comprising a mixture of at least two different fluid components by an electric field applied to the emulsion, the device comprising:
at least one electrostatic coalescer element, the coalescer element comprising a tubular channel comprising an electrically insulating material, a first electrode operatively connected to one side of the tubular channel, a second electrode mounted on another side of the tubular channel, a first end wall including a first opening adapted to receive a first end of the tubular channel, a second end wall including a corresponding second opening adapted to receive a second end of the tubular channel, in which said walls together with the tubular channel isolate the emulsion from the electrodes.
2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular channel comprises ceramic material.
3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular channel comprises glass.
4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular channel comprises thermoplastic material.
5 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular channel is mounted in a box with at least one side wall, said first end wall and said second end wall.
6 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the box comprises steel.
7 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular channel comprises steel bushings attached to each end of the tubular channel.
8 . The device according to claim 7 , wherein the tubular channel comprises first gaskets providing fluid-tight connections between the bushings and the tubular channel.
9 . The device according to claim 8 , wherein the first gaskets are expansion gaskets.
10 . The device according to claim 8 , wherein the first gaskets are compression gaskets.
11 . The device according to claim 9 , wherein the first gaskets comprise steel.
12 . The device according to claim 8 , wherein the first gaskets are PFTE sealing rings.
13 . The device according to claim 7 , wherein the bushings are shrink-fitted onto the tubular channel.
14 . The device according to claim 7 , wherein the bushings are glued onto the tubular channel.
15 . The device according to claim 14 , wherein each bushing and/or the tubular channel comprises a grooved part.
16 . The device according to claim 7 , wherein each bushing comprises a threaded part adapted to mount the bushing to the first or second end wall.
17 . The device according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a second gasket is provided between each bushing and the first or second end wall.
18 . The device according to claim 7 , wherein each tubular channel is mounted to the first and second end walls by welding.
19 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the box comprises a transformer transforming a low-voltage supply voltage into a high voltage for driving the coalescer elements.
20 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the coalescer elements are energized from a power supply external to said box.
21 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the box is filled with insulating oil.
22 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a layer provided on said tubular channel, said layer having low permittivity, being electrically insulating and being able to withstand a strong electric field.
23 . The device according to claim 22 , wherein said layer comprises PFTE.
24 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the box is filled with SF 6 .
25 . The device according to claim 24 , wherein the box is pressurized.
26 . The device according to claim 21 , wherein expansion bellows are installed in the box equalizing the pressures inside and outside said box.
27 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first end wall comprises a plurality of first openings each adapted to receive a first end of a tubular channel, and wherein the second end wall comprises a corresponding plurality of second openings each adapted to receive a second end of a tubular channel.
28 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular channel or channels are mounted substantially horizontal.