Water Treating Theory

Water Treating Flotation

The process of flotation improves the separation of the oil droplets from the water continuous phase. This goal is accomplished by increasing the difference in density between the two fluids by attaching gas bubbles to the oil droplet. The flotation process will decrease vessel retention time, thereby decreasing the separating vessel size required to allow [...]

3Sep2009 | admin | Comments Off | Continued

Water Treating Coalescence

The process of coalescence in water treating systems is more time dependent than the process of dispersion. In dispersions of two immiscible liquids, immediate coalescence seldom occurs when two droplets collide. If the droplet pair is exposed to turbulent pressure fluctuations, and the kinetic energy of the oscillations induced in the droplet pair is larger [...]

3Sep2009 | admin | 1 comment | Continued

Water Treating Dispersion

An oscillating droplet of oil becomes unstable when the kinetic energy is sufficient to make up for the difference in the surface energy between the single droplet and the two smaller droplets formed from it. At the same time that this process is occurring, the motion of the smaller oil particles is causing coalescence to [...]

3Sep2009 | admin | Comments Off | Continued

Water Treating Gravity Separation

Most commonly used water treating equipment items rely on the forces of gravity to separate the oil droplets from the water continuous phase. The oil droplets, being lighter than the volume of water they displace, have a buoyant force exerted upon them. This is resisted by a drag force caused by their vertical movement through [...]

2Sep2009 | admin | Comments Off | Continued