Study On The Demulsification Mechanism Of Poor-quality And Heavy Crude Oil Using The Pulsed Electric Field

With the rapid development of the human world, oil as an importance strategic resourceof global，its consumption grows with each passing day. But the crude oil emulsification, thedifficulties of dehydration and demulsification increase greatly. It not only increases theconsumption of energy, corrodes the pipelines and equipment, but also causes seriousenvironmental problems. Therefore, the development of a high efficiency, energy saving,strong applicability of the oil-water separation equipment is one of the problems to be solvedin petroleum production enterprises. With the help of micro visual equipment, we made acomprehensive research ofthe movement of the droplets in the high-frequency pulsed electricfield, and deeply understood of factors affecting demulsification process.In this paper, using high frequency pulse square wave power supply, self-made electricalcoalescence visual element, we investigated the influence laws of the electric field (electricfield intensity, frequency and duty cycle) and the physical parameters on the movement,deformation, aggregation and rebound of the dispersed phase. By using the orthogonal testmethod, We found out the main factor influencing coalescence of each droplet, and furtherlyexplored the other factors influencing polymerization of each droplet.Through detailed experiments and analysis, we found out the influence laws of theelectric field (electric field intensity, frequency and duty cycle) and the physical parameterson the movement, deformation, aggregation and rebound of the dispersed phase. From theanalysis of orthogonal experiment, we knew the main factor which affected the coalescencerate of each droplet, we also found out the influence laws of different factors on the criticalelectric field strength which made the droplets rebound. The experimental study andtheoretical analysis above, laid a good foundation for the further study of the demulsificationof the heavy crude oil emulsion using pulse square wave power supply.