Effects of structural parameters of new electrostatic coalescer on coalescence characteristics of water droplet

The insulated high voltage electrode and four types of electrostatic coalescers were designed and made.By using the micro high-speed camera system and image processing technology,the coalescence characteristics of water droplets at AC electric field were studied with water in crude oil emulsion.The effects of electric field intensity,number of electrode layer and electrode spacing on water droplets coalescence were investigated.The results show that the insulated high voltage electrode can effectively prevent electric breakdown.High electric field intensity and long residence time are conductive to water droplets coalescence,but if the electric field intensity is higher than critical one,the water droplets will rupture.If the electric field intensity is high enough to promote droplet coalescence,the number of electrode layer is not important.But the coalescer with multielectrode can enhance the flow rate and more economical.When electrode spacing is small,the power consumption is low but the electric field is badly distorted.If the electric field can effectively promote water droplet coalescence,the electrode spacing can be increased to avoid adverse effect.The power consumption is affected by water content,number of electrode layer,electrode spacing and so on,and the power consumption should be decreased in consideration of the field condition and electrode structure.