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EPSRC Reference: GR/L33122/01
Title: STUDY OF DROPLET MOTION AND COALESCENCE IN A LIQUID- LIQUID SYSTEM SUBJECTED TO AN APPLIED ELECTRIC FIELD
Principal Investigator: Bailes, Professor P
Other Investigators:
Double, Dr J Lee, Dr J Lee, Dr J
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Amerada Hess Ltd BP Shell
Texaco
Department: Chemical Engineering
Organisation: University of Bradford
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 28 June 1997 Ends: 27 July 2000 Value (£): 141,088
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Multiphase Flow Oil & Gas Extraction
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The application of electrostatic fields to the resolution of water-in-oil emulsions is well established, with several different designs of equipment that make use of high voltage AC or DC fields. The manner in which the electric field interacts with the water drops in oil dispersions has been under investigation since the first so-called electro-treater was invented in 1911 for dewatering crude oil. These investigations have led to two explanations for the enhanced coalescence behaviour, one termed dipole coalescence due to polarisation of the water drops and the other termed migratory coalescence due to the drops acquiring a charge and moving towards other drops that have acquired an opposite charge. The proposed experimental work has three aims. Firstly to establish whether water drops gain a net charge when they are placed in a pulsed DC field. Secondly to study drop pair coalescence in a continuos phase of dodecane, and finally to investigate drop-drop coalescence in a concentrated dispersion of water in dodecane, by matching the refractive induces using potassium thiocyanate in the aqueous phase.
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Organisation Website: http://www.brad.ac.uk