Alternative method for obtaining a quasi-monodisperse oil-water emulsion

Abstract

Relevance. One of the priority areas of the oil and gas sector of the domestic economy is to increase the efficiency and profitability of commercial oil preparation, however, the scientific results obtained in this area are insufficient for modern technological requirements. The issues of lack of data for the development of reliable mathematical models of oil emulsion destruction, as well as input signals for regulating control of technological equipment for oil preparation, have not been resolved. Oil produced in the fields is a direct or reverse water-oil emulsion with a unique dispersed composition for each well. Currently, the size analysis of oil emulsion droplets in the field is carried out using a classical laboratory method, which has a low rate of obtaining analysis results, while the size distribution of globules carries information about such properties of the dispersed system as degradation rate, long-term stability, viscosity and others. Knowing the droplet size distribution of a particular oil emulsion, it is possible to select the most rational methods for its destruction and the necessary technical parameters of the devices used to implement these methods. In particular, when a droplet is exposed to a frequency close to its own, intensification of destruction is possible. In particular, one of the methods proposed by the authors is to bring the emulsion closer to its monodisperse version. Since it is not possible to obtain a modisperse emulsion in natural experiments, the authors propose to call this version of the emulsion quasi-monodisperse, that is, close to a monodisperse emulsion. This work examines one of the options for producing a quasi-monodisperse emulsion. Aim. To describe the method for obtaining a quasi-monodisperse medium for destroying the emulsion with a resonant frequency corresponding to the radius of the globule of the quasi-monodisperse medium. Object. Water-in-oil emulsion Methods. Thermodynamic potentials, physico-chemical hydrodynamics, differential equations. Results. The authors have obtained the differential velocity distribution function over coordinates and time, showing that the emulsion is more stable when it is finely dispersed, and estimated settling time of the dispersed phase in the emulsion. They obtained the formula that allows one to determine the minimum radius of a drop in an emulsion at a fixed pressure and temperature and another one that allows one to determine the Gibbs energy of the system. The authors managed to reduce the Navier–Stokes partial differential equations to a system of ordinary differential equations and obtain the velocity components and pressure at a known speed of rotation of the disk, and determine the mechanical moment of resistance of the disk.

Keywords

• sedimentation
• chemical potential
• entropy
• particle radius distribution
• physicochemical hydrodynamics