Inventors:
Donald J. Mintz - Summit NJ
Anthony M. Gleason - Westfield NJ
Assignee:
Exxon Research and Engineering Co. - Florham Park NJ
International Classification:
B03C 500
B03C 502
C10G 3302
Abstract:
For separating wax particles and/or water droplets from a hydrocarbon mixture boiling in the lubricating oil range, net positive or net negative free excess electric charge is introduced, e. g. by a charge injector (44), into the wax/water-laden oil mixture. The oil is brought into contact with at least one collector surface, which can be provided by a bed of closely packed beads (33) in a separation vessel (6) or, for separating wax particles, a rotating collector drum (61). The introduced charge attaches itself to the wax particles/water droplets and at the same time causes an induced electric field to be set up within the oil mixture. The electrophoretic effect produced by the interaction between the charge and the induced field causes the wax/water to collect on the collector surface and accumulate there, for separation from the oil mixture.