Porous Media Corporation

Mathews J Thundyil

Michael R Spearman

Majid Zia

John Henry Burban

Martin P Miller

Craig Jonathan Cuta

Heath Burns

David Kolstad

Douglas M Mittlesteadt

A process for the extraction of an unwanted material from a fluid containing the unwanted material comprising the steps of introducing an immiscible extraction fluid into the fluid having an unwanted material therein to form a plurality of extraction fluid droplets in the fluid, allowing the plurality of extraction fluid droplets to hydrophilicly interact with the unwanted material in the fluid to cause the extraction fluid droplets to form into a plurality of coalesceable droplets, coalescing the coalesceable droplets into larger droplets containing the unwanted material, and separating the larger droplets containing the unwanted material from the fluid.

Method for selective extraction

A method and apparatus for the removal of free, emulsified, or dissolved water from liquids of low volatility, such as oil, is shown. The liquid of low volatility is removed by contacting the fluid stream of concern with one side of a semi-permeable membrane. The membrane divides a separation chamber into a feed side into which the stream of fluid is fed, and a permeate side from which the water is removed. The permeate side of the chamber is maintained at a low partial pressure of water through presence of vacuum, or by use of a sweep gas.

Oil dehydrator

A combination filter/dehydrator is disclosed which first filters a stream of oil or fluid of low volatility to remove particulate contaminants, and then passes the stream through a dehydrator 38 to remove free, emulsified, or dissolved entrained water. A pressure control valve 46 is provided to enable a portion of the oil stream to bypass the dehydrator in order to maintain a predetermined pressure differential across the dehydrator membrane. A discharge chamber (FIG. 5) is provided at an outlet of the dehydrator to prevent the loss of oil that has permeated the dehydrator membrane. A sweep gas stream 70 for removing water from the permeate side of the dehydrator membrane can include a coalescer 72 (FIG. 4) for removing liquids entrained in the sweep gas before entering device.

Oil filter and dehydrator

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The Woodlands, TX, United States of America

Mathews J Thundyil