The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 30, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 29, 2003
Wiley L. Parker, Conroe, TX (US);
Collin W. Cross, Houston, TX (US);
Alan E. Goliaszewski, Woodland, TX (US);
Wiley L. Parker, Conroe, TX (US);
Collin W. Cross, Houston, TX (US);
Alan E. Goliaszewski, Woodland, TX (US);
General Electric Company, Fairfield, CT (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a feedstock composition for increasing the efficiency of atomization in hydrocarbon processing that includes a water-in-hydrocarbon oil emulsion including a non-ionic surfactant capable of stabilizing the emulsion and having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of greater than about 12. The emulsion includes water droplets of about 5 to about 10 microns in diameter, the droplets being dispersed substantially uniformly in the hydrocarbon oil phase. These surfactants are capable of stabilizing the water-in-hydrocarbon oil emulsion under relevant temperature and pressure conditions for hydrocarbon processing. The inventive feedstock composition provides a metastable water-in-oil emulsion where expanding water vapor explodes under spray conditions where the system pressure is released, demolishing a larger oil droplet and producing smaller oil droplets.