Research
Electrostatics
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This area conducts applied research on separations processes involving two- and three-phase systems under the influence of externally imposed electrical fields. This laboratory, believed to be the only of its kind at any U.S. university, contains both portable "desalters" and pilot-scale coalescers that operate at variable frequencies and field types. A recent technological breakthrough, now available for commercial licensing, has led to dramatically enhanced desalting rates for light and intermediate crude oils using an electrical conductivity modifier approach (U.S. Patent No. 6,113,765). An secondary part of this lab is involved in static-charge generation studies associated with flowing fluids from a chemical process or hazards viewpoint. |
Elevated Temperature Coalescer and Ancillary Test Equipment |
