Claims
- 1. Apparatus for breaking an oil and water emulsion feedstock into oil and water streams with a source of radio frequency waves which comprises:
- a radio frequency wave guide for receiving radio frequency waves;
- a process chamber adjacent the waveguide configured to permit the emulsion feedstock to move therethrough and to expose the emulsion feedstock to radio frequency waves;
- a radio frequency transparent window between the waveguide and process chamber to allow passage of radio frequency energy into the process chamber; and
- a deflector located in the waveguide oriented to deflect radio frequency waves to the radio frequency transparent window and into the process chamber.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 which also includes a second process chamber adjacent the waveguide and a second radio frequency transparent window between the waveguide and the second process chamber, and a deflector which divides the radio frequency wave and deflects a portion thereof into each of the process chambers.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the deflector is located at the terminal end of the waveguide between the process chambers.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the microwave transparent windows are substantially parallel to each other.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the waveguide terminal reflector plates are sized and angled to minimize radio frequency losses and to prevent reflected energy from returning to a source of the radio frequency energy.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency transparent window is made of a fluoropolymer.
- 7. A system for breaking oil and water emulsion feedstock using radio frequency energy which comprises:
- a source of radio frequency energy;
- a waveguide for conveying the energy for use to treat the emulsion feedstock;
- a feedstock process chamber having at least one inlet and at least one outlet oriented adjacent the waveguide;
- a radio frequency transparent window between the process chamber and the waveguide to allow passage of radio frequency energy from the waveguide into the process chamber;
- a deflector of radio frequency energy oriented in the waveguide to direct the radio frequency energy from the waveguide through the window and into the process chamber; and
- a pump for passing the emulsion feedstock through at variable rates responsive to the temperature rise of the emulsion feedstock as it passes through the process chamber receiving radio frequency.
- 8. The system of claim 7 which also includes a second process chamber adjacent the waveguide and a second radio frequency transparent window between the waveguide and the second process chamber, and a deflector which divides the radio frequency wave and deflects a portion thereof into each process chamber.
- 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the deflector is located at the terminal end of the waveguide between the process chambers.
- 10. The system of claim 8 wherein the microwave transparent windows are substantially parallel to each other.
- 11. The system of claim 8 wherein the waveguide terminal reflector plates are sized and angled to minimize radio frequency losses and to prevent reflected energy from returning to a source of the radio frequency energy.
- 12. The system of claim 7 wherein the radio frequency transparent window is made of a fluoropolymer.
CROSS REFERENCES TO OTHER APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/936,063, filed Sep. 23, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,014 and made of reference herein.
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Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
C.S. Fang, Bruce K.L. Chang and Peter M.C. Lai, Dept. of Chem. Eng'g and W.J. Klaila "Microwave Demulsification" in the publication Chemical Eng'g. Comm., 1988, vol. 73, pp. 227-239. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
936063 |
Sep 1997 |
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