US 11,939,233 B2
Oil-water separation system using hydrophobic/hydrophilic materials for capacity increase and improving produced water quality
Fahd Ibrahim Alghunaimi, Dhahran (SA); Young Chul Choi, Dhahran (SA); Olanrewaju M. Oshinowo, Dhahran (SA); and Hasan A. Al Abdulgader, Dammam (SA)
Assigned to SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Dec. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/643,699.
Prior Publication US 2023/0183094 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. C02F 1/24 (2023.01); B01D 17/02 (2006.01); C02F 1/00 (2023.01); C02F 1/40 (2023.01)
CPC C02F 1/006 (2013.01) [B01D 17/0211 (2013.01); B01D 17/0214 (2013.01); C02F 1/24 (2013.01); C02F 1/40 (2013.01); C02F 2301/08 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An oil-water separation system comprising:
a vessel configurated to receive an oil-water mixture and to pass a treated water, wherein the treated water comprises a lower concentration of oil than the oil-water mixture;
a first overflow baffle configured to direct the oil-water mixture fluid flow over the first overflow baffle;
an oil collector upstream of the first overflow baffle configured to skim and recover a portion of the oil upstream of the first overflow baffle;
a first underflow baffle positioned downstream along a fluid flow pathway of the first overflow baffle and configured to direct the oil-water mixture fluid flow under the first underflow baffle; and
a second overflow baffle comprising:
a first portion being attached to the first overflow baffle at a level above a bottom of the vessel and below a bottom end of the first underflow baffle, and
a second portion disposed at an acute angle of less than 90 degrees from horizontal coated in a copper-based hydrophobic material positioned downstream along the fluid flow pathway of the first underflow baffle, configured with a mesh having a plurality of perforations, and configured to direct fluid flow over the second overflow baffle and through the plurality of perforations wherein oil agglomerates upwards; and
wherein the second overflow baffle permits a water portion of the oil-water mixture to traverse through the mesh and an oil portion of the oil-water mixture to traverse over the mesh.