Canadian Paper - Separation and Purification of Liquids by Centrifugation with Special Reference to Petroleum (with Discussion)

Centrifugal force has been used for centuries for separating liquids but machines for doing this are a comparatively recent development. The use of these machines is being extended into many industries but this paper is confined to their use in the oil industry. The centrifugal machine is found at the well where "cut oil" is dehydrated for acceptance by pipe lines; and in the refinery and byproduct plant. In fact, wherever finely divided suspended particles should be removed from an oil, there is a possible use for a centrifugal machine, if the particles have, or can be made to have, a specific gravity different from that of the oil. Centrifugal machines are also used for cleaning fuel and lubricating oils and dehydrating transformer oils. Applications and Results When oil comes from the well mixed with water, it is spoken of as cut oil. Settling often does not remove sufficient water for the oil to be accepted by pipe lines, thus necessitating chemical or other treatment. Centrifuging alone, or following chemical treatment, effectively prepares such oil for pipe lines, as is shown by the following data: WateR, Etc. Wat~R. Etc. Temperature, Oil to Pipe Line, aT StUt at Finish Degrees F. Bel. Per HouR PIE Cent. PEECent Oklahoma lease.... 160 10 10 0.25 Kansas lease....... 125 4 20 0.25 to 2 On the Oklahoma lease, the machine was cleaned of solid material once in 12 hr. At first, it was thought that chemical treatment was necessary to start separation and 1 qt. of prepared compound was added to each 100 bbl. of the cut oil before centrifuging. Later it was found that