APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR REMOVAL OF WATER (BOTH BOUND AND UNBOUND) FROM PETROLEUM SLUDGES AND EMULSIONS THROUGH APPLICATION OF HEAT ALONE, WITH VIEW TO RETRIEVE ENTIRE HYDROCARBONS PRESENT THEREIN

摘要

The present invention discloses a process and an apparatus for treatment of petroleum sludges, emulsions and water bearing hydrocarbons wherein initially unbound water; salts; solids; water-free, free-flowing hydrocarbons are removed followed by separation into plurality of fractions that undergo rapid foam induced boiling and consequent steam-stripping of low boiling hydrocarbons from viscous hydrocarbons followed by hot water spray to enhance said foaming and steam-stripping, for further removal of fine water droplets present in a thin film through boiling during thermal foam breaking. The high boiling point water droplets are boiled out in the thermal foam breaker followed by separation of entrained liquid, condensation and separation of water and low boiling hydrocarbons. The residual water fraction in viscous hydrocarbons is removed through thin film boiling. The original hydrocarbons are recovered in marketable forms in two separate fractions thereby recovering bound and unbound water for environmentally safe applications thereof.